Abstract: A device for diverting printed products is provided. The device includes a first rotating support having a first pad mounted thereon, a second rotating support having a second pad mounted thereon, a third rotating support having a third pad mounted thereon and a fourth rotating support having a fourth pad mounted thereon. The first pad has a different thickness than the second pad and the first and second rotating supports rotate together. The third pad has a different thickness than the fourth pad and the third and fourth rotating supports rotate together. A method for diverting printed products is also provided.

Abstract: A switchback unit has a switchback roller which receives a paper sheet conveyed in a first direction into a nip for forward rotation and backwardly rotates the paper sheet after stopping the paper sheet to feed the paper sheet to a second conveyance path. When the conveyance of the paper sheet stopped on the way to the switchback section is resumed, control is performed so that the switchback roller is forwardly rotated until a sensor detects the tip of the paper sheet, and then the switchback roller is stopped and backwardly rotated.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a gate, an actuator, a transmission, a pickup device, a reversing device, a paper feed device. The gate has a rack defined at one end of the gate and a resilient arm connecting to the outer portion of the rack. The resilient arm has a plurality of external teeth. The actuator has a pickup gear with a disc-shaped body, an external wheel connecting to the outside of the body and an external gear connecting to the outside of the external wheel. A receiving passage is defined through the pickup gear along the axis thereof. The receiving passage includes a holding hole at one side of the receiving passage that is near to the rack. The resilient arm is inserted into the receiving passage with the external teeth abutting against the inner surface of the holding hole.

Abstract: During the gathering process, an individual signature is respectively withdrawn from several collections of identical signatures, wherein the various decollated signatures are delivered to a collecting conveyor in order to form stacks.

Abstract: A feeder includes a feed unit and a re-feed unit. A feed unit feeds a recording medium (such as a sheet of paper) on a feed tray to a printer engine. A re-feed unit feeds the recording medium having passed through the printer engine again to the printer engine. A roller pair for paper feeding and another roller pair for paper re-feeding share one drive roller. That is, the drive roller and a driven roller constitute the former roller pair, whereas the drive roller and another driven roller constitute the latter roller pair, thereby enabling the downsizing of the feeder.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes first, second, third, and fourth paths for guiding movement of a document. The document is fed through the first path and a scanning module so as to allow for scanning of a first side surface of the document. Thereafter, a switching gate is pivoted to a first position so as to allow the document to be moved from a front section of the second path onto a roller unit via the fourth path and a rear section of the third path. The rotational direction of the middle roller is changed in response to movement of the document onto the roller unit so as to allow the document to be moved onto the first path via the third path, thereby allowing for a subsequent scanning operation on a second side surface of the document. The automatic document feeder further includes a document-inverting path such that documents are automatically arranged according to paper number.

Abstract: A sheet transportation device includes a transportation roller driven during operation, a guiding element and an actuation device that is used to switchably affect the interspacing between the transportation roller and the guiding element. In a closed state during operation, a sheet is guided against the driven roller by the guiding element. The sheet transportation device also includes a freely rotatably arranged roller that is positioned in the vicinity of and arranged concentrically relative to the transportation roller. The freely rotatably arranged roller extends in a radial direction beyond a circumferential edge of the transportation roller. A reversing station and a printer can also include a sheet transportation device of this kind.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance system has at least one driven conveying shaft, with a variable spacing of the driven conveying shaft from the sheet stack. The driven conveying shaft includes at least one sheet conveyor that acts on the sheet to be conveyed with a friction coating. A toothed wheel is fixedly disposed on the conveying shaft, whereby this toothed wheel is enclosed by an outer ring that supports the friction coating and has an inner toothing constantly meshes with the outer toothing. The partial circle diameter of the toothed wheel is smaller than the inner toothing. A transferred force acts on the outer ring such that it is placed with a contact force onto the sheet. A spacer maintains a fixed spacing between the axis of rotation of the toothed wheel and the axis of rotation of the outer ring.

