Abstract: To enable a bunch of sheets to be reliably discharged to a stack tray, also in the case where weight of the bunch of sheets formed on a processing tray is large, a post-processing control section receives information on an ink discharge amount, the number of sheets, sheet type, and printing mode (two-side/one-side) in printing on sheets from a main body control section of an image forming unit A, in forming a bunch of sheets on the processing tray. The control section thereby recognizes weight of a bunch of sheets formed on the processing tray, and when the section determines that the weight is heavier than predetermined weight, decreases a rotation velocity of a drive motor of a sheet bunch transport means, or increases a current amount applied to the drive motor. By this means, torque of the motor is increased, and the bunch of sheets is reliably discharged to the first stack tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to start feeding a sheet from a feeding unit without confirming a presence or absence of an insert sheet to be inserted before the sheet when an amount of insert sheets stacked on a stacking tray as a feed source is higher than a predetermined amount. In a case in which the amount of the insert sheets on the stacking tray is lower than the predetermined amount, the controller starts feeding a sheet from the feeding unit without confirming a presence or absence of the insert sheet when another stacking tray on which an amount of insert sheets is higher than the predetermined amount is present, and the controller starts feeding the sheet from the feeding unit after confirming the presence or absence of the insert sheet when the other stacking tray is absent.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. Sheets, a plurality of which form a set, are contained in each of containers, and sheets are fed from the corresponding containers. If a first sheet to be fed is in the same layer as a second sheet that was fed from the containers last time, the first sheet is fed from a set that included the second sheet in the containers is fed. If the layer of the first sheet is higher than the layer of the second sheet that was fed from the containers last time, all remaining sheets in the set that included the second sheet are discharged from the containers.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an overlap conveying unit that conveys two or more sheets in an overlapping manner; a stacking unit that stacks therein the sheets conveyed in the overlapping manner; an aligning unit that includes a rotating body and a regulating member and is configured to bring the rotating body into contact with a topmost sheet among the stacked sheets, so as to make the sheet abut the regulating member and align ends of the sheets; and a controller that controls the overlap conveying unit. The controller is configured to determine, according to sheet information, whether to make the topmost sheet overlap in a condition of projecting from the other sheets.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus according to one aspect of this invention controls to print images on sheets based on image data of a plurality of pages, generate a bookbinding product by executing folding processing for the image-printed sheets, and output the bookbinding product. The printing control apparatus further accepts the position of an insertion sheet to be inserted into the sheets for which the folding processing is executed, and controls to output a plurality of bookbinding products by using, as a reference, the accepted position of the insertion sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of trays to store an index sheet provided with a tab at a predetermined position of the index sheet, a setting section to set first information concerning the index sheet stored in the tray for each of the plurality of trays, a receiving section to receive second information concerning an insertion of the index sheet in a job, and a controller to control an execution of the job and an operation of feeding the index sheet. The controller automatically selects the tray in the execution of the job based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for operating a print further processing system for producing and processing printed products, in particular for forming stacks or packs of printed product collections comprising completed final printed products such as periodicals and newspapers, which are preferably put together from a main product and a plurality of part products and/or inserts. The printed products are produced in accordance with a predefined production plan and, by means of a stacking device, are processed to form a sequence of packs (S1-S9) of individually predefined size; in order to produce part packs, the processing speed of the parts of the print further processing system that are connected upstream of the stacking device is reduced and, when a threshold value (T) is exceeded, empty positions are formed deliberately in the section of the product sequence allocated to the pack (S). The threshold value (T) is preferably a predefined value of the difference ? in the size of successive packs (Sn?Sn+1).

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including an image forming device which includes a paper feeding tray, a print section which performs printing to papers fed from the paper feeding tray and a control section which controls so as to feed the printed papers to a post-processing device as a booklet main body to be book-bound, and the post-processing device which carries out ring-binding processing to the fed papers and book-binds a booklet, and the control section controls so as to feed a front cover paper, a back cover paper, papers for binding of the booklet to a ring-binding process section of the post-processing device along with the booklet main body, and a paper feeding order is in an order of the back cover paper, the papers for binding, the front cover paper and the booklet main body.

