Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which generation of a hollow at a separation roller can be prevented. A sheet separating and feeding portion 132 which separates and feeds sheets S one by one sent by a pickup roller 129 includes a feed roller 130 and a retard roller 131 which is arranged rotatably in the direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction and which is capable of rotating along with a rotation of the feed roller 130 while being press-contacted to the feed roller 130. Then, the feed roller 130 is rotated by a predetermined amount so as to rotate the retard roller 131 via the sheet S after job completion.

Abstract: A mailpiece unstacker device comprises a feed magazine for moving the mailpieces in a stack and on edge in a certain direction towards an unstacker head. It is provided with materials sensors for delivering signals indicating that a current mailpiece has a cover made of a plastics material and/or includes a metal material. A control unit forces the feed magazine and the unstacker head to operate as a function of the signals generated by the sensors so that the mailpieces are presented facing the unstacker head in positions that are inclined backwards to various extents.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium placing member, a feeding mechanism for feeding the medium, and a lifting unit for moving the medium placing member toward the feeding mechanism. A first switching unit connects a transmission of a driving force from a driving source to the lifting unit based on a shifting of the feeding mechanism. A second switching unit connects the transmission based on control by a control unit. The control unit causes the second switching unit to transmit the driving force to the lifting unit to move the medium placing member upward based on detection by a medium detecting unit. When the medium placing member moves upward to a predetermined position, the first switching unit disconnects the transmission, holding the medium placing member at the predetermined position. The control unit causes the second switching unit to disconnect the transmission so that the medium placing member moves downward.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying device comprising a first conveyance path for conveying a sheet from a pair of first rollers to a pair of second rollers, a second conveyance path for performing switchback conveyance of the sheet, a switching unit for switching the second rollers between a press-contacted state and a separated state, and a single driving source for driving the rollers and the switching unit. A non transferring of drive section is set where when the driving source switches the rotation direction after the sheet that has been switchback-conveyed has reached the first rollers, a drive from the driving source is not transferred to the second rollers. The switching unit is driven to separate the second rollers during a time the drive is not transferred to the second rollers due to the non transferring of drive section.

Abstract: A rotatable pick roller and a rotatable separating roller are formed integrally with a roller case. A retard roller opposes the separating roller and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the separating roller. A lift detecting sensor is mounted on the roller case. When a first sheet and second sheet that are stapled together are accidentally placed on a sheet table, the pick roller picks-up the first sheet and feed it in the gap between the retard roller and the separating roller, the second sheet abuts with the retard roller so that a portion of the first sheet and the second sheet gets lifted. The lift detecting sensor detects the lifted portion and stops rotations of the rollers.

Abstract: A method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height.

Abstract: A conveying device includes: a main body; a holding unit that holds media that is attached and detached to and from the main body; a third conveying member that conveys a single medium among the media held in the holding unit; a first conveying member that conveys the single media; a second conveying member that faces the first conveying member to pinch the media so as to conveys the single media with the first conveying member; a feed unit that feeds the single medium to the main body; an attaching part that is provided at the feed unit and enables the feed unit to attach to the holding unit; a positioning mechanism that positions the main body and the feed unit so that the second conveying member is located at a predetermined position relative to the first conveying member when the holding unit is loaded on the main body.

Abstract: In a paper feed system where a first paper feed mechanism takes out and transfers one by one a plurality of papers placed on a paper feed table in a stack and a second paper feed mechanism transfers the papers transferred by the first paper feed mechanism to an image forming section at a predetermined timing. A paper edge detector is provided between the first and second paper feed mechanisms to detect an edge of the paper, and the first paper feed mechanism is controlled to transfer the papers at a first speed and then at a second speed not higher than the first speed when the paper edge detector detects the leading edge of the paper, the second speed being determined on the basis of the timing at which the leading edge of the paper is detected.

