Abstract: A sheet alignment device to align the edges of recording sheets stacked on a sheet stacker of a duplex unit in a two-sided copying apparatus, in which a document image has been copied onto the first surface of the recording sheet and the recording sheet is reversed so that another document image can be copied onto the second surface of the recording sheet. The device has an edge pushing member which can be driven in the range from the maximum width to the minimum width of the recording sheets used in the apparatus in order to align the edges of the recording sheets, a driver which moves the edge pushing member in the width direction of the recording sheet, a detector which detects the width of the edge pushing member located in a home position, and a controller which controls the movement of the edge pushing member to the home position being narrower than the maximum size of recording sheet and wider than the minimum size, based on the result of the detection.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding sheet materials is equipped with a container body in which two sheet material-holding devices are arranged in parallel in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices includes a pair of width restriction members which are so disposed that their positions can be freely adjusted in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices further includes a rear end restriction member that is so disposed that its position can be freely adjusted in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a copier, facsimile transceiver, printer or similar image forming equipment has a first tray and a second tray each being capable of accommodating part of a great amount of sheets and, therefore, has a thin configuration. The first tray can be pulled out along guide rails together with the first tray, facilitating the continuous supplement and feed of sheets.

Abstract: A device is described for automatically dispensing single sheets and the like, especially to an office machine. The device has a magazine in which stacks of single sheets can be inserted in freely selectable quantities and with freely selectable storage volume. A separating device is movable and positionable under control over the entire length of magazine in front of the ends of stacks. Stacks are immovably arranged in the magazine. The separating device engages between stacks and can be activated between stacks in order to pull one sheet off the selected stack and feed it to the office machine by transport means.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically adjusting the dimensions of the carton blank magazine in a machine for forming carton blanks to select a variety of predetermined sized carton blank formats and for delivering the carton blanks to an exit of the machine. The apparatus includes a pair of movable side tool portions and a movable bottom tool portion for guiding a carton blank. A format selecting wheel corresponds to each of the tool portions and each format setting wheel includes a plurality of pins having a different length corresponding to one of the dimensions of a particular predetermined carton blank format. Each of the pins has a free end which engages a respective bottom or side tool portion to fix the portion in a position determined by the selected blank format. The apparatus further includes a bottom guide device for delivering the carton blank to the exit of the machine.

Abstract: A universal sheet feed cassette for use in an apparatus using various commercially standard and commercially nonstandard sheet sizes during its operation. The universal sheet feed cassette discloses the size of the sheets contained within the cassette by a tracking of the movement of the cassette's movable guide. The apparatus in which the cassette is loaded can then detect the sheet size contained within the cassette. Once the sheet size is detected, the apparatus adjusts its operating parameters to adapt to the size sheet contained within the cassette.

Abstract: A multi-size paper cassette for a printer, such as an electrophotographic or laser jet printer and having a cassette housing which is adapted to receive a back wall and paper receiving shelf in slidable engagement with housing side walls during paper size adjustment and loading of paper into the cassette. A cammed shaft member having a predefined contoured slot therein is pivotally mounted on one of the upstanding side walls of the cassette housing and has an end face aligned with a plurality of indicia marked openinging in a front wall of the cassette housing. The cammed shaft member is operative to receive a driver pin within its contoured slot, and the driver pin and adjoining paper receiving shelf are driven backward and forward in the cassette during paper size adjustment and paper loading.

Abstract: A sheet-driven type automatic drafting machine has a drive roller or rollers and a rotary drive mechanism connected to the drive roller or rollers, a Y-axis rail extending in the Y-axis direction above the drive roller or rollers, a line-drafting head movably mounted on the rail for movement along the rail and a head driver connected to the head for driving the head along the rail, a shaft positioned above the roller or rollers and parallel to said rail, a first press roller arm pivotally mounted on the shaft for pivoting around the shaft at a predetermined position thereon, a second press roller arm pivotally mounted on the shaft for pivoting around the shaft and for movement along the shaft, the press roller arms each having a press roller at one end thereof engagable with the drive roller or a corresponding drive roller when the press roller arms are pivoted toward the drive roller or rollers for pressing a drafting sheet therebetween and enabling the drafting sheet to be driven in an X-axis direction by t

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for facilitating manual feeding of business forms into business forms handling equipment to bypass the automatic feeder, primarily in the production of mailers from forms having pressure sensitive adhesive strips. Mounted at the interface between the conveyor and folder of the handling equipment is a transparent plastic plate having a slot with forms guides, and a forms centering scale adjacent the slot. A finger opening in, and an upstanding finger tab on, the quadrate plate may be provided to allow it to be lifted out of place covering the interface area between the conveyor and folder. An interlock engaging projection is provided on the plate for stopping operation of the equipment when it is removed. One may bypass the automatic feeding of the conveyor by manually inserting forms into the slot guided by the forms guides.

