Abstract: An apparatus for the withdrawal of flat carton blanks made of paperboard, boxboard or corrugated board from a stack located in back of a retaining mechanism, which comprises conveyor belts and belt guides disposed beneath the stack of blanks for the controlled withdrawal of the lowermost blank and, directly adjacent to such takeoff conveyor and driven in synchronism therewith, a conveyor for the onward transportation of the individually withdrawn blanks. The belts of the takeoff conveyor under the stack are carried downwardly at an acute angle relative to the belt guides starting in the vicinity of retaining mechanism and there is disposed below said conveyor belts, in the vicinity of said retaining mechanism an eccentrically mounted roll whose eccentric shaft is driven by a drive controlled in synchronism with the drive of the takeoff conveyor.

Abstract: In sheet feeding apparatus capable of feeding copy sheets individually from a stack of copy sheets held in a sheet feeding cassette to an exposure station of a copying machine, an improved sheet feeding apparatus comprises a cassette, a bottom plate for stacking copy sheets, which is disposed in the cassette, a sheet feeding roller which is disposed above the stack of copy sheets and rotates at the time of sheet feeding, a bottom plate driving mechanism for moving the bottom plate upwards and downwards, bringing the upper surface of sheets into pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller by moving the bottom plate upwards when feeding the copy sheets individually, and moving the bottom plate downwards after each sheet feeding. Furthermore, the sheet feeding apparatus comprises a mechanism for rotating the sheet feeding roller by use of the driving force for moving upwards and downwards the bottom plate.

Abstract: A collator comprising a plurality of bins to which sheets supplied from a copying apparatus, printing apparatus, or the like are successively delivered. The collator is provided with a jam tray for storing sheets which are supplied to the collator following the occurrence of a sheet jam, a pair of sheet feeding rollers being arranged on the jam tray for feeding one sheet after another from a stack of sheets on the jam tray to a sheet conveying passage in the collator.

Abstract: An original pay-off device comprising an original supplying tray a pay-off roller, and a drive control means for lowering the original supplying tray away from the pay-off roller when originals are loaded on the original supplying tray, and lifting the original supplying tray into contact with the pay-off roller when the originals are payed off. The supplying tray is provided such that the whole or a part of the original supplying tray can be vertically moved or oscillated with respect to a roller for use in paying off originals. The pay-off roller is positioned with its circumferential surface within the range of displacement of the original supplying tray and which is rotated always or when the originals loaded on the original supplying tray are payed off.

Abstract: A device for detecting and indicating a depletion of the supply of sheets in a sheet feeder of the type having a lifting arm used to lift the sheets toward a feeding member. The device utilizes the increased movement of the lifting arm due to the depleting stack to energize an indicator. The device also has the capability of utilizing magnetic members to latch the indicator in an energized condition until the supply of sheets is replenished, which then automatically de-energize the indicator.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding a single sheet from a stack of sheets by using a rotating cylindrical feed roller having a truncatel portion spaced away from the stack and a full diameter portion able to contact the stack whenever it is lifted by a lifting arm, which is pivoting in a timed relationship to the feed roller. This device simplifies sheet timing and eliminates the need for a constant biasing of the stack against a feeding member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a vertically movable vacuum plate having openings for sucking sheets individually and for allowing sheet feeding rollers to extend therethrough for translating the sucked sheets, wherein a sheet pressing portion is formed in the vacuum plate to form a space between the forward end portions of the sheets and the vacuum plate prior to the suction of the sheets. In another embodiment, instead of the sheet pressing portion, a sheet feeding roller mounted on the vacuum plate is utilized as the sheet pressing element, so that the sheets are pressed before being sucked causing the suction force to be applied to the forward end portions of the sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving an object, such as for example the top sheet of a stack of individual sheets of cut paper, including a motor which upon energization of the motor to rotate its drive shaft having a drive member provided thereon, is pivoted toward the object to cause the drive member to engage the object and move the object upon rotation of the drive shaft. Such pivoting of the motor and drive shaft is produced by using force received from the drive shaft to produce another force which in turn produces torque which causes pivoting of the motor and drive shaft toward the object to be moved.

Abstract: A document feed mechanism for a copier machine incorporating an automatic document feed (ADF) with a semi-automatic document feed (SADF) and enabling the SADF to interrupt the ADF. The ADF tray upon which a stack of documents to be copied is placed is situated directly above the viewing station. A wave generator (shingler) paper feed means fans out the topmost sheets on the stack and up a ramp until the topmost sheet enters closed nip rollers. The nip rollers, together with aligner rollers and a drive belt, move the sheet around a substantially 180.degree. bend and onto the viewing station. Second sheet feeds are prevented by a restraint pad positioned between the nip rollers and the exit of the ramp, the top of the restraint pad being above the nip of the nip rollers so that the topmost sheet presses a second sheet downwardly into the restraint pad. The SADF feeds sheets onto the viewing station using the aligner rolls and the drive belt.

