Abstract: A sheet stacking and conveying unit that have a first end and a second end includes: a sheet stacker to stack sheets conveyed in the first direction in order; a conveyor to convey a lowest stacked sheet in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction by contacting the lower surface of the sheet; a sheet pressing member to apply a specified pressing force to a conveyor via a sheet by contacting the top of a sheet stacked in a stacker and a receiving portion provided to a sheet pressing member and to receive the first end of a sheet that is next stacked in a stacker. Further, this unit includes a driving mechanism that drives a sheet pressing member, drops a sheet received by a receiving portion on the top of a conveyor, clamps it between a conveyor and a sheet pressing member and receives a sheet that is next conveyed to a stacker by a receiving portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for slowing down products in the folder of rotary printing machines. A product-directing system is arranged between the jaw cylinder and paddle wheel, and a driven decelerating-roller pair is integrated into the product-directing system. In order to provide an apparatus which can be adjusted in a straightforward manner and ensures that the products are slowed in a functionally reliable manner upstream of the paddle wheel, the circumference of the decelerating rollers is equal to at least one product length, and the decelerating-roller pair is driven at a non-uniform speed.

Abstract: A signature conveying apparatus is disclosed which is structured simply and which enables a stable high-speed operation to be performed when a chopper-folding operation is performed by conveying the signatures to a chopper-folding unit at a low speed. A signature conveying unit of a folding machine incorporates a delivery cylinder which is rotated at a speed lower than the peripheral speed of a gripping cylinder and a speed-reduction cylinder. A high-speed conveying means conveys signatures received from the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder at the same peripheral speed as that of the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder. A speed-change conveying means receives the signatures conveyed from the high-speed conveying means to convey the signatures to a low-speed conveying means such that the conveyance speed is gradually reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating an upper sheet from a lower sheet comprising a first roller having an axis of rotation and a sheet engaging surface arranged to frictionally engage the upper sheet, a second roller having an axis of rotation arranged in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of the first roller, the second roller having a sheet engaging surface arranged to frictionally engage the lower sheet, and, drive means for rotating the first and second rollers about their respective axes of rotation to produce different surface speeds at the sheet engaging surfaces of the first and second rollers, whereby the upper and lower sheets are separated into a non-coincident configuration by respective frictional engagement with the first and second rollers. The invention also comprises a method for separating the aforementioned upper and lower sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for conveying flexible sheet-like products wherein a plurality of conveying elements (12) are arranged one behind the other on a rotatable support member in a circular array, and each conveying element comprises a roller segment (24), which is driven continuously in the direction of rotation (D), and a mating element (26), which interacts with the roller segment. In the product receiving region (14), a recess section (44) of the respective roller segment (24) forms, with the mating element (26), an introduction gap (48), of which the leading end is closed. The forward position of the recess section (44) forms a stop (62) for engaging the leading edge (52) of the fed product (19).

Abstract: In a large-format crosscutter (11) is proposed an apparatus for forming a gap in a scale-like or regulated sheet flow. Following onto an overlapping station (13) is provided a gap formation station (19), which has a conveyor (31) which can be accelerated to a higher speed than the feed conveyor (18). For gap formation purposes a gap formation carriage (22) runs along a guide (23) in the conveying direction (15), shortens the gap formation conveyor (31) and lengthens the feed conveyor (18). A suction device (41) on the gap formation carriage is lowered somewhat and by means of a blowing device (42) air is blown into the resulting clearance. Therefore the gap formation carriage precedes the slower feed conveyor (18) and forms the necessary gap, so that in the latter can be operated a switch or points (46) for switching to a different one of the two conveying paths (47, 48).

Abstract: A separator and sequencing apparatus comprising a first selective document transport means for selective movement of documents and a second selective document transport means for selective movement of documents positioned adjacent to the first selective document transport means, the first and second selective document transport means configured to move at least one of a pair of documents located in said separator and sequencing apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary bristle brush, particularly adapted for use in a decelerating conveyor for shingling sheets, operates over a preload surface that subjects the moving bristles to an increasing bending deflection. The bristles are released from the preload surface just above the sheets entering the shingling conveyor to allow the ends of the preloaded bristles to spring downwardly into contact with the sheet. The contact force of the bristles helps drive the sheet downwardly onto the shingling conveyor which may be a vacuum conveyor.