Abstract: A holder for receiving sheets and discharging sheets therefrom one-by-one from the bottom of a stack of sheets is provided including a carrier having a rear portion, an intermediate portion and a front portion, providing a carrying surface for the sheets, the carrier being bent at the intermediate portion thereof, transverse to the direction of conveyance of the sheets, so as to create a deepened section between the rear portion and the front portion. Lateral supports extend from lateral edges of the carrier, with at least one elevated part provided in the deepened section at the intermediate portion extending transverse to the direction of conveyance on the carrying surface of the carrier.

Abstract: When stacking up recording papers on a tray and conveying one by one from the top or bottom, they are conveyed by attracting in vacuum to a conveying belt. An example of conveying from the bottom is illustrated. When one recording paper is conveyed, its rear end comes into the attraction region of the conveying belt, and the second recording paper is attracted into the region out of the first recording paper in the attraction region, which results in duplicate feed. Therefore, the size of the attraction region is variable depending on the size of the recording paper so that the attraction region of the conveying belt may not come out from the rear end of the recording paper until the first recording paper is conveyed and its front end is held by the rear rollers of the conveying belt or the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet feed cassette for holding various sizes of sheets to be fed to an image recording apparatus in a feed direction. The cassette comprises a first casing having a sheet placement area, and a second casing slidably connected to the first casing for expanding the area. The first casing is detachably mounted on the image recording apparatus.

Abstract: In a paper feeding device, a paper feeding deck which moves back and forth is provided with a guide bar which extends in the direction in which the paper feeding deck moves and which has grooves formed in required portions corresponding to the sizes of recording paper sheets. A width aligning guide supporting member guided by the guide bar is fixed to a width aligning guide. The width aligning guide supporting member is provided with an engaging member detachably engagable with a groove of the guide bar. In addition, an engaging and detaching mechanism is provided for the width aligning guide supporting member. The engaging member is detachable from a groove of the guide bar by the engaging and detaching mechanism and then, the width aligning guide, along with the width aligning guide supporting member, can be moved to a position corresponding to the size of the recording paper sheets. The engaging member then is engaged with another groove of the guide bar by the engaging and detaching mechanism.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus wherein a recording medium is feed in a predetermined feed path. The apparatus is provided with a pair of edge holders arranged opposedly about the feed path for holding edge portions of the recording medium. One of the edge holders is provided an edge holding space extending along the feed path and having a substantially S-shaped sectional configuration.

Abstract: Air flows from an air flow forming means are jetted to near the downstream end of a plurality of sheets stacked on a laying plate so as to separate either a uppermost sheet or a bottommost sheet from the remaining sheets. The uppermost sheet or the bottommost sheet is vacuum attracted to a vacuum attracting area defined in a feeding belt by a vacuum attracting box. Based on the size of the sheet, the open suction area uncovered by the stacked sheets in the vacuum attracting area is controlled, thereby enabling the feeding belt to control the power of suction thereof to the sheets. Accordingly, a multiple feeding of the sheets can be prevented due to an excessive power of suction.

Abstract: A control device for a copier of the type loaded with a recyclic document feeder (RDF) and operable in a two-sided copy mode for producing two-sided copies by sequentially stacking one-sided paper sheets and refeeding them for transferring images on the other side thereof. In the two-sided copy mode, side fences provided on an intermediate tray are moved toward and away from each other in matching relation to the paper size. Even when the entry of a paper sheet in and the refeed of a paper sheet from the intermediate tray occur alternately, paper sheets entered the tray can be accurately controlled in position with no regard to the paper size.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets.