Abstract: When sheets (1, 2) with different sizes are processed to a mail item, sheets (1, 2) with different sizes in conveying direction are supplied along first and second conveyor tracks, gathered into a stack and then folded. The folding of the stacked set (7) takes place with at least one predetermined folding length (a). In response to a difference between the folding length (a) and the size of the sheet (2) of the second size, which is within a predetermined range, the conveyor tracks (5, 6) are controlled by the control structure (9) for combining at least the sheets (1, 2) with leading edges (10, 11) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) and with trailing edges (12, 13) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) to form the set (7). From the combining until the folding, the sheets (1, 2) are mutually fixed and during folding, at least one fold (14) is provided in the sheets (1, 2).

Abstract: A co-mailing system uses an insert machine to merge different mail streams into one stream in the sequence of a master mail list. By using an insert machine with vertically oriented pockets traveling on a moving conveyor, the speed of merging the mail streams is high and efficiency is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing small, thin sheets from an active-ingredient film (2), in which the latter is produced by casting the film material onto a substrate material or by coating a substrate material, storing it with or without substrate material on a reel, pulling it off the reel and cutting it. It achieves the object of designing a method of this type in such a way that with this method small sheets can be produced as exactly as possible in predetermined sizes. To do this, the active-ingredient film (2) is pulled off automatically, is separated from a substrate material which, if present, and in tensioned form, is fed to a cutting station and is cut, in the feed direction, into long, narrow strips (7) of predeterminable width, and the long strips (7) are brought together in the feed direction and together are fed by a further feed device (10) to a transverse cutter (11), which cuts through the combined long strips (7) at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for recovering from print assembly failure in a printer with printed medium assembly capabilities. The method generates a first print set including a plurality of physical medium sheets, and stores the first print set of a first interim stacker. A second print set is generated including a plurality of physical medium sheets. Sheets are accessed sheets from the first interim stacker and assembled with sheets from the second print set, generating a final print set with a plurality of sheets in a first order. The final print set is stored in an output stacker. In the event of a first print set failure, first print set replacement sheets are generating. In one aspect, generating the final print set includes directly merging first print set replacement sheets (bypassing the interim stacker) with sheets from the second print set.

Abstract: The inserter including a storing unit, a sheet-feeding unit; a conveyance unit; and a controller that determines for every sheet a conveying speed of the sheet to be discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, in which the controller determines: the conveying speed of the sheet, which was discharged from the image forming apparatus, when the sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on the conveying speed when the inserter receives the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus; and a conveying speed of the insert-sheet, which was fed by the sheet-feeding unit, when the insert-sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on a conveying speed of one of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet, when one of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is discharged to the downstream side device.

Abstract: Different printed products (10) are fed by feeding units (7) and collated in compartments (2), wherein the compartments (2) are conveyed substantially continuously past the feeding outlets (6) arranged successively in a line, and a printed product (10) is added through each feeding outlet (6). The compartments (2) have a compartment base (3) and a transverse wall (4), wherein the compartment base (3) is inclined at least in a feeding region (5) of a circuit (1) of the compartments (2) in a conveying direction and the transverse wall (4) is upstream or downstream depending on the direction of inclination of the compartments. The compartments (2) are coupled to a conveying means such that they are rotatable around a substantially horizontal and/or substantially vertical axis. Thus, it becomes possible to maintain the inclination angle of the compartments which they have in the feeding region, in a region (12) for conveying further, an extraction region (15) with inclining or declining gradients.

Abstract: The inserter including a storing unit, a sheet-feeding unit; a conveyance unit; and a controller that determines for every sheet a conveying speed of the sheet to be discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, in which the controller determines: the conveying speed of the sheet, which was discharged from the image forming apparatus, when the sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on the conveying speed when the inserter receives the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus; and a conveying speed of the insert-sheet, which was fed by the sheet-feeding unit, when the insert-sheet is discharged to the downstream side device by the conveyance unit, based on a conveying speed of one of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet, when one of the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is discharged to the downstream side device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for compiling flat objects, wherein a gripper conveyor is used, the grippers of which either act directly as support elements or contact surfaces for the products to be compiled, thereby constituting a receiving unit, or interact with a separate support element to form a receiving unit. The use of a gripper conveyor having a controllable opening state and a controllable orientation of the gripper jaws of the individual grippers, and/or a controllable orientation of the separate support elements, has the advantage that the orientation of the contact surfaces and the clamping function within a receiving unit can be set independently of the adjoining receiving units. In this way, greater flexibility is attained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet, includes a sheet inserting unit configured to insert one or more of a first insertion sheet and a second insertion sheet at one or more predetermined insertion positions in a plurality of sheets, in a case where the plurality of sheets are output by the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus also includes a control unit configured to control the sheet inserting unit to prevent the sheet inserting unit from inserting both the first insertion sheet and the second insertion sheet at the same predetermined insertion position in the plurality of sheets.

