Abstract: Device for aligning a leading edge of sheets includes a plurality of front lays cyclically movable into an operating position. Also included are an aligned engagement member engageable by the plurality of front lays, and a force-storage device for bringing the plurality of front lays into engagement with the engagement member in the operating position of the plurality of front lays. A device, which is independent of the engagement member ,is also provided for diabling individual front lays of the plurality of front lays from engagement with the aligned engagement member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the suction pressure drawn through a conveyor belt which conveys a stream of underlapping sheets to an alignment station where sheets are aligned prior to being fed to a sheet-processing machine. A source of high pressure is coupled to a low pressure suction chamber adjacent the alignment station when the final sheet in the stream reaches the alignment end. The high pressure source rapidly equalizes the pressure with the chamber, thus enabling easy lateral alignment of the final sheet in the stream which has no following underlapping sheets to otherwise block the suction pressure.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the side lay marks and excess draw of a sheet fed rotary press that further ensures that sheets are at a sufficient distance from the side lay mark prior to transverse conveyance. A lateral sensor is positioned at a predetermined distance from the side lay mark so that when front sensors determine the presence of a sheet at front lay marks, the lateral sensor is evaluated. The sheet will only be conveyed transversely toward the side lay if the lateral sensor has not detected a sheet but the front sensors have, thus ensuring that the side edge of the sheet is at a sufficient distance from the side lay mark. A single sensor can also be used for all side lay mark monitoring, including monitoring for excess draw.

Abstract: Business form components are stacked to separate them into different jobs, and after stacking are synchronously conveyed together to a pressure sealer, or similar device, for sealing the components together into a business form or are conveyed to subsequent operations such as secondary stacking into larger stacks. Each component moves from an aligner/feeder to a stacker, moving up an incline of a continuously running conveyor belt so that each successive component passes underneath any previous components in a stack. When a movable stop against which the components are held rotates out of the way, a top roller near the trailing ends of the components pinches them against a bottom roller so that the components move together away from the stacker in register with each other.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a stack of sheets is supported and stored in a biased base tray. Successive uppermost sheets contained within the biased base tray are caused to move into engagement with a segmented feed roller. A cone shaped roller in combination with edge guides provide cross-track, in-track and skew alignment for the uppermost sheet after is it separated and advanced from the stack by the segmented feed roller. A biased retard pad prevents multiple sheet feeds from the stack.

Abstract: An improvement is provided to a document registration apparatus that includes a plurality of laterally-spaced registration stops which pivot about a horizontal axis for stopping motion of documents and registering the leading edge of the documents to a particular direction in the apparatus, and also includes at least one pinch roller cooperatively operating with conveying structure for moving the registered documents away from the apparatus for further processing. The improvement includes structure for supporting the documents above the conveying structure when the documents are against the registration stops.

Abstract: A registration mechanism for registering a moving receiver sheet relative to a toner image on a moving image bearing member in an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus. The registration mechanism includes members which define a sheet travel path, a registration gate, and a device for feeding the sheet to the registration gate.

Abstract: A distinct conveyor assembly allows a business form sealer--such as a pressure sealer--to operate with forms that have been detached from a continuous supply. Individual forms are detached from the continuous supply while being conveyed in a first direction, to form shingled forms having irregularly positioned side edges. The forms are deshingled by conveying them from the detacher at high speed (e.g. an increase in speed of about ten times or more), and they are registered while being conveyed in the first direction at high speed. Registration may take place by moving the forms against one side edge, or moving them between funnelled side edges to ultimately engage straight guides on both side edges. After registration, the forms may be fed directly to the sealer, or into the top of a hopper, and then withdrawn from the bottom of the hopper and passed through a folder before being fed to the sealer.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a sheet includes a first transporting path provided with rollers for transporting the sheet to an image forming section, a second transporting path for conducting the sheet in a direction transverse to the first transporting path, and a control section for controlling the first and second transporting paths so that they can be connected and disconnected to each other.

Abstract: A device for blocking or intercepting sheets for a sheet feeder may be applied to copiers, printers and similar office machines, and comprises a lever (32) capable of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the sheet entry hopper (16). The lever controls a stop member (42) to prevent the introduction of further sheets when at least one sheet is still present in a hopper.