Abstract: A conveying device for feeding printed products to a processing unit in which the printed products are conveyed along a conveying path by a first conveyor, from a stack in which the printed products are arranged vertically, to a second conveyor which has a higher circumferential speed than the first conveyor for forming an imbricated formation which is upwardly offset, wherein a holding-down device which acts on the printed products and is formed of at least one endless traction unit is arranged in a transition area formed by the conveying end of the first conveyor and the conveying beginning of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A station for loading plate elements (1, 1a), from an initial pile of elements (3) placed in a storage (4) to an infeed station for a machine for processing the elements, comprises unloading means (7), unloading the elements (1a) from the initial pile (3), intermediate storage means (16), storing the unloaded elements (1) in the form of an intermediate batch (19) and positioned downstream of the unloading means (7), conveyance means (18), conveying the elements (1) from the storage means (16) to the infeed station, and shingling means (21), shingling the elements (1) and positioned downstream of the storage means (16).

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, having a sheet feeding mechanism and an image processor is provided. The sheet feeding mechanism includes a base structure, a first roller, and a second roller. The first roller includes a first shaft and a first roller body fixed to the first shaft. The second roller includes a second shaft and a second roller body fixed to the second shaft. The first roller feeds a sheet into a sheet feeding path, and the second roller conveys the sheet in the sheet feeding path. The first roller and the second roller are connected with each other by a connector member, which rotatably supports the first shaft and the second shaft and maintains positional relation of the first shaft and the second shaft with respect to each other.

Abstract: A document feeding mechanism includes a driving shaft, a document blocking means, a tray, an elastic means and an actuating means. The tray is pushed up to connect the document blocking means by the elastic means. The actuating means is coupled to the driving shaft and abutted against the tray for pushing down the tray to separate from the document blocking means. The actuating means will be driven to allow the tray to be pushed to swing up by the elastic means for blocking documents. The actuating means will be driven to abut against the tray for pushing the tray to swing down for separating the tray from the document blocking means for conveying the documents. Therefore, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability for blocking the documents.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing media sheets from a media tray to a feed roller may be coupled to a feeder module. The apparatus includes a support member, a coupler, and a media director. The support member extends across a portion of a media tray width. The coupler extends from the support member and is configured to engage a feeder module to install the support member in a printer. The media director extends from the support member, and is configured to direct a leading edge of a media sheet moving from the media tray towards a feeder nip in the feeder module. The media director is vertically displaced from the support member and the coupler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat-article feed device, comprising a supply magazine (1) in which flat articles are moved in a stack on edge in a first transfer direction (A), separator means (3) for separating the leading flat article of the stack from the remainder of the stack and for driving it in a second transfer direction (B) that is substantially perpendicular to the first transfer direction, unstacker means (10) that take a flat article that is being unstacked and bring it in said second transfer direction (B) to the inlet of a conveyor, and retaining means (13) that exert a retaining force that opposes movement of the flat article towards the conveyor, said unstacker means being offset from said separator means by a distance not less than the maximum length of a flat article, and said retaining means being provided facing the unstacker means. The invention also relates to a postal sorting machine including such a feed device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separator device (18) comprising a passage zone (40) through which the articles pass and which extends between drive means (20, 30), retaining means (24, 34) for retaining an article relative to another article, and suitable for separating them mutually, control means suitable for activating and deactivating, independently, each first and second drive means (20, 30), and each first and second retaining means (24, 34). The drive means (20, 30) are distant from each other so as to define the passage zone (40), and the retaining means (24, 34) are suitable for exerting substantially transverse forces in opposite directions, so as to suck at least one article against corresponding drive means. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the above-mentioned separator device (18), and to a postal sorting machine including such a separator device (18).

Abstract: A bunch sheet depository is described. The depository comprises: a pressure plate for pressing on a bunch of sheets; a picker aligned with the pressure plate and arranged to remove sheets individually from the bunch of sheets; a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member; and an actuator coupled to the resilient member. The actuator is operable, when actuated, to move the resilient member to rotate the link arm about the pivot and thereby cause compression of the bunch of sheets by the pressure plate using a force from the resilient member that reduces as the resilient member relaxes in response to the pressure plate moving as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets.