Abstract: An offsetting device for use in a mail stacking system receiving a plurality of mailpieces at a receiving end for stacking the mailpieces along a line. The offsetting device has a nip to engage with the mailpieces, and a plurality of rollers to change the moving speed of the mailpiece so as to cause the aligning edge of the mailpiece to misalign with line so as to provide a break in a stack. Alternatively, the rollers can be used to align a mailpiece in relation to the line so as to true stacking.

Abstract: A modular flexible media handling apparatus includes an input module (28) through which flexible media enters the apparatus, at least one main path module (28, 30, 32, 34) through which flexible media passes along a main path (24), at least one lookaside module (36, 38) through which flexible media selectively passes along a lookaside path, and an output module (34) in which flexible media from the lookaside path and main path are merged.

Abstract: An improved sheet accumulator for stacking serially fed sheets transported on a paper path. The accumulator includes a guide deck. Above the guide deck, a plurality of parallel belts are positioned to provide a driving force for sheets on the deck. Within the accumulator, a ramp apparatus is positioned across the paper path whereby sheets driven by the belts on an upstream portion of the accumulator deck are driven over the ramp apparatus and deposited in an accumulating region of the accumulator deck on a downstream side of the ramp apparatus. Preferably, snap-down belts are provided between ramp structures snap transported sheets quickly into place on the stack and to hold them there. Sheets are stopped by an accumulator stop mechanism located at a downstream end of the accumulating region that prevents movement of sheets by the belts while sheets for an accumulation are being collected.

Abstract: A dual roll to move two separate media sheets simulatneously along a section of a media path. The dual roll includes a first path formed by a first nip, and a second path formed by a second nip. A drive roll forms a section of both nips. Methods of using the dual roll are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises rotating the drive roll to move a first sheet in a first direction and simultaneously moving a second sheet in a second direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting sheets from paper or other material that is form-retaining in its plane, having a transport track with a transport roller with a circumference, of which a circumferential section extending through an angular range of the circumference forms a bend from a first track portion to a second track portion. At least one sheet guide has a sheet guiding surface facing the circumferential section, which sheet guiding surface extends coaxially with at least a portion of the circumferential section. At least the sheet guiding surface or the circumferential section is yieldably supported for yieldably urging towards each other the sheet guiding surface and the circumferential section.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems and methods incorporate inverter assemblies for not only inverting media during transport through the system but also to register the media or provide a velocity buffer transports with different drive velocities. The inverter assemblies can include the capability to optionally deskew the media and provide lateral registration corrections. The inverter assembly nip rollers are sufficiently spaced from process drive nip rollers to decouple a document in the inverter assembly from the highway paths. The method comprises combining the inverting function selectively with either the registering or the velocity buffering functions.

Abstract: A modular flexible media handling apparatus includes an input module (28) through which flexible media enters the apparatus, at least one main path module (28, 30, 32, 34) through which flexible media passes along a main path (24), at least one lookaside module (36, 38) through which flexible media selectively passes along a lookaside path, and an output module (34) in which flexible media from the lookaside path and main path are merged.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a transport device for sheets, with which branching of the transport path can be implemented in a manner which is simple and not susceptible to faults. This object is achieved by a transport device which comprises a first belt transport unit and a second belt transport unit, the second belt transport unit being arranged transversely with respect to the first belt transport unit. Between the belts of the first belt transport unit and of the second belt transport unit, a transport path for valuable documents or bank notes is formed in each case. At the end of the transport path, the leading edge of a sheet which is transported along the transport path of the first belt transport unit strikes the upper transverse belt of the second belt transport unit and is deflected by the belt in such a way that it is now transported along the transport path of the second belt transport unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to reverse a sheet, includes a branched conveyance path branched from a connection point between an entry and conveyance path and a reversal and conveyance path provided downstream of the entry and conveyance path. When a sheet conveyor feeds the sheet from the entry and conveyance path into the reversal and conveyance path, a controller controls a gate member to be opened on the basis of a detection result of a sensor to detect the sheet until a leading edge of the sheet passes the gate member, switches the gate member to be closed before a trailing edge of the sheet reaches the gate member, subsequently switches a sheet reversing and conveying member to rotate reversely after the trailing edge of the sheet passes the gate member, thereby feeding the sheet into the branched conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking thereon a sheet, a sheet feeding portion for axially supporting a sheet feeding roller, and a spring portion actable on the sheet feeding portion. The spring portion acts on the sheet feeding portion so that the sheet feeding roller is pressed against the sheet with a pressing force when a sheet stacking amount is large and so that the pressing force is decreased by canceling moment created by a weight of the sheet feeding portion when the sheet stacking amount is small.

