Abstract: The invention proposes a handling apparatus for moving sheet-like articles, in particular an inserter for pushing inserts into envelopes, in which apparatus a link hand, which forms part of a rectilinear-guidance mechanism formed from three links, has spring-loaded fingers which are articulated at the free end of the link hand and slide over a base plate during the operating stroke, while, during a return stroke, the fingers are raised off together from the base plate by means of a control guide arrangement. Said apparatus operates at high cycle speeds without disruption and requires the arrangement as a whole to be of just a small overall height.

Abstract: In a drive system for a mail processing machine a comparatively simple and clear design of the driving tracks and of the bearings for the respective shafts is obtained by feeding drive energy from a common drive motor to a bevel gear drive and a step gear drive. Thereby, the output shafts of the bevel gear drive and the step gear drive have identical sense of rotation because of the sense of rotation reversal within the respective gear drive. The bevel gear drive, at its output, provides a continuous rotation, and the step gear drive provides an intermittent rotation. From the output shafts of the bevel gear drive and of the step gear drive, respectively, driving connections can be led to the driving shafts for a continuously moved conveyor chain for documents and to an intermittently moved conveyor chain for documents, respectively.

Abstract: A device for measuring the thickness of objects to be handled in mail processing machines, particularly collating machines, inserters and the like, has a relatively-stationary back-up part; a gripper jaw; a rotating axis for mounting the gripper jaw pivotably in relation to the back-up part, whereby an object to be handled is engagable between the gripper jaw and the back-up part; an actuator system operatively connected between the back-up part and the gripper jaw for generating pivotal movement of the gripper jaw between an engagement position and an open position in relation to the back-up part; a movement-transmission part fastened to the rotating axis; and, a measuring device provided operatively between the movement-transmission part and the back-up part, the measuring device providing position-detector signals corresponding to predetermined pivotal positions of the gripper jaw in relation to the back-up part.

Abstract: Sheets or sets of sheets are turned very rapidly and reliably, especially after the cutting of endless stationery, conveyed further in a different transport direction and separated in that the leading edge of each sheet is taken to a diagonal bending slot (33) via which a corner of each sheet first reaches an output slot (49).

Abstract: An insertion station for a mail-handling machine includes a driving lever 25 and a means for swivelling the driving lever 25 back-and-forth according to an operating cycle. Axle members 18, 19 have a cam 20 mounted therebetween and a spring 26 extends between the driving lever 25 and the cam. A base plate 1 includes grooves 2, 3, 4 and finger-roller guides 28 have front and rear ends mounted above the base plate. Insertion ramps 35, 36, 37 are located below the rear ends of the finger-roller guides; and, inserting arm means 8, 9, 10 and 14, 15, 16 have fingers 5, 6, 7 and finger rollers 27, 38, 39 attached thereto.

Abstract: The direction of conveyance of paper sheet is changed through an angle of 90.degree. between processing and/or handling stations. Troublefree operation is ensured and an adjustment in adaptation to different paper sizes is permitted by the provision of a guide ruler 18 which is provided with pressure-applying balls 8 which cooperate with inclined driven conveyor rollers 15. The guide ruler 18 is fixed to a receiving deck 16 and comprises a continuous guiding flange 21 which depends below the level of the apices of the rollers 15. The position of the discharge end of a feeding conveyor 14 is adjustable toward and away from the guide ruler 18 .

Abstract: Disclosed is an accumulator for paper sheets which are conveyed by conveyor belts to a receiving area comprised of parallel support members having spaces therebetween. The conveyor belts are mounted on rollers, at least one set of which is mounted on a first track-mounted movable carriage, and at least one other set of which is mounted on a second track-mounted movable carriage. The two carriages are linked so that motion of said first carriage to adjust the length of the receiving areas causes motion of said second carriage in a direction opposite to the motion of said first carriage to thereby maintain the conveyor belts under constant tension. The support members may be constituted of either plastic or metallic strips or rods. At least one set of rollers also has bristle means to aid in the conveyance of the paper sheets.