Abstract: A detachable transparent plate for a scan head assembly in a document scanning system that allows an operator to detach the transparent plate from the scan head assembly located above a media feed path to clean a top face of the transparent plate and easily reattach it to the scan head assembly. The scan head assembly has an optical system and a sealing member detachably mounted to a bottom end of the optical system. The transparent plate is received and supported by the sealing member and defines a portion of a bottom surface of the sealing member. The sealing member is detachable from the bottom end of the optical system to allow an operator access to the top face of the transparent plate of the sealing member for cleaning the top face of the transparent plate.

Abstract: A conveying device in which positional displacement of a sheet may occur due to, for example, backlash of a mechanical system is provided. In the conveying device, when the speed of an encoder is decelerated to a predetermined speed after an edge of a sheet abuts against a roller during conveyance of the sheet, an encoder position is obtained. After the roller stops due to the backlash, an encoder position is obtained again. An amount of conveyance of the sheet to a print start position is corrected on the basis of the two encoder positions that have been obtained.

Abstract: A sheet feeder assembly (1) includes a bottom-feed sheet feeder (3) and a delivery table (5) positioned to receive sheets from the sheet feeder and deliver the sheets one at a time to a top-feed mechanism (205) designed to feed the top sheet of a stack of sheets in a manual feed tray of a printer (7) or the like. The top-feed mechanism includes a lifting support (204) for a stack of sheets. An exit end of the delivery table rests on and moves with the lifting support and delivers sheets one at a time to the top-feed mechanism. A balance mechanism (75) reduces the effective weight of the delivery table.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to scanning or copying documents are provided. Sheet media are individually transported away from an input location. Optical scanning of the sheet media is initiated in accordance with detecting the passage of leading edges of the sheet media. Electronic signals resulting from the scanning are automatically analyzed to detect trailing edges of overlapping sheet media. A user notification is issued if a multiple sheet pick event is detected. A user can resume scanning or copying of a multiple sheet document at the location where the multiple sheet pick occurred.

Abstract: A singulator device for standard postal objects and extended postal objects, configured for receiving at input groups of standard/extended plane rectangular postal objects grouped in packs and supplying at output singulated standard/extended postal objects, i.e., each one is physically separated from the others. The device comprises: a singulator system; a resting surface for the packs of postal objects; and a drawing system that displaces the packs towards the singulator system, designed to withdraw individually the postal objects that form a front end face of the pack. Also provided is a supporting device, configured for providing abut surfaces on opposite end portions of the packs formed by extended postal objects to keep the extended postal objects with planes of lie substantially perpendicular to the direction of advance, thus preventing the extended postal objects from possibly bending towards the adjacent packs formed by standard postal objects.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a feeder unit, and a frame unit. The frame unit includes a pair of plate-like metal frames, each plate-like metal frame having an inner surface extending in a parallel direction to a sheet feeding path and in a perpendicular direction of a surface of a recording sheet, and a plurality of connecting frames connecting and holding the metal frames to be apart from each other. The image forming unit is arranged in space defined by the connecting frames and held by the metal frames to be substantially fitted in between the metal frames. The feeder unit is attached to an end of each of the metal frames by an attachment system provided on each widthwise side of the feeder unit. The attachment system fixes the feeder unit along a direction in parallel with the inner surfaces of the metal frames.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.

Abstract: A document feeding device includes a carrying unit capable of carrying documents, a drawing device drawing and supplying the documents, a drawing device drive source driving the drawing device, a separation unit including a separation device to separate the documents one by one, a separation device drive source driving the separation device, a conveying device conveying the documents, a reading unit including a reading device to read information of the documents, a discharge device discharging the documents, a first document detector provided between a document set position and the separation unit to detect the documents, and a second document detector provided downstream of the separation unit and near a separation position to detect the documents. The first and second document detectors detect the trailing end of each of the documents to control the operation of the drawing device on the basis of the result of the detection.

Abstract: A printer having a switch gear, first driven gear and second driven gear. The switch gear has a spur gear and is slidable along a direction that is parallel to a rotation axis of the spur gear. The first driven gear has a first spur gear and a cylinder fixed to the first spur gear. The cylinder is concentric with respect to the first spur gear and extends along the above direction. A hole is formed on the second driven gear. The hole is concentric with respect to a second spur gear and extends along the above direction. The second driven gear is rotatably mounted on the first driven gear by inserting the cylinder of the first driven gear into the hole of the second driven gear. The switch gear slides between a first position for engagement with the first driven gear and a second position for engagement with the second driven gear along the above direction.

