Abstract: Stacker 1 for sheet-shaped objects is described having feeding device 3 for depositing sheet-shaped objects 2 in storage pocket 4 with variable capacity. Storage pocket 4 has contact surface 5 against which sheet-shaped objects 2 deposited in storage pocket 4 lie with one edge 6, and storage tray 7 on which sheet-shaped objects 2 are stacked in storage pocket 4 flat and parallel to storage tray 7. Storage tray 7 is mounted movably for changing the capacity of storage pocket 4. Storage pocket 4 is disposed with contact surface 5 at an angle to the horizontal so that sheet-shaped objects 2 stacked in storage pocket 4 rest with their edges 6 on contact surface 5 and the resulting frictional force between edges 6 of sheet-shaped objects 2 and contact surface 5 substantially compensates the slope descending force acting on stack 10 formed of sheet-shaped objects 2 in the direction of storage tray 7.

Abstract: A mobile screening unit for screening bulk material. The screening unit comprises a first screener, a second screener, and an elongated mobile support frame having a longitudinal axis. The first screener is mounted to the support frame and extends longitudinally thereon. The first screener has an inlet for receiving the bulk material containing large-sized, medium-sized, and small-sized particles. The first screener also has a first outlet for releasing large-sized particles and a second outlet for releasing medium-sized and small-sized particles. The first screener is used for screening the bulk material along a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support frame. The second screener is mounted to the support frame and extends longitudinally thereon.

Abstract: An object sorting system automatically inspects a plurality of objects and sorts acceptable objects from defective objects. The system includes a feed conveyor, a barrier, a sorting camera, at least one rejection valve and a processor. The feed conveyor receives a plurality of objects and moves the objects through an inspection area, which is defined by the barrier, which is placed across and above a top surface of the feed conveyor. The barrier is configured to redirect the plurality of objects and cause the objects to rotate about an object axis such that the sorting camera can capture an image of each of the plurality of objects as the objects rotate and move through the inspection area.

Abstract: A holddown for a hard copy device comprises a member having a surface and plural vacuum zones. Each of the vacuum zones defines a cavity in the surface having at least one port therethrough, and each cavity is defined by a sidewall circumscribing the cavity. At least one of the cavities has sidewall with a first section at a first height relative to the surface and a second section at a second height relative to the surface.

Abstract: A sorting machine receives a bulk of workpieces or fasteners from a hopper unit into a feed station which align the fasteners into a single file for engagement to a transport system of an inspection station. Preferably, the transport system has a conveyor belt with a magnetic member disposed radially inward from the belt. The fasteners are preferably ferrous and thereby engage the conveyor belt via the magnetic field which penetrates the belt. The fasteners are thus carried along the transport system past a trigger sensor which sends a signal to a central controller to timely actuate a dimensional sensing apparatus which takes an image of the fastener and sends it to the central computer for dimensional analysis. If the fastener fails to meet pre-established guidelines the nonconforming fastener is ejected from the transport system via a reject mechanism.

Abstract: In a sheet feed apparatus, a guide member formed by a flexible member is disposed at an aperture for manual sheet feeding provided on an upper surface of a sheet storing means, and sheets are guided to the position below a sheet feed means by the guide member, while underpropping the sheets, whereby the manual sheet feeding can be performed with the simple structure at low costs. Further, a space for the manual sheet feeding and the number of parts can be saved to the minimum.

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: A process and an apparatus for forming an imbricated stream of first and second printed products, in which in each case a first and a second printed product are located substantially congruently one upon the other in double imbricated formation. The first and second printed products are individually gripped alternately by an intermediate conveyor and conveyed one behind the other at a conveying spacing d. In each case a first printed product is transferred in a transfer region from the intermediate conveyor to a removal conveyor, which is designed as a belt conveyor, such that the first printed product comes to rest on the belt conveyor and overlaps the preceding printed product in an imbricated manner. A second printed product is then deposited such that it comes to rest substantially congruently on a first printed product which has already been deposited.

Abstract: In a device for loading further-processing machines with printed products, in particular a feeder rack (5) in gather-stitcher machines or gathering machines (6) for folded sheets (1), sheets, booklets or the like, which has a first conveyor arrangement (15) extending in planar manner for the purpose of feeding printed products (1) standing on their edges in the form of a horizontal stack (2), a second, initially upwardly sloping conveyor arrangement (16) for drawing the printed products (1) off the stack (2) in an overlapping formation and for transferring the overlapping stream (3) to the feeder rack (5), and infinitely variable drives (20, 24) associated with the two conveyor arrangements (15, 16), a control means (23) is provided which controls the two drives (20, 24) at a speed ratio to one another which is dependent on the thickness (D) of the printed products (1) to be processed.

Abstract: A device is used to insert and/or deposit printed products into a conveying channel. The printed products are conveyed in the conveying channel with of carriers of a conveying element. An acceleration apparatus pre-accelerates the printed products in conveying direction. The acceleration apparatus conveys the printed products essentially in a straight line and at an angle to the conveying direction of the conveying channel. The printed products are preferably inserted with the aid of conveying belts and at an angle into the conveying channel. As a result of the slanted feed, the divisions of the conveying element can be optimized and the capacity increased.

Abstract: A method of separating a sheet of print media from a stack of sheets, the sheets being porous, includes blowing fluid on to a top surface of a topmost sheet of the print media on the stack so that the fluid passes through at least the topmost sheet of the stack and capturing at least a part of the topmost sheet for conveyance to a printing station of a printer.

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.

Abstract: An adjustable gripper system for releasably holding at least one sheet against a surface includes a pivotable gripper shaft with a pivot axis and at least one gripper having a gripper body defining a plunger cavity, the gripper body connected to the shaft for pivoting the gripper about the axis, a gripper plunger slidably disposed in the cavity and holding the sheet against the surface, and a cam follower actuated by a cam. The cam follower is connected to the gripper plunger to displace the gripper plunger along the cavity dependent upon a position of the cam. The system can be part of a sheet-collating pocket having a forward wall and a rearward wall pivotally connected thereto and, together, defining an opening for receiving the sheet, which can be part of a sheet-collating machine having the cam, a conveyor, at least one sheet feeding device, and many of the pockets.

Abstract: Transfer media is positioned with a positioning apparatus. The apparatus has an output repository, a sensor, a controller, a lateral transporter, and a longitudinal conveyor. The output repository has an offset edge axis. The sensor is configured to sense a lateral position of the media relative to longitudinal alignment with the offset edge axis of the output repository and output an alignment signal responsive to the sensed lateral position of the media longitudinally aligning with the offset edge axis of the output repository. The controller is configured to output a lateral movement signal in absence of an alignment signal from the sensor and output a longitudinal movement signal. In response to the lateral movement signal from the controller, the lateral transporter laterally transports the media towards alignment with the offset edge axis of the output repository.