Abstract: A staple loading arrangement for feeding sticks of staples in a stapler magazine under a constant, uniform force imposed upon a staple follower in the magazine to present individual staples to a stapling position whereat sheets are stapled and including a drive mechanism which will provide this force and a retraction device which when retracting the follower to permit staple loading also conditions the force producing device for another cycle of providing force after staples have been loaded into the magazine.

Abstract: A sheet curling/decurling mechanism for decurling copy sheets exiting the fuser apparatus of a copier is disclosed as having a compliant belt of pliable material, a curling roller forming a penetration nip with the compliant belt, the penetration nip being adapted to curl sheets to such an amount as to over curl a sheet leaving the fuser appartus. A decision gate is arranged and shaped to direct the sheet into one of two paths depending upon the degree of over curl. In one path, when slight curl is experienced, a curling device is arranged to compensate for the slight curl. In the other path, when a high degree of curl is present, a curling device is positioned to effect a high degree of reverse curl.

Abstract: A reproduction machine adapted for producing copies of an original on both sides of a copy sheet and forwarding the finished copy to a collator. An inverter-reverser is employed which allows single-sided copy to a waiting station for subsequent processing to allow copying on the reverse side of the sheet to produce duplex copies, and for inverting duplex copies prior to delivery to the collator to provide the required sheet orientation in the collator. A sheet buckle control device cooperates with the inverter-reverser to insure that papers of widely different paper sizes, weights and stiffness will be inverted during the inverting stage of delivery of duplex copies.

Abstract: A device for preventing a substrate from jamming in a copier includes a guide member that directs a substrate from a substrate supply tray to a photosensitive member. The guide member is adapted to be vibrated by a vibration generator in order to prevent substrates passing through the guide member from jamming.

Abstract: A sheet curling/decurling mechanism is disclosed as having a compliant roller with a soft, pliable material therearound, a curling roller forming a penetration nip with the compliant roller, the penetration nip being adapted to curl sheets of paper passing through the nip, and movable plates arranged adjacent the sheet exiting side of the nip for controlling the angle of exiting of the sheets from the nip.

Abstract: A constant velocity transport (CVT) is disclosed for use with a marking apparatus such as an ink jet printing system. The transport utilizes vacuum hold-down plenums to convey sheets to and away from the printing zone of the marking apparatus and a sheet-attracting vacuum arrangement, between the two plenums for drawing the sheet to a guide surface as the sheet moves through the printing zone. The sheet-attracting action is effective just at the point marking is effective upon the sheet thereby insuring the precise location of the sheet for printing.

Abstract: A very high speed, fully automated reproduction system is disclosed having a document handling apparatus, copy sheet processor, and a finishing station. For very high reproduction rates, post-collation of copy sheets into copy sets is utilized. In this arrangement the document apparatus is arranged to expose each document sheet of a document a predetermined number of times before a succeeding document sheet is brought into exposure position so that for each complete circulation of all the document sheets, the document would have been copied a number of times equal to said predetermined number. A sorter bin array having a number of bins equal to said predetermined number is arranged to collate the resultant copy sheets into corresponding copy sets. The copy sets are removed from the bin array for stapling and stacking or non-stapling and stacking.

Abstract: A copy sheet handling arrangement for use in a copying machine for producing duplex copies during a single pass through the processor of the machine. A transfer roller having a lead edge gripping device directs the sheet through the transfer station to receive a first toner image on one side. Reversing transport mechanism returns the sheet to the roller whereat the trailing edge is gripped and the sheet is returned to the transfer station in an inverted orientation to receive a second toner image on the other side thereof.

Abstract: A combined sheet iverter and sorter comprises a plurality of bins B, a gate D associated with each bin which permits a sheet S to travel direction into the bin B, and a reversible conveyor 102 for advancing sheets past the bin openings and reversing the sheets into the bins B. The conveyor 102 is controlled so that each sheet is reversed when its trail edge is located between a pair of adjacent gates whereby the sheets S may be guided into selected bins B in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A copy sheet registration arrangement is arranged for a copier/finisher system. Sheets which are transported to a compiler station for the finisher are subject to two-step registration positioning. In the first step, the sheets are shifted from a centerline of the paper path leaving the copier to a parallel centerline of the paper path to the compiler station. In so shifting, they are course registered on an edge parallel to the centerlines, the edge being the top edge of each sheet as viewed when reading. In this manner, the registration is equally effective regardless of the various sizes copy sheets may take. A second top edge registration which is more accurate and a side edge registration occur.