Abstract: A printer including a print head; a paper path for a document to be printed; and a document transfer device. The document transfer device is arranged in connection with the paper path and provided with parallel drive pulleys (6) gripping the underside of the document and positioned on at least two sequential shafts (5) and with spring-actuated pressure rollers (9) pressing the document from above against the drive pulleys, at least a part of the pressure rollers being provided with drive and the rollers being arranged in parallel, like the drive pulleys, and disposed sequentially above the drive pulleys to form pairs of drive pulleys and pressure rollers. The printer also includes a stop device positioned on the paper path for straightening the document.

Abstract: A printer, comprising a print head; a paper path for a document to be printed; and a document transfer device arranged in connection with the paper path. The document transfer device is provided with parallel drive pulleys (5) gripping the underside of the document (3) and positioned on at least two sequential shafts and with spring-actuated pressure rollers (8) pressing the document from above against the drive pulleys, at least a part of the pressure rollers being possibly provided with drive and the rollers being arranged in parallel, like the drive pulleys, and sequentially above the drive pulleys to form pairs of drive pulleys and pressure rollers. The document transfer device further includes a plate-shaped stop means (9) to be guided to the paper path for straigthening the document. The stop member is positioned between the middle line through the axes of the rollers (8) positioned in the first row of the pairs of drive pulleys and pressure rollers and the rear line of said rollers.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus for scanning an image on an image bearing member. The apparatus includes a platen glass for supporting an original having an image on a supporting surface, a platen sheet, movably mounted between a first position and a second position, for depressing the original against said supporting means, an image scanning device for scanning the image on the original along the supporting surface, an exposure command key for activating an activating device of the platen sheet to move from the first position to the second position so as to cause the platen sheet to expose the original and a depression command key for activating the activating device of the platen sheet to move from the second position to the first position so as to cause the platen sheet to depress the original against the platen glass.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes a first conveying path for feeding sheet material, a second conveying path for feeding the sheet material and which joins the first conveying path, an anchoring unit for anchoring and bending the leading end of the sheet material fed through the first conveying path or the second conveying path, and a guide member provided at the joining point of the first conveying path and the second conveying path for allowing the sheet material fed from an upstream side through the first conveying path to pass the joining point and for preventing the sheet material fed from a downstream side through the first conveying path from entering an upstream side from the joining point. The guide member presses a curved portion of the sheet material formed by the leading end of the sheet material fed through the first conveying path anchored by the anchoring unit in a direction to flatten that portion.

Abstract: An intermediate paper feeding device for a copier operable in a two-side copy mode. A stop for positioning paper sheets stacked on an intermediate tray guides, in the event of refeed, a paper sheet toward the contacting portion of a separating member pair. A presser member for pressing the top of a paper stack loaded on the intermediate tray is operated in interlocked relation to the stop. The stop and presser member, therefore, share a single drive mechanism. The presser member has a pressing surface which remains in surface-to-surface contact with the top of the paper stack on the tray over substantially the entire area thereof with no regard to the thickness of the paper stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for shifting X-ray films in a magazine wherein films having different sizes form a stack and which as a straight or corner-shaped internal stop for properly oriented films. The apparatus has a frame which is reciprocable toward and away from the magazine and carries two or more pivotable links each of which supports one or more driven wheels movable into frictional engagement at least with the outermost film of the stack to shift the engaged film toward and against the stop. Properly oriented films are withdrawn from the magazine by one or more suction cups which share the movements of the links relative to the magazine. The wheels are rotated by a common prime mover.

Abstract: Translatable registration apparatus in an envelope turning machine. The apparatus includes: a deck for transporting a plurality of envelopes from an upstream location to a downstream location; a translatable carriage mounted to the deck and adjustable for upstream and downstream movement to accommodate different size envelopes; a yoke pivotably mounted at its upstream end to the carriage, the yoke having a stopping finger projecting upwardly at its downstream end; a solenoid located beneath the finger and mounted to the carriage; and a device engaging the solenoid and the yoke for moving the finger up above the deck and down below the deck, wherein, when the solenoid raises the finger above the deck, the stopping finger is locked in a raised position with no pressure bearing on the solenoid.

Abstract: A scanner has a frame assembly containing a carriage movably mounted in the frame assembly for scanning movement in a scanning path in a first direction along the length of the frame assembly from a home position to an end of scan position, the frame assembly including at least one sheet transport path including at least one index roll on a rotatable shaft to index a sheet through the path, the scanner further including a toggle frame supporting at one end at least one idler roll for forming a sheet transporting nip with at least one index roll and at the opposite end at least one sheet registration gate, the toggle frame being pivotally mounted to alternately provide a copy sheet transporting nip and a sheet registration gate in said sheet transport path, the frame being activated to provide a registration gate in the sheet transport path by the scanning carriage when it is adjacent to or at the home position.

Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus comprises a support in which sheets are stacked, an entrance section for guiding the sheet to the support, a blowing mechanism for directing an air stream to a sheet stack on the support to separate a lowermost sheet from remaining sheets, and a feeding mechanism for attracting the sheet to feed it. Further, stopper plates are provided to be pivoted above the support so that it cooperates with the support to pinch and brake the sheet therebetween in a continuous reversing mode wherein the incoming sheet is immediately fed and that it abuts against the incoming sheet by a portion thereof opposing a leading end of the sheet in a stack reversing mode wherein while the sheets are being stacked the lowermost sheet is separated and fed.

Abstract: An improved accumulator and method of accumulation into stacks of a number of seriatim-fed sheets selectively in the manner of "over" or "under" accumulation and for conveying accumulated stacks to further equipment. The accumulator comprises driven endless elastic belts to drive sheets therebetween and a driven roller pair for nipping and feeding the sheets to a stacking location to be accumulated therein. The nip of the roller pair is offset in relation to the plane in which sheets are driven thereto by the belts. The roller pair drives a sheet in positively nipped manner to the stacking location selectively over or under a previously arrived sheet. Further included in the roller-accumulator is a stop gate device for stopping sheets fed to the stacking location and for selectively releasing accumulated stacks to be transported by and between the endless elastic belts to further equipment.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning an envelope, including: a housing; a transport deck secured to the housing for transporting an envelope from an upstream location to a downstream location, the deck including a device for moving the envelope; a vertically extending spindle located beneath the deck, the spindle being rotatable and reciprocable and having an upper end capable of extending above the transport deck; a device for raising and rotating the spindle; and a clamping arm assembly rotatably mounted to the housing situated above the transport deck, the clamping arm assembly having a device for applying a light, downward bias on the envelope against the upper end of the spindle, and a device for applying additional pressure to the envelope after the spindle is raised.

Abstract: In a document feeding apparatus, a document transport member which acts on the lowermost original of a bunch of originals performs a preparatory transport operation prior to its action of feeding the bunch of originals to a separating mechanism to forward the bunch of originals to a stopper which is entered in a document transport path to arrange the originals thereto, and after the stopper is moved away, a regular transport operation is conducted to forward the originals to the separating mechanism.

Abstract: The device has a transfer cylinder (2) with a drum (4) which is adjustable in the circumferential direction relative to its shaft (3) and which carries sheet grippers (8) with a front stop (8a) for the sheets (B). The diameter of the transfer drum (2) is equal to 1/N of the diameter of the plate cylinder which carries N printing plates. The shaft (3) of the transfer cylinder (2) rotates at a constant speed and executes N revolutions when the plate cylinder is executing one revolution. By means of a controllable setting device, the drum (4) is so displaced relative to the shaft (3) during each revolution that the front stop (8a), when its transfer position in which a sheet is transferred to the impression cylinder (D) is passed, assumes a position by which the exact register of this sheet in relation to the position of the printing plate printing it on the plate cylinder is set.

Abstract: A device for correcting lateral alignment of a workpiece removed from a pile of workpiece prior to being fed into a processing machine. The device includes at least two pairs of rollers spaced along the direction of movement of the sheet, with each pair of rollers including a driven lower roller and a driven upper roller, with the upper roller having its axis forming a slight angle with the axis of the lower roller to provide a lateral force to move the workpiece against a lateral guide. The device can be used in the second arrangement providing front stops for aligning the front or leading edge of the workpiece after the lateral position alignment has been accomplished.

Abstract: A conveyer line straightener having a pair of laterally spaced bumpers contractable by conveyer items wherein the bumper first contacted by the item retains it until the second bumper is contacted after which both bumpers release the item.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying one or more sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a supporting housing; a first, upstream pulley and a second, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing; a lower, endless, elastic belt mounted on the first and second pulleys, the belt having an upper and a lower reach, the reaches being substantially horizontal; a third, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt; a fourth, upstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt, the fourth pulley biased toward the lower belt; and an upper, endless, elastic belt mounted on the third and fourth pulleys, whereby the fourth pulley can move away from the lower belt when the thickness of the sheets being conveyed requires a larger gap to engage the upper belt.

