Abstract: An apparatus includes a discharge mechanism including a drive roller rotatable in a normal direction to discharge a medium and in a reverse direction reversed to the normal direction, and a driven roller in contact with the drive roller and configured to be rotated by the rotation of the drive roller. The apparatus also includes a stacker on which the medium discharged from the discharge mechanism is to be stacked. The driven roller is movable in position depending on the rotation of the drive roller in the normal direction or the reverse direction, such that the driven roller is located at a first position in the vicinity of the stacker when the drive roller is rotating in the normal direction, and the driven roller is located at a second position further away from the stacker than the first position when the drive roller is rotating in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A sheet separator machine for cartons for packaging from a warehouse, typically a well warehouse, in which the cartons are stacked. More particularly, a machine for separating sheets of cartons. The machine includes a frame on which a handling station of the cartons, a warehouse for at least one stack of cartons, and a gripping station of the cartons, are mounted, in an operatively contiguous position. The gripping station includes a pair of counter-rotating motorized rolls for withdrawing a carton from the stack of cartons.

Abstract: A method and device to supply a processing section adjoining the device with print products withdrawn from a stack of print products in a feeder. The device including a magazine to contain the stack of print products and a separating device to separate a lowest print product from the stack along an edge region of the lowest print product formed by a sheet edge or a last fold. The device further includes a rear holder that is displaceable in coordination with the separating device to support the stack remaining during a cycle of withdrawing the lowest print product from the stack. A withdrawing device withdraws the lowest print product from an underside of the stack and includes a gripper to grip a front end of the lowest print product in the withdrawing direction while operating with timing of the separating device and the rear holder in the cycle.

Abstract: A system for transporting an object between stations, for example, from a magazine to a conveyor is provided having a rotary apparatus having two arms, wherein a first arm rocks back and forth between two positions and a second arm rotates about an axis on the first arm. The second arm can be fixedly connected to a holder having one or more suction heads for grasping the object. Preferably, the holder is arranged parallel to the object and moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the object as the object is removed from the magazine. Additionally, the holder is preferably displaced above the conveyor and positioned to be parallel to the conveyor, after which the holder is moved toward the conveyor in a path that is perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor. Therefore, the lateral force, shearing force, and friction exerted on the object during removal from the magazine and deposition onto the conveyor can be minimized.

Abstract: Empty, flat folded storage bags which may be valve bags are prepared for filling with a flowable material, by seating and stacking a plurality of the bags on a fixed elevation base within a chamber of a bag holding magazine assembly, the resulting stack defining an initial stack rising from a lowermost one the bags on the base to an uppermost one of the bags. In a first cycle of operation, all but the lowermost bag is raised away from the base, the raised bags defining a depleted stack of bags. Then, while the depleted stack remains raised, the lowermost bag is removed from the chamber through a chamber outlet opening. Then, the depleted stack is lowered to seat a new lowermost bag on the base to complete first cycle. The cycle is repeated for each lowermost bag.

Abstract: A device for separating of individual, flat objects from the underside of a stack of this kind of objects (2) includes a roll bed conveyor consisting of a plurality of circulating rollers (9) and supporting the stack from beneath, wherein the rollers (9) are respectively rotatable around their longitudinal axis (10) and are moved along an orbit (11). Hereby the rollers (9) are coupled by a coupling (8) to at least one roller wheel (7) and, by means of this coupling, the longitudinal axes (10) of the rollers (9) are respectively pivotable in relation to the roller wheel (7). The rollers (9) are pivoted in a releasing region (13) of the orbit (11), through which an opening of the roll bed conveyor is created. Thus, the flat objects (2) can individually be conveyed from beneath the stack and transported away through the opening.