Abstract: Two sheet trays are provided, one of which is fixed in position and carries copy sheets and the other of which is movable and carries original documents for transmission. The movable sheet tray is slidable over the fixed sheet tray between a retracted position and a sheet feed position. The trays are rockable in such a manner that a feed roller engages with the fixed sheet tray when the movable sheet tray is in the retracted position and with the movable sheet tray when the movable sheet tray is in the sheet feed position to feed copy sheets or original documents respectively. Movement of the movable sheet tray by the apparatus operator to the selected one of the retracted position and the sheet feed position automatically sets a facsimile transmission system in which the apparatus is incorporated to a receive mode or a transit mode respectively. A sensor is provided to the movable sheet tray to sense for the presence of original documents therein and automatically terminate multiple document transmission.

Abstract: A photocopying arrangement which includes a bi partite housing accommodating a paper feeding unit, a corona discharge unit, an exposure station associated with an optical system to transfer an image of an original disposed on an exposure carriage, and a developing unit following the exposure station. The exposure carriage and the optical system are arranged in an upper housing section which is removable so as to uncover the entire paper flow. A bottom housing section, opened toward the top, accommodates the paper feeding unit, the corona discharge unit, the exposure station and the developing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for singly conveying sheets of paper, especially currency, from a supply stack to an outlet, including a counter-rotating roller and a braking roller for separating two or more sheets which adhere to one another. Control elements delay new sheet take-up whenever adhering sheets are separated from one another, thus creating necessary space in the conveyance path.

Abstract: A copying machine has a scanner movable in a forward direction to scan a master sheet and in a reverse direction to return to its starting position. A drive shaft of the machine rotates similarly forwardly and backwardly to displace this scanner and is connected to a pair of cams, one of which controls a pickup arm for sliding the uppermost sheet off a paper supply stack and the other of which is connected to a pair of pinch rollers which advance the picked up sheet through the imaging mechanism of the machine. Each of these cams has an operating portion which actuates the respective machine element during forward rotation of the cams, but which is brought out of engagement with the respective cam follower during reverse operation of the machine so that during return of the scanner to the starting position the pickup arm and pinch rollers are not operated.

Abstract: The invention is a high speed feeding method and apparatus for inserting (or stuffing) products having a shorter flap portion folded over a longer body portion, which products may comprise single or multiple page signatures, cards, envelopes, or the like, for stuffing or inserting, including in-line inserting of pre-prints into newspapers after they leave the press or for directly inserting into the nip of paper webs where the sections are being brought together as multiple continuous webs, for final folding therein; or for other purposes. The flap enables positive feeding of the products for sequential high speed feeding to predetermined locations.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing sheets one at a time from a face of a stack of sheets wherein a flow-line is established between a primary feed roller or belt and sheet seizing means downstream thereof defining a nip, a lever system downstream of the nip for creating relative separation between the face and the feed roller or belt, the lever system including first and second levers each having first and second portions and first and second fixed pivots, the first portion of the first lever being disposed downstream of the nip and located normally to obstruct the flow-line but being movable from the flow-line by the passage of a sheet therealong, the first portion of the second lever being effective for effecting relative separation between the face and the feed roller or belt, and the second portion of the first lever controlling pivoting of the second lever about the second fixed pivot in direct mechanical repsonse to the movement of the first lever first portion by a sheet moving downstream of the nip.

Abstract: A feeding device comprises a plurality of cassettes capable of supporting thereon copy mediums, a cassette cradle for holding the cassettes in an operatively associated relationship with one another, feed means for feeding the copy mediums, control means for controlling the feed means to intermittently feed the copy mediums, and means for selectively displacing the cassette cradle to at least two positions to selectively locate at least one of the cassettes at a position where it may be acted on by the feed means, whereby copy mediums may be fed from one of the cassettes.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which feeds sheets from a stack one by one separated from each other, the sheets being of the type which are cut to size and placed in a stack on a sheet receptacle. The apparatus comprises: a feed roller for feeding each sheet from the top of the stack, which roller is raised in a direction away from the sheets as each feeding of a sheet from the stack is terminated; drive means for operating the feed roller and control means for the drive means; means for causing the feed roller to move up and down for each feeding operation; and a pair of corner separators disposed at the opposite corners of the front end of the sheet receptacle for vertical movement in following relationship with the vertical movement of the feed roller. The corner separators operate to bear against the corners of the front end of the sheets only during the sheet feeding operation.