Abstract: A buckle accumulator including an input feed system and for feeding a sheet in a path of travel and an output feed system located downstream in the path of travel from the input feed system. The sheet having a leading edge and a stiffness. The lead edge of the sheet is substantially unrestrained between the input feed system and the output feed system. The input feed system imparts a furrow within the sheet to increase the stiffness of the sheet between the input feed system and the output feed system so that the lead edge of the sheet substantially follows a desired path of travel and enters the output feed system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a deceleration device for flat products, such as signatures. A deceleration device has a plurality of seizing elements attached thereto for seizing signatures at their respective leading edge while the signatures are emerging from a conveying device. The leading edge of a signature travels on a first path, whereas the trailing edge of the signature travels on a second path, which creates a larger air-drag coefficient on the signature than the first path.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a rotary printing drum around which the stencil master is wrapped, a main motor which rotates the printing drum, a press roller which is rotatable in parallel to the printing drum in contact with the printing drum, and a pair of opposed conveyor rollers which feed a printing paper between the printing drum and the press roller. A conveyor roller motor is provided separately from the main motor and drives the conveyor rollers. A printing drum rotation detector detects rotation of the printing drum on the basis of the reference position, and a conveyor roller rotation detector detects rotation of at least one of the conveyor rollers.

Abstract: A stop wheel assembly for use in a web-product delivery system includes a stop wheel rotatably attached to an elongated member, a clamp member attached to the elongated member, and a gas cylinder including a first end attached to the clamp member to rotate the clamp member about a pivot point to raise or lower the stop wheel. A screw received in a threaded opening of a screw supporting block may contact the clamp member to rotate the stop wheel to a desired vertical distance from a slow down belt.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically adjusting a rate at which a document decelerates when entering a sort pocket of a document processing machine. The apparatus includes a track adapted for transporting the document, a guide wall, and a stacker flag spaced away from the guide wall to define the sort pocket therebetween. The sort pocket communicates with the track so that the document exits the track to enter the sort pocket. A wave spring is disposed proximate the guide wall so that the document engages the wave spring and is decelerated by the wave spring when the document enters the sort pocket. The weight of the document is calculated, and a signal is produced that represents the weight of the document. The wave spring is distorted according to this signal to vary a configuration of the wave spring depending on the weight of the document to decelerate the document at an optimal rate.

Abstract: The bristles for brushes used in the deceleration section of a sheet handling system are made of a pultruded construction utilizing a high strength fiber core and high wear resin binder to provide bristles which will not acquire a set from bending and exhibit extremely long wear life. Pultruded fibers of various cross sectional shapes and constructions may be utilized to tune the brushes to a particular sheet handling application.

Abstract: An arrangement for decelerating and shingling printed products as they are conveyed from a variable rotary cutter by a high-speed belt conveyor to a slower speed belt conveyor includes at least one depressor wheel at the entry end of the slower speed conveyor. The depressor wheel carries a plurality of depressor members in circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of cutting knives on the rotary cutter. The leading edge of each printed product entering the slow speed conveyor enters a headstop nip which reduces the speed of the entering product while its trailing edge is simultaneously momentarily depressed by a depressor on the rotating depressor wheel to enable shingling between successive products. A brake pad cooperates with the depressors to decelerate the printed products to a speed close to the surface speed of the slower belt conveyor.

Abstract: An arrangement for decelerating and shingling printed products as they are conveyed from a variable rotary cutter by a high-speed belt conveyor to a slower speed belt conveyor includes at least one depressor wheel at the entry end of the slower speed conveyor. The depressor wheel carries a plurality of depressor members in circumferential positions corresponding to the circumferential positions of cutting knives on the rotary cutter. The leading edge of each printed product entering the slow speed conveyor enters a headstop nip which reduces the speed of the entering product while its trailing edge is simultaneously momentarily depressed by a depressor on the rotating depressor wheel to enable shingling between successive products. A brake pad cooperates with the depressors to decelerate the printed products to a speed close to the surface speed of the slower belt conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slowing down the ejection velocity of the print media into an output tray, without the use of active velocity control of the exit nip or interface, utilizing a non-circular drive roll running against a leaf spring. The regions of contact of the non-circular drive roll are driven at a velocity slower than the incoming sheet velocity, and the spaces between the regions of contact are used to enable relaxation of buckling generated in the print media (e.g. print sheets). The print media travels at the velocity of the upstream nips until they are entirely under the control of the non-circular drive roll exit nip, thus enabling the sheets to be ejected from the exit nip, at a slower velocity, improving stacking registration.

