Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting overlapped mail pieces when sorting batches of flat mail pieces as the pieces are conveyed on their narrow sides, whereby the sorted mail pieces are moved successively standing on their narrow sides in a longitudinal direction along a bed or path. Positioned below the path is an electronic line camera arranged with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the feed direction of the sorted mail pieces that scans the lower narrow edges of the mail pieces through a gap in the bed. In one aspect, two sources of light, such as light emitting diodes, are positioned laterally from the line camera diagonally illuminate the mail pieces from below as the mail pieces pass over a window in the path so that the edges of the scanned narrow sides are emphasized by shadowing.

Abstract: A device for feeding sheets to a sheet-processing machine includes a feeding table. Front lays are disposed at a front end of the feeding table, as viewed in a sheet-conveying direction. A first guide device is disposed immediately upstream from the front lays, as viewed in the sheet-conveying direction, and above the feeding table, and is adjustable vertically with respect to the feeding table. A second guide device is disposed upstream from the vertically adjustable first guide device, as viewed in the sheet-conveying direction. The second guide device is disposed in a position oriented parallel to the first guide device. A method of operating the sheet-feeding device is also provided.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette having a size detection function has a paper stage formed integrally with a rear end restricting plate for restricting the rear end of paper sheets. On the bottom of the paper stage, a plurality of rib-like detection targets are arranged in the paper feed direction. The detection targets are detected by a plurality of detection switches arranged in the paper feed direction in a paper feed portion inside the main body of an image forming apparatus. A discriminator receives the detection signals from the detection switches and thereby recognizes the paper size and the presence/absence of the paper feed cassette.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a vending machine with the ability to accept both coins and paper currency. The system includes a housing that is mounted to the side of a vending machine. The housing defines an enclosed interior area that is adjacent the vending machine. A door is provided on the housing for selectively accessing the enclosed interior area. At least two access openings are present in the door. A paper currency validation mechanism is mounted in one of the access openings in the door. A coin currency validation mechanism is mounted in a second access opening in the door. Since both the paper currency validation mechanism and the coin currency validation mechanism are mounted to the door of the housing, both mechanisms are removed from the housing when the door of the housing is opened or removed.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has a card-accommodating, vertically upright stack-storage cassette (1) and a card-input, -reading and control unit (3) arranged adjacent to the top cassette-border region (4). The stack-storage cassette (1) has a vertically running storage opening (5) arranged in a cassette side. The storage apparatus also has a lift unit (7) which can be displaced vertically in said opening (5) and has a lift housing (19a, 19b). The lift unit (7), for its part, has a depositing plate (9) for the cards, which comes to rest in the store interior (10). The lift unit can be removed in the lowermost region of the cassette (1), to be inserted into the cassette (1) at the top and, acting on the opening borders, to be displaced vertically, i.e. lowered, in each case preferably by the distance of a height over which a group of cards is deposited, in order for the cards to be deposited satisfactorily.