Abstract: A magazine and feeder for carton blanks. The magazine has two stages and a pair of independently-driven rollers located between the two stages, which rollers support the major portion of the stack of carton blanks. Below the lower stage is an ejector mechanism which has a suction cup for pulling blanks downwardly one at a time and cooperating pressure and feed rolls for driving each blank individually out of the magazine. Assist rolls are also provided to assure proper alignment of the blanks as they are thrust out of the magazine. The lower stage includes a detector finger which is operatively connected to the independent drives for the rollers to cause the rollers to rotate from time-to-time to drop carton blanks into the lower stage, thereby replenishing the supply as blanks are fed from the ejector mechanism into the magazine.

Abstract: A sheet-feed roller system that employs an annular deformable resilient roller eccentrically mounted on a shaft for rotation whereby rotation of the shaft brings the roller into contact with sheets only when they are to be fed by the roller in order to increase the feed force while minimizing the pressing force on the sheets to thereby reduce sheet misfeed.

Abstract: A paper feeder is disclosed comprising a corner separator located on a paper tray on which a plurality of sheets are disposed in a stack and are fed one by one by means of a feed roller. The paper feeder is also provided with a second paper separator which operates, in the event of failure of paper separation by the corner separator to which results in a plurality of sheets being simultaneously fed from the paper tray, to separate the plurality of sheets into single sheets, thus assuring that the sheets are reliably fed into a sheet processing apparatus one by one. The second separator comprises an endless, sheet conveying belt which is disposed above a sheet passageway which connects the paper tray and the sheet processing apparatus, the belt cooperating with a frictional member which is disposed below the sheet passageway in opposing relationship with the sheet conveying belt.

Abstract: Card feeding apparatus for feeding the lowermost card from a stack of cards to an off-set station from which the card is fed to a processing station. A feed roller driven by a drive roller is rotated about the periphery of the drive roller and into engagement with the lowermost card by operation of an actuating member, the feed roller feeding the card to a stationary position in the off-set station. Upon release of the actuating member, the drive roller, acting against the stationary card, rotates the feed roller to a disengaged position, the feed roller holding the card in the stationary position during such return movement.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet from a stack thereof includes a feeder for engaging a first portion of the stack. Apparatus are provided for supporting the stack including a mechanism for fanning out the first portion of the stack. The fanning out mechanism includes a member arranged for movement between first and second positions. In the first position the member is operable during sheet feeding for supportingly engaging the first portion of the stack against a contact force of the feeder. In the second position, the member is disengaged from the stack to allow it to fan out. Preferably, the stack is supported in a generally vertical orientation.

Abstract: An air floatation bottom feeder employing a whip or paddle/impact feeder to positively separate single sheets from the bottom of the sheet stack and prevent multifeeds or mis-feeds, the air floatation feature being utilized to provide air bearings above and below the sheet being fed while at the same time, a portion of the air floatation jets which are canted move the bottom sheet toward side and rear registration edges for accurate positioning of the sheet.

Abstract: A device for separating, scanning and sorting publications bearing the Universal Product Code. The device comprises a flat bed extending horizontally but inclined to one side, along which move parallel belts at high speed. A loading bit or hopper at one end receives magazines stacked in random sequence. These are separated by means of the synchronized movement of stack lifting bars at the bottom of the bin and movable separating fingers downstream. The fingers drop on each magazine as it begins to pass beneath them, and the stack lifters are simultaneously raised to lift the remaining magazines off the belts. The fingers are lifted a short time after the trailing edge of the magazine passes them to ensure a gap between adjacent magazines. The stack lifters to drop as the trailing edge passes the fingers, without a time delay.

Abstract: A processing machine, particularly a reader, for punched document cards including a hopper for a deck of the document cards, pick rolls disposed beneath the hopper in such position as to feed the document cards transversely thereof from the bottom of the hopper, a vertically movable hopper bed for moving the deck onto and off of the pick rolls to make them effective or ineffective, a deck lifter positioned beneath the card deck in the hopper for supporting one side of the card deck after the bottommost card has been moved transversely thereof partially out from underneath the other cards in the deck, driving rolls for moving the bottommost card longitudinally after it has been partially so moved from underneath the rest of the deck and means operative for reading punched holes in the document card on continued longitudinal movement of the card.

