Abstract: A separating jet blast air control assembly utilizes a regulating valve to control the amount of compressed air supplied to separating and fanning blowers of a sheet feeder. A valve disc that dumps excess compressed air is biased against a valve seat by a biasing spring. The force applied by the biasing spring is adjustable in accordance with an output from a controller in response to production speed, sheet characteristics and other variables.

Abstract: A holder for receiving sheets and discharging sheets therefrom one-by-one from the bottom of a stack of sheets is provided including a carrier having a rear portion, an intermediate portion and a front portion, providing a carrying surface for the sheets, the carrier being bent at the intermediate portion thereof, transverse to the direction of conveyance of the sheets, so as to create a deepened section between the rear portion and the front portion. Lateral supports extend from lateral edges of the carrier, with at least one elevated part provided in the deepened section at the intermediate portion extending transverse to the direction of conveyance on the carrying surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for reconveying copy paper sheets carrying an image to a transfer section by suction. Along the transport path to the apparatus is arranged a curl inducing mechanism that induces curls in the copy paper sheets, whereby the copy paper sheets with upwardly curled edges are loaded in the apparatus. With this arrangement, the copy paper sheets are surely separated by injecting air, thereby preventing multi-feeds.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet supporting device for supporting a stack of sheets, a vacuum transporting device adapted to suck a top sheet of the stack and transport it, and a device adapted to locate forcibly at least two portions of the top sheet away from the vacuum transporting device so as to corrugate the top sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeder of a sheet-fed rotary printing press is provided with loosening blowers having controllable blowing power and being disposed so as to be adjustable in height on a frame of the sheet feeder behind and at the sides of a pile of sheets and including a plurality of fans for directing an air flow against a side face of the pile of sheets, the air flow being adjustable angularly with respect to the side face.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for singling cards such as check cards or identity cards, each card to be singled is moved beforehand into a singling groove, thereby passing out of the area of a stop holding the stack. The card thus presingled is thereupon taken completely off the stack using a suitable removing sucker. In this way, cards can be singled very reliably and gently.

Abstract: A sheet feeder in a sheet-processing machine, comprising first blower nozzles for fanning and separating a top sheet of a sheet pile, the blower nozzles being directed at least at a rear edge of the top sheet in the sheet pile, a separating device for lifting the top sheet from the sheet pile, second blower nozzles for blowing supporting air under the top sheet in synchronism with an operating cycle of the sheet feeder, central blast-air supply system for the sheet feeder being connected to the first blower nozzles, and a blast-air source separate from the central blast-air supply system connected via a control valve to the second blower nozzles for supplying blast air thereto for supporting the sheet, and a device for operating the control valve in synchronism with the separating device.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading x-ray film cassettes of various sizes, using an air jet to release a sheet of film from a pivotally open upper cassette part, the air jet nozzle being carried by a lever arrangement such that the nozzle is moved upwardly with the upper cassette part as the latter moves to its open position.

Abstract: A low cost, paper feeder for large copy sheets includes a media chamber mounted to support copy sheets in a substantially vertical plane. A two-position, T-shaped feeder mechanism including a pair of one-way clutch controlled feed rolls is slidably mounted on a rail for contacting the media. A foot pedal is connected to the feeder mechanism such that when movement of the foot pedal is initiated, the feeder mechanism is moved in a first direction to a position contacting the copy sheets and with continued movement of the foot pedal, a top sheet of the copy sheets is moved by the feeder mechanism out of the tray in a second direction a predetermined amount to a copier wait station, and with return of the foot pedal to its initial position, the feed mechanism is caused to retract from the surface copy sheets in a third direction to its initial position.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding boards (10) sequentially in one direction from the base of the stack through a feed gate (11) at the base of a front stack retaining wall (12) comprising a transverse series of perforated reciprocating conveying straps (14) mounted on driven pulleys (15) and interposed between a transverse series of lifting bars (13) with a drive mechanism for lowering and raising the lifting bars (13) sequentially and in synchronization with forwards and rearwards movement respectively of the conveying straps (14). A suction box (17) causes the lowermost board to be held in frictional driving contact with the upper surfaces of conveying straps (14) as the board is conveyed forwards into the nip of a pair of feed rolls (40) of, for example, corrugated board handling machinery.