Abstract: A method of singulating overlapping items includes receiving the overlapping items in a singulation device, the device including a first transport element configured for rotation in a first direction and a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, wherein the second transport element is configured for rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method further includes rotating the first transport element at a first transport speed, rotating the second transport element at a second transport speed substantially equal to the first transport speed, conveying the overlapping items between the transport elements along a transport path, decreasing the second transport speed to singulate the overlapping items, decreasing the first transport speed to reduce a speed of a lead item, and transporting the lead item away from the singulation device.

Abstract: A disclosed sheet conveying apparatus includes a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet in a first sheet conveying direction; and a second conveying unit arranged on a downstream side of the first conveying unit in the first sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit in a second sheet conveying direction different from the first sheet conveying direction. At least the second conveying unit acts as a holding/conveying unit with a holding section to hold and convey the sheet and includes a moving/guiding unit arranged along an outer side of a sheet conveying path extending between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit. The moving/guiding unit moves/guides the sheet toward the holding section of the second conveying unit, and is arranged in a discontinuous manner along a sheet width direction orthogonal to the first sheet conveying direction so as to contact at least one part of the sheet in the sheet width direction.

Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port, a bill discriminating unit, a plurality of bill accepting boxes and a bill transport path which connects the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit which transports bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the machine. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path provided in the upper part of the machine, and a lower bill transport path provided in the lower part of the machine. The lower bill transport path is installed along the bill accepting boxes and includes a mechanism for bidirectionally transporting bills and a switchable gate connecting with one of the bill accepting boxes.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a feeding unit capable of feeding a sheet-like medium, plural speed detecting units capable of respectively detecting a speed of the medium fed by the feeding unit, at plural positions along a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a feeding direction of the medium, and a bound-medium detecting unit capable of detecting the medium having a part thereof bound with another one of the medium, based on the speed detected respectively by the speed detecting units.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a transfer channel, a pick-up module and a thickness detecting module. The thickness detecting module includes a detecting member, a transmission member and an optical displacement sensing member. By the pick-up module, a sheet article is fed into the transfer channel. When the sheet article is transported across the detecting member, the sheet article is sustained against the detecting member, so that the detecting member is moved. The transmission member is connected to the detecting member. As the detecting member is moved, the transmission member generates a displacement amount.

Abstract: A media processor is provided with includes a conveyance channel over which a paper sheet-like medium is conveyed, and an accumulation mechanism which accumulates the medium sent from the conveyance channel, the accumulation mechanism including a guide member for guiding and accumulating the medium sent from the conveyance channel and a conveyor for catching the medium guided by the guide member against the guide member to draw the medium onto the guide member. It is thus possible to shorten times required for the preparing operation to accumulate bills and for the bill accumulating operation, and further to prevent mechanical malfunction such as bill jamming from occurring.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a controller having a processing unit to cause a first detector to detect an uppermost sheet, an elevator to lift and stop a sheet stack at a reference position, and a second detector to detect and store the position. In a primary operation of the controller, the uppermost sheet is attracted and conveyed for a given number of times while the second detector contacting it, a variation amount of angle is calculated and converted to a thickness of M sheets. With a driven contact roller retracted in a secondary operation, the sheet stack is lifted each time the uppermost sheets by a thickness of N sheets are attracted and conveyed based on the stored thickness of M sheets under N=XM (“M” represents a positive number, “N” represents a positive integer, and “X” represents a positive number of 1 or greater).