Abstract: An inserter apparatus has a printer A and an inserter apparatus B. The printer A has a print section 13, and an insert information output section 9 for outputting insert information including an insert page showing a position of an insert paper and an interval of printing papers. The inserter apparatus B has a discharged paper carrying section 17 of printing papers from the print section 13; a counter section 19 for counting the number of sheets of the printing papers; a paper feeding section 21 for setting the insert paper therein; and a paper feeding controller 23. Based on insert information from the insert information output section 9, the paper feeding controller 23 controls the insert paper to be fed at a timing before the next paper interval is passed after a count value of the counter section 19 reaches one page before the insert page. Therefore, it is possible to realize an excellent short insert processing for the printing papers.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying path which is arranged at the sheet inserting device and which conveys the sheets on which the images are formed at the image forming apparatus main body and the insertion sheet to the post-processing device and a sheet conveying portion which is arranged at the sheet conveying path and which conveys the sheets being capable of accelerating and decelerating is controlled to accelerate sheet conveying speed of the sheets from the image forming apparatus main body from a predetermined conveying speed at the sheet conveying path, to insert the insertion sheet so as to follow a preceding sheet which is accelerated, and to convey the sheets from the image forming apparatus main body and the insertion sheet to the post-processing device after being decelerated to the predetermined conveying speed.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus including: a gathering tray device that collates sheets sequentially fed thereto into a sheet bundle; a sheet bundle conveying device that conveys the sheet bundle collated by the gathering tray device to an adhesive coating position located downstream of the gathering tray device; an adhesive coating device that coats the sheet bundle located at the adhesive coating position with an adhesive; a cover sheet stitching device that stitches a cover sheet with the sheet bundle; and a control device that controls a bookbinding process executed by the sheet bundle conveying device, the adhesive coating device, and the cover sheet stitching device, wherein, upon receiving a bookbinding process stopping signal before the sheet bundle is coated with the adhesive by the adhesive coating device, the control device controls the adhesive coating device to coat the sheet bundle in process with the adhesive.

Abstract: An inserter apparatus has a printer A and an inserter apparatus B. The printer A has a print section 13, and an insert information output section 9 for outputting insert information including an insert page showing a position of an insert paper and an interval of printing papers. The inserter apparatus B has a discharged paper carrying section 17 of printing papers from the print section 13; a counter section 19 for counting the number of sheets of the printing papers; a paper feeding section 21 for setting the insert paper therein; and a paper feeding controller 23. Based on insert information from the insert information output section 9, the paper feeding controller 23 controls the insert paper to be fed at a timing before the next paper interval is passed after a count value of the counter section 19 reaches one page before the insert page. Therefore, it is possible to realize an excellent short insert processing for the printing papers.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes first and second conveying paths. The first conveying path is configured to receive a sheet from a device connected at an upstream side in a sheet conveying direction so as to transfer the sheet to a device connected at a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The second conveying path intersects with the first conveying path. A controller switches between a first operation mode and a second operation mode. In the first operation mode, the sheet is conveyed along the first conveying path, and in the second operation mode, the sheet is conveyed along the second conveying path. The controller controls a sheet conveying operation in the first operation mode or the second operation mode in accordance with the state of the sheet on the second conveying path.

Abstract: A method for controlling an apparatus which inserts a second sheet fed from a second sheet feeding unit into a plurality of first sheets that are fed from a first sheet feeding unit and discharged to a sheet stacking unit after an image is formed. The method includes setting a number of a plurality of sheets to be fed from the second sheet feeding unit as one set of second sheets, outputting the second sheets to the sheet stacking unit, receiving a confirmation request of the second sheets, and performing control to output a predetermined number of second sheets which corresponds to the set number from the second sheet feeding unit, when the confirmation request is received.

Abstract: A bookbinding system to produce booklets, including: an image forming section; a first conveyance route of the sheet carrying the image; a sheet storing section which stores sheets on which no image is going to be formed; a second conveyance route to connect the sheet storing section and the first conveyance route; a notching section which forms notches on edges of the sheets; and a bookbinding section which accumulates the sheets to form a sheet bundle, and adhere a cover sheet to the sheet bundle to become a booklet, wherein the image forming section is placed upstream of a merging point of the first and second conveyance routes, with respect to a sheet conveyance direction of the first conveyance route, wherein the notching section is placed downstream of the merging point; and the bookbinding section is placed downstream of the notching section, with respect to the sheet conveyance direction.