Abstract: A vacuum corrugation feeder stack height detection calibration system and method includes placing a single document in the document tray. Coupled to the stack height arm at the pivot point is a high resolution rotary encoder and dual beam sensor. The stack height arm is flipped up and then back down onto the document and pulses are counted. This difference in up and down pulses represents the "one sheet case." Software then stores this number in non-volatile memory and uses it to create a table of values for various document stack heights by adding constant values to the originally obtained "one sheet case" value.

Abstract: An input hopper apparatus (40) including input hopper receptacle (42) for receiving a stack of cards (44). A pick mechanism (60) is disposed proximate a second end of the input hopper receptacle (42) for individually picking a card from the stack of cards (44) by use of a suction cup assembly (62). A transfer mechanism (70) is included for transferring the picked card to a card transfer path (59).

Abstract: A rotary feeder feeds sheets or board-like articles to nip rolls in a box-making machine. The boards are successively and individually fed from the bottom of a stack whose forward edge engages a gate below which the boards are fed by driven feed members such as wheels, rolls or endless belts which engage the underside of the lowermost board. To raise and lower the boards relative to the surface of the feed members, a vertically reciprocable grate is provided between the drive members. The grate and drive members are mounted in a vacuum box in which a vacuum is established to hold the boards in proper position on the feed members when the grate is lowered. The vacuum is also utilized to hold the boards with sufficient force to produce necessary friction between the boards and the feed members for feeding.

Abstract: Sheet feeder for a printing machine includes a receiving device adjustable in height for taking up a pile formed of individual sheets, a front stop for leading edges of the sheets, and at least one side stop for the side edges of the sheets at one side of the pile; alignment elements located at least at an upper end of the pile and exerting alignment forces on the pile towards the front and the side stops; a loosening device for neutralizing, at least partly, adherence of the upper sheets to one another; a conveying device for withdrawing the respective uppermost sheet from the pile and feeding it into the printing machine; and an additional sheet alignment device acting upon the surface of the respective uppermost sheet, at least until it is taken over by the conveying device, in a way that the alignment device exerts alignment forces upon the sheet towards at least one of the stops; the additional sheet alignment device being offset with respect to the conveying device towards respective trailing edges of t

Abstract: A feeder for document processing equipment having a singulator for feeding a single document upon demand. The feeder includes a movable gate which when in a closed position acts as a fixed guide for properly aligning a stack of documents in a magazine and which when in a released position moves out of contact with the documents to relieve the frictional force between documents. The gate is moved to its released position simultaneously with the start of the pick-off means of the singulator whereby the frictional force between the first and second document is substantially reduced at the instance the first document is picked off the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for taking out flexible works one by one includes an air blower which is disposed on one side of a stack of flexible works and blows air onto the side of the stack of flexible works, a suction cup which has a cylindrical concave suction surface and is adapted to suck a substantially central portion of the uppermost one of the flexible works, and a pressing member which presses the periphery of the flexible work sucked by the suction cup below the central portion.

Abstract: A device for the separation, lifting and removal of complete flat elements includes an open structure, suited to receive in its lower central part a storage for the metal sheets and two lateral stands, each supporting at its lower end a set of rollers leaning against and guiding the metal sheet to be separated and lifted. Further, one of the lateral stands presents under its set of rollers a template which horizontally displaces the top metal sheet of the pile.The other lateral stand also presents at its lower end the set of rollers and a template, which receives the displaced metal sheet and lifts it from the pile of metal sheets. In one form of execution of the device, each stand is provided with two hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, one being for the vertical movement and one for the horizontal movement. Another form of execution of the device includes two lateral stands being provided with a single cylinder with a vertical stroke.

