Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus supplies a sheet such as an X-ray sheet film from a cassette to a recording device. The sheet supply apparatus has at least a pair of rollers for gripping and feeding a sheet, a feeding mechanism for feeding a sheet from a storage cassette and supplying the sheet along a feed path to the pair of rollers, a tilt correcting mechanism having for correcting the sheet out of a tilted condition with respect to a direction transverse to the feed path, and a position correcting mechanism for displacing the pair of rollers in the direction while the pair of rollers is gripping the sheet, to correct the sheet positionally with respect to the direction. The feeding mechanism has suction devices movable into the feed path for attracting the sheet under vacuum, and the tilt correcting mechanism has at least a pair of stoppers movable into the feed path for engaging a leading end of the sheet to correct the sheet out of the tilted condition.

Abstract: A suction table which, in a machine converting sheets into package, transfers the last, lowermost sheet of a batch to a subsequent processing station. The table is provided with numerous blowing and sucking nozzles and is fitted on a hollow frame movable with regard to a fixed distributory housing which provides sucking and blowing action. The housing comprises a distributory shaft and tubes movable with respect to the table and thereby sliding within corresponding guides formed in the frame. The shaft and tubes are provided with cooperating ducts which will allow the nozzles to suck or blow as required by the angular position of the distributory shaft and the position of the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets such as labels or covers includes a holder having a groove-shaped cross section opening upwardly. The holder is formed with a take-out port at one end, and holds the covers stacked horizontally with their surfaces facing horizontally. A pressing body connected to a rodless cylinder presses the stacked covers with a constant force towards the take-out port. A suction machine having a sucking disk at one end confronting a cover exposed from the take-out port attracts the exposed cover one-by-one. A stepping motor coupled to the suction machine turns the suction machine downwardly to 90.degree. so that the cover attracted to the sucking disk abuts against a top aperture of a container which is carried on a conveyor. When the suction machine releases the attraction of the cover, the cover is left on the top aperture of the container to cover the top aperture.

Abstract: A printing or duplicating machine has a suction control system which includes a source of vacuum and a conduit connecting the source of vacuum to a suction feeder. An operator panel is used to set a pattern of relative weight of each sheet in a stack. A controlled bleed valve is operatively associated with any of the suction feeder, source of vacuum or conduit for automatically adjusting vacuum at the suction feeder responsive to relative weight of any given sheet as selected by an operator.

Abstract: A sheet feed control system for use in an image recording apparatus, for example, includes a suction cup for attracting a sheet-like member such as a photographic film under suction, a crank mechanism for moving the suction cup with respect to the sheet-like member, and a swinging mechanism for swinging the suction cup with the sheet-like member attracted thereto to impart swinging action to the sheet-like member. The crank mechanism is drived by a pulse motor in response to a control signal applied thereto, and the swinging mechanism is drived by a pulse motor in response to a control signal applied thereto. Information, such as rotational speeds and angular displacements, with regard to the pulse motors is stored in a memory, and desired information corresponding to certain physical properties of the sheet-like member, can be selected from the memory by the operator.

Abstract: A feeder for flexible sheet material includes a gripping assembly (30) provided with a hollow gripper shaft (54) and a vacuum operated gripper (52). The shaft (54) is movable through an arcuate path of travel between engagement and sheet-releasing positions. The vacuum pressure to the gripper (52) is controlled to cause the marginal portion of the lowermost sheet to be gripped by the gripper when the shaft is in the engagement position and to discontinue the vacuum to the gripper at the sheet-releasing position. A valve assembly (64) is disposed between a vacuum line and the hollow shaft (54) and is mounted for rotation on the gripping assembly (30). The valve is rotatable between open and closed positions in response to movement of the shaft through the arcuate path of travel between the engagement and sheet-releasing positions.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling apparatus includes a label transfer assembly having a pair of label carriage each with two label heads and two suction cups for engagement with labels from a magazine or a source of labels and placement of the labels in mold cavities of a blow molding machine. A continuously rotating drive member operates a first rotary drive to raise and lower the label transfer assembly between the label pick up and label discharge positions while dwelling the assembly at the two positions during label pick up and transfer. The drive member also operates a second rotary drive to extend and retract the dwelled label transfer heads at the two positions to pick up labels and then place the labels in mold cavities.

