Abstract: The paper feeding device comprises a drive source having a shaft rotatable in forward or reverse direction and a drive gear mounted fixedly to the shaft, a sun gear engaging with the drive gear and being rotatable around a supporting point, first and second planetary arms mounted rotatably to the supporting point of the sun gear, respectively, first and second planetary gears engaging with the sun gear and attached rotatably to the first and second planetary arms, respectively, and arm lock mechanism for positioning and fixing the first and second planetary arms, respectively. The rotation of the shaft of the drive source is transmitted through the first planetary gear to an original feeding roller in the transmission mode and to a platen roller in the reception mode. The driving force is transmitted to the original feeding roller via the second planetary gear and to the platen roller via the first planetary gear in the copy mode.

Abstract: A roller, and more particularly a precision transport roller formed of elastomeric material is disclosed. The roller is characterized in that the elastomeric material is formed into inner and outer concentric cylinders which are joined together and which encompass therebetween in co-axial relation a rigid cylindrical bushing. Preferably, the inner and outer cylinders are connected by bridges defined by holes formed in the bushing. The bushing may include beveled end faces for facilitating centering of the bushing in a mold.

Abstract: The device for the introduction of sheets makes it possible to introduce a stack of sheets through an auxiliary input or by-pass in addition to or as an alternative to the normal cassettes for sheets, with which the machine is fitted. A roll (57) rotating on a shaft (58) separates sheets from a stack inserted into a tray (54). A lever (68) is movable from a rest position to a function position. When the lever is moved to the functional position it causes a unidirectional clutch (86) mounted on the shaft to reverse the direction of rotation of the roll thereby moving sheets back to the tray. The lever also moves a cam (76) such that when the lever moved to the functional position, the tray is moved away from the roll such that additional sheets can be inserted.

Abstract: In a paper supplying device in an image forming apparatus, a circular groove is formed at one position of a roller shaft of a paper supplying roller. An engaging-connecting portion is releasably engaged in such circular groove and is formed in a member to be pressed by a paper supplying cassette. The member thus is connected to the paper supplying roller but is rotatable relative thereto.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an automatic original feeder for conveying an original along a path to a transparent platen. This automatic original feeder conveys the original to a position where it lies between the platen and an original conveying device which is disposed on a frame which can cover the transparent platen. The frame is rotatably supported by a supporting member. This supporting member is attached movably up and down relative to the main body of the apparatus and it is elastically urged downward. This biases the original conveying device downwardly, so that the pressure applied to the original by the original conveying device is properly maintained, thereby ensuring reliable conveyance of the original. Clearances between the original conveying device and an original cover plate on the frame are covered with clearance covering members, thereby to prevent an outline of the original conveying device from appearing in a transferred image.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a member for depressing a pair of rollers to feed the top sheet off a stack of papers in a case. The depressing member is only operated when the case is positioned in an associated device. The spacing between the feed rollers is variable and controlled in accordance with the width of the stacked sheets.

Abstract: A sheet transport device comprising a separating roller drivingly rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of transport of sheets, bearings for rotatably supporting the rotary shaft of the roller, and a sheet guide member for guiding the sheet to the roller, the guide member being provided with a fitting portion fittable to each of the bearings from a direction approximately perpendicular to the axis of the bearing and thereby attachable to the body of an apparatus.

Abstract: A dual bin envelope tray is adapted to support, in a side-by-side relationship, two stacks of envelopes which may be of different sizes. The envelope tray is configured to be interchangeable with the conventional paper supply tray of a printing device, such as a printer, copier or the like, and may be inserted directly into the printing device housing opening from which the paper tray is removed. Cooperating driving and driven structures, respectively disposed within the housing and on the envelope tray, function to sequentially feed the envelopes in either stack thereof into the printing device housing for passage through its existing printing and paper exit paths.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding device adapted to be positioned in a main unit such as a copying machine, a printer and the like, having a case member for holding a plurality of cut-form sheets in a stacked state and a pair of feeding rollers for feeding the sheet one by one, an indicator for indicating a size of the stacked sheet and an interval change mechanism for automatically changing an interval between the pair of feeding rollers in accordance with the size indicated by the indicator when the sheet feeding device is positioned in the main unit, are provided. Thus, according to the size of the stacked sheet, the pair of sheet feeding rollers are respectively placed at the most suitable positions for a sheet feeding operation.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a rotatable feed roller and a retard roller biasingly urged toward one another, the feed roller being rotatable in a feed direction for feeding a paper sheet between the feed roller and the retard roller. A pivot are pivotably supports the retard roller, and a motor mounted on the pivot arm is operable to apply a turning torque to the retard roller in a direction opposite to the direction of feed of the feed roller.

