Abstract: A document separating mechanism for an automatic document feeder for separating and feeding the bottommost document of documents laid on document bearing means. A separating roller mechanism has a plurality of rollers provided at spaced locations in an axial direction, and a separating belt mechanism is disposed opposite and above the separating roller mechanism. The separating belt mechanism is composed of a driving roller and a driven roller disposed in parallel at spaced locations, a wide separating belt looped over the driving roller and the driven roller and pressed against the separating roller, and a tension imparting mechanism for exerting tension on the separating belt.

Abstract: A paper separating unit and an electronic printing apparatus which includes said paper separating unit wherein paper is picked by a pick roller from a paper container, is fed into a gap between a first feed roller and a separate roller which are rotating in the same rotational direction, then the first sheet of paper is separated from the other and is fed to a second feed roller, and when the first paper is acceleratedly fed, and a motor which drives the first feed roller and the separate roller is stopped, a one-way clutch which prevents a separate roller from reverse-rotating together with the paper conveyed by the second feed roller so that feeding more than one sheet of paper can be firmly prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a pair of rotary drive shafts disposed in parallel with each other and rotated in the same direction, a sheet feed roller provided on one of the rotary drive shafts, and a reverse rotation roller provided on the other rotary drive shaft and urged against the sheet feed roller, and wherein sheets are separated and fed one by one between the sheet feed roller and the reverse rotation roller, and further wherein at least one of the sheet feed roller and the reverse rotation roller is provided with a through hole through which the rotary drive shaft passes, and the through hole has an intermediate portion through which the rotary drive shaft passes, and an escape portion provided at an end and adapted to permit inclination of the rotary drive shaft to maintain parallelism between one roller and the other roller if the rotary drive shaft is inclined.

Abstract: A feed roll has a plurality of equiangularly spaced flat faces thereon for engaging a restraint roll to form a nip therebetween through which the lowermost envelope in a stack of envelopes is fed. A spring continuously urges the restraint roll into engagement with the feed roll. In one embodiment, curved portions connect the flat faces to each other. In another embodiment, the adjacent flat faces intersect each other to form comers on the periphery of the feed roll.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided with a sheet feeding unit for feeding sheets supported on a sheet support means, and sheet separator means provided downstream of the sheet feeding unit with respect to the sheet feeding direction, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being separated one by one by the sheet separator and fed. The sheet separator is comprised of an inclined surface against which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit abuts, a dash member provided downstream of the inclined surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction and against which the leading end of the sheet riding over the inclined surface abuts, and a resilient member for displaceably supporting the dash member when the sheet abuts against the dash member.

Abstract: A shaft portion of a retard roller is supported by a pair of supporting members so that the retard roller can be assuredly supported and easily detached. One of the pair of supporting members is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the shaft portion. By moving the movable supporting member in a direction of separating from the shaft portion, the retard roller can be detached. A regulation device regulates movement of the movable supporting member in the direction of separating from the shaft portion at a position where the pair of supporting members engage with the shaft portion and is provided on a guide cover for blocking an opening for mounting/detaching the retard roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a support for supporting sheets, a feed roller disposed at a downstream side of the supported sheets and adapted to feed out the sheet by rotating while contacting with the sheet, and a separation roller disposed at a downstream side of the sheet supporting device in the sheet feeding direction and in a confronting relation to the sheet feed device. A slip device generates slip between the feed roller and the sheet within a predetermined range when the feed roller starts to rotate, thereby preventing the feeding of the sheet and rotating the separation roller in the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: An electromechanical friction feed device for controlling the single feed of sheet-like articles from a stack of such articles has a feed belt and stripper wheel that are used to draw a single article from the bottom of the stack to the discharge section of the feeder. The stripper wheels slowly rotate in a direction opposite to the feed movement to hold the penultimate sheet and those above it in a stack while the lowermost product is translated by the feed belt through the machine. The reverse rotation of the stripper wheel is accomplished using a dual ratchet mechanism along with unidirectional needle bearing assemblies that provide a smooth, continuous rotation of the stripper wheels. The two ratchet mechanisms are driven 180.degree. out of phase with respect to one another to achieve the smooth continuous stripper wheel rotation.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeder comprises: a pick roller for picking out paper accommodated in a paper cassette; a separation roller to which a torque limiter is connected, and which separates the paper picked out by the pick roller to feed the paper one sheet at a time; means for moving the separation roller into contact with or away from the pick roller; a lifter for lifting the paper accommodated in the paper cassette to cause the paper to be moved into contact with or away from the pick roller; and means for driving the lifter. The means for moving the separation roller into contact with or away from the pick roller and the means for driving the lifter are realized by a single driving means.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus which includes a sheet holder holding at least one sheet to be fed. A pick-up roller feeds the at least one sheet from the sheet holder in a sheet feeding direction. A separating roller is provided at a lower reach of the pick-up roller. This separating roller receives a reverse torque in an opposite direction of the sheet feeding direction through a torque limiter. A feeding roller is provided opposite the separating roller and feeds the at least one sheet from the pick-up roller in the sheet feeding direction. Further, a frictional element is provided to increase a rotational load of the separating roller.

