Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a nudger for a mixed mail feeder and in particular to an apparatus and method for detecting high stack forces in a stack of mixed mail. The apparatus generally comprises an anti-lean sensor for detecting whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and a stack force sensor for detecting high stack forces at the nudger wall. The method generally comprises the steps of sensing whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and whether the stack of mailpieces is leaning on the nudger wall causing a high stack force which is detrimental to feeding the mailpieces. If high stack forces are present, the apparatus will work to straighten the stack. If the stack does not straighten, the operator is signaled to reorient the stack of mailpieces.

Abstract: A method for supplying envelopes to an inserter system, including the steps of providing an envelope supply structure having an exit point, providing at least first and second supply paths from the exit point of the envelope supply structure and providing a common path from the at least first and second supply paths. Individual envelopes are fed from the envelope supply structure to a selected one of the at least first and second supply paths wherein the envelope is conveyed to a holding area in the selected supply path and from the holding area of the selected supply path it is conveyed to the common path. The envelope then travels from the common path to an envelope insertion area wherein prearranged documents are caused to be inserted into the envelope.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hopper loader apparatus for separating and forming an overlapping shingled stream of individual signatures of sheet materials from a vertically aligned, parallelepiped shaped stack of such signatures for subsequent handling operations. The hopper loader has a slippage resistant belt which engages a bottom edge of each signature and assists in preventing the signatures from slipping by keeping them upstanding. Preferably the slippage resistant belt has an array of projections extending upwardly from a belt surface which secures the signatures in place. This produces a smooth, regular, even signature stream. Individual signatures flow reliably, one-by-one off of the downward conveyor to another conveyor.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding blanks on a packing machine, whereby a conveyor feeds along a horizontal path a succession of blanks positioned perpendicular to the path; the path terminating at a pickup station having a stop surface defined by a frame, which has a withdrawal opening closed partly by fixed teeth and is moved in a direction substantially parallel to the path by the thrust exerted by the blanks and in opposition to a sensor for regulating a traveling speed of the conveyor to keep the thrust exerted by the blanks on the frame constant.

Abstract: A method for controlling an intermediate stacking device for flat shipments, in particular in letter sorting facilities, comprising a stacking device (SR) on a movable stacking cart (SW), a bottom transporting belt (UB) on which the shipments are positioned crosswise to the belt movement direction, and a separating device with a withdrawal means (AR), as well as a shipment sensor (FH2), which detects the shipments at the separating device. In order to correct without problems a slanted position of the shipment stack at the separating device, the normal operational control of the intermediate stacking device becomes invalid if a predetermined time interval during which no shipments are detected at the withdrawal means (AR) is exceeded, the supply of shipments to the intermediate stacking device is interrupted, the bottom transporting belt (UB) is stopped, and the stacking cart (SW) is put into motion in the direction of the separating device.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding mails includes a mounting table having a slanted top surface for mounting thereon a plurality of sheets in a substantially upright posture thereof, a transfer belt for transferring the sheets in the slanted posture in the direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the sheets, and a take-out section for taking out the sheets in the horizontal direction parallel to the surfaces of the sheets. A mail having an envelope and a belt wrapper covering the envelope can be taken out as it is, without pulling-off of the belt wrapper from the envelope.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the steady feeding of flat items for separation by suction of material input into a distribution unit by using a feeding device, preferably comprising a separating blade and a conveyor belt underneath it. In accordance with the invention, the thickness of the pulled-off items is measured within a main control circuit (HR). The feeding device conveys the item stack (SS) by the amount of this thickness in the direction of the suction separation system. In a static correction control circuit (KR), the stack pressure is measured outside of the suction separation system and is adjusted via the movement of the feeding device within the limits of the permissible stack pressure range.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for decollating juxtaposed flat objects (3) conveyed in form of vertical stacks is comprised of a conveyor (2) having a continuous loop traction mechanism (4) and a decollation unit (7) for removing the objects (3) individually from the front end of the stack (6) in a lateral direction, wherein the decollation unit (7) moves forward and backward, respectively, in relation to the front end of the stack (6), with the movements initiated by a transmitter (16) which is connected to the decollation unit (7) and faces the front end of the stack (6), based on the distance between the transmitter (16) and the front end of the stack (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and transferring flat unit loads such as newspapers, periodicals and other publications is disclosed. The apparatus has a means for accepting a stack of unit loads and for offering the unit loads one-by-one at a fetching position. A drum is arranged rotatable about a longitudinal axis and has a perimeter surface adjacent the fetching position. The drum has at least one suction opening formed in the perimeter surface for seizing the next available unit load from the stack at the fetching position and for holding the unit load to the drum perimeter surface as the drum rotates to an ejection position. A conveyor means is disposed adjacent the ejection position for receiving the separated unit load from the drum and for transporting the unit load away. The apparatus is also suitable for separating and transferring unpackaged newspapers, periodicals, other publications and the like.

