Abstract: A sheet feeding device may include a sucking and conveying mechanism having a suction surface, which sucks sheets stacked on a sheet stacking table, from an upper surface of the sheets, sucks an uppermost sheet to be sucked on the suction surface, and conveys the uppermost sheet onto a sheet conveyance path; a floating air blowing mechanism which blows floating air against the sheets from a side surface of the stacked sheets; a sheet position detecting sensor which detects an upper surface height position of the sheets stacked, and detects a floating state of the sheets floated; and a controller which judges the floating state of the sheets detected in a floating state detecting period in connection with a blowing of the floating air, and controls an air volume of floating air blown from the floating air blowing mechanism based on the floating state of the sheets.

Abstract: A transport apparatus which transports a sheet-like medium along a transport direction while one surface of the sheet-like medium is sucked to a holding surface, includes side members having opposed faces which are opposed to a portion of the holding surface at a position near the edge of the holding surface in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction. The side members form spaces between the other surface of the sheet-like medium and the opposed faces when the sheet-like medium is transported in a state where edges of the sheet-like medium in the width direction are interposed between the opposed faces and the holding surface.

Abstract: In a paper sheet transporting device, in an air duct portion of a suction duct, a suction confluence opening that collects air that is sucked and allows the air to pass through is disposed in a position included in a region where suction openings whose suction force is relatively the highest of plural suction openings exist and which position is away from the inner surface side of the suction surface portion, with the air duct portion being formed in a shape where the opening cross-sectional area of an air duct becomes relatively narrower away from the suction confluence opening in the rotating axial direction of a transport belt.

Abstract: A device for pulling in flat-stock pieces and precisely-aligned transporting of the flat-stock pieces at a work station of a machine for processing the flat-stock pieces has a gripper apparatus that grabs a forward edge of a piece of flat stock and accelerates the flat-stock piece, and a sheet pick-up roller that picks up the accelerated piece of flat stock from the gripper apparatus, whereby the sheet pick-up roller has a roller gripper effective at a circumference thereof for grabbing the accelerated piece of flat stock. The roller gripper can move between a closed position in which the piece of flat stock is held fast and an open position in which the piece of flat stock is released. Suction holes operable to be charged with intake air are disposed in a part of a circumference of the sheet pick-up roller following in a direction of rotation behind the roller gripper.

Abstract: A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism positioned to frictionally engage an outer surface of a mail piece at the end of the stack and transport it transversely, which mechanism includes one or more belts mounted on a drive roller at one end driven by a drive motor and a follower roller at a trailing end. A pivot mechanism permits the trailing end to swing towards and away from the stack. A drive is connected to the pivot mechanism to move the trailing end towards and away from the stack, and a controller is connected to the drive to cause the drive to swing the trailing end towards the stack and swing the trailing end away from the stack in a manner effective to improve operation of the pickoff system.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus includes: an endless belt which has a plurality of vents penetrating from a front surface to a rear surface and is stretched around a plurality of rollers including a drive roller and driven by the drive roller; a suction section having a suction port which suctions air and faces to a rear surface of the belt, wherein the sheet supply apparatus suctions a sheet to the front surface of the belt through vents of the belt facing to the suction port and carries the sheet, and the sheet supply apparatus further includes a guide member which guides a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed to a down stream side of the suction port in a conveyance direction, in a direction separating from the front surface of the belt.

