Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for a separator for a fuel cell includes: a conveying portion configured to hold an intermediate part of the separator and lift the separator; and restricting portions configured to restrict the opposite ends of the separator to warp the intermediate part of the separator in the lifting direction when the conveying portion lifts the separator. The restricting portions are configured to release the opposite ends when the intermediate part of the separator warps in the lifting direction with a target curvature amount.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet loader, a sheet feeder, a misfeeding detector, a memory, and circuitry. The sheet loader is configured to load a sheet of a sheet bundle. The sheet feeder is configured to feed a sheet from the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet loader. The misfeeding detector is configured to detect a misfeeding of the sheet. The memory is configured to store sheet feed information on sheet feeding. The circuitry is configured to change a sheet feed setting based on the sheet feed information stored in the memory and perform a retry sheet feeding at a detection of the misfeeding by the misfeeding detector.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a first surface of a medium; a support unit that supports the medium from a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a pressing unit that blows air from a first surface side so as to press a portion of the medium to be read by the reading unit against the support unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet loader, a rear end holder, an air blower, a front end holder, a sender and an air controller. The sheet loader stores stacked sheets. The rear end holder holds a rear end of a topmost sheet on the sheet loader. The air blower blows air to the loaded sheets to raise a sheet. The front end holder holds a front end of the raised topmost sheet. The sender sends the sheet in the sheet feeding direction. The air controller controls the air blower to start blowing a raising air to raise the sheet after the rear end holder holds the rear end of a next sheet that is stacked under the topmost sheet before a rear end of the topmost sheet sent in the sheet feeding direction by the sender passes through the front end holder.

Abstract: A sheet-type medium transporter comprises separation rollers to separate a sheet-type medium from sheet-type media picked up from a load tray in which the sheet-type media are loaded to be transported out of the load tray in a transporting direction; and an air blower coupled to at least one separation roller of the separation rollers to be driven by the at least one separation roller, to supply air in a direction substantially opposite to the transporting direction of the load tray and toward the sheet-type media, to lift the sheet-type medium from the sheet-type media, which is to be separated by the separation rollers.

Abstract: A paper feeder for transporting paper sheets, includes: a head fan that blows air on the paper sheets; a suction fan that applies negative pressure to the paper sheets blown by the head fan; a switching member that changes the direction of the air from the head fan; a head shutter that blocks the flow of the air directed by the switching member; and a hardware processor that determines the blocking time of the airflow, wherein the switching member changes the air direction between a first direction for floating the paper sheets and a second direction toward the suction fan, and the hardware processor determines stop timing of the air blow in the second direction directed by the switching member as the start timing of clocking the blocking time of the airflow, based on the weight and the resistance to an external force of the paper sheets.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a plurality of suction units, disposed above a conveyed medium stacked on a stacker, to attract the conveyed medium. At least one of the plurality of suction units includes a rotary fan including a board and a plurality of walls extending from the board; and a driver to rotate the rotary fan. The at least one of the plurality of suction units generates a vortex air with a side of the board with the plurality of walls directed to the conveyed medium. The at least one of the plurality of suction units being a suction unit generates a vortex air.

Abstract: A guide member (14) has an upper surface assisting conveyance of workpieces (44) mounted on a table (12) and is arranged downstream of the table (12) in a workpiece conveyance direction. A belt drive mechanism (16) has pulleys (26a to 26d, 28a to 28b), and endless belts (32a to 32d) wound around these pulleys, and is arranged above the table (12) and the guide member (14) so as to stride over the table (12) and the guide member (14). A first opening portion is formed on a bottom portion of the belt drive mechanism (16) to generate an upward suction force. A second opening portion is formed on the upper surface of the guide member (14) to generate a downward suction force. A magnitude of the suction force generated in the first opening portion exceeds a magnitude of the suction force generated in the second opening portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

Abstract: An apparatus for singling sheet goods which comprises a suction device with a stator and a rotor movable relative to the stator. The stator has at least one first opening and the rotor at least one second opening which overlap upon a rotation of the rotor and thereby define an opening area with a first end and a second end. The opening area extends starting from the first end up to the second end, wherein a section of the opening area between the first end and the second end forms a suction area in which sheet goods to be singled can be sucked by the suction device. The first end of the opening area is arranged spaced from the suction area so that arising noise can be dampened.

