Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a pneumatic picker for picking the top sheet from a stack of sheets, and a flipper for inverting upside-down sheets. The picker has a row of suction cups, supplied with vacuum through hoses, for picking up the top sheet. The lip of each suction cup is inclined to the top surface of the stack at a fixed angle. If the angle is properly chosen, exactly one sheet will be picked up as the picker is moved onto and away from the stack. The inclined suction cups are for permeable materials such as cloth. The picked sheet may be inverted by a twisted-belt flipper if needed. The flipper has four rollers with axes in a rectangular configuration, and two twisted belts. Each belt is wrapped around a pair of rollers on opposite corners of the rectangle, and the belts run closely in between the far pairs. A sheet will be flipped as it travels through, held between the two belts. To select which sheets are to be flipped, a photocell and gate work to direct sheets into or around the flipper.

Abstract: A document imaging system for the imaging at a selected first or second imaging station of document sheets to be reproduced, including a pivotably mounted liftable automatic document handler with an integral input tray for the documents sheets, and a normally closely underlying output stacking tray into which the document sheets are ejected by the automatic document handler after imaging at the first imaging station for controlled stacking and retrieval, the second imaging station having a large imaging platen for the manual placement thereon of document sheets to be scanned, and a large manual platen cover normally overlying the large imaging platen, and pivotably mounted to be liftable for the manual placement of document sheets on the large imaging platen; wherein the output stacking tray of the automatic document handler is integrally formed in the upper surfaces of the large manual platen cover and not mounted to the automatic document handler, and the automatic document handler is liftable independently

Abstract: A controller of a facsimile machine controls a duplex document feeder (DDF) so that both sides of duplex pages are read by the scanner in the proper order and the data read from the duplex documents is sent by the facsimile machine in the proper order. The controller of the facsimile machine further controls the DDF so that jammed pages are read in the proper order by the scanner during the recovery mode and the data read therefrom is properly sent by the facsimile machine in the case of a jam occurrence. The controller of the facsimile machine further controls the DDF so that a back side of the covering letter is not read by the scanner in the duplex document mode. An image data converter converts the data of the image read from every other page so that the direction of the image of all of the facsimile copies received by the recipient is the same.

Abstract: An active stack height sensing mechanism that operates through a cam off a disc stacker which performs one cycle per sheet stacked. After a sheet is stacked, a stack height clamp contacts the stack and stops. If the stack height is too low or within a predetermined range, a flag attached to the clamp will block a light beam path between an emitter and receiver and trip the stack height sensor. If the stack height is too high, the stack height sensor will not be made indicating that the stacker should be indexed down.

Abstract: A timer starts when a first sensor detecting "close" of a switching cover and a second sensor detecting "open" of the switching cover are both OFF at the start of a read out operation. When one of said first and second sensors is turned on before the timer expires, an error is not displayed and the flow proceeds to a subsequent process. When first and second sensors are still OFF when the timer expires, an error is displayed indicating that the switching cover is in a defective open state.

Abstract: A catch type sheet tray for accommodating sheets sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus by catching the leading edges of the sheets. The tray has a transport unit for transporting the sheet driven out through the outlet downward. A holder receives the sheet conveyed by the transport unit by catching the leading edge of the sheet while causing the trailing edge of the sheet to hand down to the outside. A mounting section mounts the transport unit on a portion of the apparatus from which the horizontal tray has been removed. The catch type tray is mounted on the apparatus in place of the horizontal tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking, registering and attaching one or multiple sets of electrophotographic printing machine output. The copy sheets are discharged from the machine and fall into an inclined compiling tray and are longitudinally registered by flexible, endless belts contacting the top surface of each sheet. The belts are restrained from deforming and walking along the top of the stack by an idler member allowing greater stack capacity in the tray. Each sheet is then laterally shifted by a tamping mechanism to laterally register the sheet. Once a complete set of sheets has been discharged and fully registered the sheets of the stack are then attached by a stapler or some other sheet fastening or binding device and the stock is discharged from the compiling tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus; a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for out-sorting envelopes rejected in accordance with the determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.

