Abstract: A toner bottle closure includes a first closure member configured to be fixed to a toner bottle. The first closure member has an outlet opening for dispensing toner. A second closure member is movable relative to the first closure member along an axis between a closed position, in which the second closure member cooperates with the first closure member to close or seal the outlet opening, and an open position for dispensing the toner. The second closure member includes an impact damper, which projects at least partially in a direction parallel to the axis of movement. The impact damper is configured to deform plastically for damping a mechanical impact on the toner bottle closure. A rotation preventer is configured to prevent rotation of the second closure member around the axis of movement relative to the first closure member. A toner bottle including such a toner bottle cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A toner bottle closure includes a first closure member configured to be fixed to a toner bottle. The first closure member has an outlet opening for dispensing toner. A second closure member is movable relative to the first closure member along an axis between a closed position, in which the second closure member cooperates with the first closure member to close or seal the outlet opening, and an open position for dispensing the toner. The second closure member includes an impact damper, which projects at least partially in a direction parallel to the axis of movement. The impact damper is configured to deform plastically for damping a mechanical impact on the toner bottle closure. A rotation preventer is configured to prevent rotation of the second closure member around the axis of movement relative to the first closure member. A toner bottle including such a toner bottle cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method includes arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor, advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which applies a process to a process side of the sheet opposite to the contact side, and to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor. To correct for curl deformation of the sheet, air flow is directed onto the process side of sheet, which urges the sheet towards a supporting element. The air flow is controlled in response to a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source.

Abstract: Sheet alignment module and post-processing device comprising such sheet alignment module for aligning sheets in an operative orientation on a substantially horizontal sheet support member, comprising a support roller, the support roller being rotatably mounted on the sheet alignment module and configured to support the sheet alignment module during a sheet aligning movement, the sheet alignment module further comprising a jogger member comprising a substantially flat surface extending in a substantially vertical direction, the jogger member is moveably mounted on the sheet alignment module such that the jogger member is freely moveable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the sheet alignment module.

Abstract: A method is provided for transferring a sheet in a sheet transport assembly from a supplying conveyor to a receiving conveyor. The method comprises the steps of: arranging a contact side of a sheet in contact with a transport belt of the supplying conveyor; advancing the sheet on the transport belt in a transport direction along a process unit, which is arranged for applying a process to a process side of the sheet, the process side being opposite to the contact side, to a transfer area where the sheet is transferred to a receiving conveyor; controlling an air flow directed onto the process side of sheet for urging the sheet towards a supporting element, which supports the sheet during transport in the transfer area, thereby correcting a curl deformation of the sheet. The air flow is controlled in response to at least one sheet attribute comprising a media characteristic of the sheet, wherein said media characteristic defines a curl deformation behavior of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet transport assembly is provided for transporting a sheet along a process unit configured for applying a process to the sheet. The sheet transport assembly includes: a conveying unit including a transport belt and a deflection element. The transport belt is configured for advancing the sheet in a transport direction along the process unit to the deflection element, the sheet being placed with a contact side on the belt and a process side towards the process unit. The deflection element is arranged in contact with the transport belt to deflect the transport belt downstream in the transport direction relative to the process unit. The sheet transport assembly further includes a separating unit for separating the sheet from the transport belt. The separating unit is connected to an air supply source.