Abstract: The method according to the invention of transferring stacked, sheet-like, flexible products (10), in particular printed products (12), to a belt conveyor (20) has a gripper (26) by means of which the product (10) at the bottom of the stack of products in each case is conveyed from a receiving region into a transfer region (19). In the transfer region, the product (10) is deposited on the belt conveyor (20). In order to accelerate the product as quickly as possible to the speed, and in the conveying direction (F), of the belt conveyor (20), the method has a contact-pressure roller (54) which follows the gripper (26) in the transfer region (19). This contact-pressure roller (54) presses the product (10) onto the belt conveyor (20), the gripper (26) releasing the product (10) at least more or less at the same time as the operation of pressing the product onto the conveying belt (64) of the belt conveyor (20) commences.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus including: a suction conveyance mechanism which suctions a topmost sheet of a plurality of sheets stacked and conveys the suctioned sheet to a sheet conveyance path; an outlet elevation mechanism which moves an air outlet to and from a first position at which the air outlet faces the side of the stacked sheets and a second position at which the air outlet faces a side of the sheet suctioned onto the suction surface; a suction detection sensor; a sheet supply detection sensor; and a control section which moves the air outlet to the first position or to the second position by controlling the outlet elevation mechanism based on detections by the sensors.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vacuum belt conveyor for transferring veneer sheets under a vacuum effect. The conveyor consists of a vacuum box under a vacuum effect, having at least one perforation extending lane-like in the direction of conveyance of the conveyor. Conveying belts are running on both sides of the perforation. The belts are brought into contact with a veneer sheet to be transferred, whereby the veneer sheet and the belts line an underpessurized space, and the sheet is retained in contact with the belts. A lug movable in the direction of the vacuum lane is arranged at the perforation for keeping any jamming debris away.

Abstract: A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism positioned to frictionally engage an outer surface of a mail piece at the end of the stack and transport it transversely, which mechanism includes one or more belts mounted on a drive roller at one end driven by a drive motor and a follower roller at a trailing end. A pivot mechanism permits the trailing end to swing towards and away from the stack. A drive is connected to the pivot mechanism to move the trailing end towards and away from the stack, and a controller is connected to the drive to cause the drive to swing the trailing end towards the stack and swing the trailing end away from the stack in a manner effective to improve operation of the pickoff system.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack, a sheet carrying plate for carrying the sheet stack and a pickup roller that dispatches the uppermost sheet of the stack. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position where an upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side face of the sheet stack. A controller causes the first warm air mechanism to blow warm air to the side face of the sheet stack and causes the elevator to displace the sheet carrying plate between the sheet feeding position and the separating position.

Abstract: A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism positioned to frictionally engage an outer surface of a mail piece at the end of the stack and transport it transversely to a thickness direction of the stack, which mechanism includes one or more belts mounted on rollers and driven by a drive motor. A sensor is positioned to determine mail piece movement speed as it is being transported by the pickoff belt mechanism, and a measurement device determines belt movement speed during operation of the pickoff belt mechanism. A system is provided for reducing or stopping slipping of the mail piece relative to the belt during transport by the belt pickoff mechanism. A controller is connected to the sensor and the belt movement speed measurement device.

Abstract: There are provided a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus, which enable stable sheet conveyance without depending on sheet size. An air suction portion having a duct portion for air suction is provided inwardly of an endless belt having a plurality of suction holes. Air is taken in through the suction holes of the endless belt and the duct portion for air suction by the air suction portion to absorb a sheet onto the endless belt. When the sheet having a sheet conveying direction length in which a sheet trailing end reaches the endless belt before a sheet leading end reaches a fixing device is conveyed, at least part of the portion of the duct portion through which the sheet trailing end passes before the sheet leading end reaches the fixing portion is closed by a shutter.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack. A sheet carrying plate carries the sheet stack and has an upstream end supported in the sheet accommodating portion for rotation. A pickup roller contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches an uppermost sheet. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a feeding position where the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side of the sheet stack in the sheet accommodating portion, the side being parallel to the sheet feeding direction. A controller controls the elevator so that the sheet carrying plate is displaced between the feeding position and the separating position during a warm air blowing operation.

Abstract: During the gathering process, an individual signature is respectively withdrawn from several collections of identical signatures, wherein the various decollated signatures are delivered to a collecting conveyor in order to form stacks. In this case, the sheets need to be reliably and carefully decollated. The invention proposes that the sheets (3) of a collection are made available in the form of a stack (4), wherein the stack (4) is essentially supported by an air cushion (LP), that the bottom sheet (3) is at least regionally lifted off the stack (4) with the aid of a separating tool (30), that the air cushion (LP) is produced between the bottom sheet (3) and the residual stack (4), and that the sheet (3) is delivered to the collecting conveyor (10). The lifted-off sheet is completely separated from the stack by the air cushion such that the sheet can be transported out of the magazine with absolutely no friction relative to the stack (4) situated above the separated sheet.