Abstract: Bar scoring apparatus with a conveyor for moving a corrugated box in one direction, a first conveyor table that is adapted to align the box and feed it to a scoring press in another direction, perpendicular to the one direction, and a second conveyor table that is adapted to receive the fully-scored box and feed it to a subsequent process in yet another direction, opposite to the one direction. The first conveyor table is inclined downwardly from the conveyor, and includes a datum edge to align the box under the influence of gravity. Once the box is fully-scored, a rotatable frame on the second conveyor table rotates downwardly to a horizontal position for offload of the box.

Abstract: A document feeder is disclosed which can be used with glass-top machines. It fits such copiers, having either a stationery or a moving sheet-support. It is small, lightweight, compact and portable. It feeds the bottom-most page first from a face-up stack of sheets, and re-stacks the copied sheets, face-up, with the bottom sheet at the bottom of the new stack. It operates in excess of 25 copies per minute. Drive wheels feed the document-to-be-copied onto the copier glass and, when the wheels are reversed, remove the document from the glass into a stacking area. The removal of a document from the glass and the placement of the next document onto the glass occur during the non-copying time of the continuously-running copier. The feed/separation act upon the center of the documents. The copier can derive its driving force and energy from the copier or can have its own independent power source.

Abstract: A combined input scanner and output scanner has a frame assembly, a document transport to transport a document through the scanner in a path in a first direction and, a copy sheet transport to transport a copy sheet through the scanner a document registration means and a copy sheet registration means, the document registration gate including a cover pivotally mounted on the machine for movement between an open and closed position over the document transport path, said cover having at least one document registration gate adjacent its downstream end which extends into the document transport path to register the lead edge of a document when the cover is in the open position, the copy sheet registration means including at least one copy sheet registration gate in the copy sheet transport path to register the lead edge of a copy sheet when said cover is in the open position.

Abstract: A device suitable for an electrophotographic copying machine which comprises a detection bar for detecting the transport of a copy paper and causing its pivotal movement by being pushed by the front side of the copy paper, a plurality of paper prevention claws responsive to the position of the detection bar for selectively allowing the transport of the copy paper and, otherwise, preventing the transport of the copy paper, and a rotatable shaft for coaxially coupling the detection bar with the paper prevention claws. According to the pivotal movement of the detecton bar, the rotatable shaft can be rotated to thereby rotate and lift the plurality of paper prevention claws.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for automatically feeding manually inserted print media into a printer or similar device and substantially aligning the same, thereby eliminating the need to correct the alignment of the print media manually. The invention automatically feeds the media to the printer by means of a first paper drive having a low torque which aligns the media in the nip and then actuates the paper feed drive. The method of aligning the media is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for conveying and positioning sheets, comprising positioning apparatus for positioning one of the longitudinal sides of the sheets on the ideal transport line for said longitudinal side, the positioning apparatus being adapted to occupy an operative or an inoperative position, and actuating apparatus for moving the positioning apparatus, the positioning apparatus comprising a first conveying device and a second conveying device, each comprising two conveying members, at least one of which is formed by a roller, which two conveying members can form a transport nip extending parallel to the ideal transport line, the transport nip of the first conveying device extending along the ideal transport line and the second conveying device being situated at some distance from the first conveying device in the zone of the sheet conveying path, and drive apparatus are provided by which the roller (or rollers) of each conveying device can be so driven that each conveying device in its operative position exerts on

Abstract: A method and apparatus for document feeding for improved operator document manual insertion in which a document may be manually initially inserted into a document input area and released. The document is sensed in the document input area by a document sensor, and then automatically clamped in a document feeding nip which is automatically actuated in response to the document sensing, and then the document is automatically fed. Here, a first time delay period is provided between the sensing of the manually inserted document and the automatic clamping of the document. A second time delay is provided between the automatic clamping and the automatic feeding of the document. Preferably the automatic clamping of the document in the feeding nip is with a limited initial nip force sufficiently low to allow manual document retraction without document damage during the second time delay period.

Abstract: A sensing device is disclosed for sensing the front edge (1a) or the rear edge (1b) of a recording material carrier (1) in a processing apparatus, wherein a feeler probe lever (2) rests on the spring-supported switching element (3a) of a microswitch (3), and wherein the connection terminal contacts (5a, 5b) of the microswitch (3) are connected to an electronic control or, respectively, display circuit (4). The invention device presents a purely mechanical, economically produceable sensing device which functions for all kinds of recording material carriers and which is wear-resistant and allows to determine with high accuracy the front edge (1a) or the rear edge (1b) of a recording material carrier (1).

