Abstract: A sheet feed roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of a sheet at the top of a stack of sheets supported on a sheet support and an inclined separation plane separates a sheet, fed forward by the sheet feed roller, from the other sheets of the stack of the sheets. A rotatable separation roller is disposed between the inclined separation plane and the sheet feed roller such that the separation roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of the sheet fed forward by the sheet feeding roller. The separation roller is movable depending on the rigidity of the sheet so that when the sheet being fed forward has low rigidity, the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the separation roller, but when the sheet being fed forward has high rigidity, the separation roller is moved upward thereby allowing the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: A resilient friction pad is pushed by a spring against a conveying roller for feeding paper automatically in a printer. The friction pad is placed in a recess at the end of the paper tray. A flat auxiliary spring may be used to share the pressure of a heavy paper load and to prevent the separation of the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. A support block may be placed underneath the resilient friction pad to prevent sagging of the resilient friction pad. A corrugated arm may be inserted between the push-up spring and the resilient friction pad to provide wider contact between the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. Two springs are located at the tail end of the resilient friction pad: one to lift to paper tray when the paper stack is light and the other to depress the paper stack so that paper in the upper section of the remaining paper stack does not push the paper being fed so hard that more than one sheet of paper are fed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding machine includes a sheet feeding table which is vertically movable and capable of supporting a plurality of first recording sheets thereon, first sheet feeding device movably situated above the sheet feeding table, the first sheet feeding device feeding the first recording sheets successively from a topmost sheet as the sheet feeding table with the first recording sheets moves upward, a base body detachably attached to the sheet feeding table, the base body supporting a plurality of second recording sheets thereon, and second sheet feeding device situated on the base body and feeding the second recording sheets successively from a bottommost sheet so that when the base body is attached to the sheet feeding table, the second recording sheet is fed by the second sheet feeding device and is transferred further by the first feeding device as a conveying device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus which has a sheet stacking surface for supporting sheets, sheet feeding device for feeding out the sheets supported on the sheet stacking surface, a movable separation inclined surface against which leading ends of the sheets supported on the sheet stacking surface abut and which is provided rotatably between a first position and a second position different in an inclination angle of the movable separation inclined surface with respect to the sheet stacking surface, and operation device for switching the movable separation inclined surface between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet support for supporting sheets, and a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet support. An abutment member is pivotally supported to be rocked between a regulating position to regulate a tip end of the sheets supported by the sheet support and a non-regulating position to allow supply of the sheets by the sheet supply roller. An operation unit shifts the abutment member from the regulating position to the non-regulating position when the sheets are supplied by the sheet supply roller and shifts the abutment member from the non-regulating position to the regulating position after the sheets are supplied.

Abstract: A device for separating or singling sheets, which have been piled up to form a stack, in a feeder of a sheet-processing machine, having a transport element with a guide edge, includes a device for matching the shape of the guide edge to the contour of the topmost sheet at a front side of the stack, as viewed in a sheet transport direction.

Abstract: A dam has a plurality of substantially parallel ribs with recesses therebetween. At least one of the recesses has a slat therein with bumps or protrusions along its sheet-engaging surface. If more than one sheet is fed from a stack to the dam, the sheets strike the slat surfaces and bumps, causing the sheets momentarily to stop and then separate.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus includes a tray to be loaded with a stack of sheets, a side guide for preventing the sheets from skewing, and a sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially picking up and feeding the sheets, the top sheet being first. The tray includes an abutment parallel to a direction of sheet conveyance. The stack of sheets abut against the abutment at one side thereof. The side guide is movable toward and away from the abutment in matching relation to the size of the sheets. The sheet feeding mechanism is positioned at the intermediate between the abutment and the position of the side guide matching with sheets of minimum size available with the sheet feeder.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a sheet feeding device and method, and image reader which facilitate setting of a sheet pile, serve to separate and feed a sheet succesfully. The present invention provides a separation gate between draw and separation rollers for achieving a multistage separation. The separation gate is made movable in synchronization with the draw roller so as to maintain a certain separation condition, despite of the draw roller that may descend according to the number of piled sheets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resolving doubles on singulated flat articles being passed in a downstream direction to a takeaway mechanism by use of a doubles resolver mechanism ahead of the takeaway mechanism. The doubles resolver mechanism includes a doubles resolver head through which negative pressure may be applied to articles passing thereunder, and a mount for the head which positions the head against such articles with a substantially constant force regardless of the thickness of the article. Negative pressure is applied to the head except when the head is detected as having resolved a double, at which time such pressure is momentarily removed to permit the double to be cleared.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder of a printing machine feeds paper by a rotational pressing force exerted between a paper friction fed section and a paper feeding roller. The automatic sheet feeder includes an idle pad roller rotated in contact with the paper feeding roller by the rotational pressing force exerted on the paper feeding roller in absence of paper in the paper loading section, and an elastic member for elastically controlling the rotational movement of the idle pad roller in contact with the idle pad roller while the idle pad roller is rotated by the rotational pressing force of the paper feeding roller. Accordingly, even when the paper feeding operation is carried out in the absence of paper in the paper loading section, the frictional load between the paper feeding roller and the paper friction pad is minimized through the rolling friction operation of the idle pad roller.

