Abstract: An apparatus and method in conjunction with a copier and/or a collator is disclosed for providing on-line and off-line insertion of sheet material or collation, respectively. The apparatus includes a single supply tray and sheet feeder therefor. The supply tray is pre-loaded with one or more types of insert material, each type being separated by a coded sheet. As the insert sheets are fed, a sensor detects the coded sheet which is fed to an overflow tray and further feeding from the supply tray is inhibited until additional copy sheets from the copier is supplied in the on-line mode of operation, or a different type of material is to be collated in the off-line mode.

Abstract: A finishing station is disclosed as having a rotary sorter arranged to receive a stream of sheets at a loading station and to collate them into booklets or copy sets. An adhesive binder is positioned at an unloading station and is arranged for movement toward and away from the edges of the booklets while still in the sorter bins of the sorter. When moved toward the edges of the booklets, an applicator roller in the binder is arranged to apply adhesive material to the edges in timed sequence relative to sheet loading.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus/copy sheet processor/finishing apparatus arranged as an integrated system to produce bound copy sheets at high speed but with minimum mechanical activity by double exposing each document sheet, producing successive copy sheets in accordance with the exposure, distributing the successive copy sheets alternately into receiving trays and utilizing a set transport for each of the trays to bring copy sets alternately to a single point binding device.

Abstract: A document sheet handler/copy sheet feeder employing a vacuum belt feeder having an air knife to aid in sheet separation. The quantity of air discharged from the air knife is varied in accordance with the weight or pressure of sheets placed in the document sheet handler/copy sheet feeder and actuating a valve having four flow settings: Off, Low, Medium, and High. The valve includes two concentrically arranged and individually rotatable cylindrical valve elements having various sized openings formed thereon. Selective rotation of the valve elements align various combination of the openings to provide the four flow settings.

Abstract: A copying machine/finisher system is disclosed as having a rotary sorter arranged to receive a stream of copy sheets produced by a processor in conjunction with an automatic document handling apparatus of the type which produces multiple copies of a document sheet placed at an exposure station. The sorter collates the stream into booklets as the sorter is rotated in an indexing manner. An adhesive binder and a stapler are selectively positioned to effect binding while the booklets are still in the bins of the sorter. Binding is effected in timed relationship with sheets still entering the sorter. The sorter/finishing apparatus may also be a stand alone system.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus/copy sheet processor/finishing apparatus arranged as an integrated system to produce bound copy sheets at high speed but with minimum mechanical activity by double exposing one or both sides of a document sheet, producing side-by-side copy sheets in accordance with either of the exposures modes, distributing the successive copy sheets alternately into receiving trays and utilizing a set transport for each of the trays to bring copy sets alternately to a single point binding device.

Abstract: An electrically operated stapling apparatus is disclosed having a circuit utilizing a capacitor for driving the solenoid actuator for the apparatus. The circuit includes a fullwave rectifier for charging the capacitor with closely spaced dc pulses and includes circuitry for producing a plurality of charging levels for the capacitor depending upon the number of sheet material to be stapled. A reference circuit is also provided to insure the voltage level of charging is such that the operation of the apparatus is immune to line source voltage fluctuations.

Abstract: A sheet supply receptacle is disclosed which permits the operator to prepare many reams of sheets of paper for use in a very high speed copier/duplicator. The receptacle, when pre-loaded with reams of paper, is adapted to be applied to the sheet supply apparatus of the copier/duplicator, to deposit the reams on the sheet supply tray or elevator for the copier/duplicator in proper sheet feeding registration and alignment, and be removed from the sheet supply apparatus to be reloaded again for another loading operation.

Abstract: A document handler employing a vacuum belt feeder having an air knife to aid in sheet separation. The quantity of air discharged from the air knife is varied in accordance with the number of documents placed in the document handler as determined by counting the documents fed through the document handler during the initial feed cycle and actuating a valve having four flow settings: Off, Low, Medium, and High.

Abstract: A copier/finishing system is disclosed as having one or more copy sheet compiling bins whereat copy sheets are collated into copy sets preparatory to a binding operation. In order to support copy sets being moved from one or more bins to a binding station to be stitched or stapled, there is disclosed a copy set support apparatus which supports each copy set being so moved and which is quickly withdrawn to permit the bound copy set to fall by gravity into a set collecting tray.