Abstract: An improved envelope feeder is provided for single feeding of envelopes which may be of different sizes and thicknesses from a stack of such envelopes. The envelope feeder includes a separation roller having a plurality of disks, and retard members having surfaces which oppose the disks of the separation roller. The roller is movable with respect to the retard members in response to each of the envelopes moving between the surface of the separation roller disks and the retard members. A detector is provided for sensing the presence of each of the envelopes as they each move between the separation roller disks and the retard members. Responsive to this detector, a controller in the feeder automatically controls the spacing of the separation roller disks from the retard members to set the gap between their surfaces to match the thickness of each of the envelopes, whereby the envelopes move singularly between the separation roller disks and the retard members.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic original supplying apparatus in which originals are stacked on an original tray as an original bundle and the originals in the original bundle are separated one by one from an uppermost one or from a lowermost one by a separation portion disposed at one side of the original tray. The apparatus comprises a guide passage for directing the original bundle to the separation portion, and a guide member provided at a tip end of the guide passage for upward and downward pivotal movement so that, when the originals are separated from the uppermost one, the guide member is rocked upwardly to protrude upwardly from the guide passage in an inclined fashion to thereby push a tip end of the original bundle to be directed to said separation portion, and, when the originals are separated from the lowermost one, the guide member is rocked downwardly to be retarded from the guide passage.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).

Abstract: In a paper feeding device capable of separately transporting paper without reversely rotating a retard roller being provided with feed rollers and retard rollers which separately transport, sheet by sheet, paper fed from paper feed trays by pickup rollers, a rotary drive unit for rotating the feed rollers in a paper transporting direction, and a pressing unit for pressing the retard rollers against the feed rollers. In the paper feeding device, a retard roller braking unit which supports the retard rollers so as to rotate together with the rotation of the peripheral surface of the feed rollers when the retard rollers are pressed against the rotating feed rollers, and which applies a braking force to the rotating retard rollers.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet separator for separating and feeding sheets one by one. The separator is formed of a plurality of separation portions each including a sheet supply roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction and a sheet return roller rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction, each disposed along a width-wise direction of the sheet. A sheet supplying force of a central separation portion disposed substantially at a center of the sheet in the width-wise direction is selected to be greater than that of the other separation portions.

Abstract: A coaxial separating and delivering device generally comprises a main shaft having a plurality of synthetic delivering rollers. A positioning pin is disposed vertically on the main shaft. A rotational separating roller is disposed at the middle portion of the shaft such that the outer diameter of the separating roller is smaller than the delivering roller. The separating roller is configured by a tube having a friction wheel disposed thereof. One end of the tube is provided with a curve cutout which receives a positioning pin disposed at the main shaft. The separating roller is rotational within a certain angular sectors, accordingly, the paper sheet can be separated simultaneously with delivering. Since the separating roller and delivering roller are disposed coaxially, a compact design is attained.

Abstract: A pressure roller drive assembly for a document printer having a pressure roller carried by a pressure roller axle for advancing and retracting a document along a paper path, with the pressure roller pivoting in a first direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during advancement of the document and the pressure roller pivoting in a second, opposite direction towards a side wall to prevent skew or misalignment during retraction of the document is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying and conveying apparatus comprising a sheet supporting means for supporting sheets, a convey roller contacted with the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means with predetermined sheet supplying pressure and adapted to feed out the sheet and convey the sheet around the convey roller by rotation of the convey roller, a separation rotary member urged against the convey roller with predetermined separation pressure and adapted to separate the sheets fed out by the convey roller one by one, a torque limiter for permitting rotation of the separation rotary member in a sheet conveying direction when rotational torque directing toward the sheet conveying direction and having a value greater than a predetermined value acts on the separation rotary member and for preventing the rotation of the separation rotary member in the sheet conveying direction when the rotational torque having a value smaller than the predetermined value acts on the separation rotary member,