Abstract: A carton folding apparatus which is characterized by multiple folder/gluer modules, including a feed module for receiving and delivering unfolded cartons, prefold/fold, fold and final fold modules for effecting specified folding and gluing operations, a delivery module for completing the folding operations and further including a stacker unit for receiving and stacking the folded and glued cartons. Each of the folder/gluer modules is capable of being removed from the apparatus line and is characterized by separate, independently driven upper and lower belt feed mechanisms for driving the cartons through that module.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism for a printing apparatus, comprises a case, a plurality of tables provided in the case for supporting at least two kinds of cut sheets thereon, the two kinds of cut sheets including large-sized cut sheets larger than each table and small-sized cut sheets substantially equal to each table, and a unit for moving the small-sized cut sheets on one table to another table when another table becomes empty of the small-sized cut sheets, wherein when the plurality of tables support the large-sized cut sheets, the plurality of tables function as one table, and when the plurality of tables support the small-sized cut sheets, the plurality of tables function separately independently of each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus having a support on which sheets are supported in a sheet stack, at least one separating claw arranged adjacent a corner of a front end of the sheet stack supported on the support and having a pawl portion for pressing down an upper surface of the sheet stack and an abutment portion against which the front end of the sheet stack is abutted, a slit provided between the pawl portion and the abutment portion of the support for permitting the passage of only one sheet having a predetermined thickness, a guide for selectively positioning lateral edges of the sheet stack supported on the support between a first position where an uppermost sheet on the sheet stack can pass through the slit and a second position where the uppermost sheet is blocked by the separating claw, and a supply mechanism for feeding the sheet stacked on the support.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including a fixed gate provided on a base and approximately orthogonal to the direction of feed of sheets, and a movable guide plate provided on the base in parallel to the fixed gate movably toward and away from the fixed gate and positionable in place. The feeder kicks out sheets stacked up between the gate and the guide plate one by one from the lowermost position by a suction device and a kicker. The feeder comprises guide members arranged side by side above the base and orthogonal to the gate, a slide member integral with the guide plate and disposed over the guide members thereacross movably toward and away from the gate, and belts each provided on its surface with a kicker member for engaging one end of the sheet and revolvably disposed within a belt support. The belt support is disposed between adjacent guide members, attached to the slide member and communicates with the suction device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a regulating member for regulating a sheet fed from the magazine in the widthwise direction, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position and a retreating position. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover member for opening and closing the magazine. When the cover member closes the magazine, the regulating member is in the retreating position, and when the cover member opens the magazine, the regulating member is in the regulating position.

Abstract: A recording paper length sensing apparatus for sensing a length of recording paper being fed in a paper feeding direction to an image forming apparatus. The recording paper length sensing apparatus comprises a table part on which the recording paper is loaded, the table part having a movable member and a fixed member and being mounted to a portion of the image forming apparatus to feed the recording paper to the image forming apparatus, a position of the movable member relative to the fixed member being adjustable to make an end portion of the movable member accord with a recording paper edge, a switching part for detecting a predetermined position of the movable member, the switching part being turned ON to generate a signal indicative of the recording paper length when the predetermined position of the movable member is detected, and a control part responsive to the signal from the switching part for recognition of the recording paper length.

Abstract: A sheet media feed mechanism including a sheet media tray, the sheet media tray having a lower tray for holding a stack of automatic-feed cut sheet media and an upper tray for holding individual sheets of manual-feed sheet media. The lower tray has a pair of corner-pick separators for separating the top sheet of sheet media from the stack. The upper tray has a frame positioned over a rear portion of the lower tray leaving a front portion of the lower tray exposed, and pair of flexible sidekicks extending out over the exposed portion and having a sheet media separator at the front tips of the sidekicks. A pair of D-rollers mounted on a shaft pick the top sheet of sheet media from the lower tray when no sheet media is present at the upper tray, the D-rollers also adapted to pick the top sheet of sheet media from the upper tray when at least one sheet of sheet media is present thereat. The picked sheet media is then fed to a feed path.

Abstract: A platen, supplemental feed rollers and a paper feed roller are driven by a motor, feeding a stack of sheet papers on a hopper one by one to the platen. When a predetermined period of time elapses after the sheet paper has reached a photosensor, the motor rotates in the reverse direction to reversely rotate the platen. The paper feed roller and the supplemental feed rollers however keep rotating to execute an oblique compensation of the paper. Then, an electromagnetic clutch is disengaged to permit the paper feed roller to freely rotate, feeding the paper to a print position by the rotation of the platen. When the power of a printer is turned off and an operational lever is moved to a paper releasing position, a switching lever oscillates, disengaging a planetary gear mechanism from other gears. This sets the supplemental feed roller free.

