Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a transport belt that transports a sheet, a charging roller that supplies an electric charge to the transport belt, a print head that causes ink to be attached to a printing surface of the sheet electrostatically adsorbed on the transport belt, a charge eliminating unit that is displaceable between a charge elimination position and a retreated position and that eliminates the electric charge from the printing surface by coming in contact with the printing surface of the sheet, and a charge elimination control device that controls the position of the charge eliminating unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including a sheet container on which sheets are placed, a transfer roller to transfer the sheets to an image forming unit via a transfer path; a friction pad to transfer the sheets together with the transfer roller; and a movable portion provided on the transfer path to alter a direction of the transfer path based on the sheets.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding cassette which lifts up and lifts down a bottom plate each time when a paper is fed, a recording material sensor detects that no recording materials exist when the bottom plate rises over a predetermined position. Accordingly, by measuring a period of time when it is detected that no recording materials exist during a sheet feeding operation, a stacking amount of the recording materials in a sheet feeding cassette can be detected.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a tray on which a sheet to be fed is to be placed. A lift plate is at a feeding end of the tray and has a first end at an upstream side in a feeding direction connected rotatably to the tray. The lift plate is displaceable between a feeding posture where a second end at a downstream side in the feeding direction is lifted up and a retracted posture where the second end is lower than in the feeding posture due to its own weight. A biasing member gives a biasing force to an elevating member in a direction to lift the lift plate to the feeding posture. A lowering mechanism gives a pressing force against the force of the biasing member to lower the lift plate to the retracted posture.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit includes a side warm-air mechanism that blows air toward a side surface of a sheet stack S from a warm-air outlet. The sheet feeding unit controls the lift mechanism so as to perform a sheet separating operation every time a predetermined number of sheets P are fed during a continuous sheet feeding operation.

Abstract: A paper tray of printer is provided, which includes a paper tray body, a slide shaft, a first pick arm, a second pick arm and a paper width guide. The first pick arm is fixed on the slide shaft, and the second pick arm is slidely disposed on the slide shaft. The paper width guide is disposed on the paper tray body and is connected to the second pick arm through a linkage device to drive the second pick arm, so that a position of the second pick arm varies along with a position of the paper width guide. Accordingly, an interval between the first pick arm and the second pick arm can be varied along with a size of a paper, so as to avoid paper skew when the paper is fed.

Abstract: A method of advancing packaging blanks disposed standing upright in a magazine, one after the other, in a file or queue resting against the bottom of the magazine and disposed to be driven forwards through the magazine towards a stop at an outlet end for individual discharge comprises the file or queue of blanks being divided into two pressure zones, a first and forward pressure zone extending from the zone limit between the pressure zones up to the stop and displaying a first mutual pressure between neighboring blanks, as well as a rear second pressure zone displaying a second mutual pressure between neighboring blanks. The first mutual pressure is higher than the second mutual pressure. Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to an apparatus for carrying out advancement of the packaging blanks.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack, a sheet carrying plate for carrying the sheet stack and a pickup roller that dispatches the uppermost sheet of the stack. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position where an upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side face of the sheet stack. A controller causes the first warm air mechanism to blow warm air to the side face of the sheet stack and causes the elevator to displace the sheet carrying plate between the sheet feeding position and the separating position.