Abstract: A loader and unloader mechanism is attached to a standard photoplotter equipment. The mechanism performs a sequence of operations for loading and unloading sheets of film onto and from respectively such equipment completely automatically.

Abstract: A bottom vacuum corrugation feeder includes a vacuum chamber with a bi-level support surface that support a plurality of apertured belts. The bi-level support surface has a series of raised members on a portion of its surface that corrugate the bottom sheet of a stack of sheets that are supported on a stacking tray. The stacking tray inclues raised members on its stack support surface that allow the venting of air from an air knife positioned in front of the sheet stack for separating the bottom sheet in the stack from the remainder of the stack. Recesses are included in the stack support surface of the stacking tray in order to reduce vacuum leak around the front edge of the sheet stack.

Abstract: Processes for removing the top ply from a stack of plies, such as layers of fabric, in which an element engages the stack and moves relative to the ply to be removed along the face of said ply while pressure is inserted by the element on the stack in such a way that this is locally dented. The element used to engage the ply is provided with a smooth surface. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method having a single hollow element which is provided with suction openings or blow openings and can be moved perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In a sheet feed bench with two parallel sheet feed rails that are adjustable relative to one another and with each having blowing jets on their surfaces facing one another directly above the level of the bench, connected to a common source of compressed air, the sheet feed rails resting on the bench surface are provided with groove-like or notch-like enlargements at the level of the blowing jets. Each of these extend over the entire length of the sheet feeder rails. These enlargements make it possible to position the inner surfaces of the sheet feeder rails so closely and tightly against the longitudinal edges of the stack of sheets that only small amounts of compressed air can escape upward. The formation of an air cushion is improved by this in such a way that the stack height can be more than double without adversely affecting the single-sheet separation.

Abstract: A movable grill is mounted in a frame in such a way that the grill is capable of being moved a certain distance above a feed table towards an ejection point and a suction device is mounted above the section of the grill which moves towards the ejection point. An air-tight rear sealing skirt is suspended from the frame to enclose the space found between the afore-mentioned section of the grill and the top of a pile of sheets on the feed table; and a forward air-tight sealing skirt is suspended from the aforementioned section of the grill above the ejection point such that the vacuum created by the section means causes eddies of air around the edges of the pile of sheets in such a way that the top sheet of the pile of sheets is caused to vibrate and is drawn up to the section of the grill in order that the top sheet is moved with the grill towards the ejection point.

Abstract: Feeding device for feeding paper sheets from a pile, particularly in offset printing machines. The device has a driving mechanism, the operation of which is controlled by three sets of two cams in precise intervals according to the program of operation of the printing machine. All control mechanisms have their operation motions designed separately in such manner, that each mechanism is controlled by one set of two cams. The advantage of the said feeding device consists in that the control mechanism perform precise operations in accordance with the program of operation even at high printing speeds, because they are controlled bilaterally by the set of two cams and double rollers without employing spring elements to cause cam followers to remain in contact with cam surfaces.

Abstract: A lead-frame separating apparatus includes an inclined stationary stocker placed with a plurality of rectangular sheet-type lead-frames in alignment, and a chuck unit capable of taking two positions consisting of a stand-by position above conveying rails where it swings within a vertical plane and extends beneath the stocker, and a chuck position where it adjoins the first lead-frame on the stocker. At the chuck position, the chuck unit holds and takes out the first lead-frame, which is released at the stand-by position and transferred onto the conveying rails.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading an unexposed film on a rotary drum in a exposure/recording apparatus, such as raster plotter or a color scanner, and unloading the exposed film out of the drum, the replacement of films being automatically carried out by the use of a supply pallet and a discharge pallet, suckers, and maneuverable linkages so as to enable the film to travel from the supply pallet to the drum, and, after exposure, to the discharge pallet.

