Abstract: A sheet sorter including a plurality of trays on which sheets are to be placed, adapted to sort sheets by switching the trays on which the sheets are to be placed, and designed to enable users to easily find their own sheets even if no tray is designated. Trays are each provided with a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of sheets, and the tray bearing no sheet is preferentially selected as the tray on which a sheet is to be placed when no tray is designated. If there are a plurality of trays bearing no sheet, the uppermost one thereof is selected. If there is no tray bearing no sheet, the tray having a longest duration from the last time when the sheet is placed thereon is selected.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device of the present invention includes a sheet conveying mechanism for conveying a sheet, path selectors each for steering the sheet being conveyed by the sheet conveying mechanism in a particular direction, and a drive mechanism for causing the path selectors to move independently of each other. The path selectors are rotatable about a single axis and positioned parallel to each other in such a manner as to sandwich a plane of sheet conveyance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sheet feeding apparatus and method. In particular this invention comprises a sheet feeding apparatus having a first conveyance member, a second conveyance member, and a sheet bending member. The first conveyance member conveys a sheet from a source of sheets at the first speed. The second conveyance member is positioned near the first conveyance member, and conveys the sheets away from the first conveyance member at a second speed that is less than the first speed of the first conveyance member. The sheet bending member is positioned to engage the sheet as the sheet moves from the first conveyance member to the second conveyance member. The sheet bending member engages the sheet to produce a gap between the tail end of the sheet and the second conveyance member. The lead edge of the next adjacent sheet from the first conveyance member is then fed into the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for securely monitoring the sales transactions in bulk vending machines are disclosed, the apparatus operable with at least one bulk vending machine having a coin mechanism that conventionally includes a coin plate, a selectively rotatable handle having a shaft extending radially therefrom, and a coin shuttle. The apparatus of this invention includes a lobe bearing cam mountable at the shaft and an adapter/sensor having first and second switches and an output interface mounted thereon, the switches oriented relative to one another so that the maximum amount of normal backlash (reverse rotation) of the coin plate during vending is accommodated (is less than the angular spread between the switches). The apparatus further includes a microprocessor connectable with the switches through the output interface for counting and recording sales indicated by activation of both of the switches in order, and circuitry for identifying occurrences of apparatus tampering or fault.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, system including a mail sorting apparatus which generally comprises a feeder, a line scan camera, an in-line printer, a control system which may be the microprocessor based personal computer system, at least one addressee database and sort plan, a mailpiece transporter, a bin module with compartments or sort bins for receiving mailpieces. This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by enabling a mail sorting apparatus to address sort internal mailings (business to employee mail). The foregoing is accomplished by addressing and sorting employee mailpieces in one process by using information from one or more databases of the mail sorting apparatus, including the addressee database and sort plan, and an in-line printer for printing employee and/or delivery information on the employee mailpiece. Thus, the method of the present invention provides a less costly, simplified way to prepare internal mailings.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and method to separate a loose mass formed by elements or materials (11) of different sizes, such as woody strands or wafers, comprising a separation chamber (13) into which the mass is inserted, a plurality of riddling rolls (16), mounted inside the chamber (13) rotating on axes of rotation parallel to each other and lying sybstantially on a same plane (X). Each of the riddling rolls (16) comprises a plurality of riddling elements (20), each of which is substantially square in shape, so as to form four cusps (22) in correspondence with the four tips of the square. The riddling elements (20) are adjacent to each other so that the cusps (22) form a plurality of grooves (24), and the riddling rolls (16) are axially staggered therebetween so that the cusps (22) of each roll (16) are constantly inserted, more or less deeply into the corresponding grooves (24) of the adjacent riddling roll (16), so as to define discharge apertures (25) with an alternated profile.

Abstract: A finisher for finishing papers sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of trays selectively movable to a single paper outlet. The finisher reduces a period of time necessary for designated one of the trays to reach the paper outlet, increases the number of papers which can be stacked on the trays, and determines the number of papers stacked with a simple configuration. Papers are prevented from returning from the tray to the paper outlet without complicating the configuration of the outlet. An outlet roller protrudes from the paper outlet, but does not interfere with the tray moving past the paper outlet. The trays protect the operator from injury and protect the structural elements of the finisher from damage despite their movement.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the splash skirt at the underflow outlet of a hydrocyclone to detect a change in the underflow discharge from the normal conical shape in which the discharge impacts upon the splash skirt to a more cylindrical shape associated with roping.

Abstract: A method of operating a dispensing cabinet to identify the locations where items to be dispensed are located is comprised of a login step in which user information is entered into a processor controlling the dispensing cabinet. The processor unlocks certain doors of the dispensing cabinet in response to the user information. Assuming that a locate mode of operation has been chosen, the locations of the items to be located are determined by the processor. An alpha-numeric display positioned on a shelf within the cabinet begins flashing with the number of items to be located that are held by that shelf. After the user identifies the shelves having flashing alpha-numeric displays, the user may enter a dispense mode or may logoff causing the unlocked doors to lock.