Abstract: A wire stitcher includes a cutter for cutting a length of wire W from a supply thereof and a stitcher head having a former and driver for forming and driving the length of cut wire for binding a set SS of sheets. The length of cut wire which is presented to the head by a wire advancing and cutting mechanism. The mechanism comprises a first wire gripper, which advances the wire through a fixed distance, and a compensating mechanism comprising a second wire gripper and a cutter block. These are moved towards each other to increase the wire length symetrically relative to the driver as a function of set thickness by an actuator connected to a set clamping device.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus for a duplicating machine or copier is disclosed and includes a document supply tray, a turnaround roller and the exposure platen arranged in a general horizontal configuration wherein all operating areas and separate transports are available for operator observation and jam clearances. The turnaround roller permits return of document sheets to the platen in an inverted orientation to permit copying of duplex document sheets. The rotational speed for this operation may be significantly increased relative to the processing speed of the copier and the normal feeding speeds of the document sheets from the supply tray to the platen in order to maximize throughput of the copier. For normal return of the document sheets for the platen area, the rotational speed of the roller may be relatively high compared to the document feeding speed, thereby minimizing time losses due to machine pitch spacings between document sheet changes.

Abstract: A copy set collecting and storage arrangement is disclosed for a high speed copy reproduction system or duplicator machine having a finishing station. The arrangement includes an elevator for collecting finished copy sets in a stack and a conveyor for receiving one or more stacks from the elevator. Controls are devised for "limitless" finishing wherein the duplicator is placed in Standby, count holding condition when the full storage capacity has been reached and the programmed reproduction run has not been achieved. The controls will effect automatic start-up again when one or more of the stacks have been removed until once again the capacity has been reached and the reproduction run has not been completed.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus for a duplicating machine or copier is disclosed and includes a turnaround roller arranged between an exposure platen for the copier and a document sheet supply tray for directing document sheets fed from the tray back into the tray in an inverted orientation when occasions arise for the inversion. One or more occasions may arise and be initiated automatically depending upon a selected mode of duplication or when an odd number of passes of a document set of sheets are necessary to complete a reproduction run. Other occasions may be operator selected for various reasons such as when pre-printed or pre-punched copy sheets are being processed.

Abstract: A wire stitcher includes a cutter for cutting a length of wire W from a supply thereof and a stitcher head having a former and driver for forming and driving the length of cut wire for binding a set SS of sheets. The length of cut wire which is presented to the head by a wire advancing and cutting mechanism is automatically determined in dependence upon the thickness of the set SS. The mechanism includes a movable gripper block which advances the wire and the cutter is carried on a movable cutter block. The gripper block and the cutter block are biased towards each other by a spring and driven by a common drive cam.

Abstract: A monitoring device is described for use with a movable stapler apparatus to detect the presence or absence of staples at a predetermined point during staple movement in the magazine therefor. The monitoring is accomplished during any positions which the apparatus may assume by means of a light emitter and a light detector arranged on opposite sides of the magazine to sense the transmission of light through aligned openings in the magazine as an indication of a low staple supply condition in the magazine.

Abstract: A collation/finishing system is disclosed for use with a very high speed, fully automated reproduction machine having a document handling apparatus, copy sheet processor, and a finishing station. In this arrangement, a sorter bin array is arranged to receive copy sheets on one side and to collate the copy sheets into copy sets corresponding to a multiple page document. A set transport is arranged on the other side of the bin array for unloading the completed copy sets. The bin array is indexed in either direction to either receive copy sheets or to permit unloading.

Abstract: A stapler having an improved anvil to which staples are applied during a driving operation by a driver member for the apparatus. The anvil includes two pivotal ears each of which is formed with a cutting edge which cooperates with a fixed cutting edge arranged to cut the excess portions of staple legs. The length of the portions being cut is in accordance with the number of sheets being stapled, the less the number of sheets, the longer length being cut.

Abstract: Sorting apparatus for collating both simplex or side one up and duplex or side two up copies from a copying machine. The sorting apparatus includes tray assemblies arranged .[.axially.]. .Iadd.radially .Iaddend.of a rotatable member adapted to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A conveyor transports sheets toward a first or second feed zone adjacent the path of the tray assemblies. The direction of the tray assemblies and feed zone selected depend on the sorting mode of operation desired by the machine operator. The copy sets are unloaded at a gate into a tray member which is slideably reciprocated on receiving alternate sets to stagger the sets into separately identifiable stacks in the tray member.