Abstract: Two conveyors for stacks of paper sheets are coupled to each other for movement back and forth between a first position in which one of the conveyors receives one or more stacks and the other conveyor is relieved of the stack or stacks thereon, and a second position in which the one conveyor is relieved of the stack or stacks thereon and the other conveyor receives one or more stacks. In order to expel air from the stacks on the conveyors the foremost portions of the stacks are clamped by reciprocable rams to the respective conveyors and the thus clamped stacks are caused to move along stationary squeegees which bear against successive increments of the stacks behind the respective rams while the stacks, the respective rams and the respective conveyors move away from the stack-receiving positions.

Abstract: A fanner magnet assembly including a power actuated carriage and a magnet assembly mounted on the carriage for lost motion relative to the carriage and for pivotal movement relative to the carriage. The magnet assembly is moved forwardly into engagement with a side face of the associated stack of metal sheets, whereafter the forward movement of the carriage is continued as allowed by the lost motion connection between the magnet assembly and the carriage to a predetermined initial position, whereafter proximity switches function to withdraw the carriage relative to the magnet assembly to an operative position in which the desired amount of side loading is applied to the stack.

Abstract: A separating apparatus, to which the sheet material is transported in stacks via a stack transporting system, comprises a movable retaining means which reduces the separating gap before the stack is fed and is restored to its original width immediately before separation begins. This allows for the prevention of sheets being wedged in the separating gap, which would otherwise lead to a disturbance of the separation process. The design of a stationary retaining element having an integrated second, movable element allows for the formation of a stopping surface which protrudes beyond the stopping surface of the stationary part and is hit by the leading edges of the sheets in the stack. A toothed design of the new stopping surface allows for the leading edge of the stack of sheet material to be influenced selectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring single pieces from a stack (16) of limp fabric pieces to a receptor (25) for further processing wherein a drum (10) is brought into pressure contact with the top piece in said stack (16) and a marginal portion of that fabric piece is gripped by the drum (10) via a friction roller (20) carried by the drum. The drum (10) is then rolled over the stack (16) so the top fabric piece to be wrapped about the periphery of the drum (10). The drum (10) is then transported to an operative position above the receptor (20) and rolled thereover to lay the fabric piece flat on the receptor (25).

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The air knife includes a pair of trapezoidal shaped fluffer jets that enable high speed feeding of 13# to 110# paper with one pneumatic setting while at the same time improving reliability and expanding stack height latitudes.

Abstract: A label magazine comprising a tray for supporting a stack of labels and having a device at one end for yieldingly urging the labels toward the other end of the tray and a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring fingers positioned at the other end of the tray about the labels, each finger including an axially extending portion and an inwardly extending portion engaging the outermost label of the stack. Each finger is mounted so that it can be adjusted to move the finger inwardly of the label and accomodate variations in the size of the labels.

Abstract: Offset printing plates are usually supplied from the manufacturer as a plate stack with intermediate paper layers. For further processing, the plate stack is placed in a magazine cassette. A suction plate lifts a top plate off from the stack and, after removal of the intermediate paper layer by means of blowing air, conducts it for further processing. Also by means of blowing air, the respective upper plates of the remaining stack are isolated, so that they no longer firmly adhere to the stack. Undesired dislocations of the plates thus arising are mechanically corrected.

Abstract: A vacuum media capturing and retention system for a drum type printer or recorder is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum drum with two regions of vacuum passages, one for capturing the leading edge of the media and the second for retaining the trailing edge of the media. When the leading edge of the media is initially captured the vacuum level in the drum is at one level. After the leading edge of the media is captured the vacuum level is dropped to a lower level until the trailing edge of the media is captured. Following the capture of the media trailing edge, the vacuum level within the drum is again increased to retain the media thereto during the copying or recording operation of the overall device.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The air knife includes fluffer jets and vectored auxiliary fluffer jets in order to assist in separating and feeding downcurled sheets. To improve sheet acquisition, increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed, a vacuum plenum is preferably equipped with a negative pressure source that is on continuously during the feed cycle, with the only criteria for sheet feeding being that the motion of the vacuum feedhead is ceased prior to the trail edge of the acquired sheet exposing all of the vacuum ports.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding mechanism adapted to separate a single sheet from a stack of sheets and transfer the single sheet via airjets to the exposure platen of an exposing apparatus. After airjet positioning and exposure, the single sheet is lifted from the platen and delivered to an exit port also via airjets.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying cardboard is provided. The apparatus comprises a frame, a cardboard stack support means provided on said frame to detect a position of the front of the cardboard stack, cardboard stack support drive means, cardboard raising mechanisms mounted in said frame and capable of being in contact with the front of the cardboard stack at a reference position, a pair of feed rollers provided in said frame and above said cardboard stack raising mechanisms and compressed air jetting means facing the opposite sides of the laminar cardboard stack. The apparatus for supplying cardboards, which has the means described above, can readily and reliably supply laminar pulp cardboards one by one.

