Abstract: A feeder for paperboard blanks includes feed wheels, a vacuum box, a camming assembly to change the vertical relationship between the feed wheels and the top of the vacuum box, and an indexing transmission.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic document feeding device provided with a positionally adjustable document detector for adjusting the document stopping position.

Abstract: A tray adapted to support a stack of sheet material thereon. The tray is adjustable to accommodate stacks of sheet material of different widths and lengths. The rear registration and the side registration surfaces are moved in unison with one another so as to engage the rear and side edges of the stack of sheet material respectively.

Abstract: An improved pressure adjustment device for the intermediate conveyor system of a sheet feed machine wherein the conveyor system includes a plurality of spaced roller assemblies slidably mounted on a beam which is pivotally mounted to interior portions of the sheet feed machine, and wherein the roller assemblies include their own spring tensioning; comprising a tension bar extending between the interior portions and having an elongated slot therein, the tension bar being located in a position closely adjacent and forward of the pivot axis of the beam, a hollow channel member being mounted on the tension bar and having a lower opening therein, and an adjustment screw having an external head and being threadedly received in the upper portion of the channel member whereby the lower end of the screw passes through the slot and opening and downwardly against the beam to urge the beam downwardly about its pivot axis.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder is disclosed that employs a moveable air blocking vane capable of redirecting the flow of air from an air knife. The moveable vane when in a first position allows air to exit the air knife toward a stack of sheets uninterrupted. Alternatively, when the vane is moved to a second position, air flow from the air knife is interrupted to thereby allow an increased vacuum in a vacuum means adapted to lift the top sheet off the stack for feeding.

Abstract: An improved original document automatic feeding arrangement for use in a copying apparatus and the like, which includes a sheet feeding section for feeding an original document therefrom, and a transport section provided on an original document placing platen and including a transport belt for transporting the original document so that the transport of the original document is suspended upon detection that a leading edge of the original document has passed through a predetermined position on the platen. The transport belt is composed of a light transmitting material, while a photo-electric sensor is provided at the predetermined position and has the transport belt and the platen as part of its light path.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting sheets wherein the individual bins in the sorter are supported in the frame member in cantilevered fashion about only one edge and are open and unsupported in any other position. Each bin has plural means to movably support the bin in the frame comprising at least two support members slidingly engagable with the frame and sufficiently vertically spaced apart to prevent equilibrium when a coefficient of friction between the support means and the frame is at least 0.3 and a friction force between the support means and the frame is less than the weight of the bin, and further including a C-cam to sequentially vertically move said bins in the frame past a sheet entrance position.

Abstract: A continuous scalloped stream of paper sheets is divided into a succession of discrete sections by an accelerating device in cooperation with one or more belt conveyors which receive the sections. The accelerating device has an elongated rubber pad attached to an endless chain conveyor which can move the pad into the path of movement of the stream of sheets toward the belt conveyor or conveyors. The belt conveyor(s) and the chain conveyor are accelerated from the speed of the advancing stream to a higher second speed as soon as the trailing end of the section which is about to be separated from the stream is engaged by the trailing end of the pad on the chain conveyor. The chain conveyor and the belt conveyor(s) are decelerated back to the speed of the stream as soon as the entire freshly formed section is transferred onto the belt conveyor(s) and before the fresh leader of the stream reaches the discharge end of the conveyor for the stream.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding mechanism adapted to separate a single sheet from a stack of sheets and transfer the single sheet via airjets to the exposure platen of an exposing apparatus. After airjet positioning and exposure, the single sheet is lifted from the platen and delivered to an exit port also via airjets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating, separating, and removing a single ply of material from a stack of plies including pickup fingers for lifting a peripheral edge of the topmost ply in the stack with adhesive tape, a spin off assembly for removing clinging plies from the lifted edge of the topmost ply, grasping fingers for engaging and hold the isolated ply, and a separator assembly for positively separating the topmost ply by indexing a separator rod into the gap between the uplifted peripheral edge of the topmost ply and the remaining plies and along the stack. The isolated topmost ply is removed by withdrawing the grasping fingers away from the stack. There is also disclosed an alignment apparatus including a plurality of alignment fingers which define a relatively wide ply-receiving portion and an edge stop which prevents climbing of the edge of the ply.

Abstract: A bottom level sheet feeding apparatus having a tray for receiving a stock of sheets, an endless belt conveyor having an upper run which extends into the tray, a lead surface superposed to the upper run of the conveyor downstream of the tray and inclined downwardly and terminating above the upper run to form a pinch point therewith, an idler roller positioned to support the upper run at the pinch point, and a retard strip superposed to the belt downstream of the lead surface. The lead surface has a relatively low coefficient of friction with the sheets to be conveyed, the upper run has a relatively high coefficient of friction with the sheets and the retard strip has a coefficient of friction with the sheets intermediate those of the lead surface and conveyor belt.

Abstract: A universal paper feed cassette wherein the position of a slidable guide plate for stopping the recording paper to be loaded is detected by a detecting device, so that the size of recording paper can be detected.