Abstract: A multifunction printed sheets interface system with plural sheet input areas for receiving printed sheets from plural printers, plural sheet outputs areas for plural outputs to different sheet processing systems, a sheet position sensing system, and a sheet transporting system providing selectable sheet translation from selected plural sheet input areas to selected plural sheet outputs areas so as to provide selectable sheet feeding from selected printers to selected sheet processing systems, and selectable sheet rotation of selected sheets and selectable sheet merging in a selected sheet sequence of sheets from plural printers. The sheet transporting system has a large planar area with a multiplicity of spaced apart independently operable variable sheet feeding direction and sheet velocity sheet transports, larger than the dimensions of any sheet to be fed thereon to allow simultaneous plural sheet variable transport thereon.

Abstract: In an enclosure-collating device, in particular for mail-processing installations, a shorter dimensioning of the enclosure-conveying compartments on a collating path in the direction of the enclosure conveying on said collating path is achieved in that enclosures are fed into the enclosure-conveying compartments obliquely with a movement component in the conveying direction of the enclosure-conveying arrangement by an oblique conveying device of a transfer device serving to feed the enclosures into the enclosure-conveying compartments.

Abstract: A media path control device has two sets of parallel arms with opposing rollers to manipulate the movement of print media. The arms are moveable in a substantially vertical plane through motors. The arms can be of different lengths to establish an optimal trajectory or height of the media to change the trajectory or travel path of the media. The rollers are reversible to change the trajectory or travel path of the media. Rotation of the arms may be stopped at various points along their travel arc to position the media at a desired or plane.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for receiving and manipulating the travel of a sheet material, such as paper, from a device such as an imaging device. One embodiment of a system can be implemented as a system for handling a sheet material including a flipper device that has a shaft for accelerating a sheet material, such as paper. The flipper device also has a drive system for causing the shaft to rotate. A drive system is also provided that has a direct current motor configured to drive the shaft.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates includes moving the printing plates from a first process station to a second station by a printing plate holder. The process stations are all arranged on a cylinder circumferential surface around a mid-axis, and it is possible for all to be opened out by the printing plate holder in the same way as with a distributor for the purpose of input or output. An apparatus for handling printing plates has a printing plate holder containing at least two mutually parallel, intercoupled holding decks for printing plates which can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation. The holder is located in the vicinity of the process stations and is suitable for transporting a printing plate from a first process station to a second station. Therefore, different types of printing plate can be handled manually, automatically or partly automatically in a less complex structure.

Abstract: For converting a stream of flat articles from transverse conveyance to parallel conveyance, two continuously operated conveyors are provided, a transverse conveyor having a direction (FQ) of transverse conveyance and serving as supplying conveyor and a parallel conveyor having a direction (FP) of parallel conveyance and serving as removing conveyor. The direction (FQ) of transverse conveyance and the direction (FP) of parallel conveyance encompass an angle. The articles are pushed one after the other out of an outlet of the supplying conveyor towards an entrance of the removing conveyor. Before a trailing zone of the article has left the supplying conveyor, a leading zone of the article is grasped by an alignment device and is conveyed onwards with the speed of the parallel conveyor in the direction (FP) of parallel conveyance and is thereby aligned to the entrance of the removing conveyor, while the trailing zone is bent between the alignment device and the outlet of the supplying conveyor.