Abstract: To adjust the posture of a sheet being conveyed, movable checker members provided adjacent to the conveyance path for the sheet are once driven in the direction of conveyance of the sheet before the members touch the sheet and are subsequently decelerated, the members being caused to abut against the front end of the sheet during the deceleration, thereby checking the sheet and thus correcting any skew thereof. Further, for positioning the sides of the sheet, the sheet is taken out of a hopper by way of a separating device and is guided and fed in such a manner that its front corner will not be caused to abut against a side registration guide, and subsequently the sheet is conveyed toward the guide by way of obliquely extending conveyer belt devices and one side of the sheet is brought into contact with the guide for positioning after a front corner of the sheet has passed at least the edge of the guide.

Abstract: A device is provided for aligning leading edges of sheets at adjustable front lays of a feeder wherein the sheets are fed one after the other against the front lays in a conveying direction perpendicular to the leading edges, the front lays being connected to a front-lay shaft so as to be fixed against rotation relative thereto. The front-lay shaft is, in turn, mounted in a first and in a second bearing of the feeder. A swivelling device connected to the front-lay shaft reciprocatingly swivels the front lays about a longitudinal axis of the front-lay shaft. The aligning device includes a bending device for benging the front-lay axis by acting steadily on the front-lay shaft for selectively adjusting the longitudinal axis of the front-lay shaft so that the longitudinal axis has a shape which, respectively, is curved in the conveying direction, curved opposite the conveying direction and rectilinear.

Abstract: A device for adjusting front lays of a printing machine to which sheets are individually fed by a sheet feeder includes a front lay shaft to which the front lays are connected so as to be fixed against rotation relative thereto, a first and a second swivel part respectively swivellable about a stationary geometric swivel axis common to the swivel parts, the front lay shaft being mounted in the first and the second swivel parts so as to be freely rotatable relative thereto, an adjusting device engaging the first and the second swivel parts for changing the position of the front lay shaft, a swivel device for swivelling the front lay shaft reciprocatingly about a longitudinal axis thereof, and at least one supporting bearing for the front lay shaft for following changes in the position thereof, the adjusting device being in engagement with the front lay shaft in close proximity with the supporting bearing.

Abstract: The aligner mechanism comprises first and second control sleeves keyed to end portions of a shaft. First and second levers are pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent to the first and second control sleeves for movement between first and second positions. A pinch roller is rotatably mounted on the levers opposite a drive roller. The aligner mechanism also includes an aligner bar having a first leg portion and a second leg portion secured to the first and second control sleeves respectively, and an engaging portion joining the first and second leg portions. The first lever has a projection cooperating with a control member on the first control sleeve and the second lever has a projection cooperating with a control member on the second control sleeve so as to provide lost motion coupling to pivotally move the first and second levers from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A method of controlling print positioning comprises the steps of: detecting the time which elapses until a sheet of paper reaches a given position; predicting the time which would elapse until the paper reaches an image transfer position on the basis of the time detected in the detection step; calculating the time difference between the predicted time and an elapse time calculated on the basis of a paper carrying speed pattern which is previously stored and has at least two speeds; and controlling the paper carrying speed so that the calculated time difference becomes zero, thereby preventing any misregistration between a toner image and the paper.

Abstract: A device for halting sheet products transported by a conveyor belt, comprising an abutment having a conveyor belt passing through it and an adjustable braking device placed ahead of the abutment. By this arrangement it is possible to ensure a high degree of convenience of operation and of reliability if the impact of the products on the abutment is able to be sensed by means of a sensing device and the position of the braking device is able to be corrected in accordance with an output value produced by the sensing device.

Abstract: In a film duplicator original and copy sheets are initially brought together in unaligned relationship and permitted to drop under the influence of gravity along a predetermined path past an exposure station and into an alignment box where the ends of the sheets strike the bottom of the box to align the sheets. The aligned sheets are then transported back to the exposure station to expose the copy sheet. The sheets are then separated and exited from the duplicator.

Abstract: A thermal development image forming apparatus includes an exposure section, an overlapping section, a developing/transfer section, a sheet separating section, and a correcting section. The exposure section forms a latent image by exposing a photosensitive sheet. The overlapping section overlaps the exposed photosensitive sheet on an image-receiving sheet. The developing/transfer section heats/presses the overlapped sheets so as to develop the latent image on the photosensitive sheet and transfer the developed image onto the image-receiving sheet. The sheet separating section separates the photosensitive sheet from the image-receiving sheet image upon image development/transfer. The correcting section for correcting skews of the sheets in a feed direction is arranged in a step prior to that of the sheet separating section.

