Sheet transport apparatus.

摘要

A sheet transport apparatus picks up and transports a topmost sheet (25) of a stack of sheets in a one-by-one manner. A suction drum (29) with a cylindrical member (29a) rotating in a cyclic manner picks up the leading edge of the topmost sheet (25) by suction force when the cyclindrical member (29a) is substantially in a momentary stop state. A stationary separation suction head (26) disposed adjacent the stack in the transport direction separates by suction force any sheets underlying the topmost sheet (25) undesirably picked up by the operation of picking the topmost sheet (25) from the stack. A belt conveyor system (71 a, 72a) disposed adjacent the stationary separation suction head (26) in the transport direction gradually grasps the leading edge of the sheet (25) picked up by the suction drum (29) while the trailing portion of the grasped sheet (25) is also attracted by the suction drum means (29) so that a slight tension is given to the sheet (25) until it is firmly held and transported by the belt conveyor system.