Abstract: A sheet sorter apparatus is disclosed as having a basic sorter unit comprising a horizontal transport, a vertical transport, and a plurality of sorter bins wherein the vertical transport has a pair of bin indexing guide elements, one of which is arranged to index sheets into the bins sequentially, while the other element is arranged to index sheets to a second sorter unit containing only a plurality of bins thereby allowing the use of additional bins without added transport structure.

Abstract: An active clincher 201 has a housing 202 forming a support surface 203 for an article, such as a set of sheets, to be stapled. One or a pair of clincher ears 204 is positively driven by an actuator 223 for bending over the staple leg(s) to form clinches. The clincher ears 204 are pivotally mounted on the housing 202 and rotatable by the actuator 223 so as to engage and bend the staple legs. The or each clincher ear 204 is mounted, suitably by having a slotted pivot hole 212, so that it also moves normally to the support surface during and/or following the end part of the rotational movement of the ear.

Abstract: A sheet registration apparatus and device for registering a sheet on a surface 72 against a registration stop 75 or 74, 75 includes a wiper device 100 having a plurality of resilient blades 101 rotatable about an axis 103 which is generally normal to the surface 72. The blades lie in radial planes through the axis and extend in the direction of the axis towards sheet-engaging tips 106 which are arranged to wipe across the sheet surface over a limited arc of rotation so as to urge the sheets towards the registration stop. To this end the blades are held out of contact with the sheets during part of each revolution by a swash plate 102 having an arcuate opening 114.

Abstract: An electrostatographic printing system is disclosed as having a document supporting drum and an optical system for scanning a document for exposing the same to a moving photoreceptor belt. The drum has its surface moved in synchronism with the belt by an a.c. synchronous motor and includes a control system devised to sense the relative velocities of the compared velocities of the belt and drum surfaces and to produce a correction signal for the drum motor drive.

Abstract: A control system for a copier having at least one stapler for inhibiting the start of production by the copier in the event the number of staples is less than the number of copy sets to be stapled with the stapler. The system includes a sensing device adapted to produce a low staple signal when an approximated predetermined number of staples remain. The presence of this signal will permit continuation of the compilation of the copy set then being produced, or the compilation of copy sets in a sorter array associated with the copier and stapling thereof, and then inhibit the restart of the copier thereafter.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus having two or more stapling devices and drives for moving either of the devices selectively to permit selective positioning of staples before a stapling operation. An indication system cooperates with the drives for operator use in selecting the positioning of staples for different sizes of sheets to be fastened.

Abstract: A low-wire sensor for sensing when the amount of wire W remaining on a spool 102 falls below a predetermined low level, comprising a lever 11 biased by a spring 15 so as to press against the wire W on the spool exceeds the low level and to disengage from the wire when the wire reaches said low level for movement to a wire-low indicating position in which it suitably actuates a sensor switch.

Abstract: An arrangement for continuously monitoring the time to completion of a programmed reproduction run for a copier by utilizing the counters in a document handling apparatus and exiting the copier either to a sorting arrangement or finisher. Signals generated in accordance with the number of copies required to realize the run are applied to signals indicative of time to produce a single copy, whether simplex or duplex, and the resultant signal is applied to a duplexing or a countdown monitoring indication of time to completion.

Abstract: An automatic duplicating system in which computer fanfold documents are fed by an automatic handling apparatus having a tractor and drive control system for advancing the document across the platen of the processor for the system. An arrangement is provided which will shut down the system in the event there is a break in the fanfold material during a reproduction run or the end of the document has been attained during normal operation. Sensing devices are utilized in the path of movement of the document and a circuit is provided to produce a train of pulses in accordance with the movement of the document. The frequency of the train of pulses is compared with a reference frequency to insure proper operation.

Abstract: An automatic electrostatographic duplicating machine in which computer fanfold documents are fed by an automatic handling means from a supply position above the machine platen to a second position overlaying the platen below the supply position by a tractor means having motor driven sprocket means operative to advance the document material, and control means for supplying control signals to said motor driven means to advance the document material continuously, intermittently, or to selected positions.