Abstract: Over engagement protection of roller drive gears on a single sheet feeder roller assembly, which may comprise a replaceable roller bogie, is provided by a clutch gear which drives a pre-feed roller, the clutch gear being mounted in a roller support frame which includes spaced elongate, preferably arcuate, slots which limit gear travel toward the pre-feed roller when the roller is driven in a forward direction and which disengages the gears when the input power is reversed. The clutch gear is provided with elastomeric teeth for noise reduction and the roller assembly also includes a separation roller which is over driven relative to the surface speed of the pre-feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: A card feeder for a card printer provides a stack of cards at an input end of the printer. The cards are supported on a pair of rollers that are driven at differential speeds and through one-way clutches so that a card being fed from the stack will pass through an outlet opening and can be accelerated by further drives. The outlet opening is controlled as to size by a slidable gate that permits changing the thickness of the opening to permit use of different thickness cards in the hopper. The feeder includes cleaning rollers that are formed as a module that can be inserted and replaced, and also an encoding station where the card can be encoded such as for a magnetic strip, or for non contact radio frequency or other smart card chips contained on the card being processed prior to the printing operation.

Abstract: A printing machine is described that includes a rotary plate for decollating top sheet from a stack of sheets by turning the top sheet so as to expose a second sheet. The machine also has a clamping finger that tilts into position to hold the second sheet once the top sheet has been turned. The top sheet is then turned back to the original position, aligned with the feed direction.

Abstract: When performing printing by the ink jet head 13, the control unit 78 controls the step motor 75 to rotate counterclockwise by the first number of steps corresponding to the paper feeding quantity of one-line and, after the paper feeding of one-line, to rotate clockwise by the second number of steps smaller than the first number of steps to thereby rotate the paper supply roller 70 clockwise through the middle gear 74 and the driven gear 73, during which the back-tension generated in the paper sheet S is removed. Accordingly, a constant paper feeding quantity can be maintained without regard to the back-tension, providing a stable paper feeding accuracy. Since the back-tension has been removed from the paper sheet S whenever characters and the like are printed on the paper sheet S, in combination of the stable paper feeding accuracy, high printing quality can be obtained without the occurrence of white lines in the printed characters.

Abstract: A blade for use in an apparatus for urging sheets against registration edges in a sheet compiler is provided. The blade includes a body having a contact surface for contact with the sheets and a locating feature. The locating feature is connected to the body for locating the blade to the apparatus. The locating feature includes a prevention feature for preventing the blade from being inserted into the apparatus in a first orientation and to permit the blade to be inserted into the apparatus in a second orientation, opposed to the first orientation, so that the blade is properly installed into the apparatus.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus has a box-shaped housing, or case, having first and second openings provided in a sidewall of the case, a drawer movable into and out of the case through the first opening and a hopper part accessible through the second opening. A transport mechanism transports a document sheet, in the closed position of the drawer, from the hopper part and past an image reader/printer, for reading data from or printing data onto the transported sheet, to the stacker part.

Abstract: A sheet separating and feeding device for use as a component of a sheet processing apparatus is disclosed in which a first feeding device acts on the top of a stack of sheets to feed the top sheet toward a take away feeder for removal from the stack, during which a retaining force is applied to the upper surface of the exposed trailing edge portion of the next to top sheet to apply a retaining force thereto and to the rest of the stack, and simultaneously lifts the first feeding device off of the top sheet to remove the normal force from the weight of this device from the stack. When the top sheet is entirely removed from the stack, the first feeding device is lowered to engage the new top sheet and the retaining force is removed therefrom so that it can be fed to the take away feeder.

Abstract: A dispensing hopper construction for a bank note processing machine for effectively pooling a number of bank notes transferred from a bank note transferring section inside the bank note processing machine in order in a dispensing hopper section even while dispensing bank notes to the recipient side, as well as for effectively dispensing bank notes one-by-one based on a feed-out signal so that bank notes are not dispensed in a superposed or chained state. The bank note processing machine is constructed such that bank notes (1) are fed one-by-one from the bank note transferring section (A) into the dispensing hopper section (2) where bank notes are pooled so that they are fed out from the lower part thereof to the recipient side one-by-one.