Abstract: A method for eliminating a paper jam from an image forming system is disclosed. The image forming system includes: an engine driving motor, register rollers for arranging paper received from a paper cassette, a register roller clutch for enabling and disabling transmission of rotational power from the engine driving motor to the register rollers, and fixing rollers for securing toner onto a surface of the paper and then delivering the paper to an exterior of the system. The paper jam elimination method includes the steps of: determining whether a paper jam has occurred, displaying an indication of the paper jam upon its detection, determining whether a paper jam elimination mode is activated, engaging register roller clutch upon activation of the paper jam elimination mode, and then activating engine driving motor to thereby deliver jammed paper to an exterior of the image forming system.

Abstract: A paper feeding device is usable in an image forming apparatus, and is provided with a paper supplier for supplying a copy paper sheet and a paper inverting portion for inverting the supplied copy paper sheet. The inverting portion has an inner guide surface curved substantially in C-shape. This paper feeding device is simple in construction and assure smooth paper inverting.

Abstract: In order to avoid ergonomic problems such as carpel tunnel syndrome while improving productivity, an apparatus for feeding signatures to a patent bound binding line is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pocket adjacent a binding line for receiving signatures to be delivered to the binding line. It also includes a signature feeder for feeding signatures from a source in a generally vertical direction to a signature receiving and transferring mechanism. The signature receiving and transferring mechanism has a signature receiving end positioned in generally vertically spaced relation to the source and a signature transferring end positioned generally adjacent to the pocket. The signature receiving and transferring mechanism has a signature conveyor for conveying signatures in a continuous stream from the signature receiving end to the signature transferring end for delivery into the pocket.

Abstract: A full productivity, high performance inverter apparatus includes a sheet input nip, a sheet output nip, a reversing roll nip downstream of the input and output nips, and adjustable interleaving baffles for guiding sheets of a wide variety of lengths between the input nip, output nip, and the reversing nip.

Abstract: A gateless rocker inverter for reversing the lead and trail edges of a sheet includes two idler roll and drive roll nip pairs with the drive rolls continuously rotating in opposite directions. The idler rolls are attached to two ends of a coupler of a four-bar linkage which opens and closes the nips in sequence, first to drive the sheet forward and subsequently to drive the sheet in a reverse direction out of the inverter for duplexing purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing an orientation of flat items includes a first conveyor driven with a first speed; a second conveyor adjoining the first conveyor such that items discharged by the first conveyor are introduced into the second conveyor; a third conveyor driven with a second speed and adjoining the second conveyor such that items discharged by the second conveyor are introduced into the third conveyor; a sensor for determining a moment when a trailing edge of an item leaves the first conveyor; and a control arrangement connected to the sensor and the second conveyor for driving the second conveyor with the first speed as an item enters the second conveyor from the first conveyor, for decelerating the second conveyor when the sensor determines the moment when a trailing item edge passes by, for reversing a direction of motion of the second conveyor after deceleration and for accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed as an item enters the third conveyor from the second conveyor.

Abstract: A full productivity, tri-roll inverter for reversing the lead and trail edges of a sheet includes an input nip and an output nip positioned to feed sheets at a machine's process speed into and out of a chute and a reversing roll nip positioned in a predetermined position along the chute closely adjacent to but downstream of the input and output nips and adapted to open and allow a sheet to be driven into the chute by the input nip and closed to drive a sheet into the output nip. After a first sheet is captured by the output nip, the reversing roll nip is opened and a second sheet is driven into the chute by the input nip while the first sheet is simultaneously being pulled out of the chute by the output nip.

Abstract: An inverter for turning a sheet over and reversing the lead and trail edges of the sheet includes a disc stacker that works in conjunction with a vacuum transport. A sheet transported from a source is captured lead edge first by fingers or in a slot of the disc stacker which is rotating in a first direction. A vacuum transport is positioned adjacent the disc stacker and draws the sheet away from the disc stacker at a predetermined point and transports the sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction trail edge first for further processing.

Abstract: A paper strip conveying and stacking apparatus including a receiving unit for receiving loaded paper strips and for discharging them, a conveying unit for conveying the paper strips discharged from said receiving unit and a stacking unit for sorting and stacking the conveyed paper strips is characterized in that said conveying unit includes a main conveying unit having a normal passage through which paper strips pass with given sides facing upwards and reach one end side of said stacking unit and a subsidiary conveying unit having a reversing passage for passing the paper strips introduced from said normal passage around the outer periphery of said stacking unit and for conveying them to the other end side of said stacking unit after reversing the upward facing sides of the paper strips, a device for detecting the faces of the paper strip being provided at a position along the length of said normal passage, and a passage switching mechanism for introducing the paper strips passing through the normal passage t