Abstract: In order to avoid striking and compacting signatures in a signature stack during a period of selective operational disablement of a gathering machine on a binding line, a system for selectively disabling and enabling operation of a sucker arm is provided. The system includes a cam operatively associated with a main drum for driven movement therewith and a cam follower arm operatively associated with the cam for driven movement thereby. The cam follower arm is interconnected to the sucker arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the sucker arm. The reciprocating movement normally traverses a path from the signature stack to the main drum and back again to feed signatures from the signature stack to the main drum for delivery to the binding line when the system enables operation of the sucker arm. The cam follower arm is interconnected to the sucker arm through a pushrod which extends to a crank mounted on a pivotal sucker tube for pivotal movement thereabout.

Abstract: A currency note picking apparatus includes pick mechanisms for picking notes from stacks of notes held in associated currency cassettes. Each pick mechanism includes pivotally mounted pick arms connectable via an electrically operated valve to a diaphragm pump which generates, continuously, a reduced pressure. During a relevant pivotal movement, the pick arms of a selected pick mechanism pick part of an end note out of the associated cassette by applying a suction force to this note. A timing disc rotates in synchronism with the pivotal movement of the pick arms, and an associated optical sensor generates timing signals which are indicative of the position of the pick arms relative to the cassette. The timing signals control the operation of the respective valve so as to enable the pump to communicate with the pick arms during the relevant pivotal movement thereof.

Abstract: A sheet extracting mechanism is provided with a suction cup for attracting one of stacked sheets, a negative pressure source for supplying a suction force to the suction cup, a detector for detecting the pressure in the suction cup, a moving mechanism for moving the suction cup thereby extracting the sheet adhered to the suction cup by the section force, and a discriminator for comparing the suction force in the suction cup with a predetermined pressure, at a predetermined position located a predetermined distance from the bottom of the stack of sheets, thereby identifying the amount of the stacked sheets. The suction cup is temporarily stopped at the predetermined position corresponding to a predetermined number of remaining sheets, and the remaining number of sheets is identified equal to or less than the predetermined number when the suction cup no longer touches the sheet, thereby becoming unable to attract the sheet.

Abstract: Device for locking a suction nozzle of a separating sucker on a suction head of a sheet feeder of a sheet-processing machine, the suction head having at least one governor foot, a drive device for moving the governor foot in accordance with a working cycle of the feeder, and a device for vertically moving the nozzle of the separating sucker, includes a bearing support laterally disposed on the suction nozzle, a movably arranged abutment device for supporting the bearing support, when the suction nozzle is in a lifted position, until a trailing edge of a sheet supplied to the feeder has left the vicinity of the suction nozzle of the separating sucker, and a linkage connecting the abutment device articulatingly to the drive device for the governor foot for moving the abutment in accordance with a working cycle of the suction head.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a sheet from a container such as a sheet film from a cassette, by a suction device mounted for movement rectilinearly at an angle to the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: A base plate conveyor for supplying a base plate storage section at one end of a base plate conveyance passage to the conveyance surface of the passage or receiving the base plate from the passage to the storage section. The conveyor is characterized by including the base plate storage section in which a plurality of base plates can be piled so that the base plates are leant against the inside of the section and the conveyed surface of the base plates have a predetermined angle to the conveyance surface of the conveyance passage; and a base plate mover provided at the casing of the conveyor so as to automatically move the base plate from the storage section to the conveyance passage or from the conveyance passage to the storage section. The base plate mover includes a vertically swung arm member, which is swung vertically and translated so as to move the base plate between the base plate storage section and the base plate conveyance passage.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device is disclosed comprising a drive shaft, a first arm, a second arm, an elevator arm having a suction cup for attracting a sheet, and a roller. When the drive shaft starts to rotate counterclockwise, the first arm rotates counterclockwise together with the elevator arm until the roller disposed on the elevator arm is in contact with the uppermost sheet. When the roller contacts the uppermost sheet, the elevator arm starts to slide along the first arm and rotates clockwise about a point at which the roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The elevator arm and the first arm continue to move until the suction cup contacts the uppermost sheet, and then the suction cup is actuated to attract the uppermost sheet. When the suction cup has attracted the uppermost sheet, the drive shaft starts to rotate clockwise, the first arm rotates clockwise, and then the elevator arm with the suction cup attracting the sheet slides along the first arm.