Abstract: A gripping unit for gripping a paper from a top surface of a stack includes a first and second wheel having rotation axes that are mainly parallel with respect to each other. The first wheel is arranged to exert a friction force on sections of a paper during removal of the paper. The gripping unit further comprises an actuator on which the first wheel is mounted for moving the first wheel in a moving direction towards the second wheel. In addition, the gripping unit comprises an airflow generator for providing an air flow following a flow path directed substantially along the moving direction of the first wheel towards a side surface of the stack and upon approaching said side surface directing away from the stack in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the top surface of the stack.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus and sheet feeding device capable of feeding sheets without skewing or multi-feeding of sheets using a small number of side air blowing drive sources. The sheet feeding device has a plurality of side discharge nozzles comprising side discharge outlets for blowing air onto the respective side edge surfaces of a paper stack, and two sirocco fans which are communicatively connected in series as a side air blowing drive source, and are communicatively connected, via a side discharge drive source chamber and a side discharge relay tube (duct), to the plurality of side discharge nozzles. The respective side discharge nozzles capable of moving in linkage with side fences, and an immovable fixed side discharge nozzle are disposed at different distances from the leading edge of the loaded and set paper stack with respect to a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus provided with a fan for blowing air against sheets stacked on a sheet tray, a position detecting sensor for detecting the position of the sheets floated up by the fan, and a tray lifting and lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the sheet tray. The tray lifting and lowering mechanism is controlled on the basis of a result of detection by the position detecting sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum friction feeder including at least one vacuum friction belt provided with a plurality of holes, a pair of rollers, a table top provided with at least one suction port, an exposure table having a substantially horizontal top surface and a separator. The at least one vacuum friction belt is adapted to rotate around the table top while supported by the rollers such that a suction pressure can be drawn through the plurality of holes provided in the at least one vacuum friction belt as the plurality of holes pass over the suction port. The exposure table is operatively associated with the table top and is adapted to be movable relative to the table top in a plane defined by the substantially horizontal top surface to adjust the portion of the bottommost product in the stack of products exposed to the at least one vacuum friction belt.

Abstract: A feeder is provided for a punching or embossing apparatus. The feeder has a configuration for feeding sheets from a multiplicity of stacks. The stacks are disposed next to one another in the transport direction. In a method for punching or embossing sheets using a punching or embossing apparatus, sheets are fed to the punching or embossing apparatus from stacks disposed next to one another.

Abstract: A stepper mechanism for transporting a substrate along a linear transport path, which includes a stationary member and first and second transport members, extending widthwise across the transport path, said stationary member and transport members each being adapted to alternatively grip and release the substrate, and independent drive units are arranged on either side of the transport path for moving the respective ends of the transport members in a transport direction (X), wherein the transport members are movable independently of one another, and at least one of the drive units is adapted to move one end of the first transport member independently of the corresponding end of the second transport member.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets in sheet-processing machines includes a transport belt which transports sheets from a first location to a second location. The transport belt can be driven at variable speed by a drive. The speed of the transport belt can be controlled by a control device in such a way that, through the use of a combination of at least two speed profiles, the number of sheets on the transport belt and the transfer of the sheets at the first and second locations can be adjusted. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.