Abstract: A co-mailing system uses an insert machine to merge different mail streams into one stream in the sequence of a master mail list. By using an insert machine with vertically oriented pockets traveling on a moving conveyor, the speed of merging the mail streams is high and efficiency is obtained.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an input unit for input of setting information, an image forming unit, a conveying unit, a control unit, and a jam detecting unit, wherein a set of a plurality of different kinds of special sheets disposed in a predetermined order is used. When occurrence of a jam is detected by the jam detecting unit, the control unit recognizes whether a special sheet having been fed is present in the image forming system, and if it is recognized that a special sheet is present in the image forming system, the control unit controls the conveying unit, after the jam being released, to eject a special sheet or sheets as unnecessary up to one that is disposed preceding a special sheet that is of the same kind as a most front one that was present in the image forming system at the time of the occurrence of the jam.

Abstract: Inserting systems and methods are provided for use in sheet processing. The inserting systems and methods provide improved handling of sheet articles during processing. Sheet articles can be advantageously and efficiently advanced in separate stacks and later combined for insertion into an envelope. For insertion into an envelope, the mouth of the envelope can be selectively variably opened depending upon the amount of insertion material to go into the envelope where the amount an envelope is to be opened can be based upon processing or job information. Sheet articles can be registered and aligned to facilitate processing efficiencies. Sheet articles with creases, such as envelopes with mouth flaps, can be processed through a roller system to bend the crease so that the flap of the envelope assumes a desired position for subsequent processing. Additionally, sheet articles can be processed through a staging station with increased capacity for sheet processing.

Abstract: A gathering device for forming a plurality of printed products includes a transfer device having a plurality of grippers. A first sheet material feeder delivers first sheet material to the plurality of grippers and a second sheet material feeder delivers second sheet material to the plurality of grippers, the second sheet material feeder being downstream of the first sheet material feeder. A conveyor receives the first or second sheet material from the grippers. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed product formed from a plurality of printed sheets which are printed sequentially for processing, wherein the printed products each comprise at least one printed sheet and an additional sheet which are stacked together in a stacking apparatus. The method includes feeding the additional sheet to the at least one printed sheet on a conveying path of a first conveying apparatus to the stacking apparatus.

Abstract: Different printed products (10) are fed by feeding units (7) and collated in compartments (2), wherein the compartments (2) are conveyed substantially continuously past the feeding outlets (6) arranged successively in a line, and a printed product (10) is added through each feeding outlet (6). The compartments (2) have a compartment base (3) and a transverse wall (4), wherein the compartment base (3) is inclined at least in a feeding region (5) of a circuit (1) of the compartments (2) in a conveying direction and the transverse wall (4) is upstream or downstream depending on the direction of inclination of the compartments. The compartments (2) are coupled to a conveying means such that they are rotatable around a substantially horizontal and/or substantially vertical axis. Thus, it becomes possible to maintain the inclination angle of the compartments which they have in the feeding region, in a region (12) for conveying further, an extraction region (15) with inclining or declining gradients.

Abstract: A feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and a feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof are disposed on a multiple inserter, and selectively employing the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof allows reversal actions of sheets to be eliminated.

Abstract: A materials handling system includes an insertion subsystem for inserting materials into envelopes to form mailpieces of a first type and mailpieces of a second type. The materials handling syatem also includes a first mailpiece transport path located downstream from the insertion subsystem and having a curved portion along which mailpieces of said first type are transported, and a second mailpiece transport path being substantially horizontal, located downstream from the insertion subsystem, and along which mailpieces of the second type are transported. Further, a diverter is included that diverts mailpieces of the first type to the first transport path and mailpieces of the second type to the second transport path.