Abstract: A label support for an integrated label, which includes a label portion and a thinner paper portion, includes a base having a support surface with its rear end higher than its front. When the label support is supported by a support surface of a media support tray, its front end is closest to an inclined dam of the media support tray. The label support has at least its rear end spaced from the support surface of the media support tray. In one embodiment, the base of the label support has a first substantially horizontal portion connected by an inclined portion to a second substantially horizontal portion, which rests on the support surface of the media support tray. This embodiment extends for less than the length of the support surface of the media support tray for sliding along the support surface of the media support tray to accommodate varying lengths of the integrated label.

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 card output gap adjustment mechanism installed in the casing of a card stacker and controlled to adjust a card output gap through which cards are individually driven out of the casing by a transmission mechanism, the card output gap adjustment mechanism including a back holder having two vertical guide rails and a top through hole, a cover plate covered on the back holder, an adjustment plate moved along the vertical guide rails in the back holder and defining with a pad in the casing the card output gap, the adjustment plate having two vertical sliding grooves respectively coupled to the vertical guide rails in the back holder and a vertical top screw hole, and a rotary adjustment knob inserted through the top through hole on the back holder and threaded into the vertical top screw hole and rotated to move the adjustment plate along the vertical guide rails and to further adjust the pitch of the card output gap.

Abstract: There is provided a process for feeding in a recorder a recording medium having a glossy surface from a tray in which the recording media is loaded and piled up, in which the last sheet of the recording medium can be fed smoothly without adsorption to the tray. An extra sheet is laid between the tray and the recording media in order to prevent the adsorption of the last recording medium to the tray and to ensure that the last sheet of the recording medium is also led out smoothly from the tray.

Abstract: Disclosed is an paper feeding device or a pack holder capable of preventing noise or a misfeeding when printing envelopes or postcards. The pack holder can be adjusted to feed standard size paper or postcards and envelopes. A sliding plate is used when feeding postcards and envelopes so that the last postcard or envelope in the stack can be fed into the machine successfully. The sliding plate allows only one of the two feeding rollers to make contact with a friction pad during the feeding of postcards and envelopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet stacking means for supporting a sheet, a sheet feeding means for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet stacking means, a pair of side guides having sheet abutting surfaces for regulating both lateral edges of the sheet supported by the sheet stacking means to guide the sheet in a sheet feeding direction when the sheet is fed out from the sheet stacking means by the sheet feeding means, and a guide supporting means for supporting at least one of the pair of side guides for movement toward and away from the other side guide, and wherein the guide supporting means supports the side guide in such a manner that the sheet abutting surface is inclined with respect to the sheet feeding direction in accordance with a size of the sheet supported by the sheet stacking means.

Abstract: A sheet feeder unit being capable of separately supplying cut sheets of any thickness without causing any residual deformation. Cut sheets (11) in a pile are advanced one by one with a pair of feeding rollers (31) contacting thereto from one side thereof. A friction member (33) is disposed in the middle between the pair of feeding rollers (31) which is backed away by a proceeding cut sheet (11) thereby separating the outermost cut sheet (11) from the other sheets by the frictional force of contact therebetween.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a support plate inclined backward and a feed roller for feeding one by one the sheets of paper stacked on the plate. A first support surface and a second support surface are formed at or near the bottom of the plate to support the front ends of the sheets. The second surface is lower in frictional resistance than the first surface. The second surface can be moved by an operating lever between a first position, where it is protruded from the first surface toward the sheets, and a second position, where it is retracted from the first surface away from the sheets. If the sheets are relatively rigid, their front ends are supported by the second surface in the first position, and they can therefore be fed smoothly.