Abstract: A rotating separator disk is movable between sheet material articles in a stack of sheet material articles. A variable speed drive which is connected with the separator disk and rotates the separator disk. The variable speed drive is operable to vary the speed of rotation of the separator disk between a high speed and a low speed during each revolution of the separator disk. First and second restrictor members engage a sheet material article in the stack of sheet material articles. A suction applicator head is operable to disengage one sheet material article from the first restrictor member. A leading edge of the rotating separator disk is then moved between the one sheet material article and an adjacent sheet material article. As this occurs, the speed of rotation of the separator disk is increased and the one sheet material article is disengaged from the second restrictor member by the separator disk.

Abstract: To strip laminated foil cuttings, which are provided with incisions in a cover foil adhered to a carrier paper through a self-adhesive bottom layer, an incision forming a separation line is made into the carrier paper of a forward edge of each foil cutting before the edge zone is pulled off from the carrier paper by a transfer means in cooperation with a deflection edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for shingling a plurality of documents disposed in stacked relation so that the stack extends successively from a first end to a second end, and has at least one boundary defined by substantially coplanar marginal edges of the documents. The stack of documents is conveyed along a predetermined path during which one or more rotatable shingling members engage the coplanar marginal edges of the documents and impart velocity components of progressively increasing magnitude to the marginal edges in a manner to effect movement of the documents into a shingled array. In the preferred embodiments, the rotatable shingling member has a conical shingling surface traversed by the documents in tangential relation so that the velocity components imparted to the marginal edges of the documents lie in the planes of the documents and move them laterally in shingled relation to each other.

Abstract: A sheet registration device including a hub having an axis of rotation and a plurality of resilient plastic blades arranged in radial planes passing through said axis and extending in the direction of said axis beyond one end of the hub towards sheet-engaging tips lying in a common plane normal to said axis said blade being made of a polyurethane elastomer obtained by the reaction of a polytetramethylene ether glycol having the formula HO[(CH.sub.2).sub.4 O].sub.n H where n is from 8 to 41, preferably 39 to 41, and from about 20 to about 95 parts preferably 22 to 26 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said glycol of a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanates, toluene diisocyanates, naphthalene diisocyanates and blends thereof and a sufficient amount of cross linking agents to provide a crosslinked elastomer, said cross linking agents comprising a mixture of from about 75% to 60% by weight of a diol having the formula: HO(R.sub.1) OH where R.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating groups of sheets from a stack for a punching or binding operation. The invention uses a dual disk arrangement having a front disk and a rear disk. The arrangement is for separating a substack from a stack of pages, the substack temporarily resting on the rear disk, and divided by the front disk. The arrangement includes a plurality of rollers downstream of the substack to transport the substack to a downstream processing station.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in handling sheet material articles includes a feed drum which is rotatable to sequentially pull sheet material articles from a hopper. A separator assembly includes a rotatable separator disk in which a plurality of gaps are formed. A plurality of suction applicator heads are rotatable with the separator disk relative to the hopper. Each of the suction applicator heads is aligned with a gap in the separator disk. During rotation of the separator disk and suction applicator heads together relative to the hopper, the suction applicator heads are operable to sequentially apply suction to lower side surfaces of lowermost sheet material article in the hopper. The feed drum pulls one sheet material article from the hopper while a next succeeding sheet material article in the hopper is engaged by a suction applicator head.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for transporting flat documents placed therein on edge uses a horizontal conveyor belt to convey stacks of documents on-edge in a first feeding direction. Tapered rollers with a feeding direction perpendicular to that of the conveyor belt are provided at the end of the conveyor for feeding the documents in a direction perpendicular to the first feeding direction. The use of tapered rollers allows a gradual, rather than sudden, perpendicular velocity to be imparted to the documents, thereby relieving strain on the roller drive mechanism, the rollers themselves, and the documents at high machine throughput speeds. The use of tapered rollers also provides a shingled output of documents, which allows a stripping station down-line from the feeder to strip the documents with fewer misfeeds and less strain.