Abstract: The barrier wall device for paper sheets flying thereto with one edge posing as a front edge as discharged from a printing portion of a copying or printing machine to collide thereagainst is constructed to have a barrier wall plate elastically supported from a frame body by an elastic tensile support device extending perpendicularly to the direction of fly coming of the paper sheets, so that the barrier wall plate is biased in parallelism by expanding and inclining the tensile support device. The paper sheet receptacle is desirably adaptable to a high speed copying or printing machine so that paper sheet collision noise is lowered, with paper sheets received to form a well trued stack.

Abstract: A machine for conveying, discharging and stacking sheets such as carton blanks is disclosed in which the velocity of the blanks is substantially reduced as they are discharged from the conveyor into the stacking area.

Abstract: A helical gear connected to a lower discharge roller is made movable in its axial direction toward a bracket when a stepping motor is activated. A friction pad formed from felt or sponge rubber, for example, is attached to a side surface of the helical gear that is located face to face with the bracket. When the stepping motor is energized, the helical gear shifts toward the friction pad and the side surface of the helical gear comes in sliding contact with the friction pad. Resultant frictional resistance produces a braking force which acts on the rotating lower discharge roller. An overrun of the lower discharge roller due to a backlash between engaging gears is prevented even when an upper transfer roller exerts a forward-pushing force on a rear end of a sheet of an original document.

Abstract: For decelerating, accelerating and/or deflecting conveyed printed products (3), pressing elements (1, 2) act on the printed products (3) with normal forces (F.sub.N). The action is carried out in a resilient manner by contact elements (4) fixed to spring elements (5) such that the time of the action on the printed product (3) is made longer. Thus an improved deceleration or acceleration effect is achieved by means of friction forces and/or a deflecting effect is achieved by means of a momentum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and staggering envelope contents includes a driven, substantially vertically positioned conveyor belt with an associated conveying slit, through which the envelope contents including documents to be staggered, are moved past an operator. On the side of the envelope contents opposite the conveyor belt (i.e., facing the operator) there is a non-rotary or slowly rotatable delay roller which can be pressed against the document facing it. The delay roller is preferably moved by an electromagnet. The friction between the delay roller and the document facing it is much greater than the friction between the two envelope contents, so that the front document facing the delay roller is decelerated, while the back document is advanced by the conveyor belt until the two documents are staggered. The operator can then detect whether or not there is a document behind the front document, and whether it is correctly oriented.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring workpieces to a stack from an endless conveyor having a plurality of forward traveling flights in a defined path. The conveyor being composed of a series of flights spaced at intervals there along. Each flight being constructed for carrying one of the workpiece 3. The apparatus and method include using a stacking mechanism for supporting a stack of limp materials removed from the forward advancing flights positioned below the path of the traveling flights. The stacking mechanism works in combination with a holding mechanism which determines the position of the upper most ply in the stack. A transfer mechanism is used for removing each ply from a forward advancing flight of the conveyor for transfer to the stack supported by the stacking mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheets on a tray in which a stacking position of sheets is changed for each set number of sheets to one of different stacking positions on the tray, includes a movable pressing member coming in contact with a discharging roller on its low position so that a discharging speed of the sheet is reduced, a movable lower guide plate so that the lower guide plate is positioned lower than a upper portion of the discharging roller on its low position; a sensor to detect a passage of a sheet; and a driving device to move the lower guide plate and the pressing member in response to a signal from the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivery of sheet-like products is provided which includes a reorientating conveyer 14 coupled to deceleration unit 6, the deceleration unit 6 for receiving signatures 5 from a product forming device such as a folding or a cutting cylinder. The deceleration unit 6 slows down the signatures 5 from a single spaced configuration to an overlapped shingled configuration. The reorientation conveyer 14 grips signatures in an overlapped shingled configuration with grippers 17, the grippers 17 having a pitch 16. Since the deceleration unit 6 does not release the signatures 5 until after the grippers 17 are engaged, control over the signatures is maintained during the transfer. In the reorientation conveyer 14, the grippers 17 rotate the signatures into a spine leading formation while maintaining control over the signatures 5.

