Abstract: A conveying apparatus, including: a conveyor mechanism; a housing; a first tray configured to receive a medium conveyed by the conveyor mechanism; an image reader disposed above the first tray, wherein a first discharge opening for discharging the medium outside the housing is formed in an upper surface of the housing so as not to overlap the image reader when viewed from above, and wherein the conveying apparatus further includes: a switcher for switching a destination of the medium selectively between the first tray and the first discharge opening; and a tray unit removably mountable on the upper surface of the housing and including a first introduction opening opposed to the first discharge opening, a second conveyance path for conveying the medium passed the first discharge opening and the first introduction opening, and at least one second tray for receiving the medium conveyed through the second conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus for stacking a sheet includes a plurality of sheet stacking units, an engaging member, and a first and second moving unit. The plurality of sheet stacking units are lapped over one another in a sheet thickness direction and each includes a stacking member that stacks a sheet thereon, a contact member that contacts an edge of a sheet stacked on the stacking member, the contact member being mounted to be movable to move the sheet stacked on the stacking member, and a contact engaged member mounted to be movable integrally with the contact member. The engaging member engages with the contact engaged member. The first moving unit moves the engaging member to engage the engaging member with the contact engaged member, and moves the contact member together with the contact engaged member. The second moving unit moves the engaging member in the sheet thickness direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a reading unit, first and second original sheet conveyance paths, a common conveyance path in which a recording material or the original sheet is conveyed to form an image, a third original sheet conveyance path that connects the first original sheet conveyance path and the second original sheet conveyance path and is used for conveying the original sheet conveyed in the second original sheet conveyance path to the common conveyance path, and a control unit that controls so as to convey the original sheet conveyed in the second original sheet conveyance path to the common conveyance path via the third original sheet conveyance path, and form an image on the original sheet.

Abstract: When the presence or absence of a malfunction is respectively determined in a decoloring section or a separation device, and it is determined that either the decoloring section or the separation device is malfunctioning, only the other is executable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a first discharge opening and a second discharge opening, a sheet discharge portion, a restricting member and a sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge portion is connected at a position below the first discharge opening, and the sheet discharged through the first discharge opening is to be placed thereon. The restricting member stands up on a downstream side of the sheet discharge portion in a discharging direction of the sheet and can come into contact with a downstream end edge of the sheet discharged to the sheet discharge portion in the discharging direction. The sheet discharge tray includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion to be fixed to an upper end part of the restricting member and is attachable above the sheet discharge portion, and a sheet discharged through the second discharge opening is to be placed thereon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit which continuously forms an image on sheets of paper, three or more stackers to which the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit are ejected and a control unit which determines paper ejection order of stackers to which the sheets are to be ejected among the three or more stackers in a predetermined order, wherein each of the stackers includes a loading unit on which the sheets are loaded and a conveyance cart which is disposed under the loading unit and by which the loading unit can be removed from the stacker.

Abstract: Device with: banknote processing unit (10); banknote storage unit (30) having a plurality of banknote storage parts (32) for separating and storing paper sheets; transport mechanism for bidirectionally transporting the paper sheets via a connection mechanism (45) connected between the banknote processing unit (10) and banknote storage unit (30); and a unit guide mechanism (50) that guides the banknote storage unit (30) in order to be stored in a drawer from a housing (102) and a storage space.

Abstract: A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a central track; a nose coupled to the chassis at a nose end of the chassis; and a carriage. The nose includes a presenting end distal from the chassis, and a nose track arranged to couple to the central track to provide a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The carriage is mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprises a carriage body and a carriage plate movable between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body.

Abstract: A compliant conveyance system including a diverter having at least one sidewall structure defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with a pressure source. The sidewall structure includes a compliant interface surface for conveying sheet material along the feed path and a plurality of orifices effecting fluid communication between the compliant interface surface and the internal chamber. A means is provided for developing a pressure differential across the sheet material through the orifices to urge an interface surface of the sheet material against the compliant interface surface of the diverter such that the compliant interface surface conforms to the sheet material interface surface.

Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus, including: a supporting member having a supporting surface which supports a sheet; a first electrode provided in the supporting member; an electric field generating portion configured to generate an electric field between the supporting surface and the first electrode; a guide member which is distant from the supporting surface by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface; a moving portion configured to move the sheet supported by the supporting surface by moving at least one of the supporting member and the guide member relatively to each other in a direction parallel to the supporting surface; and an electric field inverting portion configured to invert a direction of the electric field generated by the electric field generating portion, when a leading end portion of the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is moved has reached a vicinity of the guide member.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge path for discharging a sheet to be discharged; a plurality of sheet discharge trays disposed along the sheet discharge path; a plurality of switching guides disposed in the sheet discharge path corresponding to the sheet discharge trays, and being changed a position between a retracting position for being retracted so that the sheet being conveyed can pass through, and a distributing position for distributing a sheet being conveyed to the sheet discharge tray; and a switching mechanism which changes the position of the switching guide between the retracting position and the distributing position. This switching mechanism includes: a switching piece which interferes with the switching guide to switch the position of the switching guide, one transporting member which moves the switching piece among the plurality of switching guides, and a drive member driving the transporting member.

Abstract: A document sorting machine having at least one pocket for stacking documents according to a common criteria. Each pocket has a gate for diverting the document from the transport of the machine and into the designated pocket. The pocket also has a kicker for moving the tail of the document away from the pocket's entry and into the pocket and a detent which allows the tail to be moved into the pocket but which prevents the tail from moving back towards the pocket's entry after the tail of the document has been moved into the pocket.

Abstract: A sortation bin module having a conveyor and diverter module for pneumatically securing, releasing and diverting selected mailpieces to a bank of sortation bins. The conveyor module includes a conveyor surface for transporting sheet material along the feed path and a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the conveyor surface to hold the sheet material on the conveyor surface during transport. The diverter module includes a diverter surface for sorting sheet material from the conveyor surface, i.e., diverting sheet material from the feed path. The diverter module, furthermore, includes a pneumatic system for developing a pressure differential across the diverter surface to hold the sheet material on the diverter surface during sortation. The conveyor and diverter surfaces are also arranged such that the surfaces oppose each other to define a transfer interface.

Abstract: This is a lifting mechanism especially suited to move a stack of paper to a height so that it is easier to remove or work with. The lifting mechanism has as a bottom portion a tilting platform that receives and holds a paper stack and its support. This tilting platform will be tilted in a front down position prior to and during loading of the paper stack thereon, and will automatically tilt down at its back portion when stack loaded. This is because the fulcrum of the tilting platform is located nearer the front sections of the platform than it is to the back section of the platform. When the weight of the paper stack acts upon the tilting platform, it will force the platform down at its back portion.

Abstract: A modular bin or pocket has an integrated transport assembly and mail piece diverter assembly and is usable in a bin stacker section in mail handling and sorting systems. The modular bin is individually removable, interchangeable and replaceable from the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system to allow for repair or maintenance of malfunctioning bins leading to reduced down time of the mail processing system. The modular bin further enables vertical and/or horizontal progressive modularity, i.e., vertical and/or horizontal expansion, of the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system which allows for cost-effective expansion of mail handling systems. Further, there is disclosed a tray management system and a tier diverter system that are usable in mail handling systems that use the modular bin with double sided bin stacker sections or single sided bin stacker sections with or without a turnaround section.

Abstract: A modular sheet output system includes a first tray and a sorter assembly including a transporter and a plurality of trays. The transporter has a primary transport path and a plurality of secondary transport paths branching from the primary transport path, each secondary transport path having an exit.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a print media rotary transport apparatus and method of operation. The print media transport apparatus comprises a print media rotary path and a print media rotary bypass path, wherein the print media rotary path rotates a print media sheet about an axis orthogonal to the print media sheet.

Abstract: A modular bin or pocket has an integrated transport assembly and mail piece diverter assembly and is usable in a bin stacker section in mail handling and sorting systems. The modular bin is individually removable, interchangeable and replaceable from the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system to allow for repair or maintenance of malfunctioning bins leading to reduced down time of the mail processing system. The modular bin further enables vertical and/or horizontal progressive modularity, i.e., vertical and/or horizontal expansion, of the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system which allows for cost-effective expansion of mail handling systems. Further, there is closed a tray management system and a tier diverter system that are usable in mail handling systems that use the modular bin with double sided bin stacker sections or single sided bin stacker sections with or without a turnaround section.

