Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for aligning a card on a printer belt. A printer includes the belt, a print unit having a head, and a card feeder having an alignment bracket. The card feeder deposits a card onto the belt along a processing axis in a first orientation. The belt moves the card away from the card feeder in a first direction. The card feeder is positioned in a second orientation where the alignment bracket aligns with the belt. The alignment bracket has a rear wall and a guide extending therefrom that align the card within the alignment bracket. The belt is overdriven in a second direction and the card moves into the alignment bracket for alignment. The belt then moves in the first direction and the card clears the alignment bracket. The card feeder is then positioned in a third orientation to allow printing with the head.

Abstract: An automatic paper feed device includes a mechanical frame, a paper supply tray mounted to the mechanical frame, at least one motor mounted to one side of the mechanical frame, an upper cover, a stopper mechanism, a paper pressing mechanism, a transmission mechanism, a feed mechanism and a control mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a blocking element and a torsion spring. The paper pressing mechanism includes a pressing board, at least one pressing roller and an elastic element. The feed mechanism is pivotally mounted to the paper supply tray. The control mechanism controls the motor to rotate, the rotation of the motor drives the transmission mechanism to support or break away from the pressing board to make the pressing board slide upward or downward with respect to the paper supply tray and further abut against or break away from the blocking element.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus includes a passage, a sheet-feeding roller disposed at an entrance of the passage, and a paper pressing mechanism including a paper pressing device and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism drives the paper pressing device to move towards and away from the sheet-feeding roller. The driving mechanism includes a power source, a rotating shaft connected to the power source, and an arm attached to the rotating shaft. As the rotating shaft rotates in a first direction, the arm actuates the paper pressing device to move away from the sheet-feeding roller. As the rotating shaft rotates in a second direction, the arm releases the paper pressing device, so the paper pressing device moves towards the sheet-feeding roller and presses a paper sheet upon the sheet-feeding roller.

Abstract: A device for positioning a plate element (7a, 7b, 7c) in an infeed station (2) of a machine for treating the element (1), fitted with a conveyor (8, 9), gripping the element (7a, 7b, 7c) which is found in a predetermined intermediate position, and carrying the element (7a, 7b, 7c) in a rated running into successive processing stations (3, 4, 6). The device includes a holding device (18) for temporarily holding the element (7a, 7b, 7c), the holding device moving longitudinally alternatively (A) from an upstream position to a downstream position, and vice-versa, to pick up the element (7a, 7b, 7c) in a rear position and bring it to the intermediate position, and to return empty. A motor (23) moves the holding device (18) longitudinally, from the upstream position to the downstream position, and vice-versa, as a function of the rated running. A detector (27) detects a rear longitudinal position in which the element (7a, 7b, 7c) is found, and emits a position signal.

Abstract: A vending machine system for stackable goods such as vehicle air fresheners includes a hopper and a reciprocating arm. The hopper is configured to hold a stack of the stackable goods. The hopper has an aperture formed in a base of the hopper for dispensing the stackable goods from the hopper. The reciprocating arm is disposed adjacent the aperture. The reciprocating arm is linearly movable between a retracted position and an extended position. One of the stackable goods is received by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is in the retracted position, and is pushed from the stack of stackable goods by the reciprocating arm when the reciprocating arm is in the extended position.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling machine includes: a storage unit 30 for storing therein paper sheets P in a batch form; a kicker roller 2 for providing drive force to the paper sheet P located in the lowest position, among the paper sheets P in the batch form, by rotating; a gate mechanism 5 for grasping each paper sheet P provided with the drive force by the kicker roller 2, and feeding out the paper sheet P along a feed out plane; and a pressing member 11 for pressing, from above, the paper sheets P stored in the storage unit 30. The gate mechanism 5 includes a feed roller 3 provided to the storage unit 30, and a gate member 4 provided to be opposed to the feed roller 3. Further, a guide roller 10, which is rotatable in a feeding direction of the paper sheets P, is provided to a bottom end of the pressing member 11.

