Abstract: An ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) for an image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a separating and feeding device for feeding one document from a stack of documents while separating the document from the others. A conveying device temporarily stops the document fed by the separating and feeding device at a position preceding a reading position and again conveys, on the elapse of a preselected period of time, the document toward the reading position. A controller controllably drives the separating and feeding device and conveying device. The controller drives the conveying device by controlling the time interval between the restart of conveyance of the preceding document and the restart of conveyance of the following document.

Abstract: A guiding structure for discs is disclosed. The guiding structure includes a hopper that dispenses discs one at a time, a guiding device that guides and aligns the dispensed discs, and a holding device for the discs that is located at the lower section of the guiding passageway. The guiding device may be detachably attached to the hopper.

Abstract: For printer sheet separating and feeding with stack side edge air fluffing assistance from variable size sheet stacks in a sheet feeding tray with at least one repositionable stack side edge guide in an openable machine drawer, the stack edge fluffer system automatically operatively engages the edge guide to provide a preset spacing from the variable side edge positions of various size stacks when said machine drawer is closed, plus an air baffle extension out over the stack, but automatically disengages to provides unobstructed loading when the drawer is opened. It may include an automatically variable length manifold.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sheet feeding apparatus and method. In particular this invention comprises a sheet feeding apparatus having a first conveyance member, a second conveyance member, and a sheet bending member. The first conveyance member conveys a sheet from a source of sheets at the first speed. The second conveyance member is positioned near the first conveyance member, and conveys the sheets away from the first conveyance member at a second speed that is less than the first speed of the first conveyance member. The sheet bending member is positioned to engage the sheet as the sheet moves from the first conveyance member to the second conveyance member. The sheet bending member engages the sheet to produce a gap between the tail end of the sheet and the second conveyance member. The lead edge of the next adjacent sheet from the first conveyance member is then fed into the gap.

Abstract: A taking part has a taking unit that comes in contact with the piled sheets to generate a taking force and to take the sheets one by one with the taking force. A movable lever is arranged in a side of the taking unit with respect to the piled sheets, and a driving unit gives a driving force in a linear or rotational direction to the movable lever. A force controller controls the driving force given to the movable lever by the driving unit. A detecting unit detects a position of the movable lever, and a sheet supplying unit supplies the piled sheets to the taking unit. A sheet supplying unit controller controls the sheets supplying unit on the basis of the position of the movable lever detected by the detecting unit. The sheets are pressed by the lever at a preparatory step, and then the sheets are lifted and pressed to the taking unit while canceling the driving force by the lever. The sheet and the taking unit are assured to become in good contact with each other to make the taking operation stable.

Abstract: A trimming apparatus for a booklet maker is described which provides a compact and low cost booklet maker for desktop publishing. The booklet maker includes a sheet receiving tray for receiving a stack of sheets to be stapled into a booklet, a stapler unit arranged to staple the stack of sheets, and a trimming system for trimming the sheets in a sheet wise manner. The trimming system includes first and second pick and separate mechanisms arranged to separate each of the sheets in the stack of sheets and first and second cutters arranged to cut each of the separated sheets after the have been separated by the first and second pick and separate mechanisms. A controller positions the sheets and controls the trimming system to cut each of the separated sheets at a location determined based on a trimming schedule. The trimming schedule varies the position of the cut depending on a position of the sheet in the booklet and a thickness of the sheets.

Abstract: A device is used to insert and/or deposit printed products into a conveying channel. The printed products are conveyed in the conveying channel with of carriers of a conveying element. An acceleration apparatus pre-accelerates the printed products in conveying direction. The acceleration apparatus conveys the printed products essentially in a straight line and at an angle to the conveying direction of the conveying channel. The printed products are preferably inserted with the aid of conveying belts and at an angle into the conveying channel. As a result of the slanted feed, the divisions of the conveying element can be optimized and the capacity increased.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets supported on a sheet supporting portion one by one is provided with a separating and feeding portion having a sheet feed roller provided downstream of the sheet supporting portion for feeding the sheets, and a separation roller brought into pressure contact with the sheet feed roller, and designed to be rotatable in the same direction as or a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the sheet feed roller, and separating and feeding the sheets one by one, and a transport restriction guide provided near the separation roller so as to protrude toward the sheet feed roller for restricting the number of sheets coming into the pressure contact portion between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller, and the transport restriction guide is formed by a flexible member, and is provided so as to be pressed by the sheets coming into between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller and be flexible toward the separation roller side, and the