Abstract: In the context of a sheet feeder comprising a suction head, which is provided with separating suckers arranged on a vertically movable support, and at least one row of drag suckers mounted on a support, which is adapted to be reciprocated partly at the same rate as conveyor means for further transport and is preferably able to be pivot for righting oblique sheets, such drag suckers being adapted to be supplied with vacuum on the transfer of a sheet from the separating suckers and to be vented on the release of the sheet to such means for further conveyance thereof, it is possible to ensure a more rapid decrease in the vacuum level on sheet transfer if the drag sucker support, which is able to be reciprocated and is provided with at least one venting opening and a closing member associated with it, such closing member is able to be lifted from its seat within the constant rate range of the drag suckers and the further conveyor means, by means of a control member secured to the suction head.

Abstract: A suction type sheet feeding device which attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack to a suction cup by a negative pressure, and transfers the attracted sheet to a predetermined position. For producing the negative pressure, a bellows or accordionlike enclosure is employed. In accordance with axial shrinkage and expansion of the bellows, the negative pressure is produced. The bellows is in fluid communication with the suction cup. Improvement is also made on a cleaning arrangement for cleaning the suction cup, and on the structure of the suction cup unit.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for a collator is provided wherein a drive mechanism for moving suction heads between the upper surface of a stack on a paper supply shelf and feed rollers disposed at a paper feeding station in front of the paper supply shelf includes a four-bag linkage mechanism pivotally carried at a horizontally extending pivot. The four-bar linkage machanism comprises four elemental links pivotally connected tail-to-head in a closed loop, one pair of the adjacent links being pivotally carried at the pivot, one of the other pair of the adjacent elementary links supporting the suction heads. The two elemental links pivotally carried at the pivot are synchronously oscillated about the pivot to produce a composite movement at the elemental link supporting the suction head whereby the suction heads moves the upper surface and the feed rollers.

Abstract: A device for moving film from a supply magazine to a cassette loading station, the film removing device being in a unit with a film holding channel formed by parallel groups of rollers which engage opposed edges of the film.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device for supplying an uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in a sheet cassette used in an image forming apparatus includes suction cups movable into and out of contact with the uppermost sheet in the sheet cassette, an evacuator for developing a vacuum in the suction cups to enable the suction cups to attract the uppermost sheet, a moving member for upwardly and downwardly moving the suction cups to pick up the sheet from the sheet cassette, a sheet feeding member for feeding the sheet from the moving member along a sheet feed path, and a control system for judging on the basis of a detection signal from each sensor for detecting an image forming error provided in the image forming apparatus whether the error occurs during the sheet supplying operation, and when judging that the image forming error occurs during a sheet supplying operation, the control unit ceasing the sheet supplying operation and controlling the driving of at least one of the suction cups, the evacuator, moving member an

Abstract: A device for scanning the length of a sheet in a sheet-processing machine including suction-air measuring nozzles alignable with the trailing edge of the sheet and connected to a suction-air source via control elements connected in an electrical circuit of the machine drive, and a feeder for aligning the sheets to be processed at stops for the leading edge of the sheet, and for lifting sheets individually off a pile of sheets includes a fall-type sucker formed of at least one of the suction-air measuring nozzles, the fall-type sucker being formed with a scanning bore directed in the feeder towards the trailing edge of the uppermost sheet in the pile of sheets, and a differential-pressure-measuring valve disposed in a suction-air line connected to the fall-type sucker, said differential-pressure measuring valve being cooperatively associated with the control elements.