Abstract: A first sheet stacker in which first sheets are stacked and retained by sheet separation claws is formed by a pair of first stacker forming members, and otherwise, a second sheet stacker free from the sheet separation claws is formed by placing second stacker forming members in between the first stacker forming members. Thus, the sheets different in size and thickness can be properly stacked in a single sheet stacker and selectively sent one by one to a printing apparatus such as a general purpose printer without use of any auxiliary sheet cassette or stacker.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine includes a paper feeding tray and a paper discharging tray respectively attached to both end surfaces of a body, each of which has a first, a second and a third tray plates which are rotatably connected to each other. When the machine is not used, the first, second and third tray plates are contained in the body in a state where the same are collapsed and folded over each other and, when the machine is used, the first, second and third tray plates are withdrawn and developed. A plurality of ribs which are extended in a paper feeding direction are on one upper surface of the first plate attached to the body in a rotatable manner, and a plurality of through holes, or slits, which receive the ribs when the first, second and third tray plates are collapsed are formed on the second and third tray plates.

Abstract: A plurality of containers store sheets to be fed, and a plurality of sheet guides bias the sheets in the containers toward a predetermined location. Detectors determine the positions of the sheet guides and output position data corresponding to the size of sheets disposed in each of the plurality of containers. A memory circuit store sheet size data for a plurality of sheet size groups, and include, and at least a portion of sheet sizes from the plurality of sheet size groups are of similar dimension. A first comparison circuit compares selected position data with sheet size data stored in the memory to determine if sheets in a selected container are included in either a first group, a second group or the similarly dimensioned portion of the first and second groups.

Abstract: A box for supporting a printer intended for connection to a computer, the box being intended to be placed on a table in a workroom. The box includes two side wall pieces, a bottom-piece and a top-piece, which pieces can be fitted together to form a parallelepipedic box; the box further includes two side-supports which cooperate displaceably with a groove or channel provided in the bottom-piece, this groove or channel extending perpendicularly to the side-walls; the side-supports have a height which is equal to the internal height of the box between bottom and top and which side-supports are provided with support-parts which project outwardly at right angles from the side-supports and which fit in and slide in the groove or channel. The box can be used for bottom-feeding and rear-feeding or printing paper to the printer, and the box is configured to enable similar boxes to be stacked on one-another.

Abstract: A sheet feed arrangement is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or the like and is comprised of a sheet cassette for accommodating a plurality of sheet materials, a lifting mechanism disposed below the sheet cassette for lifting end portions of the sheet materials only when the sheet materials are fed from the sheet cassette, a level detector disposed above the sheet cassette for detecting that an upper end surface of a topmost sheet material has been lifted up to a predetermined level, and a control system for stopping an upward movement of the sheet materials when the level detector detects that the upper end surface of the topmost sheet material has reached the predetermined level and for subsequently lowering the end portions of the sheet materials by a predetermined vertical length.

Abstract: A recycling automatic document feeder for a copier which feeds a stack of documents loaded on a document table one by one to a predetermined exposing position, returning the document to the top of the stack after imagewise exposure, and refeeding such documents one by one to the exposing position. A discharge section is movable on and along the table in an intended direction of document feed. The document feeder is capable of returning documents of various sides easily to the top of the document stack which is located at a document feed position on the table.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for supporting a stack of sheets, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tray including a base wall and opposed longitudinally extending side walls, the side walls extending upwardly from the base wall and defining therewith opposed end openings through which sheets may be successively fed; at least one sheet-stack supporting wall slidably connected to one of the side walls of the tray for movement between the end openings, the supporting wall including a rectangularly-shaped portion thereof dimensioned to extend transversely of the tray between the side walls; memory structure connected to the tray for storing data relating to respective sheets fed thereto and structure for removably interfacing the apparatus with at least one external structure.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus for a buffer tray of a xerographic reproduction machine comprises a belt for conveying sheets to the tray, input and output rolls which co-operate with the belt at the input and the output respectively of the apparatus, and an intermediate roll which can co-operate with the belt at a point intermediate its length. The output roll is mounted on an end guide of the buffer tray and, as a result, moves lengthwise of the belt when the end guide is moved to enable the tray to receive sheets of different lengths. If the output roll is moved from one side of the intermediate roll, remote from the input roll, to the other, it causes the intermediate roll to move to an inoperative position (in which it does not co-operate with the belt) and operates a latch to hold the intermediate roll in that position. The reverse movement of the output roll releases the latch and allows the intermediate roll to return to the position in which it co-operates with the belt.