Abstract: System and method for monitoring grouped resources. A system and method of monitoring resource units in a stack is provided. The system and method includes providing a group of resource units and determining a thickness of one or more of the resource units. The system and method also includes indicating when the group of resource units reaches a predetermined size after one or more of the resource units has been moved from the group.

Abstract: Coupons are fed from a supply station to an assembly station forming part of a wrapping line, where they are associated each with a relative product. The coupons are engaged along one vertical edge by the lugs of a looped conveyor belt, pushed a set distance along a transfer line sliding internally of a guide channel, and released by the belt only after entering the assembly station, where the single coupon comes to rest interposed between a product and a relative wrapper blank.

Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus for an image reading apparatus includes a sheet supply tray for storing a sheet; a sheet supply device for drawing out the sheet on the sheet supply tray; a transfer device for receiving the sheet from the sheet supply means and placing the sheet at a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus for reading the image thereon; a discharge device for discharging the sheet on the platen after reading the image thereon; and a discharge tray for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge device. A switchback device is disposed above the platen for reversing the sheet when necessary, and includes a switchback path for receiving the sheet to reverse the same. The switchback path includes a first opening portion for opening a first area near an inlet side, and a second opening portion for opening a second area away from the inlet side of the switchback path. The switchback path is easily accessible when the sheet is jammed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a paper feeder wherein single sheets of paper can be set, a paper delivery device for transporting paper fed from the paper feeder to a recorder, and a control unit for controlling operation of the paper feeder and the paper delivery device. The control unit has a skew removal execution mode of only the first sheet of paper where the paper tip is bitten into a paper delivery roller forming a part of the paper delivery device and then the paper delivery roller is reversely rotated for ejecting the paper tip for the first sheet of paper at the start of recording and then forward rotating the paper delivery roller for delivering the sheet of paper whose skew is removed to the recorder and delivering the second and later sheets of paper to a record area without executing the skew removal.

Abstract: A media feeding mechanism mainly comprises a base provided with a first surface and a second surface, a first roller, a second roller, a first one-way bearing used to support the first roller, a second one-way bearing used to support the second roller, a cam gear and a stopper. To prevent media from wrinkling or skewing, the media transmitted by the first roller is deskewed by contacting with the idled second roller for a predetermined period of time. The first roller 11 is idled when the deskewing process concludes. Rotation of the second roller clockwise scrubs the media toward the exit point.

Abstract: An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of distinguishing the type of paper, and a driving controlling method thereof. The an image forming device includes a paper conveyance path disposed in a body of the image forming device, to guide an upside and an underside of the paper which is conveyed from a paper feeding apparatus to an image forming portion; a feeding roller disposed in the paper conveyance path, to convey the paper from the paper feeding apparatus to the image forming portion; and a paper type distinguishing sensor disposed in the paper conveyance path upstream with respect to the feeding roller, to distinguish the type of the paper and output a distinguishing signal. Accordingly, before the paper enters into the image forming portion, the distinguishing signal is output from the paper type distinguishing sensor as the feeding roller is rotated in a reverse direction to align a front end of the paper in parallel with the feeding roller.

Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide, a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.

Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.