Abstract: A media transport array for forming sequential media streams feeding a media processing system in which serial flows, parallel flows, or both are desired are structured from standard, batch fabricatable media path modules. Each media path module includes a frame unit, intermodule latching means, media control electronics, and media state sensing electronics. Within each media path module, at least one media transport nip receives media and passes it to an independently actuated media director. Media guides support media as it moves into and out of the media director.

Abstract: A plurality of bin units are provided with respective gates and, hence, it is possible to sufficiently narrow the clearance between the gates and the bodies of the bin unit. When the gate provided at each bin unit is expanded to lie toward a conveying path, the front edge of the gate becomes put into a dent portion of a sidewall of an image-forming apparatus. For this reason, any clearance or protrusion causing jamming of recording paper is not formed in a branch path extending from the conveying path to a discharged paper tray through the gate and, hence, it is possible to guide recording paper from the conveying path into each bin unit by means of the gate smoothly.

Abstract: A mail processing system drop box assembly. The drop box assembly includes a diverter and a sliding board. The sliding board is positioned below the diverter. A top edge of the sliding board is substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the diverter and extends partially to the interior side of the diverter so that a space is left between the sliding board top edge and the diverter bottom edge. The space is of sufficient size to allow a mail item to pass through edgewise. A slide portion of the sliding board section is at an angle greater than 90° to a front portion of the diverter. Mail items are received into the drop box assembly edgewise at an angle to the diverter front portion such that mail items undergo a substantially abrupt directional change substantially stopping forward momentum and thereby falling into the slide in a substantially controlled manner. Further disclosed are a mail processing system and a mail processing method.

Abstract: A recording device for recording information data such as images and characters on a recording card has one or more card transfer paths intersecting with a first transfer path extending from a card supply means at one or more intersection points. At the intersection point, there is placed a card turning means for turning the card or transferring the card between the card transfer paths. The technically ingenious arrangement of the card transfer paths and the card turning means enables materialization of making the compact, high-performance recording device capable of handling and processing the card effectively and producing various types of information cards such as credit card, license card and IC card with high efficiency.

Abstract: A paper sheet discharge apparatus comprises a transport roller for transporting paper sheets discharged from an image-forming apparatus, a plurality of switching flappers for guiding the paper sheets to desired bins, and a plurality of delivery rollers for discharging the paper sheets via the switching flappers to the bins. The paper sheets are reliably stored in the desired bins without decreasing their transport speed by the aid of the transport roller, the switching flappers, and the delivery rollers. The power from a motor is transmitted only to the delivery rollers which are used to discharge the paper sheets while being interlocked with the specified switching flapper. Therefore, it is possible to diminish the load on the motor.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including a conveying path changing device, the conveying path changing device having a main conveying path for conveying a sheet, a plurality of branched paths branched from the main conveying path, a plurality of oscillatable flappers for selecting between a changed position where the sheet is guided from the main conveying path to one of the branched paths and a retracted position permitting passage of the sheet, a single solenoid for oscillating the plurality of flappers, a single link for connecting the solenoid and the flappers, and a sensor confirming movements of the flapper by detecting a movement of the link.

Abstract: A paper sheet discharge apparatus comprises a transport roller that transports paper sheets discharged from an image-forming apparatus, a plurality of switching flappers that guide the paper sheets to desired bins, and a plurality of delivery rollers that discharge the paper sheets via the switching flappers to the bins. The paper sheets are reliably stored in the desired bins without decreasing their transport speed by the aid of the transport roller, the switching flappers, and the delivery rollers. The power from a motor is transmitted only to the delivery rollers which are used to discharge the paper sheets while being interlocked with the specified switching flapper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a main body and a sheet post-processing unit. The main body has a first discharge path, a second discharge path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The sheet post-processing unit has a first sheet receiving path and a second sheet receiving path each connecting to a common sheet transport path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first discharge path is connected to the first sheet receiving path by coupling the first mounting portion of the main body to the first mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. The second discharge path is connected to the second sheet receiving path by coupling the second mounting portion of the main body to the second mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. By providing the plurality of mounting portions in the top and side portions of the main body, the sheet post-processing unit can easily be disposed on the top or side of the main body.