Abstract: A feeding device for printed products including a conveyor for conveying the printed products on a front conveying section in the form of a stack and on a rear conveying section in the form of a bar and in the form of a loosened zone between the stack and the bar, and a sensing device which senses the position of the stack and controls the feeding movement of the printed products. The rear conveying section includes a continuously advanced conveying device which is controlled by an intermittently advanced conveying device of the front conveying section.

Abstract: A plate feeding and handling apparatus (10) that includes an improved plate feeder (32) and pick-up (36) that more effectively feed and remove plates from a stack of plates is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hopper loader apparatus for separating and forming an overlapping shingled stream of individual signatures of sheet materials from a vertically aligned, parallelepiped shaped stack of such signatures for subsequent handling operations. The hopper-loader has a chassis; a first continuous, downwardly inclined planar conveyor mounted on the chassis which moves a stack of vertically aligned signatures and deposits them onto a second conveyor as a separated, shingled stream of the signatures. The second conveyor is mounted on the chassis and aligned with an end of the first conveyor. It has a plurality of driven belts which travel over each of an upwardly inclined planar ramp segment, an arched transition segment, and a planar exit segment. The arched transition segment comprises either a belt slide or a plurality of serially arranged rollers.

Abstract: A hopper loader apparatus for transferring and separating individual signatures of sheet material from a vertically aligned, parallelepiped shaped stack of such signatures. The separated, individual signatures may then be subjected to handling operations such as stapling or stitching. The hopper-loader has a first, downwardly inclined, planar conveyor, a second upwardly inclined, planar ramp conveyor which separates individual signatures from the stack and moves the signatures at a faster speed than the first conveyor. An included angle is formed between the first and second conveyors which ranges from about 125.degree. to about 145.degree. . Signatures are delivered to a pocket having spaced side walls and having a floor comprising a third intermittent indexing conveyor which sequentially moves the individual signatures away from the second conveyor and makes them available to stapling or stitching equipment.

Abstract: A singulator apparatus includes a forwardly driving device and a reverse driving mechanism which operate together to separate individual articles from a stack of articles being transported thereto from an upstream feeding device. The singulator further includes a sensor which detects the presence of articles at the articles ingestion nip defined between the forwardly driving device and the reverse driving mechanism. A controller stops operation of the feeding device upon detection of the presence of articles by the sensor and initiate feeding by the feeding device if no articles are sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An improved device for edging flat products is provided having a plurality of spaced apart generally upstanding fingers, the fingers being forwardly translatable with a group of flat products between them. Each of the fingers is rockable back and forth across a vertical centerline as the fingers are forwardly translated to jostle the flat products, thereby to align the bottom edges of the flat products.

Abstract: A plate handling apparatus (10) including a plate feeder (12) for sequentially advancing a stack of plates (11) and a pick-up assembly (14) for successively removing the forwardmost plate from the stack is disclosed. The plate feeder (12) includes a conveyor (18), a pair of clutches (22,24), and a crank assembly (26) for moving the stack a first distance toward the pick-up assembly and for subsequently moving the stack a second, slightly shorter distance away from the pick-up assembly before the pick-up assembly removes the forwardmost plate from the stack. This consecutively feeds the stack of plates towards the pick-up assembly so that the forwardmost plate in the stack can be removed from the stack by the pick-up assembly. This also provides a gap between the stack of plates and the pick-up assembly immediately before the pick-up assembly removes the forwardmost plate from the stack for preventing the removed plate from striking the remaining plates in the stack.

