Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are disclosed separating sheets of media.

Abstract: A sheet feed assembly with a pair of rollers to feed sheets of media along a feed path. The roller pair has a drive roller and an idler roller. The drive roller is mounted between two bearings and for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The idler roller is shorter than the drive roller and is held against the drive roller by two guide formations and at either end. The guide formations bias the idler roller against the drive roller while allowing some lateral displacement of the idler roller from the drive roller.

Abstract: For separating individual flat and bendable objects (2) from the underside of a stack of such objects (2), and for the onward transportation of &the objects, the invention provides a stacking space (1), a carrier wheel (3) on which suction devices (4) and grippers (5) are mounted, and transportation means (16), wherein the carrier wheel (3) is disposed below the stacking space (1) in such a manner that the suction devices (4), rotating with the carrier wheel (3), can consecutively take hold of an edge region of the object (2) at the bottom of the stack and bend it downward into the jaws of the following gripper (5), and in such a manner that the object (2) is then transported onward by the gripper (5) and can be deposited on the transportation means (6).

Abstract: A method includes receiving a sheet of material at a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to measure a property of the sheet. The method also includes stabilizing the sheet with respect to the sensor using a guide roller. Stabilizing the sheet includes using the guide roller to remove at least a portion of a first boundary layer of air moving towards the guide roller and to reform at least a portion of a second boundary layer of air moving away from the guide roller. For example, the guide roller could include a plurality of grooves or openings in a surface of the guide roller, or the guide roller could include a plurality of rings spaced apart from one another. Air could move from one side of the guide roller to another side of the guide roller through the grooves, through the openings, or between the rings.

Abstract: A device and system for registering or justifying product such as mail pieces in a vertical position for future processing of such mail pieces. The system includes a mounting block having an angled bore and a driven alignment mechanism mounted within the angled bore. The driven alignment mechanism includes a shaft assembly mounted in the angled bore such that the shaft assembly is at approximately a same angle as the angled bore. At least one surface is mounted to the shaft assembly which, when contacting a product, is driven and provides a downward correction vector to the product for vertically aligning the product.

Abstract: A paper guide adjusting mechanism of an office machine includes a main body, a plurality of elastic elements, a transmission member, a plurality of fixing elements and a pressing plate. The main body includes a plurality of confining elements, which have respective recess structures. The transmission member includes a roller axle and a plurality of rollers, wherein the roller axle is partially received in the recess structures and the rollers are sheathed around the roller axle. The fixing elements are disposed in respective recess structures of the confining elements, wherein each fixing element has a base and the base has a first surface sustained against a corresponding elastic element and a second surface sustained against the roller axle. The pressing plate is sustained against the elastic elements.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a pair of first rollers, the first rollers being disposed to oppose circumferential surfaces thereof with each other; a pair of second rollers, the second rollers being disposed to oppose circumferential surfaces thereof with each other; a guide plate that has a sheet conveyance face for guiding a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed in a conveying direction from the pair of first rollers toward the pair of second rollers, the guide plate being formed with one or more holes; and a sound absorbing member that is disposed on a back face of the guide plate, which opposes the sheet conveyance face, the sound absorbing member absorbing a sound transmitted through the hole formed on the guide plate.

Abstract: A cam unit includes three cams fixed on a common cam shaft for moving a pair of feeding rollers, a pair of lateral registration rollers, and a stopper unit, respectively. A control unit corrects a lateral registration of a sheet whose skew is corrected by the stopper unit, based on a detection result of a detecting unit that detects a position of a side edge of the sheet, while conveying the sheet, controls the rollers not nip the sheet at least during the lateral registration, and controls rotations of the cams according to a length of the sheet.

Abstract: In this image generating apparatus, a paper cassette mounted on an apparatus body includes a pressing portion employed for pressing a first side surface of a paper rearward with respect to a first direction for feeding the paper and so arranged that the distance from a second roller is smaller than the length of the paper in the first direction when the paper cassette is mounted on the apparatus body.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a guide rod; a housing member having a guide part for abutting a document placed on a document table and positioning one side of the document on a table face of the document table and a first positioning part and a second positioning part projecting to the back side of the document table, when both end parts of the guide rod abut against the first positioning part and the second positioning part, the first positioning part and the second positioning part for positioning the guide rod at a position where the one side of the document positioned by the guide part and the longitudinal direction axis are parallel; a fix unit for pressing the guide rod against the first positioning part and the second positioning part; a carriage being fitted slidably into the guide rod; and a carriage drive section for moving the carriage along the guide rod.