Abstract: A rotary transfer mechanism for transferring flat sleeve cartons (20) from a magazine (22) to a receiving station (23) on a conveyor (24), with opening of the cartons ready to receive end-loaded product, is characterized in that the path of suction cups (32) for holding the cartons during transfer is basically determined by a continuous stationary cam track (34) permanently engaged by a cam follower (37) on a gear segment (35) pivotally mounted on carrier means (29) rotatable by a drive shaft (26), the suction cups (32) being carried by a support shaft (30) rotatable on the carrier means and coaxial with a pinion (38) meshing with the gear segment. (35), and the support shaft being connected to a bracket (48) carrying a manifold (47) for the suction cups (32) by a crank arm (53), which is connected by a link arm (54) to a rocker arm (55) freely rotatable on the drive shaft (26).

Abstract: A system providing printer resource sharing in a communication network is disclosed and may include a first communication device deployed in a first location, a second communication device deployed in a second location, and a communication network communicatively coupled to the first communication device and the second communication device. At least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the first communication device. The first communication device deployed in the first location may enable printing of information content on the at least one personal printer resource, at a request of a user of the second communication device. The user of the first communication device may receive a signal from the second communication device that authenticates the second communication device, prior to printing of the information content on the at least one personal printer resource at the request of the user of the second communication device.

Abstract: An image reader has a transport passage for transporting an original, a CIS for reading an image on the original transported on the transport passage, and a control member for pressing the transported original against an abutment member disposed at an opposed side of the transport passage at a read position of the CIS. The original does not slide on glass at the read position of the CIS and is moved with the original abutted against the abutment member of a chute on the opposed side, and image data is read in sequence.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transferring printed products and comprises the steps of pulling a printed product from a stack using a feed device running at a first preselected speed, accelerating the feed device after pulling the printed product from the stack and releasing the printed product from the feed device at a second preselected speed greater than the first speed.

Abstract: A take-out device includes a take-out mechanism which takes out postal matters supplied to a take-out position at one end of a deposit section one by one, a separating mechanism which separates second and subsequent postal matters that are carried along with a postal matter to be taken out from the take-out position, and an auxiliary mechanism which applies a negative pressure to the postal matter on the take-out position so as to feed it in both forward and opposite directions. The separating mechanism applies a negative pressure to the postal matter on the conveyance path via a plurality of adsorption holes of a separating roller so as to adsorb it, and applies a separating torque in an opposite direction to the take-out direction thereto.

Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding a series of cartons into selected flights of a carton conveyor is disclosed. The carton feeding system generally includes a rotary feeder having a series of carton feeding assemblies rotated thereabout. The carton engaging assemblies are attached to a gearing system or mechanism that controls the operating angle of the carton engaging assemblies as they engage or pick the cartons from a magazine or supply. Thereafter, the cartons are erected within the flights of a carton conveyor moving beneath the rotary feeder as the carton engaging elements are carried about their path of travel.

Abstract: A supply station for positioning enclosures on an enclosure-collating path of a mail-processing installation allows a simple conversion from operation for processing a stack of comparatively flexible, thin enclosures to operation for processing a stack of comparatively thick, essentially inflexible enclosures. The conversion is achieved using a magazine housing inside a supply station housing mounted so that it can be secured in two different pivot positions, whereby in one pivot position the lowermost enclosure of a stack of enclosures is bent using a vacuum arrangement in which the front end of the enclosure in the withdrawal direction can be gripped by a gripper, while in a second pivot position of the magazine housing, the front end in the withdrawal direction of a lowermost, comparatively thick and essentially inflexible enclosure is pushed by means of a pusher arrangement directly into the open claws of the gripper.

Abstract: A method for producing bound books, magazines or brochures by gathering printed sheets into non-bound book blocks along a conveying section that is supplied by at least one sheet feeder includes separating the lowest printed sheet from a stack of printed sheets by lifting one edge region of the lowest printed sheet from the bottom of the printed sheet stack, withdrawing the separated lowest printed sheet with the aid of a conveying element from the remaining sheet stack by gripping the separated edge region with the conveying element, and subsequently withdrawing the separated lowest printed sheet in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the edge region of the remaining sheet stack. The apparatus includes a separating device that lifts up the printed sheet at the stack front and a conveying element that pulls the printed sheet from the stack where both are arranged jointly on a removal unit.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus and method for separating and feeding flat products from a stack to a gripper drum. The invention employs a specially-positioned pivoting and articulating sucker bar, having several degrees of motion, operating in timed relationship with a reciprocating and articulating pusher blade, to reduce the travel distance of vacuum suckers, to reduce the diameter of the gripper drum, and to increase the speed at which products are separated from the stack and transferred to the gripper drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for tilting away a part of a sheet to be separated, in which apparatus a compressed-air supply is sufficient for operating the tilting sucker. To this end, the tilting sucker of the apparatus is assigned a vacuum generator which can be fed with compressed air and which generates a vacuum from the supplied compressed air.

