Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separating and dispensing a single film sheet from a stack of the sheets.

Abstract: A spreading conveyor comprising an endless air-permeable laterally stretchable spreading band, endless air-permeable supporting band means within the path of the spreading band, and a suction box within the loop of the suction band and having a perforated wall in contact with the inner side of the supporting band means along a portion of its path. This arrangement allows a reduction in the wear and deformation of the spreading band, and can operate at higher speeds than common spreading bands that operate without suction means.

Abstract: In a sheet handling apparatus in which flimsy sheets are stacked on top of a stack thereof, particularly in a recirculating automatic document handler for a copier, there is disclosed an improved mis-stacking detection system comprising an optical sensing system defining a sheet interruptable optical sensing path extending transversely above the sheet stack in a position to be interrupted by variously mis-stacked non-planar sheets extending above the stack, which the optical sensing system is connected to a time delay system and a sheet mis-stacking indicator such that activation of the mis-stacking indicator is prevented for brief interruptions of the optical sensing path corresponding to normal sheet stacking, but is activated by an interruption of the optical sensing path which continues for a preset time period indicative of the presence of a mis-stacked sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating sets of sheets such as copy sheets from an electrophotographic copier by delivering alternate sets of sheets to a stationary tray along overlapping laterally spaced paths. Sheets are fed first through a first, transversely fixed assembly of opposing feed rollers and then through a second, transversely movable assembly of feed rollers into a stacking tray. Sheets belonging to alternate sets are offset by shifting the second set of rollers laterally following the emergence of their trailing edges from the first set of rollers. In the preferred embodiment, the emergence of the trailing sheet edge from the first set of rollers is sensed by driving the second set of rollers at a slightly greater linear speed and sensing the retarding torque transmitted through the sheet from the first set of rollers.

Abstract: A sheet deliverer adapted for use with rotary printing machines includes a continuous chain having gripping members carried thereon for gripping the leading edge portions of printed sheets and delivering the printed sheets to a product collection site, at least the downstream section of the continuous chain being substantially horizontally disposed above the product collection site. Guide yokes are provided to supplement a developed air cushion on the undersides of the printed and are adjustable so as to contact the printed sheets only at the print-free margins thereof to prevent destruction of the printed portions of the sheets during conveyance.

Abstract: A document feeder for automatically inverting a duplexed original so that the second side may be copied. The inverting mechanism is a turnaround roll located at the exit of the copy station. The inverting mechanism cooperates with rollers located above the document glass for moving documents thereacross. The rollers are inclined at an angle to the direction of paper movement in order to position paper against a side reference edge. When receiving a document from the turnaround roll and moving it in the reverse direction, the inclination of the rollers is removed or altered to a minus angle. Alternatively, a second set of rollers, inclined at a minus angle, are brought into active use when documents are moved in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding individual substrates from the top of a stack of substrates includes a paddle wheel having a hub with a plurality of blades attached thereto. The paddle wheel is positioned in driving relation to the substrate stack. As the paddle wheel is rotated, the blades come in contact with a spiral track which retards the motion of the blade tips through controlled bending and thereby stores potential energy in the blades. Continued rotation of the paddle wheel allows the blades to spring forward from the track just prior to or during substrate contact thereby changing the potential energy of the blades into kinetic energy. The sudden acceleration of the blades due to the change from potential to kinetic energy causes an increase in inertial separation of the top substrate in the stack from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a resilient rotatable separator roller which includes a radial cut permitting radial attachment and detachment from a rotatable shaft. A fixing device is provided for fixing the roller to the shaft.

Abstract: A truck for towing disabled vehicles is provided with a cab controlled or a remote controlled vehicle lifting assembly including pairs of claws which will automatically engage a pair of the wheels of a vehicle and enable the vehicle to be lifted and towed, the vehicle being carried on its own suspension system during towing. The assembly includes a crane mounted and arranged so that the load thereon is carried forward of the rear axle of the tow truck--this increases the tow capacity of the truck and provides stable operation of the crane. The claw assembly may be locked by a ratchet and strap arrangement which retains the vehicle wheels in the assembly in their forward position and prevents release due to jolts and bouncing.

Abstract: Paper currency notes, transported edgewise one by one, are discharged from a transport passage. Each discharged note is held between blades of a rotating blade wheel and moves along with the rotation of the wheel. The notes are then separated from the blades by a checking wall of a stacking box, and stacked in the stacking box. When a predetermined number of notes, for example 100, are stacked in the stacking box, a rotating sectional stacking member is rotated along with the wheel and stops in advance of the stacking box so as to separate the 100th note from the 101st. Since the rotation sectional stacking member has the same axis of rotation as the blade wheel and moves at the same speed, there is must less danger of disruption of the smooth flow of notes.