Abstract: A conveying roller and a paper expelling roller provided upstream and downstream, respectively, of a recording portion in a conveyance direction are connected via an idler gear so as to be able to perform drive transmission, a rotation drive amount of the idler gear is detected, ends of a recording medium in the conveyance direction are detected, driving of a conveying motor is controlled based on detection signals of the rotation drive amount of the idler gear and the ends of the recording medium, and a control constant is made variable according to a position of the recording medium in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning sheet stacks in a feeder of sheet processing machines includes a motor-driven aligning plate and a movement converter situated between a motor drive and the aligning plate. The movement converter forces a movement describing approximately a circular path onto the aligning plate. A vertical speed component of the aligning plate during aligning corresponds to an upward speed of a feeder stack. A method for aligning sheet stacks in a feeder of a sheet processing machine as well as a sheet processing machine, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for deskewing a sheet. The method includes positioning a lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair to form a substantially vertical transport path, wherein the lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair each form a nip. The method includes driving the lower roller pair and the at least one upper roller pair so as to transport the sheet upward along the substantially vertical transport path, opening the nip formed by the at least one upper roller pair as a trailing edge of the sheet approaches the lower roller pair. The method further includes continuing to drive the lower roller pair so that the trailing edge passes through the nip formed by the lower roller pair and upward movement of the sheet ceases with the trailing edge supported by the lower roller pair, wherein gravity and continued rotation of the lower roller pair work together align the trailing edge with the lower roller pair.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet tray, a pickup roller, a feed roller, a driving motor to drive the feed roller via a feed clutch, and a reverse roller connected to a reverse shaft driven by the driving motor via a torque limiter. The feed clutch is turned OFF when a trailing edge of a sheet passes through a nip formed between the feed and reverse rollers so as to disconnect the driving motor in order to enable the feed roller to freely rotate. The rotation of the reverse shaft is transmitted to the reverse roller by the operation of the torque limiter so as to enable the reverse roller to rotate and return the next sheet nipped by the reverse and feed rollers in a counter sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed. First and second conveying roller pairs are arranged on the conveying path at a predetermined distance from each other. Overlapping conveyance sensing devices are located between the first and second conveying roller pairs and include opposing transmission device and reception device. A distance between the first and second conveying roller pairs is shorter than a length of a minimum size sheet in a conveying direction. In the conveying path between the conveying roller pairs, guide members are disposed to sandwich the transmission device and reception device. The guide members are configured to project upward or downward from a sheet conveying line by a predetermined amount with respect to the conveying path, the sheet conveying line extending through nip points of the first and second conveying roller pairs.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism for an inkjet printer having a rapid printing speed and which continuously supplies and discharges sheets of paper during alignment operations of the feed roller. The paper feeding mechanism includes a drive gear coaxially coupled to a shaft of drive roller for transferring a sheet to a printing zone, a feed gear coaxially coupled to a shaft of the feed roller and operating to align the sheet transferred from the drive roller, and a discharge gear coaxially coupled to a shaft of discharge roller for discharging the sheet that has passed through the printing zone. The paper feeding mechanism further includes a motor for supplying a rotation power to the shaft of the feed roller, and a power transfer unit for transferring the rotation power of the shaft of the feed roller to the drive gear and the discharge gear.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for a printing device includes a pickup roller and a feeding roller picking up sheets loaded on a tray and feeding the sheets into a sheet feeding path, respectively, a rotation member installed on a rotation shaft of the feeding roller to support and rotate the pickup roller at a free end, a relay gear engaging the feeding roller and the pickup roller, a clutch unit selectively transferring a raising force of the rotation shaft to the rotation member, and a stopper installed in the rotation member to be elevated and lowered with respect to the rotation member to block a path between the pickup roller and the feeding roller. Accordingly, since the pickup roller is raised to allow the sheets to be loaded and then lowered after the sheets are loaded on the tray, front ends of the sheets are automatically inserted under the pickup roller.