Abstract: A sheet passage changing apparatus includes a plurality of swingable changing devices for changing a sheet transporting direction; common drivers for swinging the plurality of changing devices; a controller for actuating the drivers, before a sheet reaches an upstream one of the changing devices, to actuate the upstream one of the changing devices, thus changing the sheet transporting direction and for actuating the drivers, after the sheet passing through the upstream changing device and before the sheet reaches a downstream one of the changing device, to actuate the downstream changing device, thus changing the sheet transporting direction.

Abstract: A paper currency reception/delivery machine having a high degree of general-purpose utility and implemented in a simple structure of a small size at low cost and capable of handling foreign paper currencies of different sizes and other leaflets is imparted selectively with given ones of intelligent functions such as discrimination of denominations, recycling on a denomination-by-denomination basis, replenishment, collection and detailed check and the like. The paper currency reception/delivery machine includes a loop-like paper currency transport path extending in one direction by way of a paper currency checking means, a paper currency reception/delivery port, a temporary custody unit, a delivery-destined paper currency storing unit, a received paper currency storing unit, a recycling-destined paper currency storing unit, a replenishment/collection-destined paper currency storing unit and a rejection-destined paper currency storing unit.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output area (50) of the machine.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper supply inlet and a first paper ejection outlet disposed above the paper supply inlet, a paper supply path for leading a document supplied from the paper supply inlet to a reading section, and a paper ejection path for leading the document from the reading section to the first paper ejection outlet. The automatic document feeder further includes a circulation path situated between the paper ejection path and the paper supply path for reversing a transfer direction of the document, and a document reversing path connected between the paper ejection path and a second paper ejection outlet different from the first paper ejection outlet for reversing front and rear surfaces of the document. The transfer direction as well as the front and rear surfaces of the document can be changed, as desired.

Abstract: A paper sorting device is incorporated in a recording machine. The paper sorting device includes a first paper tray located near a recording paper exit of the recording machine and a second paper tray located below the first paper tray. A flap is provided as a part of the first paper tray such that it can move to form an opening for passing of the recording paper therethrough. A drive mechanism is also provided for maintaining the flap in position or moving the flap to form the opening. When the flap is maintained in position, the recording paper is ejected onto the first paper tray. When the flap is moved, the recording paper falls onto the second tray through the opening made by the moved flap. Therefore, two kinds of recording paper are separately collected in the two paper trays respectively. The flap may be hinge-linked to the first paper tray so that it can rotate about its hinge upwards and downwards.

Abstract: A document processing arrangement transporting sheets at a prescribed nominal speed along a track, terminated by sort-pockets, each with an associated diverter plus a guide assembly for guiding and driving a so diverted sheet into its pocket, the guide comprising an inject roll to accelerate the sheet, plus an arm assembly coupled to rotate with the roll and including an arm for guiding a so injected sheet toward its position in the pocket stack; this roll and arm assembly being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time a sheet is entering, and also to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its stack.

Abstract: A sorter mailbox has a sheet transport for moving sheets through a feed path to a set or sets of vertically spaced receiver trays having sheet deflecting gates which are actuated so as to sowing toward or into an open sheet deflecting position so as to contact with light spring pressure a sheet moving through the sheet feed path but to open to deflect the sheet into a selected tray from the sheet feed path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for corrugating the output of a reproduction device such as a photocopier includes a guiding arm for guiding an image carrying medium in a predetermined path towards a destination output bin and a projection for corrugating the image carrying medium as it is being guided by the guiding arm. The current corrugation device is suitable for a multiple tray sorter unit since it does not require additional corrugation members.

Abstract: A document sorter for a document dispenser comprises a feeding apparatus for feeding documents to a document feed path, a conveyance apparatus mounted along the document feed path for conveying documents along the document feed path, and a directing apparatus mounted across the document feed path at a 90.degree. angle to the feed path for selectively directing documents along the feed path or for selectively directing documents from the feed path into a selected bin of the document dispenser. The directing apparatus includes a plurality of rotatable selector rotors mounted across the document feed path at a 900.degree. angle to the document feed path, and a D.C. motor for driving each selector rotor in a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction of rotation, as desired.

