Abstract: A machine for counting flat articles includes a sequence of conveyor belts driven at successively increasing speeds from input to output. At the input end the articles are stacked and withdrawn from the stack from the bottom. A separator above the conveyor isolates the bodies from each other and spaces them, the spacing being increased by the increasing speed of the conveyors as the articles move toward the output end. The articles are counted by a photocell device or feeler. A receiver arranges the articles in a layered arrangement. Band-shaped resilient, curved clamping members are mounted on the separator to assure separation of articles of varying thicknesses, a first set of clamping members being mounted on the outside of the separator and curving in the direction of conveyance and a second set being mounted on the inside and curving in the direction of conveyance under the separator. An eccentric adjusts the curvature and tension of the first set of clamping members.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for central inventory control as particularly adapted for retail vending wherein all merchandise is made to carry a coded identifier ticket characteristic of the product. Upon sale of the product the identifier ticket may be removed and at periodic times all accrued identifier tickets can be processed through a label sorter and reader to compile data for input to a central computer which then provides various forms of inventory readout to the user entity. More particularly, the invention utilizes a form of identifier ticket adapted for gummed adhesion and tear-off from the product, and the removed identifier ticket is then processed in a sorting and reading apparatus to provide recorded as well as instantaneous output for input to an associated computer or other peripheral equipment.

Abstract: A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel.The combing wheel shingles the leading edge of the stack's top sheet to an open feed roller nip, to be sensed there by a pneumatic sensor. Sensing of this leading edge causes the combing wheel to be lifted off the stack. Subsequently, at a time determined by the copier's control logic, the drive nip closes to thereby feed the top sheet to the copier's paper registration gate, and then to its transfer station. As soon as this sheet's trailing edge has cleared the pneumatic sensor, and the drive nip has opened, the next sheet is staged at the shingled position, in the open drive nip.Side-one copied sheets, of intended duplex copies, are automatically stacked in a duplex bin. The bottom of the duplex bin includes a flat, resilient bottom-of-the-bin pad.

Abstract: A document handling and counting device in which documents arranged in a stack within an infeed tray are bottom-fed through a document stripping and separating means so as to be fed at spaced intervals and in a one-at-a-time fashion through a document processing stage whereupon the documents are then restacked in their original order. Document stripping and separating is performed by cooperating stripper means and feed means imparting counteracting forces upon documents fed therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and transporting blanks of corrugated paperboard and the like is disclosed wherein a stack of blanks is received on a blank feeding station having a first belt-over-roller conveyor which cooperates with an angularly inclined control gate of a gate assembly to feed blanks from the bottom of the stack beneath the control gate and effect shingling of the blanks, whereafter the blanks are transported to a receiving station such as the feed hopper of a printing press or the like. The control gate is adjustable to vary the shingling relationship of the blanks fed from the bottom of the stack and has a low friction surface thereon facilitating optimum operation.

Abstract: A sheet delivery apparatus includes a sheet delivering revolving member in abutting relationship with a sheet separating member, which members cooperate to deliver the lowermost one of sheets in a stack through a nip therebetween while maintaining the forward edge face of the sheets in an inclined position.

Abstract: In a copying machine having a stripping pawl bearing against a photosensitive medium, a separator device comprises a pair of separator-conveyor rollers disposed immediately behind the stripping pawl adjacent one end of the photosensitive medium. The rollers are rotatable at a peripheral speed substantially equal to that of the photosensitive medium and adapted to hold therebetween a transfer medium which has been partly separated from the photosensitive medium by the stripping pawl and to guide the transfer medium away from the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: This apparatus removes individual sheets of paper or the like from a stack regardless of the thickness of each sheet. A sheet stack support is journaled in a housing in see-saw fashion. A first set of sheet separating rollers is arranged above the downstream end of the support as viewed in the direction of sheet movement. A spring urges the downstream end of the support upwardly and thus sheets on the support against the first set of rollers. A stop for the sheets is located adjacent to said downstream end of the support. A table is located substantially adjacent said downstream end and below a second set of sheet separating rollers. The table has a cut-out and a sheet separating gate slants through the cut-out below the second set of rollers. The gate is spring biased toward the second set of rollers. Further sets of rollers may be arranged downstream of the second set of rollers. These rollers are driven in such a manner that each downstream set runs faster than the next adjacent upstream set of rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feeder apparatus having a deformable separator belt and an indexable retard roller includes a device for setting the proper depth of penetration of the retard roller into the deformable belt in the form of a flat surface on the periphery of the roller. In use, a deformable separator belt is placed in the sheet feeder over the flat surface of and adjacent to the retard roller. The proer penetration depth of the retard roller into the deformable belt is subsequently set by indexing the retard roller to present a non-flat surface adjacent the deformable belt.

Abstract: Photocopy machine having a feed module for successively feeding individual original documents from a stack thereof. Cooperating portions of the feed module and of the photocopying machine form a straight line original document feed path having an entryway that is accessible for conventional insertion of original documents. The feed module includes apparatus for successively feeding original documents from a stack along a direction reversing path that leads to the above entryway of the straight line feed path. The feed module can be pivoted to afford access to the straight line original document path and to permit copying of original documents which cannot be sheet fed. The feed module includes an original document separating arrangement wherein a feed tire and flanking retarder bars are cooperatively disposed so as to obviate need for any adjustment of the arrangement to afford proper feeding of documents of variable thickness.

Abstract: A feeding device for card counting machines has a guide wall member fixed at a distance apart from a feed drum for forwarding sheets of card frictionally and tangentially. In operation, double sheets feeding can decisively be prevented.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device adapted to separate a single sheet from a stack of sheets and forward the separated sheet away from the stack for subsequent processing. The apparatus includes a feed belt disposed adjacent one edge of the stack for contact with the lead edge of the top sheet in the stack to separate the sheet therefrom. Gate means biased into engagement with the feed belt provide a forward stop for the sheet stack, actuation of the feed belt causing the top sheet in the stack to be forced between the low friction upper surface of the gate means and the feed belt to move the top sheet off from the stack, the biased gate means preventing passage of multiple sheets by the feed means.