Abstract: An improved device is disclosed for holding down textile the material on the platen of the digital printer. The device includes a textile gripping material formed to define a border band on the periphery of the platen. The border material has a structure that engages/grips the textile and hold the textile in place. In operation, the textile is laid onto the platen surface and the edges are pulled taut to align the textile and remove wrinkles and the textile is next pressed onto the border material to be engaged by the border material. The border material grips and holds the textile in position, to provide a smooth textile surface on which the ink jets are applied. After the printing operation, the textile is lifted off of the border material and removed from the platen.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a movable regulation member that regulates a trailing edge side position of a sheet stack stored in a storage portion in a sheet feeding direction, a trailing edge detection portion, movable together with the regulation member, that detects a sheet surface on the trailing edge side of the sheet stack, and a control unit that detects whether the regulation member is positioned to an end surface on the trailing edge side of the sheet stack based on a detection result by the trailing edge detection portion, and that causes a display unit to provide a warning if the regulation member is not positioned to the end surface, wherein, if a predetermined sheet with thicknesses different between leading edge and trailing edge sides thereof in the sheet feeding direction is set by a setting unit, the control unit does not cause the display unit to provide the warning.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a load tray where cut-sheet-type media are loaded; a pickup member configured to withdraw the cut-sheet-type media from the load tray; and a blowing unit configured to supply pulse air from a downstream side of the load tray in a loading direction of the cut-sheet-type media to a front end portion of the cut-sheet-type media loaded on the load tray.

Abstract: In an operating machine, one example of a method for monitoring operation of operating machinery includes converting an actual sound pattern generated by the machine into an audio signal and digitizing the audio signal to create a real-time acoustic fingerprint unique to the actual sound pattern. A reference database contains a plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints, each stored acoustic fingerprint in the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints representing a unique sound pattern associated with a particular operating condition. A controller compares the real-time acoustic fingerprint to the stored acoustic fingerprints in the reference database and generates an output in response to detection of a match between the real-time acoustic fingerprint and one of the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints. One example of the machine is a corruptor machine that converts paper webs into corrugated paperboard sheets.

Abstract: A thermal energy harvesting system includes a pair of shape memory sections formed of shape memory alloy (SMA) material that are each disposed within a tube. The shape memory sections are fixed in position at one end and are attached at another end to a rotating shaft that is in mechanical communication with a power generator. Fluid inlet valves are provided in each housing and are each controlled to alternatingly supply hot and cold fluid to the tubes to selectively heat and cool the shape memory sections. This results in the cyclical contraction and expansion of the shape memory sections, which causes oscillating rotation of the shaft that is converted by the power generator into electrical power.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a LAN, and IO ports connectable to a manufacturing apparatus, and a controller. The IO ports are configured and/or programmed to exchange ON/OFF signals including multiple bits with the manufacturing apparatus. The controller is configured and/or programmed to receive communication requests from communication destinations via the LAN, store network addresses of communication destinations and IO port designations, change a value of the ON/OFF signals of designated IO ports in accordance with requests from communication destinations, and transmit the ON/OFF signals of designated IO ports to communication destinations via the communication unit and the LAN in accordance with requests from the communication destinations.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: a lifting nozzle configured to blow air against an end portion of a sheet bundle placed on a sheet loading portion to lift sheets; a separating nozzle configured to separate the sheets; a lifting-nozzle shutter member configured to open and close the lifting nozzle; a separating-nozzle shutter member configured to open and close the separating nozzle; a lifting-shutter driving mechanism configured to drive the lifting-nozzle shutter member; a separating-shutter driving mechanism configured to drive the separating-nozzle shutter member; and an open/close control unit configured to control the lifting-shutter driving mechanism and the separating-shutter driving mechanism such that the lifting-nozzle shutter member and the separating-nozzle shutter member are opened or closed simultaneously.

Abstract: A feeder (12) for feeding envelopes in a mail handling machine comprising a transport deck (30) for receiving a stack of envelopes, feed rollers (34) for conveying downstream envelopes towards a reference wall (32) leaving a clearance path for the envelopes; a stack sensor (48) for detecting the presence of the stack of envelopes at a predetermined height threshold; and a control unit (46) configured for decreasing acceleration of the feed rollers when the stack of envelopes goes below the predetermined height threshold.

Abstract: Provided are a floating restricting member restricting the floating position of a bundle of sheets; and a holding mechanism holding the floating restricting member relative to a side fence. The floating restricting member includes a sheet contact section being brought into contact with the sheets from above; and a sheet-floating restricting section restricting the floating position of the floating sheet that is floated while air is blown thereto. The holding mechanism sets the floating restricting member in the initial state where the sheet-floating restricting section restricts the floating position of the sheet, in the sheet-placing time retracted state where the sheets are pushed against the sheet contact section so that the floating restricting member is retracted, and in the sheet-ejecting time retracted state where, when the sheets are to be removed, the sheet is pushed against the sheet contact section from below so that the floating restricting member is retracted.