Abstract: A media conveying mechanism located in a media data recorder for conveying media mainly includes a driving motor to provide driving power needed. A first clutch to control the operation of a pickup roller. A second clutch to control rotation direction of an intermediate roller, a sensor to detect the conveying process of the media and control the operation of the second clutch. By deploying the two clutches, conveying quantity of the media in a unit time period can be effectively improved.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus and method for an image information processor in which a paper sheet with image information recorded thereon can be prevented from a skew carriage. The paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a driving motor which is controlled to be shifted from a forward revolution mode to a reverse revolution mode or vice versa. The paper conveying apparatus further includes a power cleaving means that selectively supplies the power to a first power transmitting system and to a second power transmitting system.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding device having a forwardly rotating conveying rotary member and a reversely rotating separating rotary member, and for separating and conveying sheets one by one by a sheet separating portion comprised of these two rotary members, the setting of an appropriate center distance when a sheet is separated and conveyed with the center distance between the conveying rotary member and the separating rotary member fixed is effected smoothly within a short time, and a first sheet feeding mode for effecting sheet feeding while automatically adjusting the center distance for each sheet by a center distance changing device and a controller and a second sheet feeding mode for effecting sheet feeding with the center distance fixed can be arbitrarily selected, and when the setting of the center distance during the selection of the second sheet feeding mode is to be effected, the execution of the center distance setting standard operation (adjusting operation) of detecting the center distance automatically

Abstract: A conveyor system conveys sheets of different widths in a direction normal to the direction of width with an edge of each sheet held along a reference position. The conveyor system includes a drive roller and a nip roller and conveys the sheet with the nip roller urged toward the drive roller under its gravity and a predetermined urging force. The nip roller is heavier at a part on the side of the reference position than at a part on the side opposite to the reference position and is substantially uniform in weight over a predetermined length between the end on the side of the reference position and a part at a predetermined distance from the end on the side of the reference position, and the predetermined urging force is set stronger on the side opposite to the reference position than on the side of the reference position.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing media through a hardcopy device includes a cylindrical guide wheel having a first radius mounted on a shaft having an axis transverse to a media feed path axis. A guide surface is spaced apart from the guide wheel and defines a media feed path between the guide wheel and the guide surface. A drive wheel having an extended portion that is concentric with the guide wheel, and which has a greater radius than the first radius is fixed to the shaft. A pinch roller communicates with the media feed path.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus includes a cam set fixed to a drive shaft and being driven selectively by the drive shaft. The drive shaft selectively rotates in a first direction and a second direction. The cam set includes a first cam, a second cam, and a first one-way clutch. The present invention further includes a one-way gear train fixed to the drive shaft and being driven selectively by the drive shaft; a paper-stopping plate connected with a paper-stopping arm; a pick-up roller fixed to and rotatable with a pick-up shaft; a strip roller fixed to and rotatable with a strip shaft; and a gear train transferring the power from the one-way drive gear set to the pick-up roller and the strip roller. The relative operational relationship between the pick-up arm and the paper-stopping arm is coordinated by the cam set.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus and method for an image information processor in which a paper sheet with image information recorded thereon can be prevented from a skew carriage. The paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a driving motor which is controlled to be shifted from a forward revolution mode to a reverse revolution mode or vice versa. The paper conveying apparatus further includes a power cleaving means that selectively supplies the power to a first power transmitting system and to a second power transmitting system.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus and method for an image information processor in which a paper sheet with image information recorded thereon can be prevented from a skew carriage. The paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a driving motor which is controlled to be shifted from a forward revolution mode to a reverse revolution mode or vice versa. The paper conveying apparatus further includes a power cleaving means that selectively supplies the power to a first power transmitting system and to a second power transmitting system.

Abstract: In order to provide a paper feeding apparatus which is miniaturized by inclining a conveying passage and can quickly feed a manuscript even if the manuscript is thick, there is provided a paper feeding apparatus in which a conveying passage for a manuscripts is formed so as to continuously connected with a hopper on which the manuscripts are placed, and the manuscripts placed on the hopper are picked up one by one from an uppermost one thereof and fed to the conveying passage, wherein the conveying passage is inclined in the height direction so that the hopper side thereof is downward, and the angle of the hopper can be set so as to be arranged in a straight line in accordance with the inclination of the conveying passage.

Abstract: A printer comprises a loader (2) for supports (1) to be printed, a printing device (9) and transfer elements delimiting a series of gripping regions (8) forming a transport path (8A) to lead sequentially the printed supports (1) from the outlet (5) of the loader (2) to the printing device (9) and from the printing device (9) toward collection elements disposed below the loader (2). At least the portion of a wall (7) with an opening (4) of the loader (2) is inclined at a positive angle relative to the transport path (8A) to give to the support (1) to be printed an inclination in the inlet direction of a first gripping region (8) of the transport path (8A). The inlet is provided with a deflector (11).

Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.

