Sheet feeding and separating apparatus and method.

摘要

A sheet feeding separating apparatus and method are described. The apparatus includes a sensor (82) located at a retard nip (72, 77) downstream from a feed means (72) that applied a normal force to a stack (35) of sheets and forwards sheets individually from the stack. The sensor (82) detects the lead edge of a sheet fed from the stack and simultaneously causes relief of the normal force of said feed means (72) against the stack in order to reduce multifeeds and sheet damage. Alternatively, if the sensor (2) does not sense a sheet within a predetermined time the normal force of said feed means (72) against the stack will be increased to reduce misfeeding.