Abstract: In order to minimize the handling of large copy sheets when the feeding of a different size or type of copy sheet is required, and insertable copy sheet tray is included that is inserted on top of copy sheets already in a copy sheet tray for feeding purposes and removed once the requisite number of different size or type of copy sheets have been fed.

Abstract: The feed table of a paper folder is provided with a downward step at the discharge end of the feed table. The downward step provides a discharge area so that the leading edge of a sheet can be pulled forward and down for a positive feed without wrinkling the leading edge through contact with the feed table. A vacuum wheel engages and holds the paper to effect the feed, and the vacuum wheel has an increased number of holes for a stronger grip. The rear ends of paper guides are movable by screws for carefully controlled skewing of the paper with respect to the feed table.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets into a copying or printing machine includes a movable base movably mounted on a fixed base for movement across a sheet inlet of the copying or printing machine in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheets are fed into the copying or printing machines. Two sheet tables for carrying respective stacks of sheets thereon are juxtaposed along the direction in which the movable base is movable, and is mounted on the movable base, so that a selected one of the sheet tables can be positioned at the sheet inlet in response to movement of the movable base. The selected sheet table is lifted by a lifter mechanism associated therewith to elevate the supported sheets until the uppermost one of the sheets reaches a sheet feeding position. The sheets are then successively fed from the selected sheet table into the sheet inlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading x-ray film cassettes of various sizes, using an air jet to release a sheet of film from a pivotally open upper cassette part, the air jet nozzle being carried by a lever arrangement such that the nozzle is moved upwardly with the upper cassette part as the latter moves to its open position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mechanism for the handling of and the singulating of a stack or plurality of aligned and substantially flat materials such as for example, sheets of paper, cards, printed flyers, envelopes, checks, business cards, labels, other printed documents and the like. There is incorporated into the mechanism novel systems and assemblies which control the rate of the advance of the stack of materials, which advance is effected by an amplitude or magnitude of a unidirectional jogging motion. The magnitude is a function of the attitude of the stack or the angle formed with the horizontal of the leading sheet of the stack. There is also provided a pulsing mechanism for pulsing, synchronously with jogger belts of an input conveyor assembly for joggingly advancing the plurality of flat materials, the first singulator assembly which pulsing enhances the action of singulation of the plurality of flat material.

Abstract: A supply magazine (1) for stacked sheets (5) comprises on its bottom surface a slideway (13, 14) adapted for cooperation with a limiting member (11, 12) allowing a continuous size adjustment. The slideway (13, 14) is moreover provided at selected points with abutments (37); and a limiting member (11, 12) which has complementary counterabutments can be arrested by positive engagement with the abutments respectively against shifting movement on the slideway (13, 14) in positions corresponding to given sheet sizes.

Abstract: A sheet storage case for storing therein a stack of sheets. The sheet storage case is assembled into a sheet feeding device which feeds out an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets. The sheet storage case includes a bottom plate, a first positioning member fixedly secured to the bottom plate and a slidably movable second positioning member provided in the bottom plate. The second positioning member has a sheet receiving portion for receiving the stack of sheets. The second positioning member is movable toward and away from the first positioning member. To mount a stack of sheet on the sheet storage case, the second positioning member is moved away from the first positioning member, the sheets are placed on the sheet receiving portion, and then the second positioning member is moved toward the first positioning member. The side edges of the sheets are aligned, because the sheets are fittedly interposed between the two positioning members.

