Abstract: A device for feeding single sheets to a packaging, labelling or packeting machine, comprising a support structure provided with a table for positioning a stack of sheets to be fed, at least one pair of rotary drums arranged rigid with a drive shaft, and a plurality of operating elements associated with the pair of drums and comprising gripper elements positioned on the drums for gripping the sheets and sucker elements for withdrawing a single sheet from the bottom of said stack and transporting it towards the gripper elements. The drive shaft being divided into two parts which can be connected together in an intermediate region in a relative position rotated through any angle, a first linkage system comprising levers and cams being operationally associated with the operating elements of a first drum and a second similar linkage system being associated with the operating elements of a second drum, these being arranged on each of the two drive shaft parts.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating thin, flat articles, such as blanks of cardboard displaced successively, in a continuous line, on at least one conveyor. This apparatus is characterized in that it comprises, opposite the conveyor, a lever for hooking the articles, mounted to rotate about a transverse, horizontal axis, this lever bearing, on the one hand, a claw for holding the articles, and, on the other hand, at least one connecting rod extending longitudinally downstream, mounted to rotate on the lever, about a transverse horizontal axis, and carrying, in its downstream part, at least one wheel bearing on the articles located on the conveyor, each wheel being made so as to present a low rotational inertia, and a spring is provided between the connecting rod and the lever.

Abstract: In a fan delivery unit of a folder having a plurality of fan discs arranged next to one another on a motor shaft, the fan discs being formed with a plurality of fan blades having fan pockets therebetween, there is provided a device for braking printed products. The braking device includes driven brake shaft disposed parallel to the motor shaft, a plurality of brake rollers corresponding in number to the number of fan discs being mounted on the brake shaft, and a device for driving the brake shaft via the motor shaft selectively in one of two rotational directions. The brake rollers and leading edges of the fan blades are cooperative for delaying travel of a printed product introduced into the respective fan pockets.

Abstract: An uncasing and sorting machine for refillable plastic bottles includes a first conveyor arrangement having an inlet section, an intermediate section, and an outlet section, the intermediate section being positioned within a water bath. Crates of sortable bottles are carried by the first conveyor through the described sections such that lightweight plastic bottles are allowed to float within the water bath. To assist in the upward lift of the lightweight bottles in the water bath, a secondary propulsion force of air or water is provided beneath the bottles. Those bottles which are lifted due to their combined buoyancy and the secondary propulsion force, are transported to a separate facility via a secondary conveyor of either mechanical or air type.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus (100) that may be attached to or integrated with a system (200) for performing a plurality of functions on a single sheet of paper. The apparatus (100) includes one or more elongate tray elements (102), having an end stop element (110) to stop the movement of the sheet of paper as it is delivered to the tray element (102). A rotation element (104), such as a roll bar, is attached to the tray element (102) and proximate to the receiving end (101) of the tray element (102). The rotation element (104) may selectively be activated by a motor (112) attached to the rotation element (104), to rotate the tray element (102) from a first position for receiving a sheet of paper from an output port (206) of one device, to a second position for delivering that same sheet of paper to the input port (208) of another device.

Abstract: A screening deck is shown and described including an intermediate frame structure mountable to the screening deck in a manner similar to that of an original screen component, but providing mounting formations for attachment of a plurality of screen modules thereon. The screening deck need not be modified in order to receive the intermediate frame. The intermediate frame may be applied to either a crowned screening deck or a flat screening deck. In the crowned configuration, the intermediate frame takes a form similar to the original screen, but includes mounting rails for receiving the screen modules. In the flat screening deck configuration, individual intermediate frame components mount along the longitudinal support beams and provide formations for mounting of screen components thereon. In each illustrated embodiment, individual screen components are mounted and dismounted without separate fastening elements and enjoy support along at least two edges thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for feeding sheets, one by one, from a stack of sheets stored in a sheet placement unit. The sheet feeding device basically comprises suction cups or pads facing one end of the edge of an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, for taking out the uppermost sheet, an engaging member located at the sheet placement unit, for supporting the leading ends in the withdrawal direction of the stacked sheets, and a roller disposed near the engaging member and positioned to face a cut-away portion in a portion of the engaging member facing the opposite end of the uppermost sheet, the opposite end being spaced away from the suction pads. The cut-away portion is formed to prevent the opposite end of the uppermost sheet from contacting with the engaging member due to hang down of the uppermost sheet. In addition, the cut-away portion is inclined downwards toward the opposite end of the uppermost sheet from the one end thereof.