Abstract: An improved sheet accumulator for stacking serially fed sheets transported on a paper path. The accumulator includes a guide deck. Above the guide deck, a plurality of parallel belts are positioned to provide a driving force for sheets on the deck. Within the accumulator, a ramp apparatus is positioned across the paper path whereby sheets driven by the belts on an upstream portion of the accumulator deck are driven over the ramp apparatus and deposited in an accumulating region of the accumulator deck on a downstream side of the ramp apparatus. Preferably, snap-down belts are provided between ramp structures snap transported sheets quickly into place on the stack and to hold them there. Sheets are stopped by an accumulator stop mechanism located at a downstream end of the accumulating region that prevents movement of sheets by the belts while sheets for an accumulation are being collected.

Abstract: A media transport array for forming sequential media streams feeding a media processing system in which serial flows, parallel flows, or both are desired are structured from standard, batch fabricatable media path modules. Each media path module includes a frame unit, intermodule latching means, media control electronics, and media state sensing electronics. Within each media path module, at least one media transport nip receives media and passes it to an independently actuated media director. Media guides support media as it moves into and out of the media director.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a stream of sheet-like products, such as printed magazines and newspapers, whereby the orientation of the products in the stream is changed to facilitate subsequent processing. The products are conveyed in an imbricated stream, or in a non-imbricated stream, and sections of adjacent products are combined into stacks which are conveyed away from the trailing products once the stacks are formed. The stacks are then further processed so that the products in each stack are disposed in a reverse order in relation to their original order, i.e. last in/first out.

Abstract: A drop pocket system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by horizontally receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles, sensing reception of each flat article, engaging each sensed flat article, accelerating each engaged flat article into substantially downward movement, and conveying each flat article with the downward movement into a substantially horizontal orientation and movement.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a double side printing function, paper on which printing has been completed is prevented from being caught between paper ejection rollers.

Abstract: A supply stream (1) of flat articles (8), in particular of printed products that are conveyed hanging and held by grippers, is transformed into an imbricated stream (2, 3, 4, 5) or into sections of an imbricated stream, in which the articles are arranged in one of two or advantageously four possible ways. For the stream transformation, the articles (8) are selectively deposited on a conveying surface at a first or at a second depositing point (I, II). The articles (8) deposited at the first depositing point (I) or to be deposited at the first depositing point (I) are additionally rotated by 180° (after or before deposition) and the held article edges are, advantageously selectively, leading or trailing on deposition. The selective stream transformation and switching between transformation modes (A, B/B?, C or D/D?) are very simple.

Abstract: A duplex check printer includes an upper document path, a print head at one side of the upper document path, and a lower document path having a loop to invert a check so that information can be printed on both sides of the check. The check is driven within the upper document path by feed rolls, which are reversed when the check is driven from the upper document path to the lower document path. The check is driven within the lower document path by belts, which are in turn driven by a separate motor.

Abstract: A sheet re-feeding path (32) is disposed substantially horizontally at a location below a fixing unit (14) and an image forming unit. At a location below the sheet re-feeding path (32), sheet decks (3, 4) are disposed horizontally along a sheet conveying direction in the sheet re-feeding path (32). Also, a drawing path (37) for switchbacking the sheet is disposed substantially horizontally between the sheet re-feeding path (32) and the sheet decks (3, 4). A sheet feeding path (7) for feeding the sheet from the sheet deck (3) disposed at an upstream side crosses the drawing path (37) to join to the sheet re-feeding path (32). Accordingly, a space, which is occupied by component parts or devices related to the conveyance of the sheet, can be made compact, whereby sheet capacity can be increased.