Abstract: A replacement roller cartridge for a cut sheet retard feeder. The cartridge assembly includes a feed roll, a nudger roll, and a retard roll aligned so that the axis of rotation are substantially in the same plane within an articulated frame. The frame is inserted into the feed head and pivoted into an active position. Upon insertion into the feed head, the retard roll is captured by a separate retard bracket so that when the feed head is pivoted into the active position the retard roll is withdrawn from the frame and forms a feed nip with the feed roll. The articulated frame is geared so that the frame folds back against itself to provide a very compact unit. A gear train is provided on both sides of the cartridge to drive the feed roll and the nudger roll. The cartridge assembly provides a low cost, easily replaceable unit that eliminates the need for a service technician to replace worn feed rolls.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has a feed roller with a plurality of large-diameter portions and a retard roller having a plurality of large-diameter portions alternately disposed with respect to the large-diameter portions of the feed roller. Originals are individually separated between the feed roller and the retard roller. The distance between the two rollers is automatically adjusted so that when a load caused by a separated sheet in a sheet feeding direction is large, the amount of overlap between the large-diameter portions of the two rollers is reduced, and when the load is small, the amount of overlap is increased. Thus, optimum separation is performed in accordance with the thickness of the sheet and the coefficient of friction of the surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A web and sheet sluice adjustable to different material thicknesses for sheets of paper or the like, which are fed to a processing or treating unit. The sluice has a passage gap between a friction roller, which rotates continuously during the working operation, and an axially parallel braking roller, which is radially adjustable in relation to the friction roller. An electric switching element sends a control signal for an electric circuit during the adjustment of the passage gap to the thickness of a sample located in the passage gap. The braking roller is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical eccentric of an eccentric shaft, which can be driven by a first electric motor drive and can optionally be adjusted to both directions of rotation, and with the friction roller stationarily stopped, it can be driven by a second electric motor drive at a speed of rotation that is substantially higher than the velocity of adjustment of the braking roller via a driving gear which can be moved out of its normal position.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a feed roller and a reverse roller urged against the feed roller by a fulcrum. The fulcrum is located at a specific angles as measured from plane parallel to the contact area of the rollers clockwise from the feed direction of one sheet of paper. The specific angles results in a widened range of the contact pressure between the rollers.

Abstract: A prefeeder gate (10) is comprised of an elongated arm (12) extending outwardly at different points to form a first seat (14) and a second seat (16) having a lower portion (16a) and an upper portion (16b), nip rollers (17) attached to an operative end of the arm, a first shaft (18) received in the first seat and in the lower portion of the second seat, a body (20) having at one end a threaded bore (24) formed therein and having a frame attachment assembly (22) another end, a second shaft (42) having a first externally threaded end and a second end, the second shaft journaled in the upper portion of the second seat, the first externally threaded end being threadably received in the threaded bore, a nip adjustment knob (44) received on the second end of the second shaft, a spring (48) coiled around the second shaft intermediate the second seat and the nip adjustment knob, and slide bearings (56, 58) interconnecting the body and the first shaft, the slide bearings being adapted to slide along a length of the fir

Abstract: A sheet feeder (10) includes a frame (26) with an inclined surface (94) for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed and a feed roller (96) mounted on the frame (26). A retard roller (106) is mounted adjacent to the feed roller (96) and cooperates therewith to define a nip (108) for receiving a forward edge of the bottom sheet in the stack. Upright guides (116, 119) are mounted on the frame (26) and are engageable with a forward edge of a stack of sheets supported on the inclined surface (94). The guides (116, 119) are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the inclined surface (94) so that when the forward edge of the stack engages the guides (116, 119) the sheets automatically shift longitudinally relative to each other to facilitate feeding of a single sheet into the nip (108).

Abstract: Paper from a bin (1) enters a nip between a drive roller (13) and a torque-limited restraint roller (15). The drive roller is mounted on a pivoted bracket (7), having a gear train of a drive gear (9) and a driven gear (11). The drive roller is coaxial with the driven gear and turns with the driven gear. The bracket is self-compensating in that it automatically applies normal force to the drive roller sufficient to permit movement of paper (3). When the paper is more than one sheet, sufficient force is automatically applied to the drive roller to move the top sheet while the restraint roller holds or moves backward the bottom sheet.

