Abstract: The present invention is directed to device for feeding sheets seriatim from a stack. The sheet feed device includes a variable vacuum source being selectively actuable to acquire and release a top sheet from a stack; a feedhead, attached to the vacuum source to acquire the top sheet of the stack; a device to determine a plurality of predetermined properties of the sheets and to generate signals indicative thereof; and a controller to receive the generated signals and generate a signal to selectively control the vacuum source.

Abstract: A card-like article is provided with an elevator assembly that can elevate a stacked array of cards to a discharge station. The elevator assembly can be incrementally advanced by reciprocating operating rods that extends between pairs of rails. The elevator assembly can be releaseably affixed to the rails by a braking assembly.

Abstract: A curl eliminator for eliminating a curl from paper to be printed by a printer. The printer has a paper feeder including a paper tray for storage of the paper on a ferric top surface of the paper tray and for feeding the paper into the printer for subsequent printing. The curl eliminator has an elongated strip disposed at the top surface of the paper tray such that it opposes the curl of the paper thereby tending to flatten the curl. The curl eliminator also has a magnetic strip fastened to the elongated strip for mounting the elongated strip to the top surface of the paper tray. The elongated strip is mounted to the top surface of the paper tray by a magnetic attraction between the magnetic strip and the top surface of the paper tray. Also provided are a paper tray and printer having the curl eliminator of the present invention.

Abstract: A paper switching device with a simplified structure and assembly that facilitates the conveyance of thick paper such as envelopes and post cards, preventing jamming during paper. conveyance. The device includes, a recess which is formed at one side on a knock-up plate to mate with a guide, and hinge pins protruding from the sides of the knock-up plate, which are inserted into protrusions on the guide so that the guide moves up and down.

Abstract: A device for intermediate stacking of letters (SE) with a stacking roller (SR), stacking carriage (SW), underlying belt (UB) and a separation device. The stacking roller (SR) is mounted on the stacking carriage (SW) and a pressure gauge is provided in the vicinity of the stacking roller to measure the pressure of the stack against the pressure gauge. A device is provided for detecting possible slants in the letter stack (ST); that where such a slant is detected, the stacking carriage (SW) and/or underlying belt (UB) are made to move until the slant is eliminated; that the stacking carriage (SW) should be displaced along the underlying belt (UB) until the letter stack (ST) exerts a certain pressure on the pressure gauge provided that the detecting device does not report the presence of a slant.

Abstract: An in-feed magazine apparatus for loading documents includes a magazine feed ramp having one or more document conveyor belts disposed along a bottom surface, the belts being arranged to engage the bottom boundary of the documents. The conveyor belts are configured to effect forward movement of the stack of documents toward a document shingler mechanism along a linear axis defined by forward movement of the conveyor belts. Also included is a backing plate having a lower portion disposed proximal to the conveyor belt, an upper portion disposed vertically upward from the lower portion, and a generally planar face parallel to the plane defined by the face of the documents. An upper and lower sensor sense contact with the front end of the stack of documents while a controller operatively coupled to the upper and the lower sensors determines when the front end of the stack of documents lies in a plane substantially parallel to the face of the backing plate.

Abstract: A compensating support arrangement for a printing machine for printing envelopes has the uppermost envelope of an envelope stack rest on a movable top surface which is brought into a horizontal position and the means of a suction device to the printing apparatus. For producing the horizontal position, a bottom surface is provided, to which is fixed at least one spring holder with at least one adjustable and replaceable spring element, which carries and supports the top surface.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding envelopes to a printer. The cassette includes an elevator mechanism for continuously raising a stack of envelopes to maintain contact with a feed mechanism in the printer as envelopes are fed from the stack. The elevator pivots vertically around its back edge and is hinged to rotate orthogonally to the direction in which the envelopes are fed. The orthogonal rotation allows the envelope to remain horizontal even through the stack of flaps is thicker along its flap edge.