Abstract: An arrangement for presorting recyclable materials includes a first sector-shaped plastic bag having a first opening, a second sector-shaped plastic bag having a second opening, and a third sector-shaped plastic bag having a third opening. A first connector connects the first sector-shaped plastic bag to the second sector-shaped plastic bag near the first and second openings such that the second sector-shaped plastic bag can be disconnected from the first sector-shaped plastic bag to allow connection of a fourth sector-shaped plastic bag (that is identical to the second sector-shaped plastic bag) to the first sector-shaped plastic bag without having to remove the first sector-shaped plastic bag.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a vibration member having at least one circular-arc portion, for generating a travelling wave, and a sheet guide for guiding a sheet. Since an amplitude of vibration at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member is smaller than an amplitude of vibration at an outer circumferential side, a distortion is produced in the vibration member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sheet. The sheet guide is provided at an inner circumferential side of the vibration member, so that the sheet is fed due to the distortion while being pressed against the sheet guide. Hence, an oblique movement of the sheet due to unevenness in the thickness of the sheet can be prevented.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a rotary sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet support, a rotary feed roller for feeding the sheet in normal and reverse directions with respect to a sheet feeding direction, and a load set control for prohibiting a reverse rotation of the rotary sheet supply roller is disclosed. A skew-feed of the sheet is corrected by the feeding of the sheet in the reverse direction by use of the rotary feed roller and the load set control.

Abstract: The present invention describes an automatic paper sheet feeding apparatus for automatically feeding a number of paper sheets one by one at regular intervals. A cylindrical bushing 10 inserted in and fixed at a automatic paper sheet feed roller shaft 3 has a detent part 10b and an elastic piece 10a allowing elastic motion to a direction of the paper sheet feed roller shaft 3. A cylindrical part 20a united with an automatic paper sheet feed gear 20 has an elastic piece 20b allowing elastic motion in the paper sheet feed roller shaft 3 direction and confronted with the elastic piece 10a of the bushing 10. The automatic paper sheet feed roller shaft 3 is inserted into the automatic paper sheet feed gear 20 through the bushing 10 so that the automatic paper sheet feed gear 20 can rotate. The elastic piece 20b of the automatic paper sheet feed gear 20 is engaged with the detent part 10 b of the bushing 10, so that the automatic paper sheet feeding operation is performed.

Abstract: A bale spike frame for lifting and carrying bales weighing 2,000 pounds or more. The frame members are tied together and reinforced at strategic locations by an integrating plate. The frame is a welded assembly made basically of tubular steel stock having a square cross section and also of some steel plate stock. It has elongated tubular top and bottom members joined to shorter length plate members at their ends to form a rectangular frame. A main bale spike mounting socket is provided in the top frame member and two tubular inserts are provided in the lower frame member for attaching bale stabilizing spikes. An intermediate frame member located directly below the socket extends perpendicularly between the top and bottom frame members and is butt welded thereto. Peripherally welded integrating plates extend from below the bottom end of the intermediate frame member over its front and rear faces and onto the top surface of the top frame member.

Abstract: An optional cassette can be used for a electrophotographic process engine which occupies a minimum installation space and provides easy removal of jammed paper. A lower surface of the electrophotographic process engine is joined in steps with an upper surface of the optional cassette, and the the electrophotographic process engine comprises a second paper cassette and a second transmission passage formed vertically to a pull of paper in the second paper cassette. The optional cassette comprises an optional cassette module having a paper cassette slot for inserting a first paper cassette, and a pick up roller for picking up a paper form an uppermost paper of a paper pile in a position near the paper cassette slot and in the upper side of the option cassette module.

