Sheet feeding and stacking device and method.

摘要

A stack of documents (148) is placed in a document tray beneath which is a plenum (98) to which positive pressure is applied. Holes in the bottom of the tray allow air to pass through to form an air bearing to fly the stack above the bottom of the tray. A combing wheel (30) feeds the top sheet from the stack along a feed path (118), between feed rolls (62 and 64), and on to the document glass of a copier. After copying the document is fed back along path (119) between feed rolls (42 and 62). Support means (122) support one edge of the stack to create an entrance zone to the space between the bottom of the stack and the bottom of the tray to allow the insertion of a document along path (119). After such insertion, lift means (not shown) lifts the one edge of the stack including the inserted document whilst the support means (122) is removed. The support means (122) is returned and the lift means lowered so that the stack including the inserted document is supported along the one edge. Document feeding from the top of the stack can occur during document insertion below the bottom of the stack.