Abstract: A stapling apparatus for an office machine includes a housing having a fixed position output providing a sequential source of sheets. An output tray is mounted on the housing adjacent the output for supporting the sheets. A compiler shelf is located on the housing adjacent the output tray. A compiling mechanism is mounted on the housing. A stapler is movably mounted on the housing and is longitudinally reciprocable in relation to the shelf and the compiling mechanism. The stapler and the compiler mechanism are so located in relationship to each other that the stapler has a strictly linear motion along an edge of the sheets.

Abstract: A paper transport system includes an apparatus for controlling movement of the sheets along the predetermined course to provide sheet buffering. The apparatus includes first and second friction surfaces mounted for movement in orbital paths on opposite sides of the predetermined course in opposed relationship to define a nip through which the paper sheets pass. A selectively operable drive is provided for independently controlling the movement of the first and second friction surfaces, and the first friction surface has a coefficient of friction with the paper sheets which is greater than the coefficient of friction of the second surface with the paper sheets which is in turn greater than the coefficient of friction between the paper sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking, registering and attaching one or multiple sets of electrophotographic printing machine output. The copy sheets are discharged from the machine and fall into an inclined compiling tray and are longitudinally registered by flexible, endless belts contacting the top surface of each sheet. Each sheet is then laterally shifted by a tamping mechanism which has upwardly flared baffle to corrugate the sheet as it is shifted to increase the sheet beam strength and facilitate easier and more complete registration. The discharge nip assembly which includes the flexible belts is vertically adjustable either based on discharged sheet count or in response to feedback from a stack height sensor so as to maintain optimum contact by the endless registration belt and allow for high capacity compiling. The compiling tray can also be adjustable.

Abstract: An automatic copy paper selecting device that chooses the proper type of copy sheet based on the paper weight of the sheets of the original document without the necessity of utilizing coded control sheets or other operator input. A paper weight sensor in the document handler determines the weight of each original sheet and sends a signal to a programmable controller which then selects the proper copy sheet feed tray based on preprogrammed parameters.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking system with top sheet input registration assistance by a scuffer, or the like, and a cooperative floating buckle suppression baffle or ski over the stack, this floating baffle can provide plural mode functions by providing an integral sheet stopping lip extending downwardly from the top of the stack along one edge thereof to provide stack edge registration and to prevent registration edge climbing of incoming sheets. Also disclosed is a spring or other flotation and mounting system for automatically maintaining a baffle spaced within a few millimeters above the top of said stack, and automatically moved up as incoming sheets are added to the top of said stack, to allow incoming sheets to be easily fed thereunder with low friction. Preferably the spacing is maintained by the scuffer position.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking system with top sheet input registration assistance by a scuffer, or the like, and a cooperative floating buckle suppression baffle or ski over the stack, disclosed is a flotation and mounting system for automatically maintaining a baffle evenly spaced closely above the top of said stack, and automatically moved up as incoming sheets are added to the top of said stack, to allow incoming sheets to be easily fed thereunder with low friction. Preferably this spacing is maintained by the scuffer position. This floating baffle can also provide an integral sheet stopping lip extending downwardly from the top of the stack along one edge thereof to provide stack edge registration and to prevent registration edge climbing of incoming sheets.