Abstract: Gate blocks 18 are disposed to face each other, wherein the gate blocks 18 include inclined surfaces 18a respectively on inner wall surfaces at an upper end part of a case 7 in which multiple rectangular sheet materials W are stacked with four sides therearound being aligned in a sheet material stocker 3A. An uppermost group of sheet materials W including the uppermost sheet material W are curved so as to project upward, wherein each sheet material of the uppermost group has a predetermined curvature projecting upward. This structure makes it possible that when the uppermost one of the stacked multiple sheet materials W is taken out sequentially by a sheet material take-out means, each sheet material W is reliably taken out sequentially while double take-out of sheet materials is prevented even if each sheet material W has a relatively high rigidity.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a status of clogging a paper due to some cause occurs, controls of inverting a conveyance roller and returning the jammed paper in a paper feeding tray is performed. At this time, the position of a paper damming up member is lowered by an actuator when the jammed paper is returned to the paper feeding tray and the conveyance roller is inverted so as to avoid a state in which the paper damming up member 33 hinders the returning of the paper and the paper cannot be returned to the paper feeding tray. The paper damming up member is lowered to a position that is lower than a conveyance guide plate at a downstream side in a paper conveying direction. Then, the paper is returned to the paper feeding tray without damage. The returned paper can be reused.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stopping device, which includes a first stopping plate and a second stopping plate connected to one end of the first stopping plate and cooperating with the first stopping plate to form an angle which is less than or equal to 90 degrees. The present disclosure further provides a transferring device with the stopping device and a transferring method. With the first stopping plate stopping the bonded spacing pieces, the bonding force between the spacing pieces is broken; with the stop from the second stopping plate, the bonding degree between the spacing pieces is further broken, which separates extra spacing pieces from the suction arm and further avoids fracture of the liquid crystal panel caused by the situation that a number of spacing pieces enter the package of the liquid crystal panel at the same time.

Abstract: A paper feed device includes a paper stacking shelf, a paper trailing edge guide that regulates a position of a paper bundle, a contact member that is disposed on the paper trailing edge guide, and a position switch portion that moves the contact member to either a withdrawn away position or a contact position with respect to an upper face of the paper bundle. The position switch portion is provided with a rod that is moved in conjunction with an operation for causing the paper feed device to be pulled out from and pushed into the accommodation space, and a rotatable member that is rotated in conjunction with the movement of the rod. The position switch portion supports the contact member, and causes the contact member to be rotationally moved to either the withdrawn away position or the contact position in conjunction with the rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A sheet-handling apparatus is disclosed that reliably separates sheet-like articles and prevents double take-outs, regardless of the thickness of the sheet-like articles that are taken out. The sheet-handling apparatus includes a take-out portion to take out sheet-like articles; a feeding portion to feed the sheet-like articles that have been taken out by the take-out portion; and a separation portion facing the feeding portion across a gap, the separation portion being adapted to separate sheet-like articles that have been taken out by the take-out portion in an overlapping state into individual sheet-like articles; wherein the separation portion is adapted to elastically deform depending on a thickness of the sheet-like articles and vary the size of the gap.

Abstract: A receiving, holding and/or handling device for two-dimensional objects, with at least two controllable suction grippers. The suction grippers are arranged and connected to free ends of movable cantilever arms, which are elastically deformable at least in some sections. The cantilever arm are mounted and supported on a bridge. The cantilever arms each include at least one lower pull and one upper pull which meet at the free end of the cantilever arm and are connected there. An actuating device is assigned to the upper pull. The actuating device generates a pulling force with at least one horizontal direction component which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cantilever arm. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeding apparatus capable of reliably feeding thin sheets in a separated state and an image forming apparatus including the same. A floating preventing member which regulates an upward movement of an uppermost sheet floated by air is provided so as to be lifted and lowered between a tail end regulating plate regulating the position of the sheet above a tray and an adsorbing and conveying portion which conveys the uppermost sheet floated by the air blowing from a downstream air blowing portion. The adsorbing and conveying portion is moved to a predetermined regulating position higher than the height position of the uppermost sheet and lower than the feeding surface of the adsorbing and conveying portion before the sheet is floated, which suppresses the movement of the sheet toward the tail end side caused by the curling of the sheet due to the air.

Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding sheet items has at least one circulatable feeding surface for frictionally engaging a sheet item from a stack and at least one separation surface for frictionally engaging the sheet item or an entrained next sheet item from an opposite side. In a lateral direction transverse to the feeding direction, the at least one feeding surface is located between two of the separation surfaces and/or the at least one separating surface is located between two of the feeding surfaces. At least the feeding surface or the separating surface has a resilient zone and a stiff zone more remote from a laterally adjacent separating surface or surfaces or, respectively feeding surface or surfaces than the resilient zone.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a leading edge contacting section having a leading edge contacting surface with which a leading edge side in a sheet conveyance direction of sheets stored in a sheet storage section, comes in contact; a blowing section having an air outlet which blows air to float the sheets from a side surface perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheets stored; a sucking and conveying section provided at an upward position over the sheet storing section, which sucks the sheet floated by the air from the blowing section, and conveys the sheet over an upper end of the leading edge contacting section; and a rise prevention member provided on a side of the sucking and conveying section, which comes in contact with the sheet floated by the air from the blowing section and prevents a contacting portion of the floated sheet from being risen.

Abstract: A media feeding apparatus that includes a media storage device, a blowing device, a media feeding member, and a media holding member, the media storage device storing media, the blowing device blowing toward side surface of the media, the media feeding device feeding the media sequentially, and the media holding member holding the media at a substantially same position as the media feeding device with respect to the media feeding direction.

Abstract: Means (17, 22, 23, 24, 25) is provided for intermittently lifting a stack (13) of paper so that the topmost sheet is captured by the suction of a traction device (15) and carried forward by the endless belt of the latter to the input end (21) of a laminating machine. Before the trailing end of the captured sheet has left the traction device (15) the lifting means again lifts the stack (13) so that the next sheet is captured in an overlapping relation to the first.

Abstract: The printed matter seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a plurality of sheets of printed paper are placed in a stack, ink having been deposited on at least one surface of each sheet of the printed paper; and an air blowing device which blows air toward at least one of end sides of the stack on the table to supply the air simultaneously between the respective sheets in the stack. The air blowing device blows the air at an air flow volume of at least 0.02 m3/(min·m) per sheet of the printed paper and per unit length of the printed paper in a width direction thereof perpendicular to a direction from the air blowing device to the stack on the table.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including: a sheet loading table; and an adsorption conveyance section having: multiple belts with through-holes; and an air suction section in an inside of the belts and absorbs air through the through-holes; wherein the conveyance section sucks air, allows the sheet to be adsorbed to the belt, and conveys it; the adsorption conveyance section further includes: a first roller provides driving force to the belts; a second roller rotated by the belts, and a third roller between the first roller and the second roller and rotated by the belts, and the belts are supported by those rollers; and an outer surface of the belts mostly protrudes towards the sheets on the table at a central part of the third roller in a cross section perpendicular to the conveyance direction containing a shaft of the third roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for a media feeding system having a trail edge guide, a frame, an elevator, a feed head and a stack of media including a plurality of sheets of media disposed on the elevator, wherein the plurality of sheets of media include an uppermost set of sheets of media located at a top portion of the stack of media. The apparatus includes a trail edge deflector having a body including an angularly disposed lower surface, at least one opening, and at least one stopping surface. The angularly disposed lower surface being shaped to contact and thereby shingle the uppermost set of sheets of media, the at least one opening being shaped for complimentary sliding engagement with the trail edge guide thereby permitting the trail edge deflector to slide along a portion of the trail edge guide and the at least one stopping surface being shaped to limit downward sliding movement of the trail edge deflector along the trail edge guide.

Abstract: A sheet processing device for processing a sheet-like print substrate comprising a sheet support surface for supporting at least a portion of a sheet; a fluid flow generator for inducing a fluid flow; a venturi-type underpressure source, comprising a first passage extending from an inlet to an outlet and a second passage connecting said first passage with a suction endpoint, wherein the connection between the first passage and second passage is located adjacent to a diametrical flow restriction within the first passage and wherein the sheet support surface comprises at least one aperture, which is in fluid communication with the suction endpoint of the venturi-type underpressure source such that in operation an underpressure is imposed on the sheet-like print substrate at the aperture holding at least a portion of the sheet-like print substrate down on the sheet support surface.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes a supplying structure configured to move a plurality of sheets supplied in a stacking state in a stacking direction and supply a sheet at a leading edge thereof in a movement direction to a take-out position, a take-out structure configured to make contact with the sheet supplied to the take-out position and rotate, thereby taking out the sheet in a direction almost orthogonal to the stacking direction, and move the sheet to a conveying route, a suction structure configured to generate an air current to suck the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction to the take-out position on an upstream side of a position where the take-out structure makes contact with the sheet in the sheet take-out direction by the take-out structure, and a controller configured to control an operation of the suction structure so as to decrease suction force by the suction structure when the sheet at the leading edge in the movement direction is not taken out by the take-out structure.