Abstract: A document feed apparatus is provided which feeds document sheets from a stack of sheets seriatum to a position remote from the stack. Two motor driven feed belts are pivotally mounted to contact or not contact a top sheet of the stack. The belts are driven by separate motors which are activated or deactivated depending upon the top sheet position.

Abstract: A vehicle for feeding and screening material including a wheel-supported vehicle frame and a material-transport conveyor extending from one end of the vehicle frame to a raised end located between the ends of the vehicle frame. A multiple deck screen assembly forms an extension of the material-transport conveyor, and inclines downwardly toward a discharge end located at the opposite end of the vehicle frame. Off-bearing conveyors are adjustable to transport screened material laterally of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a first cassette which holds first conventional thin, wide sheets; a first sheet separator positioned along a first transport path in order to separate the first sheets from one another, and including a first forward roller rotated in the sheet transport direction, a first parallel retard roller rotatable in an opposite direction, and a drive mechanism which transmits the driving force to the first retard roller only when the first forward roller and the first retard roller are out of contact with each other, such that otherwise, the first retard roller moves together with the first forward roller when they are in contact with each other, the first forward roller and first retard roller being held out of contact with each other when a first sheet is placed therebetween; a second cassette which holds the first sheets or second thicker, narrow sheets which does not permit the first forward roller and the first retard roller to contact each other when placed therebetween; and a

Abstract: A rotary drum assembly contains a flowable material and includes peripheral openings through which the material can flow to form pieces of the material on a belt traveling beneath the drum assembly. A guide contacts the outer periphery of the drum assembly for pressing residual material back into the openings. The guide can be pivoted away from the drum assembly for servicing, and can be adjusted to different positions around the circumference of the drum assembly.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for sequentially moving sheets into a predetermined registration position with a sheet support surface of an associated optical imaging device including a sheet displacement assembly for engaging and guidingly displacing the sheet along a predetermined displacement path having an upstream end and a downstream end; an abutment surface disposed along the displacement path in spaced relationship from the sheet support surface; and a drive for driving the displacement assembly for moving the sheet downstream a predetermined distance along the path past the abutment surface, then moving the sheet upstream into edge aligning engagement with the abutment surface and then moving the sheet downstream a predetermined distance along the path.

Abstract: A sheet separation pile feeder (34) includes a sheet separation enhancer comprising first and second tubular blow members (42, 42'), each having a plurality of specially-arranged blow holes (44, 44' 44a, 44'a) therein, extending across a leading side (22) of a pile from which forward-most sheets (18) are fed. Each tubular blow member is rotatably mounted so that it can rotate about its axis relative to the pile and a pressure means pressurizes interiors of the tubular blow members for creating streams of fluid (52, 52') coming from the blow holes directed toward the leading side of the pile. Thus, each of the tubular blow members can be rotated to adjust directions at which the streams of fluid from the holes contact the leading side of the pile to enhance feeding of the forward-most sheet thereof being fed from the pile. The first and second blow tubes are parallel to one another and to the sheets in the pile.

Abstract: A sheet feeder with single sheet bypass sheet feeding capability has a sheet support platform for supporting a stack of sheets, at least one sheet feed roll fixedly mounted on a rotatable shaft and having a segmented feed portion for contacting and feeding the top sheet in a stack of sheets and defining therewith a sheet feeding path, sheet registration rolls downstream of the feed roll, at least one sheet bypass registration finger upstream of the registration rolls and downstream of and freely mounted about the feed roll shaft in the sheet feeding path, a sheet bypass guide rotatably mounted about the sheet registration rolls, the bypass guide having an angled sheet entrance throat to center a sheet and guide the leading edge into said bypass registration finger, the feed roll being rotatable through an opening in the bypass guide from a nonfeeding, standby position where the segmented portion is on the side of the shaft opposite the sheet support platform and a sheet feeding position where the segmented po