Abstract: The interface according to the invention for printed products conveyed in imbricated formation is used between an imbricated stream-delivering apparatus and an imbricated stream-receiving apparatus. The object of the interface is to change the stream parameters of the input stream (S.sub.i) in such a way that an output stream (S.sub.o) which meets the requirements of the downstream imbricated stream-receiving apparatus is produced from it. The interface has an input (I) for an input stream (S.sub.i) and an output (O) for an output stream (S.sub.o) and, between input and output, a serial arrangement of functional elements (UE, PE, RE). The interface has at least one deflecting element (UE) and at least one other functional element (PE, RE) and the serial arrangement is such that a deflecting element (UE) is always interposed between two other functional elements (PE, RE).

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: Groups of differently printed advertising inserts are collated into stacks of at least two inserts each, and the stacks are advanced along a main predetermined path for feeding to a host machine having continuously moving pockets which contain newspaper jackets and which receive the collated stacks of inserts in order to marry the inserts and the jackets. Initially, at least two relatively tall stacked bundles of inserts are located above and are spaced laterally from the main path. Inserts are stripped from the tall bundles, are advanced laterally toward the main path and are stacked in two relatively short queues located above and spaced along the path. A first vacuum belt strips inserts from the upstream queue and advances such inserts in an upstream direction as a running shingle, which then reverses directions and proceeds downstream. As an incident thereto, successive leading inserts are stripped from the shingle and are advanced in spaced relation along the main path toward the host machine.

Abstract: A low cost, compact inverter for inverting sheets uses the existing paper path to invert a sheet. A sheet is inverted by being deflected into a channel formed between a turnaround roller and a baffle. The sheet is driven by the turnaround roller back into the original paper path in a direction opposite to the incoming direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system as provided for use in a buckle-type sheet folding apparatus which has sheet-receiving chutes and rollers for folding a sheet. The system includes a frame in which the sheet-receiving chutes are disposed and in which two of the rollers are rotatably mounted in parallel adjacent the chutes. A roller holder is removably mounted in the frame. An entrance roller and a coacting main roller are rotatably mounted in the holder parallel to the two rollers to define an intake nip.

Abstract: A sheet inverter generally of the type having a chute for receiving a moving sheet fed in through an input nip and out through an output nip includes an edge engaging stop which is resilient or movable to push the sheet into the output nip. The chute is defined by a pair of paper guides that are curved at one end to bend the leading edge of the sheet into a crosstrack curve that improves its beam strength while the trailing edge is not curved in the crosstrack direction, allowing it to be easily fed into the output nip.

Abstract: A paper inverter system includes a clutch driven inverter nip for maintaining a positive bi-directional contact with the sheet. The apparatus includes a pair of opposing rollers defining a nip therebetween and a shaft connected to at least one of the pair of opposing rollers. A spring is held stationary on a first end and is connected to the shaft on the other end for resisting the rotation of the shaft with a spring force. The clutch responsive to a control signal, selectively couples the shaft to a drive system against the spring force in a first rotational direction and decouples the shaft from the drive system for rotation in a second and opposite direction with the spring force. In another embodiment a clutch operates a planetary gear system to be bi-directionally control the nip.

Abstract: A low cost, compact inverter for reversing the lead and trail edges of a sheet. The inverter includes a reversible roller of about 2" in diameter onto which a sheet is scrolled and subsequently unscrolled, thereby reversing the lead and trail edges of the sheet.

Abstract: Sheets or sets of sheets are turned very rapidly and reliably, especially after the cutting of endless stationery, conveyed further in a different transport direction and separated in that the leading edge of each sheet is taken to a diagonal bending slot (33) via which a corner of each sheet first reaches an output slot (49).

Abstract: Positions of mobile guiding plates 54 and 62 are changed over by manipulation, by operation of a panel of a controller or by a signal from a sensor for detecting a stiffness of an original. When the mobile guiding plates 54 and 62 are rotated to locations for guiding the original towards the front of the scanner proper 2 or the back of an original carrying passage of the scanner proper 2, the original carried to the back of the scanner proper 2 runs onto the mobile guiding plates 54 and 62, and makes a U-turn by being guided and discharged to the front of the scanner proper 2. When the mobile guiding plates 54 and 62 are rotated from the guiding position to another position, the original which is carried to the back of the scanner proper 2 is discharged as it is to the back of the scanner proper 2 without changing direction.