Abstract: A microfiche feeder 10 conveys isolated sheets of microfiche from a stack 30 to a collator 12, sorter, or other processing apparatus. The stack of microfiche is placed in a receiver. A drive wheel 34 contacts the lowest sheet of the stack 30 to increment the sheet forward by suction as the wheel revolves. Spaced separator rolls 44 and 46 adjacent the drive wheel 34 ensure that a single sheet of microfiche is incremented forward to drive rolls 52 and 54, which convey the sheet to other processing apparatus.

Abstract: In a sheet feeder wherein sheets are fed from the bottom of a stack of the sheets in a stack support there is disclosed an automatic integral plural mode sheet stack sensor which, in a first mode, controls a variable pneumatic feeding means in response to sensing the height of the stack of sheets, and which, in a second mode, provides a signal indicative of the feeding from the stack support of all of the sheets in the stack.

Abstract: A machine for feeding cards one by one from a vertical stack including a platform for supporting the trailing edge of the stack and a stripper type support for the leading edge corner portion of the stack in the form of a needle having a downwardly angled tip portion extending inwardly under the corner of the stack so that the leading edge of the bottom card rests against the tip portion of the needle. A suction cup is mounted for vertical movement between an upper position in which the cup is in engagement with the bottom card of the stack adjacent the needle and a downwardly retracted position which is below the tip portion of the needle so that the leading edge of the bottom card flicks past the tip of the needle as the card is drawn downwardly.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets from the top or bottom of a stack of sheets which includes a sheet stack supporting tray, a vacuum plenum and feed belt sheet separating and feeding assembly with at least one feed belt having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belt, the vacuum plenum and the belt assembly being positioned adjacent a sheet to be fed such that a rear portion of the plenum and belt assembly lies opposite a portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and is adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet to be fed and a front portion of the plenum and belt assembly which lies opposite the front portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and in a plane angled away from the plane of the sheet to be fed.

Abstract: Automatic transfer of one (4a) or a group or package (4'a) of secondary or scrap sheets from a stack (4) over a stack (3) of primary or good-quality sheets on which printing is to be effected, is controlled, for example by a microprocessor control system (12) by placing a stack (4) of secondary sheets adjacent the stack (3) of primary sheets. A secondary sheet transport system (9, 10, 11; 20, 9; 26, 27, 229, 32, 33) grips at least one (4a) or a package (4'a) of secondary sheets and pushes, pulls or similarly transfers the sheet or package of sheets over the topmost one of the primary sheets. To facilitate separation of sheets, a blower is provided blowing air against the edge of the secondary sheets where pick-up is to be effected. Automatic control is possible by introducing into the control unit monitoring signals derived from the printing machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets from a stack of sheets on sheet stack supporting tray which includes means to feed a sheet from and an air injection means disposed adjacent the front of the tray to inject air between the sheet to be separated and the remainder of the stack, the air injection means injecting a planar stream of air which has portions at its ends which converge toward the center of the planar air stream thereby providing both convergence in the planar air stream and expansion in a direction perpendicular to that of the air stream resulting in improved sheet separation. In a preferred embodiment the air injection means includes an array of nozzles, the end nozzles of which are inclined toward the center of the air stream so that the air will converge over the center of the sheet stacking tray. The array of nozzles is directed at an angle down to a stack of sheets in a sheet stacking tray which has a bottom sheet feeder associated with it.