Abstract: A screen repair apparatus is disclosed for temporarily repairing holes or worn screen elements of screens used in gyratory or vibratory screening machines in the coal mining and rock quarrying industries. The apparatus is comprised of a flat plate which covers the damaged area of screen on the screen's top, a number of duplex jaws which are used to clamp the apparatus to the lower surface of the screen elements, and a clamping means, including an attachment rod which draws together the plate and duplex jaws on either side of the screen elements, thereby clamping the two to the screen. The screen repair apparatus also is comprised of a set of cauls, which are disposed between the clamping means and the upper surface of the plate and which distribute the force exerted by the clamping means across the face of the upper surface of the plate.

Abstract: A low cost, fully automatic, thickness detection system, readily integrated into an existing paper path sheet transport, in which a regular and known small displacement signal is generated, compared, combined and/or superimposed on the signals from the small displacement of a sheet transport element with differences in sheet thickness. Even sub-millimeter sheet thicknesses can be measured of sheets moving through a regular sheet feeding nip with nip idler roller displacement using a low-cost sensor, where that sensor is additionally repetitively actuated by known small movements to provide calibration signals, such as those provided by plural small radius differences of a rotating idler roller shaft area which will enable existing idler and idler shaft run-out movement error noise signals to be overcome.

Abstract: A guide roller has a hollow roller and a fabric tube fitted under pressure over the hollow roller. The fabric tube has ends held respectively in axial ends of the hollow roller and fixed thereto by respective pressers which are pressed into the axial ends of the hollow roller.

Abstract: A cash recycling machine (11) is connected in a network with a computer (10) and other recycling equipment (12), the cash recycling machine (11) having an input device (18) for receiving cash, a sorter (31) for sorting the cash into a plurality of hopper assemblies (26–29), a controller (21) responsive to inputs from a user in a first operating cycle of the machine to cause the hopper assemblies (26–29) to dispense an amount of sorted cash to a cash drawer and to store the amount of dispensed cash in memory in association with a user account number, the controller (21) being responsive to input of a batch of cash and the user account number in a second cycle to count the cash received, and to compare the amount of cash received with the amount of cash dispensed to determine a net amount of cash associated with the user.

Abstract: A material handler that includes a frame, first and second front wheels, first and second rear wheels, and a control system. The front and rear wheels define a generally horizontal plane. The control system determines the center of gravity of the material handler and displays the location of the center of gravity of the material handler within the plane.

Abstract: A mail order firm receives a request for purchasing an article through Internet and the destination address. The terminal at the mail order firm converts the destination address into latitude and longitude position data to record it on an ID tag with a reader writer. The ID tag is attached to a freight containing the ordered article. A site receiving the freight reads the latitude and longitude position data to print or display the destination address in the language used by the site dealing with the freight. The deliverer can confirm that the present location where the freight is handed agrees with the latitude and longitude position data of the destination with navigating unit and GPS receiver.

Abstract: A raw stream of freshly harvested processor tomatoes which includes desired crop, substandard crop and detritus is subjected to successive scannings and separations to produce an improved collection of tomatoes of increased value to the processor.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing machine of substantially flat goods is provided which detects the over-dispensing of goods while accommodating for varying thickness of the substantially flat goods. The automatic dispensing machine includes a table which supports goods such as cards, a suctioning device which pulls the cards, a transporting device which transports the cards after they are pulled by the suctioning device, a position-control device which controls the distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device. The position-control device is configured to increase the distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device based on a dispensing signal. The distance between the uppermost card and the suctioning device is then decreased until a predetermined distance is reached.

Abstract: A cylindrical body is rotated about a rotation axis interconnecting a center point of a top circle thereof and a center point of a bottom circle thereof. The cylindrical body having an outer peripheral face formed with at least one token-groove. An outer wall member covers the outer peripheral face of the cylindrical body to form a gap between an inner face of the outer wall member and the token-groove such that a single gaming token in an upright attitude is held therein. The gaming token held in the gap is ejected toward a tangent direction of an outer peripheral circle of the cylindrical body in accordance with a rotary action of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: To provide a mail sorting and distributing transfer system, which extends transformable time of mail fed from a mail charging line so that the mail can be timely, reliably transferred to conveyor baskets on a mail sorting line, there is a mail sorting and distributing transfer system in which transfer timing levers maintain the receipt ports of transfer baskets provided on an outer circumferential edge of a sorting and distributing turntable in a state where the receipt ports of the transfer baskets are in registry with a mail charging line during the receipt of mail and where the lever pivots so it moves the associated transfer basket. Underlying conveyor baskets on a mail sorting line are moved parallel to and in synchronization with the transfer baskets during the transfer of the mail. The lever is pivoted about an axis parallel to the axis of the mail sorting and distributing turntable.

Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.