Sheet Feeding Apparatus

... 1,156,960. Feeding sheets. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. 26 July, 1967 [27 July, 1966], No. 34210/67. Heading B8R. Sheet feeding apparatus includes two coacting freely rotatable balls A and B, first drive means 13, for rotating the balls so that a sheet introduced between them is moved in a first direction, second drive means 14, for rotating the balls so that the sheet is moved in a second direction and means for coupling the balls selectively to the first or second drive means. As shown, a sheet 7 is inserted between sets of balls A and B, whilst balls B are being driven by rollers 13, and is thereby pulled downwards until it abuts the channel 40. Spring 31 which pulls the assembly holding the balls A and B against rollers 13 exerts a pull such that the balls slip on the sheet as soon as it abuts channel 40. A relay may then be energized (manually or automatically) which pulls the ball-holding assembly away from rollers 13 and causes balls A to contact driving belt 14 fed over ...