Importance

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Abstract

A feeding mechanism for flat flexible items is provided having a hopper for receiving a stack of the items, a rotatable cylindrical member positioned to engage a lowermost item of the stack with an outer circumferential surface thereof, a motor for rotationally driving the cylindrical member, a source of vacuum connected to the cylindrical member, at least one vacuum port extending through the outer surface of the cylindrical member which communicates with the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the port, a high friction surface at the outer surface adjacent to the vacuum port, at least one belt carried on the cylindrical member so as not to protrude above the outer surface through a portion of the circumference, the belt also being captured on a pulley member such that the belt extends away from the cylindrical member on a side opposite the portion, at least one pressing roller for pressing against the outer surface of the cylindrical member at the portion. The item is drawn from the stack when the vacuum port and high friction area are rotated into engagement with the item. The item is carried into a nip between the cylindrical and the pressing roller which continues a driving of the item. The item is carried into contact with the belt where the belt begins to extend away from the cylindrical member and at that point the item is stripped from the cylindrical member and vacuum port and is carried by the belt.

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First Claim