Abstract: Information relating to the characteristics of the documents contained in a document cassette 16 is stored in a button memory 22 on the cassette housing and is read when the cassette 16 is inserted into a document feeding apparatus. The information is processed and correlated with data stored in the memory 74 of a control unit 70 to determine the optimum settings for a mechanism 10 for picking such documents. In particular, during a pick operation, a predetermined number of pulses are supplied to a stepper motor 50, so that when the friction belt 30 is moved into engagement with the documents of the cassette 16, an optimum pressure is exerted by the belt 30 on the documents in the cassette 16. A retard roller 52 is then moved to an optimum position in relation to the belt 30.

Abstract: A sheet material supplying apparatus having a low-cost sucker adsorbing unit of a simple structure is provided for the carrying of sheet materials that are used under a high-humidity environment or that include humidity, to ensure a proper separation of each sheet material. Sheet materials accommodated in a tray are being sandwiched between a push-up panel and an engagement claw. At the time of taking out the sheet materials from the tray, the push-up panel is pressed down by a cam to cancel the state of sandwiching between the engagement claw and the push-up panel. Accordingly, only the top layer sheet material is taken out from the tray, with the rest of the lower layer sheet materials being dropped by their self-weight. Further, the sheet materials are carried by the sucker adsorbing unit.

Abstract: A dam has a slat disposed therein with protrusions along its sheet-engaging surface. If more than one sheet is fed from a stack to the dam, the sheets strike the slat surface and protrusions, causing the sheets to buckle and then separate from each other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an envelope pressing device in a printer having a paper cassette which is loaded with a plurality of envelopes and feeds the envelopes one by one by means of a pickup roller. The envelope pressing device includes a hinge shaft rotatably connected to the lower surface of a body frame. In the device, a pressing plate is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft for pressing down on the envelopes. The pressing plate has first and second holes of a predetermined size formed on both side surfaces thereof and a slot formed on one side surface thereof. A lever shaft is inserted into the first and second holes. A lever plate is fixed to an end of the lever shaft and has a third hole formed on a side surface thereof and a fourth hole formed below the third hole. A first spring is wound around the lever shaft and has one end inserted into the third hole and the other end inserted into the slot of the pressing plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus including an auxiliary pusher section, disposed at a sheet loading plate, for pushing one end of each sheet loaded on a rotatable sheet loading plate towards a sheet feeding section. The auxiliary pusher section includes a pusher member for contacting each of the sheets, and a spring for biasing the pusher member towards the sheet feeding section. The auxiliary pusher section pushes the sheets against the sheet feeding section to allow reliable feeding of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided with a sheet feeding unit for feeding sheets supported on a sheet support means, and sheet separator means provided downstream of the sheet feeding unit with respect to the sheet feeding direction, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being separated one by one by the sheet separator and fed. The sheet separator is comprised of an inclined surface against which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit abuts, a dash member provided downstream of the inclined surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction and against which the leading end of the sheet riding over the inclined surface abuts, and a resilient member for displaceably supporting the dash member when the sheet abuts against the dash member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a sheet stacking means for stacking a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply means for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a separation means for separating the sheets one by one by abutting the sheets against the separation means to cause elastic angular change in the sheet thereby to ride the sheet over the separation means, and a guide means having a guide surface for guiding the sheet separated by the separation means toward a downstream side, and wherein the sheet stacking means is provided at its downstream end with a projection which protrudes toward downstream sides of the separation means and of the guide surface of the guide means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print media supply with a pair of opposite sides and a bottom for supporting a plurality of print media sheets. A paper feed assembly defines a media path through which the print media sheets travel. A sheet picker assembly includes a sheet picker positioned adjacent to one of the sides of the print media supply. The sheet picker is configured to move a picked sheet in a pick direction substantially parallel to the bottom from the print media supply into the print media path. A separator dam is positioned between the print media supply and the paper feed assembly. The separator dam includes a wall positioned at a transverse angle relative to the bottom. The separator dam includes at least one resistive strip or abutments on the wall. The resistive strip or abutment is positioned adjacent the side which is opposite the one side. The resistive strip or abutment has a resistance to paper movement which is greater than the first coefficient of friction.

