Cut sheet feeder with platen structure

A platen structure (50) to facilitate the transport of stacked sheet material (24) conveyed along a transport deck (14) of a sheet feeding apparatus. The platen structure (50) comprises first and second segments (52, 54) connected by means of a compliant coupling (56). The first segment (52) of the platen (50) is operative to engage a face of the stacked sheet material (24) and apply a stabilizing normal force thereon. The second segment (54) of the platen (50) is operative to engage and travel synchronously with a moving surface of the transport deck (12, 14). Furthermore, the compliant coupling (56) is operative to facilitate the relative angular displacement of the first and second segments (52, 54) about at least one axis (56A) while maintaining the relative linear displacement there between about at least one of the other axes (56B or 56C). The platen structure (50) ensures reliable sheet material run-out by compensating for a reduction in sheet material weight as the final or last sheets of the stack (24) are singulated/separated. Furthermore, the compliant coupling (56) enables the various segments (52, 54) of the platen structure (50) to conform to the contour of the stacked sheet material (24), i.e., a cantilevered delivery profile (ARC).