Abstract: A method for controlling a sheet sorter wherein plural bins are sequentially moved to be faced to a sheet material inlet to sort the sheet materials onto the bins includes permitting sorting operation; and starting to reset the plural bins after the sheet materials are taken out of the bins.

Abstract: An apparatus for rationally spreading a continuous length of different types of sheet material on a surface of a work table comprises a sheet material spreading carriage movable over the work table surface between a sheet material delivery station and a sheet material cutting station spaced therefrom, a cutting device arranged on the carriage behind the delivery position in the direction of supply of the sheet material for cutting the continuous length of sheet material spread on the working table surface into predetermined lengths, and a pressure roller mounted on the carriage and movable towards and away from the spread sheet material between an operative and rest position.

Abstract: The backbone portions of multiple page documents are trimmed by a chopper unit on a collating conveyor of an envelope inserter machine downstream of a supply station from which the documents are transferred to the conveyor, in order to establish collated sets of separated sheets onto which additional single insert sheets are added from other supply stations.

Abstract: A method for checking and combining separate documents having sections of text imprinted thereon for ensuring that documents taken from two or more groups possess the same identical sections of text includes the steps of conveying the documents taken from the groups of documents along a conveyor to a scanning position in front of an opto-electrical scanning device and scanning the documents with the opto-electrical scanning device in order to produce a series of digital signals. The digital signals associated with documents from two different groups of documents are then compared in a comparator to determine if the signals are identical.

Abstract: To permit placement of selected copy products having different subject matter together in specifically collated copy product assemblies, for association of individualized copy product assemblies with delivery addresses in a specific sequence, for example specific to subscribers or distribution stations or regions, a controller-computer (10) stores delivery addresses and the desired copy products at specific delivery addresses. All the copy products are stored in individual storage locations, from which, with respect to a specific address within the sequence, selected individual copy products are removed, for placement on collecting spaces (48-56) on a collecting transport system.

Abstract: A feeder-folder unit for use in folding paper sheet stock and delivering it to a signature gathering machine comprises a main frame with a hopper assembly carried by the main frame for receiving and storing a supply of sheets of paper stock. A sheet extractor and transfer drum assembly is located adjacent the hopper for extracting individual sheets of paper stock from the hopper means and conveying the extracted sheets along a path to a scoring and folding unit located adjacent the path. The hopper assembly includes a pair of spaced support surfaces for supporting the sheets of stock and intermittently actuated drive chains are provided for driving the sheets along the support surfaces toward the sheet extractor and transfer drum assembly.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus for use with a copier, printer or similar equipment for sorting a number of paper sheets sequentially driven out of the equipment to prepare paper stacks and binding the paper stacks. The apparatus has a plurality of bins, a sorter for sequentially distributing the paper sheets to the individual bins, a mechanism for positioning the paper sheets distributed to the bins, and a stapler for stapling the paper sheets positioned on the bins. The sorter and the stapler are operable simultaneously with each other. The stapler acts on only those bins which are loaded with paper sheets associated with the last document without exception, while not acting on those bins which are loaded with paper sheets associated with the last document but are loaded with only a single paper sheet. The bin on which the stapler is to act is located at least two bins above the bin where the paper sheets are to be positioned.

Abstract: An apparatus which positions a stapling device relative to a set of sheets. The stapling device is moved between a non-operative position spaced from an edge of a set of sheets to an operative position adjacent the edge of a set of sheets. Once in the operative position, the stapling device is transported in a direction substantially parallel to the edge of the set of sheets to a selected stapling position.

Abstract: A collecting cylinder for point folders of rotary machines, the circumferential surface of which consists of a number circumferential segments (5), which are next to one another in the direction of the cylinder axis but some distance apart, extend in the circumference in each case groupwise from point holes to point holes and are supported at one of two ends on bearings on eccentric shafts (6) and the radial interval of which can jointly be changed nonpositively. At least one eccentric shaft (6) of each circumferential segment group (5') is supported on bearings in the collecting cylinder so that it can be swung out radially and each eccentric shaft (6) is connected by means of an adjusting lever (10) and a connecting rod (11) with an adjusting disk (12), which is rotatably supported on bearings centrically to the collecting cylinder (1).

Abstract: A continuous paper folding device for a printing machine has a pair of thin elongated folding plates which are located at both sides of a paper transferring path for a continuous paper, provided by a plurality of transferring rollers and are arranged so as to be rotatable around the respective axes of rotation which extend in parallel to each other. When the pair of folding plates are operated by a driving motor, the folding plate are rotated in correspondence to rows of perforations formed in the continuous paper so that it is correctly folded in a zigzag form on a paper receiving table.