Abstract: In an automatic document conveying device, when a two-sided copying mode is selected, a document with a two-sided image is fed by a sheet feeder from a first stacker. After reading of a first face of the document is completed and before reading of a second face of the document, which is reversed by a reversing device is completed, a succeeding document is conveyed to a waiting position located upstream of the reading position and is stopped. After reading of the second face of the preceding document is completed, the document is conveyed to a discharger provided downstream of the reading position for discharging the document to a second stacker, keeping downward the image side which has been exposed, and at the same time the succeeding document is conveyed to the reading position and is read. Before reading of a second face of the succeeding document is completed, a subsequent document is conveyed to the waiting position.

Abstract: Disclosed are a single-side image forming device with a sheet inverting unit attached thereto for image forming on the reverse side of a sheet, and a double-side image forming apparatus that employs such a sheet inverting unit. The sheet inverting unit is detachable from an image forming apparatus, which has a sheet cassette; an image forming mechanism; a stacker; and a feeding path along which the sheet supplied from the sheet cassette is conveyed first to the image forming mechanism and then to the stacker. The sheet inverting unit comprises a switching lever for selectively guiding the image bearing sheet either toward the stacker or upward of the image forming device; switchback rollers for feeding the sheet guided upward by the switching lever and then inversely feeding the sheet; a guide path, which extends from the switchback rollers to a terminus in the vicinity of an inserting port of the image forming device; and feeding rollers provided along the guide path.

Abstract: A printer capable of producing simplex and duplex copies includes a tri-roller inverter that employs a passive deflector gate downstream from input and output nips of the tri-roller inverter. A sheet driven by the input nip into a reversing chute of the inverter deflects the passive deflector gate to an open position that allows the sheet to enter the inversion chute and after the sheet is past the gate it returns to close deposition, thus allowing the sheet to be driven past it in reverse by a reversing roller. Once the lead edge of the reversed sheet passes the passive deflector gate, a second sheet enters the input nip resulting in two sheets being in the inverter at the same time.

Abstract: In a copier or printer producing a sequential stream of printed copy sheets with a limited space and time therebetween, and with compiling and finishing of those output sheets into plural collated finished sets on-line while subsequent sheets are being printed, an exit sheet feeder normally feeding copy sheets downstream to said compiler tray is selectably intermittently reversed to feed upstream the first copy sheet for the next set to be finished into an upstream diverter chute branching off from the regular sheet output path, assisted by a diverter gate there.

Abstract: A method for transforming a scale flow of printed products into a delivery flow of printed products in forced formation, typically a delivery flow in which each printed product is guided by a gripper, essentially comprises four method steps, namely a first deflection or reversal (1) through which a scale flow (B) with downwardly directed leading printed product edges is formed; a timing step (2) in which the spacings between the printed products are made uniform, increased; decreased and/or differentiated, a second deflection or reversal (3) in which a scale flow (D) with upwardly directed leading edges is produced; and an acceptance (4) in which the printed products are individually or groupwise taken over by grippers. The first and/or second deflection or reversal can be omitted. The apparatus for performing the method essentially comprises a supply belt conveyor (5) and a conveying away means (6), between which are arranged a timing element (21) and at least one intermediate belt conveyor.

Abstract: A combined system of an image processing machine (e.g., a copying machine) and a sheet handling machine. They are placed with an image reading part (e.g., a glass plate of the copying machine) therebetween. In the combined system, one-sided or two-sided original sheets and processed sheets are orderly stacked on respective final tray after they are finished processing if the original sheets are stacked orderly in the initial tray, i.e., the original sheets are laid on the final tray with the order of the page numbers maintained from the order at the initial tray, and the processed sheets are also stacked on the finish tray with the same order. In a simple mode: the original sheet is placed on the image reading part, processed (copied), reversed and ejected to a first final tray, while the process sheet (copy sheet) is processed and ejected onto the finish tray without reversing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming device, a supplying path for supplying a sheet to the image forming device, a conveying path for conveying the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming device means, and a re-feeding path branched from the conveying path and adapted to direct the sheet to the image forming device again. The image forming apparatus also has a both-surface frame including the re-feeding path and removably mounted on a body of the apparatus, and a reversing unit including a longitudinal substantially vertical path connecting the conveying path to the re-feeding path and pivotally mounted on the both-surface frame.