Abstract: A machine is provided for the creasing, perforation or circular cutting of a material in the form of sheets such as paper, plastic and the like. The machine includes a bed, a horizontal loading plane (11) that is intended to accommodate at least one stack of starting sheets, a feeding plane (13) as a continuation of the loading plane, an advancing suction roller (14) to pick up and transfer every single sheet from the bottom of the stack on the loading plane to the feeding plane, and a processing unit (15) that is intended to accommodate one sheet at a time for a creasing, perforation or cutting operation. A female grooving tool, each consisting of annular elements that are assembled together, is provided for the creasing.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a sheet conveying rotatable member for holding a sheet and conveying the sheet in a predetermined direction, a drive source for rotatively driving the conveying rotatable member, and a drive transmitting unit for transmitting the driving force of the drive source to the conveying rotatable member, and the drive transmitting unit has a releasing mechanism for releasing the transmission of the driving force from the drive source when the rotational force of the conveying rotatable member is transmitted from the conveying rotatable member to the drive source. A pivotally movable member rotates while abutting against a sheet cassette and a rotation of that pivotally movable member causes a first and second gear to communicate.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: an inserter tray to support insert sheets, an insert sheet supply roller to supply the insert sheets in the direction of a recording medium conveying path from the inserter tray; an insert sheet conveying device extending from the insert sheet supply roller to the recording medium conveying path to convey the insert sheets; a sheet reversing/conveying device provided from the insert sheet supply roller to the recording medium conveying path to reverse both the front and back sides of the insert sheets; and a gate to sort the insert sheets supplied from the insert sheet supply roller to the insert sheet conveying device or the insert sheet reversing/conveying device, and supplies insert sheets on the inserter tray by reversing the front and back sides in the direction of recording media according to a type of finish processing to be applied to recording media.

Abstract: A method of feeding sheets to a printing-technology machine includes individually separating sheets from a sheet pile, conveying the sheets against movable lays for effecting an alignment thereof, and cyclically conveying the sheets from the lays to the machine. A control device coordinates movement of the lays with the individual separation of the sheets from the sheet pile and onward conveyance of the sheets to the machine. Data related to characteristics of the sheets are processed in the control device for generating actuating signals for a separate, controllable drive system. The lays are moved by the drive system. A device for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A paper feeding device comprises a document tray for loading the document, a document-detecting sensor for detecting the document loaded in the document tray and a MYLAR® made of a sheet-shaped resilience material. A part of the MYLAR® is in contact with the document carrying surface at the upstream side of the detecting position of the document-detecting sensor The document is pushed towards the detecting position during the MYLAR® pushing the upper surface of the document. The MYLAR® is bent to form a loop. The lower guide plate is arranged to be in contact with a part of the loop When the document is not detected, the filler of the document-detecting sensor and the MYLAR® overlap each other. A long hole is set in the loop of the MYLAR®.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus includes a sheet storage device for stacking and storing sheets; a sheet pick-up device for drawing the sheets from the sheet storage means; a separating device having supply rollers for supplying the sheets drawn from the sheet pick-up means and separating members pressing the supply rollers; a pair of resister rollers for supplying the sheets to an aligning device after resister correction for aligning a transport direction of the sheets separated and transported by the separating device; and a frame for supporting each of the devices. The sheet supply apparatus is also provided with the first press separating device for the supply rollers and the separating members to be in a sheet nipping state or a sheet released state, and the second press separating device for the pair of the resister rollers to be in a sheet nipping state or a sheet released state.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes the first transport rollers, the second transport rollers arranged at downstream of the first transport rollers to receive a sheet transported from the first transport rollers, a spacing device for setting the first transport rollers to a sheet nipping state or a sheet released state, a sheet detection device for detecting a sheet length in a transport direction, and a comparing device for comparing the sheet length detected by the sheet detection device with a predetermined length. It is controlled such that the spacing device is activated to switch the first transport rollers from a sheet nipping state to a sheet released state after the sheet is transported by a predetermined distance when the sheet length is longer than the predetermined length, and to maintain the first transport rollers in the sheet nipping state when the sheet length is shorter than the predetermined length.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding apparatus of the present invention is arranged such that a transportation unit 24 (enclosing a pre-feeding roller 25, a pair of paper feeding rollers 26, a pair of resist rollers 27, a reading section 28, a pair of discharging rollers 29, etc.) is attached to a framework member 65 (a stay 66, a front-end plate 7, a rear-end plate 68, etc.) not fixedly, but in such a manner that at least the rearward end of the transportation unit 24 is capable of displacements in a vertical direction with respect to the framework member 65. Consequently, when the framework member 65 causes deflection, such deflection caused on the framework member 65 will not adversely affect an attachment state of the transportation unit 24.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating flat products from a pile of flat products, the apparatus including a support and at least one separator for separating a product from a pile of products. The separator is movable with respect to the support and includes a curved surface for contacting an edge of the pile so that a contact point between the separator and the edge of the pile can remain fixed despite adjustments to the penetration depth of the separator.