Abstract: Sheet alignment module and post-processing device comprising such sheet alignment module for aligning sheets in an operative orientation on a substantially horizontal sheet support member, comprising a support roller, the support roller being rotatably mounted on the sheet alignment module and configured to support the sheet alignment module during a sheet aligning movement, the sheet alignment module further comprising a jogger member comprising a substantially flat surface extending in a substantially vertical direction, the jogger member is moveably mounted on the sheet alignment module such that the jogger member is freely moveable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the sheet alignment module.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device and method of stacking sheets, wherein a first pressing member engages with an edge of a new sheet to be deposited on top of a previously deposited sheet on a sheet receiving plane and presses down the edge, while a second pressing member maintains a pressure onto an edge of the previously deposited sheet. The second pressing member engages with the edge of the new sheet and presses down the edge onto the previously deposited sheet on the receiving plane, while the first pressing member maintains a pressure onto the edge of the new sheet. Thus, the sheets may always be pressed down on the edge by at least one of the first and second pressing members.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a laterally moveable post-processing module moveable from a predetermined operating position to a predetermined lateral delivery position and a control unit. The control unit is configured to operate the post-processing module such that a lateral delivery position for a set of at least one sheet is determined, the post-processing module is moved to the operating position, the post-processing module is operable to subsequently engage the set of at least one sheet to obtain a processed set of at least one sheet, then move the post-processing module from the operating position to the delivery position in coupling engagement with the processed set of at least one sheet, to move the processed set of at least one sheet to the lateral delivery position and disengage the post-processing module to deliver the processed set of at least one sheet at the lateral delivery position.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device and method of stacking sheets, wherein a first pressing member engages with an edge of a new sheet to be deposited on top of a previously deposited sheet on a sheet receiving plane and presses down the edge, while a second pressing member maintains a pressure onto an edge of the previously deposited sheet. The second pressing member engages with the edge of the new sheet and presses down the edge onto the previously deposited sheet on the receiving plane, while the first pressing member maintains a pressure onto the edge of the new sheet. Thus, the sheets may always be pressed down on the edge by at least one of the first and second pressing members.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a laterally moveable post-processing module moveable from a predetermined operating position to a predetermined lateral delivery position and a control unit. The control unit is configured to operate the post-processing module such that a lateral delivery position for a set of at least one sheet is determined, the post-processing module is moved to the operating position, the post-processing module is operable to subsequently engage the set of at least one sheet to obtain a processed set of at least one sheet, then move the post-processing module from the operating position to the delivery position in coupling engagement with the processed set of at least one sheet, to move the processed set of at least one sheet to the lateral delivery position and disengage the post-processing module to deliver the processed set of at least one sheet at the lateral delivery position.

Abstract: A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: In a device for conveying sheets wherein two conveying paths intersect, a moveable guide member is provided at the intersection such that in a first position it connects both parts of the first conveyor path while at the same time it disconnects both parts of the second conveyor path and in a second position has the reverse function on the first and second conveyor paths. Preferably, while the guide member is in the first position, a sheet can be conveyed form one part of the second conveyor path to one part of the first conveyor path via a third conveyor path which does not pass through the intersection. Similarly, while the guide member is in the second position, a sheet can also be conveyed from one part of the first conveyor path to one part of the second conveyor path via the third conveyor path.

Abstract: A device which can feed originals from a holder via a feed path to an exposure window using a cooperating pair of rollers and a conveyor device, the direction of movement of which can be reversed to allow returning of the originals via a discharge path to the holder. The pair of rollers is provided with a drive mechanism and a coupling belt which, during conveyance of an original to the exposure window, convey the original to and on the window in cooperation with the conveyor device and which stop the pair of rollers or reverse the direction of movement of the rollers during the conveyance of an original from the exposure window to the discharge path in order to inhibit feeding of the new original on one hand, and to position the new original on the other hand. There is a fixed time relation between the times at which the states of the movement of the pair of rollers and the conveyor device change.

Abstract: Sheets being advanced on a driven conveyor with one sheet at least partially overlapped by another are separated in the transport path, so that only one sheet is fed at a time, by the action of a friction member such as a roller which is mounted for swinging movement relative to a line of contact with the sheets for pressing the sheets against the conveyor and is biased by a spring and/or its own weight in the direction opposite to the transport direction. The axis of swinging movement is parallel to the line of contact and so located that a plane through the swing axis and the plane of the transport path at that line, as viewed in the transport direction, forms an angle of between about 70.degree. and 90.degree.. The friction member preferably is a roller which is rotated at a relatively low speed so as to move its peripheral surface in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets one by one from a group of at least partially overlapping sheets, in which a conveyor belt in contact with the lowermost sheet is driven to feed that sheet in the desired transport direction while a sheet separating roller forming a nip with the belt is driven so as to move the surface of the roller through the nip in the opposite direction, thus holding back of the nip sheets lying on the lowermost sheet, is provided with a displaceable member, for example a flat end portion of a leaf spring wound into a spiral, which has a smooth underside to receive under this member and press on the sheets approaching the nip and has a forward end edge slidably engaged with the surface of the roller immediately adjacent to the location where the sheets contact the roller. The displaceable member prevents the sheets from curling up or buckling in the vicinity of the roller, irrespective of the number of sheets and irrespective of variations of the position of the separating roller.