Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for feeding a sequential plurality of sheets is disclosed having a sheet feed path for guiding sheets in a sheet feeding direction through the apparatus, the apparatus comprising driving means for driving sheets along the sheet feed path, and trail edge deflecting means located on the sheet feed path, the trail edge deflecting means being arranged to deflect the trailing edge of a leading sheet to ensure overlap by a following sheet on a predetermined side of the leading sheet.

Abstract: A stopping device for stopping the travel of sheets along a sheet path is disclosed having a gate member movable between an interference position in which it prevents the travel of sheets along the sheet path, and a release position in which sheets are permitted to travel along the sheet path, and having a lock-out means operable to lock the gate member in the interference position against forces substantially in the direction of travel of sheets along the sheet path.

Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for paper collations is disclosed having an accumulation chamber for receiving sheet material, the chamber defined by a fixed guide on one side, a movable guide on the other side and a movable stop member at one end. Driving means are included for driving said sheet material against said stop member, and means are provided for moving the movable guide between a first position in which it is spaced from the fixed guide by a gap sufficiently small to prevent buckling of the sheet material as it is driven by the driving means against the stop member, and a second position in which the movable guide is spaced away from the fixed guide for discharge of the sheet material from the chamber.

Abstract: A handle for attachment to a rotational shaft, the handle comprising a lever handle, for attachment to the rotational shaft for aiding application of torque to the shaft, and an alignment boss, separate from the lever handle, for attaching the lever handle to the shaft and for aligning the lever handle at a predetermined orientation with respect to an alignment feature of the shaft.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is disclosed having a first sheet feeding means for advancing a sheet along a sheet path, a second sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet along a continuation of the sheet path, driving means for driving the first sheet feeding means independently of the second sheet feeding means and for common drive of the first and second sheet feeding means, and a drive controller arranged to control said driving means to enable a sheet to be driven along the sheet path from the first sheet feeding means to the second sheet feeding means whilst the second sheet feeding means remains undriven and to enable continued feeding of the sheet by both sheet feeding means.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets one-at-a-time along a path is disclosed having: means for storing a plurality of sheets; a feeder/separator comprising feeding means for engaging the sheets and feeding them from the means for storing and a separator for engaging sheets fed by the feeding means to thereby feed single ones of the sheets one-at-a-time along the path whilst remaining sheets not being fed along the path are halted by the separator; and a clearance mechanism for engaging said remaining sheets and removing them from the separator region in a sheet clearance process.