Automatic sheet transport mechanism

摘要

An automatic sheet transport mechanism for precisely positioning a sheet relative to an automatic signature writing machine or the like is disclosed. A writing instrument is located vertically above a flat writing surface upon which the sheet rests and is movable into and out of engagement with the writing surface in a defined writing area. A sheet positioning device accurately positions the sheet laterally on the writing surface. A sheet feeding device is also provided for moving a single sheet from a stack of sheets and for advancing the single sheet to the sheet positioning device. A control device cyclically operates the transport mechanism so that the single sheet is moved by the sheet feeding device and sheet positioning device to the writing area of the writing surface where the writing takes place and thereafter the sheet positioning device is actuated to move the single sheet off of the writing surface so that the cycle can be repeated. Preferably, the sheet feeding device is adjustable longitudinally of the writing surface so that the sheet is fed to the sheet positioning device with the area of the sheet to be written on longitudinally aligned with the writing area of the writing surface.