Abstract: A device whereby a pile of rectangular items is placed on an inclined surface and pushed towards the straight front edge thereof by a push unit. The surface presents two pairs of conveyor belts parallel to each other and coplanar with the surface; and the pile is arrested upon a bottom portion of the first item in the pile activating a first or second limit stop sensor, which activates a respective pair of belts so as to move the bottom left or right portion of the item and so orient the item in relation to a gripping plane. A gripping unit with two suction cups movable along a three-dimensional trajectory grips the oriented item and feeds it to a follow-up conveyor belt.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine in which successive copy sheets are supplied from a supply source thereof. A modular tray which is insertable into the printing machine is arranged to have a stack of copy sheets disposed thereon. When one marginal region of the stack of copy sheets has a greater thickness than the other marginal region the sheets are supported such that at least the opposed marginal regions of the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets are at substantially about the same level while that portion of a majority of the copy sheets with the thicker margin regions is downwardly supported at an acute angle with respect to the surface of the uppermost copy sheet in the stack.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing in which successive copy sheets are supplied from a supply source thereof. A tray is arranged to have a stack of copy sheets disposed thereon. When one marginal region of the stack of copy sheets has a greater thickness than the other marginal region, a support is interposed between the tray and the lowermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets so that at least the opposed marginal regions of the uppermost sheet of the stack of copy sheets are at substantially about the same level.

Abstract: A device (1) for supporting a stack of sheet material with zones of uneven thickness, e.g. envelopes (11), on a printer with a pick-up device (16, 17) for the envelopes and a table (10) is provided with a supporting plate (2) as well as bar type supporting apparatus (3,4) at the side facing away from the pick-up device (16, 17). The bar type supporting apparatus (3,4) may be swung away laterally for easy access to the envelopes. Furthermore the device (1) may be equipped with a base plate (36) having adjusting legs (37), for adjusting the device in a horizontal position on a slant table (10).

Abstract: A platform for supporting paper and/or cardboard which is to be supplied to a printing press wherein the sheets of paper are stacked on a inner table which is mounted in an outer table for adjustable movement and wherein the outer table is driven vertically so as to lift and automatically feed the paper to a printing press or other machine and wherein the paper can be aligned in a first direction by jogging it against bars fixed to the printing press to align first edges and wherein a sensor senses the lateral position of the upper edges of the sheets of paper and controls an adjusting motor which adjusts the position of the inner table so that the lateral position of the upper sheets being fed to the printing press or at the proper position.

Abstract: Pile table for a small offset printing machine and for receiving a pile of flat workpieces to be printed, the workpieces, respectively, being of nonuniform thickness over the area thereof, includes a pile carrying plate, a double pivot bearing pivotally mounting the pile carrying plate, the double pivot bearing having a first swivel axis extending in a direction in which the flat workpieces are transported in the printing machine and a second swivel axis extending transversely to the direction, and an actuating lever secured to the pile carrying plate for manually swivelling the plate.

Abstract: The sheet supply device comprises a sheet stocker including a lifting table mounted for up and down movement with a large number of sheets accumulated in layers thereon which sheets are different in thickness between opposite sides thereof and a paper feed roller for contacting with an uppermost one of the sheets, a string having one end fastened to each of opposite sides of the lifting table corresponding to the opposite sides of the sheets providing the difference in thickness, a first take-up drum or drums located corresponding to the thicker side of the sheets and each having the other end of the string corresponding to the thicker side of the sheets fastened thereto, a second take-up drum or drums located corresponding to the thinner side of the sheets and each having the other end of the string corresponding to the thinner side of the sheets fastened thereto.

Abstract: A friction separator for separating letters and similar flat items from a stack of such items. The friction separator comprises a base belt for supporting the stack of items and conveying them in a first direction, a guide wall extending along one side of the belt and a removal member for withdrawing the foremost items in the stack through a gap between the guide wall and the removal member. A first support member is positioned in a plane defined by the leading edge of the stack at the trailing portion of the shortest item withdrawn by the removal member, the first support member supporting the stack at a point spaced from the guide wall by a distance which is less than the length of the shortest item to be processed. A second support member is positioned at a location between the plane and the trailing edge of the stack of items supported by the belt, and is further positioned at a distance from the guide wall which is less than the length of the longest item to be processed.