Abstract: Systems and methods of printer resource sharing in a communication network are provided. In one embodiment, the system may comprise, for example, at least one communication device, a communication network, print server software, and at least one personal printer resource. The communication device may be deployed at a location. The communication network may be communicatively coupled to that communication device. The print server software may receive from the communication device via the communication network a request for printing of information content. The print server software may respond by coordinating the printing of the information content. The at least one personal printer resource may be communicatively coupled to the at least one communication device. The print server software may reside outside of the at least one personal printer resource, and the at least one personal printer resource may be accessed for printing by the communication device via the communication network.

Abstract: A sheet material feeder includes a sheet material holder for holding a pile of sheet material; a sucker bar device having at least one sucker for contacting the sheet material, the sucker bar device having a pivot axis, and an actuator for pivoting the sucker bar device about the pivot axis and having a first position and a second position. When the actuator is in the first position, the sucker pivoting about the pivot axis from a first angle where the sucker contacts the sheet material by a predetermined angle so that the sucker removes the sheet material from the pile; and when the actuator is in the second position, the sucker pivoting about the pivot axis from a second angle where the sucker does not contact the sheet material.

Abstract: An automatic bank note pushing device is movably mounted for extending into and out of a bank note storing holder that in turn is slidably mounted in a bank note storing device or safe. The pushing member can retract from the bank note storing holder when the lid is open to enable the bank note storing holder to be slid out. The pushing member can be activated to extend into the bank note storing holder to bias a stack of bank notes to a discharge position when the lid is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting sheets into a fixed image reading position has a drive roller and a pad. The pad has a lower layer made of a flexible material and an upper layer provided on the lower layer and made of rigid material in the form of film with a kinetic friction coefficient of 0.2 or less. The is biased to the drive roller so that the upper layer contacts a peripheral surface of the drive roller to form a nipping region between the drive roller and the pad by a compressive deformation of the flexible lower layer of the pad.

Abstract: A device for separating a lowermost flat product from a stack of flat products including at least one sucker cup moveable so as to removably attach along a front edge portion of the lowermost flat product and to separate the lowermost flat product from a next adjacent flat product in the stack of flat products, and a gripper configured for gripping the lowermost flat product along a lateral edge and for transporting the lowermost flat product away from the stack of flat products.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a processing line with printed products, including folded or non-folded printed sheets, from a stack of printed products. The printed sheets are held in a magazine. A conveyor defines a circulating path and moves in a conveying direction for conveying the printed products to the processing line. A synchronously driven separating mechanism, which is pivotally attached to the magazine, acts upon a closed fold or an edge of the printed product and operates to partially remove the printed product from the stack of printed products. A gripping arrangement includes a controlled gripping device attached to the conveyor in a feeding region of the processing line and essentially moves along in the conveying direction for taking over the printed product from the separating mechanism by gripping a front edge of the printed product relative to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A bag placer magazine such as for feeding flat pleated paper or plastic bags to a bag filling apparatus. The bag magazine accommodates flat pleated bags stacked horizontally on a moveable conveyor platform which circulates around the stacked bags. Bags are removed one at a time from the bottom of the stack. Vacuum operated grippers are sequenced to extend upwardly through sequentially moved openings in the circulating conveyor and pull down an end of the bottom bag and then strip the bottom bag from the stack. The bag falls below the circulating conveyor to a deposit platform where it is indexed to a precise position and then routed to a bag filler station. The bag stack is replenished from the top while bags are being stripped from the bottom so that there is no interruption of the production line process.