Abstract: A paper delivery apparatus for delivering paper to a predetermined place by driving a roller support shaft with a the paper coming in contact with roller attached to the roller support shaft. The roller support shaft and the drive shaft are connected to each other between a pair of lateral plates. Bearings are attached to the roller support shaft at both ends thereof and are axially movably supported by bearing support members. The roller support shaft together with the bearings may be readily removed from the bearing support members by moving the roller support shaft or the bearings in the axial direction.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for feeding paper sheets one by one toward a body of an image recording apparatus has a feed roller and lap feed preventing device for preventing two or more paper sheets from being fed together. The lap feed preventing device is implemented as a reverse roller which is pressed against the feed roller and provided with a circumferential recess in a predetermined position thereof. When paper sheets each being formed with three holes for filing at spaced locations along the width thereof are used with the sheet feeder, the circumferential recess of the reverse roller coincides with the intermediate hole of each paper sheet being fed.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus including sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveying apparatus, sheet delivering apparatus, structure for supporting the sheet conveying apparatus and sheet delivering apparatus and having an opening side, sheet storing apparatus, and structure for guiding the sheet storing apparatus such that the sheet forming apparatus is detachable from the sheet feeding apparatus at the same opening side.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding mechanism comprises feed rollers attached to a first driving shaft and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, two of the feed rollers being end feed rollers located at both ends of the first driving shaft. A pair of end ball rollers are attached to a second driving shaft and located in correspondence to the end feed rollers. A double-structure bail roller is attached to the second driving shaft in correspondance to the feed rollers, except for the end feed rollers. The double-structure bail roller includes an inner core and an outer layer having a small friction coefficient. The iner core is elastically deformable in a direction in which the end feed rollers are pressed against the corresponding bail rollers.

Abstract: A sheet material handling apparatus includes a conveyor and a plurality of hoppers disposed along the conveyor for receiving sheet material. Each of the hoppers include a sheet material support surface which slopes downwardly at an acute angle relative to horizontal in a direction transverse to the conveyor and a register surface adjacent the support surface. Drums feed sheet material from the hopper to the conveyor. The drums are supported for rotation about axes which extend at an acute angle to horizontal in a direction transverse to the conveyor.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for a printer. There are at least two mounting members, each of which is adapted to contain sheets of paper. A paper feeding assembly is associated with each of the mounting members and contacts the paper in the mounting member for feeding single sheets of paper. A paper feed gear is operatively coupled to each of the paper feeding assemblies for co-rotation therewith. A sun gear is present proximate each of the paper feeding gears and each is rotatable about a center point. A transmission mechanism transmits rotational power in first and second directions from a paper feed motor in the printer to each of the sun gears. The first and second directions are opposite to one another. A selector member is associated with each of the paper feed assemblies and has a planet gear on a first arm and a protrusion on a second arm. The selector member is rotatable about the center point of the corresponding sun gear. The planet gear engages with the corresponding sun gear.

Abstract: An envelope construction for use in a copy sheet feeding apparatus of a copying machine. The envelope having panels which, before closure and sealing, have only two overlapping layers of material and straight side edges which are equal to or greater than the distance the envelopes travel while being guided in the sheet feeding apparatus and before entering the transport system for the copying machine.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes from a hopper to an envelope reading station upon demand. A pair of drive rollers are mounted on a first drive shaft by means of a one-way clutch which allows the rollers to rotate only in a feeding direction. Mounted below the drive rollers are a pair of driven rollers which have a brake applying a force to them counter to the feeding direction. The braking force minimizes the possibility of feeding two documents at the same time. A second substantially identical set of rollers are mounted downstream of the first set of rollers. Upon demand envelopes are fed through the feeder and retained in the nip of the second set of rollers with a portion of the envelope extending into an envelope reading area. An operator reads address indicia from the envelope and keys it into envelope processing apparatus.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine comprises a feeding device for feeding a copy paper to a circular photoreceptor for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon, a transfer discharger for causing a corona discharge to transfer the latent image onto the copy paper, and a receiving device for receiving the copy paper posterior to the corona transfer. The copy paper is traversed along a tangent line of the transfer portion of the circular photoreceptor, the tangent line extending substantially in a line through the feeding device, the corona discharger, and the receiving device. The copy paper may be selected to be thick or thin. The thick copy paper can be automatically separated from the circular photoreceptor without the aid of any separation means.

Abstract: An apparatus removably mountable on an X-ray image photographing apparatus for supplying sheet films to the photographing apparatus is provided with an outlet, a chamber for holding a number of sheet films, a slit having a gap of such dimension into which a sheet film may enter, a transport member for transporting the outermost sheet to the outlet and prior to said transport, transporting that sheet film toward the slit, and a pressing member for downwardly curving the end of the remaining sheet films which is adjacent to the outlet.

