Abstract: A document accumulator capable of tool-less adjustment to accomodate a plurality of paper sizes includes a shaft laterally oriented across a paper path through the accumulator, a guide element mounted to the shaft for contacting and guiding documents transported through the accumulator, a connector for slidably connecting the guide element to the shaft, and a compressible O-ring inserted between the shaft and the connector for imparting friction therebetween, whereby the guide element can be translated along the shaft without the use of a tool.

Abstract: The thickness of a printed product resting on a support is measured by a scanning unit which has two sensing elements which can be pressed back against the force of a spring. In a measuring zone, one sensing element is situated on the support and the other sensing element is situated on the printed product. By means of two laser sensors, the length of the distance between the one laser sensor and a measuring face of the first sensing element is measured and the length of the distance between the other laser sensor and a measuring face of the second sensing element is measured. From the difference between the lengths of these two distances, the thickness of the printed product can be determined. By a comparison of this thickness actual value with a prescribed thickness set value, it can then be established whether the product measured is complete or whether pages, parts, or supplements are missing or whether the product has too many pages, parts, or supplements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sorting post-consumed bottles exactly and efficiently and an apparatus for carrying out the method. The sorting apparatus comprises a supply section, a separating section, a detecting section comprising a first image pickup camera for detecting the size and contour of each post-consumed bottle and a second image pickup camera for high speed detection of color by a defined image pickup utilizing data from the first image pickup camera, a sorting section for sorting and discharging only post-consumed bottles already classified to sorting containers preliminarily placed in accordance with data received from the detecting section, and a control section for controlling a series of operations timely. Since the scope of the image pickup for detecting color of the post-consumed bottles is defined in accordance with the data from the detecting section, picture processing at a high speed is achieved resulting in remarkable sorting performance.

Abstract: Device for aligning sheets in a sheet-processing machine having a rotatingly driven suction plate disposed in a transport surface and being formed with suction openings collectively forming hole patterns shaped as circular-ring sectors, the suction openings communicating intermittently, at each revolution of the suction plate, with a suction-chamber arrangement situated below the suction plate, the suction-chamber arrangement having two suction-chamber openings disposed on respective diametrics of the suction plate and offset from one another by a defined diametric angle, each of the suction-chamber openings having a radial extent matching a radial extent of the hole pattern respectively associated therewith.

Abstract: A conveying belt is deflected around a stationary deflection roller and loops around the bottom of a deflection wheel. The deflection wheel is freely rotatably mounted on a lever and is prestressed in the direction towards the deflection roller by a spring element. The conveying belt, driven by a stepping motor, and the deflection wheel form a conveying gap for the products, which are arranged in an imbricated formation. In this formation each product, as seen in the feed direction, bears on the preceding product, with almost complete overlapping. The products form a stack-like supply and are conveyed to the discharge location, with the result that a product is always available there for discharge.

Abstract: A fluid transport system for moving flexible objects includes a conveyor configured to direct fluid flow against opposite sides of flexible objects. A sensor unit senses motion state of flexible objects, and a motion analysis unit is connected to the sensor unit to calculate relative or absolute movement of flexible objects based on the motion state. Overall movement, position, velocity, and orientation of flexible objects can be determined, as well as internal movement of the object attributable to flexure or edge curling. A motion control unit is connected to the motion analysis unit to modify fluid flow directed against opposite sides of flexible objects, accurately adjusting motion of flexible objects.

Abstract: A device for transporting material, in the form of discrete sheets, seriatim to a stack of discrete sheets, and subsequently seriatim away from such stack. The discrete sheet material transport device comprises a support for a stack of discrete sheets. The stack support includes a first stop for a first marginal edge of a discrete sheet, and opposed second and third stops for opposed marginal edges of a discrete sheet perpendicular to the first marginal edge of such discrete sheet. Discrete sheets are delivered seriatim to the vicinity of the stack support and are urged in a first direction into engagement with the first stop to form a stack of discrete sheets on the stack support. The discrete sheets are subsequently urged seriatim in a direction opposite the first direction to remove discrete sheets seriatim from the stack on the stack support. The second and third stops are located to accurately position the stack of discrete sheets on the stack support.

Abstract: A safe box is provided with currency containers and a plurality of separate currency chutes with time delay access for security. Manually operated apparatus is provided for aligning and releasing containers into the chutes as well as manually operated drawers for selecting and dispensing only one container from the chutes during any time delay. A door is provided in the front panel for access to the interior of the safe box and the front panel of the safe box is hinged to open the box for servicing.

Abstract: A trailing end regulating device is slidably and rotatably supported by a bottom plate of a sheet cassette so as to regulate trailing ends of sheets supported on an intermediate plate in the sheet cassette. The trailing end regulating device is supported to be orthogonal to a sheet supporting surface of the intermediate plate by a guide which is mounted on the intermediate plate. Thus, the trailing end regulating device can constantly be maintained in an orthogonal state even if the intermediate plate rotates due to a change in the amount of sheets loaded, and the trailing end position of the sheets can appropriately be regulated. It is thus possible to maintain a constant amount of engagement between the sheets and separation claws used to separated the sheets from each other.