Abstract: A stack of blanks is guided between pile guides. Disposed on a support are holding members which can be laid against an exposed blank in the stack in order to grasp it and to be moved, with it, away from the stack. In the course of this, the support is movable over a path which, starting from the stack, extends transversely to the plane of the blanks, then changes over into a direction at least substantially parallel to the plane of the blanks and leading to a pair of conveying members and finally again extends transversely to the plane of the blanks. The conveying members grip the blanks delivered to them by the support, at both sides and convey it onwards.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for feeding paper sheets from a stack by suction includes a manifold provided with a plurality of spaced sheet pick up devices carried by the manifold and in fluid communication therewith. The improved mechanism also includes motion orginating devices supporting said manifold for lifting the same and the suction mechanisms and a paper sheet held thereby from said stack and feeding it into the entry grippers or the printing roll feed mechanism of the printing machine. The motion originating devices are adjustable to pick up sheets at different locations relative to their leading edges while the printing machine is operating as contrasted with the heretofore necessary steps of shutting down the printing machine and making a mechanical adjustment in the feed linkage. The adjustment mechanism of the sheet register control extends to a point convenient to the printing machine operator.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus and a method therefor, comprise a bag dispenser in which a stack of bags is supported on extensible wicket pegs and the leading bag is advanced from the stack to bag-receiving wicket pegs of bag-receiving retainer means while the extensible parts of the wicket pegs of the stack holder means are extended into engagement with the wicket pegs of the bag-receiving retainer means. In that configuration a suction pad can draw the nearest bag from the rest of the stack to a separated position from which it may be further advanced by mechanical means and/or an air jet to pass that bag from the extensible wicket pegs of the stack holder means on to the wicket pegs of the bag retainer means. The bag dispensing apparatus may comprise part of a packaging apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet storage case for storing therein a stack of sheets. The sheet storage case is assembled into a sheet feeding device which feeds out an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets. The sheet storage case includes a bottom plate, a first positioning member fixedly secured to the bottom plate and a slidably movable second positioning member provided in the bottom plate. The second positioning member has a sheet receiving portion for receiving the stack of sheets. The second positioning member is movable toward and away from the first positioning member. To mount a stack of sheet on the sheet storage case, the second positioning member is moved away from the first positioning member, the sheets are placed on the sheet receiving portion, and then the second positioning member is moved toward the first positioning member. The side edges of the sheets are aligned, because the sheets are fittedly interposed between the two positioning members.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has suction cups carried by a linkage which is driven by a drive motor to sequentially press the suction cups onto a paper sheet, transfer the sheet held by the suction cups to another location, and release the sheet from the suction cups. The drive motor is connected to the linkage through a firction gearing mechanism which, through frictional slippage, prevents the suction cups from exerting excessive pressure on the sheets.

Abstract: Cyclically operable signature machine having a one-way drive to incrementally advance a signature infeeding conveyor synchronously to the action of an oscillating suction finger for withdrawing a signature from a stack in a hopper; in a cycle where a signature is not to be fed, the suction finger is latched and simultaneously the one-way drive is disabled to prevent the stack from being compacted.

Abstract: A sheet feed device for feeding a sheet in a copying machine includes a sheet cassette storing a stack of sheets therein and removably positioned in a housing of the copying machine, and a plurality of suction cups for attracting one of the sheets at a time from the sheet cassette. The suction cups are movable toward and away from the sheet cassette. Locking fingers lock the sheet cassette against removal when the suction cups are moved toward the sheet cassette and are ready for or are feeding sheets from the sheet cassette. The locking fingers are angularly movably supported in the housing and lockingly fittable in recesses defined in side walls of the sheet cassette.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes or similar work pieces to a printing press or the like utilizes a vacuum chamber mounted on a reciprocably driven roller for removing the lowermost envelope out of a stack of envelopes in a hopper and advancing it to a carrier for conveyance to the printing press. The vacuum is fed to the vacuum drum through an elongated passageway along the axis of the roller and a valve at the input of the vacuum at one end of the roller reciprocates with the roller to open and close the vacuum passageway. Also, a pusher lug is provided to assist in removing heavier stock from the hopper.

