Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with the first transport device and the second transport device for feeding an original at a reading position to read the original, and a curved reading path disposed between the first transport device and second transport device. The automatic document feeder is also provided with a reading guide unit including the first guide member disposed at an upstream side of the reading position in an original feeding direction for guiding the original to the reading position, the second guide member disposed at a downstream side of the reading position in the original feeding direction for guiding the original from the reading position, a flexible transparent film member extending between the first guide member and the second guide member for forming the reading path. The reading guide unit is detachably and rotatably supported on an apparatus frame of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is provided with a reading unit disposed above a platen for reading an original. The reading unit includes a platen roller for transporting the original to the reading unit; a guide device arranged between the platen and the platen roller and formed in a curved original reading path; a pressing device for pressing the guide device against the platen roller; and a regulating device for creating a space between a surface of the platen roller and an upper surface of the platen. When the original is transported between the platen roller and the guide device, the original moves the guide device toward the platen.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for feeding a user machine (3) with particulate products, such as products for infusion like tea, chamomile and herbal teas in general, comprises a hopper (2) for dispensing the product and means (40; 7) for transferring the product from the hopper (2) to the user machine (3). The hopper (2) includes a feed body (4), with vertical walls (5), having an outlet opening (6) at its lower end. The transfer means (40) comprise a motor-driven, endless conveyor (7) facing the outlet opening (6). The apparatus also comprises adjustment means (50; 10, 11, 30) for adjusting the gap between the endless conveyor (7) and the outlet opening (6) according to the characteristics of the product feeding out the hopper (2).

Abstract: There is provided a sheet conveying apparatus which is capable of easily distinguishing between a sheet bundle containing abnormal sheets, such as multi-fed sheets, and a normal sheet bundle. When it is determined that there is no abnormality in the conveyance of sheets to a processing tray 630, a finisher control section 501 causes a bundle of sheets stacked on the processing tray 630 to be discharged onto a stack tray 700, whereas when it is determined that there is abnormality in the conveyance of sheets to the processing tray 630, the finisher control section 501 causes the bundle of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 630 to be discharged onto a sample tray 701.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator that removes zinc whiskers from cooling air provided to cool components in an electronics enclosure. The electrostatic precipitator comprises an ionizer configured to apply a charge to zinc whiskers suspended in the cooling air. The electrostatic precipitator also comprises a collector that collects charged zinc whiskers from the contaminated cooling air to generate uncontaminated cooling air for cooling the components of the electronics enclosure. The electrostatic precipitator is configured to be disposed in the cooling air flow path upstream of the components such that the cooling air travels through the electrostatic precipitator prior to impinging on the components.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and counting coins includes a bi-directionally rotatable motor, a rotating shaft for conveying a rotating force generated by the motor, a stopper in contact with the rotating shaft having a tilted end to limit counterclockwise rotation, a conveying container engaged with the rotating shaft having conveying holes for loading coins, a supply control container formed on an upper side of the conveying container and having supply holes for supplying coins to the conveying container while rotating, sorting holes being of different sizes to conform with the conveying holes for sorting coins according to sizes thereof; a sensor for counting coins, and a mechanism for containing coins in a coin receiver by suspending rotation of the conveying container after a predetermined number of coins have fallen in the coin receiver and before a next coin of the same kind falls from a sorting hole.

Abstract: A coin stacking device is used to refill a coin cassette of a coin dispenser. The coin stacking device includes a cylindrical structure having an inner diameter approximately the same as a diameter of the coins. The cylindrical structure has one open end and one closed end. The coins enter the open end and form a coin stack within the cylindrical structure. To refill a coin cassette, the open end of the filled coin stacking device is aligned with a coin receptacle in the coin cassette that is in need of coins. The coin stack is then transferred from the coin stacking device to the coin receptacle of the coin cassette. The coin stacking device can easily filled by an automated coin processing machine, such as a coin sorting machine or a coin counting machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of separating small rubbish and organic matters from garbage for collection by means of water by considering specific weight, buoyancy, and flow rate of water is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of conveyor screens incorporating injection nozzles, a less inclined channel, a conveyor, and an organic matter screen for effectively separating floated rubbish, organic matters, and sunk rubbish from garbage for collection.

Abstract: A coin conditioner is provided for cleaning or otherwise conditioning coins in a coin discriminator apparatus prior to transfer to a coin sensor. Coins enter through a feed tray and move down the length of a perforated tumbler, preferably without the use of gravity, such as under screw force, mechanical or centrifugal force. The spinning tumbler is preferably rotated about its longitudinal axis by a motor. In one embodiment, a blower or vacuum draws or moves air from one area to another, with the air preferably being filtered. As coins move through and down a tumbler, projections such as vanes, fins, ridges, dimples, spines or other raised features cause mechanical agitation and/or abrasion as coins are lifted and dropped while passing longitudinally through the tumbler. The coins are conditioned and non-coin matter is collected as it is separated and/or abraded from the coin surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions, which includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer when a cash transaction is indicated. A cash transaction indicator is adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place, and may be selectable by the customer or an operator of the system at the beginning of the transaction. The system may also include a transmitter adapted to transmit the customer-related information to the remote communication unit associated with the customer, or may include memory for storing the customer-related information in association with the identification indicia. The system may store credit for change based on a cash transaction, or may provide and store loyalty points on or in association with a transponder.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying fine balls having diameters of 1 mm or less into those having predetermined diameter ranges, comprising a feeder for supplying fine balls, at least one rotatable cylindrical sieve constituted by a plate with a thickness of 200 ?m or less having circular holes and having a center axis inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and a container for receiving fine balls classified by subjecting the fine balls to falling from the cylindrical sieve, the fine balls being supplied from the feeder to an inlet of the rotating cylindrical sieve at its upper end, fine balls that have passed through the circular holes of the cylindrical sieve being subjected to falling to be recovered by the container, and fine balls that have not passed through the circular holes being withdrawn from an exit of the cylindrical sieve at its lower end.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing a document traveling along a document path within a document validator. The such apparatus includes a disk where a periphery of the disk extends into the document path of the document validator, a support shaft that passes through a center hole of the disk, the shaft loosely supporting the disk and allowing the disk to rotate around the shaft in a predominant plane of the disk and to freely move in the predominant plane of the disk in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and a resilient member that biases the disk into the document path to engage a side edge of the document when the document is misaligned with the document path as it travels along the document path thereby retarding forward movement of the side edge and rotation of the document into alignment with the document path.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for preventing the misalignment of sheet material in hoppers adapted to feed sheet material to disk separators are disclosed. In one aspect, a floating backguide is provided. The floating backguide moves independently of the hopper with which the backguide is associated. The floating backguide may be pivotally mounted at a first end and free to deflect to a limited degree at a second end. In one aspect, the deflection of the second end is limited in the horizontal direction by two stationary bars and in the vertical direction by two stops. The vertical deflection of the second end of the backguide may also be limited by a resilient material, for example, a spring or an elastomer. A method for feeding sheet material to a disk separator using a floating backguide is also provided.