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 device for separating flat objects includes an endless conveyer belt on which the flat objects are supplied standing on edge and forming a stack. A conveying device including a rotating conveying element picks up the objects individually on the flat side from a front of the stack by a run of the rotating conveying element which removes the flat objects crosswise relative to the stack. The conveying device includes a guide arrangement for displacing the conveying device through a stroke approximately parallel to a direction in which the stack is formed while bearing on the front end of the stack.

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 conveyer 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 conveyer 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: Pocket signature feeding machines have been provided with a double indicia scale on a pocket backplate and the scale is related to the centerline of the pocket so that the signatures may be precisely centered in the pocket when the left and right signature guides have their respective indicators pointing to the same indicia on the pocket backplate scale. A sheet that is 10 inches in width can be centered by having the respective left and right indicators set at a number 10 on each scale portion of the double scale. The signatures are bowed by side guides engaging opposite vertical edges of the signatures in the hopper. Also, an outer scale with indicia thereon is provided for setting the side guides at a distance that will cause an automatic, correct bowing of signatures. A gripper mechanism cooperating with a signature picker times the drop of signatures onto the saddle of the gathering conveyor.

Abstract: A mail sorting device wherein an inclined supporting surface cooperates with a guide device presenting a number of push surfaces spaced along the supporting surface and movable from a back stop towards a front stop adjacent to the upper end edge of the supporting surface. The supporting surface supports a number of flat rectangular mail items grouped into stacks interposed between adjacent push surfaces; and the sorting device presents a grip-and-carry device facing the end edge of the supporting surface, and in turn presenting a gripping head movable to and from the supporting surface to withdraw one mail item at a time from the stack and feed it to a conveyor device. The guide device provides for feeding the push surfaces back from the front stop to the back stop.

Abstract: A carton feeder assembly is positioned substantially at the infeed conveyor level and includes a carton supply assembly, a carton selector, a carton opener, and a carton erector. The carton supply assembly has a carton supply position, a carton holding position, and a carton selecting position. The carton selector includes a pair of feeder wheels with corresponding suction devices and respective motion defining assemblies. The motion defining assemblies cause the suction devices to move along a linear pick line as the feeder wheels rotate, so that the suction devices can apply a suction on a carton to be selected. The selected carton is brought into contact with the feeder wheels by retraction of the suction devices caused by respective motion defining assemblies, so that the carton moves with the feeder wheels to the carton opener.

Abstract: Apparatus for shingling a plurality of documents disposed in stacked relation so that the stack extends successively from a first end to a second end, and has at least one boundary defined by substantially coplanar marginal edges of the documents. The stack of documents is conveyed along a predetermined path during which one or more rotatable shingling members engage the coplanar marginal edges of the documents and impart velocity components of progressively increasing magnitude to the marginal edges in a manner to effect movement of the documents into a shingled array. In the preferred embodiments, the rotatable shingling member has a conical shingling surface traversed by the documents in tangential relation so that the velocity components imparted to the marginal edges of the documents lie in the planes of the documents and move them laterally in shingled relation to each other.

Abstract: A device for separating flat parcels from a stack of parcels includes a drawing element that travels in a conveying direction and acts by friction on a parcel to be drawn off from the stack of parcels. A guide wall for the stacked parcels forms a gap with the drawing element for a drawn off parcel to pass through. A support surface supports the stack of parcels and generates a stack pressure in a direction of the drawing element. At least one first nozzle disposed in the region of the support surface, and/or the region of the guide wall, blows compressed air between the parcels in the stack. At least one second nozzle, disposed in the region of the gap, between the stack of parcels and the guide wall, blows compressed air having a predetermined inclination counter to the conveying direction of the parcels to be drawn off.

Abstract: A continuous and sequential temporal storing and conveying of plate shaped members to the next processing step, in which the differently sized and randomly ordered plate shaped members can be easily handled and manipulated, A substantially vertical wall surface is provided and the plate shaped members are temporarily stored in a state of leaning against the wall surface and sequentially fed toward the wall surface. Then, a nearest-to-wall plate shaped member among the stored plate shaped members is drawn to the wall surface in order to vertically erect the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member and separate the nearest-to-wall plate shaped member from remaining stored plate shaped members. Then, the vertically erected nearest-to-wall plate shaped member is conveyed to the next processing step along the wall surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cylindrical image bearing member, an image forming device for forming an image on the image bearing member, a transfer unit for performing first image transfer of the image on the image bearing member to a recording material at a transfer position, and a movable recording material carrying unit for conveying the recording material to the transfer position while carrying the recording material in order to perform the first image transfer. The recording material carrying unit further carries and conveys the recording material in order to perform second image transfer to the recording material after the first image transfer. The apparatus also includes a conveying unit for conveying the recording material to the recording material carrying unit.

