Abstract: A compact conveyor which passes sheets from a printer to a folder saves valuable floor space while providing the capability of accommodating a short intercopy gap. Sensing means on the conveyor detects the exit of each sheet from the printer and signals a temporary increase in the speed of the folder to a fast-fold operation. As the next sheet travels behind the faster moving first sheet, the intercopy gap between the sheets increases before the next sheet arrives at the folder. The arrival occurs after the first sheet has been completely folded, since the increased gap has provided sufficient time delay. When the first sheet is released from the folder, the folder speed returns to the original slower speed which is equalized with the printer. By adjusting the rate of the fast-fold mode, the gap between the sheets arriving at the folder can be regulated.

Abstract: A folder suitable for automatically folding successive sheets of paper, such as engineering drawings, by conveying them into a folder pocket to various distances depending upon where the fold is to be formed. To arrest the sheet at the proper position in the pocket, a photosensor senses when the leading edge of the sheet has reached a reference position in the pocket and, when the sheet has advanced further to the desired position, a solenoid-operated clamp is actuated to move transversely into the pocket and clamp the sheet momentarily in the desired position while the fold is being made. The amount by which the sheet advances beyond the reference position is controlled by producing an electrical pulse each time the sheet conveyor moves a predetermined amount, and counting these pulses to cause the clamp to be actuated when a count corresponding to the desired fold position has been accumulated.

Abstract: The supply of water to a diazo printer is varied in relation to the speed of operation of the printer by deriving a train of pulses recurrent at a repetition rate proportional to printer speed, applying the pulses to an adjustable digital divider which divides down the repetition rate by an adjustable divisor D, and applying the divided-down pulse train to a water pump to control the rate of water supply. Switching means are provided in the divider to enable adjustment of the valve of the divisor D. This permits adjustment of the absolute rate of water delivery for any given motor speed, after which the rate will automatically change in proportion to printer speed.

Abstract: The speed of a diazo printer is sensed and the rate of ammonia delivery to the developer chamber is automatically boosted at higher printer speeds. Preferably, a sensor positioned adjacent a rotary paper-drive member produces electrical pulses at a rate proportioned to the speed with which the copy paper passes through the developer chamber, and an electronic circuit board contains circuitry which senses when the rate of recurrence of these pulses rises into a predetermined range; when this occurs, the circuitry causes a solenoid valve to deliver an ammonia boost directly to a perforated tube located within the perforated tube through which the normal ammonia supply takes place at lower speeds.

Abstract: The disclosure involves systems for processing foldable sheets, especially prints made from reproducibles of different characteristics (for example, of different sizes, shapes, and other categories), said systems comprising methods or techniques, as well as apparatus; and in a typical sheet-processing system there is a coordination of printing, conveying, alining, sensing, marking, folding, sorting and stacking of flexible sheets such as blueprints or the like -- mostly or entirely in an automatic manner.

Abstract: A cut-sheet feeder, for delivering various sizes of sensitized paper sheets to the feed table of a printing machine, has nested adjustable magazines for storing quantities of sheets of several predetermined sizes, and the magazines extend at an angle beneath the table and have curved discharge throats for projecting sheets, one at a time, above and onto the table; said throats serving also as light-shields or hoods. Layers of frictional material are positioned to hinder the discharge of sheets from the magazines, excepting for the foremost sheet of each stack, which is normally in contact with a feed roller, urged against it by a spring, and the feed rollers are individually driven, each by a separate motor, and coordinated by an electrical control system; the feed-roll drive including an over-running clutch so that the operator can pull a sheet out, if desired, beyond the point to which it may be fed by the feed-roll when actuated by the timer-controlled motor.