Abstract: Automatic printing apparatus for printing an image on a sheet including sheet handling apparatus including plural sheet supply means each including a sheet stack support platform, a sheet feeder to feed a sheet from a stack, a sheet transport to transport a sheet from a stack to a first common sheet transport path; a controller to control the operation of the apparatus; at least one sensor to sense the passage of the lead edge of a sheet and to send a signal to the controller when that occurs, at least two of the plural sheet supplies being capable of supplying sheets of the same size, the controller being able to determine the size of the sheet in each sheet supply, the controller responding to the lack of a signal from the at least one sensor within a predetermined time by actuating another sheet supply that has the same size sheet as in the sheet supply from which a sheet was fed but did not reach the sensor within the predetermined time.

Abstract: A direction of movement of substantially fiat elements, such as sheets or business forms, is changed about 90.degree., without rotation of the forms. Nip rolls receive the forms driven in a first direction and accelerate the forms to make them airborne until they hit an adjustable abutment on the opposite side of an endless belt conveyor from the nip rolls. The endless belt conveyor conveys the forms in a second horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The forms may be shingled when moved both in the first and second directions, or can be deshingled by controlling the aspect ratio of the forms, the ratio of speeds of the elements, and the degree of shingling.

Abstract: A flat belt transport for conveying flat item seriatim. The transport includes: an upstream pulley and a downstream pulley; a flat belt mounted on the upstream and downstream pulleys; a nested timing belt mounted on the central sections of the upstream and downstream pulleys, wherein for each pulley the diameter of the central section is smaller than the diameter of the outer sections; and a device for transmitting drive to the central section of the upstream pulley, whereby drive is transmitted from the timing belt to the downstream pulley and to the flat belt.

Abstract: A sheet placer for use in conjunction with a packaging machine to minimize space along the machine for moving sheets from a supply in a magazine to receptacles moved by the machine. The placer has vertically oriented magazines and suction cup assemblies which move on a vertical path of travel between sheet pick up positions and sheet releasing positions. The assemblies are carried by a block mounted on a vertical track and operated by an air motor. A cam and follower mechanism moves a slide horizontally to cause a rack and pinion arrangement to reverse by the orientation of the vacuum cup assemblies during each up or down movement of the assemblies by the air motor.

Abstract: A paper tray for a photocopier comprises a container (1) which can travel between open (E) and closed (L) positions. It moves along guides (22, 24). A drive mechanism (32) move the container from the closed to the open position by exerting a constant force on the container. The container is mounted on a carriage (20). This is supported by a pair of transport rollers (28) which roll along the guides. The rollers (28) are firmly connected together for rotation by a shaft (30).A locking mechanism is provided for the container. A lever (54) is rotatable on the photocopier to lock the container in the closed position. The lever is coupled to a slide (60) having a cam groove (65) therein. This is arranged to move a locking element (55) which engages the lever (54) so as to release the lever (54) as the container is pushed further into the photocopier in the closed position.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for printers, to build up a stack (20/1, 20/2) of individual sheets (13), includes two transport systems, designed in the form of roller cages (1/1, 1/2), for individual sheets, which systems are arranged axially parallel next to each other. Each of the roller cages (1/1, 1/2) has on its periphery roller-shaped transport elements (3) which extend in the axial direction of the roller cages (1/1, 1/2) and are spaced apart by gaps. They individually surround separate partial depositing surfaces (7/1, 7/2) of a common, inner depositing surface which crosses through both roller cages (1/1, 1/2) and is for receiving the individual sheets (10) to be stacked. By moving the roller cages (1/1, 1/2) in opposite directions, the roller cages centrally take up the individual sheets (10) to be stacked and transport them into a depositing position arranged above or below the roller cages (1/1, 1/2).