Abstract: An automatic feeding apparatus includes a body and a sheet passage, a sheet-separation mechanism and a sheet-input assisting mechanism in the body. The sheet-separation mechanism is configured to separate sheets. The sheet-input assisting mechanism includes a frame, a presser, a clutch gear and a driving device. The clutch gear, driven by the driving device, is displaceable on a guide groove of the frame between a first position and a second position. The clutch gear is rotated rearward to be engaged with a gear rack of the presser at the first position and thereby drive the presser to move in a first direction. The clutch gear is rotated forward to move to the second position and disengaged from the gear rack of the presser. After being released, the presser moves in a second direction to press a sheet in front of a nip portion of the sheet-separation mechanism.

Abstract: A modular placement device for a feed station of a mail processing apparatus, wherein the feed station includes an ejection roller, has a housing that is separate for the modular placement device located upstream, in terms of the mail flow, of the feed station. The housing has a cavity therein to receive a stack of mail items, and a pressure element mounted so as to be pivotable and so as to be plugged into the cavity. The pressure element exerts a pressure force on the stack of mail items in the cavity, with a bottommost item of mail being pressed against the ejection roller so that the bottommost item of mail is propelled in the mail flow direction. The weight loss of the stack due to removal of the bottommost item of mail therefrom is counteracted by the pressure element.

Abstract: A device for generating a controllable reciprocal movement of a moveable mechanical element between a first stop point and a second stop point. At least one drive element is moved continuously with reciprocal movement between two turning points. A coupling device with a controllable coupling serves for the selective coupling of the mechanical element to the drive element. The coupling device further features a freewheel and is arranged such that in the active state of the coupling the mechanical element is coupled to the at least one drive element during a first half-cycle of the movement of the drive element and is moved from the first stop point to the second stop point, and during a second half-cycle of the movement of the drive element is substantially uninfluenced by the drive element due to the action of the freewheel.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet accommodating unit for accommodating a sheet, the sheet accommodating unit being detachably mountable to the apparatus; a feeding unit for feeding the sheet from the sheet accommodating unit; a press-contact device for press-contacting the sheet in the sheet accommodating unit to the feeding unit; a guiding member provided in the sheet feeding apparatus for guiding the sheet accommodating unit such that sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating unit is not contacted to the feeding unit when the sheet accommodating unit is mounted to the apparatus; a moving device for moving the guiding member to bring the sheet into contact to the feeding unit after the sheet accommodating unit is mounted to the apparatus.

Abstract: A card extracting device for use with a plurality of cards may include a card storage, a gate through which the cards pass toward an outside of the card storage, an extracting tab to engage with and extract one of the cards, a tab-moving mechanism to move the extracting tab, an extracting roller outside the card storage to further forward the extracted card, a motor to drive the tab-moving mechanism and the extracting roller, a card-extraction detecting section to detect that card extraction is completed, and a control section to control the motor. An engaging section may be formed in the extracting tab to abut a rear end portion of the card and extract the card. The control section may drive the motor forward to extract the card or drive the motor in reverse based on a detection result from the card extraction detecting section.

Abstract: A mailpiece selector device comprising a guide co-operating with at least one opposing selector roller to separate mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and to transport them downstream, said guide having at least one selector lever that can pivot about a pivot axis against resilient return means, and the selector lever having a vertical section formed by an involute of a circle, the base circle of which is formed by the pivot axis.

Abstract: A separator device for separating flat articles one-by-one from a stack of flat articles and for conveying them downstream, said separator device comprising at least one flexible bag provided with a plurality of balls and co-operating with a drive member so that, by deforming while said flat articles are being conveyed downstream, it separates said flat articles one-by-one. A particular application lies in separating mailpieces.

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

Abstract: A card dispensing apparatus having a compact configuration has a housing to support a stack of cards on a fixed base. Openings in the base member can permit surfaces from a conveying member to extend into the housing and contact a surface of the lowest card. The conveyer member can move horizontal to a release point and retract beneath the base member to return to an initial position. A movement unit provides a cyclic looping movement of the conveyer member into and out of the housing for transporting cards. A feed unit positioned at the dispensing point of the cards can grasp and release the cards from the card dispensing apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for duplex scanning includes a scanning module, a pickup roller assembly, a first discharging roller assembly, a second discharging roller assembly, a first path, a second path, a third path, a sheet feeding tray, a first discharging tray and a second discharging tray. The first discharging tray is used as a reverse region. Since only the scanning module inside the automatic document feeder is used for scanning the document without the participation of the flatbed image scanning portion, the operative space for accommodating the scanning module in the flatbed image scanning portion is not required. As a result, the length and the overall volume thereof are reduced.