Abstract: A feeder device for removing folded or unfolded signatures from a stack of signatures in an adjacent signature magazine and feeding a production line with the signatures. The device includes a conveying rotor having an approximately circular circumference and being rotatable in a conveying direction. The conveying rotor includes a recess at the approximately circular circumference for holding a front edge, in the conveying direction, of a printed product removed from the stack of signatures. A conveying belt partially rests against the circumference of the conveying rotor, and is drivable in the same direction as the conveying rotor, and together with the conveying rotor forms a conveying gap through which the signatures are conveyed to the processing line. At least one synchronously driven separating element includes a control device comprising a pivotal control shaft arranged parallel to the rotational axis of the conveying rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products set operators comprising a lift hook being movable from a closing position to an opening position. The lift hook supports the bottom of a pile of flat products in its closing position and includes an air channel for supplying air through said channel. Alternatively, a separate air tube may be provided.

Abstract: A feeding and conveying system for feeding and conveying sheet material for printing, collating, or binding the sheet material, among other processes. The feeding and conveying system includes at least one feeder having a magazine containing a plurality of articles of sheet material, for example, signatures, a rotatable disk for separating the sheet material from the magazine, and a feed drum for transferring the sheet material from the magazine to a conveyor. The rotatable disk, having at least one separating blade, is reciprocally rotated to separate the sheet material from the magazine. The separation of the sheet material from the magazine may be aided by applying a source of vacuum to the sheet material, for example, by means of suckers. The feed drum may include one or more grasping devices for grasping and retaining the sheet material, for example, one or more grippers. The rotation of the separator disk may be controlled by a programmable controller.

Abstract: A procedure for feeding products in sheet form to a conveyor by at least one sheet feeder with a pile of products in sheet form on a loading table includes the following phases. At least one sheet feeder is placed with a free edge of its loading table for the pile of products in sheet form inclined at an angle in relation to a direction parallel to a principal feed axis coinciding with the axis of the conveyor. A pile of products in sheet form is prepared to be placed on the loading table. The pile of products in sheet form is placed with a flat surface of these, provided with ribbing, inclined at an angle in relation to a pick-up assembly of at least one sheet feeder so that one corner or vertex of the products is placed projecting beyond the end edge of the loading table. A pick-up assembly in a sheet feeder uses this procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes a sucker mechanism. The sucker mechanism has a sucker cup, a sucker tube and a vacuum device for generating a vacuum. The sucker tube has a first and second end, the sucker cup being coupled to the sucker tube at the first end of the sucker tube and the vacuum device being coupled to the sucker tube at the second end of the sucker tube. The second end of the sucker tube is movable arranged in the vacuum device so as to vary the sucker stroke of the sucker cup.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes at least two needles arranged in at least one needle group on a respective needle block. The needle blocks and needle groups are movable from a closing position to an opening position, the needles supporting the bottom of the pile of flat products in the closing position. A respective adjustment device is provided for adjusting the position of each needle group, while a respective individual needle adjustment device may additionally provided for each needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a flat product from a pile of flat products includes a sucker mechanism. The sucker mechanism has a sucker cup, a sucker tube and a vacuum device for generating a vacuum. The sucker tube has a first and second end, the sucker cup being coupled to the sucker tube at the first end of the sucker tube and the vacuum device being coupled to the sucker tube at the second end of the sucker tube. The second end of the sucker tube is movable arranged in the vacuum device so as to vary the sucker stroke of the sucker cup.

Abstract: An improved insert hopper for use in conjunction with the insert feeding device of a document handling apparatus such as a mail insertion machine. The insert hopper includes a support deck, a front registration member, and a backstop member. A bottom support plate for the insert hopper has an outer surface constructed of a low-friction material such as PTFE, chrome, or finished stainless steel. One or more wedge blocks are mounted on the support deck. Each wedge block has an insert support surface supporting a trailing edge of the lowermost insert of an insert stack loaded in the insert hopper. The insert hopper can optionally have a tilted orientation with respect to the vertical.