Abstract: Improvements in a sheet feed device for a facsimile system for selectively supplying an original copy and a recording sheet to the rotating drum. A cassette adapted to be placed on a cassette table comprises two trays adapted to move relative to each other, one tray for supporting thereon a stack of original copies and the other tray for supporting thereon a stack of recording sheets. One of the two trays is selectively brought to a position in which it is disposed below a friction roller for picking up the uppermost sheet of the stack of original copies or recording sheets. Means is provided for lifting the two trays to bring the uppermost sheet into frictional engagement with the roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a stack of sheet material is moved from a non-feeding to a feeding position for advancing successive uppermost sheets therefrom along a substantially common path.

Abstract: A data card feeding station in which a stack of cards is aligned and removed one-by-one from the stack by a feed roll and a pressure applying spring under the control of a card engaging plate which is actuated on command to allow engagement of a card between the feed roll and the spring.

Abstract: A hopper mechanism comprising a hopper front panel and a back shoe horizontally sideable with respect to a hopper base together forming a hopper into which a horizontal deck of document cards may be placed; a belt extending around a pick roll moveable through the front panel for picking an end card in the hopper and driving it downwardly through a throat gap disposed in the hopper base; a relatively large diameter roll supporting the belt and forming a nip with the belt into which the picked document card moves from the throat gap for reversing the direction of movement of the card from vertical to horizontal; a registration arm swingable by the card as it passes out from engagement with the large diameter roll and belt for sensing the position of the card; and a reversely rotating roll coacting with a roller carried by the registration arm for moving the card backwardly, after the card has cleared the registration arm, into contact with a card abutting registration edge of the arm for providing a registered

Abstract: A facsimile transceiver apparatus is described which includes means for advancing a document to a station at which location the document is line scanned by a laser light beam. A video signal thus formed is transmitted to a remote facsimile apparatus for reproduction of the document. The transceiver further includes an electrostatographic printing station at which station a latent electrostatic image is formed by line scanning a laser light beam over a uniformly charged photoreceptor surface. A means for line scanning at the document scanning station and at the photoreceptor surface includes a laser light source and means for alternatively sweeping the laser light beam across the document at the scanning station or across a charged image retention surface at the printing station. Means are also described for enhancing document feed, resolution, and speed of reproduction.

Abstract: An auxiliary feed mechanism adapted to be positioned at the intake of a printing press to lift stock such as paper or envelopes, particularly those which have become warped from storage, to a vacuum feed of the printing press. The feed mechanism includes an adjustably positionable flipper pivoted by a solenoid to lift a stock item from supporting rails to the press vacuum feed.

Abstract: A rotary suction device selectively removes individual paper money or currency bills or banknotes endwise from a stack or bundle thereof and delivers each removed bill endwise to conveyor means which successively, individually transports the bills to a dispensing station. Sensor means detects the presence of multiple bills on the suction rotor during removal from the stack; and, before delivery of any bills in multiple to the conveyor means, the multiple bills are rejected and bypass-discharged directly from the suction rotor to a reject station. A plurality of rotary suction devices may be installed side by side to deliver bills in various denominations, such as 1, 5, 10 and 20 dollar bills.

Abstract: Apparatus for counting and endorsing documents and more particularly tickets dimensionally within the preferred range from 1 inch by 2 inches to 2 inches by 5.5 inches and in the thickness range from two mils to 14 mils. The stack of tickets is placed in an in-feed hopper and is engaged by an eccentric bottom feed picker to drive preferably the bottom-most document toward a drive wheel and stripper wheel assembly to permit documents to pass only in single file beyond the stripper device. The documents are fed in single file between cooperating belts until they are picked up by acceleration means which abruptly accelerates the documents to provide a gap therebetween suitable for counting purposes.The documents are driven into a stacker wherein they are stacked in the same order in which they were loaded into the in-feed hopper. A stacker arm provides pressure on the building stack which pressure is continually reduced as the stack increases in height to assure a smooth stacking operation.

Abstract: A device for issuing single copies of flat flexible articles, such as newspapers or magazines. A stripper member comprising a rotatable conveyor has engagement elements which engage an article to be issued near one of the edges of the article. The conveyor is rotated while traversing the face of the article, carrying the edge with it so as to wrap the article upon the conveyor's periphery until the article is stripped (peeled) from the stack. The article is then released and discharged through an exit orifice. The device may be coin-controlled, so as to issue an article only after the necessary coins have been provided, either by permitting the stripper member to be moved with an engaged article only when proper coins have been inserted, or by permitting the engagement elements to engage the article only when a coin has been inserted. The device may be provided with a holder to display one of the articles and issue it as the last article, after the other inventory has been issued.