Abstract: An improved paper separator roller is described where, instead of a symmetrical, cylindrical paper-feed roller, an asymmetrical feed roller (or stripper roller) is used to separate a bottommost sheet from a stack of sheets. Eccentric portions of the feed roller are located at both ends of the roller, and the middle portion of the roller is cylindrical. In one embodiment, the eccentric end portions are formed by cutting ends of a cylindrical roller and then placing a shim between the center shaft and each end portion. Paper-feed springs oppose the eccentric portions of the feed roller, while a centrally located separator pad opposes the cylindrical middle portion of the feed roller. The extended radius at the apogee of the eccentric portions allows the eccentric portions to effectively reach out and grab the bottommost sheet even if the stack of sheets were only initially lightly contacting the roller.

Abstract: A turning device for transport apparatus which receives product such as paper folders, stops the product and rotates the product 90 degrees with the product then transported in the same direction by the apparatus for further operations as required.

Abstract: An improved separator pad and spring assembly for a paper separator system is described. With this invention, securing the separator pad to the spring assembly and securing the spring assembly to a frame do not affect the characteristics of the separator pad since the separator pad is secured without being distorted by any clamping pressure. The resilient separator pad is secured to a separator spring and to a frame using shoulder screws, or equivalent fasteners, where the shoulder portions of the screws tightly secure the spring to the frame but where the heads of the screws are prevented from tightly clamping down on the resilient separator pad. This ensures that no distortion of the separator pad occurs. A feed roller (or stripper roller) is used to separate a bottommost sheet from a stack of sheets. Paper-feed springs oppose the end portions of the feed roller, while the centrally located separator pad opposes the middle portion of the feed roller.

Abstract: In an operation for transporting a sheet by a first roller to a second roller pair downstream the first roller, and further transporting the sheet by the second roller pair, a transport speed of the sheet transported by the first roller is controlled to suppress disadvantages such as jamming and deformation into a Z-form, which may be caused by reduction of a transporting performance due to wear of the rollers and adhesion of paper powder to the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising first and second frames shiftable relative to each other, a sheet receiving portion provided on the first frame for receiving a sheet, and a rotary member provided on the second frame for cooperating with the sheet receiving portion to thereby pinch and supply the sheet when a relative position between the first and second frames is in a first configuration and separated from the sheet receiving portion when the relative position between the first and second frames is in a second configuration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating a mixture of finely divided minerals into constituents thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a procedure for effecting such separation by a novel selective flocculation technique wherein a dispersed aqueous pulp containing the mixture of minerals is preconditioned for selective flocculation with an anionic polymer by addition of both a fatty acid such as oleic acid and source of polyvalent cation such as calcium chloride. The fatty acid and cation of the salt selectively coat the component of the mixture that is subsequently flocculated with the anionic polymer. A polyacrylate salt dispersant is preferably used in the process. The invention is especially adapted to the separation of colored titaniferous impurities from kaolin clay.

Abstract: A disc screen for classifying material by size. The disc screen comprises a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another, a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation; and a second stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. The first stage discs are positioned to allow passage of only small fraction material and the second stage discs are positioned to allow passage of intermediate fraction material thereby classifying the material into a small fraction, an intermediate fraction and a large fraction.

Abstract: The interface according to the invention for printed products conveyed in imbricated formation is used between an imbricated stream-delivering apparatus and an imbricated stream-receiving apparatus. The object of the interface is to change the stream parameters of the input stream (S.sub.i) in such a way that an output stream (S.sub.o) which meets the requirements of the downstream imbricated stream-receiving apparatus is produced from it. The interface has an input (I) for an input stream (S.sub.i) and an output (O) for an output stream (S.sub.o) and, between input and output, a serial arrangement of functional elements (UE, PE, RE). The interface has at least one deflecting element (UE) and at least one other functional element (PE, RE) and the serial arrangement is such that a deflecting element (UE) is always interposed between two other functional elements (PE, RE).

Abstract: In a collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim thereto from a singulating feeder, the collating machine comprising a deck including a stacking area, a plurality of upper, endless, elastic belts, each of the belts moving around a pair of upstream and downstream pulleys suspended above the deck, a plurality of ramp guide blocks adjustably secured to the deck between the pairs of pulleys, and structure for stopping each of the sheets at a downstream end of the stacking area, the stacking area being a section of the deck between the stopping structure and the ramp guide blocks, an improvement comprises structure for locking the upstream pulleys on an idler pulley shaft, and structure for removably mounting the idler shaft to opposite sides of the collating machine whereby the idler shaft is lifted from the mounting structure to provide access to the collation in the stacking area.