Abstract: For removing blanks (10) from a blanks magazine (14, 15) a transfer roller (18, 19) is employed which grips the blank (10) with a suction head (20) and takes it along its circumference. The transfer roller (18, 19) must be moved back and forth along a linear path of movement below the blanks magazine (14, 15) by rotating about its own axis. This movement is driven by a crank gear—crank arm (24) and strut (26)—which are directly, i.e. by means of a swivel arm (28), connected to the transfer roller (18, 19). A differential gear (23) acts to produce a linear movement of the transfer rollers (18, 19).

Abstract: For individually separating outer sheets (9, 109) of a stack (6, 106) in a holder (1, 101), in each case in the area of an outer sheet or an outer set of sheets a suction is generated for sucking at least a portion of an outer sheet or set of sheets (9, 109) from an initial position, away from the stack, to a discharge position. From that discharge position a sheet or set of sheets is discharged away from the stack (6, 106) by a discharge structure engaging the sheet or set of sheets. The suction assembly (12, 112, 212) in each case generates a pulsed suction in a position spaced from the initial position. As a result, the sheets or sets of sheets can be reliably displaced one by one to the discharge position, while the intended operation of the apparatus is little sensitive to the suction strength set.

Abstract: A device for collecting and transferring cut products has an in-process storage device and a feeder feeding a stream of the cut products to the in-process storage device. The in-process storage device has a collecting tray in which the cut products fed by the feeder are collected. A transport device is provided for transporting the cut products away from the in-process storage device. A rotatably driven transfer drum is positioned underneath the collecting tray. The rotatably driven transfer drum has a gripping device that grips in a gripping position a preset number of the cut products collected in the collecting tray and moves the preset number of the cut products to the transport device by rotation of the rotatably driven transfer drum by a preset rotary angle.

Abstract: A sucker adjustment device including a moving lever having a cam surface adjacent its far end. An axis is located adjacent the near end and a first cam follower is mounted intermediate the ends. The first cam follower bears against an actuating cam which causes the former to move between an extended position, wherein the sucker cup attached thereto contacts the bottom newspaper of a stack, and a retracted position, wherein the sucker cup is out of the path of the lowest newspaper. There is an actuating lever pivotally mounted about the axis and carrying an arm between its distal end and the axis. There is a second cam follower on the arm at a point remote from the actuating lever and bearing against the cam surface. A pivot adjacent the rotating end of the sucker bar spaced apart from the sucker cup permits the sucker bar to move between its extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A device for continuous separation of blanks for book cover material, envelopes for brochures or similar bendable sheets of a stack of sheets from a magazine with a conveyor belt with a non-skid surface and openings acted upon by air suction, bearing the stack of sheets, feeding the lowest sheet in each case in timed fashion from the magazine, which has a suction element grasping the lowest sheet and removing it from the stack of sheets, with an air blower for creating an air cushion between the raised sheet and the following sheet and with a removal conveyor system receiving and further transporting the sheet fed with respect to a functionally reliable separation of large-format flexible sheets is characterized by supports (17, 18) on both sides of an open space supporting a stack of sheets (1) in the edge area and by a suction element (14) capable of being driven under the stack of sheets (1), grasping a sheet (1a) in the open space in the edge area, and pulling down from the stack of sheets (1) in order to

Abstract: A process for selecting a single stacked flat object from a stack of flat objects. The lowermost flat object is downwardly detached from the rest of the stack of flat objects by negative pressure on at least one of its edge areas) running parallel to the take-off direction. In at least one suction area, the flat object is held by negative pressure onto a conveyor that can move back and forth. The flat object is advanced underneath a scraper and then further conveyed. The device for carrying out this process has a hopper for the stack of flat objects, a scraper, at least one suction device to partially detach the lowermost flat object, a conveyor, and a take-off device.

