Abstract: A document drive apparatus has an upstream end, a downstream end, and a document feeding line defined between the ends. The apparatus directs a document around a corner. The apparatus includes a drive drum having a central axis and rotatably mounted on a base member for rotation about its central axis. An endless drive belt is disposed on a pivot support and first and second arm members having one end thereof connected to the pivot support. The belt and the drum cooperate to define at least a portion of the feeding line defined between the upstream and downstream ends.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in feeding sheet material assemblages includes rollers which define a nip through which the sheet material assemblages are moved. Nip adjustment mechanisms are operable to adjust the width and configuration of the nip. When sheet material assemblages which are relatively thick at one end portion are to be fed through the nip, the nip adjustment mechanisms are operated so that the thick portion of the sheet material assemblage is fed through a wide portion of the nip. A gate assembly is provided to direct the sheet material assemblages toward either a reject tray or a trimmer mechanism. The size of the nip can be changed without varying the setting of the gate assembly. Similarly, the setting of the gate assembly can be changed without varying the size of the nip. When the size of the nip is varied, the reject tray is moved with rollers which define one side of the nip.

Abstract: An automatic sheet loader for automatically transferring sheets to a cardboard packer. The sheet loader includes at least a pair of chains disposed between upper sprockets and lower sprockets so that the pair of chains face each other to form a sheet transfer path therebetween, brackets mounted on the chains at predetermined intervals and projecting toward the sheet transfer path for supporting a group of sheets from both sides thereof, and a drive motor for driving the chains so as to move the brackets along the sheet transfer path for transferring the group of sheets. When the dimension of each packaging container, the number of packaging containers in each group, or the manner of packaging is changed, a different type of sheet is set. Since each group of sheets is moved and transferred from the upper side to the lower side by the chains, it is easy to distinguish the new group of sheets from the previous group of sheets during the exchange operation.

Abstract: Sheet delivery for a sheet-processing machine includes a conveyor system for transporting sheets successively and for releasing the sheets above a sheet pile having a horizontal surface, and a plurality of ventilators or air blowers having a controllable output, the ventilators being disposed in an array above the horizontal surface of the sheet pile for directing blown air from above the sheet pile towards respective oncoming sheets successively transported by the conveyor system and released thereby above the sheet pile, the ventilators being high-speed ventilators constructed for small air volumes and blowing, at a high flow rate, a concentrated air jet with laminar flow substantially vertically from above against the respective oncoming sheets.

Abstract: A method of selecting low-pressure mercury discharge lamps comprising a luminescent layer, the luminescent layer being excited and the low-pressure mercury discharge lamps being selected in dependence on the emission spectrum of the visible light emitted by the luminescent layer. The luminescent layer is excited by a light source arranged outside the low-pressure mercury discharge lamp and which generates ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength above 300 nm. This makes it possible to use the presence of a blue-luminescent substance in the luminescent layer as a selection criterion for both leaky and intact low-pressure mercury discharge lamps.

Abstract: A system for conveying flat products, such as folded newspapers. The products are received in imbricated formation on a first conveyor and passed to an intermediate or transfer conveyor, the receiving and of which is at a lower level than the discharge end of the first conveyor. The transfer conveyor accelerates the products to a conveyor which has gripping members that receive the leading edges of the products and which moves at a slower speed than the transfer conveyor. The acceleration of the products on the transfer conveyor assures that the leading edges are received within the gripping members.

Abstract: Method for guiding a sheet in vicinity of a sheet slow-down device of a sheet-processing machine. The sheet is gripped at a leading edge thereof with of a gripper system and the sheet is transported in a sheet-transport direction along a sheet travel path. The sheet has a defined region with which the sheet comes into contact with a sheet slow-down device for subsequently forming a sheet pile, and directing the sheet, in the vicinity of the sheet slow-down device, into a range of influence of a flotation guide produced along a guiding surface member by an air flow. The flotation guide, without taking into account the influence of the sheet slow-down device, is effective for bringing the sheet to a normal flotation level located above the guiding surface member. The sheet is supplied to the sheet slow-down device at a height level above the normal flotation level in order to form sheet-stabilizing vacuum forces resulting from the air flow. There is also disclosed a device for performing the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the rapid switchover between different height modules in an automatic module testing and handling machine. The multi-chip module (MCM) handling apparatus comprises a bottom rail and a guide rail which has an upwardly extending wall and an outwardly extending flange which form a channel. This channel provides a passageway through which a MCM of a first thickness can pass laterally such that the first MCM is in contact with the top surface which positions contact nodes provided on the first MCM at a predetermined vertical position with respect to the top surface. This handling apparatus further comprises a removable justifying plate (RJP) which is removably attached within the first channel, thereby forming a second channel. This second channel provides a passage way through which a MCM of a second thickness, which is less than the first thickness of the first MCM, can pass laterally.

Abstract: A method for stacking sheets has a conveyor having a downstream end spaced upstream in a horizontal transport direction from a stacking station for delivering the sheets continuously one after the other at a predetermined upper level in the direction to the station and a main platform vertically displaceable in the stacking station between an upper position below the upper level and a lower position. An auxiliary platform below the upper level is formed by a plurality of parallel rods horizontally displaceable in the direction between an extended position in the station above the main platform and a retracted position upstream of the main platform.