Abstract: A feeding module for use in an envelope inserting machine. The feeding module comprises a mounting support fixedly mounted on the chassis of the machine, and a sheet feeder releasably mounted on the mounting support, wherein the sheet feeder comprises a tray for supporting a stack of the sheets and a retrieving mechanism for retrieving one sheet at a time from the bottom of the stack. The retrieved sheet is guided through a curved channel to the moving belt of the inserting machine. The channel is formed by two curved panels, one of which can be lifted away from the other for jam clearance.

Abstract: A stopper member regulates the leading edges of sheets stacked on a sheet supply tray. In a first position of the stopper member, the sheets on a sheet supply tray are prevented from advancing into a paper feed path, and in a second position, the sheets drawn out by a draw-out device pass. The stopper member can be moved to a third position between the first and second positions. The displacement to the third position from the first position is associated with the lowering of the draw-out device for drawing out the sheets from the sheet supply tray, and the displacement from the third position to the second position is accomplished by the leading edge of a sheet drawn out by the draw-out device. This structure prevents damage to the original stacked on the sheet supply tray, and attains a simple structure and a low cost apparatus.

Abstract: One method operates a pick motor and a separate feed motor to pick and feed a sheet for printing. Desired pick and feed motor velocities are obtained from respective first and second functions of sheet position. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the pick system until a predetermined event. The feed-system sheet position is synchronized to the pick-system sheet position upon the happening of the event. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the feed system after the event. Another method operates a printer pick motor and includes starting picking by driving the pick motor in a first direction, to move a sheet forward, with an input sufficient to prevent any teetering transitions between peaks and valleys of an encoder sensor output which would be falsely counted as forward motion by a single-channel encoder.

Abstract: The present invention is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus which can monitor a sheet conveying condition even with small sheet interval, an image forming apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, an image reading apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, and a sheet processing apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus that has detecting means for detecting each of the sheets to be conveyed, wherein, when the sheets are conveyed continuously, conveyance of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet is started in a condition that the succeeding sheet cannot be detected by the detecting means, and the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed in such a manner that a an interval which can be detected by the detecting means is created between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet at a position of the detecting means.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus feeds papers one by one from the first cassette for storing papers to be delivered to the outside, conveys the fed papers on the first conveyance path to store them in a predetermined temporary storing section, and then delivers the stored papers in a block through a paper delivery aperture to the outside. Also, the paper processing apparatus leads papers having difficulties with delivery after being fed from the first cassette, to the second conveyance path which is a divergent path of the first conveyance path, and stores the led papers in the second cassette. The paper processing apparatus further comprises the third conveyance path for receiving papers coming from the outside and transmitting them to the first conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is formed of a sheet supply device for feeding sheets drawn out from a sheet supply tray, a separating device for separating the sheets drawn out from the sheet supply tray, a transport device for transporting the sheets downstream, a transport path formed between the sheet supply device and the transport device and having first and second transport paths, and follower rotating bodies. The first transport path guides sheets fed from the sheets supply device in a substantially tangential direction of the nipping point, and the second transport path guides sheets from the first transport path toward the transport device after bending from the substantially tangential direction to the separating device. The follow rotating bodies are protrudingly arranged from the separating device in the transport path, between a curved portion extending from the first transport path to the second transport path and the nipping point.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus permits keeping predetermined sheet intervals, even when sheet conveyance is temporarily discontinued and then resumed, after resumption of conveyance. The sheet conveying apparatus has a first roller which feeds sheets at predetermined sheet intervals, and a second roller which conveys a plurality of sheet fed from the first roller. After temporarily discontinuing conveyance of the plurality of sheets, conveyance of the plurality of sheets is resumed by use of the first roller and the second roller. The variation in the sheet interval caused when temporarily discontinuing sheet conveyance is corrected upon resumption of sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A non-planar single sheet separator wall preferably inclined at about 25° from the vertical away from a paper stack first engages the side corners of the leading edge of a sheet of paper or other media picked from the top of the generally horizontal or downwardly inclined stack by a roller or pusher and causes the corners of the sheet to first curl upwardly along the wall before the central portion of the leading edge of the sheet engages the central portion of the separator wall. The separator wall configuration substantially eliminates downward curling of one or both leading corners of a sheet which is purposely upwardly bowed by an elastomeric pad near the center of the separator wall to reduce multi-sheet picks and separator jams.