Abstract: A feed magazine for feeding items for an envelope insertion apparatus is adjustable along three axes and includes a resiliently mounted adjustable floor plate which permits tilting adjustment about a lateral axis, and includes a jam detector for signaling misfeeds.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet support plate and one or more rotary members for separating and feeding sheets. A recessed portion is formed on the sheet support plate in a position opposing to each rotary member. A detachable auxiliary member is provided to be fitted in the recess to form a plane coplanar with that of the sheet support plate. An engaging device can be provided, to engage with a step portion formed in a cassette housing portion of the apparatus to keep the cassette from being entirely removed from the housing. The engaging device may, for example, include an elastic part and an engaging part integrally molded with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeder device including support for a generally vertical stack of sheets. The support means includes endless belts having an upper belt run position to extend across the bottom of the stack of sheets. A stationary gate forming member is provided which is positioned above the upper run of the belts and adjacent the forward side of the stack to define a nip which forms a gap between the gate forming member and the upper run for permitting the lowermost sheet of the stack to pass forwardly from the stack through a nip. The gate forming member is a cylindrical roll defining a central axis and an outer peripheral surface which is concentric to the central axis. The roll has a plurality of annular grooves extending about the circumference thereof, and the grooves are disposed concentrically about a second axis which is eccentric to the central axis.

Abstract: A stack of documents to be supplied to a processing device rest on at least one pull wheel for pulling the documents towards the processing device. A pushing element exerts a constant and uniform force which pushes the stack of documents against the pull wheel. The pull wheel pulls the documents towards a guide. The guide, which is configured such that only one document is permitted to pass through to the processing device, includes a first roller with three toric projections mounted thereon on one side of the guide and a pair of rollers with two toric projections mounted therebetween on the other side of the guide. As the direction of the rollers on opposite sides of the guide rotate in different directions and as the force of rotation of the single first roller is greater than the force of rotation of the two second rollers, the toric projections mounted on opposite sides of the guide will only permit documents to pass therebetween one at a time.

Abstract: A paper sheet cassette includes a rotatable guide shaft and a leaf spring secured at one end to the shaft. A pressure plate secured to the shaft receives a stack of paper sheets and is resiliently urged against a feed roll by the spring. The spring and pressure plate are settable to different angular positions to adjust the pressure of the stack against the feed roll and to permit the stack to be placed on the plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is disclosed, which is mounted in a printer for feeding cut printing sheets one by one to a printing position in the printer. The sheet feeder comprises first and second sheet accommodation sections for accommodating respective stacks of printing sheets. First and second feed roller mechanisms are provided for the respective sheet accommodation sections. These roller mechanisms selectively receive a drive torque from a single reversible drive motor via a selective coupling mechanism. The selective coupling mechanism senses the direction of rotation of the drive motor, and selectively couples the drive motor to either one of the first and second roller mechanisms according to the sensed direction of rotation.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus wherein a member for regulating the rear end of a document is provided movably in non-stepped manner substantially in a document feeding direction at the back of a document stacker having a paper feeding unit at the forward portion thereof. The movement of the rear end regulating member is controlled by a control device. A movable paper discharging device is provided. The movable paper discharging device has a discharging member, which is trained so as to surround the rear end portion of the document stacker in the shape of letter "C".

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 portable envelope feeder that is not dedicated to a specific offset printer but can be used with multiple offset printers is described. The portable feeding apparatus is clamped to the feed elevator in order to supply an envelope stack to the offset printer. The envelope feeder has the capability of tilting back to facilitate loading of the envelope stack. A sliding weight in one of the vertical members holds the envelopes in place and also counters the moment created when the sucker foot on the printing press grips the individual envelope and pulls the envelope into the offset press. A height control bar insures that the envelope stack is always at the correct position for the sucker foot to grip and envelope. By utilizing a different size plate where the envelope stack rests and making a slight adjustment on the base plate, the present invention can feed a plurality of envelope sizes.

Abstract: Each interfaced loader and metering hopper combination of a newspaper assembling system includes improvements for producing ridges in the newspapers at various states where separation of the newspapers from one another is required. The ridges enhance separation by stiffening the newspaper and reducing the area of contact and thereby the friction between them. At the receiving region of the loader, an arrangement of parallel side and central conveyors, wherein the central one is at a higher level than the side conveyors, produces ridges when the newspapers in a stack are fanned back into a stream. A pair of superimposed center conveyors and inclined laterally located arms produce ridges in the newspapers as they are discharged one at a time from a discharge region of the loader into a receiving zone in the hopper.