Abstract: A rotating separator disk is movable between sheet material articles in a stack of sheet material articles. A variable speed drive which is connected with the separator disk and rotates the separator disk. The variable speed drive is operable to vary the speed of rotation of the separator disk between a high speed and a low speed during each revolution of the separator disk. First and second restrictor members engage a sheet material article in the stack of sheet material articles. A suction applicator head is operable to disengage one sheet material article from the first restrictor member. A leading edge of the rotating separator disk is then moved between the one sheet material article and an adjacent sheet material article. As this occurs, the speed of rotation of the separator disk is increased and the one sheet material article is disengaged from the second restrictor member by the separator disk.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism includes first, second, and third feed rollers, first and second servo motors, a reverse roller, a torque limiter, a pick-up roller, and a plurality of photoelectric sensors. The first, second, and third feed rollers are respectively mounted on a feed path of sheets including mail pieces, on an upstream side of the first feed roller in the feed direction, and on the upstream side of the second feed roller in the feed direction, and are respectively rotated by the one-way clutches in only a feed direction. The first and second servo motors respectively drive the first and second feed rollers, and the second feed roller independently. The reverse roller is pressed against by the first feed roller through the feed path, and is driven to rotate in a counter feed direction. The torque limiter constantly applies a predetermined driving torque to the reverse roller in the counter feed direction.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a retaining section for retaining the film holder in a suspended state and having a pair of retainer units disposed adjacent the feeding section and arranged one after another in a direction of transporting the film holder for retaining a rear end of the film holder respecting its transporting direction, and a retaining section driver unit for selectively driving the pair of retainer units to a retaining position or to a non-retaining position. When the retaining section is about to receive the film holder from the feeding section, the retaining section driver unit drives only one of the retainer units to the non-retaining position. Whereas, when the retaining section has received the film holder, the retaining section driver unit switches over the one retainer unit from the non-retaining position to the retaining position and also switches over the other retainer unit from the retaining position to the non-retaining position.

Abstract: In a sheet separating apparatus, for example an automated teller machine (ATM) in which banknotes are removed one by one from a stack (12) of banknotes, includes a vacuum pump (32), and suction unit (10A,B,C,D) connectable alternately between a vacuum enable port (30) of the vacuum pump (32) when a note is picked from the stack (12), and a vacuum release port (42) of the pump (32), when the note is released from the suction unit. Pre-filtered air from the vacuum pump (32) is therefore partially recycled, and dust is substantially excluded from the system.

Abstract: A copying machine that is capable of copying a large-size document original on a transfer sheet is provided in which the transfer sheet is prevented from being skewed from the desired transport path. In one embodiment, this bypass transportation path for a cut-sheet extends to a photoreceptor drum and is provided with a resist roller and a downstream transportation roller. A cut-sheet inserted from a manual sheet feeding section is stopped with its leading edge abutting against the resist roller, so that the leading edge of the cut-sheet is aligned with a line perpendicular to a transportation direction of the sheet. The cut-sheet is then transported by the resist roller and the transportation roller. At this time, the circumferential speed of the resist roller is slower by a predetermined degree than the circumferential speed of the transportation roller.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply provided in a laterally deviated position with respect to the sheet supplying direction for supplying sheets supported by the sheet support and a stacking reference guide for impinging on a lateral end of the sheets supported by the sheet support to thereby define the position of the sheets. The guide defining the position of the sheets is supported by the sheet support in such a manner that the sheets are supported in a state inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet supplying direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding method for an image forming apparatus having a sensing device for sensing the feeding state of paper fed from a manual paper feeding device and an automatic paper feeding device includes the steps of: picking up and feeding paper from the automatic paper feeding device in response to a printing command during an automatic paper feeding mode; determining whether or not a predetermined time period has elapsed after picking up the paper; determining whether the sensing device senses a paper input before the predetermined time period has elapsed; and providing output of an error message indicating a paper feeding error state when the sensing device senses the paper before the predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: Device for avoiding registration errors at an oscillating pregripper of a sheet-processing machine includes a gripper bar deflectable in synchronism with the machine so that a respective sheet being processed therein undergoes stretching in a trailing region of the sheet. The gripper bar, in a middle region thereof, is guided and driven in a flexurally bending-resistant manner. A feeder cylinder carries thrust pads at both sides thereof for deflecting the gripper bar at the ends thereof in a sheet travel direction before a respective transfer of a sheet at the feeder cylinder, and for maintaining the deflection until sheet transfer has been completed.

Abstract: A magnetic separator for separating magnetically permeable, stacked sheets has permanent magnets mounted on a movable support for movements toward and away from the stack of sheets. The magnets normally occupy a position closely adjacent the stack of sheets but are movable away from such position in response to inflation of inflatable and deflatable air bag activators. Deflation of the air bag actuators enables biasing springs to return the magnets to the normal position. The rate of inflation and deflation of the actuators is controllable so as to regulate the rate of movement of the magnets.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus including a paper supplier for supplying papers one by one. A checker reads the papers supplied by the paper supplier to check at least whether the papers are complete or dirty papers. A transferrer transfers the papers checked by the checker. A collector collects papers checked as complete papers by the checker from among the papers transferred by the transferrer. A brancher branches papers checked as dirty papers by the checker from among the papers transferred by the transferrer. A discarder discards dirty papers branched by the brancher. A detector detects an abnormality of the transferrer and the discarder. A controller controls the brancher before the checker determines the checking result such that dirty papers are collected in the collector when an abnormality is detected in at least either the transferrer or the discarder by the detector.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving multiple first documents cut from a single sheet that are being fed side by side in a first direction and individually guiding and controlling the first documents through a right angle turn includes a plurality of right angle turn over modules. Each of such modules includes a lower plate having input structure at one end for receiving the first documents conveyed thereto in a first direction and an upper plate mounted a fixed distance above the lower plate. The upper plate includes a turn over section adjacent to a downstream end of the input structure and angled at 45.degree. to the first direction. The upper plate also includes a plurality of output rollers rotatably mounted in the top of the upper plate and oriented for moving the first documents at a direction orthogonal to the first direction.