Abstract: An apparatus in which sheets are separated and fed, in seriatim, from a stack with a flow of pressurized fluid being directed between the stack and support thereof. The pressurized fluid produces a gap between the stack and support which is detected. The pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the detected gap.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding and transferring the top sheet from a stack of sheets. The apparatus includes a frame; a first member mounted on said frame for controlled movement in a vertical direction from a predetermined substantially horizontal first position; and a stationary second member mounted on the frame at a predetermined elevation above the first member when at the first position. The first member subtends and supports a stack of sheets. The second member is provided with an opening which is in vertical alignment with the supported stack of sheets. Opposed first perimetric segments of the opening are provided with upwardly convergent surfaces which frictionally engage corresponding peripheral portions of the top and adjacent sheets of the stack, when the first member has moved the stack upwardly a predetermined amount. The frictional engagement causes the top sheet to be upwardly distorted within the opening.

Abstract: In a system of plurally recirculating a set of document sheets for precollated copying wherein the document sheets are repeatedly individually fed seriatim from the bottom of an overlying stack thereof for copying with registration and returned to the top of the stack for restacking, the improvement comprising individually acquiring, and individually urging laterally into contact with an elongated lateral registration edge, with a movable vacuum member each document sheet when it is the bottom sheet of the stack of document sheets, releasing the bottom sheet, and feeding the bottom sheet out from said stack transverse said lateral registration edge by separate sheet feeding apparatus only after it has been so laterally registered and released. Preferably this individual lateral registration of the bottom sheet in the stack is assisted by simultaneously blowing air at said stack from one edge thereof to aid the movement between the bottom sheet and the overlying sheets in said stack.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an auxiliary device for successively stripping sheets of paper from a paper stack piece by piece. The device comprises a backplate in contact with a side surface of the paper stack and a plurality of flexible stripping members. The base portions of the stripping members are secured to the backplate while the forward ends of the same extend beyond the paper stack and have an inwardly facing curvature. The device further includes elastic members in contact with the outer surfaces of the stripping members. The elastic members have in the forward ends thereof means for urging the forward ends of the stripping members in a direction towards the paper stack.

Abstract: A low noise air nozzle system for fanning and separating stacked sheet to facilitate single sheet pick-up. The system employs nozzles which are provided with a diverging air ejection channel which terminates at the nozzle face in an orifice slit 0.025" wide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for taking up and displacing knitted or woven articles which are disposed in a pile, both when folded and not folded. The device is a combination of a first needle type gripping means with a vacuum gripping means and a supplying means. The needle type gripping means raises an edge of an article in the pile and, during a relative movement occurring between the vacuum gripping means and the supplying means, the latter progressively conveys this article towards the vacuum gripping means until said article adheres thereto as a result of a vacuum effect.

Abstract: In a paper feed device having a storage for storing thereon a pile of paper leaves and a device for feeding the paper leaves piled on the storage, there is provided separating apparatus for separating an uppermost one of the paper leaves to be fed by the feeding device from the other paper leaves and a blower disposed adjacent to the rear end of the piled paper leaves with respect to the direction of the feed thereof for blowing a flow of pressurized fluid in the direction of feed of the paper leaves. The blower is movable for retraction with respect to the rear end of the piled paper leaves.

Abstract: Control means for the supply of at least two operating mediums comprises a main valve for controlling the supply of one of the operating mediums and a subsidiary valve for controlling the supply of the or each other operating medium. The or each subsidiary valve is biased into its open or closed state and is adapted for connection to the main valve or the flow of the operating medium therefrom so that its state is reversed by the flow of that operating medium under the control of the main valve. The control means may be employed for controlling the supply of vacuum and compressed air to the lifting and/or forwarding suckers and one or more air blasts respectively of a sheet feeding machine.