Abstract: An apparatus applicable to a sheet article processing system for temporarily accumulating sheet articles which come in arbitrarily one by one or in a bunch and sending them out one by one at predetermined intervals. The apparatus includes a drive mechanism capable of starting and stopping the movement of a suction belt instantaneously, a sensor responsive to the leading edge of a sheet article which has been nipped by a downstream transport path, and a sensor responsive to the presence/absence of an interval between successive sheet articles which occurs between the downstream transport path and a reverse belt. Other sensors are provided for determining an interval between successive articles. A pick-up roller pair is driven at a controllable speed in matching relation to the interval between successive articles determined.

Abstract: The invention maintains the focus of a reader in a postal sorting and transporting system which is equipped to read an image of an address on either side of a mail article. The address reading apparatus uses two address readers disposed on opposite sides of a transfer path over which the mail articles travel. An address-carrying surface detector is disposed along the transfer path and upstream of the two address readers. Two floating roller pairs are provided at the inlet and the outlet of the address readers, to hold the mail article therebetween. A pressure roller driving mechanism responds to an output signal delivered from the address-carrying surface detector for selectively fixing one roller of either roller pair at a predetermined distance from the mail article's address carrying surface so that the distance between the address carrying surface and the appropriate address reader is kept constant.

Abstract: Flat article feeding apparatus comprises a feeder comprising a feed belt for feeding approximately flat articles one by one in a feeding direction and a predetermined number of idler pulleys. The idler pulleys are individually urged towards the feed belt so that the idler pulleys are in contact with one of the flat articles that is fed on the feed belt as a particular article. The idler pulleys are driven so as to feed the particular article reversedly relative to the feeding direction. The apparatus is applicable to feeding the flat articles successively to a utilizing device which is typically a bar code printer. For this purpose, the feeder and the idler pulleys are controllably driven in response to a completion signal which the utilizing device produces upon completion of a predetermined process.

Abstract: A sheet convey device includes a plurality of feed rollers for conveying a sheet in a standing state, and guide plates for guiding the sheet to be conveyed. The device has helical rings, wound on two ends of the feed rollers in different winding directions, for guiding the sheet toward the central portions of the feed rollers.

Abstract: A system for feeding a flat article has a suction chamber; a suction belt for picking up one of a plurality of flat articles which are stacked in a vertically standing state. The suction belt moves along the front surface of the suction chamber. The flat articles are carried over a transport path by the suction belt. At an upstream position in the transport path, the intervals between the flat articles are detected. First and second motors drive the suction belt, varying the rotational motor speeds. A roller along the transport path contacts the transferred flat articles in accordance with the interval which is detected by the detecting member.