Abstract: A method of receiving and paying out bills including the steps of providing a bill passage in about the central portion of an elongate casing that extends along one side of a bill receiving chamber having a bill payback: outlet; providing a bill conveying apparatus for conveying a bill delivered to said bill passage to a predetermined position for receiving it; utilizing a bill pushing member being capable of moving in a reciprocating motion across said passage to bill receiving chamber when the bill located at said predetermined position in said passage to be received, effects receiving of the bill by pushing it with a surface of said bill pushing member across from said passage; disengaging the rearmost bill from said bill receiving chamber by operating bill extracting apparatus in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount while said bill pushing member is activated causing it to extract away and pull out from a rearmost bill leading edge retainer which holds the remaining bills in position; and, oper

Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A method for controlling the feed of sheets to a sheet-fed printing press is provided for a sheet feeder unit comprising an individual drive assigned to each of a plurality of components provided for supplying the sheets in a stack, separating the sheets from a stack and supplying the sheets to the press. The method includes stopping at least two of the individual drives in a predefined position in a targeted manner when shutting down the feeder unit. The individual drives are operated in synchronization with one another during printing operation. The synchronization between the at least two individual drives is canceled when the sheet feeder unit is shut down. These drives are shut down individually and synchronized with one another when the sheet feeder unit is started up again such that in shutdown, each individual drive assumes a predefinable position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes first and second conveying units configured to hold and convey a sheet, a first sheet conveying path between the first and second conveying units, and a registration unit to change a positional condition of the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit. In at least one embodiment, the second conveying unit includes a moving and guiding unit and a rotary conveyance unit facing each other and forming a sheet holding section therebetween to hold and convey the sheet, and the moving and guiding unit and the rotary conveyance unit are disposed in the vicinity of the first conveying unit so that a distance between the second conveying unit and the registration unit is relatively increased.

Abstract: A read device comprises: a read part that reads information recorded on a medium being carried in a given reading position; a first regulate member, disposed more upstream in a carry direction of the medium than the reading position, that regulates a position of one surface of the medium being carried; and a second regulate member, disposed more downstream in the carry direction of the medium than the reading position, that regulates a position of the other surface of the medium being carried.

Abstract: A recording target medium feeding apparatus includes a body having a switching section and a feeding section that feeds a recording target medium. A recording target media cassette that receives the recording target media has an inner wall facing the leading edge of the recording target medium and switches between first and second states. In the first state, the inner wall has a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface of the recording target media cassette. In the second state, the inner wall has a steeper angle of inclination. In the first state, the inner wall separates the uppermost of the recording target media from a second recording target medium. In the second state, the inner wall contacts the leading edge of the recording target media loaded in the recording target media cassette and sets the leading edge of the recording target media at a uniform edge position.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and image forming method that can prevent a decrease in image quality by preventing a step-out of a driving source, which occurs because a load of a feeding device is applied when a medium is transported for image formation. When no roller reset operation, by which a paper feed roller is returned to a reset position, is performed (YES in S21), it is judged whether a counted value N of a counter, which indicates a position of a sheet of paper, is below a threshold value Na, which indicates that it is in an A region in which a load of a hopper or paper return levers of an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) is applied to a stepping motor (S22). When N<Na, driving for high torque is selected (S23), and then paper transport in the A region is performed with a high torque (S25). On the other hand, when N?Na, driving for low torque is selected (S24) and then paper transport in a B region after the A region has passed is performed with a low torque (S25).

Abstract: An automatic paper feed device is provided, including a cover member that has a paper insertion opening in a nearly rectangular shape, the paper insertion opening having a longitudinal direction perpendicular to both a transport direction of the paper and a thickness direction of the paper. The paper insertion opening includes a first end opening portion, a second end opening portion, and a center opening portion arranged in the longitudinal direction of the paper insertion opening. The paper insertion opening connects a placement unit, in which paper is placed, with a separation and transport mechanism, that separates paper placed in the placement unit and transports paper placed in the placement unit in the transport direction. The first and second end opening portions are each larger in size than the central opening portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device incorporable in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet holder to hold multiple sheets including an uppermost sheet placed on the sheet holder, a sheet separating and feeding unit disposed above the sheet holder and movable between a first position and a second position, a controller to control operations performed by the sheet separating and feeding unit moving between the first position and the second position, and a sheet regulator disposed downstream from the sheet holder in the sheet feeding direction to regulate movement of the multiple sheets on the sheet holder in the sheet feeding direction. The controller controls the separating and feeding unit to move the uppermost sheet forward to abut against the sheet regulator and backward to its original position on the sheet holder to separate the uppermost sheet from the multiple sheets on the sheet holder.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from the

Abstract: A document feeder includes: a conveyance unit that separates one document from among documents placed on a document tray, and conveys the document; a first width-determining unit that determines a width of one of the documents; a second width-determining unit that determines a width of the conveyed document; a first length-determining unit that determines a length of one of the documents; a second length-determining unit that determines a length of the conveyed document; and a controller that if an inconsistency occurs between the width determined by the first width-determining unit and the width determined by the second width-determining unit, causes a display unit to display an operation guide including first content, and if an inconsistency occurs between the length determined by the first length-determining unit and the length determined by the second length-determining unit, causes the display unit to display an operation guide including second content.