Abstract: A sheet-like workpiece delivering apparatus including a workpiece transfer device disposed in front of a work table of a machine tool and a workpiece storing device provided adjacent to and on the side of the workpiece transfer device. The workpiece storing device supports a sheet-like workpiece in a standing condition and supplies the workpiece to the workpiece transfer device or receives the workpiece for the workpiece transfer device. The workpiece transfer device further supports the sheet-like workpiece in a standing condition and receives the workpiece from the workpiece storing device or supplies the workpiece to the workpiece storing device and the workpiece in the workpiece transfer device is swingably moved from a standing condition to a horizontally extending condition or reversely about a longitudinal axis of the transfer device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for collating documents on edge. The apparatus includes: a document transport for conveying documents on edge along a path; at least two hoppers located adjacent the document path for supporting a plurality of documents on edge; a device for continuously conveying the documents through the document transport; and a device for intermittently feeding the documents from the hoppers to the document transport.

Abstract: A machine for processing mail comprises a mechanical jogging device between an unstacking head (3) and a conveyor path (1) for conveying a stack (2) of postal items. The jogging device comprises inclined rollers (8) rotated so that a postal item of the stack, on arriving vertically over the rollers, is capable of dropping edge-on, under the action of gravity, onto the rollers and of being driven towards a jogging margin (7) while simultaneously being moved towards the unstacking head by the effect of the rollers rotating so that its free face comes substantially into contact against the unstacking head.

Abstract: A singulator of the friction belt type capable of synchronous or asynchronous modes of operation is described. The singulator includes a buffer assembly for accepting a shingled stream of documents, a feeder pinch belt for extracting the first document from the buffer and a scanner for scanning the document as it passes through the feeder into an accelerator which is also a pinch belt. The accelerator accelerates the document to a constant speed leaving the singulator. A control means is provided which operates coupled to the feeder drive and the scanner so that the next upstream document is extracted a predetermine time after the first document leaves the accelerator.

Abstract: A feeder system for a mail sorter includes a feed conveyor which receives a plurality of items of mail. A singulation station removes the items in a singulated manner from the discharge end of the feed conveyor and transfers each item to a delivery station. The delivery station includes a plurality of vertically mounted belts which are movable in the transverse direction for delivering the items to the mail sorter.

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: A flats singulation apparatus includes a input buffer section having a substantially horizontal ramp which is adapted to support thereon a stack of flats mailpieces on edge. The buffer section includes a moving belt and ram plate for moving the stack of flat pieces toward the front end of the ramp. A transfer section is at the end of the ramp and is adapted to remove the flat pieces substantially one at a time from the ramp and drop them downwardly. The transfer section includes a plurality of edge rollers extending across the end of the ramp and adapted to move the flat pieces from the stack, and a ledge plate extending downwardly from the edge rollers and having a horizontal ledge onto which the flat pieces drop. A pusher shelf is movable across the ledge to push the flat pieces off of the shelf. A separation section extends substantially horizontally across the end of the transfer section and includes means for moving the flat pieces away from the transfer section and separating flat pieces.

Abstract: For use with a hopper loader a quick-release feed rack having two swingable sections coupled through a center pivot enables removal of one section for quick and simple attachment to a loader.

Abstract: A transport section for a document-handling machine includes a pair of horizontally-oriented feed belts which act in conjunction with segment flaps on a segmented, vertically-oriented feed belt to deliver groupings of mail items in a feeding direction. A set of horizontally-oriented take-away belts receives documents from the horizontally-oriented-feed belts and transports them at an accelerated speed with respect to the horizontally-oriented feed belts. The accelerated speed of the take-away belts is used to compensate for the acceleration of each given document by the tips of the flaps as the flaps round the corner at the end of their run.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for transporting flat documents placed therein on edge uses a horizontal conveyor belt to convey stacks of documents on-edge in a first feeding direction. Tapered rollers with a feeding direction perpendicular to that of the conveyor belt are provided at the end of the conveyor for feeding the documents in a direction perpendicular to the first feeding direction. The use of tapered rollers allows a gradual, rather than sudden, perpendicular velocity to be imparted to the documents, thereby relieving strain on the roller drive mechanism, the rollers themselves, and the documents at high machine throughput speeds. The use of tapered rollers also provides a shingled output of documents, which allows a stripping station down-line from the feeder to strip the documents with fewer misfeeds and less strain.