Abstract: A facsimile machine containing an improved paper separator system is described where, instead of a symmetrical, cylindrical paper-feed roller, an asymmetrical feed roller (or stripper roller) is used to separate a bottommost sheet from a stack of sheets. Eccentric portions of the feed roller are located at both ends of the roller, and the middle portion of the roller is cylindrical. Paper-feed springs oppose the eccentric portions of the feed roller, while a centrally located separator pad opposes the cylindrical middle portion of the feed roller. The extended radius at the apogee of the eccentric portions allows the eccentric portions to effectively reach out and grab the bottommost sheet even if the stack of sheets were only initially lightly contacting the roller. The eccentric portions of the feed roller also provide surges in the frictional force urging the bottommost sheets toward the separator pad.

Abstract: A bottom feeding mechanism comprises a feed roller assembly and a conveyor belt assembly functioning as a first stage gate and a set of snubber rollers functioning as a second stage gate. The feed roller assembly comprises a pair of feed rollers fixed on a shaft rotatably mounted on feeding bases and the conveyor belt assembly is situated in between the feed rollers and above the feed roller shaft. Apexes of the feed roller and the conveyor belt define the medium passage. The feed roller and the conveyor belt can only move unidirectionally, which are controlled by a driving means through one-way clutches. The snubber rollers are rotatably mounted on a bracket in an overlapping relation, i.e. one is over the other. Each snubber roller is independently driven. The upper snubber roller is driven by a torque-limited slip clutch device.

Abstract: The provision of the overlapped transfer-preventing mechanism having a pivot 5a integrated with the lower separating roll 5 which is variably separated from the upper separating roll 4 rotably driven, the lower separating rolls is rotable in a direction opposite to said paper supplying direction when the lift plate 37 is lifted up in a paper-supplying position.

Abstract: In a paper sheet conveying and arranging apparatus, a low-friction paper sheet guide member (18) is located in a parallel relationship to a paper sheet advancing direction, and a rotating spiral contact (19) having an axis inclined with respect to a horizontal plane toward an upstream side from the line perpendicular to the paper sheet advancing direction and passing on the upstream side of the paper sheet guide member (18), is rotated with a distal end (19a) frictionally contacting the surface of the paper sheet guide member (18) so as to move the paper sheet downwardly away from the one end of a conveyer. The paper sheet is thereby turned from a horizontal posture to a vertical posture by a minimal turning operation.

Abstract: Sheet stacking apparatus comprises a sheet feed system formed by a belt (9) movable past a sheet stacking hopper (1) in a sheet accept direction to feed sheets to the hopper. At least one pusher member (23) is movable in the sheet accept direction through the hopper to push successive portions of a stack (24) in the hopper (1) out of the path of an incoming sheet so as to permit unrestricted entry of a sheet into the hopper.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding roller, which has a plurality of large-diameter portions and which rotates in a sheet-feeding direction, an inversely-rotating roller, which has a plurality of large-diameter portions alternately disposed with respect to the large-diameter portions of the feeding roller and which rotates in a direction reverse to the sheet-feeding direction, and an automatic adjustment unit for automatically adjusting the amount of overlap between the large-diameter portions of the feeding roller and the large-diameter portions of the inveresely-rotating roller in accordance with a sheet-feeding state.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device. Included in the apparatus is a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article at the one end of the stack and advance the one article in the direction of delivery, an anti-doubling device for restricting advancing movement of other articles by the pick-off device, a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from the pick-off device in the direction of article delivery, and a control system for operating the pick-off device and the delivery device to position each separated article in the friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus, a paper sheet separator comprising a conveyer belt (24) movable in a paper sheet delivering direction at all times, a drive roller (42) rotating in one direction, and a separator roller (41) disposed between the drive roller (42) and the conveyer belt (24) so as to come into engagement with either one of the drive roller (42) or the conveyer belt (24) exclusively while maintaining a predetermined gap from the other so that a paper sheet on the conveyer belt (24) is moved back toward the upstream side when the separator roller (41) comes into engagement with the drive roller (42). The drive roller (42) is supported by a pivotable support arm (44) operatively connected for adjusting the predetermined gap.

Abstract: A sheet feeding and separating apparatus for feeding sheets from a stack by exerting a drive force against the top sheet. The sheet is urged off the stack by a nudger roll toward a retard nip formed where a feed roll contacts a retard roll. The retard roll is movable relative to the feed roll, and thus is capable of producing drive forces of varying magnitude at the retard nip to propel a sheet toward the copying mechanism. A controller signals the nudger roll to urge a sheet off the stack and then monitors a sensor to determine whether the sheet passes through the retard nip. A misfeed condition occurs when the sensor fails to detect a sheet within a predetermined length of time. In response, the controller moves the retard roll toward the feed roll to increase the drive force exerted on the sheet. The retard roll is further adapted to detect the occurrence of a multifeed when multiple sheets contact the retard nip.