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

Abstract: A feeder device for supplying a container blank to an apparatus is provided. The feeder device includes a loader adapted to supply at least one blank and a singulation mechanism. The singulation mechanism is operatively positioned relative to the loader for separating the at least one blank from the loader. The feeder device also includes a transport mechanism in communication with the singulation mechanism and is adapted to supply the at least one blank to the apparatus. A motion control assembly is in communication with the singulation mechanism to selectively adjust positioning of the singulation mechanism between the loader and the transport mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet separation method for separating a sheet one by one from a bundle of the sheets and feeding the separated sheet to a next processing step, including: suctioning an edge part of the sheet and pulling the suctioned edge part from the bundle as if to turn over the suctioned edge part; separating the sheet from the bundle, the edge part of the sheet being suctioned and pulled; and conveying the sheet separated from the bundle in a predetermined direction. A sheet separation mechanism and a sheet feeder are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a housing that defines a print media entrance opening and a print media exit opening. A support frame is arranged in the housing between the openings. A print media feed roller assembly is mounted on the frame proximal the entrance opening and a print media exit roller assembly is mounted on the frame proximal the exit opening. A print engine is mounted on the frame downstream of and adjacent to the feed roller assembly. A belt-loading mechanism is mounted on the frame and is interposed between the print engine and the exit roller assembly to load an initial portion of a sheet of print media between the roller assemblies prior to a printing operation to be carried out by the print engine.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a separator sheet handling assembly 10 that includes a lifting assembly 20 adapted to receive a pallet 12 containing a stack of separator sheets 14. The lifting assembly 20 positions the stack of separator sheets 14 into a predetermined location where a feed assembly 30 engages a separator sheet 16 positioned at the top of the stack of separator sheets 14. The feed assembly 30 removes the separator sheet 16 and transports it to a test assembly 50 where the separator sheet 16 is monitored for a particular characteristic such as cleanliness or structural integrity. The separator sheet 16 is delivered to a first storage assembly 60 if the separator sheet 16 has the particular characteristic, or a second storage assembly 70 if the separator sheet 16 does not include the particular characteristic.

Abstract: A device for feeding a processing section with printed products includes a magazine and a feeding mechanism that includes a gripping mechanism and a conveying mechanism for removing the printed products from the magazine and feeding them to the processing section. The gripping mechanism and the conveying mechanism are driven so that the gripping mechanism can be accelerated in an angular region for a catch-up operation while the speed of the conveying mechanism remains constant.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a stacking plate, a pick-up device, means for blowing air, and a holding member. On the plate, sheets to be fed into a processing apparatus are placed. The device sends out a top one of the sheets placed on the plate, and has a pick-up roller to be brought into contact with an upper side of the top sheet at a position within a predetermined level range when the sheet is to be fed into the apparatus. The means blows air to the sheet with a predetermined force in a direction to separate the sheet from the other sheets placed on the plate or from the plate. The member is to be brought into contact with the upper side at a position upstream of the roller with respect to a feeding direction in which the sheet is to be fed into the apparatus.

Abstract: A rippler may be installed on a paper deliverer used in conjunction with a paper sheeter, in between the vacuum belts of the sheeter. The rippler includes an upwardly projecting ridge, causing paper passing over it to develop a ripple, thereby increasing the rigidity of the paper. This increased rigidity of the paper resists the tendency of the paper to fly upward as it is being transported by the deliverer.

Abstract: A disclosed sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet in a first sheet conveying direction; and a second conveying unit arranged on a downstream side of the first conveying unit in the first sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in a second sheet conveying direction different from the first sheet conveying direction. At least the second conveying unit acts as a holding/conveying unit with a holding section to hold and convey the sheet and includes a moving/guiding unit arranged along an outer side of a sheet conveying path extending between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit. The moving/guiding unit moves/guides the sheet toward the holding section of the second conveying unit, and is arranged in a discontinuous manner along a sheet width direction orthogonal to the first sheet conveying direction so as to contact at least one part of the sheet in the sheet width direction.