Abstract: A document and draft paper holding device for a computer, comprising a main body capable of being located beside a monitor for clamping the draft document and exposing part of the contents of the draft. A paper passing device separates and passes the paper upward to the exposing part of the holder. A driving device, activated by pushing a button, starts a pick-up roller for delivering the requested amount of paper. By pushing a button located on the monitor or nearby, part of the contents of the draft will be clearly shown in the main body of the computer for the convenience of operator, reducing typing mistakes and increasing operator efficiency.

Abstract: A conventional pocket for delivering signatures in a bindery line is modified by providing a lift plate which is hinged to the leading edge of the pocket's signature support tray. A suitable actuator under control of the system's computer is made to raise and lower that lift plate, depending upon the number of machine cycles which will be executed before that particular pocket will be called upon to deliver a signature to the magazine being assembled. If more than a predetermined number of machine cycles will take place before a signature must be delivered, the actuator lifts the lift plate and, in doing so, elevates the leading edge of the signature stack to the point where the lowermost signature is positioned out of contact with the hopper's separator disc. This prevents unwanted abrasion and marring of signatures.

Abstract: A can lid feeder, for use with a can seamer, has a separator for can lids which projects into a drop hole provided in a cylindrical body at the bottom of a hopper and which separates dropped and stacked can lids one by one from the bottom of the stack. A rotary shaft of the separator extends in a gear box which is supported in the feeder in a freely swingable manner. The gear box is swingable so that the separator can move in the radial direction with respect to the cylindrical body having the drop hole. After a side surface of the swinging gear box has been brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body, the gear box is fixed in position by a clamp lever.

Abstract: A device for extracting sheets seriatim from the top of a stack of sheets and feeding them to a downstream sheet-using device, includes a pivoted tray which supports a stack of sheets; a nudger roll disposed at a fixed location above the tray and with which the top sheet of the stack can be brought into contact to slide the top sheet in a sheet-feed direction by frictional engagement when the nudger roll is rotated in a feed direction; a retard pad mounted for pivotal movement about an axis at or near the movable end of a first lever of which its other end is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed support, the pad being biased into frictional engagement with either the nudger roll or a separate sheet-feed roll, the retard pad having movable with it a first arm of which movement about the pivotal axis of the pad is effective to increase the mechanical bias on a pivotally-mounted second lever adapted to urge the tray towards the nudger.

Abstract: A magazine for conveying cartons to a metering wheel. The magazine has a stack conveyor holding the bulk of the cartons in the magazine and a feed conveyor downstream from the stack conveyor. The two conveyors are separated by an upper inclined stop and lower ramp that keeps the cartons on the stack conveyor from applying pressure to the cartons on the feed conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic paper feed device includes a first paper feed roller rotating in pressing contact with the upper surface of a sheet stack for feeding upper sheets from the sheet stack by its rotation in a counterclockwise direction, a second paper feed roller located downstream of the first paper feed roller with respect to the paper feeding direction and rotating in a counterclockwise direction for feeding only an uppermost sheet of the sheets fed by the first paper feed roller, a separating roller rotating in a direction opposed to the paper feeding direction while being held in pressing contact with the second paper feed roller for returning the sheets other than the uppermost sheet toward the sheet stack, a first frame rotatably supporting said first paper feed roller and a second frame rotatably supporting said separating roller, a paper feed unit pivotably supported so as to be pivotable in upward and downward directions so that the first paper feed roller descends to a level corresponding to the height of

Abstract: A device for conveying and aligning a sheet in a sheet-processing machine, with at least one frictionally driven ball having a dome facing towards the sheets for engaging a broad surface of the sheet and for moving the sheet in its plane includes structure for supporting the ball so that it is rotatable in all directions about a fixed mid-point thereof, and at least two frictional-force transmission locations located at the periphery of the ball and disposed at least 90.degree. from one another.

Abstract: This specification discloses an automatic sheet supplying device for automatically feeding sheets from a sheet supporting table to a predetermined position. More particularly, the specification discloses an automatic sheet supplying device which is provided with a feeding member movable in a sheet feeding direction and a separating member opposed to the feeding member, whereby when sheets fed one by one by the action of the two members arrive at a predetermined position, the two members are caused to be spaced apart from each other to thereby eliminate any load against the sheets being conveyed.