Abstract: A sheet-inverting mechanism for use in a high-speed copier or printer includes a sheet containment chamber, a drive shaft rotatable in a forward direction, and a sheet-moving driven shaft assembly for moving sheets into and out of the chamber. The mechanism also includes a belt and pulley assembly mounted to one end of the drive shaft for selectively rotating the driven shaft assembly in a first forward direction for moving a sheet in that first direction into the chamber, and a meshing gear assembly mounted to the other end of the drive shaft for selectively rotating the driven shaft assembly in a second and reverse direction opposite to the first forward direction for quickly moving the sheet reversibly in that second direction and out of the chamber.

Abstract: A tri-roll inverter for use in machines requiring copy sheet inversion for collated copy set output includes input and output nips. All sheets entering the input nip of the inverter are corrugated by a corrugation system as they enter a spring loaded inversion channel. The corrugation system includes an idler roll, a steel driver roll, and two plastic driver rolls on opposite sides of the steel driver roll. The spring and corrugation system urge the sheets back out of the inversion channel into engagement with the output nip for feeding back into a machine for further processing. The plastic rolls enable each sheet to reach zero velocity quickly and invert at a fast rate without stalling or jamming.

Abstract: Sheet stacking utilizing an orbital nip system by initially orbiting the nip with the sheet in the nip until the nip angle is aimed well up on the registration stacking wall above the stacking tray and adjacent the desired maximum stack height even if the tray is empty; feeding the sheet in this initial nip position out towards the wall at a preset nip feeding velocity without substantially orbiting the nip; then, when the edge of the sheet is within approximately 10 millimeters of the registration stacking wall, starting to orbit the nip with the sheet in the nip, away from the wall and downwardly at an orbiting angular velocity which is substantially slower (0.4 to 0.

Abstract: The invention provides an article flipper comprising a first turnover member mounted to a conveyor frame member for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said frame member, a slot in the turnover member for receiving a side edge of sheets, a stop for arresting sheets with a leading portion of the side edges in the slot, and a rotator for rotating the first turnover member through about 180 degrees. The article flipper may include a second turnover member having a detent or being movable to clamp sheets between it and the first turnover member, or may include a rack and pinion. A belt tensioner which may be used with the article flipper is also provided and comprises a tensioning wheel for engaging the belt, a moveable block including a shaft for mounting the tensioning wheel, and a wedge for urging the block toward the belt.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing machine having printing units for processing sheets with single-side multicolor or first form and perfector printing, a feeder for feeding the sheets to the printing units, and a preceding sheet processing unit located upstream of the printing units as viewed in sheet-feeding direction in the printing machine, also has a work and tumble device including a sheet turning device disposed in the sheet-feeding direction between the preceding sheet processing unit and the printing units for the first form and perfector printing.

Abstract: A suspendable or hanging sheet receiving bin for a printer or plotter which includes a front wall, a back wall, and a bottom wall, all joined together in a bar or wire grid network to define a sheet receiving region. The sheet receiving region has a length dimension, a width dimension, and a depth dimension all defining at one end of the bin an opening for receiving paper fed from the output of the printer or plotter. The front wall of the bin includes a plurality of U-shaped or hook-shaped members having upwardly faced convex surfaces for receiving stacked sheets of paper falling into the opening of the bin and for enabling the sheets to be stacked uniformly and readily accessible to an operator for removal from the bin after the completion of the printing or plotting operation. Advantageously, the bin is provided with an adjustable tray or lever member which may be positioned at different locations along the depth dimension of the bin for receiving different length sheets from the plotter or printer.

Abstract: A hole masking apparatus for use in the manufacture of a printed wiring board is disclosed. The apparatus comprises first and second positioning sections provided on a conveying path of a base material at a distance apart for stopping the positioning of the base material having a plurality of through holes at respective given position; a masking device provided to respective positioning sections and having a head to paste a seal while supplying and for pasting the seal on through holes by moving the head in such a manner that the head is positioned on through holes which do not require a plugging up thereof; and a reversing section arranged between the first and the second positioning sections and for reversing face and back of the base material on the conveying path thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus disposed in a printer for turning over printed papers, which is capable of guiding printed papers to move toward a first paper receiving tray or a second paper receiving tray so as to pile the printed papers thereon with face down or face up. The apparatus includes a shaft disposed within the printer which is capable of being pivotally rotated around its longitudinal axis; a guiding means fixed on the shaft, having a first guide surface for guiding printed papers to move toward the first paper receiving tray and a second guide surface for guiding printed papers to move toward the second paper receiving tray, the first and second guide surfaces are disposed in such a way that only one of the first and second guide surfaces, in one time, is guided to face printed papers when the shaft is pivotally rotated around its longitudinal axis; and a crank capable of being urged by the first paper receiving tray.