Abstract: A friction wheel singler for singling bank notes includes a singler roller 1 with grooves 2, and retaining wheels 14 cooperating with the grooves 2. The retaining wheels 14 have friction areas 14a and sliding areas 14b such that both a sliding area 14b and a friction area 14a cooperate with each groove 2 of the singler roller 1. Such a friction singler is particularly suitable for longitudinal singling of narrow bank notes and prevents skewing of the sheet to be singled during the singling process.

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

Abstract: In a device for isolating and feeding the lowest sheet (1) in each case from a stack (2), with pushing-out elements (9) which grip the rear edge (3a, 3b) of the sheet (1) and transport it through, under a front-edge stop (5), into a pair of drawing-off rollers (6), can be moved forwards and backwards, are mounted on a cross-member (7) and have faces (9a), which are optionally front-mounted, for supporting the rear region of the stack (2) and also have bearing elements (11, 12) supporting the stack (2), and lateral abutment strips (13), the front edge (4) of the said stack being constant with respect to the sheet length (H), provision is made, in order to achieve high isolating outputs and faultless feeding of the sheets (1) with a device of simple design, for the cross-member (7) which receives the pushing-out elements (9) to be guided so as to be capable of travel in a linear guide (14), and for there to be directly associated with the said cross-member (7), for the driving movement of the latter, a linear m

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents in a facsimile is provided. The document feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller for picking up documents one by one, a white roller that faces a read module and rotates, the read module for reading data from the documents transferred by the pickup roller, a discharge roller for discharging the documents after the documents are passed through the white roller and the read module, a driving unit, a power transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting a power of the driving unit either only to the pickup roller, or to all of the pickup roller, the white roller and the discharge roller simultaneously, and a controller for controlling the power transmission mechanism to selectively transmit the power either one of the pickup roller, the white roller, and the discharge roller.

Abstract: A high-speed sheet feeder includes a separator wheel having a diameter of about three inches. A curved metal shroud having a low friction surface is disposed in close proximity to the wheel. The shroud has first and second straight parts that are disposed about ninety degrees relative to one another, and a curved part that interconnects the straight parts. The curvature substantially conforms to the curvature of the separator wheel. The second straight part of the shroud is parallel to a conveyor belt and has a slot formed in it so that the separator wheel engages sheets below the second straight part. The large diameter of the separator wheel, which is about double the diameter of prior art separator wheels, and the unique shape and extent of the shroud combine to enable a sheet feeder to handle sheets of widely varying thickness.

Abstract: A card dispensing device has a mechanism for preventing double feeding of cards. The double feed preventing mechanism can be card attitude correction rollers, which adjoin the leading edges of the cards within the card dispensing unit and thickness screws to regulate the vertical dimension of the card feed route. The double feed preventing mechanism can be a plate having a leading edge extending into the card feed route to regulate the vertical dimension of the card feed route.

Abstract: A bottom feed newspaper hopper utilizes a shuttle plate that reciprocates across the bottom of a stack of the papers to partially eject each successive lowermost newspaper from the stack during each feed stroke and present it to high speed nip rollers. The rollers grasp the leading edge of the partially ejected newspaper and quickly withdraw it the rest of the way from the stack. The stack of newspapers rests upon a fore-and-aft narrow rail on the shuttle plate so that a stiffening ridge is created in the body of the lowermost paper and at least several papers thereabove. During each feed stroke, a stop at the front of the hopper permits the lowermost paper to exit from the hopper but blocks similar movement of the second paper and all those above it. The stop is offset laterally from the path of travel of the rail so that the area immediately above the rail is open and unrestricted, allowing the peak of the ridge to pass out of the hopper even if the paper has an accidentally rolled up, fat leading edge.

Abstract: A hopper and feeder assembly for feeding newspapers to be collated or assembled for delivery is provided which includes a reciprocating feeder device employing roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies. The roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies lock during frictional engagement with the lowermost newspaper in the stack during a forward feed stroke to push the newspaper forward to nip rollers. The narrow feeder device permits a sharp ridge to be formed as the nip rollers snap down to bend the lowermost newspaper in the stack over the wheel assemblies. The roller clutch and bearing wheel assemblies are mounted on a rail to provide a narrow newspaper engagement surface and corresponding narrow ridge formed in the newspaper.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a sheetlike object, especially a card with magnetic strip, from a stack has a storage compartment for the stack and an object removal unit on a lower side of the storage compartment. The object removal unit has a conveying element movable back and forth under control perpendicular to the stack, i.e., in dispensing direction (x). According to the invention, the conveying element has a supporting surface concave in dispensing direction (x) and/or convex in a transverse direction (y) which is orthogonal to dispensing direction (x). With an element thus shaped, cards already used and bent in various ways can be reused for automatic card dispensing.