Abstract: A copying paper feeding device for an intermediate tray for use in a copying machine having functions of creating a copy on both sides of a paper or printing a compound copy. In the device while being pressed by a push-out roller, copying papers fed into the intermediate tray are delivered by the rotation of the push-out roller in the direction of a copying paper aligner located downstream and upper-positioned copying papers are pushed out a little further than lower-positioned copying papers in response to a counted number of copying papers fed into the intermediate tray.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a paper positioning plate swingably supported and having two positions in operation. The first position temporarily stops the carrying of an edge of a paper sheet by engaging the edge. The second position allows the paper sheet to be freely carried. The portion of the paper positioning plate which engages the edge of the paper sheet is curved as an arc having its axis on the axis of swing of the paper positioning plate. Thus, the swinging motion of the paper positioning plate does not create a strong frictional force at the edge of the sheet of paper and hence no paper particles are produced.

Abstract: A document feeder for use in a copy machine includes a gate plate disposed between a document sheet stacker and a sheet separator for separating a sheet from the bottom of a stack of document sheets. The gate plate is adapted to be lifted to regulate the passage of the stack of document sheets so that when the gate plate is lowered, the leading edges of the document sheets in the stack come in contact with the gate plate, whereby the leading edges of the documents are aligned, and while the gate plate is lifted upwardly, the stack of document sheets passes under the gate plate. The document feeder further includes a sheet edge-regulator attached to the gate plate so that when the gate plate is lifted upwardly, the sheet edge-regulator is moved adjacent the upper surface of the stack of document sheets and regulates the leading edge of the stack of document sheets so as to pass under the gate plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a sheet-shaped material comprises a sheet holding device capable of holding a sheet-shaped material at a predetermined position on an inwardly concave curved surface, and a sheet conveyor provided at an end portion of the sheet holding device for grasping the sheet-shaped material and conveying it to the predetermined position along the curved surface of the sheet holding device. A claw is connected with an urging member, and projected to a position on the curved surface at which a leading edge of the sheet-shaped material conveyed by the sheet conveyor contacts the claw. The claw is moveable on the curved surface against urging force of the urging member as the leading edge of the sheet-shaped material contacts the claw.

Abstract: Apparatus for registering a copy sheet prior to feeding the sheet to the image-transfer station of an electrophotographic copier. Opposing pairs of relatively rigid feed rollers are arranged on shafts in alternating relationship with opposing pairs of relatively compliant feed rollers, which are of somewhat larger diameter than the rigid rollers so as to form nips of appreciably greater extent in the direction of feed. Registration gates mounted for rotation on one of the roller shafts through slipping couplings are selectively restrained against rotation with the roller shaft either in a non-blocking position out of the feed path or in a blocking position within the nip area of the compliant rollers but upstream of the nip area of the rigid rollers.

Abstract: An automatic or semi-automatic document feeder (12) for conveying documents sheets (17) into and away from an imaging position (18) on a platen (14) of a copier, incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart belts (30) moving between a white backing surface (26) and the platen. A vacuum source applies a partial vacuum to the inter-belt gaps (32) to hold a document sheet against the belts so that the document is conveyed with the movement of the belts. A major portion of the backing surface (26) lies in a datum plane. Discrete protrusions (56) which extend above the datum plane are formed integrally on the backing surface in pairs or rows, against which the belts ride to hold the belts in spaced relation to the datum plane. The spaces (57) between the protrusions provide openings so that a partial vacuum applied beneath the belts may extend into the inter-belt gaps.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus for separating sheets from a stack and transporting, registering and deskewing individual separated sheets, includes a single endless narrow width belt movably supported around at least two support rolls defining a path for sheet separation/feeding station through a sheet transport run to a sheet registration station. The single narrow width belt has at least one raised frictional contact element on its outer run for frictional engagement with a sheet to separate a sheet from a sheet separation station and transport it across an imaging platen to a registration station, single frictional contact element provides a single pivot about which a sheet may pivot when it reaches the registration stop member to be deskewed. In an alternative embodiment the device is used simply for transporting, registering and deskewing sheets.

Abstract: A registration device for use in an automatic feeding device for copying machines in which a magnetic registration member is provided adjacent the forward edge of a platen and an electromagnet is disposed parallel to the registration member in a cover. When no current is applied to the electromagnet, the registration member is in an upper position acting as a stop for original documents to be copied. When the electromagnet is activated, the registration member is urged downwardly against the force of a spring by opposing magnetic field to a position below the surface of the platen so that original documents can be extracted therefrom. If desired, the edge of the platen and the registration member can be made sloped.