Abstract: A hand scanner support and paper guide apparatus is provided for mechanically scanning a thin sheet using two scanners originally designed to be hand-held. The apparatus includes a base assembly, a top assembly, and a hinge assembly connecting the base assembly and the top assembly together. The base assembly includes a base housing which includes a planar upper wall which serves as a flat surface along which the thin sheet is moved. A base scanner unit is supported by the base assembly a spaced distance below the planar upper wall as the thin sheet is moved past the base scanner unit. A guide assembly is connected to the base housing for guiding the thin sheet in a straight path as the thin sheet is moved along the planar upper wall. A drive assembly, a portion of which is housed within the base housing, is provided for moving the thin sheet past the base scanner unit.

Abstract: A reciprocating table has a cam follower in the nature of an elongate slot extending transversely of the reciprocating path of the table. This slot receives a cam which is eccentrically mounted on a cam support wheel. The angular position of the cam support wheel is monitored by a rotary encoder and the cam wheel is driven by a bi-directional motor under microprocessor control. The microprocessor controls the motion of the cam such that an angular quadrant centred about the position of the cam defining the most extended position of the table is not used since the table is relatively insensitive to the motion of the cam within this quadrant. In contrast, the opposite quadrant extending about the most retracted position of the table is utilized so that the cam may be moved quickly to retract the table and yet the table is naturally decelerated.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder with optimized performance for a large variation in sheet sizes is obtained by adjusting the vacuum port area of a vacuum chamber simply by the action of adjusting the paper guides in the paper tray for different sheet sizes.

Abstract: With a banknote processing apparatus, banknotes stored in a storing section are fed in a feeding direction one by one by take-in rollers. First and second sensors for detecting passage of the banknote are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets and spaced from each other. A difference between a first passing timing at which a leading edge of the banknote is detected by the first sensor and a second passing timing at which the leading edge of the banknote is detected by the second sensor is detected by a control section. A second difference between a passing timing at which a trailing edge of the banknote is detected by the first sensor and a passing timing at which the trailing edge of the banknote is detected by the second sensor is detected by the control section. If the first and second deference are difference from each other, it is determined by the control section that a bent or torn portion exists in the banknote.

Abstract: A paper feeder is arranged so that a hand-carry type portable printer per se is mounted thereon, and a magnetic repulsion and/or a mechanical engagement are utilized to properly orientate and position the printer with respect to the base frame, when mounting the printer on the base frame.

Abstract: A replacement roller cartridge for a cut sheet retard feeder. The cartridge assembly includes a feed roll , a nudger roll, and a retard roll aligned so that the axis of rotation are substantially in the same plane within a frame. The frame is inserted into the feed head and pivoted into an active position. Upon insertion into the feed head, the retard roll is captured by a separate retard bracket so that when the feed head is pivoted into the active position the retard roll is withdrawn from the frame and forms a feed nip with the feed roll. A gear train is provided on both sides of the cartridge to drive the feed roll and the nudger roll. The cartridge assembly provides a low cost, easily replaceable unit that eliminates the need for a service technician to replace worn feed rolls. The design is also adaptable for use in various types of sheet and document feeders and can be used throughout a printing machine.

Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sort bin horizontally against the bias.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slowing down signatures sent to a quarter fold of a folder for a printing machine are disclosed. Signatures are transported between a first set of fast belts including upper belts and lower belts. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by an assembly of upper and lower partial pulleys mounted to a frame which changes the speed of the signatures to a slow speed. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by a second set of slow belts including upper belts and lower belts.

Abstract: In a sheet feed device for image forming equipment, a sheet feed section and a register section are each provided an exclusive drive arrangement. The sheet feed section starts feeding a sheet toward the register section in response to a feed start signal generated in an image forming section. The time for causing the sheet feed section to stop feeding a sheet or the time for causing the register section to start driving the sheet is delayed in matching relation to a print speed. As a result, the sheet feed section provides a sheet with a sufficient slack while the register section brings the sheet into accurate register with an image and can change the position of an image on the sheet in the top-and-bottom direction.

Abstract: A device for aligning box blanks in a box blank processing machine including a frame supporting a lengthwise guiding rail, an upper carrier and lower carrier which are directly interconnected by brackets and have one end pivotably mounted to the frame adjacent an exit end of the device so that the entrance end of the carriers can be spaced from the rail to provide a lateral movement of a blank against the rail. The position of the entrance end of the carriers is adjustable relative to the guide rail. The upper carrier preferably is formed of a series of rollers and the lower carrier has a series of rollers supporting a belt which is driven by a drive pulley.