Abstract: With a banknote processing apparatus, banknotes stored in a storing section are fed in a feeding direction one by one by take-in rollers. First and second sensors for detecting passage of the banknote are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the sheets and spaced from each other. A difference between a first passing timing at which a leading edge of the banknote is detected by the first sensor and a second passing timing at which the leading edge of the banknote is detected by the second sensor is detected by a control section. A second difference between a passing timing at which a trailing edge of the banknote is detected by the first sensor and a passing timing at which the trailing edge of the banknote is detected by the second sensor is detected by the control section. If the first and second deference are difference from each other, it is determined by the control section that a bent or torn portion exists in the banknote.

Abstract: A replacement roller cartridge for a cut sheet retard feeder. The cartridge assembly includes a feed roll , a nudger roll, and a retard roll aligned so that the axis of rotation are substantially in the same plane within a frame. The frame is inserted into the feed head and pivoted into an active position. Upon insertion into the feed head, the retard roll is captured by a separate retard bracket so that when the feed head is pivoted into the active position the retard roll is withdrawn from the frame and forms a feed nip with the feed roll. A gear train is provided on both sides of the cartridge to drive the feed roll and the nudger roll. The cartridge assembly provides a low cost, easily replaceable unit that eliminates the need for a service technician to replace worn feed rolls. The design is also adaptable for use in various types of sheet and document feeders and can be used throughout a printing machine.

Abstract: A device for transferring paper sheets one by one successively in separation, having, as viewed in FIG.

Abstract: A method for separating articles, such as paper or plastics sheets or envelopes, from a stack (9), and apparatus for carrying out this method is disclosed. A feed roller (6) periodically feeds an outer article to a conveyor roller (2) opposite to which a separation surface (3) is disposed. The pressure force of the feed roller (6) on the stack (9) is reduced when an article supplied is being carried off by the conveyor roller (2). The object of the invention is to provide such a method which can be carried out reliably with a simple construction. According to the invention, each time an article (8) is carried off by the conveyor roller (2), the feed roller (6) is carried along by said article (8) as long as the feed roller (6) bears on that article (8). The force with which the feed roller (6) bears on the stack (9) is then enhanced by the action of frictional force which is exerted by the feed roller (6) on an article (8) to be carried off.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a transport roller which is coupled with a drive arrangement for rotating the transport roller in a direction of transport, a separation surface located opposite the transport roller and device for pressing towards each other the transport roller and the separation surface. It is proposed to provide the apparatus with a spacing arrangement for keeping the transport roller and the separation surface at a mutual distance. It is thus accomplished that articles which comprise a plurality of layers having a limited mutual connection can also be processed without the risk of the layers shifting relative to each other in such a way that the reliable operation of the apparatus is hindered.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet supporting tray for supporting sheets, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting tray thereon, a separating device having a plurality of separating surfaces of different coefficients of friction and adapted to separate the sheets one by one by cooperating with the sheet supply and roller by abutting against the sheet supply roller, a separating surface changing device for changing the separating surface to be abutted against the sheet supply tray, a detector for detecting a poor separating condition in which the sheets are not readily separated one by one by the separating tray, and a controller for controlling the separating surface changing device in accordance with the detected result of the detector to change the separating surface to be abutted against the sheet supply tray.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet supporting device for stacking and supporting sheets, a sheet supplying device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting device, a separating device for separating the sheets fed by the sheet supplying device one by one, a back tension releasing device for not acting a back tension on the sheet separated by the separating device, and a double feed preventing device, which is insertable into and retractable from a sheet feeding path for the sheet separated by the separating device. When the back tension is released by the back tension releasing device, the double feed preventing device is inserted into the sheet feeding path, thereby preventing the double feed of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is disclosed which includes a gate forming member composed of a pair of rolls disposed in a parallel, laterally adjacent relationship. The first roll defines the nip of the sheet feeding apparatus, and each of the rolls includes a plurality of annular grooves. The rolls are mounted with the annular grooves respectively aligned, and a ring of elastomeric material is mounted in each pair of aligned grooves so as to encompass the peripheral surfaces of the two rolls, and with and the grooves in the first roll being configured so that the rings are exposed at the nip. Upon rotation of the second roll, the rings may be moved with respect to the first roll, so that unworn portions of the rings may be moved to the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding individual sheets from the bottom of a sheet stack. The sheet stack is placed in the paper tray with the lead edge abutting the sheet feeding apparatus. The face of the stack rests against the main fang. As the feed roll forwards the sheets from the bottom of the stack to a position under the main fang, further sheet separation occurs as the lead edges of the sheets strike a substantially arcuate member located between the main fang and the retard roll. The curved portion of the member which has a larger radius of curvature than the retard member causes the sheets to be shingled out permitting a single sheet to pass under the retard roll and to be advanced by the feed roll.

