Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: A multi-direction transfer conveyor for off-loading a stack of paper from a first work station or conveyor, rotating the stack 90 degrees left or right and aligning the stack with a second conveyor, for example. Guide components which may be ball casters are provided on a bottom surface of the transfer conveyor cart to move within U-shaped channels that together form an L-shaped or U-shaped track. Drive wheels actuate the transfer conveyor to move along and/or relative to the shaped track. By suitable motor control and/or suitably placed or actuated stops and guide structures, travel of the guide components down the shaped track is controlled to cause the cart to rotate and align with the respective conveyors.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating an upper sheet from a lower sheet comprising a first roller having an axis of rotation and a sheet engaging surface arranged to frictionally engage the upper sheet, a second roller having an axis of rotation arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the first roller, the second roller having a sheet engaging surface arranged to frictionally engage the lower sheet, and, drive means for rotating the first and second rollers about their respective axes of rotation to produce different surface speeds at the sheet engaging surfaces of the first and second rollers, whereby the upper and lower sheets are separated into a non-coincident configuration by respective frictional engagement with the first and second rollers. The invention also comprises a method for separating the aforementioned upper and lower sheets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an array of individual business forms from a web allow two or more sets of forms from a single web to be formed and integrated in a final array, preferably an in seriatim array with a spacing between the individual forms. A web at least two sheets wide is moved in a first direction and slit to produce at least two web sections. The two web sections are redirected so that they move in different paths, such as by stationary curved surfaces that are vertically spaced from each other and disposed at different angles to the horizontal. Typically the web sections are redirected so that they are substantially vertically aligned with each other. Then the two web sections are cut into individual sheets and the individual sheets are redirected and combined into a single array of sheets with alternating sheets in the array from alternating web sections.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an array of individual business forms from a web allow two or more sets of forms from a single web to be formed and integrated in a final array, preferably an in seriatim array with a spacing between the individual forms. A web at least two sheets wide is moved in a first direction and slit to produce at least two web sections. The two web sections are redirected so that they move in different paths, such as by stationary curved surfaces that are vertically spaced from each other and disposed at different angles to the horizontal. Typically the web sections are redirected so that they are substantially vertically aligned with each other. Then the two web sections are cut into individual sheets and the individual sheets are redirected and combined into a single array of sheets with alternating sheets in the array from alternating web sections.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: A pressure sealer for sealing pressure sensitive adhesive strips on business forms has only a single set of sealing rollers forming a nip. One roller is gear driven by a D.C. motor, and a spring applies a biasing force to press the rollers into contact with each other. A forward sensor and a reverse sensor are positioned just before the nip of the rollers, in or above a support surface for business forms, and cooperate with a computer chip to control the motor to drive a business form in a first direction between the rollers, until it has almost completely passed through the nip. Then the motor is reversed to drive the business form through the nip again in a second direction opposite the first direction. The business form is manually fed to, and removed from, the nip.

Abstract: A pressure sealer for sealing pressure sensitive adhesive strips on business forms has only a single set of sealing rollers forming a nip. One roller is gear driven by a D.C. motor, and a spring applies a biasing force to press the rollers into contact with each other. A forward sensor and a reverse sensor are positioned just before the nip of the rollers, in a support surface for business forms, and cooperate with a computer chip to control the motor to drive a business form in a first direction between the rollers, until it has almost completely passed through the nip. Then the motor is reversed to drive the business form through the nip again in a second direction opposite the first direction. The business form is manually fed to, and removed from, the nip.