Abstract: A combination automatic document feeder and scanner operates so as to detect automatically an over-sized sheet of media. A linear image sensor detects motion of the oversized document as it is being fed into the scanner in a portrait orientation. A control algorithm responsive to the image sensor functions so those first and second portions of the over-sized sheet are successively registered over the transparent platen of the scanner and scanned.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for stacking mailpieces received from a mail-processing machine in consecutive order. There is a receiving conveying section positioned at a greater height than the following stacking conveying section. A stacking ramp extends from the downstream portion of the stacking conveying section. The receiving conveying section has a single continuous belt extending along the receiving conveying section in a first direction and positioned centrally along a second direction of the conveying section. The continuous belts of the stacking conveying section are positioned substantially at equal intervals extending along the first direction of the stacking conveying section and have top surfaces which extend above the stacking conveying section and which contact the mailpieces received from the mail processing machine.

Abstract: A method of and a device for controlling the orientation and the alignment of individual sheets of paper travelling on a sheet conveyor are provided. Each sheet passes over a pair of closely spaced rotating disks inserted between upstream and downstream sheet conveyor sections. Each sheet is locally engaged with each disk in a limited contact area. The contact areas between the sheet and each disk are varied so as to achieve a target orientation or alignment of the sheet.

Abstract: A drop pocket system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by horizontally receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles, sensing reception of each flat article, engaging each sensed flat article, accelerating each engaged flat article into substantially downward movement, and conveying each flat article with the downward movement into a substantially horizontal orientation and movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a printing plate to an external drum platesetter includes: a plate traversing table for displacing a printing plate into a staging position; and a plate angling table, nested within the plate traversing table, for rotating the printing plate between the staging position and a loading position. The plate traversing table includes: a first shaft; a second driven shaft including a plurality of nip rollers; a plurality of pulleys mounted to the first and second shafts; a plurality of rotatable belts, extending between corresponding sets of the pulleys on the first and second shafts; and a drive system for rotating the driven shaft.

Abstract: In an apparatus where a printer module outputs print sheets into a finisher module, such as for stapling, a sheet buffer is used to withhold two or more sheets between the printer module and the finisher module so that the finisher module can complete a finishing operation. The withheld sheets are output from the buffer in overlapping fashion when the finisher is ready to accept them. The buffer can be under the control of the printer module or the finisher module.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a conveyance guide for guiding a sheet conveyed from a photosensitive drum and a transfer roller of a transfer portion to a pressurizing roller and a fixing roller of a fixing device, and the conveyance guide has a second guide surface and a third guide surface, the bending point of the guide surfaces being situated above the intersection of the nip plane of the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller and the nip plane of the pressurizing roller and the fixing roller and in a region on the side opposite to the direction in which the sheet is separated from the conveyance guide with respect to the nip planes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus reverses a sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed in an image forming section, transports the sheet back to the image forming section, and forms an image on the other side of the sheet, the apparatus has an inlet feed path for transporting a sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed; a switchback path for withdrawing the sheet transported from the inlet feed path; a plurality of reverse feed paths branching from the switchback path at plural positions, each of the reverse feed paths transporting a sheet while reversing the sheet; and a re-feed path for transporting the reversed sheet from any of the reverse feed paths back to the image forming section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet material conveying apparatus comprising first conveying means for conveying a sheet, material second conveying means for conveying, on a downstream side in a sheet material conveyance direction of the first conveying means, the sheet material and a plurality of guide members for forming a curving conveyance route located between the first conveying means and the second conveying means. The guide member forms the curving conveyance route located on an inner side among the guide members is a rotary body rotatably, which is arranged with no pressing member for pressing the sheet material to the rotary body.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of aligning sheets of printed materials, of the type that aligns sheets of printed materials for a desired output, for example, from a finishing device. According one aspect of the invention, an alignment device is provided configured as a separate, replaceable unit. According to a further aspect of the invention, an alignment device and process are provided wherein a sheet is inverted about one or both axes.