Abstract: An automated sheet dispenser for dispensing a single sheet removed from the bottom of a stack formed of a plurality of sheets. The dispenser includes a hopper for supporting the stack of sheets, the hopper having an opening provided in the bottom surface thereof to allow passage of a sheet through the opening; a separator for separating a leading edge of the bottom sheet from the stack through the opening and moving the leading edge to a position below the hopper; and a guide for engaging the leading edge of the sheet separated from the stack by the separator and guiding the sheet to a sheet exit chute. The separator is lowered from the stack to separate the leading edge of the bottom sheet and the guide pivots to engage the leading edge and guide the leading edge between a pair of feed rollers that transport the sheet to the exit chute. The lowering of the separator, the pivoting of the guide and the advancing of the gripping feed roller are actuated by rotation of a main cam.

Abstract: An apparatus for the charging a processing line with printed sheets is comprised of a conveying device which pulls off the printed sheets from a bottom side of a stack, with a separating apparatus that partially lifts off the printed sheet to be pulled off from the stack being arranged upstream of the conveying device. The separating apparatus positions the lifted off printed sheet in an open gripper arrangement that rotates with the conveying device and releases it, once the printed sheet has been gripped by the gripper arrangement, so that the printed sheet can be pulled out of the magazine without deflection.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for use in a book assembling machine comprises a magazine having a movable base which defines a support plane for a stack of folded sheets. The feeder also includes a pneumatic separator, which creates a gap between a corner of the lowermost sheet of a stack in the magazine and the next adjacent sheet, and a device for injecting air into the thus formed gap to produce an air cushion. The movable magazine base functions as a conveyor to move, with the assistance of the air cushion, the leading edge of the lowermost sheet in the stack in a planar manner to a withdrawal conveying system where the sheet is engaged and subsequently pulled from the magazine. The withdrawn sheet moves, under the influence of a transfer mechanism in one embodiment, into registration with an assembly conveyor.

Abstract: A saddle stitching machine is modified by attaching a device which permits the machine to process outside Z-folded sheets when collating a plurality of sheets together for a magazine or other publication. The device operates in synchronization with a suction take-offs and gripper disc of a pocket to permit the sheets to be removed from a stack and deposited on a saddle without jamming. The device utilizes one or more oscillating fingers operating off a cam journaled to the shaft of the gripper disc, and air jets to facilitate transport of each sheet through the stitcher for deposit on the saddle.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets seriatim from a stack of sheets which substantially prevents image ruboff. Such sheet feed apparatus includes a tray for supporting a stack of sheets. A plate associated with the tray supports the lead edge of the sheet stack. A major portion of the sheet stack, measured from the top of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, is supported by a mechanism associated with the plate. A positive flow of air is directed at a minor portion of the sheet stack, measured from the bottom of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, to enable the minor portion of the sheet stack to be levitated for separation of the sheets in the minor portion of the sheet stack.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding material along a feed path. The feeder includes a conveyer, a sensor and a control system. The conveyer operates at a normal cyclical rate to transfer the material along the feed path. The sensor mounts on the feeder and detects the material being fed. The sensor detects and signals fault when the material is fed in an undesirable manner. The control system couples with the conveyer and with the sensor and responds to the sensor to slow the conveyer to a reduced cyclical rate when the sensor signals fault. The reduced cyclical rate is less than the normal cyclical rate to enable the feeder to self-correct and thereby eliminate the fault. When the conveyer operates at the reduced cyclical rate and the feeder has self-corrected, the sensor ceases to detect fault and the control system speeds the conveyer back to the normal cyclical rate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stocker for flat healds according to the present invention is a flat heald stocker for stocking a lot of flat healds in order to selectively discharge an arbitrary flat heald A out of the many flat healds A juxtaposed, in which the flat healds A kept in a horizontal state are stacked vertically in a housing, a heald refilling aperture is provided at a top portion of the housing, and a heald drawing opening for discharging the lowermost of the stacked flat healds horizontally is provided at a lower portion of the housing, whereby easy horizontal drawing of flat heald can be achieved.