Abstract: In a bookbinding apparatus, an adhesive applying portion applies an adhesive to an end face of a sheet bundle allowed to stand in the substantially vertical direction, a storage portion that gathers and stores the sheet bundle which is applied with the adhesive and bound in the adhesive applying portion while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction, transport means for conveying the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction from the adhesive applying portion to the storage portion along a substantially vertical transport path, and a cutting portion which is provided on the transport path between the adhesive applying portion and the storage portion, and which cuts an end face of the sheet bundle while letting the sheet bundle stand in the substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device which stacks sheets thereon, comprising: a buffer unit which allows a preceding sheet to temporarily stay so as to superimpose the preceding sheet and a following sheet one on another; a sheet discharging roller which discharges the sheets superimposed in the buffer unit; and a sheet stacker which stacks the sheets discharged from the buffer unit. The sheets to be discharged in superimposition by the sheet discharging roller is superimposed in a state in which a rear end of a lower sheet in a sheet conveying direction advances in the sheet conveying direction more than a rear end of an upper sheet, and the lower sheet is previously discharged to the sheet stacker.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is provided, which is comprised of a plurality of inserter trays for stacking thereon insert sheets to be inserted between recording sheets having images formed thereon. Sheet feeding modes for feeding insert sheets include two kinds, i.e. S-stacking mode and F-stacking mode, that can be set by a mode key displayed on a sheet feeding mode setting screen view. In the S-stacking mode, only first-page insert sheets are stacked on a first inserter tray, and only second-page insert sheets and third-page insert sheets are stacked on second and third inserter trays, respectively. In the F-stacking mode, insert sheets are stacked in order of page on an inserter tray. Sheet feeding is suitably controlled by stacking insert sheets on inserter trays in manners corresponding to respective selected stacking modes.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a plurality of sheet articles into a document includes a plurality of individual sheet input paths along which one or more sheet articles can be advanced, and a central accumulation area for accumulating the sheet articles. The central accumulation area includes a single-level accumulation surface for receiving one or more sheet articles advanced from each individual sheet input path and accumulating the sheet articles in a single stack. The central accumulation area can receive sheet articles from two or more different directions. The sheet articles can optionally be staged for accumulation into subsets prior to advancement to the central accumulation area. The central accumulation area advances the assembled document into an output path.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet processing portion for processing a sheet, and a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the sheet processing portion, wherein the sheet conveying portion includes a sheet conveying unit having a sheet intake port, a sheet discharge port, and a linear sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet from the sheet intake port to the sheet discharge port, and a plurality of sheet conveying units are disposed in parallel such that respective sheet conveying paths thereof are positioned on the substantially same plane and in a rearrangeable fashion.

Abstract: A feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and a feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof are disposed on a multiple inserter, and selectively employing the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof allows reversal actions of sheets to be eliminated.

Abstract: A print server connected to medical diagnostic imaging equipment via a network or dedicated channels, wherein the print server executes a process to identify the device that is the source of image data received via the network or dedicated channels and outputs the image data to a specific sorter bin in a printer based on this source. The image output processor can also selectively choose a sorter bin as an output destination for the image data, based on either attribute data or the device that transmitted the image data, depending on the communication protocol.

Abstract: A sheet processing device has a sheet conveying section for conveying sheets to a sheet processing section. The sheet conveying section has a sheet standby unit including a stacking device for stacking a predetermined number of sheets in a linear state, and a bundle conveying device for conveying the sheet bundle stacked in a linear state, whereby the predetermined number of sheets are conveyed to the sheet processing section after having been stacked in a linear state.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding spine inserts for a machine for manufacturing book covers having a take-off roller system for withdrawing in clocked synchronism a material web cut to width by further means from a screening roll, having a cutting device for cutting off a portion of the material web as a flexible spine insert, having means of introducing the flexible spine insert into a board feed plane and having a board feed, which pushes the spine insert and further cover boards, for synchronous feeding of the boards onto a covering material, which has been coated with glue at a glue spreading roller and fed by means of a covering material cylinder a take-off roller system is provided, which inserts the material web counter to the board feed direction into the board feed plane and with which are associated guides for guiding the advanced spine insert and means of further guiding the cut-to-length spine insert as far as into the board feed plane.

Abstract: Large items such as magazines or large envelopes lie flat upon and are transported by a first conveyor in a first, transverse direction until they sequentially encounter a frustoconical member rotatably mounted to a back wall. A second conveyor is disposed normal to the first conveyor so that it transports the items that have encountered the frustoconical member in a second direction normal to the first. A rotatably mounted barrier has a first, retracted position where it does not interfere with items approaching the frustoconical member and a second, deployed position where it stops the items short of the frustoconical member. The position of the barrier is controlled by information concerning postal routes. The items are sorted into sharply defined groups that are transversely staggered with respect to one another.