Abstract: A ticket dispensing machine which can dispense the lowermost ticket from a column of tickets, has a reciprocating arm member which includes a selector having a rocker arm to facilitate engagement with, and ejection of tickets. This allows the machine to efficiently dispense tickets which are distorted.

Abstract: When a magnetic head is fed in one direction by a card stage, ID information recorded in a magnetic stripe on a lowermost one of vertically stacked cards in a card stock unit is read by the magnetic head. Then, the lowermost card is carried by the card stage and fed in an opposite direction toward a printing unit, which prints image information on the card on the card stage based on the ID information that has been read by the magnetic head. This arrangement allows a complete match to be achieved between the ID information recorded in the magnetic stripe and the image information printed on the card.

Abstract: A base for operative association with an operating mechanism sensitive to horizontal vibration, such as an ink jet printer, supports a horizontal document feeder plate and associated drive operative to advance documents in sequential fashion from a stack toward the operating mechanism. A drive linkage interconnects a rotatable drive shaft to the feeder plate to effect horizontal reciprocating movement thereof. A counterweight is associated with the drive so as to substantially offset or nullify horizontal inertia forces imparted to the base by the feeder plate whereby to minimize horizontal vibration of the base. In an embodiment utilized for intermittent feeding of documents to the operating mechanism, a balance arm and associated counterweight cooperate with the feeder plate to offset horizontal inertia forces imparted to the base, and also minimize start-up torque required to initiate reciprocating movement of the feeder plate after stoppage.

Abstract: A base for operative association with an operating mechanism sensitive to horizontal vibration, such as an ink jet printer, supports a horizontal document feeder plate and associated drive operative to advance documents in sequential fashion from a stack toward the operating mechanism. A drive linkage interconnects a rotatable drive shaft to the feeder plate to effect horizontal reciprocating movement thereof. A counterweight is associated with the drive so as to substantially offset or nullify horizontal inertia forces imparted to the base by the feeder plate whereby to minimize horizontal vibration of the base. In an embodiment utilized for intermittent feeding of documents to the operating mechanism, a balance arm and associated counterweight cooperate with the feeder plate to offset horizontal inertia forces imparted to the base, and also minimize start-up torque required to initiate reciprocating movement of the feeder plate after stoppage.

Abstract: A color printer is provided in which a paper sheet is wrapped about a rotatable platen and three colors are printed on the sheet, to obtain an image, by a thermal head and a color ribbon during three rotations of the platen. In a paper feeding device for the printer, a sheet of paper is fed by a feeding roller, from the bottom of a stack of paper sheets in a paper tray through, a feeding guide to the platen. The tray has an opening in its bottom plate so as to expose the lowermost paper sheet stored therein. The feeding roller is provided under the tray and lifts up toward the opening of the tray so as to come in engagement with the lowermost paper sheet, the feeding roller rotating to feed it to the platen. The width of the platen is less than that of the sheet and the circumference thereof is less than the length of the sheet. Therefore, when the sheet is wrapped about the platen, it extends laterally outward from the ends thereof, and its ends overlap.

Abstract: A paper feed system suitable for use with a patty making machine to provide paper for separating patties, including a stack of sheet-form paper having a deformable element on the side edge thereof, a paper hopper, and a guide on the inside surface of a sidewall of the paper hopper for engaging the deformable element. Two guides are provided, each on opposite sidewalls of the hopper, engaging deformable elements on opposite sides of the paper stack. Preferably, the guides are male guides extending from the sidewalls with the end adjacent to where the paper is dispensed thicker than the remainder of the guide to support the paper. The deformable elements cooperate with the guides so that the paper is deformed by an extreme bend, but not torn, when each sheet is dispensed from the hopper. A stack of individual sheets of paper usable with this system includes recesses on opposite sides of each sheet of paper, where the recesses receive the guides when stacked in the hopper.