Abstract: A two-sided printing apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit, an image printing unit, a sheet ejecting unit, and a sheet refeeding unit for refeeding a sheet having a first surface on which images have been printed to the image printing unit in order to print images on a second surface of the sheet. The sheet refeeding unit includes a base, an inclined frame rotatably fastened to the base, a first guide member facing the inclined frame, and a second guide member facing the base. The sheet moves downwards between the inclined frame and the first guide member and then moves between the base and the second guide member. The first guide member is rotatably supported so that the first guide member is raised and the inclined frame is lowered, a first space is formed between the lowered inclined frame and the raised first guide member. The second guide member is rotatably supported so that the second guide member is raised, a space is formed between the base and the second raised guide member.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF) for use with an image forming apparatus and freeing the operator from extra work associated with documents discharged after illumination. When the operator intentionally stacks the first page to the last page of documents in this order and sets them on an ADF table face down due to a copy discharge mode which requires the ADF to discharge the last page to the first page in this order face up, the ADF reverses the documents before discharging them. Hence, despite that the ADF discharges the documents from the last page to the first page, it successfully stacks the documents in order of page by turning them over.

Abstract: An original image reading device includes an original mount, a feeder for separating and feeding originals on the original mount, a first feed path for guiding each separated and fed original to a reading position, and an inlet for introducing the original discharged from the reading position. A second feed path having a joining portion to join the first feed path guides the original introduced from the inlet to the joining portion while reversing the surface of the original. An original density detection sensor is provided between the joining portion and the reading position in the first feed path.

Abstract: A plural mode system of transporting sheets in an output path of a copier or printer to a sheet stacking area, with selectable sheet inversion provided by opposing first and second sheet feeding rollers forming a sheet transporting nip engaging the leading edge of a sheet, by a relative orbital motion of the opposing rollers to progressively pivot the nip and thereby change the angular direction of motion of the leading edge of the sheet. A selection between faceup and facedown stacking of the sheets is provided by selectable orbital motion of the nip. The sheet is inverted for stacking by orbital motions pivoting the nip by greater than 90 degrees with the sheet's leading edge held in the nip, so that subsequently the leading edge of the sheet is moving in a direction substantially different from the direction of motion of the leading edge when the leading edge first entered the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously inverting a carton blank and folding end flaps thereon includes a system of endless belts, nip rollers, and inversion guides. A blank passes between a first nip assembly and the belts to be fed upwardly between a pair of guides, and withdrawn downwardly and fed out again inverted second nip assembly cooperating with the belts. Flap folders fold flaps on the blank during the operation.

Abstract: A document fed from a document loading tray is first transported into one branch transport path for invention of the transporting direction thereof, and then is guided through the other branch transport path and transported on to a document scanning area. In this process, when the trailing edge of the inverted document has passed the branching point between the two transport paths, the feeding of a succeeding document toward said one transport path is initiated. Also, when the trailing edge of the inverted preceding document has passed the branching point, the transportation of the preceding document is temporarily stopped, during which time the transporting direction of the succeeding document is inverted. This allows the succeeding document to be brought close to the preceding document. At this time also, the feeding of a further succeeding document may be initiated.

Abstract: Image recording equipment capable of selectively discharging sheets each carrying an image thereon to either one of the operating side or front of the equipment where the operator is expected to stand or to the opposite side or rear, depending on the number of sheets to be discharged to a tray. When a tray provided on the rear of the equipment is selected, the tray loaded with discharged sheets is moved to the front of the equipment and then automatically returned to the original position after the sheets have been removed by the operator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus employing a face-down delivery system in which the plane of the recording medium at any position relative to any other position assumed by the recording medium beginning with a stacking tray and ending with a delivery tray does not exceed 90.degree.. The apparatus includes a detachable cartridge which includes a photosensitive member, a charging device and a cleaning device. In one preferred embodiment, register rollers and fixing rollers are positioned relative to each other such that a substantially zero angular deviation exists in the path traveled by the recording medium between these two pairs of rollers.