Abstract: A new and improved article or mail-piece conveyor system has a vacuum plenum system integrally incorporated therein which effectively withdraws ambient air ahead or downstream of the oncoming conveyed articles or mail pieces such that the oncoming conveyed articles or mail pieces will not be subjected to tip vortices and/or other disruptive aerodynamic forces. In this manner, the articles or mail pieces will not be subjected to destabilizing aerodynamic circulation, currents, downflow, downwash, or momentum forces so as not to, in turn, exhibit flutter, fluctuations, or oscillation movements. Accordingly, extremely high speed conveyance of the articles or mail pieces, within the range of, for example, two hundred inches per second (200 ips) can in fact be achieved.

Abstract: A banknote store (10, 12, 14, 16) comprises first and second drums (18, 20; 18, 22) mounted for rotation about respective axes on, respectively, first and second shafts (51), an elongate support strip (24; 26) which can be unwound from one of the drums onto the other of the drum, and vice versa, such that banknotes (60) can be supported in succession by the support strip while that is wound around at least one of the drums, coupling means (44, 46, 50) for coupling the shafts together, first biasing means (54) between the coupling means and the first drum and second biasing means (56; 58) between the coupling means and the second drum for allowing biased relative motion between each said drum and said coupling means, and for maintaining tension in the support strip.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting coin fraud in coin-counting machines and other devices that count and/or sort coins and other objects. In one embodiment, the method includes discriminating multiple coins to determine a number of real coins and a number of faux coins. In one aspect of this embodiment, the faux coins can have one or more coin characteristics falling generally close to corresponding characteristics of the real coins. The method can further include determining a quotient based on the number of real coins and faux coins. If the determined quotient is greater than or equal to a selected threshold value, then the transaction can be identified as being possibly fraudulent. In the event of a possibly fraudulent transaction, the method can include controlling the transaction, for example, by returning any uncounted coins to a user, or by halting the transaction.

Abstract: An inclined separating surface includes an upwardly curved surface that is gradually lowered near the ends, from a middle portion in a sheet width direction as a top. The inclined separating surface holds leading edges of sheets stacked on a sheet holder. At the middle of the inclined separating surface, a sheet separating unit, which extends in a sheet advance direction, is provided so as to protrude from and retract into the inclined separating surface. With this structure, the leading edges of side areas of the sheets do no contact the inclined separating surface before the leading edges of middle areas of the sheets contact the inclined separating surface. Consequently, the leading edges of the middle areas of the sheets are surely applied with separating action by the sheet separating unit.

Abstract: A method of collecting gold by flowing water over a gold collecting medium located in a sluice to induce a positive surface charge on the gold collecting medium. Feeding gold laden material into the sluice with the flowing water to induce a negative surface charge on gold particles of the gold laden material and create a slurry. Setting the flow rate of the slurry into the sluice such that the gold particles are attracted to the gold collecting medium. Finally, collecting the gold particles attracted to the gold collecting medium from the gold collecting medium. A gold separation device having a sluice having an input end and an output end; a water input directed into the input end of the sluice; and a gold collecting medium in the sluice. The gold collecting medium being of a material which incurs a positive surface charge when immersed in water.

Abstract: Erosion-resistant liquid/liquid hydrocyclone liners, wherein the weight and cost of the liners are kept within acceptable parameters through the construction of a composite hydrocyclone liner, comprised of two or more different materials. The hydrocyclone liner includes a head section that is fashioned, primarily, of a highly erosion-resistant material, such as tungsten carbide. The liner also includes a separate separation section that is primarily fashioned of a material that may be less erosion-resistant but which is less brittle and more physically durable than that used to construct the head section. As a result of this composite construction, the liner is less likely to fail mechanically during installation or use. The head and separation sections are removably affixed to one another. The separation section of the hydrocyclone liner is provided with one or more structural supports to provide mechanical strength and resistance to bending.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sheet processing unit which can control the timing in conveying successively fed sheets to a sheet ejecting mechanism in accordance with operating conditions. The sheet processing unit comprises a sheet overlapping mechanism which overlaps successively fed sheets together, a conveying mechanism which conveys the sheets from the sheet overlapping mechanism, an ejecting mechanism which ejects the sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism, and a control unit which electrically controls operations of the sheet overlapping mechanism, the conveying mechanism, and the ejecting mechanism. The control unit changes the number of sheets to be overlapped together at the sheet overlapping mechanism in accordance with information on the conditions for operation of the sheet processing unit inputted from an input unit.