Abstract: An upper air blowing portion that blows air from above a sheet held by a tray is provided above the portion between a trailing end restricting plate and an absorption conveyance portion. A controlling portion drives the upper air blowing portion so as to restrict the movement of the sheet in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction, when the sheet held on the tray moves in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction with the air blown by the air blowing portion.

Abstract: A separator device for separating flat articles one-by-one from a stack of flat articles and for conveying them downstream, said separator device comprising at least one flexible bag provided with a plurality of balls and co-operating with a drive member so that, by deforming while said flat articles are being conveyed downstream, it separates said flat articles one-by-one. A particular application lies in separating mailpieces.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a sheet storage unit that stores a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; and a plurality of nozzles configured to generate air currents blown out to the sheet stack, the air currents separate an uppermost sheet from the rest of stack of the plurality of sheets including a next sheet, the next sheet being situated immediately below the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding each of accumulated mail items P onto a conveyance path includes a pickup belt which runs along a pickup position, and a negative-pressure chamber opposing the pickup position with the pickup belt interposed therebetween. When each mail item is picked up from the pickup position and reaches a nip between conveyance belts, air is introduced into the negative-pressure chamber to eliminate negative pressure therein.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided to separate a sheet from a plurality of stacked sheets and feed the sheet. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet stacking portion on which the sheets are stacked, a suction conveyance belt which separates the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, one by one and feeds the sheet, and a separation rotating roller which is rotatable upon abutting on a rear portion, in a feeding direction, of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The separation rotating roller rotates in a direction which returns the sheet in synchronization with sheet feeding operation performed by the suction conveyance belt.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets includes a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack. A height detecting device is configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack. A side blower adjustment device is configured to adjust a height of the side blower and/or an angle of the airstream direction so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet of the stack based on an input from the height detecting device.

Abstract: A mail doubles detection and correction system for a mail processing system with a feeder includes a mail support configured to support at least two mail pieces in a detection space downstream of the feeder, a pair of vacuum belt assemblies disposed on opposite sides of the detection space, and one or more sensors positioned about the detection space to detect a position of one or more mail pieces in the detection space. Each vacuum belt assembly includes a vacuum port facing the detection space and a perforated belt movable across the vacuum port in a mail transport direction. The system detects a mail double when the sensors indicate that more than one mail piece is disposed in the detection space and corrects the situation by moving one of the belts and holding the other belt stationary to advance only one of the mail pieces, and subsequently moving both of the belts to advance the remaining mail piece.

Abstract: An upper air blowing portion that blows air from above a sheet held by a tray is provided above the portion between a trailing end restricting plate and an absorption conveyance portion. A controlling portion drives the upper air blowing portion so as to restrict the movement of the sheet in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction, when the sheet held on the tray moves in the direction reverse to the sheet feeding direction with the air blown by the air blowing portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet take out apparatus includes a supply table on which sheets are stacked; a detecting portion configured to detect a state of a top surface of the stacked sheets; a cylindrical take out rotor which is rotatably provided so as to face an end portion on a take out side of a top sheet and partially includes a suction hole to attract the sheet, the take out rotor taking out the sheets one by one by attracting the end portion on the take out side of the sheet with rotation; a suction portion which is provided inside the take out rotor and includes an air hole to attract the sheet through the suction hole, the suction portion provided so as to allow the air hole to rotationally move between a first opening position and a second opening position, the first opening position having a first distance away from the end portion on the take out side of the sheet, the second opening position having a second distance, which is longer than the first distance, away from the end portion on the

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 feeding device for feeding each of accumulated mail items P onto a conveyance path includes a pickup belt which runs along a pickup position, and a negative-pressure chamber opposing the pickup position with the pickup belt interposed therebetween. When each mail item is picked up from the pickup position and reaches a nip between conveyance belts, air is introduced into the negative-pressure chamber to eliminate negative pressure therein.

Abstract: A vacuum friction feeder including at least one vacuum friction belt provided with a plurality of holes, a pair of rollers, a table top provided with at least one suction port, an exposure table having a substantially horizontal top surface and a separator. The at least one vacuum friction belt is adapted to rotate around the table top while supported by the rollers such that a suction pressure can be drawn through the plurality of holes provided in the at least one vacuum friction belt as the plurality of holes pass over the suction port. The exposure table is operatively associated with the table top and is adapted to be movable relative to the table top in a plane defined by the substantially horizontal top surface to adjust the portion of the bottommost product in the stack of products exposed to the at least one vacuum friction belt.