Abstract: A machine for providing a collation of a series of forms with partial overlap defined by a predetermined stagger from a continuous web of such forms has; a tractor feed for feeding the web into a separating station; bursting rollers for separating the web along transverse lines; a conveyor for feeding individual forms consecutively to a collation station; a rotatable stop and indexing conveyor for advancing a form at the registration station through a distance of the stagger with respect to the next form to be received at the registration station, whereby each form as it arrives at the registration station is offset from the preceding form by the predetermined stagger; adhesive being applied to the forms to hold them together with said predetermined stagger.

Abstract: A cartoner has a generally horizontal magazine and a rotary feeder at the discharge end of the magazine, the rotary feeder having a knife that is generally parallel to the plane of the cartons to slice the cartons one at a time from the stack in the magazine. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the plane of the slicing blade to follow the plane of the upper edges of the cartons in the event that the cartons become twisted in the magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding individual substrates from the top of a stack of substrates upon demand includes a paddle wheel having paddles that are semi-cylindrical. The paddles buckle upon contact with the substrates rather than bending and thereby providing reduced normal force sensitivity to paddle deflection and reduced pressure since the force of buckling is a function of the paddle cross-section rather than paddle length for all areas of the paddles except near the paddle wheel hub. The semi-circular blades reduce misfeeding and multifeeding while having an extended wear life.

Abstract: A carton separating apparatus for separating a carton from a stack of cartons comprising a rotatable body; a drive shaft connected to said rotatable body; a plate mounted axially adjacent said rotatable body; a separating blade removably attached to said plate and having a side surface facing said rotatable body and defining an axial gap therebetween adapted to receive a portion of a carton; a single screw device supporting and connecting said plate to said rotatable body and including a first threaded portion of one pitch connected to said rotatable body and a second threaded portion of another pitch connected to said plate whereby rotation of said single screw device causes differential relative axial displacement of said rotatable body and said plate while maintaining a parallel relationship between opposite gap defining surfaces thereof; and a detent device to biasingly hold said screw device in selected incremental adjusted positions.

Abstract: A machine wherein flat blanks are fed from a stack thereof to be folded and glued into envelopes. The machine is provided with an optical sensing device which is operable to sense when the stack of blanks diminishes to a predetermined height whereupon the machine will be turned off automatically so as to prevent a plurality of blanks from being simultaneously fed into the machine from the diminished stack to jam the machine. The machine operator can then add blanks to the stack and restart the machine. The sensing device can be turned off by the operator in order to run all of the blanks in the stack through the machine at the end of a blank run or at the end of a working day.

Abstract: A device for transporting individual sheets to or from a magazine housing containing the sheets in a stack, particularly useful in x-ray installations, includes a threaded rotary screw member disposed within the magazine containing the stack of sheets for raising and lowering the sheet stack within the magazine and individually handling the uppermost sheet in the stack for transport to or from the magazine. A sheet transport is also provided comprising drive rollers disposed in a lateral plane overlying the sheet stack and running rollers connected to an upper end of the rotary screw member for movement in a lateral plane directly beneath the drive rollers, such that the running rollers may be disposed between the bottom circumferential portions of the drive rollers to form a sheet transport nip between the corresponding rollers.

Abstract: A sheet registration apparatus and device for registering a sheet on a surface 72 against a registration stop 75 or 74, 75 includes a wiper device 100 having a plurality of resilient blades 101 rotatable about an axis 103 which is generally normal to the surface 72. The blades lie in radial planes through the axis and extend in the direction of the axis towards sheet-engaging tips 106 which are arranged to wipe across the sheet surface over a limited arc of rotation so as to urge the sheets towards the registration stop. To this end the blades are held out of contact with the sheets during part of each revolution by a swash plate 102 having an arcuate opening 114.

Abstract: In carton feeding apparatus, a rotary member having a blade which passes behind a leading carton in a group of vertically-oriented cartons to separate the leading carton from the adjacent carton. A lockout member is pivotally mounted on the rotary member and is adapted to be moved in a generally axial direction toward the incoming cartons to block the cartons from engagement by the blade.