Abstract: A paper guide member adjacent a receptor along a paper transport path is provided with a bifurcation slot having a width greater than the typical width of a stiff paper but narrower than the width of most thinner papers to permit the stiff papers to deform out of the paper transport path upon contacting the receptor.

Abstract: A collator includes a series of twenty bins arranged in parallel with each other. A copy feeding member feeds copies supplied from a copying machine along inlets of the successive bins. First and second deflecting devices are arranged at uppermost two bins for delivering the copies into the uppermost two bins. A distributor is movable between the third bin and the twentieth bin for delivering the copies into the bins. An extra tray is provided separately from the bins. The collator further comprises a collate mode selecting member, a job separation mode selecting member and a non-collate mode selecting member.

Abstract: An improved sheet jogging apparatus allows for easier access and quicker maintenance by placing the primary components of the apparatus above the top panel of the bin unit of a collator/sorter. Quicker adjustment of the sheet jogging apparatus to accommodate different sizes and widths of paper is easily accomplished with a sliding shaft-slot-and-set screw means. Placing the components of the jogger on top of the panel alleviates problems of assembly where the limited space between the shelves of the bin unit and the top panel make work difficult and alleviates the problem of maintenance where the shelves must be removed for access to the components of the standard sheet jogging apparatus. A source of reciprocal motion mounted on top of the panel is connected to jogging bars which extend downwardly from the panel beside the shelves and which are capable of movement responsive to the source of reciprocal motion to jog the side edges of stacks of sheets on the shelves into alignment.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus having a document holding device and a semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device provided on the top of a housing. The semi-automatic document feeding and discharging device includes a main frame structure mounted for free turning between an operating position and a non-operating position. When the main frame structure is held at the operating position, a document conveying passage having an introducing section, a main section and a curved discharging section is defined.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing photographic sheets from a stack, comprising a dispensing mechanism with first and second sheet buckling members operative to make the upper sheet buckle and lift and then to release the leading edge of the buckled sheet to allow it to move under recovery forces of the sheet into a forward position beyond the end of the stack of sheets.

Abstract: A container locking device includes an oblong guiding element fixed on one end of the housing. A round passage extends through the housing from end to end and through the guiding element. A rotatable locking bolt lies in the passage, the locking bolt having a first end extending from the guiding element and a second end extending from the end of the housing opposite the guiding element. An oblong hammer head is fixed on the first end of the locking bolt. A handle is fixed on the second end of the locking bolt. Axial movement of the locking bolt is restrained. The result is a low-cost, reliable, safe container locking device. Stops limit rotation of the locking bolt to an excursion of approximately 90.degree.. The passage is formed with a tube that extends outwardly from the end of the housing opposite the guiding element to space the handle therefrom and thereby facilitate its movement. A removable catch secures the handle in the position where the hammer head is transverse to the guiding element.

Abstract: A copying system for copying either duplex or simplex original document sets as pre-collated copy sets, utilizing a document handling system providing selective automatic recirculative pre-collation copying of either duplex or simplex document sheets, with selective automatic sheet inversion. Also described is an integral sheet stack normal force/jogger unit for continuous and simultaneous top loading and bottom feeding from either opposite or common directions from a stack of document or copy sheets.

Abstract: A stack height control apparatus for sheet feeders in sheet processing machines. The apparatus comprises a 2:1 divider connected to stack height sensors, a comparison timing stage connected to the divider, a comparator stage connected to the sensors, to the divider and to the comparison timing stage, a forward-backward shift register connected to the comparator stage and at least two timing stages each connected to the shift register and to the comparator stage. The apparatus allows automatic feeding of sheets to machines such as employed for example as printing presses.

Abstract: A servo-controlled recirculating automatic document feeder (RADF) includes a plurality of independently driven document transport devices. A picker mechanism separates documents in seriatim from a stack. An entry turnaround transport device buffers and delivers picked documents to a platen transport device for exposure. After exposure, the document is transported along a simplex or duplex path for duplex or simplex copying. The document is then buffered in an exit turnaround transport device and is subsequently returned to the stack. Each transport device is independently driven by a motor and a closed-loop servo. A common reference oscillator generates source signals for the servo-loops. A microcomputer operates on the source signals and generates reference signals for driving the transport devices.

Abstract: Documents are inserted into a bin beneath a document stack already in the bin. An air bearing holds the document stack above the floor of the bin. A lifting mechanism lifts the stack along one edge so that a document is driven between the last sheet in the stack and the floor of the bin. A selectively activated drive means positioned on the floor of the bin advances the document into proper registration into the bin. Documents can be fed from the top of the stack simultaneously with the bottom stacking operation.