Abstract: A frictional separating member is provided corresponding to a position at which sheets loaded on a stacking plate are fed by a pickup roller. Formed in the position where the frictional separating member is mounted is a hollowed portion for embedding this frictional separating member. The frictional separating member is adhesively attached to the hollowed portion, with adhesive via a flexible sheet-like support. The sheet-like support is extended further from where the frictional separating member is provided. This extended portion is held as a free end which is not adhered but is positioned in a second cavity adjacent to the hollowed receptacle of the frictional separating member. A projection is formed in order to partition the receptacle cavity to which the frictional separating member is mounted and the second cavity so as to keep the handle portion free within the second cavity.

Abstract: A hydraulic elevator includes a hydraulic ram and a counterweight that are directly roped. The hydraulic ram includes a single-acting cylinder, piston and yoke that are placed within the hoistway adjacent to the path of motion of an elevator car. The counterweight is positioned adjacent to the hydraulic ram and on the same side of the car as the hydraulic ram. The combination of the directly counterweighted hydraulic ram and the arrangement of the hydraulic ram, counterweight and car results in minimal power and space requirements.

Abstract: A method of forming arrays of articles comprising providing a stacker having a plurality of compartments for receiving the articles, the stacker traveling along a closed loop path; transporting a plurality of the articles along a first path towards the stacker in sequential fashion; introducing a first portion of the articles into the compartments at a first inlet position located adjacent to the interior of the closed loop path; and removing an array of the articles from the stacker at a stripping location located downstream from the inlet position. An apparatus for performing this method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming arrays of articles, comprising: (a) providing a stacker having a plurality of compartments for receiving the articles, the stacker traveling along a closed loop path; (b) transporting a plurality of the articles along a first path to the stacker in sequential fashion; (c) introducing the articles into the compartments at an inlet position; (d) removing a first array of the articles from the stacker at a first stripping position by urging the articles from the compartment in a first stripping direction; (e) transporting the first array along a second path away from the stacker in a direction substantially opposite to the first stripping direction; and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) for subsequent articles. An apparatus for use in this method is also provided.

Abstract: A finishing device of the present invention includes a sheet transferring path for guiding a sheet from an image forming device to a piling tray by substantially vertically deflecting the sheet in either upper or lower direction with respect to the device; a tray for temporarily holding and piling sheets, as a stack, from the sheet transferring path; and a stapling unit disposed between the tray and the sheet transferring path so that an edge on an upstream side of sheets on the tray is bound. The stapling unit is structured such that a cartridge loaded with stapling needles can be attached or detached from a back surface side facing the sheet transferring path side, and at least a part of sheet guides for constituting the sheet transferring path can be opened and closed so that the back surface side of the stapling unit can be exposed outside the device. Thus, the stapling unit need not be moved outside the device for exchanging the needles.

Abstract: A conveyor, comprising a conveyor frame having a pair of spaced side members each having a plurality of mounting means to mount a plurality of rollers in spaced relation between the side members, each roller being provided with a bearing means having a socket, the rollers being mounted in spaced relation between said pair of side members on stub spindles, each stub spindle having a support portion which inter-engages with a mounting means non-rotatably to mount the stub spindles on the side members, there being a pair of opposed stub spindles for each roller and each stub spindle having an end portion which is received in a socket provided at each end of the roller to permit each roller to rotate about a roller axis and wherein at least at one end of each roller the support portion and the mounting means are configured for inter-engagement by relative movement therebetween transverse to said roller axis characterised in that each stub spindle is provided with retaining means to retain the end portion of the s