Abstract: A sorter connection apparatus disposed between a copying machine and a sorter, which is capable of feeding individually copy sheets discharged from the copying machine into the sorter, comprising a lower guide plate connecting the sheet outlet of the copying machine to the sheet inlet of the sorter, an upper guide plate situated above the lower guide plate, mounted detachably on the lower guide plate through a detachment device, and a sheet transportation roller which is in contact with the lower surface of the upper guide plate and at least the outer peripheral portion of which is made of an elastic material which can be easily deformed under application of pressure thereto. The sheets are transported, while held between the upper guide plate and the sheet transportation roller.

Abstract: A system for successively distributing one sheet after another to sheet receiving bins having a sheet guide device including conveyor belts and having sheet separating claws and a guiding device. The guiding device includes a contacting member successively brought into engagement with the sheet separating claws of a plurality of layers as the guiding device moves downwardly, to move the claws to an operative position in which the claws separates a sheet from the conveyor belts. The contacting member is moved to a position in which it is prevented from engaging the claws when the guiding device is moved upwardly during operation of the system. The sheet separated by the claws from the conveyor belts is moved to each bin along lower and upper guide plates while having its curl taken care of by a rod-shaped guide. The sheet guide device can be pivotally moved relative to a main body of the system, and the guiding device can be pivotally moved relative to the sheet guide device.

Abstract: A copying machine equipped with a collator for distributing copy sheets fed thereto from a copying machine body into its multiple bins and, upon the lapse of a determined period of time after a copying operation, changing the operating mode from a collation mode or an assortment mode, which may have been selected in the use of the collator, automatically to a normal copying mode. The collator is provided with a bin sheet sensor adapted to detect sheets in the bins thereof. The copying machine is also provided with means for cancelling the automatic mode changing function when the bin sheet sensor detects a sheet or sheets, that is, when the bins of the collator are not entirely empty.

Abstract: A photoconductive drum is rotatably mounted on a shaft and is axially movable for removal from the apparatus. One or more guide rollers are disposed below and adjacent to one end of the drum so that a small axial movement of the drum will move the drum into supporting engagement with the guide rollers. The drum rolls over the guide rollers for easy removal from the apparatus. The guide rollers may also be movable so that the drum is moved into supporting engagement with the guide rollers and the drum and guide rollers are then removed from the apparatus in a unitary manner.

Abstract: A squeeze roller retraction assembly for use with electrophotographic copying machines of the type in which a photosensitive drum is removable from the machine, for inspection or other purposes, through an opening formed in a sidewall which opening is normally covered by a coverplate. A squeeze roller which normally engages with the peripheral drum surface has its engagement therewith automatically released once the coverplate has been dismounted from the sidewall, and also is returned to its operative position as the coverplate is remounted, to thereby prevent damage of the drum as well as a wrong usage of the machine which may be caused by forgetting to replace the squeeze roller to the operative position.