Abstract: An auto sheet feed device for an office automation system uses: a paper loading plate which moves upwardly and downwardly according to the quantity of paper loaded thereon; a loading pick up device for picking up paper loaded on an upper part of the paper loading plate according to a control signal; a pressurizer for maintaining the paper loading plate and the pick up device in close adherence to each other; a resistance plate for separating the paper picked up by the pick up device from the paper loading plate; and a resistance plate varying device for maintaining an entry angle between the resistance plate and the paper as paper is picked up by the pick up device. Preferably, the resistance plate varying device includes a rack gear formed on the paper loading plate, an idle gear contacting the rack gear and driver thereby, and a fan shaped gear rotated by movement of the idle gear to adjust the angle between the resistance plate and paper in the paper loading plate.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding and separating system for feeding sheets downstream from a stack of sheets in a sheet stacking tray, with an sheet retard system having a sheet kickback, a sheet kickback control system comprising a high friction surface member, such as an EPDM elastomer, mounted in the sheet stacking tray extending vertically above the sheet stack supporting surface and sloping downwardly at a small angle in the downstream direction. This raised and sloping high friction surface member is positioned upstream of the sheet feeding and separating system to underlie the upstream end of the stack of sheets in the sheet stacking tray and to frictionally engage and retard upstream kickback movement of the bottom sheet of the stack of sheets by the sheet retard system.

Abstract: An apparatus in an automatic sheet feeder for a printer, a copy machine, or the like that prevents a corner of a sheet of feed paper from being turned down or "dog-eared" when that sheet of feed paper is being advanced from a stack of the feed paper. The apparatus includes a resilient finger engaging the forward edge of the sheet of feed paper. The resilient finger deflects slightly when the sheet of feed paper is urged forward such that the corner of the sheet of feed paper advances past the finger without folding or becoming dog-eared and the sheet of feed paper is separated from the stack of paper. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient finger is pivotally secured to a cassette for holding the stack of paper, and the finger is biased to engage the top most sheet of the stack of feed paper.

Abstract: In a moving documents imaging system in which documents are separated and sequentially fed from a stack thereof to an imaging platen surface by a separator-feeder system comprising an elastomeric document feeding roller and a frictionally engaging retard member producing elastomeric wear particles optically contaminating the imaging platen surface, an electrostatically attractive shield member is closely spaced from and closely partially surrounding the elastomeric document feeding roller surface to attract and retain these elastomeric wear particles to the interior surface of the shield member so that these particles are not transported by documents to the imaging surface and may be removed by removal of the shield or the entire separator-feeder system. The same shield member may extend to be additionally closely spaced around an elastomeric nudger wheel upstream of the sheet feeding roller. The system may further include a simple triboelectric charging member engaging the document feeding roller surface.