Abstract: A web or fleece of synthetic resin strand collected on a sieve belt is discharged from the sieve belt into further processing equipment over a rerouting roller at the discharge end of the sieve belt. The rerouting roller is perforated and air or another fluid medium is passed through the belt at the rerouting roller to reduce adhesion forces between the belt and the web and lift the web from the belt without damage to the belt.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing machine of substantially flat goods is provided which detects the over-dispensing of goods while accommodating for varying thickness of the substantially flat goods. The automatic dispensing machine includes a table which supports goods such as cards, a suctioning device which pulls the cards, a transporting device which transports the cards after they are pulled by the suctioning device, a position-control device which controls the distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device. The position-control device is configured to increase the distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device based on a dispensing signal. The distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device is then decreased until a predetermined distance is reached.

Abstract: A printer includes a print media loading mechanism that includes a pair of opposed endless belts to pick up print media for printing. The belts ride upon opposed pairs of rollers which are held in slides to limit the rollers' movement to motion towards and away from each other. Worm screws are located parallel to, and on either side of, the belts. Traverser blocks are mounted on the worm screws adjacent each end of the opposed rollers. Scissor members connect the traverser blocks to the ends of adjacent rollers. A motor is arranged to rotate the worm screws thereby causing the traverser blocks to move towards or away from the opposed rollers in order to move the opposed rollers away from each other or towards each other to pick up print media.

Abstract: An insert feeding assembly includes an insert support, an overlapping feeding assembly, a separating assembly, and a main drive assembly. The insert support provides support for a stack of inserts, the overlapping feeding assembly converts the stack of inserts into an overlapping stream of inserts, and the separating assembly separates individual inserts from the overlapping stream and ejects these separated inserts out of the feeding assembly. The insert support includes an insert plate assembly and an insert guide assembly. The overlapping feeding assembly includes a suction cup assembly, a lap roller drive assembly, and a belt conveyor assembly. The separating mechanism includes a speed up roller assembly. The feeding assembly includes approximately 50% fewer parts than other known feeders and can operate at a printer press speed of approximately 75,000 inserts per hour.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a stack 1 of flat, flexible articles, in particular printed products, having bearing elements 3 which are moved along a continuous circulatory path U and, in a first sub-section A1 of the circulatory path U, U1, U2, form a stack rest 7. The apparatus has at least one separating element 5 which is capable of raising off a region 4a of the lowermost article 4 located in the stack 1 such that at least one of the bearing elements 3 can move in between the lowermost article 4 and the rest of the stack 1 and can separate off the lowermost article 4 from the rest of the stack 1 as it moves further. The apparatus further comprises a belt conveyor 8 which is arranged beneath the stack rest 7 and on which the articles come to rest once they have been separated off.

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

Abstract: A delivery system comprises a frame, and a plurality of hoppers attachable to the frame in a vertically spaced apart arrangement. The hoppers are each configured to hold a plurality of sheet-like materials. At least one upper belt is movably coupled to the frame, with the belt being configured to move the sheet-like materials downward from the hoppers. At least one contact roller is disposed below each hopper, and at least one suction apparatus that is associated with each hopper. A moving system is configured to move the suction apparatus toward and away from the hopper to grasp and remove one of the sheet-like materials from the hopper, and to move the removed sheet-like material downward until grabbed by the contact roller.

Abstract: A method and device for transporting flat, flexible products away from a stack of the products. The leading edge of each individual product is bent away downward from the underside of the stack of products by means of a suction element. The individual product is then transported away by means of a gripper that grips the leading edge region. The direction of movement of the gripper in the region of the underside of the stack of products runs substantially from the leading edge region to the trailing edge region of the products in the stack of products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus which has a positioning means for manual sheet feeding for aligning a sheet feeding position, and a positioning means for auto sheet feeding provided on an auto sheet feeder for aligning the sheet feeding position, and a sheet fed from the auto sheet feeder does not abut against the positioning means for manual sheet feeding, when the auto sheet feeder is attached to the recording apparatus main body.