Abstract: A machine for aligning lumber received from a previous processing station into an orientation suited for a subsequent processing station. The machine has an infeed conveyor for receiving lumber from a previous processing station. Large rotating drums are positioned in the infeed conveyor adjacent to carriers of the infeed conveyor with a portion of the drum periphery extending above the infeed conveyor. An angled conveyor having multiple carriers, such as belts, is mounted strategic to the infeed conveyor and drums with the second conveyor extending upwardly at an angle to the infeed conveyor and drums. The drums are rotated such that the peripheral velocity of the drums is greater than the carriers of the infeed and angled conveyor. The drums elevate (lift) and accelerate the lumber from the infeed conveyor onto the angled conveyor.

Abstract: A method for separating articles, such as paper or plastics sheets or envelopes, from a stack (9), and apparatus for carrying out this method is disclosed. A feed roller (6) periodically feeds an outer article to a conveyor roller (2) opposite to which a separation surface (3) is disposed. The pressure force of the feed roller (6) on the stack (9) is reduced when an article supplied is being carried off by the conveyor roller (2). The object of the invention is to provide such a method which can be carried out reliably with a simple construction. According to the invention, each time an article (8) is carried off by the conveyor roller (2), the feed roller (6) is carried along by said article (8) as long as the feed roller (6) bears on that article (8). The force with which the feed roller (6) bears on the stack (9) is then enhanced by the action of frictional force which is exerted by the feed roller (6) on an article (8) to be carried off.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating aluminum-based materials from non-aluminum materials is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor which leads into a chute. Mixed materials which may be pre-shredded travel along the conveyor and into the chute. An adjustable air header assembly is provided at the end of the conveyor within the chute which directs an air stream generally upwardly and at an angle towards the end of the conveyor and the pieces of material thereon. A predetermined air velocity and air flow is selected such that the lighter aluminum materials are lifted and blown, or propelled, a fixed distance as they emerge from the end of the conveyor and the heavier non-aluminum materials fall short of that distance. Suitable collection bins are provided at the appropriate location. The apparatus and associated method used are particularly suited to separating used food and beverage can stock before it enters a recycling station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus with a sheet support for supporting a sheet and shiftable between a supply position and a waiting position, a supply roller for feeding out the sheet from the sheet support means at the supply position, a biasing device for biasing the sheet support means from the waiting position toward the supply position, a shifting device for shifting the sheet supporting means from the supply position to the waiting position in adherence with a biasing force of the biasing device means, and a regulating apparatus for regulating the shifting of the sheet support means with a force weaker than the biasing device force of the biasing device, when the sheet support means shifted to the waiting position by the shifting device is shifted from the waiting position to the supply position by the biasing device.

Abstract: A sheet delivery in a printing machine comprises a vacuum system for applying suction air and a sheet brake. The sheet brake is in the form of a brake roller which includes a carrier shaft having a longitudinal axis extending transversely to a sheet delivery direction. The carrier shaft includes a carrier pipe which communicates with the vacuum system. The carrier shaft has a control slit formed therein for the suction air. The control slit extends axially across the carrier pipe, corresponding approximately to a sheet width. A suction body pipe is coaxially supported on and surrounds the carrier pipe. The suction body pipe has a plurality of perforations formed therein and it is rotatably mouted on the suction body pipe. The suction body pipe is rotatably driven at a circumferential speed which is slower than a sheet delivery speed. Suction bodies are supported on the suction body pipe and they may be axially shifted thereon.

Abstract: The apparatus for transferring individual articles (M) in sheet form and placing them in stacks (P1, P2) of pre-determined numbers includes a conveyor (17, 23) which picks up the articles from a delivery system (11) by gripping them along their edges. Along said conveyor at least two reciprocating expellers (27, 29) disposed in series remove said articles from the conveyor and lay them down onto a stacker device (31, 35; 33, 37). Each expeller (27, 29) operates with continuous, reciprocating motion at all times. The expeller (27) which is closest to the delivery system (11) may selectively be moved, in the direction of its reciprocating motion, so as to take a position (27X, 27Y) in the trajectory of the manufactured articles fed by said conveyor means, and, alternately, a position (27X', 27Y'), in which it is not in the article-feeding trajectory.

