Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device to separate blanks form each other in a stack by that at least one separating unit is brought into contact with one or more of the edges of the blank stack. The separating unit comprises a separating arm having a narrow teeth provided blade, which moves first horizontally until a tooth grasps the uppermost blank, whereupon the arm having the narrow teeth provided blade controllably moves upwards and lifts one blank edge. An air knife, which acts towards the side of the blank stack in a direct connection to the point of application of the teeth provided blade, can give one or several air thrusts when the blade is starting its controlled movement upwards and is urging like an wedge in under a slit under the uppermost blank of the blank stack, an eventual existing vacuum between the blanks being disappeared at the same time as the uppermost blank of the blank stack receives a lifting force by the air cushion, created.

Abstract: A method of advancing packaging blanks disposed standing upright in a magazine, one after the other, in a file or queue resting against the bottom of the magazine and disposed to be driven forwards through the magazine towards a stop at an outlet end for individual discharge comprises the file or queue of blanks being divided into two pressure zones, a first and forward pressure zone extending from the zone limit between the pressure zones up to the stop and displaying a first mutual pressure between neighboring blanks, as well as a rear second pressure zone displaying a second mutual pressure between neighboring blanks. The first mutual pressure is higher than the second mutual pressure. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for carrying out advancement of the packaging blanks.

Abstract: A paper cartridge of a printer including a cartridge body to load papers to be picked up, and a friction plate to provide a predetermined friction force to a front end of the papers picked up at the cartridge body. The friction plate is sloped at a predetermined angle in the body so that the friction plate can be moved by being pushed by the front end of the paper.

Abstract: In a paper-leaves conveying means for conveying a plurality of paper leaves, set together in a bundle in a depositing section, toward a paper-leaves feeding position where a separating/supplying belt exists, an arm is provided which is designed to be moved toward the paper-leaves feeding position in a protruding condition into the interior of the depositing section for supporting side surfaces of the paper leaves, and further to be retreated instantaneously from the interior of the depositing section immediately before the last paper leaf existing between the arm and the separating/supplying belt is handed over to the separating/supplying belt side. Thus, the arm can support the paper leaves until immediately before they are handed over to the separating/supplying belt, which eliminates the occurrence of the falling-down of the paper leaves at the paper-leaves feeding position.

Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.

Abstract: A flat article hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of flat articles and a paddle to push the flat articles towards a flat article feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the flat article hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the flat articles are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the flat article stack and the side rod.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptively driving the flag element of a document-handling device, such as a document sorter. The rotation of a first cam exerts a first force on the flag element. The profile of the first cam is such that the first force exerted on the flag element varies in accordance with the size of the document stack of the document-handling device. Alternatively, a second cam, rotatably connected to the first cam, causes a rotation of the first cam such that the first cam exerts a second force on the flag element. The first cam is shaped such that the second force exerted on the flag element is constant.

Abstract: A high capacity document sheet processor combines significant speed and efficiency enhancing improvements in existing approaches to stack feeding particularly in the stack loading, feeding and singulating functions with novel operational arrangements adaptable to a universal paper handling and envelope inserting system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.

Abstract: An envelope hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of envelopes and a paddle to push the envelopes towards an envelope feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the envelope hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the envelopes are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the envelope stack and the side rod.

Abstract: An arrangement for adaptively driving the flag element of a document handling device, such as a document sorter. The invention uses a force generating mechanism to produce torque at the periphery of a cam. A flexible connector that is wrapped around the cam is used to pull the flag element. The cam is shaped such that the force exerted on the flag element produced by constant torque varies in accordance with the size of the document stack in the hopper of the document handling device.