Abstract: A card processing apparatus allows for a more compact apparatus that does not cause a reduction in card transporting and printing processing capacity, but improves the freedom of design as an apparatus by establishing a plurality of processing units such as a printer and coating unit in a rational manner.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for accumulating sheet stacks from a continuous web having sheets printed both in side-by-side relationship and with the sheets behind each other. Slitting the continuous web lengthwise between said side-by-side sheet and cutting the web transversely between the sheets behind each other sheets to separate the printed sheets. Accumulating the printed sheets into separate stacks and stacking the separate stacks one on top of the other in offset relationship to each other and moving the offset stacks into a receptacle, such as a cassette.

Abstract: A device is provided for diverting an imbricated flow of printed products that is transported on a roller table having a plurality of rollers arranged one behind the other. The device comprises an elongated adjustment member whose position can be varied within a sliding plane extending in parallel to a transportation plane defined by the rollers. The device further comprises a plurality of guide elements for guiding the imbricated flow. The guide elements extend into clearances formed between every two rollers and are received on the adjustment member for rotation relative to the adjustment member in a direction perpendicular to the sliding plane and for sliding movement in lengthwise direction of the adjustment member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for duplex printing of print sheets are described. In one aspect, a duplex module is configured so that print sheets may be controllably and reliably re-introduced into a print module in an orientation that is suitable for marking the second side of the print sheet without requiring a support structure that spans the entire width of the print sheet. In large format printing applications, this feature avoids large and heavy support structures, such as feed rollers, that otherwise would be needed to support the print sheets, as well as their own weight. In this way, a printing apparatus may provide duplex printing functionality with a structure that has a relatively light weight and a relatively small overall footprint.

Abstract: An apparatus, and corresponding method, for accumulating and directionally reorienting the movement of a stack of sheets after first folding the stack, each sheet of the stack being fed from a feed conveyor along a feed path. The apparatus includes a turnplate, for receiving each of a series of sheets which are there accumulated into a stack of sheets. Stops protrude from a sheet-receiving surface of the turnplate, which holds the stack of sheets edge aligned against the stops.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing the orientation, height and direction of envelopes conveyed in an inserter system. The invention reorienting horizontally transported envelopes to a vertical position. The envelopes then being transported around a turning arrangement comprised of a length of driven belt urged against a large diameter idler wheel. A turning guide serves to aid the envelopes through the turning arrangement. A ramp module comprised of nips having toroidal outer circumferences elevate the vertical envelopes. The envelopes finally are turned 180 degrees to be sorted into sorting bins. The overall arrangement of the invention results in an output sub-system of an inserter system with a shortened footprint and ergonomically desirable layout. Also, features of the invention provide that envelopes avoid damage and jamming and that recently closed envelope flaps do not inadvertently open.

Abstract: A conveying-in stream in which flat articles (4) are conveyed held gripped individually is transformed into a conveying-away stream in which the articles (4) are loosely lying overlapping one another in an imbricated manner and in alternating groups oriented rotated relative to each other. The conveying-in track intersects with the conveying away track at two track intersections (A and B) and the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first track intersection (A) or at the second track intersection (B). In the conveying-away stream, the articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (1A/1B) with each section including one or two groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) of articles (4) and being separated from neighboring sections by a stream gap (22).

Abstract: In a sheet finisher having a stacker for sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus and a stapler for stacked sheets, the sheet finisher further has a conveying timing adjustment section arranged upstream of the stacker including: a conveying-in section for a sheet from the image forming apparatus; a conveying-out section separately provided from the conveying-in section; and a reversal conveying section for reversing a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed in one direction from the conveying-in section and for conveying-out from the conveying-out section. A controller controls the reversal conveying section such that at least a second bundle or a bundle after the second bundle of sheet bundles to be stapled by the stapler, in which a plurality of sheets having at least a top sheet and a succeeding sheet to the top sheet are overlapped each other, is conveyed-out from the reversal conveying section.