Abstract: In determining a setting condition of an apparatus for assembling mail items from mail components (20, 21, 23, 25) it is detected, in a setting phase, in which of a number of feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) of that apparatus mail components (20, 21, 23, 25) are present. Feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) in which mail components are present are automatically brought into an operating condition, and feeder stations (1, 2, 34, 35) in which no mail components are present are automatically brought into a non-operating condition. As a result, at the start-up of the apparatus, on the basis of the loading thereof, it is automatically determined which station is to be brought into an operating condition and which are to remain standby. An apparatus specifically arranged for practicing the proposed method is also described.

Abstract: A system for merging multiple streams of documents in side-by-side relation, such as cut from a paper web, into a single document stream is provided. Each document of a document stream passes over a turnbar driven that inverts and redirects the document, a primary conveyor carries the documents in side-by-side relation toward the turnbars, and a cross conveyor carries the documents away in a single merged document stream. The cross conveyor is angled with respect to the primary conveyor, and the turnbars are angled with respect to each conveyor. The turnbars may be staggered and adjusted to output the documents in any order, and the invention may handle two, three, or more simultaneous document streams. The turnbars may be driven by a single drive means which may be reversible, and may be repositioned to direct documents in either direction the cross conveyor may operate.

Abstract: A method and system for gathering enclosure documents for insertion in an envelope inserting system having a plurality of enclosure feeders for releasing enclosure documents and a plurality of pusher fingers mounted on a pair of endless chains for gathering the released documents. A plurality of flexible extension fingers are connected to the downstream end of enclosure feeder so as to support the released document before the released document is pushed off by a pair of pusher fingers onto a chassis deck. The downstream ends of the flexible extension fingers form a gap with the chassis deck, allowing the documents released upstream to pass under the extension fingers so that the document released from an enclosure feeder is stacked on top of the documents released from the upstream feeders. Because the extension fingers are flexible, the gap under the extension fingers can be widened by a stack of documents released upstream.

Abstract: A collating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of paper feed trays; a paper feed section for conveying a plurality of sheets stacked on the plurality of paper feed trays one by one at predetermined timing; a collating and conveying section for collating the plurality of sheets conveyed from the respective paper feed trays of the paper feed section to provide collated matters and for conveying the collated matters to a discharge section; the discharge section for discharging the collated matters conveyed from the collating and conveying section to a stacker section; and the stacker section provided with a paper discharge tray for stacking the collated matters conveyed from the discharge section, provided with a pair of side fences positioned at both outer sides of the collated matters discharged onto the paper discharge tray and restricting an orthogonal direction to a discharge direction of the collated matters, and having a sorting unit for alternately offsetting the collated

Abstract: A document handling device (12) comprises a first endless conveyor (6), which is arranged to be intermittently driven in a first direction of feed (F) and has drivers to fetch documents (2) at document discharging stations (5) and put them together into sheaves (3). The documents are to be manipulated, downstream of the document discharging stations (5) seen in the direction of feed (F), in sheaves at a first sheaf discharging station (8), such as a document manipulating unit, in which the sheaves of documents (3) from the first conveyor (6) are inserted into envelopes (4) placed on a second endless conveyor (9), which is parallel to the first conveyor (6) and driven synchronously therewith. The first conveyor (6) is intermittently drivable also in a second direction opposite to said first direction of feed and a second sheaf discharging station (14), such as a stapling or plastics coating unit, is arranged upstream of the document discharging stations (5) seen in said first direction of feed (F).

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus which stores sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus in a bin, staples the sheets if necessary, takes the stapled or unstapled set of sheets out of the bin and transports the set of sheets up to a large-capacity tray nipping the set of sheets between rollers of a conveying gate to deliver the set of sheets onto the tray. While the conveyer gate is transporting the set of sheets upward, the set of sheets hangs down from the nipped portion, and the hanging-down portion is guided by a guide plate. A limit is set to the number of stapled sets of sheets which can be stacked on the large-capacity tray, and transportation of stapled sets of sheets to the tray by the conveyer gate over the limit is canceled. When a set of sheets is delivered onto the tray, pressing sticks press sets of sheets which have been stacked on the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding flat products from a pile of flat products to a receiving location especially on a conveyor includes a plurality of delivering units for extracting a single flat product from the pile. Each of the delivering units has a first driven belt and is engageable with a pile. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a diverting element for diverting the flat products in a predetermined direction. A method of operating the apparatus is also provided.