Abstract: Method for pneumatically braking sheets in a delivery of a sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of blast air directed opposite to a sheet-transport direction for forming an air flow for braking the sheet includes adjusting the air flow for braking the sheet to a state of equilibrium between energy of the air flow acting upon the sheet and kinetic energy of the sheet, the sheet being carried in the region of a braking path in a contact-free manner by the air flow, and device for performing the method.

Abstract: A mail separating device has a conveyor channel, an input of which is connected to a sorting device for successively supplying the channel with flat mail items. The separating device includes a sensor which is located along the channel for generating a double-withdrawal signal on detecting a pair of at least partly superimposed mail items. The double-withdrawal signal activates a stop device, which is located along the channel and moves an appendix from an idle position to an activating position. A stop portion of the appendix contacts the vertical end edge of a first item in the pair. The impact of the stop portion on the vertical end edge arrests the first item while the second item in the pair continues traveling along the channel and is detached from the first item.

Abstract: Sheet delivery for a sheet-processing machine includes a conveyor system for transporting sheets successively and for releasing the sheets above a sheet pile having a horizontal surface, and a plurality of ventilators or air blowers having a controllable output, the ventilators being disposed in an array above the horizontal surface of the sheet pile for directing blown air from above the sheet pile towards respective oncoming sheets successively transported by the conveyor system and released thereby above the sheet pile, the ventilators being high-speed ventilators constructed for small air volumes and blowing, at a high flow rate, a concentrated air jet with laminar flow substantially vertically from above against the respective oncoming sheets.

Abstract: A sheet stacking and registration system particularly suited for high speed sequentially stacking of the flimsy printed sheets output of a high speed reproduction apparatus in a sheet stacking area, with a stacking registration position; with a vacuum belt sheet transport system acquiring only a limited lead edge area of the sheets and transporting them over the stacking area with non-slip sheet feeding towards the registration position; and an integral system peeling the lead edges of the sheets off of the vacuum transport and guiding them downwardly and towards the lead edge registration position while reducing but partially maintaining the sheet's vacuum acquisition, and applying a normal force, preferably with a roller pressing down the lead edges of the peeled off sheet against the previously stacked sheets adjacent the registration position, to frictionally slow the sheet as it approaches the registration position, and also holding down the sheet after it reaches the stacking position.

Abstract: A device for delivering flat products, such as signatures or the like, having a plurality of fan wheels rotatably mounted on a fan wheel shaft. The fan wheels each have a plurality of fan pockets for receiving signatures emerging from a transporting device, the fan wheels being mounted on the fan wheel shaft in spaced relation to one another in an axial direction. Adjustably mounted deceleration devices, each having a curvature for diving between the spaced-apart fan wheels, allow for a desired deceleration of the signatures upon rotation of the fan wheels.

Abstract: An automatic storage and stacking device for sheets of laminar material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like, comprises a transportation unit which removes the sheets of laminar material from a cutting group, overlaps them and conveys them towards a storage surface. The transportation unit comprises a plurality of conveyors in series which can be operated at varying speeds so as to allow separation of a first series of sheets from a successive second series of sheets; with one of said conveyors there is associated a retaining means for holding the rear portion of the first sheet of said second series, which retaining means comprises a gripper member able to perform an alternating movement along the conveyor with which said gripper member is associated.

Abstract: A turnover device for turning over products (8), for instance graphic products, comprising a feed conveyor assembly (4) and a discharge conveyor assembly (6) each made up of a number of parallel conveyors arranged side by side with an interspace therebetween, a turnover rack (1) being arranged between the feed and discharge assemblies, which turnover rack comprises outwardly extending product carriers (2) movable through the interspace of the conveyors of the discharge conveyor assembly (6). Provided adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor assembly (4) are adjustable decelerating devices (5) for decelerating the products (8) to be turned over and the discharge conveyor assembly (6) comprises a driver (7) for accelerating the turned-over products (8').

Abstract: A downstacker for paperboard sheets includes a sheet speed reducing shingler positioned in the stacking station and forming a shingling nip with the top sheet of the continuously descending stack. The shingling nip is positioned to engage and nip the next following sheet simultaneously with engagement of the stacking station backstop by the preceding sheet, thereby obviating sheet marking by an overrunning nip roll. A false backstop is periodically interposed to define a stack separation level and create an offset in the stack which engages the end of a separating fork as the continuously forming stack descends to facilitate insertion of the fork supporting into the stack. The fork provides interim support for the upper stack portion which continues to form while the lower stack portion is rapidly discharged.