Abstract: A follower mechanism is provided for use in a system for feeding flat articles, such as mixed mail, which follower mechanism includes a paddle assembly connected to a mount so as to be pivotable between a feed position and an inactive position, and mechanism for permitting the paddle mount to be freely moved in either direction when the paddle assembly is in its inactive position, but to be drivable only in the forward direction when the paddle is in its feed position. A counterbalance mechanism is provided to control downward movement to the paddle and to assist in the lifting of the paddle. A mechanism may also be provided for positively disengaging the mount for the paddle from the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for feeding literature to a literature dispenser. The literature dispenser and a label dispenser are positioned on opposite sides of a conveyor on which products being furnished with literature and labels are transported. The hopper assembly includes a chute which is designed to have an upstream chute portion adjacent the conveyor. The upstream chute portion is positioned within the reach of an operator who is stationed on the same side of the conveyer as the label dispenser, and a single operator can load both the hopper assembly and the label dispenser without moving from one side of the conveyor to the other. The hopper assembly also includes a literature escapement having a plurality of retaining members mounted on a pair of support elements. The retaining members engage a forward facing surface of a piece of literature and are arranged in spaced relationship to provide an opening through which the piece of literature is removable from the hopper assembly in the forward direction.

Abstract: A continuous and sequential temporal storing and conveying of plate shaped members to the next processing step, in which the differently sized and randomly ordered plate shaped members can be easily handled and manipulated, A substantially vertical wall surface is provided and the plate shaped members are temporarily stored in a state of leaning against the wall surface and sequentially fed toward the wall surface. Then, a nearest-to-wall plate shaped member among the stored plate shaped members is drawn to the wall surface in order to vertically erect the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member and separate the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member from remaining stored plate shaped members. Then, the vertically erected nearest-to-wall plate shaped member is conveyed to the next processing step along the wall surface.

Abstract: A low cost, paper feeder for large copy sheets includes a media chamber mounted to support copy sheets in a substantially vertical plane. A two-position, T-shaped feeder mechanism including a pair of one-way clutch controlled feed rolls is slidably mounted on a rail for contacting the media. A foot pedal is connected to the feeder mechanism such that when movement of the foot pedal is initiated, the feeder mechanism is moved in a first direction to a position contacting the copy sheets and with continued movement of the foot pedal, a top sheet of the copy sheets is moved by the feeder mechanism out of the tray in a second direction a predetermined amount to a copier wait station, and with return of the foot pedal to its initial position, the feed mechanism is caused to retract from the surface copy sheets in a third direction to its initial position.

Abstract: An input hopper (20) for inputting card members to card processing modules (14) includes a tray (22) for storing the cards which are maintained in a stack by a pusher mechanism (30) having a plate (23) biasing the card stack toward a first end of the tray (22). A notched cam (42) at the first end of the tray (22) rotates and engages the edge of a lead card to separate it from the stack. Rollers (50,52,54) engage the separated card and deliver the card from the input hopper (20). The cam (42) and main roller (50) are driven by a motor (60) and drive linkage (61) including a coiled spring (70) to provide an override to the drive linkage (61) in the event of jamming.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a single envelope from a stack of envelopes without misfeeding or double feeding is provided. The apparatus includes a picker blade which is articulated by a drive to impart of plurality of motions to the leading edge of an envelope after the picker blade has been engaged under the flap of an envelope to be separated from a stack of envelopes in a magazine. The novel stripping action of the picker blade ensures that the leading edge only of the envelope to be fed from the magazine is first stripped and separated from the stack of envelopes and directed past a restrainer which prevents the stack of envelopes adjacent the envelope to be fed from being moved in a feed direction.

Abstract: A high speed envelope feeder is provided with a pair of pinch rolls for extracting an envelope from a stack of closed envelopes in a magazine. The flap of a closed envelope is opened by raising a cam surface under the flap to position the flap between a fixed pinch roll and a movable pinch roll. The movable pinch roll is articulated to grasp the flap between the pinch rolls. The flap is pulled to extract the envelope from the magazine and is subsequently pushed by the pinch rolls into the transport device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for transporting a film of determined format from a position where a film is taken from a magazine to a work position between two parts, mobile with respect to each other in a first direction, of a machine. The device includes apparatus for taking a film from said magazine capable of moving, in a movement asociated with that of said parts, in a second direction at right angles to said first direction between said position of taking and said work position, and drive apparatus are associated with said magazine to animate the latter, independently of said parts but in synchronism therewith, by a reciprocating movement parallel to said first direction.