Abstract: Label transfer apparatus (160) and a method for transferring labels (54) from a label stack (164) for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding utilize a transfer head (168) that is movable, preferably on a rotary table (186) with additional transfer heads (168), adjacent a label magazine (162) with an exposed end (172) from which the labels are sequentially dispensed. The transfer head includes a vacuum opening (174) to which a vacuum is supplied and an actuator (176) moves the transfer head with a rolling motion to engage the vacuum opening with the label to initially pull an extremity (180) of the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion (182), and to finally pull an opposite extremity (184) of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.

Abstract: A feeding and conveying system for feeding and conveying sheet material for printing, collating, or binding the sheet material, among other processes. The feeding and conveying system includes at least one feeder having a magazine containing a plurality of articles of sheet material, for example, signatures, a rotatable disk for separating the sheet material from the magazine, and a feed drum for transferring the sheet material from the magazine to a conveyor. The rotatable disk, having at least one separating blade, is reciprocally rotated to separate the sheet material from the magazine. The separation of the sheet material from the magazine may be aided by applying a source of vacuum to the sheet material, for example, by means of suckers. The feed drum may include one or more grasping devices for grasping and retaining the sheet material, for example, one or more grippers. The rotation of the separator disk may be controlled by a programmable controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting paper copies which are skewed and for providing a shingled stream, the apparatus including an input, a singulating device having a vertically movable gate member, a first abutting surface formed on the gate member, a second fixed abutting surface formed rearwardly of the movable gate member, a gate member being reciprocally driven in a vertical direction, and an output section to receive copies from the singulating device. The apparatus can be used in conjunction with other copy handling machines such as various integrators.

Abstract: There is provided transport apparatus for carton blanks 11. The blanks are delivered to a pair of rotating nip rollers 17 by using a segment wheel 15 and a swinging suction arm 16. The nip rollers 17 are drive at a predetermined speed so as to deliver the blanks 11 between two pairs of endless belts 18, 19 which are driven at the same speed as each other, the speed of the belts being slower than that of the nip rollers 17. The blanks 11 are, therefore, received by the nip rollers 17 in a pitched manner but the relative speeds ensures that the blanks are transported by the endless belts 18, 19 in an unpitched, end to end relationship.

Abstract: Image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording plate, the apparatus comprising

Abstract: The apparatus serves for transporting flexible, sheet-like products, in particular printed products, from a stack, which is positioned at a receiving location, to a discharge location.

Abstract: A pre-registration system increases the latitude of present active registration systems by decreasing the lateral offset of sheets before they reach the active registration system. This is accomplished by pivoting a long transport with a stepper motor in conjunction with sensing a lateral edge of the sheets in order to direct the sheets to the proper lateral position to be fed into the active registration system with a minimum of lateral offset.