Abstract: A sheet separation method for an automatic document feeder (ADF) is provided. The ADF includes a sheet tray for supporting sheets, and a sheet separation surface for separating the sheets. A sheet separation angle is formed between the sheet separation surface and a placement surface of the sheet tray, and the sheet separation method comprises the steps of: (a) determining the characteristics of the sheets; and (b) adjusting the angle according to the characteristics of the sheets.

Abstract: A method and device to supply a processing section adjoining the device with print products withdrawn from a stack of print products in a feeder. The device including a magazine to contain the stack of print products and a separating device to separate a lowest print product from the stack along an edge region of the lowest print product formed by a sheet edge or a last fold. The device further includes a rear holder that is displaceable in coordination with the separating device to support the stack remaining during a cycle of withdrawing the lowest print product from the stack. A withdrawing device withdraws the lowest print product from an underside of the stack and includes a gripper to grip a front end of the lowest print product in the withdrawing direction while operating with timing of the separating device and the rear holder in the cycle.

Abstract: A method for separating objects from a stack in a stream of objects, in which the objects are removed from the stack with a removal device, and overlapping objects are separated from one another with a separating device. To achieve reliable separation with a low double removal rate, a plurality of traction devices grip both sides of the removed object and are driven in the transport direction at different forward driving speeds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with a left-side cover 2, a manual supply tray 10b, a carry guide 31 and a lift plate 33, and these are rotatably supported by a third shaft 35. According to this, because it is possible to achieve size reduction of the apparatus and enlarge an protrusion length L of the lift plate 33, it is possible to reduce the change in inclination angle of the lift plate 33 and stabilize a paper-sheet supply characteristic even when the amount of paper sheets placed on the manual supply tray 10b changes.

Abstract: A device (1) for example for a scan system, a deposit of documents, receipts, or similar flat objects (2) in a secured sequence in which the objects (2) are fed through a slot (9) of a rotary body (8) to a conveyer device (7) and are pushed therefrom to a stack of the receipts or objects, and the conveyer device (7) can be stopped when the rear edge of the receipt or object (2), seen in the direction of feed, is still arranged in the slot area of the rotary body (8). In this way, the rotation of the rotary body (8) can be triggered, causing the slot (9) to be rotated away from the end of the receipt (2), i.e. the end of the receipt slips out of the slot (9) or leaves it, however remains in the area of the rotary body (8), with an exterior of the body forming a hold-down unit for the end of the receipt while the next receipt (2) being fed. Any insertion of the next receipt under the previous receipt (2) is therefore prevented.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, including a sheet loading portion on which a plurality of sheets are loaded, a sheet take-in portion to take in the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion, a first mechanism to displace between a first sheet and a second sheet in the sheets which are taken in from the sheet take-in portion and are overlapping up and down, and a second mechanism to sandwich and convey the first sheet displaced by the first mechanism to a following process.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus includes a pick-up mechanism, a sheet transporting mechanism, a power source and a clutch. The sheet transporting mechanism transports a sheet picked up by the pick-up mechanism through and out of a passageway. The power source for driving the pick-up mechanism includes a power output shaft and a first transmission gear for respectively outputting and transmitting power. The clutch includes a second transmission gear and a power coupling component. The second and first transmission gears are disposed coaxially. The power coupling component is coaxially disposed between the first transmission gear and the second transmission gear and is coupled to the first transmission gear. The power coupling component reciprocates back and forth along an axis to selectively couple and drive the second transmission gear. The second transmission gear is coupled to the pick-up mechanism, and the power source selectively drives the pick-up mechanism through the clutch.