Abstract: An in-line inserter device comprises envelope and insert feeding assemblies, an envelope inserting station assembly, a sealing and stacking assembly, and various diverter stations. The envelope feeding assembly withdraws envelopes from a hopper-held envelope stack and conveys them to the inserting station. Each modular insert feeding assembly comprises a hopper-held insert stack disposed above, along, and in line with an insert conveyor. The conveyor, along its track, carries inserts dispensed from the hopper-held insert stacks to the inserting station. Diverter stations are disposed ahead of the envelope inserting station for diversion of envelopes and inserts and ahead of the inserted envelope stacking assembly to divert inserted envelopes, for normal operational purposes and for rectification of sensed faults by rejection and extraction of processed faulty items.

Abstract: A belt cradle cloth roll support apparatus for a cloth spreading machine including a pair of first and second endless belt members defining a V-shaped trough and trained about a plurality of rollers, including an adjustment mechanism for moving one of the belt members toward and away from the other belt member in order to decrease the angle of the V-shaped trough in order to better contain and control smaller diameter cloth rolls which have diminished in size as they are unwound while supported on the V-shaped belt cradle.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for ensuring predetermined lengthwise registration of interstacked form parts forming a unitary form. The form includes a continuous web comprised of longitudinally adjacent forms, each having a pair of transversely adjacent form parts. Each form part has a registration mark identifying the form parts as parts of a first form. Each registration mark has discrete portions including a count portion which specifically identifies the form parts as part of a predetermined form of a predetermined plurality of forms. When the form parts are interstacked, the registration marks are sensed to determine the accurate transverse alignment of the interstacked form parts and provide an error signal in response to a sensed lack of registration of the corresponding form parts.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and stacking sets of finished sheets in an electrostatographic copier or printer includes means for feeding a set of such sets one at a time onto the top of a stack of such sheets already in an output hopper, and an anti-dishevelment device for preventing the tearing, dishevelment and other damaging of the top sheet of the top set of the sets in the stack by contacting and holding down such top sheet during the feeding of a new set onto the top of the stack.

Abstract: A folder inserter machine includes a device for monitoring the passage of stationery items between a pair of feed rollers (32, 38). A first signal is output if a single item is between the rollers and a second signal is output if more than one item is between the rollers. in the illustrated embodiment the first signal indicates to the folder inserter control that the machine is ready to accept a second insert and the second signal indicates that a multiple feed has occurred and flags a warning to the operator.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus having a plurality of bins and a chuck unit and a stapler which are movable along the bins and causing the stapler to bind an end portion of a stack of paper sheets which have been received from a copier or similar image forming apparatus, sorted, and then loaded on any one of the bins. The chuck unit has an upper and a lower chuck. After the stapler has bound a stack of paper sheets a push bar independent of the chucks of the chuck unit pushes the end of the stack to return it into the bin. Both the upper and lower chucks are movable up and down. The force which the chucks exert on a stack of paper sheets is controlled in matching relation to the thickness of the stack.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus to be used with computer driven or IOT type printers that deliver copy sheets 1-N face-down includes an inverted stapler. A copy sheet set is brought into contact with the clamping surface of a fixed head of the stapler. After the copy sheet set is secured against the clamping surface, a staple is driven therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for arranging papers comprising a route switch lever which changes paper conveyor route for conveying a paper after a treatment depending on whether the paper is to be directly transferred to a discharge tray or stacked to form a paper group to be stapled together. The apparatus also comprises a stapler which receives papers one by one to form a stack of papers and staples an end of the paper stack. The apparatus further comprises a junction unit which has a conveyor route for directly transferring the paper to the discharge tray and is capable of moving between a first position for receiving a stapled group of papers from the stapling means and a second position for transferring the stapled group of papers to the discharge tray.

Abstract: A paper inserting apparatus comprises a guide bar having a flat guide path containing an upper and a lower surfaces extending parallel to and facing each other for the inserting tape supplied from its source, a tape pusher equipped to the guide bar so as to move slidably thereon within a defined range in the guide path, the tape pusher having an engaging device movable through the guide path for engaging the tape from both the upper and a lower sides by being inserted to the guide path through the upper and lower surfaces, and an elongated flexible elastic sheet or "leaf" which can slide the lower surface of the tape on the guide path and folds and drives the free portion of the tape protruded from the end edge of the guide path so that a portion of the tape is inserted by a defined distance into the sheet area on the upper exposed surface of the top sheet of the stack, reciprocal drive unit operatively connected to the tape pusher for sliding it within the defined range, and a non-return blade provided in th

Abstract: The sheet finisher includes a predetermined folding mode for receiving a sheet from a copy machine and which features a plurality of transfer guides through which the sheets received from the copy machine are selectively transferred; switching flappers for switching the flow of the sheet between guides, a temporary holding guide in which the leading end portion of the sheets can be temporarily inserted; a sheet folding arrangement including press roller pairs for folding the sheets; a sheet discharge angle control device which varies the angle at which the sheets are discharged onto an upper tray in accordance with the folding mode that is being used; a tray shift mechanism for moving the tray left and right so as to stack the sheets which are discharged thereonto in a classifying manner; a friction roller for moving a predetermined corner of each of the sheets into a preselected corner of the tray; a fastening device for fastening the sheets which have been maneuvered into the preselected corner by the frict