Abstract: A conveyor belt for transporting articles having a plurality of apertures therein such that a vacuum applied to the apertures aids in forcing articles to stay on the conveyor belt while the articles are being translated. The conveyor is particularly useful for moving sheet articles such as a sheet feeder removing sheet articles from the bottom of a stack of sheet articles in a sheet feeder. The vacuum adds to the frictional force of the article on the conveyor belt and increases the productivity of the sheet feeder by reducing jams and increasing the frictional contact of the sheet article on the conveyor belt by removing chaff and other material form the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport apparatus for a bank note processing machine wherein bank notes are supplied via guiding element 2 to transport diverter 11 in order to be diverted by transport diverter 11 to a stacking pocket or stacking wheel.

Abstract: There is provided transport apparatus for carton blanks 11. The blanks are delivered to a pair of rotating nip rollers 17 by using a segment wheel 15 and a swinging suction arm 16. The nip rollers 17 are drive at a predetermined speed so as to deliver the blanks 11 between two pairs of endless belts 18, 19 which are driven at the same speed as each other, the speed of the belts being slower than that of the nip rollers 17. The blanks 11 are, therefore, received by the nip rollers 17 in a pitched manner but the relative speeds ensures that the blanks are transported by the endless belts 18, 19 in an unpitched, end to end relationship.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for transporting flexible, sheet-like products, in particular printed products, from a stack, which is positioned at a receiving location, to a discharge location.

Abstract: An unloading and erecting apparatus has a frame fixed to a magazine holding a stack of flattened cartons, an outer horizontal guide on the frame, an outer horizontal slide horizontally displaceable on the outer horizontal guide and carrying a nonstraight outer vertical guide. A drive motor connected to the outer horizontal slide horizontally displaces same. A vertical guide on the frame carries a vertical slide and another drive motor connected to the vertical slide vertically displaces same. A shaft pivotal about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the forward direction on the vertical slide is fixed horizontally relative to the outer horizontal slide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating flexible flat objects from the top of a stack. The objects are lifted upward from the stack one at a time and separated therefrom by progressive adhesive action starting from the trailing end of the object in a transport direction. Once lifted by the adhesion device, the objects are transported in the transport direction by the transport device. The adhesion device may be magnetic for magnetizable articles or may be a suction device. Various techniques for moving suction and/or adhesion progressively along the object to be lifted in the transport direction are disclosed, including progressive application of suction, suction chamber arrangements for accomplishing that and the use of blown air to create a vacuum condition for lifting the sheets. The transport device might comprise a belt for moving the lifted objects. The transport of one object may be occurring while the next object is being lifted.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine is disclosed in which the timing of the sheet feeding is adjustable as a function of the thickness of the selected printing plate.

Abstract: In general, the present invention provides an efficient and effective means for positioning multiple documents over a scanning surface of a scanner or copier without a user's intervention. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and process for allowing a plurality of photographic prints to be moved from a tray to a scanning surface and back to the tray without being damaged. Each document is scanned through a transparent belt that protects the document as it moves through the inventive photofeeder and across an associated surface of a scanner or copier.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for thin flat articles, such as monetary currency bills, includes a plenum chamber having an aperture of a size smaller than the articles to be dispensed. A suction device is connected to the plenum chamber to provide sufficient negative pressure to adhere an article to the aperture. A contact member, such as an endless belt, is mounted for movement across the aperture to drive the article adhering to the aperture for release from the stack of articles. The stack of articles can be stored in a storage tray and biased towards the plenum chamber aperture. A series of spacer members can relieve part of the bias pressure. The released articles can be counted and stored in a storage chamber until a predetermined number of articles are accumulated. Subsequently, the passageway from the storage chamber to a dispenser tray can be opened and the articles ejected to the user.

Abstract: A method is proposed for separating flat, stacked products, which are preferably fed individually, at a distance from one another and lying one behind another, to a further processing process, first of all the uppermost product being lifted, at least partially and preferably completely, off the stack of products and subsequently transported away in the transport direction to the further processing process, the transport direction forming an angle (&agr;), preferably in the range from 30° to 150° with the vertical axis of the stack of products, wherein the products are transported away in such a way that as a product that still partially overlaps the stack with its trailing edge region is being transported away, a following product is already being lifted off the stack of products, in its trailing edge region, to be transported away.