Abstract: A sheet bundle discharging apparatus including: a conveyance belt configured to convey and discharge a sheet bundle in a conveyance direction; an attitude changing unit configured to change an attitude of the sheet bundle from a first attitude in which the sheet bundle is apart from the conveyance belt to a second attitude in which the sheet bundle is placed on the conveyance belt; and a receiving member configured to receive an end portion of the sheet bundle, wherein the attitude changing unit allows the end portion of the sheet bundle to pass through a region in which the conveyance belt is provided, in a belt width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and thereafter reach a region in which the receiving member is provided, a friction coefficient between the sheet bundle and the receiving member being smaller than a friction coefficient between the sheet bundle and the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.

Abstract: A system for conveying mailpieces along a feed path includes a plurality of conveyances. A first conveyance is operative to convey mailpieces along the feed path and includes a singulating and drive belt. The singulating and drive belts define a throat for singulating a mailpiece from the stack of mailpieces. A second conveyance accepts mailpieces from the first conveyance and conveys singulated mailpiece downstream of the first conveyance. The system further includes a series of sensors extending from the first to the second conveyance for issuing a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the feed path. Additionally, the system includes a means, responsive to the gap signal, for developing a variable opposing force between the singulating and drive belts to optimize singulation of mailpieces along the feed path.

Abstract: A system for conveying mailpieces along a conveyance path and singulating a mailpiece from a stack of mailpieces along the conveyance path. The system includes a first conveyance for conveying mailpieces at a variable velocity and a second conveyance, downstream of the first conveyance, for conveying mailpieces at a constant velocity along the conveyance path. A series of optical sensors extends from the first to the second conveyance and is operative to issue a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the conveyance path. A processor is responsive to the gap signal and is operative to control the first conveyance to decrease the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces when the gap signal exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A system for conveying mailpieces along a feed path including first and second conveyances. A first conveyance is operative to convey mailpieces along the feed path and includes a singulating and drive belt. The singulating and drive belts define a throat or singulating a mailpiece from the stack of mailpieces. A second conveyance accepts mailpieces from the first conveyance and conveys singulated mailpiece downstream of the first conveyance. The system further includes a series of sensors extending from the first to the second conveyance for issuing a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the feed path. Additionally, the system includes a means to vary the velocity of the drive belt based upon the location of the gap signal along the series of sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are to a printing apparatus includes a printing mechanism to print information on a plurality of paper sheets and further to sequentially convey the printed paper sheets along a first conveying path. The apparatus further includes a paper holding mechanism provided downstream from the printing mechanism in a paper feed direction, which includes a pair of conveying members configured to face each other via the first conveying path. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to control the printing mechanism and the paper holding mechanism to convey sequentially the printed paper sheets through a gap between the pair of conveying members so that the printed paper sheets are sequentially accumulated in the paper holding mechanism, and further configured to collectively discharge the printed paper sheets outside of the apparatus by holding the printed paper sheets between the pair of conveying members.

Abstract: A system for separating an article from the outer part of a stack and conveying it along a transfer path includes a stack assembly configured to receive a stack of articles. A mounting assembly including at least one vortex suction unit is disposed so as to face the stack of articles at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge thereof. The vortex suction unit includes a conveyor configured to transport an article from the stack.

Abstract: Aligning of banknotes is carried out without using an aligning device. A medium conveyance mechanism includes an upper belt (2) entrained around two rollers (3a, 3b), a lower belt (5) entrained around two other rollers (6a, 6b) and disposed so as to overlap the upper belt (2), and an aligning guide (15) disposed at one side of the upper belt (2) and the lower belt (5) at a distance therefrom, which aligning guide (15) has an inclined surface (16) for carrying out aligning of a banknote and a conveyance reference surface (17) formed at an end side of the inclined surface (16). When the banknote being conveyed abuts the inclined surface (16) of the aligning guide (15) for aligning, one side of the banknote is guided by the conveyance reference surface (17) while the banknote is slipped with respect to the upper belt (2) and the lower belt (5) in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the banknote is conveyed.

Abstract: A sheet feeder (1) having a stack hopper (9) for holding a stack of sheets (8), and feed belts (5, 6, 7) for advancing the bottom-most sheet from the stack, has traction belts (110, 111, 112) between the feed belts. The traction belts extend around a shaft (25) beneath the hopper and around a shaft (27) positioned intermediate the reach of the feed belts, a short distance short of separators (30, 31). The traction belts are preferably thicker than the feed belts and textured on their outer surface.

Abstract: A pickoff system for removal of mail pieces one at a time from the end of a stack includes a pickoff belt mechanism positioned to frictionally engage an outer surface of a mail piece at the end of the stack and transport it transversely to a thickness direction of the stack, which mechanism includes one or more belts mounted on rollers and driven by a drive motor. A sensor is positioned to determine mail piece movement speed as it is being transported by the pickoff belt mechanism, and a measurement device determines belt movement speed during operation of the pickoff belt mechanism. A system is provided for reducing or stopping slipping of the mail piece relative to the belt during transport by the belt pickoff mechanism. A controller is connected to the sensor and the belt movement speed measurement device.