Abstract: An image forming machine, such as a printer or copier, that includes a photoconductive drum for holding a toner image and a sheet pick/feed mechanism that uses an increasing radius feed roller to vary the speed of the paper in the pick/feed and image areas. The feed roller has a substantially circumferential perimeter defined by a radius that extends out from the central rotational axis of the feed roller. The radius of the feed roller increases in magnitude between a first point on the perimeter and a second point on the perimeter. A frictionally adherent surface on the circumferential perimeter of the feed roller engages the top sheet in a stack of sheet media and moves the top sheet through the pick freed area downstream immediately adjacent to the feed roller and into the image area further downstream immediately adjacent to the photoconductive drum. The top sheet is engaged by the frictionally adherent surface at the first point on the perimeter of the feed roller.

Abstract: An apparatus 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 stabilizer unit for material on a moving conveyer surface comprises a framework mounted over the surface with a drive pulley making driving engagement therewith. A drum is rotatably supported in the framework and carries a stabilizer surface thereon. The drive pulley is coupled to the drum to rotate the drum with its peripheral velocity substantially equal to that of the drive pulley, thus imparting the corresponding velocity to the stabilizer surface. The stabilizer surface can be a belt loosely carried on the drum, which follows a path with a first section overlaying the conveyer surface, a second section in engagement with a segment of the drum surface, and third and fourth sections extending between the drum surface and the respective points of separation of the stabilizer belt from the conveyer surface. Movement of the conveyer surface rotates the drive pulley and thereby the drum to advance the stabilizer belt around its path at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyer surface.

Abstract: A system for continuously delivering sheets which are provided in successive discrete stacks includes a stack infeed conveyor which includes a cushioned upper holddown belt synchronized to operate with a lower supporting infeed conveyor and to provide stability to stacks of relatively short sheets. A continuous lift apparatus receives successive stacks from the infeed system and utilizes a dual lift apparatus to provide the continuous delivery of stacked sheets which are individually fed from the top of the continuously ascending stack.

Abstract: An auxiliary device for transporting of sheets of paper or cardboard arranged in a tilewise stream from a feeding station of a die-cutting press to the die-cutting station of the press includes a driving roller coupled with a rotary brush making up an assembly arranged between the lower section and the upper section of the feed table. The assembly has a pressure arrangement designed to apply the assembly on the upper surface of the stream of sheets. The drive of the rotary brush is obtained from the rotation of the driving roller by means of a toric ring mounted on a circumference of a cylindrical head of an axle for the rotary brush being received on a cylindrical surface formed in a recess of the driving roller. The amount of torque being transferred is obtained by adjusting the position of the rotary brush relative to the driving roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism has a pick up roller which picks up one sheet from a pile on a tray and sends It to contact between a separation roller and a retardation roller. A shaft which positively rotates in a sheet feeding direction is provided with a first gear and the separation roller via an arm pivotable about the shaft and a spring clutch. The arm carries a second gear which receives rotary power from the first gear, a third gear engaged with the second gear and the pick up roller connected with the third gear. The arm is biased upwardly and a negative torque is applied to the second or third gear. Below the separation roller, provided is the retardation roller which is mounted on another shaft via a torque limiter and pressed against the separation roller. The another shaft rotates in a direction opposite the sheet feeding direction. Up and down movement of the pick up roller is mechanically controlled.

Abstract: Device for correctly-registered feeding of sheets supplied thereto in a sheet stream in a sheet transport direction, to front lays of a sheet-processing machine having a lateral pulling device, and a sheet-advancing device disposed within a smallest format width to be processed. The feeding devices includes at least one permanently driven drive roller disposed in the vicinity of the front lays, and at least one contact pressure device cooperatively engageable with the at least one drive roller. The drive roller has a rotational axis directed crosswise to the sheet transport direction, and at least part of the drive roller is disposed laterally of the sheet advancing device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for separating and feeding workpieces of limp material one at a time and one another from the bottom of a stack of the workpieces wherein the stack is supported at the bottom with a gap in the support for exposing a portion of the bottom surface of the bottom workpiece, the support being movable to move the gap away from and back to a forward position. The portion of the bottom workpiece exposed in the gap in the forward position is fed rearward to form a loop in the bottom workpiece, the loop being gripped and pulled down which the support is moved to move the gap away from its forward position, the support then acting to peel the bottom workpiece away from the next workpiece above, followed by the release of the grip on the loop to release the bottom workpiece for being carried away.

Abstract: A feeder station for apparatus for collating printed sheets includes a mechanism for imparting motion to individual sheets prior to the time the sheets are engaged by a pusher mechanism which propels the stack of collated sheets being formed along a conveyor. The mechanism for imparting motion to the individual sheets in the feeder station contacts the sheets within a region which is directly aligned with the path the engaged portion of the sheet travels in moving from a feed magazine to the feeder station under the influence of a gripper device, the sheet thus being transferred directly from the gripper device into contact with the motion imparting mechanism.

Abstract: A method for jogging bunches of standard-size documents of prescribed height mixed in with anomalous-size documents of lesser height, these standard-size documents to be shaken and tilted to register against a first-wall of a receptacle this method also involving: relieving the first wall to form a cutout to pass only the anomalous-size documents; providing a second-wall in the receptacle forward of the first-wall; and shaking the documents so as to register the forward edges of the anomalous-size documents against the second-wall after passing through the cutout.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for determining a relative vertical position of a media sheet within a supply tray by sensing a picked sheet traveling through a media path, and therefrom determining time and/or distance traveled by the picked sheet. The vertical position of the media sheet within the supply tray is translated into a relative media level in the supply tray.