Abstract: A label injector for placing labels in the hems of towels, or the like, is disclosed. The labels are extracted from a vertical magazine onto the surface of a wheel by a combination of suction into openings on the surface of the wheel and upward movement of the magazine. The wheel is then rotated until the extracted label passes through a slot in the adjacent hemming track into the hem being folded. Suction is terminated, releasing the label, and the wheel is returned to its original orientation to receive another label. Other embodiments disclose a magazine for double thickness labels, and an applicator carrying a belt in a peripheral groove to assist in moving the labels.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding boards (10) sequentially in one direction from the base of the stack through a feed gate (11) at the base of a front stack retaining wall (12) comprising a transverse series of perforated reciprocating conveying straps (14) mounted on driven pulleys (15) and interposed between a transverse series of lifting bars (13) with a drive mechanism for lowering and raising the lifting bars (13) sequentially and in synchronization with forwards and rearwards movement respectively of the conveying straps (14). A suction box (17) causes the lowermost board to be held in frictional driving contact with the upper surfaces of conveying straps (14) as the board is conveyed forwards into the nip of a pair of feed rolls (40) of, for example, corrugated board handling machinery.

Abstract: A device for the removal of sheet-like films from an X-ray film cassette or a film magazine by means of at least one sucker which has a suction lip with a frustoconical inner surface by which a front edge of a film is lifted from the stack. The suction lip has at the inner surface in the proximity of the mouth of the suction conduit a flat projection extended towards the film being lifted but is spaced therefrom.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling apparatus for a blow molding machine having a primary circular multiple mold path. A continuous drive closed circuit is provided by a guide track means and forms a secondary path in which a carriage or trolley carrying an air actuated means for picking and holding a label for transport to a matched segmental transfer station at which the mold parts and the carriage move in unison at zero relative velocity during which the label is automatically deposited in a mold for application to the plastic part being formed by the mold. Thereafter, the carriage or trolley is conditioned to pick up another label. The continuous driving of both the blow molding machine and the in-mold label dispenser is synchronized for unison uninterrupted operation.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism has an array of suction cups into and out of contact with an uppermost one of stacked sheets in a sheet cassette. After the suction cups are held against the uppermost sheet, a vacuum is developed in the suction cups to enable the suction cups to attract the uppermost sheet. Then, the suction cups are lifted with the uppermost sheet attracted thereto, and a leading end of the attracted and lifted uppermost sheet is nipped, and the sheet is delivered into a sheet feed path. When the suction cups are lifted, they are angularly moved about an axis to cause the leading end of the attracted uppermost sheet to be obliquely separated from other stacked sheets.

Abstract: A suction-type sheet-separating device for a feeder of a printing press has suction-type grippers for lifting off an uppermost sheet from a pile of sheets and for transferring the lifted-off sheet to a transporting device for conveying the lifted-off sheet in a sheet travel direction towards a printing unit of the printing press. The suction-type grippers are disposed above the pile of sheets in the vicinity of the trailing edge of each sheet and when suction air is applied thereto, they initially grip the uppermost sheet and then execute a prestroke to a first height. The device includes a lifting gear drive and a horizontal carrying shaft parallel to the trailing edge of the sheet and carrying the suction-type grippers, the suction-type grippers being aligned with respect to the carrying shaft.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for a vacuum signature feeding device in a packer box. The clutch assembly includes a pair of disks disposed within a bore in a housing for selective driving engagement therebetween. It also includes an oscillatory motion transmitting shaft for engaging and disengaging the disk only in a preselected angular orientation therebetween for imparting oscillatory motion to one of the disks and transmitting oscillatory motion from the other of the disk when the disks are engaged. The clutch assembly is also adapted to operatively transmit the oscillatory motion to the vacuum signature feeding device. With this arrangement, reciprocating movement of the vacuum signature feeding device can be selectively interrupted without vacuum interruption.

Abstract: An extraction apparatus which is particularly suited to the processing and extraction of contents from cumbersome envelopes and mail pouches incorporates a planar transport path which is sufficiently wide and appropriately oriented to receive relatively large or otherwise awkward envelopes, irrespective of their characteristics and the weight of their contents, for unimpeded transport through the apparatus without subjecting the envelopes to bending or other such distortions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a means of forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member by an electrostatic method, a means of developing the latent image with a developer, a means of conveying a recording medium onto which the developer image is transferred, and a means of transferring the developer image onto the recording medium, wherein, a guide installed in the means of conveying the recording medium is partly coated with a resin film, with which the recording medium is brought into contact, so as to have a volume resistivity of 10.sup.12 to 10.sup.16 .OMEGA.cm at normal temperature and humidity, that is, at 20.degree. C. and 50% RH and abrasion loss of 5 mg or below as measured in accordance with Taber's test method (load 1.0 Kg, revolution 70 rpm, total number of revolutions 1.times.10.sup.3).