Abstract: A pneumatic sheet feeder for removing individual sheets from a stack comprises a table having a surface for supporting a stack of sheets. A pair of parallel guide rails are provided on the table and with facing surfaces so that the stack is confined between the guide rails for movement in a feed direction across the table. Blast nozzles are provided in the guide rails for blowing air against the stack to form an air cushion between lower sheets of the stack. A suction cylinder is rotatably mounted to the table and includes a suction chamber therein for receiving a vacuum. Radial openings in the suction chamber cause a suction induced adhesion of a leading edge of a lowermost feed in the stack so that with rotation of the cylinder, the lowermost feed is fed in the feed direction away from the rest of the stack. A single blower is provided with a pair of two-way solenoid valves and a switching circuit is provided for alternately activating the valves.

Abstract: In a paper conveyor system which conveys two types of paper, there are provided first and second feeding rollers which contact the top papers of two types of paper, respectively. First and second clutches, which are attached to the first and second feeding rollers, respectively, transmit rotation in one direction to the first and second feeding rollers, and prevent rotation in the opposite direction from being transmitted to the first and second feeding rollers. A first transmission mechanism is arranged between a reversible motor and the first clutch to transmit the rotation of the motor to the first clutch so that the first clutch rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of the motor. A second transmission mechanism is arranged between the motor and the second clutch to transmit the rotation of the motor to the second clutch so that the second clutch rotates in the opposite direction to that of the motor.

Abstract: An article feed mechanism for use in association with a franking device which operates on mail, comprises a feeding mechanism which includes an article feed path which is oriented so that it may be connected over a feed path of the franking device and which includes two separately driven conveyor sections. The first conveyor is driven by a drive motor and comprises a plurality of drive rollers which operate on the articles which are arranged in a stack at a stacking area and delivers them one at a time to the second conveyor mechanism which includes a pressure drive roller acting to drive the lowermost one of the articles under a sliding apron and then for advancing it into association with a driven roller cooperating with another overhead roller. A first sensor is located between the pressure roller and the cooperating over and under rollers and it acts when an article is advanced to disconnect the drive motor for the first conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a guide stop for positioning sheet products. It is characterized by the fact that the stop guide is made up of a series of thin strips (9, 10) which, on the one hand, are substantially parallel to each other and, on the other, normal both to the plane P of the sheet (6) and to the corresponding edge (4 or 5) of said sheet (6) which the stop guide (2 or 3) is to position. The invention is used for positioning sheets of paper or cardboard in feed tables, printing or cutting presses or stacking machines.

Abstract: A pivotal swing plate for stacking sorted envelopes on edge in the storage section of a high speed mail sorting machine. A sleeve on each swing plate fits on an upright post to pivotally mount the swing plate in the path of incoming sorted envelopes. The swing plate is angled relative to the envelopes and serves both as a side support and back plate for holding the envelopes in a stack. The incoming envelopes progressively pivot the plates open, and a ramp and pin mechanism maintains each swing plate against the leading edges of the envelopes to retain them on edge in the envelope stack.

Abstract: An improved selector mechanism is described for use in a sheet feeder that has a plurality of bins and a feedout roller shaft associated with each bin, for selecting which of the feedout rollers to rotate, the selection being made by determining the angles at which rotation of a drive member is reversed. Each selector includes a cam assembly connected to the feedout roller shaft by a one-way clutch, and a driven driver which is freely rotatable on the shaft. The driver carries a pivotally mounted arm. The cam assembly has a deflector which moves the arm to a deflected position when the arm rotates in a nonfeed direction, and also carries an arm engager which engages the deflected arm when the driver reverses rotation after the arm is deflected, so the driver rotates the cam and, therefore, the feedout roller shaft in a feed direction. The cam also carries an undeflector which moves the arm back to its undeflected position if the driver rotates too far beyond the point of its encounter with the deflector.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus permits a choice between an automatic feed mode in which sheets disposed in a stack on a sheet receiving table can be sequentially separated and fed one by one from the bottom of the stack, and a manual feed mode in which a single sheet is manually fed. The sheet separation from the stack occurs by utilizing a separating roller which rotates in a direction in which the sheet is fed, and brake device which is disposed in abutment against the separating roller. The manual feed mode is enabled when the brake device is moved away from the separating roller.

Abstract: The sheet feed device (1) comprises several cassettes (13) on which the sheets (11) are stacked, a removal mechanism, associated with each of the supports, intended to remove a sheet from the cassette (13) and introduce it into the printer (2), and a selection mechanism intended to activate one of the removal mechanisms. This selection mechanism consists of a guide part (72) comprising several tracks (73 to 75) and a selection lever (56) made to engage with the top of guide part (72). When the platen (3) of the printer (2) turns in the direction opposite the direction of introduction of the paper, the selection lever (56) is driven in the same direction. After a rotation of a predetermined angle, greater than two turns of the platen, the direction of rotation is reversed. The lever (56) follows one of the tracks (73 to 75) to activate one of the removal control parts (76 to 78) and to start the removal and introduction process.