Abstract: Device for removing copies diverted from a conveyed stream thereof in a rotary cross cutter or delivery in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a device for decelerating the copies which are transported at an incoming conveying speed, the decelerating device being disposed so as to act upon both sides of the copies which are to be decelerated, a device for defining a copy-transport plane, a copy guide forming a diverter disposed down-line from the decelerating device and above the device for defining a copy-transport plane, and respective structures defining two conveying planes disposed down-line from the copy guide, at least one of the conveying plane-defining structures including a pneumatically acted-upon conveying device.

Abstract: A decelerating device for decelerating movement of die cut sheets into the delivery station of a sheet fed die cutter wherein die cut sheets are rapidly pulled along a substantially horizontal path into the delivery station and are abruptly stopped at predetermined stopping points including a rear tablet underlying the path of travel of the die cut sheets and movable toward and way from the predetermined stopping point to provide support for the trailing edge of a sheet passing into the delivery station in accordance with the length of the sheet and a deceleration brush positionable in the path of movement of the sheet into the delivery station which deceleration brush is carried by a movable carriage also carrying the rear tablet.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheet-like products delivered one after another in a spaced relationship to each other with a transporting device, including a conveyor arranged above a transporting plane of the transporting device for conveying the delivered sheet-like products to a stacking position, and a braking device located beneath the conveyor, with the conveyor having a conveying surface provided with suction openings or magnets for lifting the sheet-like products off the transporting device and for retaining the sheet-like products as they are conveyed to the stacking position.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating a leading end stacked position in a stacker for successively stacking thin sheet materials.

Abstract: A control system and method for ejecting an envelope having: a feeder for feeding the envelope out of the envelope handling device, a sensor for sensing the trailing edge of the envelope, and a microcontroller for controlling the feeder and in communication with the sensor the microcontroller causing the feeder to accelerate the envelope above a desired speed and decelerate the envelope after the sensor senses the trailing edge of the envelope so that the envelope is fed from the envelope handling device at the desired speed.

Abstract: A printing machine having a sheet path for moving sheets, a buffer tray assembly for receiving and holding sheets of various sizes and orientation without skewing such sheets. The buffer tray assembly includes a sheet feeding unit, mounted adjacent to and upstream of a sheet holding unit thereof, relative to sheet movement, for feeding, seriatim and without skewing, sheets of various sizes and orientations from the path into the sheet holding unit. The sheet feeding unit includes a sheet driving roller. The sheet driving roller has a plurality of operative positions that are spaced laterally along the sheet cross-path dimension of the sheet path, and that correspond respectively to the midpoints of cross-path dimensions of the various size sheets being fed into the sheet holding unit for feeding and stacking sheets without sheet skew.

Abstract: A sheet receiving and stacking apparatus is formed of a base table with a stacking section for stacking a rectangular sheet, and a guide device for receiving the rectangular sheet and for guiding the rectangular sheet to the stacking section of the base table. The guide device has a rotatable curved guide surface, and guides the rectangular sheet to the stacking section while being rotated with the side edges of the rectangular sheet when the guide surface has received the side edges of the rectangular sheet which is floating downwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting card-like articles includes a feeding unit for feeding card-like articles, and a shingler conveying unit comprising a first belt which moves in a first running speed and a second belt which moves in a second running speed different from the first running speed for transporting card-like articles fed from the feeding unit in a prescribed direction while holding them by the first and second belts. The apparatus further includes a first measuring unit provided in a preceding stage of the shingler conveying unit for measuring lengths of the card-like articles along the transporting direction, a second measuring unit provided in a succeeding stage of the shingler conveying unit for measuring lengths of the card-like articles along the transporting direction, and an abnormality detecting unit for detecting abnormality in conveying card-like articles based on measured results of the first and the second measuring unit.

Abstract: A sheet feed device for image forming equipment and capable of feeding sheets one by one from a stack by separating them. The device has a flat plate including a dielectric portion which is capable of making surface-to-surface content with the top of the stack, a means for moving the plate in a reciprocating motion, a means for moving the plate into and out of contact with the stack, and a means for applying a voltage to the plate to cause it to exert an electrostatic adhering force.