Abstract: The article separator comprises at least one transfer station (20) receiving the articles to be transferred to the entrance of at least one delivery conveyor (4). Each transfer station is equipped with at least one pickup arm (21) with a suction head (22) at one end, driven between the transfer station and the delivery conveyor and having a plurality of orifices (23) which can be selectively connected to a vacuum source or a blown air source under the control of a video processing circuit (33) coupled to a camera (32) that registers the scene at the front of the transfer station. The separator can handle mail deemed to be non-mechanically-sortable hereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding cards to an embossing apparatus in an automatic embossing system includes an adjustable input hopper and a card picking mechanism. The input hopper can be adjusted to receive cards of varying height, width and thickness. The card picking mechanism includes a card shelf for supporting a card substantially along the length of its bottom edge, a carriage upon which the card shelf is mounted and a cam and rocker arm drive arrangement for reciprocating the card shelf and carriage. The card feeding apparatus provides a large feeding force and is particularly suitable for feeding metal cards.

Abstract: A device for feeding plate materials wherein plate materials in a magazine are guided toward its outlet and urged in the direction perpendicular to their surfaces by a reciprocating member disposed at the outlet of the magazine in such a manner that it can be moved back and forth to receive the plate members from the outlet of the magazine and carry them one by one on its support surface to a predetermined position. A kicker is retractably fitted to the reciprocating member through a spring so that, when projected from the support surface of the reciprocating member, the kicker engages with the rear edge of the plate material on the support surface as it advances. A rear engagement projection protrudes inwardly from the rear wall of the magazine outlet so that it opposes and engages the outer rear surface of the outermost one of the plate materials contained in the magazine.

Abstract: A printer for a desk computer includes a card case adapted to accommodate a large number of cards. The cards accommodated in the card case are pressed toward an open end of the card case by a biasing means. A movable frame is adapted to move up and down while keeping in slidable engagement with the open end of the card case. When the movable frame comes down with a card held therein, the card is impressed by the counterrotation of an impression cylinder against the inked printing surface on a plate cylinder.

Abstract: A card dispensing mechanism for withdrawing individual cards from a stack thereof and feeding it to a use station including a stack support structure and a pressure plate urging the stack with the foremost card at a dispensing point. A carriage has a roller at a first end riding along a track longitudinally parallel to the foremost card front face and is engaged by a rocked lever at its opposite end and a pawl element is mounted proximate the carriage first end and projects toward engagement with the foremost card trailing edge to rotate and rock with the carriage. With the rocking of the lever on its advanced stroke the pawl element initially engages the card trailing edge to impart an advancing outwardly inclined force thereto and during the major advance of the card applies a longitudinal force thereto parallel to the card face and approaching the end of the stroke, the force is again outwardly inclined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted for processing tags, cards, or the like are disclosed herein. The apparatus preferably comprises a magazine for storing a predetermined quantity of tags and an associated slotted gate, feed dispensing system for automatically moving tags out of the magazine. In one form of the invention a swinging arm for moving tags outputted from the feed gate to a desired external station is provided. The feed gate preferably comprises a slidable push plate which reciprocally, slidably moves within an elongated channel provided adjacent the magazine. Each time the push plate goes through a cycle a single tag (or group of tags) is outputted from the magazine through the feed gate dispensing apparatus to a position external of the tag feeder. In one form of the invention a printing device is associated with the feed gate for printing information on tags before delivery to the desired external station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding letters from a relatively loose stack of letters, in which each successive end letter in the stack is subjected to repeated impulses applied by a rapidly reciprocating friction surface which moves in a direction having components of movement both transverse to and parallel to the plane of the end letter. The movement is sufficiently rapid that the inertia of the leading letter to movement transverse to its plane substantially increases the pressure between the friction surface and the leading letter as compared with the pressure between that letter and the next in the stack. The friction surface is preferably a relatively uncompressible pad which is moved with an elliptical motion to repeatedly strike the end letter at a speed between 1,000 and 10,000 cycles per minute.

Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.