Abstract: In a sorter for sorting sheets fed from a sequential source of sheets, with a closely vertically spaced array of sorter bins, and apparatus to vertically move the array of sorter bins relative to the source of sheets for sequentially loading individual sheets into individual sorter bins, the improvement including partially horizontally displacing one individual sorter bin at a time from the superposed array, in coordination with the vertical movement, towards the source of sheets to provide an enlarged bin entry opening without requiring any change in the vertical spacing between the bins, and subsequently horizontally moving a bin so displaced back into vertically superposed alignment with the other bins of the array. Also disclosed is stapling sheets sorted into the bins, wherein the same system for partially horizontally displacing the sorter bins also functions to move one displaced bin at a time into the stapler for stapling the sheets sorted in that bin without removal therefrom.

Abstract: A sheet recirculating, folding and gluing system folds documents, holds them at a wait station and then inserts them into another sheet which is folded and glued "on-line" to form an envelope.

Abstract: In a system of plurally recirculating a set of document sheets for precollated copying wherein the document sheets are repeatedly individually fed seriatim from the bottom of an overlying stack thereof for copying with registration and returned to the top of the stack for restacking in a tray having a support surface, a rear guide and two edge guides, an improvement is disclosed that includes a straight ramp attached to one of the edge guides so that document sheets returned to the support surface will lie flat against the edge guide and thereby provide a positive registration position along the junction between the ramp and the rear guide thereby reducing the possibility of mis-registration due to bending of the document sheets during feeding and recirculation.

Abstract: In a recirculating document handling apparatus for a copier, in which a set of document sheets are sequentially circulated from a stack thereof to the imaging station of the copier and back to the stack, and in which selectable inverting apparatus is provided for inverting or not inverting the document sheets as they are being so circulated and before they are returned to the stack, the latter comprises a large diameter inverting roller adjacent the downstream side of the imaging station, normally rotated in a first direction, and selectably rotated in the reverse direction, and a repositionable wedge-shaped first sheet guide provides in a first position, a document sheet first path from said imaging station around the outside of said inverting roller and towards the stack with the inverting roller driven in the first direction, and said first guide being repositionable to a second position, in coordination with said reverse rotation of said inverting roller in which a document sheet is guided in a second pat

Abstract: In a document handling apparatus for registered feeding of document sheets to the imaging station of a copier with a document imaging station transport, and a document sheet acquisition and initial registration system for feeding document sheets to the document imaging station transport, the improvement wherein said document sheet acquisition and initial registration system includes a sheet inversion path with a sheet inverting roller and spaced plural sheet retaining belts partially wrapped around the inverting roller to provide separate document sheet lead edge capturing nips therewith, and to provide a non-slip document feeding path when a document is held between the plural belts and the roller, and with apparatus for mounting a central one of the plural belts differently from the other belts for centrally engaging a document sheet in a registration nip with the central belt prior to engagement of a document sheet in the capture nips of the other belts.

Abstract: A system for accurately controlling the position of documents as they are throughputted along a straight line path for purposes of MICR writing and reading thereon. Accurate control of document position along a linear path is obtained by minimizing speed variations of a throughputted document, by maintaining a throughputted document in good registration, and by holding closely proximate the throughputted document to the read or write head.