Abstract: Apparatus for accurately dispensing and positioning a credit card onto a predetermined area of a surface, includes a support tray which supports a stack of cards; a pusher assembly including a pusher plate which pushes out a leading edge of a lowermost one of the cards in the stack; gripper jaws which grip the lowermost edge of the pushed out card; and a control assembly which controls the gripper jaws to grip the lowermost edge of the pushed out card, to move over the predetermined area of the surface and to then release the gripped card so that the latter drops onto the predetermined area of the surface.

Abstract: A sheet feed and transport system for a compact printer features an idler gear which is coupled to rotate with the drive train from the platen motor to the platen and which is selectively movable into engagement with a sheet feed roller's drive gear.

Abstract: A card feeding mechanism utilizes a slider supported for reciprocating movement on a reference surface positioned below a card stack and a picker carried on the slider and operatively engaged with an edge of the lowermost card of the card stack to feed only the lowermost card as the slider moves. The picker is composed of a rigid and hard material withstanding a wear and formed in its surface with a slot extending in a direction at right angles to the moving direction of the slider and bordered by opposed front and rear slot edges. The rear slot is arranged at a higher position than the front slot edge to define a step between the slot edges. The step has a height determined in accordance with a thickness of the card so that the step can be engaged with the edge of the lowermost card.

Abstract: A method of automated garment assembly includes providing a shingled array of limp garment segments on a movable conveyor with the leading portion of the forwardmost segment exposed for contact by the segment transfer device, and subjecting the array to conditions promoting separation of the forwardmost segment from the array without disturbance of the alignment of the remaining segments in the array and simultaneously engaging the forwardmost segment with the segment transfer device and displacing it from the array to a segment processing station. Apparatus for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: An automatic flexible diskette picker for selectively ejecting flexible diskettes, one-at-a-time, from a stack of such diskettes. The picker comprises a stationary deadplate upon which a hopper containing a plurality of stacked diskettes of a given size is disposed. A gate device is affixed to the deadplate at a forward edge thereof and the gate has an aperture pattern for allowig the exit of diskettes of differing width and height dimensions therethrough, one-at-a-time. A motor-driven picker plate is disposed on the deadplate and reciprocally movable toward and away from the gate. The picker plate has a plurality of stepped vertical pick surfaces formed therein for accommodating diskettes of differing sizes. Thus, the device may be used to unstack, at different times, hoppers filled with floppy disks of the different sizes presently commercially available.

Abstract: A feeder device for feeding tags, cards, nameplates and the like to a rotary printer or marking machine. The feeder device is comprised of a chute for receiving a stack of tags. A reciprocatory pusher plate or shuttle is adapted to push a bottom-most tag through a narrow slot in a side wall of the chute onto a table of the printer. The table has a pair of guard rails spaced from one another and disposed in a converging relationship. The tags are pushed into a wide portion between the rails and advance into a tag engaging restricted portion between the rails where one of the rails is biasedly engageable against an edge of the tag. The tag is guided in a controlled manner as it is pushed underneath a printing wheel where the desired printing information is printed upon it.

Abstract: Sequential diskette transport apparatus of the reciprocating type transports diskettes one after the other from a hopper to a disk drive where the disk component of each diskette can be operated on. The apparatus then retrieves each diskette in turn from the disk drive and transports it to a receiving location where diskette sorting may take place. The apparatus also includes a special disk drive mount by which a disk drive can be quickly positioned in the apparatus at exactly the correct location to receive diskettes and which gives ready access to the underside of the disk drive for maintenance purposes. The apparatus transports the diskettes using special pickers which push only the lowest diskette in the hopper into the disk drive and then retrieves the diskette from the drive using a pulling motion. Thus, the apparatus handles the diskettes in more or less the same way as they would be handled by an operator if the loading and unloading processes were done manually.

Abstract: Various configurations of boxes of a corrugated or fiberboard material are manufactured by a machine and process in which scored marginal flaps of the preformed box blank material are laterally wrapped around forming mandrels or fingers to define corner and/or intermediate posts integral with a wall portion of the resulting box, with at least a portion of each flap laminated to the side wall.

Abstract: A packing machine for the manufacture of packing containers wherein tubular packing container blanks which in flattened condition are placed into a magazine and wherein the feeding out of packing container blanks from the magazine is accomplished by a reciprocating driving element (7) located at the lower end of the magazine (7) which is provided with fingers which engage the open ends of the container blanks and to feed out one blank at a time is disclosed. As a result, a reliable operation, independent of the thickness of the blank, is obtained.