Abstract: A sheet counter has a blade (13) for insertion between adjacent sheets of a stack thereof, and a pin (15) which orbits around the blade to transfer sheets from one side of the blade to the other. A carrier (37) defines three axes disposed in a generally triangular arrangement, the pin (15) being mounted on one of the axes, and the carrier being coupled to a crank (36) about another axis. A link (42) is pivoted at one end to the carrier (37) and at its other end to a fixed part of the counter. As the pin (15) orbits around the blade (13) on rotation of crank (36), the blade is oscillated about an axis adjacent the edge inserted furthest into the sheet stack by a crank (30) and connecting rod (31), driven synchronously with crank (36). Suction is applied in a timed manner to a hole (45) in the blade (13), to assist the separation of the sheets one at a time, before the transfer thereof to the other side of the blade by pin (15).

Abstract: A paper feed system suitable for use with a portion control machine to provide paper sheets for separating portions, including a paper hopper mountable to a portion control machine and adapted to receive and temporarily retain a stack of paper sheets. The paper hopper has an open end having a front edge spaced opposite from a back edge and defining a ready position where a paper sheet lies in a first plane to be dispensed. The paper feed system further includes a paper support having a length to width ratio of 10 to 1 or greater. The paper support is mounted adjacent the open end of the paper hopper blocking the free exit of paper sheets therefrom, with the support extending from a central location on the back edge partially to a central location on the front edge. An upper surface of the support is substantially parallel with the first plane and is adjacent the first plane for retention of a paper sheet in the ready position.

Abstract: In sheet separating apparatus suitable for use in an automated teller machine (ATM), sheets, such as banknotes, are removed singly from a stack (14) using reduced pressure derived from a vacuum pump (86). An air filter (72) is provided in the vacuum supply line (16) from the vacuum pump (86). A pressure sensor (68) senses the pressure in the vacuum supply line (16) and when this rises to a threshold value, causes the vacuum pump to supply reverse air flow through the air filter (72) to transport any dust particles impeding the operation of the air filter (72) to a dust collection container (106).

Abstract: In order to increase the reliability in selectively disabling a signature feeding apparatus, and to avoid the problems which are inherent in mechanical systems, a unique dual mode pneumatic system is contemplated for use with a cyclically operable signature feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus will generally include a driven rotary drum having a plurality of signature grippers disposed about the periphery thereof. The signature grippers are adapted to grip signatures seriatim from a signature supply hopper. A suction assembly is driven by a cam for shifting signatures seriatim from the signature supply hopper to the rotary drum for gripping by the signature grippers. The suction assembly includes oscillating suction grippers in communication with a source of vacuum. The signature feeding apparatus further includes a cam follower assembly operatively associated with the suction assembly to control movement of the oscillating suction grippers toward and away from the signature supply hopper.

Abstract: In order to avoid disruption of a stack of signatures, particularly when a cyclically operable signature feeding apparatus is temporarily disabled, the utilization of a unique disabling arrangement is contemplated. The signature feeding apparatus will generally include a driven rotary drum having a plurality of signature grippers disposed about the periphery thereof. The signature grippers are adapted to grip signatures seriatim from a signature supply hopper. A vacuum assembly is driven by a cam for shifting signatures seriatim from the signature supply hopper to the rotary drum for gripping by the signature grippers. The vacuum assembly includes a source of vacuum operatively associated with oscillating vacuum grippers. The signature feeding apparatus further includes a cam follower operatively associated with the vacuum assembly to control operation of the vacuum assembly responsive to engagement with a surface of the cam.

Abstract: The enclosure feed device is constituted in such a way that a drive motor is provided for rockably driving a rocking arm, and a control unit is provided for causing the memory section to input the variable amount relative to the sucking position of the sucking cap in conformity with the thickness of said enclosures from the variable amount inputting section and storing the same and adjusting the sucking position of said sucking cap by controllably energizing the drive motor for sucking operation in accordance with the variable amount stored in the memory by means of the CPU section.