Abstract: An improved feed arrangement is provided for use with currency handling apparatus in which cooperating action of an actively-driven drum roller is used for feeding bills stacked in an input bin along the bill transport path. The picker roller is rotationally driven, not by direct contact with the drum roller, but by contact with a pressure roller which is driven by the drum roll. In effect, the picker roller is rotated in a direction counter to the direction of the bill flow so that bills other than the bottom bill in a given stack are effectively pushed away from the direction of bill flow. The picker roller is, consequently, activated to function as a retard roller, as opposed to the conventional feeding action provided by picker rollers which are in counter-rotating contact with the drum roller about the direction of bill flow.

Abstract: A media feed roll apparatus is provided for the transfer of articles such as envelopes, magazines and newspapers, one by one, from a stack to a transport which conveys these articles to a work station for printing or labeling. The apparatus and methodology according to the invention allow for independent adjustment of the roller nip between upper drive rollers and lower facing rollers so that an article such as an envelope can be inserted into the nip with the roller pairs providing substantially equal nip pressure on the article. Roller nip pressure is achieved through a mechanism allowing raising and lowering of the upper drive rollers, preferably by a pivotal action, which are independently suspended. Upon being released from the mechanism, the rollers are biased toward the article thereby creating substantially equal nip pressure on the article even if the nip spacing is different as a result of the article having different thicknesses.

Abstract: A belt feeding assembly for feeding paper sheets. The assembly includes: a pair of side frames; an upstream shaft and a downstream shaft mounted in the side frames; a first timing pulley and a second timing pulley each having a one-way clutch for mounting on the downstream shaft; a third timing pulley and a fourth timing pulley each having a one-way clutch for mounting on the upstream shaft; a first timing belt mounted on the first and third pulleys; a second timing belt mounted on the second and fourth pulleys; and a device for driving the first and second timing belts, whereby when the first and second timing belts are initially driven at the start of operation, the one-way clutches enable the timing belts to properly and precisely seat in the timing pulleys.

Abstract: A sheet feeding and separating apparatus includes a multiple piece entrance guide located between a stack from which sheets are to be fed and a retard nip. The guide includes a polycarbonate base member, a radiused high friction urethane retard member and a flexible polycarbonate or polyester film deflector member. The urethane is ground to a radius on the leading edge to promote the feeding of down curled sheets, shingling of sheets and the breaking up of slugs prior to entering the retard nip. The deflector member assists in feeding down curled sheets.

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 arm 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 feed mechanism comprises a feed roller rotatable in one direction at a predetermined timing, which rotates in an overrunning manner if such need arises, a separation roller disposed in contact with the feed roller, which rotates together with the feed roller when a load torque exceeds a predetermined value, and a pickup roller disposed upstream of the feed roller in the direction of rotation of the feed roller for feeding a paper sheet according to a paper feed instruction, a device for varying the pressing force of the separation roller against the feed roller, a detector provided in the vicinity of the feed roller and the separation roller for detecting the speed of the paper sheet fed by the feed roller and the separation roller; and a controller for controlling the pressing force of the separation roller according to the detection signal from the detection.

Abstract: Letter quality addressing is possible at production speeds. A feeding and transport system positively feeds discrete media elements to be addressed (such as envelopes) past a number of print heads in a positive manner to maintain consistent and proper alignment of the printed text on the media elements. First and second feed rollers feed the media elements to a pair of pinch rollers, the operation of the first roller being interrupted once a media element reaches a predetermined position. A normally non-rotatable selector bar with O-rings mounted at axially spaced positions therealong are associated with the second feed roller. An adjustment mechanism is provided for not only adjusting the selector bar relative the second feed roller to accommodate media of different thickness, but also to adjust the position of the O-rings relative to the second feed roller.