Abstract: Large sheets of float glass or other large sheets of material are transferred from a vertical storage position to a horizontal surface automatically. A carriage is mounted on a support frame near the stack of sheets of material, which rest against an inclined surface such that the bottom of each sheet is located forward of the top thereof to cause the plane of the stack of sheets to tilt a few degrees past vertical. A sheet engaging member is located on the carriage for pulling the top sheet of the stack forward, pivoting the sheet on its bottom, to a point where the top of the sheet is moved past vertical on the opposite side from the stack of sheets to an unstable position. In this position, the sheet is released to free fall to a horizontal position on a support surface located in a horizontal plane adjacent the bottom of the sheets in the storage position.

Abstract: A packaging machine and more particularly a machine for setting up a container from a blank (16) of corrugated board is disclosed as including a uniquely arranged magazine (10) for a plurality of container blanks (16) of corrugated board and including a structure to directly set up the shape of the container in a controlled manner for enabling a product to be easily loaded and for subsequent processing by the packaging machine. The unique direct setup arrangement utilizes arcuately moving arms (24) with vacuum cups (26) thereon which attach themselves to a blank (16) in the magazine (10) and move through an arc of less than 90.degree. from a vertically inclined position to a generally horizontal position. The arms (24) and blank (16) are then moved horizontally so that the side edge portions of the major panel (18) of the blank (16), such as the bottom panel, are positioned under horizontal flap guides (74).

Abstract: A label transfer arm having a central axis and comprising a socket body with a transfer nozzle rotatably mounted therein engages labels delivered to a label pickup station and transfers them to a label delivery station. An applicator head strips the labels from the transfer arm and moves them along a fixed path from the label delivery station to a package labeling station to apply the labels to packages. Transfer arm guiding rails are positioned on either side of the label transfer arm for engaging an eccentric collar attached to the transfer nozzle to thereby orient the transfer nozzle into a fixed angular orientation about the central axis of the transfer arm when the transfer arm is at the label delivery station. An operator-controllable selector ring is rotatably mounted to the socket body of the arm and is freely rotatable between selected locations defined by detents.

Abstract: A rotary transfer mechanism has carrier means (18) rotatable with a drive shaft (16) on a support member (15), at least one support shaft (19) rotatable on the carrier means (18), with a pinion (24) secured coaxially to the support shaft and engageable with an arcute rack (25) secured to the support member (15) when a cam follower (26) is not engaged with a cam track (27) secured to the support member, whereby at least one suction cup (21) attached to the support shaft (19) is caused to follow a path having a "node point" at the discharge opening (11) of a magazine (12), for extracting a flat sleeve carton (10), and whereby the suction cup (21) is caused to move past a receiving station (13) on a conveyor (14) in the same direction as the conveyor with the carton (10) generally parallel to the conveyor, for accurate placement and deposit of the carton on the conveyor.

Abstract: A stack of signatures is transformed into a moving stream of individually arranged signatures by feeding a stack of signatures on edge to a transfer station, individually transporting the signatures as a moving stream away from an entrance location laterally offset from the stack, and carrying each signature of the stack in turn laterally to the entrance location as such signature arrives at the transfer station. As each signature is carried laterally to the entrance location, such signature is separated from the stack so as to prevent mutilation due to friction with the adjacent signature on the stack. The signatures are carried to the entrance location by suction cups that form part of a transfer arm. The transfer arm is momentarily transported away from the stack as it carries the signature to the entrance location so as to effect separating of the signature from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism for feeding stacked sheets one by one from a sheet magazine includes a plurality of suction cups coupled to a vacuum suction device for attracting one sheet at a time, and an arm member on which the suction cups are securely mounted. At least one rotatable bearing is operatively coupled to the arm member and rollingly movable in a guide groove having at least one curved or bent guide opening. The bearing is movable by a slider in and along the guide opening to angularly move the arm member and hence the suction cups for thereby swaying and feeding a sheet held by the suction cups.