Abstract: A paper tray of printer is provided, which includes a paper tray body, a slide shaft, a first pick arm, a second pick arm and a paper width guide. The first pick arm is fixed on the slide shaft, and the second pick arm is slidely disposed on the slide shaft. The paper width guide is disposed on the paper tray body and is connected to the second pick arm through a linkage device to drive the second pick arm, so that a position of the second pick arm varies along with a position of the paper width guide. Accordingly, an interval between the first pick arm and the second pick arm can be varied along with a size of a paper, so as to avoid paper skew when the paper is fed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks (2) of panels (3) from a vertical pile (4) of panels (3) to be fed to a user station comprises: a crossbar (5) that moves above the pile (4) of panels (3) and mounts selector means (6; 7, 8) designed to separate a certain number of panels (3) from the top of the pile (4); first gripper means (9; 10) and second gripper means (11; 12, 16) for clamping the panels (3); the selector means (6; 7, 8) include a first wedge-shaped selection element (8) that can be inserted between the panels (3) in the pile (4) to create a gap; the apparatus (1) also comprises second selector means (16) mounted on the crossbar (5) and mobile in a feed direction (40) and relative to the crossbar (5), lengthways along the crossbar (5) itself in a first horizontal direction (13), in such a way that they can be inserted into the pile (4) next to the first wedge-shaped element (8) at the gap so as to completely separate the pile (4) at a point away from the first wedge-shaped element (8) by sliding in the fi

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device to separate blanks form each other in a stack by that at least one separating unit is brought into contact with one or more of the edges of the blank stack. The separating unit comprises a separating arm having a narrow teeth provided blade, which moves first horizontally until a tooth grasps the uppermost blank, whereupon the arm having the narrow teeth provided blade controllably moves upwards and lifts one blank edge. An air knife, which acts towards the side of the blank stack in a direct connection to the point of application of the teeth provided blade, can give one or several air thrusts when the blade is starting its controlled movement upwards and is urging like an wedge in under a slit under the uppermost blank of the blank stack, an eventual existing vacuum between the blanks being disappeared at the same time as the uppermost blank of the blank stack receives a lifting force by the air cushion, created.

Abstract: An over-stack protective portion is provided on a stopper member. When a sheet feeding device is in a standby position, the over-stack protective portion is held in a position in which the over-stack protective portion is in pressure contact with sheets having the maximum stacking height capable of being fed and supported by a sheet supporting portion. Also, when the sheets are to be fed, the pressure contact of the over-stack protective portion with the sheets having the maximum stacking height is released.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeding apparatus used in an electronic apparatus including a tray frame, a tray body, a paper-taking roller, at least a wiggling device and a frictional roller is provided. The tray body can move into and out from the tray frame. The paper-taking roller moves the top paper by rotating along a rotating direction. The wiggling device wiggles toward the paper-taking roller from an initial position. When the paper-taking roller moves the top paper, the frictional roller faces the paper-taking roller and contacts the top paper by the same frictional surface. When the tray body moves out the tray frame, the frictional roller rotates and causes the other frictional surface of the frictional roller to face the paper-taking roller substantially. When the tray body moves into the tray frame, the wiggling device wiggles toward the paper-taking roller from the initial position and wiggles back to the initial position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a chassis, a paper feed roller, a lifting member, and a biasing member. The chassis has a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface that connects the first and second side surfaces. The bottom surface has one of a first L-shaped projecting portion and a first coupling hole unitarily formed thereon. The paper feed roller is rotatably supported by the first and second side surfaces of the chassis and configured to convey paper. The lifting member is pivotably supported by the bottom surface of the chassis, and has a main portion and the other of the first L-shaped projecting portion and the first coupling hole unitarily formed on the main portion. The first L-shaped projection is pivotably coupled to the first coupling hole, such that the lifting member is pivotably coupled to the bottom surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for destacking a stack of flat sheet-like articles, comprising a bearing surface for supporting the stack at a fixed elevation, and a separating arrangement for repeatedly separating the uppermost article from the stack and transferring it laterally onto a removal conveyor. The separating arrangement is mounted for vertical movement so as to float downwardly as the height of the stack decreases, and the separating arrangement can be lifted upwardly at the conclusion of the destacking operation so that a further stack can be fed onto the bearing surface along a lateral feed plane which includes the bearing surface.

