Abstract: An item dispensing system is disclosed wherein in a preferred sheet dispensing embodiment, primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups are mounted to one end of a pick arm which is rotated between a stack of sheets and a dispensing path. Initially, a two-way valve is controlled to pass a vacuum from a vacuum source only to one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups. The selected set of suction cups then attempts to vacuum lift and pass a sheet to and along the dispensing path. The failure of a sensor to sense that sheet in the dispensing path within a preselected period of time indicates that the selected set of vacuum cups may have been unsuccessful in vacuum lifting that sheet from the stack due to a poor vacuum seal between the selected set of vacuum cups and that sheet. Such a failure causes a processor to generate a signal to cause the two way valve to apply the vacuum from the vacuum source only to the other one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups.

Abstract: Reproduction apparatus for producing duplex collated copies from duplex and simplex original documents. A document feeding section circulates original document sheets a plurality of times to an exposure position. In a duplex mode of operation, the originals are inverted between alternative odd and even circulations such that even pages are presented for exposure on the first and every subsequent odd circulation and odd pages are presented for exposure on the second and every subsequent even circulation. In a simplex mode of operation, the pages are copied selectively, even pages on odd circulations, and the odd pages on even circulations. A duplexing section of the copier, including a first-in first-out intermediate hopper, operates in coordination with the feeding section to present and re-present copy supports to a position for receiving images on the appropriate first and second faces of the copy supports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sorter which has a controller for receiving a reset signal generated by a copying machine main body and for positioning sort bins in a sort home position in response to the reset signal.

Abstract: In carton feeding apparatus, a rotary member having a blade which passes behind a leading carton in a group of vertically-oriented cartons to separate the leading carton from the adjacent carton. A lockout member is pivotally mounted on the rotary member and is adapted to be moved in a generally axial direction toward the incoming cartons to block the cartons from engagement by the blade.

Abstract: A universal paper feed cassette wherein the lift of a bottom plate adapted to be raised by a spring lift member provided on a paper feed base is regulated by a paper-pressure regulator slidable in the widthwise direction of the recording paper along the inner surface of the bottom plate and having a thickness varying in the widthwise direction thereof, so that an equal paper pressure can be obtained irrespective of the size of the recording paper. The thickness of the paper-pressure regulator varies in a stepped manner in the widthwise direction thereof.

Abstract: An automatic paper handling system capable of loading individual sheets of a stack of paper onto a drum for printing or scanning, escaping a printing or scanning transducer relative to the drum, and stacking the sheet of paper after printing or scanning is additionally provided with duplexing capability to print or scan on the opposite side of a page of paper previously mounted to the drum without the requirement for manual reloading of the page by an operation. During unloading of the page after printing or scanning on a first side thereof a deflector path is interposed in the paper unloading path to cause the trailing edge of the paper during unloading to become the leading edge of the paper for a succeeding loading operation such that the side of the paper previously in contact with the drum will become the side of the paper exposed to the printing or scanning transducer.

Abstract: A sheet accelerating device driven by the single-revolution shaft of a feeding attachment with a front-feed unit which runs faster or slower than the single-revolution shaft is constructed in such a way that high feeding accuracy is also guaranteed at high operating speeds, and this is achieved by the provision of an intermediate gear between the advancing unit and the single-revolution shaft, the intermediate gear having a step-by-step motion gear and control gear which allows adjustment of the speed of the rotating element of the step-by-step motion gear for a part of its rotation in relation to the speed of the single-revolution shaft.

Abstract: In the stacking device for paper notes according to the present invention, the notes are successively transported edgewise and discharged from a transporting passage. Each discharged note is held between two adjacent blades of a rotating wheel, and is rotated toward a stacking box. A note edge contacting member is positioned along the path of the note as it rotates toward the stacking cradle. This note edge contacting member functions to maintain alignment of the notes by preventing projection of the notes and eliminating electrostatic charge caused by contact with the rotating blades. As a result, the notes are temporarily and evenly stacked.

Abstract: In the present invention, a sheet-sorter, operating in conjunction with a photocopy machine, has a plurality of trays in general horizontal alignment with the path taken by a sheet of paper discharged from the copier. A tray pusher is arranged to move the lower-most tray in a stack of trays disposed above the paper-path so that the in-board end of the lower-most tray will drop some distance below the paper path, after the sheet has been discharged from the copier. The tray-pusher may be activated by movement of the copier carriage or by an appropriate gear-train connection to a pair of juxtaposed rolls, slightly spaced from each other, constructed and arranged so that one roll will cause the other roll to rotate only when a sheet of paper is disposed between the rolls as the sheet is discharged from the copier. The stack of trays may be re-set manually or by the movement of the copier carriage.

Abstract: A copying machine and paper supply cassette is provided with a control arrangement to prevent operation of the machine upon improper insertion of the cassette. A control switch mechanism for controlling the electricity supply to the copying machine includes a pivotable control lever having a first arm engageable with catch part of the cassette so that said cassette pivots said control lever as it is inserted into a cassette guide of the machine. The control lever includes a second arm engageable through a second opening in the sidewall of the cassette to permit the pivoting movement of the control lever. The opposite side of the cassette includes no second opening so that insertion of the cassette in an upside down position is prevented.