Abstract: A diverter and on-edge stacker for diverting and on-edge stacking of envelopes comprises: an envelope conveying path; a device for selectively diverting a conveyed envelope by intercepting a lateral portion of the leading envelope edge and thereby skewing the envelope; a stepper-motor-driven spider wheel having legs and gaps therebetween for receiving diverted envelopes; revolving rollers to capture and drive the skewed envelope away from the conveying path into a gap of the momentarily stationary spider wheel; and, a sensor to sense an envelope that has been driven into a spider wheel gap and, consequently, to control rotation of the spider wheel by one gap pitch.

Abstract: A duplex path loop having a acceleration nip cooperating with a belt transport and retime nip to allow duplexing of sheets while minimizing skipped pitches on the photoreceptor. As each sheet to be duplex printed is removed from the process path after first side imaging it is accelerated to create a gap between it and subsequent sheets. The sheet is then stalled or slowed in a retime nip, while subsequent sheets to be duplexed are simultaneously driven by the same transport, the first mentioned sheet being reinserted into the process path at the proper time for receiving the second side image before the arrival of the second sheet at the retime nip. Subsequent duplex sheets are handled in the same manner so that duplex copies are interleaved or otherwise reinserted into the process path with first side copies so that skipped pitches on the photoreceptor are minimized.

Abstract: Remittance processing apparatus and method in which the leading edges of a pair of documents such as a payment coupon and a check conveyed along a path are engaged with a gate to control passage of the documents along the path. The gate is held in a closed position until the leading edges are aligned with each other and thereafter opened to release the documents. The documents are then engaged by feed rollers rotating at speeds such that one of the two documents is fed ahead of the other to a stacking tray with a stacking belt which engages one side of the documents. The tray is urged toward the belt with a force which remains substantially constant regardless of the number of documents stacked in the tray.

Abstract: A turnover-sequencer staging apparatus for sheets comprises: a receiver, a turnover-sequencer, and a staging segment. The receiving device receives at least two side-by-side sheets and supplies these to the turnover-sequencer wherein the sheets are overturned and rerouted in a substantially orthogonal direction, the relationship between sheets having been converted to sequential whereby the sheets become disposed seriatim and imbricated. The overturned and rerouted seriatim-imbricated sheets are selectively de-imbricated in the staging segment by separation of selected consecutive sheets. Separation is effected by braking or stopping of the conveying motion of the trailing one of two consecutive sheets. In other embodiments, separation can be accomplished by changing the speed of conveying of one of two consecutive sheets; either by speeding up of the leading sheet or by slowing down of the trailing sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slowing down signatures sent to a quarter fold of a folder for a printing machine are disclosed. Signatures are transported between a first set of fast belts including upper belts and lower belts. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by an assembly of upper and lower partial pulleys mounted to a frame which changes the speed of the signatures to a slow speed. The signatures are then received at their leading edge by a second set of slow belts including upper belts and lower belts.

Abstract: An automatic storage and stacking device for sheets of laminar material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like, comprises a transportation unit which removes the sheets of laminar material from a cutting group, overlaps them and conveys them towards a storage surface. The transportation unit comprises a plurality of conveyors in series which can be operated at varying speeds so as to allow separation of a first series of sheets from a successive second series of sheets; with one of said conveyors there is associated a retainer for holding the rear portion of the first sheet of said second series, which retainer comprises a gripper member able to perform an alternating movement along the conveyor with which the gripper member is associated.

Abstract: A separating device wherein two belts with different friction coefficients present respective straight portions facing each other and converging at a contact portion. The belts are fed with a number of mail items which are wedged in the V-shaped opening defined by the straight portions and are fed singly through the contact portion by the higher friction coefficient belt and to the input of a follow-up conveyor belt system. The device comprises a barrier of sensors located between the contact portion and the input of the conveyor belt system, and which provide for determining the form and spacing of the mail items. The signal generated by the barrier of sensors is used for adjusting operation of the higher friction coefficient belt.

Abstract: A paper transport system includes an apparatus for controlling movement of the sheets along the predetermined course to provide sheet buffering. The apparatus includes first and second friction surfaces mounted for movement in orbital paths on opposite sides of the predetermined course in opposed relationship to define a nip through which the paper sheets pass. A selectively operable drive is provided for independently controlling the movement of the first and second friction surfaces, and the first friction surface has a coefficient of friction with the paper sheets which is greater than the coefficient of friction of the second surface with the paper sheets which is in turn greater than the coefficient of friction between the paper sheets.