Abstract: A dispenser (1) for dispensing strip elements (4), having a supply chamber (3) for accommodating a strip-element stack (St), and having a discharging pusher (14) with a nose (16) for interacting with a first strip element (4′) of the strip-element stack (St), via a discharging slot (15) which is adapted to the thickness (y) of a strip element (4). In order to achieve a more functionally advantageous solution, the discharging pusher (14) has a pusher nose (16) which is made of elastically compliant material and, in the uninfluenced state, projects by more than the thickness (y) of the strip element (4).

Abstract: An envelope hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of envelopes and a paddle to push the envelopes towards an envelope feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the envelope hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the envelopes are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the envelope stack and the side rod.

Abstract: In an apparatus for separating sheet material from a stack, the latter rests on a movable pressure plate, by adapted to feed the stack to a withdrawal device. The pressure under which the stack is urged against the withdrawal device is dependent upon the density of the stack. For determining the density, the apparatus comprises a density sensor which determines the density of the stack continuously during the separation process at least in the region of the withdrawal device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for feeding a recordable paper to an image forming apparatus. The device according to the present invention is designed such that a document feeder is disposed on a knock-up plate on which recordable papers are stacked so as to feed a document using such a identical path of feeding the recordable paper when printing as that of feeding a document to be scanned. When scanning the document, the document feeder is positioned over the knock-up plate having the recordable papers stacked thereon to be adjacent to the feed roller. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that a structure of the image forming apparatus is simply, resulting in providing a convenience for an user.

Abstract: Folded sheet units, such as newspapers and magazines are successively removed from a stack of such sheet units by inserting at least one sheet engaging member such as a pin in the fold between adjacent sheet layers of the sheet unit to be removed. The pin is subsequently moved transversely towards the fold so as to withdraw the sheet unit from the stack to a display position. This principle of withdrawing newspapers form a stack is used in a vending machine for newspapers or magazines.

Abstract: A system for feeding and slitting short length, long width sheets and particularly suitable for solid fiberboard materials, includes a dual acting rake-type sheet feeder, a sheet decurling apparatus, and a multi-head slitter, all of which are interconnected to maintain positive sheet control through the entire system with resultant highly accurate short width slit sheet portions.

Abstract: An envelope feeder (20) for use in a photographic order-finishing station, including a base (22) to which a retaining plate (28) is mounted. A stack-holding tray (30) is biased toward the retaining plate to compress a stack (18) of envelopes placed therebetween for feeding. Suction heads (50) move arcuately to contact and grip the outermost envelope (36) on the stack by application of a partial vacuum, and the move back to peel and lift a portion of that envelope from the stack. A shuttle assembly (52) with a plurality of narrow shuttle fingers (108) is included for insertion between the partially lifted outermost envelope (36) and the underlying envelope (68) to split any adhesions formed between them and separate the outermost envelope from the stack.

Abstract: A manually operating feeding apparatus for feeding sheets of paper and the like which includes a link mechanism to rotate a shaft and actuate a one way friction feed to cause the sheets to be fed one at a time.

Abstract: A sheet-feed mechanism for feeding paper or the like from a stack of paper sheets in a tray in which the sheets have a soft or pressure-sensitive coating, includes a sheet-engaging apparatus which distributes the load over a substantial area of the sheet, in order to control the pressure on the sheet. Simultaneously, the apparatus is moved in a direction to cause buckling of the exposed or first sheet, for separation from the stack and subsequent removal. Two embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment employs a pair of feed wheels and another embodiment employs a sheet-engaging flat pad. The wide feed wheels or the pad are caused to be moved, following engagement with the exposed sheet, in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the sheet, for causing the separation of the sheet.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus 10 for elongate flat articles such as newspapers is described. The mechanism uses a rachet or pawl mechanism 36 or 36a to control a roller 23 or 23a rotatably mounted on a shaft 24 or 51 for dispensing the articles with the shaft and roller locked together. The roller has a cylindrical cross-section in continuous contact with the uppermost article to be dispensed by turning a crank handle 53 or by pulling a pull bar 28. The rachet or pawl mechanism and support plate 18 for the articles P are constructed to be rugged and reliable in dispensing the articles. Self lubricating bearings 18a are mounted on the plate for movement on multiple posts 12. The rachet mechanism engages indentations 38 on the end 37 of the roll.