Abstract: A card device comprises a card-dispensing stop board which is provided with two racks mounted thereon. The stop board can be adjusted in position by a gear shaft of the card device. The gear shaft is provided with two gears mounted on both ends thereof such that the two gears are meshed with the two racks of the stop board. The gear shaft is provided at one end with a rotary knob for actuating the gear shaft to drive the stop board to displace upward or downward.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a movable sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a sheet feeding roller urged against the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and adapted to rotate in a sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, a separating roller opposed to the sheet feeding roller and adapted to rotate in a direction along which the sheet is restored to separate the sheet fed from the sheet feeding roller, a feeding device disposed at a downstream side of the sheet feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction and adapted to feed the sheet fed from the sheet feeding roller, and a pressing and retracting device for moving the sheet supporting device to bring the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device into presser contact with the sheet feeding roller and release the pressure contact, and wherein the sheet supporting device which places the sheet into pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller is moved by the pressing and retracting device to release the pressure contact b

Abstract: The feeding mechanism for feeding media from an initial site to a predetermined site comprises a base, a scrubber, a deskewer, two feeders, a lifting device having two cam portions, a driving element and a releasing device. The deskewer is moved between a first position and a second position and sets the media located at the initial site. The two feeders are used for transmitting the media located at the initial site toward the predetermined site. The cam portions are used as a lifter to move the deskewer from the first position to the second position. The driving element disposed between the lifting device and the releasing device generates forces to actuate the cam portions to move the deskewer. The releasing device is used as an overload protection clutch connected between the lifting device and the driving element, having a first plate separately contacting the driving element.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a printer, e.g., a stencil printer including an ink drum with a master wrapped therearound and a press drum one of which is pressed against the other during printing is disclosed. The sheet feeding device is capable of feeding a sheet at a preselected speed without regard to a print speed varying every moment due to various factors particular to an ink drum driveline, i.e., whether a set print speed is higher than a standard print speed or lower than the same. This successfully obviates the short loop of a sheet which would result in a skew or a feed failure. In addition, the device reduces noise at print speeds lower than the standard print speed and used more often than the other print speeds.

Abstract: A media guiding apparatus and related method for reliably directing a media sheet from a media tray to a transport nip are provided. In one embodiment the media guiding apparatus includes at least one guide member that extends from a first guide surface adjacent to the transport nip to the sheet separator in the media tray. The guide member cooperates with a second guide surface to create a substantially uninterrupted media path between the sheet separator and the transport nip. The guide member is also extendible as the sheet separator moves relative to the first and second guide surfaces within the media tray. In another embodiment, the media guiding apparatus comprises a fan that creates a positive air pressure that urges the sheet against a guide surface as the sheet advances toward the transport nip.

Abstract: A device of aligning or arranging a paper in a printer comprising a transport part including feed roller and pinch roller, and which transports or counter-transport a paper between the rollers; a pickup roller which supplies a sheet of papers of paper load cassette to the roller; a paper feed plate providing the pressure for the frictional power to pick up a paper; and one-way clutch for preserving frictional power between a pickup roller and a paper when the feed roller which drives the pickup roller rotates in a counter direction.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus includes a tray to be loaded with a stack of sheets, a side guide for preventing the sheets from skewing, and a sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially picking up and feeding the sheets, the top sheet being first. The tray includes an abutment parallel to a direction of sheet conveyance. The stack of sheets abut against the abutment at one side thereof. The side guide is movable toward and away from the abutment in matching relation to the size of the sheets. The sheet feeding mechanism is positioned at the intermediate between the abutment and the position of the side guide matching with sheets of minimum size available with the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a movable sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a sheet feeding device urged against the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and adapted to rotate in a sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, a feeding device disposed at a downstream side of the sheet feeding device in the sheet feeding direction and adapted to feed the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, a separating roller adapted to rotate in a sheet restoring direction to restore the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, a drive transmitting device for stopping rotation of the sheet feeding device toward the sheet feeding direction before a leading end of the sheet fed out from the sheet supporting device by the sheet feeding device reaches the feeding device and then for rotating the sheet feeding device in the sheet feeding direction again, and a pressing and retracting device for moving the sheet supporting device which abutted the sheet against the sheet feeding device before the lead

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a pair of feeding roller and separating roller an inter-shaft distance changing mechanism for the pair of rollers, and sheet detecting means, and a sheet fed is rammed against the surface on which the feeding roller and the separating roller overlap each other to thereby correct skew feeding, and the feeding roller and the separating roller are moved away from each other to thereby feed the sheet. When the passage of the fed sheet between the feeding roller and the separating roller is detected the feeding roller and the separating roller assume a state in which sheet feeding is impossible. By the above-described operation being performed for each sheet, the correction of skew feeding and the separation of a sheet are effected by the feeding roller and the separating roller.