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: A method of registering a sheet in a duplex copier to alleviate the misalignment between the images copied on the front and back of the same sheet and to compensate for paper cut tolerances. The error angle of skew between a target angle, e.g. 90°, and the trailing edge of the sheet is measured and stored during a first pass. When the same sheet is fed through a second pass, the error angle is retrieved and the target angle is adjusted to compensate for the skew error of the first pass so that any misalignment between front and back images is substantially improved over systems that register images to the sheet without any knowledge of the location of the opposite side image.

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 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 positioning structure of a roller adapted for auto document feed apparatus includes a flexible shaft and a flexible arm. The flexible arm has a first portion integrally formed with the flexible shaft, a second portion arranged into a clamping portion of auto document feed apparatus, and a third portion formed between the first portion and the second portion. Therefore, the positioning structure can reduce higher manufacturing cost and tedious processes and indirectly decrease longer fabrication and maintainability time.

Abstract: A foodstuff seed sorting endless belt conveyor apparatus for sorting out premium quality seeds from a seed mixture having both premium and inferior grade seeds on the basis of seed physical characteristics develops an orbital motion that is superimposed upon the normal longitudinal motion of the apparatus endless belt to thereby increase sorting selectivity, efficiency, and rates of product throughput.

Abstract: A printer or other hardcopy apparatus comprises a pinch system (20) comprising a pinch wheel (21) and a drive roller (23) in which the pinch wheel is arranged to contact a print media at locations which move continuously transversely of the direction of media advance. The surface of the pinch wheel may have raised portions (25, 26) extending around the circumference of the roller element and forming continuous bands inclined to the direction of media advance. In a modification, the bands form a helix (45, 46) at each end of the pinch wheel. In a further modification a pinch member (51) comprises two parallel rows of freely-rotatable ball bearings (52) in a holder (53), in which they may be capable of a certain amount of lateral movement.

Abstract: A paper feeding device comprises a document tray for loading the document, a document-detecting sensor for detecting the document loaded in the document tray and a MYLAR® made of a sheet-shaped resilience material. A part of the MYLAR® is in contact with the document carrying surface at the upstream side of the detecting position of the document-detecting sensor The document is pushed towards the detecting position during the MYLAR® pushing the upper surface of the document. The MYLAR® is bent to form a loop. The lower guide plate is arranged to be in contact with a part of the loop When the document is not detected, the filler of the document-detecting sensor and the MYLAR® overlap each other. A long hole is set in the loop of the MYLAR®.

Abstract: A screening machine that includes a screen having a periphery and a central porous region is provided. A motion amplifier is substantially rigidly attached in direct contact with the periphery of the screen and not in direct contact with the central porous region. A transducer is substantially rigidly attached to the motion amplifier, wherein the transducer imparts a vibratory motion to the screen via the motion amplifier.

Abstract: A paper delivery device in a printer selectively changes a stacking direction of printed and ejected paper and stacks paper. The device includes a first tray, and a second tray to pivot to a first position where paper is guided to the first tray and to a second position where the paper is stacked so that a side of an image of the paper is opposite to a side of an image of the first tray. The device also includes a first guide and a second guide to provide a side and the other side, respectively, of an ejecting route so that the paper is ejected to the first tray. The device includes a first roller and a second roller, each of the first and second rollers being installed in the first guide and second guide of the ejecting route. The device includes an ascending unit installed in the second tray to ascend the second roller so that the second roller is engaged with the first roller in the first position, and the second roller is placed under the second guide in the second position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, sheet feeding unit, and a sheet support member. Sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet feeding unit is placed to be movable in the widthwise direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit and feeds the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet support member is placed at a position different from the position of the sheet feeding unit within an area where the sheet feeding unit can move, and supports the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet support member can move in the widthwise direction of the sheet independently of the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention includes: a feed rotary member rotationally driven in a sheet feeding direction; a retard rotary member in contact with the feed rotary member under a predetermined pressure and rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction with a predetermined torque; and a pressure fluctuation restraining device for diminishing a change in a contact pressure of the retard rotary member for the feed rotary member generated at the time of drive transmission to the retard rotary member.