Abstract: A system for selectively loading the lowermost segment of a shingled stack of limp material segments, where each segment includes one or more adjacent layers of said limp material, and wherein adjacent segments of said stack are laterally offset along a reference axis. The system includes a substantially planar surface adapted to support the shingled stack thereon, in a position so that the leading edge of the lowermost segment is adjacent to a reference point along the reference axis. A selectively operable extractor transports the lowermost segment in the direction of the reference axis and away from the stack. The extractor includes one or more sets of hinged jaws positioned for movement in the direction of the reference axis between the reference point and a point displaced from the reference point along the reference axis. The sets of jaws are adapted to selectively grip a portion of the leading edge of the lowermost segment when that leading edge is adjacent to the reference point.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device designed for separating IC lead frames, boards, etc., piece by piece, and loading them continuously, and composed of a work stocker which holds laminated work of strips; a work-pressing mechanism which continuously presses the work within the work stocker; a separating mechanism which strips away the laminated work piece by piece from the lowest part thereof; and a pusher mechanism which pushes outside the stripped work from the work stocker; and wherein the separating mechanism is installed with a detector which finds out double sheets of the strips and stops operation of the pusher; and the separator is installed at its work exit end with a positioning pin of go-in-and-out of a taper shape which positions end points of the work pushed out by the pusher.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for attaching tags to garments, gloves, handbags and the like includes an assembly for feeding tags from a stacked supply to a tag attaching station, an assembly for affixing the tag to the garment at the tag attaching station, and a control network for controlling and sequencing the tag feed and tag affixing operations. The tag feeding assembly includes a mechanism for gauging the width and thickness of a tag and for adjustably accommodating the same. The assembly also includes a pair of upright arms designed so that a tag having a prepunched hole can be placed with the hole over one of the arms. The other arm may be adjusted relative to the first arm and the positioned tag so that it touches the tag edge. The adjustment of the measuring arm automatically adapts the tag feed mechanism to precisely the required distance necessary to transport the tag from the stacked supply to the tag attaching station.

Abstract: Conductor plates are fed to a conductor plate tester from a stack by a reciprocating feeder which removes the lowermost plate only of the stack and propels it forwardly to a transport path. The transport path is inclined downwardly toward said tester, the feeder is also inclined at the same angle, with the stack perpendicular thereto. As a result, the conductor plates are moved along the transport path by the force of gravity.

Abstract: Feeding apparatus for embossing machines that produce printing plates for address printing machines, identification means, and the like, is provided with a plate carriage on which a plate holder is mounted. The arrangement is such that the printing plates can be moved into two directions which are perpendicular to each other. One of these directions serves for character spacing within a print or read line, the second direction serves for line spacing. A discharge mechanism is provided for conveniently removing printing plates from the apparatus after embossment thereof.

Abstract: Sheets upon which the entire text on a printing form mounted on a printing drum is to be printed are fed to the printing drum via a sheet infeed transport path. Cards upon which only portions of the text are to be printed are fed to the printing drum via a card infeed transport path. One transport path is located above the other. The sheets are individually fed, in the transport direction of the sheet infeed transport path, from a stack of sheets into the sheet infeed transport path. The cards are individually fed, in a direction transverse to the transport direction of the card infeed transport path, from card containers located to the side of the card infeed transport path into the card infeed transport path.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for serially feeding successive information bearing members from a supply magazine to a copying station for composite copying in combination with a master text and then from the copying station to a suitable repository, such as a receiving magazine comprises folded paths for guiding the information bearing members to and from the copying station and a reciprocating drive for alternately advancing the information bearing members in the two paths.

Abstract: A signature feeding mechanism having a shuttle plate and an associated vacuum gripper for feeding the bottom signature from a stack in a supply magazine into the bite of pinch rolls which advance successive signature pieces to a transport system for advance to a label applicator, or the like, and having a guard plate for bridging exposed portions of the gap between the leading edge of the shuttle plate and the signature receiving end of the associated transport conveyor floor so as to prevent possible damage to, or interference with the operation of, the feeding mechanism, by the presence of a foreign object in the gap, and possible injury to an operator through careless insertion of the fingers in the same.