Abstract: A gathering machine for book binding separates each sheet from the bottom of its hopper by a vertically pivotable suction head. The suction is induced by a venturi rather than by vacuum.

Abstract: An autofeeding apparatus for automatically transporting exposed photosensitive plates, which may be of different sizes, one by one from a nearly vertical stack to an automatic developing station. The photosensitive plates are placed in a vertical stack on a stack holder, and a supporting device disposed opposite the holder supports the lower ends of the plates. A transport device transfers the lower end of the uppermost one of the photosensitive plates from the holder to the supporting device. A separating device separates the uppermost plate from the holder. A lifting device, driven separately from the separating device, lifts the supporting device to feed the uppermost plate to the automatic developer with the upper end of the plate at the head.

Abstract: A film cassette opener for unloading a film from, and/or loading the film in, a film cassette capable of accommodating the film. A pair of elongated members are disposed parallel to each other on the opposite sides of a path which enables the film cassette received by the film cassette opener to be moved to a position at which the film can be loaded and/or unloaded. The pair of elongated members are arranged to guide the film cassette along the path by holding opposite sides of the film cassette between them. Also, the present opener is arranged so as to press and move at least one of the elongated members which hold the film cassette therebetween toward the other. Accordingly, since the film cassette is firmly held, it is possible to positively move the film cassette.

Abstract: A sheet transfer device and method are disclosed for transferring sheets from a sheet stack to a utilization area such as a can pallet. A base unit causes pivoting of a beam about a moveable pivot point so that a sheet picked up from the sheet stack is moved upwardly for a substantial distance and then pivoted to a point above a can pallet, after which the sheet is moved downwardly and deposited on the upwardly extending tops of a horizontal layer of cans on the can pallet. Suction is supplied through a plurality of cups brought into engagement with the top sheet of a sheet stack to lift the top sheet from the stack, with the suction being terminated when the sheet is deposited on the can pallet to thereby release the sheet.

Abstract: A dispenser for flat products consists of a cabinet containing magazines for storing a plurality of products stacked according to predefined categories, with an outlet slot for a product selected from one of the magazines. A mechanism for extracting and dispensing the products in front of the magazines extracts the top product from a selected stack and transfers it to the outlet slot. This mechanism comprises a product holding device, individually controlled and motorized vertical and horizontal carriages carrying this device and a support for the device articulated to one of the carriages. The support assumes a holding position in which the device is placed against the top product in a selected stack and then moves to a position retracted against the carriages, holding the product. The magazines are inclined to the horizontal so that the stacks are offered up slantwise to the mechanism and the outlet slot is in a side of the cabinet, between the magazines and the mechanism.

Abstract: A label transfer arm having a central axis and comprising a socket body with a transfer nozzle rotatably mounted therein engages labels delivered to a label pickup station and transfers them to a label delivery station. An applicator head strips the labels from the transfer arm and moves them along a fixed path from the label delivery station to a package labeling station to apply the labels to packages. Transfer arm guiding rails are positioned on either side of the label transfer arm for engaging an eccentric collar attached to the transfer nozzle to thereby orient the transfer nozzle into a fixed angular orientation about the central axis of the transfer arm when the transfer arm is at the label delivery station. An operator-controllable selector ring is rotatably mounted to the socket body of the arm and is freely rotatable between selected locations defined by detents.

Abstract: Feeding device for feeding paper sheets from a pile, particularly in offset printing machines. The device has a driving mechanism, the operation of which is controlled by three sets of two cams in precise intervals according to the program of operation of the printing machine. All control mechanisms have their operation motions designed separately in such manner, that each mechanism is controlled by one set of two cams. The advantage of the said feeding device consists in that the control mechanism perform precise operations in accordance with the program of operation even at high printing speeds, because they are controlled bilaterally by the set of two cams and double rollers without employing spring elements to cause cam followers to remain in contact with cam surfaces.