Abstract: An automatic feeder module for a mail sorting system including a cabinet having first and second ends and an upper planar surface, a conveyor belt having an upper run travelling along the upper surface of the cabinet, a drive plate linearly driven along the conveyor belt at the same speed as a conveyor belt and having a forward side and a rearward side, means for driving the conveyor belt and the drive plate at the same speed, and a singulator assembly including pick-off means against which a stack of mail is pressed by the drive plate and the conveyor belt, and a stack pressure switch for turning the driving means on and off to maintain a predetermined stack pressure against the pick-off means.

Abstract: A mechanism for advancing flat-laid package blanks disposed in a magazine includes a shaft extending through the mechanism at right angles to the magazine and journalled by way of a free-wheel hub so that it may rotate in only one direction. The shaft is urged against at least one endless elastic belt which passes around two or more wheels. The belt presses against the flat-laid package blanks. The free-wheel hub is surrounded by a lever that is connected to a drive unit. When the lever is pivoted in one direction by the drive unit, the movement is transferred via the shaft to the belt and the package blanks are fed forwardly in the magazine. When the lever is pivoted in the other direction, the free-wheel hub locks and no movement is transmitted to the belt which might otherwise counteract the forward advancement of the package blanks in the magazine.

Abstract: An existing sheet material feeder has a feed tray which holds sheet material in an on-edge orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally vertical. An apparatus is provided to convert the sheet material feeder to one having a feed tray which holds sheet material in a lying-down orientation in which side surfaces of the sheet material are generally horizontal. The apparatus for converting the on-edge sheet material feeder to the lying-down sheet material feeders includes a frame having a pair of parallel side sections. A single sheet material feed drum is disposed between and is connected with the side sections. The side sections are connected with side sections of the existing collator conveyor sheet material feeder.

Abstract: The device for feeding sheet stacks 26 has a guiding device 5, in which a plurality of endless guide belts 18, 19, which guide the sheet stack 26 to a motor-driven sheet feed device 8 arranged on a removal side of the sheet stack. The endless guide belts 18 are arranged in an essentially horizontal stack support surface 4. The essentially vertical, stack-side feed sections of the feed conveyer belts 35 of the sheet feed device 8 are subdivided by articulated rollers 38 of a horizontal articulated shaft 39 arranged in the upper third of the sheet stack 26 into a lower decollation section 33, which is sloped by more than 5.degree. and less than 30.degree. relative to the vertical line, and an upper, more highly sloped feed section 34. To achieve reliable decollation of sheets even in the case of sheets of paper carrying high electrostatic charge, an intermittent drive 75 is provided, which drives the sheet 26' lying on the decollation sections 33 of the feed conveyer belts 35 with pulse-like acceleration steps.

Abstract: A machine, for holding signatures and delivering them to a pocket in an inserter unit that forms part of a binding machine, has three conveyors, namely a feed conveyor, a spreading conveyor, and a pocket conveyor arranged in that order between a loading position and the pocket of the inserter unit. All three of the conveyors have table belts and side belts with the spacing between the side belts being less than the width of the signatures, so that the signatures bow forwardly when standing on edge in the conveyors. The belts of the spreading and pocket conveyors advance the signatures more rapidly then the belts of the feed conveyor, so that the signatures are less consolidated on the spreading and pocket conveyors. The table belts of the pocket conveyor are inclined downwardly away from the table belts of the spreading conveyor, but a supporting surface exists at the center of the pocket conveyor as an extension of the table belts in the spreading conveyor.

Abstract: In order to facilitate adjustment of the height of impaling pins, a signature supply station includes a pair of generally parallel side frame members each of which supports a rotatable impaling pin adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly includes supporting structure for a pair of impaling pins whereby the pins are supported between the side frame members for guided movement in generally vertically upward and downward directions, and it also includes an adjusting screw rotatable in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. With the signature supply station supporting signatures generally vertically, the adjustment assembly further includes interconnection structure or guided generally vertically upward and downward movement of the impaling pins responsive to clockwise and counterclockwise rotational movement of the adjusting screw.