Abstract: A manually operated system for dividing a stack of paper sheets successively into equal batches includes a bladed hub slidably and rotatably supported on a base by an upright shaft in position for the blades, which are somewhat sharp and are successively stepped in relation like steps in a spiral staircase, to engage and partially separate successive batches upon rotation of the bladed hub; in preferred embodiment each blade has an upright structure adjacent the outer end for thrusting against and offsetting each batch engaged, for easier manual pick-up of the batch.

Abstract: A device for separating film sheets in a stack, particularly useful in X-ray installations, includes a threaded rotary screw member disposed within a magazine containing the stack of sheets for raising and lowering the sheet stack within the magazine and individually handling the uppermost sheet in the stack for transport to or from the magazine.

Abstract: A high speed feeder for cartons being fed into a cartoner includes both mechanical and fluid flow environments for precisely delivering cartons. A preferably inclined conveyor receives cartons stacked on their edges and in a generally vertical orientation. A rotating metering wheel at the downstream end of the conveyor engages the top edges of the cartons and separates them one at a time from the incoming stack. A blower is provided to direct air onto the cartons adjacent the metering wheel to (a) blow the cartons against the metering wheel, (b) blow air between the first and second cartons of the stack as the metering wheel separates the first from the second, and (c) blow the cartons down to a horizontal attitude. Horizontal feed chains having feed lugs receive the horizontal cartons and advance them one at a time into the cartoner. Vacuum nozzles are provided to aid in controlling carton placement on the feed chains and lugs throughout a broad range of feed speeds. Methods are included.

Abstract: Device for separating and feeding sheets in seriatim from a stack to a processing station. The device includes a pin which periodically contacts and forms a pivot point on the stack. A rotary wave generator is disposed to rotate about the pivot point. The rotary wave generator periodically contacts a topmost sheet in the stack and shingles (that is separates) the sheet from the stack. The shingled sheet is fed into a paper sheet aligner and into the processing station.

Abstract: At one side of a stack of printed products or the like there are provided entrainment elements which are mounted at a revolving or orbiting driven chain or equivalent structure. Each entrainment element is inserted at one side of the momentarily lowermost printed product of the stack between the sheets of such printed product and comes into contact with the folding edge or spine of such printed product. By further moving the entrainment element the lowermost product is pulled out from beneath the stack while turning or rotating the same at the region of the product corner at which engages the entrainment element. The thus freely exposed region of the folding edge or spine of the lowermost product then comes to lie between two rolls or rollers of a product removal device, one of these removal rolls being driven. Both of these rolls pull the seized product out of the bottom of the stack in the product removal direction and place such upon two outfeed conveyor belts or bands.

Abstract: Device for separating and feeding sheets in seriatim from a stack to a processing station. The device includes a pin which periodically contacts and forms a pivot point on the stack. A rotary wave generator is disposed to rotate about the pivot point. The rotary wave generator periodically contacts a topmost sheet in the stack and shingles (that is separates) the sheet from the stack. The shingled sheet is fed into a paper sheet aligner and into the processing station. A variable or ramped force and/or a variable velocity is applied to the shingler. The force and/or velocity begins at a relatively low value and increases until a sheet is sensed downstream from the stack. This enables the feeding of a wide range of paper types and weights.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets contained in a stationary magazine. A rotating disc supports substantially the entire bottom surface of a stack of sheets contained in a sheet stack magazine disposed above the disc, the corner of the magazine pointing oppositely to the direction of rotation of the disc. The latter has a recess (17,18) extending radially from its periphery and also another recess (20,21) extending in the direction of rotation from the first-mentioned recess and covering an angle of rotation of about 90.degree.. A suction element (19) is adapted to be moved through the recess to the corner of the stack of sheets and in synchronism with the rotating recesses grips the corner of the bottom sheet, tips it over, and transports it to a table under the disc. A clamp lever takes over the corner of the sheet, which has been tipped over from the stack of sheets, before it is released by the suction element and holds it on the table during the peeling-off operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus attachable to a printer for feeding and delivering envelopes. Storage means for fresh and printed envelopes which are disposed perpendicularly to the orientation of print direction. A reduction in overall size required in a mechanism for handling feed and delivery of both cut sheets and envelopes is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compact sheet feed apparatus suitable for attachment to a printer or the like, including a removable cartridge for holding a stack of sheets. The cartridge provides an intergral edge aligner surface and second sheets restraint during lateral shingling of sheets prior to feeding in a direction transverse to shingling.