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 device and system for registering or justifying product such as mail pieces in a vertical position for future processing of such mail pieces. The system includes a mounting block having an angled bore and a driven alignment mechanism mounted within the angled bore. The driven alignment mechanism includes a shaft assembly mounted in the angled bore such that the shaft assembly is at approximately a same angle as the angled bore. At least one surface is mounted to the shaft assembly which, when contacting a product, is driven and provides a downward correction vector to the product for vertically aligning the product.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first conveying unit to convey a sheet in a first direction, a second conveying unit disposed on a downstream side of the first conveying unit to convey the sheet in a second direction, and a first path formed between the first and second conveying units. At least the second conveying unit has a holding section to hold and convey the sheet. The sheet conveying device further includes a belt conveying unit disposed along an outer side of the first path and includes a belt to convey the sheet toward the holding section. The belt is stretched around a first belt holding and rotating member and a second belt holding and rotating member disposed on an upstream side of the second conveying unit in the second direction.

Abstract: A tape transport system for printed products includes a tape having a tape width, a pulley, and a lever arm supporting the pulley, the lever arm having a first side and a second side. The pulley has a first section disposed on the first side of the lever arm and a second section disposed on the second side of the lever arm, the first and second sections supporting the tape so that the lever arm is within the tape width.

Abstract: In order to provide an apparatus for separating flat parceled goods, comprising a driver device with at least one driver surface, which is driven such that the parceled goods can be carried along in a transporting direction by the at least one driver surface, and also comprising a separating device with at least one separating surface for the parceled goods, the separating surface being directed toward the at least one driver surface, which apparatus carries out a separating operation with a high degree of reliability, it is proposed that the separating device is driven such that the at least one separating surface moves, upon contact with a parceled goods article, in the opposite direction to the transporting direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder having parallel opposing shafts with rollers or belts for engaging sheets. The sheet feeder having one control to adjust the height of both sides of one shaft so that the rollers apply the same force to both sides of the sheet to feed the sheet straight preventing the sheets from jamming in the sheet feeder. The sheet feeder can have manual or electronic height adjustments. The gap between the shafts can be quickly and easily changed for quickly changing production runs with different thickness product. The shafts are three-piece shafts for ease of changing the rollers on the shaft. All the bearings are pregreased and sealed to protect the bearings from dirt and debris. Rods connect the height adjustment on both sides of the shaft so both sides are adjusted by the same amount at the same time.

Abstract: In order to provide an apparatus for separating flat parceled goods, comprising a driver device with at least one driver surface, which is driven such that the parceled goods can be carried along in a transporting direction by the at least one driver surface, and also comprising a separating device with at least one separating surface for the parceled goods, the separating surface being directed toward the at least one driver surface, which apparatus carries out a separating operation with a high degree of reliability, it is proposed that the separating device is driven such that the at least one separating surface moves, upon contact with a parceled goods article, in the opposite direction to the transporting direction.

Abstract: A document-handling apparatus and method for transporting documents along a document feed path from an upstream end to a downstream end. The apparatus includes at least one document-handling subassembly along the document feed path for singulating the documents, controlling gaps between the documents, and conveying the documents toward the downstream end; a sensor mounted along the document feed path for sensing the positions of the documents and for generating position signals based on the document positions; and a control apparatus for receiving the position signals and for controlling the velocity and acceleration of the document-handling subassembly so as to regulate the size of the document gaps and to maximize document throughput. The document-handling subassemblies can include a stack advance mechanism, an input feeder, one or more singulators, and one or more output feeders. A trap can also be included to stop a document along the feed path. The apparatus can operate at accelerations as low as 0.

Abstract: A suction belt conveyor for a sheet processing machine includes an operationally revolving endless suction belt having, at an outer side thereof a filigree structure formed by indentations, the suction belt being formed with penetrating bores terminating in the indentations. In a variation of the foregoing, the suction belt conveyor for a sheet processing machine includes an operationally revolving endless suction belt formed with pores distributed in longitudinal and transverse directions of the suction belt, so that the suction belt is air permeable.

Abstract: A method is proposed for separating flat, stacked products, which are preferably fed individually, at a distance from one another and lying one behind another, to a further processing process, first of all the uppermost product being lifted, at least partially and preferably completely, off the stack of products and subsequently transported away in the transport direction to the further processing process, the transport direction forming an angle (&agr;), preferably in the range from 30° to 150° with the vertical axis of the stack of products, wherein the products are transported away in such a way that as a product that still partially overlaps the stack with its trailing edge region is being transported away, a following product is already being lifted off the stack of products, in its trailing edge region, to be transported away.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an apparatus for doffing flat shipments at a controllable doffing speed that delivers the shipments at constant speed to driven conveyor belts. According to the invention, the speed at which the shipment to be doffed must be transported, from the time it reaches a first sensor for detecting the shipments until it reaches a corresponding second sensor in order to achieve a desired gap is ascertained. The first sensor is located at the position at which the shipments (1′) to be doffed have reached a fixed mean doffing speed, and the second sensor is located at the point of takeover by the conveyor belts.

Abstract: A feeding machine for feeding envelopes into a station for further individual handling. A stack of envelopes is held in a downwardly inclined feed channel. The stack of envelopes is transformed into a layered stream by an upward inclined discharge channel including a conveyor unit that carries a stream of envelopes through a gap formed by an imbricator strip and a low friction circulation belt. The layered stream is conveyed to a removal point where a removal device removes individual envelopes for further processing. The conveyance of the layered stream is controlled in such a manner that the removal device can remove individual envelopes at regular time intervals.