Abstract: A box formed by a set of walls closed by a pivoting bottom which is openable so that the object which it carries falls vertically in the ejection zone to be collected in a receptacle. The walls are extended below the bottom so that the pivoting operation may be started before the box quite reaches the ejection zone. The bottom in the closed position forms an angle with the horizontal, thus the object which it carries is automatically jolted against the rear wall during the conveying phase. The portion of the rear wall above the rest position of the bottom is given a slight forward inclination to promote the sliding of the object towards the discharge position. A comb-shaped separation scrapes the bottom (indented) so as to loosen any object adhering abnormally thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suction device for securely holding printing plates in a processing position by sub-atmospheric pressure. The suction device comprises a turnstile arrangement with four suction tables in two mutually perpendicular planes and is connected to a motor which rotates the turnstile arrangement in 90.degree. steps. Four suction chambers are located in a hub part of the turnstile arrangement, these chambers being connected, via pressure lines, to a vacuum source for generating sub-atmospheric pressure. The supporting surface of each suction table comprises suction slots, which communicate in pairs, each of these communicating pairs of suction slots being connected to the associated suction chamber via a common suction passage. Each suction chamber comprises a piston with its piston rod being guided outwardly through an end face of the hub part and carrying a circular plate.

Abstract: Device for automatically positioning a sheet on an office machine platen, including a lower guide element to guide the sheet toward the writing line of the platen and an upper guide element to guide the sheet towards the top. During the introduction of the sheet, an electromagnet is energized to let the lower guide element turn with the platen, accompanying the sheet beyond the writing line. The electromagnet also causes the contemporary separation of the upper guide element from the platen. When the sheet reaches a predetermined position with respect to the writing line, the electromagnet is de-energized and a spring again brings the two elements to the rest position. An automatic introduction mechanism sequentially transfers the sheets from a hopper to the platen and from the platen to a sheet stacker.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic copying machine and the like has a flapping up member which protrudes through the bottom of a sheet feeding cassette to bring the sheets thereon into contact with a sheet feeding roller. The flapping up member is moved by a driven lever which is in turn moved by a low-tension biasing member in the direction of flapping the bottom plate up upon receipt of a sheet feeding commencement signal. A restrain member energized by a high-tension biasing member is provided to restrain the flapping up member to the retreated position upon termination of the sheet feeding commencing signal whereby the sheet feeding cassette is not affected by any resistance at the time of insertion or removal of the cassette and the bottom plate of the cassette is automatically flapped up only while sheet feeding is being operated.

Abstract: A trail edge registration system is disclosed that includes drive belts adapted to accept sheets from a source. The drive belts have pin-like members on the surface thereof that are adapted to contact the trail edge of the sheets and provide the timing and skew registration function, as well as the transport function for the system. A scuffer roll mechanism side registers the sheets in the transport before they are contacted by the pin-like members on the belts.

Abstract: In the changing of the dimensions of sheets of paper to be stacked by a paper stacking apparatus including a conveying station, adjustable upper tapes moving about reflection rollers, separating shoes, ejector rolls, separating plates and stopper boards, the improvement which comprises displacing the upper tapes along with their deflection rollers, the separating shoes, the ejector rolls, and the separating plates all together transversely to the paper path. This is effected by providing a rod which connects the upper-tape deflection rollers, a separating shoe, ejector rolls, and a separating plate whereby they will all be transversely displaced together.

Abstract: A device for preventing a substrate from jamming in a copier includes a guide member that directs a substrate from a substrate supply tray to a photosensitive member. The guide member is adapted to be vibrated by a vibration generator in order to prevent substrates passing through the guide member from jamming.

Abstract: A note separating and delivering apparatus for use in a note handling machine includes a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism comprises grabbing rollers disposed at the middle portion thereof for grabbing the note from the suction heads. The delivery mechanism further comprises feeding members disposed at the opposite sides of the grabbing rollers for compensating for the delay of the notes at the side portions thereof.

Abstract: A copy paper feeding device for a copying apparatus includes a plurality of cassettes which are capable of storing copy paper sheets and a feeder which respectively corresponds to each of the cassettes. Each feeder is selectively driven so as to feed the copy paper sheets in the case where the cassettes store copy paper sheets having different sizes and each feeder is driven in a predetermined order so as to feed the copy paper sheets from one cassette until the cassette is empty and then successively feed the copy paper sheets from the remaining cassette in the case where the cassettes store copy paper sheets having the same size. The copy paper feeding device includes a selector for selecting which feeder is to be driven.

Abstract: Methods of a human operator processing first and second interrelated documents in pairs relative to a processing station provide a first document entry station for receiving a first document from the human operator, and a second document entry station for receiving a second document from the human operator. The human operator separates the interrelated first and second documents from each other and deposits the first document in the first document entry station while depositing the second document in the second document entry station. The deposited first document is transported from the first document entry station relative to the processing station, and the second document is transferred from the second to the first document entry station, for subsequent transport from such first station relative to the processing station.