Abstract: A tape feed for a postage meter which uses the envelope transport system of the postage meter to feed a tape from a tape receptacle into the path of the envelope feed system. The tape receptacle is pivotally mounted adjacent one of the belts of the envelope transport system. A solenoid is connected to the tape receptacle through a cam pin and cam slot arrangement for providing the pivotal movement. When the solenoid is energized, the tape receptacle is pivoted into a position wherein the belt extends into a slot in the receptacle and grips a tape to discharge a tape from the receptacle and feed it into the envelope transport system. When the solenoid is de-energized, the solenoid pivots the receptacle into a position wherein the tapes in the receptacle are out of contact with the belt. A sensor is provided to de-energize the solenoid when the belt moves the leading edge of the tape into gripping relationship by the envelope transport system.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a stack 1 of flat, flexible articles, in particular printed products, having bearing elements 3 which are moved along a continuous circulatory path U and, in a first sub-section A1 of the circulatory path U, U1, U2, form a stack rest 7. The apparatus has at least one separating element 5 which is capable of raising off a region 4a of the lowermost article 4 located in the stack 1 such that at least one of the bearing elements 3 can move in between the lowermost article 4 and the rest of the stack 1 and can separate off the lowermost article 4 from the rest of the stack 1 as it moves further. The apparatus further comprises a belt conveyor 8 which is arranged beneath the stack rest 7 and on which the articles come to rest once they have been separated off.

Abstract: The system is designed to provide a transport system with specified sheet-like material at a requested time. The system includes insert towers that provide the requested material at the appropriate time. Each insert tower contains multiple insert hoppers aligned vertically within the tower. Due to space constraints, the vertical arrangement of the hoppers enables the system to choose from significantly more different inserts than would be available from systems without vertical insert towers. The insert hoppers are loaded vertically within the insert hoppers which creates a horizontal queue of sheet-like material. Upon a request from a system computer, specified inserts are pulled and the insert tower delivers the insert to a transport system.

Abstract: A document creating apparatus, comprising an image transfer system and a feeder. The feeder has a frame, housing and a roll for individually feeding sheets of material within the image transfer system. The housing is pivotally connected to the frame on a pivot axis. The roll is pivotally connected to the housing on a roll axis that is offset from the pivot axis. A spring is connected to the housing and the frame at an offset distance from the pivot axis. When the offset distance decreases, the force exerted by the spring increases. When the offset distance increases, the force exerted by the spring decreases. The force exerted by the spring between the first roll and the second roll as a result is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: An enhanced bezel intended for use with a bill acceptor. The enhanced bezel includes a processor to monitor detailed information about the status of the bill acceptor, and other information related to its operation. The processor displays this information through multiple indicators on the enhanced bezel.

Abstract: A coin (or banknote) dispenser has a plurality of cash stores, a common actuator and a clutch for each store selectively transmitting a driving force to cause dispensing of a currency unit. The clutch has a driving member which is driven by the actuator, a driven member which can move to cause a currency unit to be dispensed from the cash store, a coupling member which can cause a driving force to be transmitted from the driving member to the driven member depending upon whether the coupling member is in an engaged state or a disengaged state, and an electromagnet for moving the coupling member from one of the states to the other state.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprises a sheet conveying mechanism for conveying sheets along a first conveying path (22) and stacking up them in a sheet stack-feed station (S), a tray (24) for storing a stack of cover sheets (P), a second conveying path (28) communicating with the first conveying path (22), a blow outlet (38) for blowing a jet of air towards the tray (24) to lift up each cover sheet (P), a sucker (30) for sucking the cover sheet (P), a sheet feeding mechanism for conveying the cover sheet (P) received from the sucker (30) along the second conveying path (28) and feeding it to the first conveying path (22), and a pneumatic pump (34) for providing a blow of air and a suction of air. The sheet feeding mechanism is changed to its standby mode when the cover sheet is transferred from the sucker (30) to the sheet feeding mechanism. Upon the sheets having been stacked in the sheet stack-feed station (S), the sheet feeding mechanism transfers the cover sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a conveyance path extending from a sheet tray to an image forming section. A switchback path with a reversing device is connected to the intermediate portion of the conveyance path for switching back a sheet thereon. The switchback path reduces an interval between consecutive sheets being conveyed in the apparatus for thereby enhancing the productivity of image formation. In addition, the switchback path switches back a sheet being conveyed via a refeed path and the above conveyance path in a duplex print mode, thereby obviating the need of an exclusive switchback path for the duplex print mode. The apparatus is reduced in thickness despite the presence of the switchback path.