Abstract: A device for feeding blanks to a user machine, whereby the end blank of a stack of blanks housed inside a feedbox is detached from the adjacent blanks in the stack by a separating roller, which feeds the blank, transversely in relation to the axis of the stack, to a withdrawal station where it is engaged by the periphery of a rotary suction member for withdrawing and feeding the blank to a user station.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press includes a holding member, a delivery chain, at least two sheet stacking units, an engaging member, and a switching unit. The switching unit selectively switches a sheet release position where the engaging member abuts against the holding member and a retreat position where the engaging member does not abut against the holding member. The switching unit includes an air cylinder having a movable actuating rod, a first lever, having two ends pivotally mounted on the actuating rod and the engaging member, respectively, for coupling the actuating member and the engaging member, and a second lever having one end swingably supported and the other end swingably and pivotally mounted on a coupling portion between the actuating rod and the first lever. The first and second levers are located substantially on a straight line when the engaging member is at the sheet release position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus comprising a sheet containing device for containing a plurality of sheets, a sheet positioning member provided in the sheet containing device to position the sheets in a widthwise direction thereof by abutting against a side edge of the contained sheets, and a supply device for feeding out the sheets positioned by the sheet positioning member. Wherein the sheet positioning member is previously inclined at a predetermined angle toward a direction opposite to a direction that the sheet positioning member may be inclined by the deflection of the sheet containing device due to the weight of the sheets contained in the sheet containing device.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle-mounted trommel screening apparatus. A rotating trommel screen cage having an open front and a closed back is mounted on the vehicle so that the open front of the trommel screen cage is at a side of the vehicle and is adjustably tiltable about the vehicle side while the cage rotates. A conveyor is mounted below the trommel screen cage to convey material rearwardly off the end of the trailer. A push plate folds down below the trommel to assist in loading material that has been discharged from the front. Axially extending gussets within the cage provide additional lifting and tumbling action. Material is dumped into the trommel screen cage with the cage tilted back from the open end. The rotation of the cage causes a tumbling action which simultaneously breaks up larger pieces of material and screens smaller material to the conveyor below the screen. Material retained in the trommel screen may be dumped by tilting the trommel screen cage forward toward the open end.

Abstract: A single sheet supplier from a plurality of sheets inserted to reach a pair of inclined corner tabs past a resiliently restrained and under a roller. The roller is selectively rotated to force a paper sheet in contact therewith past the pair of inclined corner tabs which partially and temporarily block the progress of the sheet corners thereby causing them initially to buckle and then snap forward to separate the sheet engaged by the rollers from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting transversely-spaced articles moving along a direction of travel employs an array of fluid nozzles aligned transversely to the direction of travel for separating some of the articles from others, according to differences in their physical characteristics, by selectively directing respective streams of fluid toward some of the articles to deflect them from the direction of travel. The nozzles are arranged in a substantially linear transverse alignment relative to the direction of travel, each nozzle being connected to a respective selectively operable fluid supply valve. The valves are arranged in a nonlinear array in a common plane extending generally in the direction of alignment of the nozzles, and are connected to the respective nozzles by flexible tubes of equal length which interface the nonlinear array of valves with the linear transverse array of nozzles. The tubes are embedded in a hardened polymeric material which also forms the nozzles.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is disclosed for accommodating cut sheets therein, and is detachably coupled to an apparatus to which the cut sheets are to be fed. The sheet cassette is provided with a cassette housing, and a supporting plate, provided in the cassette housing, for supporting the cut sheets thereon and being movable in a vertical direction transverse to the feeding direction of the cut sheets. The sheet cassette further includes at least one spring for biasing the supporting plate upwardly, and a lever for preventing the movement of the supporting plate upwardly while the cassette housing is being inserted into the apparatus and allowing the movement of the supporting plate when the cassette housing is coupled to the apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus wherein paper sheets are fed to a transport system along a predetermined feed path having a center line. The apparatus is provided with a pair of edge guides opposedly arranged about the center line for holding the paper sheets. Movement of one of the edge guides results in the corresponding movement of the other about the center line. With the use of a clutch disc, either paper guide may be moved independently of the other effectively changing the center line relative to the feed path of the transport.