Abstract: Stacked fabric parts are separated and fed seriatim by apparatus having an endless conveyor which feeds the stack into position for separating the uppermost part from the stack. A mechanism having a knife edge bar or opposed fabric engaging needles is lowered and engages the part for dragging the part to be separated off of the stack. The second part on the stack is held with the stack by a pressure force by a series of vacuum providing orifices or recesses in a horizontally disposed support surface and/or by retractable fabric piercing needles. The part separating and translating bar is connected to a support plate which may be vibrated in a generally horizontal plane to assist in breaking the frictional connection between the part to be separated and the remaining parts in the stack as they are separated from each other. The separated parts are presented seriatim to a guide surface which guides the part under the conveyance of an air jet stream along a feed path to another work station.

Abstract: A lift mechanism of a "fork-lift" type is capable of use on the input and output sides of machines for processing sheets of particle board, plywood and similar products. The mechanism itself has the sheets of product to be processed stacked on a pair of spaced-apart lifting arms which are hydraulically raised and lowered from one end, leaving the other end open to permit loading of stacks of product sheets or to permit removing stacks of product sheets from the arms by means of a conventional fork-lift truck. The lifting arms deflect under load in direct proportion to the amount of load on them, and a cam and cam-follower mechanism is provided to compensate for this deflection. Thus, the top sheet of the stack load always is presented at a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supplying for a subsequent process step a desired number of flat sheets at one time from a pile of flat sheets such as pulp sheets or the like. The pile is put on a platform which is elevated step by step by a given amount corresponding to a desired number of sheets. A gap is first formed in the pile by inserting one wedge member which is provided so as to be reciprocatingly movable in the transverse direction with respect to the pile. By also inserting in the gap fork tines provided so as to be likewise reciprocatingly movable in the transverse direction with respect to the pile, the flat sheets on and over the fork tines are assuredly separated from the others. At the same time these upper sheets are sent to a feed mechanism by virtue of the engagement of stopping members which are movable integrally with the fork tines in association with the forward movement of the fork tines and the edge portions of the flat sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a sheet-like article such as a wafer between a first horizontal passage defining a first plane and a second horizontal passage defining a second plane at a different level from said first plane comprising a carriage vertically movable between said first and second planes for transferring said sheet-like article between said first and second horizontal passages.

Abstract: A label handling system, particularly for use in supermarkets. The system includes a plurality of boxes (108) for receiving parts of labels (103) from merchandise (106). The box with a stack of labels in it is placed in the box-receiving station (109) where the labels are fed upwardly into a downwardly facing hoppper. Labels are sequentially removed from the top of the stack in the hopper and passed through a data reading station (112) at which price and weight data are read from the labels and subsequently further processes (113, 114, 115).

Abstract: A device for automatically feeding, one at a time, relatively thin, flat articles, such as paperboard sheets or knocked down boxes, from the top of the stack of articles positioned on an elevating mechanism.

Abstract: In a bag processing unit of an automatic transaction machine, a locking pawl is fixed at the upper portion of a bag dispensing plate for dispensing a new bag among the bags stored in a hopper, and a locking arm having an engaging portion engageable with the locking pawl is pivoted by a solenoid, thereby releasing the locking state.