Abstract: A cassette for use with a cash dispensing machine having a picker assembly including first and second pickers, for example, for picking bills from the cassette when the cassette is placed into operative engagement with the cash dispensing machine. The cassette is used to receive a stack of bills having a front end and a rear end, with the cassette having a dispensing end which is positioned next to the picker assembly. The cassette utilizes first and second resilient pushers that are aligned with the first and second pickers to move the stack of bills towards the dispensing end. Each of the first and second resilient pushers includes a ball and socket joint which enable the pushers to conform to the rear end of the stack and thereby obviate a current "wedging" problem associated with cassettes.

Abstract: A stack top control method and apparatus includes sensing the vertical position of a top of signatures being stacked on a stacking platform at two spaced apart locations. Two belt assemblies tangentially contact at least a portion of opposed sides of the stack being formed adjacent the top locations being sensed. Each belt assembly is driven by a variable drive motor and applies a tangential, frictional drive force to the opposed sides of the stack being formed toward the stacking platform. A control circuit monitors the vertical position of the two spaced apart locations and controls the speed of each drive motor of the belt assemblies responsive to the sensed vertical position of the top of the signatures being formed into the stack. The top of the stack is thereby substantially leveled.

Abstract: A bag forming machine of the top stacking type has means at the stacking station whereby a stack (12) of bags are clamped during high acceleration arising in their transfer from the stacking position at the station to a discharge conveyor (11). By employing high accelerations and clamping the stack can be transferred without interrupting the rhythm of delivery of bags to the stacking station. The bags are clamped at their "cut" ends by a first clamp (14, 15) during stacking and are then clamped at a second clamp (22, 24), moving transversely to the stack so as to apply dragging motions to the stack to move the "cut" ends of the bags away from the first clamp and to present the "weld" ends of the bags at a roll nip (30, 31) which feeds to the conveyor.

Abstract: Electrical and/or electronic parts are advanced simultaneously in a plurality of magazine tubes which are arranged in a matrix of openings in a grid. A holder below the magazine matrix contains pins in guides aligned with respective magazines, the holder being movable in the direction of the grid to advance the pins into the magazines. Friction between the pins and the holder is adjustable to allow the holder to slide along pins which have pushed their respective stacks to a stop surface in the grid. Preferably, the pins are arranged in rows and a hollow tube passes between the pins, fluid pressure in the tube being varied in order to adjust the level of friction between the pins and the holder.

Abstract: In apparatus for the separate discharge of flat items from a stack of such items, which apparatus includes a movable support for supporting the stack of items, a withdrawal mechanism mounted to engage the foremost item in the stack and withdraw that item from the stack, a supporting wall manually movable into an initial position for supporting the trailing end of the stack, and a drive system connected to drive the supporting wall toward the withdrawal mechanism under control of the state of a switch actuated in dependence upon the force being exerted by the stack on the withdrawal mechanism, resilient force equalizing elements are provided between the drive system and the supporting wall in drive transmitting relation therebetween, and are constructed and mounted for permitting advancing movement of the supporting wall to lag behind that corresponding to the sum of the drive movements produced by the drive system whenever the pressing force between the supporting wall and the stack exceeds a given value.

Abstract: A feeding attachment for paper sheets of variable small formats is readily attached to and removed from the existing printing machine for printing of smaller format paper sheets or regular printing as desired. The attachment is capable of feeding the paper sheets in an ideal attitude for printing to the printing machine even if each of such sheets has a non-uniform thickness such that, when the sheets are stacked in a pile, each such sheet of the pile will be tilted progressively relative to the horizontal from the bottom towards the top of the pile.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for sanitary paper products such as rolls of toilet tissue, packs of paper napkins, towels, etc. The machine comprises an article feeding section, a bag-supporting magazine section, and a package sealing section. The feeding section includes a reciprocal device having a support surface for underlying a plurality of articles and pushing means for moving the articles or packs. The feeding device is shifted in one direction from beneath a selected quantity of articles or packs to displace the articles downwardly, and in a reverse direction to push the displaced articles or packs into a wrapper to form a package. Continued movement of the feeding device causes the package to be transferred to the sealing mechanism.A magazine section is provided for supporting an irregularly shaped stack of bags. The magazine includes hinged table sections which are automatically pivoted as the stack is raised.