Abstract: Each sheet of a stack of media is aligned with a fixed alignment surface prior to being fed towards a process station of a printer by a single pick roll. During the first portion of its cycle of operation, the sheet advancing force of the pick roll, which is offset from the axis or centerline of the sheet, exerts a torque on at least the uppermost sheet of the stack to have one of its sides engage the alignment surface if it is skewed. When the one side of the sheet is not engaging the alignment surface when the pick roll is initially energized, the uppermost sheet's leading edge engages a resilient projection of an insert of a rib, which is offset from the axis of the sheet but farther from the alignment surface than the pick roll. The skewed sheet pivots about the projection, which is formed of a high coefficient of friction material, extending beyond the surface of the rib. During the remainder of its energization, the pick roll advances the sheet towards the process station of the printer.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking roll headers (2) separately one-by-one from a stack (1). The apparatus includes a picking device (3), which is adapted for picking always the uppermost header (2) from the stack (1). The invention is implemented by providing the apparatus with at least one clamp member (6) arranged to extend at least partially above the header stack (1) simultaneously being supported against the upper rim edge of the header stack (1), whereby the clamp member(s) (6) is/are able to keep the next header below stationary during the picking of the uppermost header.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided having a pressure plate for supporting sheets on a sheet supporting surface, a pick-up roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the pressure plate, a plate member for separating the sheets fed out by the pick-up roller one by one, and a separation pad provided on the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate opposite the pick-up roller. The separation pad protrudes from the sheet supporting surface toward the sheets to contact frictionally the lower surface of the bottom-most sheet supported by the pressure plate. The separation pad has an upper surface which is higher at a portion opposing the pick-up roller than a portion downstream thereof, in a sheet feeding direction, relative to the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate, to urge an end of a sheet fed out by the pick-up roller toward the pressure plate.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus for low profile printer including a rotatable paper feed drive shaft which is mounted for rotation in a printer housing which supports a first belt drive pulley or roller. The belt drive pulley engages a continuous belt mounted thereon of rubber or other flexible belt material. A paper supply tray having paper is selectively biased against the belt with the paper in contact therewith. The opposite end of the continuous belt is mounted to a idler roller or roller on a rotatable idler shaft which supports the continuous belt such that the 1 portion of said belt between the drive pulley and the idler roller which is in contact with the paper is disposed generally, (the belt run) to a paper path. On motion of the belt at least one sheet of paper is moved out of the paper supply tray. An inclined paper separator is mounted below the termination belt shaft and is selectively biased against the continuous belt at a point on the belt between the drive roller and the idler roller.

Abstract: A finger device freely loads the printing papers in a feed cassette. The finger apparatus includes a conductor protrusion coupled to a paper sensor at one side of a body where the cassette is attached and detached. The finger is supported by a pin and spring in the feed cassette for separating with a tray portion of the feed cassette. A finger portion of the finger apparatus can be located at an edge of the feed cassette by the projection of the body, upon the feed cassette being attached. The finger portion can automatically separate the feed cassette using a stability of the spring upon the cassette being detached from the body.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an ink-jet printer that uses a solenoid driven cam to move the paper tray away from the pickup roller when a sheet of paper is loaded into the printer from the automatic feed roller. This causes the paper transport velocity to be steadier and improves the quality of printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus which has a sheet supporting unit for supporting a sheet, a first abutment member for regulating a tip end of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit, a displaceable second abutment member for regulating the tip end of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit, and a sheet supply for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit An angle between a surface of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit and a sheet abutment surface of the second abutment member is smaller than an angle between the surface of the sheet and a sheet abutment surface of the first abutment member.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet support, and a separating unit against which the sheet fed by the sheet supply roller abuts to cause elastic angular displacement of the sheet and adapted to permit the separation of the sheet when the sheet rides over the separating unit. The separating unit is formed from a thin plated-shaped member which includes at least one aperture or one notch.

Abstract: A dam has a plurality of substantially parallel ribs with recesses therebetween. At least one of the recesses has a pad therein with its sheet engaging surface being interior of the sheet engaging surfaces of the ribs. The rib surfaces, which are engaged first by the sheets being fed, have a lower coefficient of friction with the sheets than the sheet engaging surface of the pad. If more than one sheet is fed from a stack to the dam, the sheets will strike the rib surfaces first and then the pad surface if not separated from each other by the rib surfaces. Since the pad surface has a coefficient of friction substantially equal to the sheet to sheet friction, this step function in friction helps to separate the top sheet from the next adjacent sheet.

Abstract: A dam has a plurality of substantially parallel ribs extending from a base surface. At least one of the ribs is formed of a body of metal having a coating as its exterior surface, which has a low coefficient of friction over which sheets of a media move. The body has a longitudinal slot in its exterior surface. An insert, which has a high coefficient of friction with sheets of a media and is preferably polyurethane, is supported within the body. The insert is preloaded so that a projection extends a predetermined distance through the slot in the body for engagement with each advancing sheet. When the sheet is stiff, the projection is pushed interior of the body so that the low coefficient of friction surface, which has a much larger area for engaging the sheet than the insert, of the body is engaged by the advancing sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating handling particularly tab stock in a sheet feeder, having a top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly for feeding sheets seriatim from a sheet supply stack. The facilitating apparatus includes a platform adapted to support a sheet supply stack of the tab stock type. A tab stock sheet supply stack is located on the platform in relation to the top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly. A force is applied to the tab stock sheet supply stack, such force having at least a component in a direction relative to such tab stock sheet supply stack to prevent individual tab stock sheets in such stack from prematurely moving out of control of the top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly.