Abstract: A single copy vending machine for newspapers, magazines or the like which employs a separation device attached to the door of a conventional appearing newspaper vendor to separate the topmost newspaper from a stack thereof subsequent to the insertion of proper coinage and the opening of the door. A sequentially selective elevator mechanism is provided to insure that the topmost newspaper of a stack on the elevator is in the path of the fully retracted separation device. A novel newspaper display chamber is provided to first, facilitate the proper adjustment of the separation device and, secondly to hold remote, from purchaser access, content of the display chamber until the elevator supply has been exhausted.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed that can be selectively operated with equal advantage to strip sheet material from either the top or the bottom of a stack. A translatable member having a generally planar surface formed of an electrically insulative material is disposed proximate to either the top or bottom of a stack of sheet material. A pair of electrodes in the form of an electronic grid is secured to the planar surface. A DC voltage is applied to the electrodes selectively to effect a highly intense electric field only close to the surface of the member. The intensity of the electric field can be varied in predetermined relation to the applied DC voltage so as to determine the number of sheets simultaneously removed from the stack. The electric field exerts an attractive force only on the end-most sheet or sheets of the stack so that said end-most sheet or sheets only will be stripped from the stack.

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 breaking up stacks of boards in a power saw has a platform which carries a stack of boards and is movable upwardly by a motor which is automatically arrested in response to lifting of a preselected number of boards above a given level. The unit which effects the transfer of boards above such level onto a table which supports the boards during cutting carries a pivotable lever with an idler roller which rests on the topmost board during lifting of the platform, and the lever causes a switch or a signal comparing stage to arrest the motor for the platform when it assumes a preselected angular position. When the idler roller is moved off the topmost panel in response to transfer of the selected number of boards onto the table and resulting movement of the transfer unit relative to the platform, the lever assumes a given position in which it arrests the motor for the transfer unit.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for separating at least one elongated member or layer of members, particularly a layer of elongated lumber pieces, which comprises a shifting unit for shifting a top layer above the lumber pieces partly off the remainder of the stack. The shifting unit is positioned at one end of the stack and moves part of the shifted layer out over the opposited end of the stack. A propping unit is positioned at the opposite end of the stack and is movable up and under the overhanging part of the shifted layer and then across the top of the remainder of the stack to separate this layer from the remainder of the stack. Transfer arms are provided which can be moved into the space between the shifted and separated layer and the remainder of the stack to support the layer and transfer it away from the stack for further processing.

Abstract: A supporting cage carrying a plurality of vertically spaced panels is operatively connected to an actuator which moves the cage upwardly through a series of movements to selected vertical positions. A control member connected to the actuator limits upward movement of the cage so that each panel is aligned sequentially with an elongated ram which moves in a rectilinear direction in spaced relation to the adjacent panel to eject the aligned panel from the cage. The next panel is then moved upward and ejected with this cycle being repeated until the cage is empty.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for the single feed of sheets from a stack, comprising a first member which moves with a reciprocating motion across the top sheet of the stack, performing a forward stroke from a position of departure to a position of arrival in the direction of feed of the sheets and a return stroke to the position of departure, and a second member which depends pivotably from the first member so as to lean on the top sheet in a direction such that, during the return stroke the second member trails across the top sheet, whereas, in the forward stroke the second member wedges against the top sheet and, during a first part of the forward stroke, sticks to the top sheet and detaches it from the subadjacent sheet of the stack and in the remaining part of the forward stroke advances the top sheet in the direction of feed. The stack is supported in a sheet container having a support plate movable upwardly by a spring biased system of scissors levers.

Abstract: Feed mechanism for delivering copy sheets in photocopy machines which comprises a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame and provided on its front edge portion with pin means against which is applied the pile of sheets being fed, mobile plate means for holding said sheets, said mobile means being articulated around a crosswise axis placed plumb to its center of gravity, a counterweight means on said mobile plate means located on the side opposite said pin means, and drive means for disengaging the sheets of paper one by one.

Abstract: In order to advance a sheet-like piece of material, low-friction and high-friction members are provided. These low-friction and high-friction members jointly form a continuous cylindrical surface. The piece is first contacted with the material having the low friction, and is subsequently engaged with the material having the high friction. The piece is then advanced by advancing the material having the high friction.