Abstract: A two-stage static air classifier has a feed duct through which particles of a granular mixture fall. A classifying louver plate having fins forming upwardly inclined classifying channels is fitted into a side opening in the feed duct. Particles of a set size are drawn by air suction through the classifying channels in the first stage. A separator box having an inlet connected to the outlet of the classifying channels collects the separated particles in a second stage as the entrained particles fall by gravity to the bottom of the separator box while the air streams drawing the particles through the classifying channels pass out the top end of the box. Adjustable baffle plates transversely extending through the box permit control of the quantity of fines collected with the particles at the separator box bottom. Size of the collected particles is determined by the speed of a fan at the top outlet of the separator box.

Abstract: A screening machine having a base is provided. A screen is coupled to the base to separate material by size. The screening machine includes a vibration motor having piezoelectric elements and a vibration amplifier located between the piezoelectric elements and the screen. One or more of the piezoelectric elements can be used as sensors to provide feedback for operation control.

Abstract: A frozen product, upright-style vending machine having a pick and place mechanism moveable in three dimensions (X, Y, Z) with a fourth, rotational, degree of freedom (W) effected using the Z axis drive. The mechanism moves along tracks in the X-Y directions and is permitted full range of motion by an extension hose. Frozen products are arranged in a container within the vending machine freezer, the container acting as a virtual cold-wall freezer trapping cold air. The pick and place mechanism positions a vacuum pick-up head over the appropriate product along the X-Y tracks in response to a customer selection. The vacuum pick-up head is attached to a vacuum hose which is wound on a hose reel. The vacuum hose is unwound to lower the vacuum pick-up head along the Z axis to the selected product and, when suction has been established against a selected product in the virtual cold-wall freezer, the vacuum hose is rewound.

Abstract: A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holds a mail piece received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces. The method instructs movement of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to the second carriage so that they are in sequential order of delivery destination, ready to be packaged. Once the mail pieces are in sequential order on the second carriage, they are dropped into a container for a delivery point.

Abstract: A sealed wheel case for use on a vibrating aggregate processing device comprises a housing sized to hold a rotatable wheel supported on a shaft, the housing having a base, a peripheral sidewall, and a cover. The cover includes an aperture adapted to receive therethrough a driven portion of the shaft. A seal is disposed adjacent the shaft and the aperture, and an annular baffle is mounted to an inside surface of the cover and extends into the wheel case. The annular baffle is positioned on the inside surface of the cover to generally surrounding the shaft and the seal, and a plurality of attachment bolts are arranged to secure the housing to the frame.

Abstract: A hold down clamp for holding down a stack of sheet material, preferably on a transportation trolley selectively in operative association with a printing machine. The hold down clamp has a vertically adjustable holding arm selectively lockable along a substantially upright guide member. The holding arm has at least one release member for releasing locking, the release member being movable in the direction away from the stack. This allows the holding arm to be pliable upwardly in case of emergency.

Abstract: A roller for use in an imaging system includes a variable hardness, fluid-pressurizable roller core, and a roller cover surrounding the roller core. A source of pressurized fluid can be used to pressurize the roller core to a fixed, predetermined pressure prior to installation of the roller core in an imaging system. Alternatively, a variable-pressure source of pressurized air can be used to variably pressurize the roller core during operation of the imaging system.

Abstract: An entrance guide for externally fed sheet (4) to printer (1) is configured to bow the sheets. In one embodiment guides (5a, 5aa) within slot 7 have upper and lower configurations which force sheet into a bow. In one embodiment slot (7a) is bowed and is sufficiently narrow in height to only accept a bowed sheet. The bowed sheets do not sag against the printer (1), which aids in sheet registration.