Abstract: A planar article or sheet, such as a divider sheet for stacked products, and the method of supplying substantially planar articles from a supply magazine to an article transfer device, which then transfers the article to a desired location for further processing. The planar article itself can be a divider sheet for stacked beverage containers, folded paperboard cartons for carriers, or any other substantially planar article which is adapted to be consecutively arranged with other such articles in a group, and placed in a supply magazine for singular delivery to an article transfer device. The method of the present invention is specifically designed to insure that only one sheet at a time is removed from the group by the article transfer device. The sheets or articles themselves, are designed to cooperate with the supply magazine to facilitate singular delivery.

Abstract: A coaxial separating and delivering device generally comprises a main shaft having a plurality of synthetic delivering rollers. A positioning pin is disposed vertically on the main shaft. A rotational separating roller is disposed at the middle portion of the shaft such that the outer diameter of the separating roller is smaller than the delivering roller. The separating roller is configured by a tube having a friction wheel disposed thereof. One end of the tube is provided with a curve cutout which receives a positioning pin disposed at the main shaft. The separating roller is rotational within a certain angular sectors, accordingly, the paper sheet can be separated simultaneously with delivering. Since the separating roller and delivering roller are disposed coaxially, a compact design is attained.

Abstract: A fabric piece handling apparatus for picking up and placing fabric pieces. The fabric piece handling apparatus includes a pickup assembly having a pair of opposed jaws, a "trapeze" unfolder assembly adjacent to the pickup assembly, and a vacuum assisted magazine for supplying a stack of fabric pieces to the pickup assembly.

Abstract: A paper feed device that uses a separating pawl for preventing overlapped feeding of sheets of recording paper wherein the separating pawl does not resist the feed of paper, thereby ensuring smooth paper feed. In the paper feed device, a sheet of paper is fed from a hopper and moved along a separating tilt plane to be separated from the stacked paper by the separating pawl which is pressed toward the paper path by a spring. Each separate sheet of paper is fed between a paper guide plane and an arm section to a print head by a feed roller and a follower roller. When a paper supply roller is in a stopped state, the sheet of recording paper is pulled by the feed roller to be straightened between a collar member and the paper guide plane such that the sheet of paper is away from the separating pawl and therefore is not affected by the resistance of the separating pawl, ensuring a smooth feed.

Abstract: The feed device comprises a supply chamber (6) with a forward wall (9) having an inclined plane (45) provided with retaining elements for the stack of sheets contained in the supply chamber in the form of strips of cut pile fabric (48) whose fibers retain the sheets by their forward edge. A drive shaft (23) carries drive rolls (20) comprising a sector (100) with high coefficient of friction to drive the top sheet from the stack and a sector (101) with low coefficient of friction permitting sliding of the sheet during an alignment phase of the sheet. The drive shaft (23) is actuated by a drive mechanism (50) comprising a clutch with a toothed pinion (62) having two discontinuities defining rest and stop positions of alignment coacting with a clutch and retaining lever (66) controlled by reverse rotation of the drive motor (58) of the printer. An advancing mechanism (54) permits effecting engagement of the toothed pinion (62) with an intermediate pinion (61) upon a clutch control.

Abstract: An article placing assembly having a pushing mechanism constructed and arranged to engage and move articles from an article stack. The assembly has opposing pivoting gate members which cooperate to hold and release successive articles. Movable clamps further cooperate to hold the article stack as successive articles are sequentially moved from the article stack. A process is set forth for separating and removing successive articles from an article stack in a magazine.

Abstract: A paper feed system suitable for use with a portion control machine to provide paper sheets for separating portions, including a paper hopper mountable to a portion control machine and adapted to receive and temporarily retain a stack of paper sheets. The paper hopper has an open end having a front edge spaced opposite from a back edge and defining a ready position where a paper sheet lies in a first plane to be dispensed. The paper feed system further includes a paper support having a length to width ratio of 10 to 1 or greater. The paper support is mounted adjacent the open end of the paper hopper blocking the free exit of paper sheets therefrom, with the support extending from a central location on the back edge partially to a central location on the front edge. An upper surface of the support is substantially parallel with the first plane and is adjacent the first plane for retention of a paper sheet in the ready position.