Abstract: A document feed mechanism for a copier machine incorporating an automatic document feed (ADF) with a semi-automatic document feed (SADF) and enabling the SADF to interrupt the ADF. The ADF tray upon which a stack of documents to be copied is placed is situated directly above the viewing station. A wave generator (shingler) paper feed means fans out the topmost sheets on the stack and up a ramp until the topmost sheet enters closed nip rollers. The nip rollers, together with aligner rollers and a drive belt, move the sheet around a substantially 180.degree. bend and onto the viewing station. Second sheet feeds are prevented by a restraint pad positioned between the nip rollers and the exit of the ramp, the top of the restraint pad being above the nip of the nip rollers so that the topmost sheet presses a second sheet downwardly into the restraint pad. The SADF feeds sheets onto the viewing station using the aligner rolls and the drive belt.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for individually feeding blanks from a source of blanks to a point of use. The apparatus includes a feeding apparatus which has a portion thereof engageable with a side wall blank contained in the stack and feed same onto a conveyor and then to a second transfer mechanism which conveys the side wall blank to a point of use. The feeding apparatus is comprised of a mechanism which basically is comprised of a four-link arm arrangement wherein a throat-forming member is maintained in a substantially vertical plane throughout pivoting movement of the arm arrangement thereby maintaining a side wall blank in a feed position. An elevator means is also provided which has a storage magazine and is positioned below the feeding apparatus. The elevator means includes a pair of elevators which work jointly so the elevator means can be reloaded while the feeding apparatus is still running without requiring a shutdown of the equipment to fill the magazine.

Abstract: A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel.The combing wheel shingles the leading edge of the stack's top sheet to an open feed roller nip, to be sensed there by a pneumatic sensor. Sensing of this leading edge causes the combing wheel to be lifted off the stack. Subsequently, at a time determined by the copier's control logic, the drive nip closes to thereby feed the top sheet to the copier's paper registration gate, and then to its transfer station. As soon as this sheet's trailing edge has cleared the pneumatic sensor, and the drive nip has opened, the next sheet is staged at the shingled position, in the open drive nip.Side-one copied sheets, of intended duplex copies, are automatically stacked in a duplex bin. The bottom of the duplex bin includes a flat, resilient bottom-of-the-bin pad.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for successively separating and feeding sheets from a stack of sheets is disclosed. A wave generator wheel, rotating in a plane generally parallel to the stack, and about a tiltable axis generally perpendicular to the stack, is tiltable in a first direction to contact the stack for shingling the stack, and in a second direction to contact the stack for restoring the stack to its unshingled state. Sheets in a stack are driven forward or rearward by simply tilting the rotating wheel. The wave generator wheel is used to first drive the stack's top sheet away from a feed nip, and to then drive the stack's top sheet into the feed nip.

Abstract: Mechanism for separating the uppermost pliant sheet of a stack of such sheets from the stack including a rotatable friction drive wheel effective on the longitudinal center line of the uppermost sheet for initially moving the sheet rearwardly, and a pair of downwardly tapered posts at the rear face of the stack and on opposite sides of the center line which cause the uppermost sheet to bow upwardly away from the stack particularly on its side edges for thereby effectively separating the sheet from the stack and allowing it to be driven subsequently in the forward direction to free it completely from the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling and reading any one of a number of film strips, each having a number of segments with each segment containing a plurality of information-containing, high-reduction image frames. The film strips are housed in a cassette which is movable with respect to a fixed reference to align a desired film strip with a reading station disposed across the optical path of an optical system. A film strip is moved out of the cassette by a force applied to one of its side edges. Control information carried by each film strip is sensed as the film strip moves out of the cassette and the sensed information is used to control the distance through which the film strip moves so that a particular segment thereof will stop at the reading station. The optical system is moved relative to the reading system so that the optical path of the optical system is selectively alignable with a particular image frame of the film strip removed from the cassette.