Abstract: A mechanical system for feeding cut sheet paper to a printer from one of several cassettes. A mechanical selector is mounted in each cassette so that it can drive a paper feed roll mounted in that cassette. The cassettes include insert guides which allow each cassette to be replaceably mounted in at least one side rail secured on the printer. The side rail has guides that receive and automatically locate each cassette on the printer with a simple "drop in" engagement. The side rail supports a gear train or an equivalent power transmission arrangement that has a common drive and extends to all of the cassettes. A power input gear of each selector engages an associated gear of the gear train. The selectors each include a combination mechanism that allows the selector to transmit power only after the drive shaft has supplied a programmed pattern of rotations and counter-rotations to the selectors.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a resilient rotatable separator roller which includes a radial cut permitting radial attachment and detachment from a rotatable shaft. A fixing device is provided for fixing the roller to the shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding single sheets of paper from a stack of the sheets, including fixed upper and lower guide surfaces between which the sheets travel during feeding, a single, centrally-located feed roll, a registration roll downstream of the feed roll, the registration roll being activated at the end of a predetermined delay period beginning when the feed roll is activated, the delay period being sufficient to assure that a single sheet is moved into engagement with the registration roll before the end of the period, the separation between the upper and lower guide surfaces being greater at a location intermediate the separation and registration rolls than at the rolls to define a buckle-restraint region intermediate the rolls wherein buckling of the sheet occurs after engagement with the registration roll and before the end of the delay period, and the moving feed surface of the feed roll being adapted to slip with respect to the sheet after the sheet has buckled against the surface of the region.

Abstract: A radiographic film magazine for receiving stacked films without any intercalary strips and feeding them one by one into a film-changer without any problems of adhesion by means of a spout-shaped receptacle in which the films are retained with a high degree of curvature, thus facilitating extraction of the films. The magazine is intended to equip high-speed film-changers as well as normal selectors provided with a film-gripping mechanism.

Abstract: In a device for dispensing sheet material having at least one storage container for a stack of said sheet material, a withdrawal device associated with said storage container consisting of withdrawal rollers for removing sheets of said sheet material from said storage container, a plurality of spaced transporting rollers for conveying removed sheets along a path, spaced contra-rotating rollers which can be adjusted between said transporting rollers to obtain optimum detention of duplicate sheets thereby preventing the simultaneous passage of a plurality of sheets along said path and a dispensing station arranged at the end of the conveying path, the improvement comprising said contra-rotating rollers being formed of an inherently stable material, at least some of the transporting rollers being formed of an elastically yielding material preferably having a cellular or porous surface for good adhesion to said sheets, and at least some of the transporting rollers being formed of an inherently stable unyielding m

Abstract: A deskewing document transport device delivers individual documents one at a time into the nip of a pair of pickup rollers. The documents are gravity fed from an angled panel into the nip. A curved guide finger is positioned near the bottom of the angled panel and confronting one of the pickup rollers in order to form a curved gap which causes the documents to curl slightly as they approach the nip. A horizontal table is positioned under the curved gap so that, if the document is skewed, the leading edge of the curled document is lightly pressed against the table for deskewing the document as it passes through the gap. The inventive transport device is particularly well-suited for use with a microfilming camera.

Abstract: A sheet supply includes a sheet supply roller disposed for contact with copy sheets housed in a cassette for feeding forward one copy sheet at a time and a guide roller which is disposed on the outer side of the sheet supply roller. The guide roller is loosely mounted on the axis of the sheet supply roller so as to be movable in the direction of its diameter and such that it rotatably contacts the copy sheets under its dead weight.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes respective feeders for a manually loaded paper and a cassette feeder, both of which are simultaneously operated by single paper feed control means, but the feeding of a manually loaded paper is disabled during a cassette feeding mode while the cassette feeder is disabled during a manually loaded paper feeding mode.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus adapted to feed paper sheets one by one by the rotational force of feed rollers acting on the uppermost surface of stacked paper sheets, including a linkage arrangement for moving the feed rollers transverse to the direction of paper sheet feed.

Abstract: A paper-feeding mechanism of a compact printer is provided. The mechanism has a driven wheel which transmits rotation to a paper-feeding roller and a driving wheel which drives the driven wheel. The driving wheel has first and second sets of gear teeth for engagement with teeth on the driven wheel. The driving wheel is axially displaceable to provide for driving with the first set of gear teeth at a normal paper feed rate and also by the second set for driving at a rapid paper feed rate. A solenoid-operated rate-selection lever serves to select either of the driving speeds. A cam attached to a power wheel which drives the driving wheel serves to return the mechanism from rapid to regular paper-feeding.

Abstract: An apparatus for destacking a substantially spiral-shaped formed stack of printed products, wherein the printed products partially bear upon one another in overlapping formation. There is provided a stack support for the reception of the stack of printed products at its support surface means. Further, a rotational drive serves to place into rotation the stack of printed substantially spiral-shaped formed stack of printed products supported upon the stack support about the axis of the spiral, there being provided a stationary opening or throughpassage at the stack support following which there is arranged an outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling and reading any one of a number of film strips, each having a number of segments with each segment containing a plurality of information-containing, high-reduction image frames. The film strips are housed in a cassette which is movable with respect to a fixed reference to align a desired film strip with a reading station disposed across the optical path of an optical system. A film strip is moved out of the cassette by a force applied to one of its side edges. Control information carried by each film strip is sensed as the film strip moves out of the cassette and the sensed information is used to control the distance through which the film strip moves so that a particular segment thereof will stop at the reading station. The optical system is moved relative to the reading system so that the optical path of the optical system is selectively alignable with a particular image frame of the film strip removed from the cassette.