Abstract: A document processing arrangement transporting sheets at a prescribed nominal speed along a track, terminated by sort-pockets, each with an associated diverter plus a guide assembly for guiding and driving a so diverted sheet into its pocket, the guide comprising an inject roll to accelerate the sheet, plus an arm assembly coupled to rotate with the roll and including an arm for guiding a so injected sheet toward its position in the pocket stack; this roll and arm assembly being arranged to rotate the arm away from its stack each time a sheet is entering, and also to be spring-driven to return the arm toward its stack.

Abstract: A sheet receiver has sheet feeding belts and coacting feed rollers for transporting sheets of paper to selected vertically spaced trays and a resilient pressure is applied between the feed rollers and the belts to drive the feed rollers due to the compressive force between them for transporting sheets to the respective trays.

Abstract: A sheet receiver has sheet feeding belts and coacting feed rollers for transporting sheets of paper through the feed path to selected vertically spaced trays, and sheet deflecting gates are associated with the feed rollers to deflect sheets from the feed path by deforming the sheets between companion arched surfaces of the feed rollers and the gates forming a arcuate air gap in which the bending of the sheet produces drive friction between the feed rollers and the sheets to carry the sheets into the trays.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for use with a processor for media sheets. The processor has a top discharge and a service opening adjoining the discharge. The sorting apparatus has a body mounted on the processing apparatus. The body pivots about an axis of rotation, between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the body blocks access to the service opening. In the open position, the body is displaced from the service opening. The body has an upper surface substantially radial to the axis of rotation. A partition member is mounted on the body. The partition member has a unitary array of parallel partitions extending outward from the body. The partitions define bins for the media sheets. The partition member is movable independent of the body, between an operative position, in which the partitions define a zone of obstruction extending outward from the upper surface of the body; and a displaced position, in which the partitions are at least substantially removed from the zone.

Abstract: A wide variety of product types, sizes and shapes are sorted into designated destination bins or other outputs utilizing a computer controlled transport path that includes an infeed section and a pinch roller diverting section. The infeed section receives a singulated stream of products to be sorted, optically scans each product for a destination code and transports the products downstream to the diverting section. The diverting section consists of a series of individually and selectively controlled roller pairs in combination with a number of diverting gates. Each roller pair includes an upper foam covered pinch roller and a lower friction drive roller oriented such that products moving downstream pass between each roller pair until diverted from the transport path. An array of photoelectric detectors provide product position information to identify and track product movement through the apparatus.

Abstract: In a device for storing printings, film sheets or similar recording media driven out or an image forming apparatus, bins are each inclined from a top sheet inlet thereof to a bottom sheet outlet thereof. When all the bins are full, such a condition is reported to users. Users having left sheets in the trays for a long period of time are alerted by a warning message. Sheets become needless for users can be automatically disposed of by commands from user stations. A user passes an I.D. card through a card reader to enter an I.D. number, opening a bin corresponding to the I.D. number, dropping the sheet onto a fence for user access.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for use with a processor for media sheets. The processor has a top discharge and a service opening adjoining the discharge. The sorting apparatus has a body mounted on the processing apparatus. The body pivots about an axis of rotation, between closed and open positions. In the closed position, the body blocks access to the service opening. In the open position, the body is displaced from the service opening. The body has an upper surface substantially radial to the axis of rotation. A partition member is mounted on the body. The partition member has a unitary array of parallel partitions extending outward from the body. The partitions define bins for the media sheets. The partition member is movable independent of the body, between an operative position, in which the partitions define a zone of obstruction extending outward from the upper surface of the body; and a displaced position, in which the partitions are at least substantially removed from the zone.

Abstract: A random access sheet receiver has pairs or sets of trays for receiving sheets arranged in vertically spaced relation and extending horizontally in opposite directions from a central sheet path defined by gates and feed rollers and extending vertically between the sheet inlet ends of the trays. Each set of trays may have one or a plurality of trays of selected sheet capacity. A double acting actuator is employed to selectively actuate any gate or deflector randomly to direct sheets in a selected direction into a selected tray.