Abstract: A device for unstacking flat objects comprises an unstacking head (2) provided with a suction cup (88) for grasping the first flat object in a stack of such objects presented thereto and for moving a grasped flat object towards an exit position (40) in which the object is released. The suction cup (88) is a bellows suction cup made of a flexible material such that when it grasps the first flat object in the stack, it retracts under the effect of the suction and entrains at least the surface of the grasped object therewith as it retracts. A shoe (90) having a surface close to the grasping plane of the suction cup is disposed adjacent to the suction cup in fixed relationship relative to the mount (50) carrying the suction cup. The shoe thus constitutes an obstacle to the surface of a grasped flat object, thereby warping said surface as the suction cup retracts.

Abstract: A hopper loader for transporting sheets in an edge-standing arrangement and having a pivotal module for loading the sheets therein. The pivotal module is then pivoted downwardly to a horizontal position to align with another module which receives the sheets and continues to move the sheets to their destination.

Abstract: A staging hopper for supplying packaging blanks includes a first conveyor positioned downstream of a second conveyor. The first conveyor supports and periodically transfers packaging blanks in a primary group of blanks to a blank delivery position. A second conveyor supports and intermittently transfers packaging blanks in a secondary group of blanks onto the first conveyor. The top edges of the secondary group of blanks rest at an angle against the primary group of blanks to define a longitudinal gap between the lower edges of the blanks in the primary and secondary groups. Photosensors are provided to detect the presence and absence of packaging blanks within the longitudinal gap. In addition to advancing the primary group of blanks, the first conveyor advances the forward blanks in the secondary group across the gap toward the primary group. The photosensors detect the presence of these blanks as their lower edges move across the gap.

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 magazine for holding a plurality of articles, such as cartons, which are to be singularly withdrawn at a downstream end, and a method of feeding articles. The magazine includes guides, spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the cartons in their folded condition, thereby creating a gap between an inner guide surface and one of the edges of the cartons. A pair of stoppers oppositely project toward each other and are spaced apart by a distance less than the width of the cartons, to thereby hold the most downstream carton in a position to facilitate its withdrawal at the discharge end of the magazine. The stoppers are positioned to engage the particular edges of the cartons of which the distance between them is not apt to be variable, to thereby reduce the likelihood of the cartons becoming jammed within the magazine. At least one feed roller projects from one inner guide surface toward the other inner guide surface upstream of the discharge end.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying individual blanks stacked sideways in a store with an inclined conveyor channel comprises a divider with a conveyor for receiving, under control, a divided sequence of blanks from this conveyor channel, two oppositely inclined planes following closely on from the conveyor channel and above this divider and an oscillating device with a reciprocating movement provided with suction cups for taking up the blanks in individual sequence from the divided sequence and depositing them in a horizontal position on a production line.

Abstract: A magazine for flat articles, in particular folding boxes lying flat, including a horizontal conveyor apparatus for receiving a supply stack of folded boxes and a vertical receiving chute from which the folding boxes can be withdrawn in succession and delivered to a conveyor in an open condition. In order to keep the pressure on the lowermost folding boxes in the receiving chute constant, the receiving chute is refilled with folding boxes as needed from the conveyor apparatus, so that the stack height in the receiving chute remains constant. The transfer of folding boxes from the supply stack on the conveyor apparatus into the receiving chute is effected via a gap, through which the horizontally delivered holding boxes, resting obliquely, are purposefully tipped via rollers or via a support podium into the receiving chute at the transition from the conveyor apparatus.

Abstract: High speed sheet feeders receive blocks or bricks of paper sheets, cards or folders stacked edgewise on a downsloping supply ramp, and singulate these for edgewise feeding in rapid succession. The frontmost sheets ready for feeding are buckled and fanned at their upper edges, and their lower edges are arched forward to form a dimple or ridge-shaped pocket by an underlying central traction singulator. A pair of ganged or synchronized feed belts engage the frontmost sheet and propel it rapidly downward edgewise, and a slanting discharge belt receives and diverts the sheet at even higher speed between the discharge belt and a tractive pinch roller. A transfer assembly beneath the discharge belt may receive sheets from an adjacent feeder and interleave them upon command with sheets delivered by the discharge belt.