Abstract: A sheet transport path system for transporting reproduction sheets along an elongated sheet transport path in a multibin sorter or mailbox system is provided by elongated moving belts having a high friction sheet engaging outside belt surface and an inside belt surface driven by belt drive rollers, and a belt backing system for supporting the inside of the belt flight. A low friction endless band centrally of the inside belt surface is engaged by the belt backing system. The belt backing system is an elongated fixed skid plate system narrower than the low friction endless band, and sliding thereagainst. High friction areas on the inside belt surface on opposite sides of this low friction endless band engage the belt drive roller for non-slip driving of the belt. The belt drive roller may, if desired, have a reduced diameter central groove so as to insure only engaging these outer edge areas of the inside surface of the belt if a thick inner belt surface or thick separate inner belt is utilized.

Abstract: The apparatus for transferring individual articles (M) in sheet form and placing them in stacks (P1, P2) of pre-determined numbers includes a conveyor (17, 23) which picks up the articles from a delivery system (11) by gripping them along their edges. Along said conveyor at least two reciprocating expellers (27, 29) disposed in series remove said articles from the conveyor and lay them down onto a stacker device (31, 35; 33, 37). Each expeller (27, 29) operates with continuous, reciprocating motion at all times. The expeller (27) which is closest to the delivery system (11) may selectively be moved, in the direction of its reciprocating motion, so as to take a position (27X, 27Y) in the trajectory of the manufactured articles fed by said conveyor means, and, alternately, a position (27X', 27Y'), in which it is not in the article-feeding trajectory.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method for reliably separating a selected sheet from a spaced array of sheets transported on a conveyor. The invention continuously maintains vacuum on the conveyors, and uses selectively activated jets directed at the underside of the sheets to divert them for separating. The invention positively controls the destination of discrete, flexible sheets, such as photographic film, by continuously engaging the sheets with another conveyor during separating, sorting, shuffling or the like, as they travel in an array along a conveyor. Positive control of the sheets permits reliable, high speed separating of lightweight, flexible sheets.

Abstract: A random access mailbox has a stack of horizontally extended trays for receiving sheets of paper supplied from a printer. A modular construction provides a sheet transport system including gates to deflect sheets into a selected tray from sheet feeding rollers incorporated in the modules for carrying sheets through a sheet path defined between the rollers and pressure applying rollers to the respective gates which can be actuated randomly to deflect a sheet from the rollers into a selected tray between cooperative modules. A sheet detector is provided at each gate along the feed path to detect the presence of a sheet at any location along the feed path. The gates or deflectors nest or overlap vertically to reduce overall height of the apparatus and provide continuity to the sheet guide surfaces.

Abstract: A device for the delivery of documents conveyed in a vertical orientation along a document path to a receptacle in a substantially horizontal orientation includes a diverter for diverting individual vertically disposed documents away from the document path in a direction toward the receptacle, a document receiving and transporting system disposed adjacent the diverter to receive the documents and progressively advancing and changing the orientation of the documents from vertical to horizontal, whereby the documents are each delivered into the receptacle in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A random access sorter has a plurality of trays in a vertical stack into which are deposited sheets of printed material from an office printer, facsimile machine or other source of printed sheets. The sorter has a sheet transport and gates at the respective trays to deflect sheets from the transport in a selected tray. Each tray is in the form of a drawer normally locked in a sheet receiving position. A gate closing device closes the selected gate to a sheet deflecting position from a normal position permitting the sheet to pass by the trays. The gate closing actuator device is also an actuator for selectively unlocking the drawers which are normally locked.

Abstract: A dynamic "mailboxing" unit and system for separating by users the sheet outputs of various users of a shared users printer (including facsimile receivers, copiers or combination units). It provides for stacking the sheets sequentially outputted from the printer in separate job sets into one or more temporarily and variably assigned "mailboxes" of a "mailboxing" job sorting accessory unit. The "mailboxing" unit has locking "privacy doors" for restricting access to at least some of the mailbox bins, with electrical unlocking of selected bin doors in response to entry of a user access code, and in particular, automatic lifting of one edge of the sheets in that bin in coordination with the bin door opening to assist user removal of their sheets from the bin.