Abstract: This bill validator (10) includes a bill transport system (20) for conveying bills (B) to a location adjacent a bill collection compartment (12). The transport system (20) comprises a first pair of spaced belt assemblies (70) including a lower pulley (80) an upper pulley (82) and a belt (86) movable between said pulleys; a second pair of spaced belt assemblies (72) including a lower pulley (90) an upper pulley (92) and a belt (94) movable between said pulleys, associated belts (86, 94) being adjacent to direct bills (B) in a generally vertical path, the belts (86, 94) being moved into engagement by providing the lower pulleys (90) of the second belt assemblies (72) with a floating journal (104) and by providing the associated belts (94) with a length to induce tension into said belts (94) and apply a force to said pulleys (80) to provide sufficient pressure between said belts (86, 94) to grip and convey said bills (B).

Abstract: A paper stacking apparatus enables documents emerging in a continuous flow from the exit of an image processing system to be stacked in the order in which the documents exit, even when the documents exit at irregular intervals. The paper stacking apparatus utilizes a conveyor belt which is divided into two transport segments. A first transport segment transports documents away from an exit of an image processing machine and drives a leading edge of each document onto an inclined stacking tray. A second transport segment, which slopes downwardly, pushes a trailing edge of each document onto the stacking tray.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for conveying a document on a platen glass. Back-up rollers for pressing a conveyer belt against the platen glass are loosely supported by a body frame. The shafts of a driving roller and a driven roller for rotating the conveyer belt, and the supporting member of the back-up rollers each have an end which is detachable from the body frame. The body frame has a first frame pivoted on a copying machine and a second frame for holding the conveyer belt and its motor. The second frame is connected with the first frame such that the second frame is movable from and to the platen glass with a specified range, and further the second frame is urged in a direction separating from the platen glass. The second frame is also movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the pivot of the first frame extends.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically loading currency notes (11) into a currency cassette (12) includes first endless belt feeder (54, 56) for feeding notes (11) to an entry nip of second endless belt feeder (76, 78). Each note (11) fed to the second feeder (76, 78) passes over part of the periphery of a pulley (74) associated with the second feeder (76, 78), whereby, when the trailing portion of the note (11) moves out of engagement with the first feeder (54), this portion is deflected away from the feed path defined by the first feeder (54, 56). The second feeder (76, 78) is driven in an intermittent manner, so that notes are fed by the second feeder (76, 78) in overlapping manner into the open top of the cassette (12). Pusher arms project into an open end of the cassette and are periodically operated so as to push notes already present in the cassette (12) into the interior thereof away from said end.

Abstract: A conveying device for sheets of paper, or similar materials, with some continuous conveyor belts (8 and 9) which are led over localized drive rollers (18 and 19) and also over localized return rollers (6, 7) and then over additional mutually displaceable turn-around rollers (27, 28, 29 and 30). The supporting frame includes a supporting guide track which runs between the return rollers (6, 7) and the drive rollers (18 and 19). The drive rollers (18 and 19) are mounted in a plane lying above the supporting guide track (1). A short sliding carriage (24) is provided as an adjustable component of the supporting frame, the carriage being adjustable, in an infinitely variable manner, and fixable in position on the upper side of the supporting guide track (1) between the drive rollers (18 and 19) and the return rollers (6, 7) by guiding elements and clamping elements.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting recording sheets after image recording by an image forming apparatus is disclosed here. The sorter is provided with a plurality of bins arrayed along a main path of the recording sheet, a plurality of change over gates to guide the recording sheet from the main path to a selected bin, a conveyance mechanism to convey the recording sheet through the main path to the selected bin, a plurality of pinch rollers dispersively located near the gates and the bins to press the recording sheet onto a conveyance surface of a conveyor belt of the conveyance mechanism and a member to back up the conveyor belt from the pressure of the pinch rollers.

Abstract: Business form components are stacked to separate them into different jobs, and after stacking are synchronously conveyed together to a pressure sealer, or similar device, for sealing the components together into a business form or are conveyed to subsequent operations such as secondary stacking into larger stacks. Each component moves from an aligner/feeder to a stacker, moving up an incline of a continuously running conveyor belt so that each successive component passes underneath any previous components in a stack. When a movable stop against which the components are held rotates out of the way, a top roller near the trailing ends of the components pinches them against a bottom roller so that the components move together away from the stacker in register with each other.

Abstract: A retractable-ramp accumulator comprises driven endless elastic belts to feed sheets therebetween along a sheet-feeding path, a sheet stacker having a stacking location and including a selectively releasable stop gate, and at least one selectively retractable ramp for selectively deflecting sheets out of the sheet feeding path for selectively feeding under or over previous sheets that are stopped in the stacking location by the stop gate. In one embodiment, an upper and a lower set of ramps are arranged such that while one set of ramps is retracted, the other set of ramps is interposed in the sheet feeding path, so that sheets can be selectively "over" or "under" accumulated.

Abstract: Conveyors for selectively conveying product delivered thereto either along a pair of side-by-side delivery lanes or a single delivery lane adjacent the pair of side-by-side lanes, the conveyors conveying product to output devices, such as stackers. One of the conveyors being laterally movable between a position aligned to receive product from one of the pair of lanes to a position displaced therefrom and displaced from the other one of the conveyors. The other one of the conveyors having an upstream section swingable about a pivot point to respectively align the upstream end of the swingable section either with the remaining one of the side-by-side lanes or with the single lane. Releasable clamping assemblies are released to provide movement of the conveyors and are clamped to retain the conveyors in the desired position. A drive coupler between one of the conveyors and the other of the conveyors may be selectively operated to either couple or decouple drive from the first-mentioned conveyor.

Abstract: A storage and stacking device for flat objects such as mail or newspapers cludes boxes for temporarily storing, transporting, and stacking the objects. Boxes are arranged on the stacking device at an angle of less than 90.degree. and coupled to a connecting element. The device has a fixed stack support associated with the boxes, and a movable stack support which is movable relative to the fixed stack support. The boxes and the fixed stack support are movable relative to one another. The boxes and the fixed stack support are formed by comb-like elements. The box comb-like elements comb through the fixed stack support comb-like elements during the relative motion of the box with respect to the fixed stack support. The box comb-like elements, the movable stack support and the fixed stack support are always in a positive contact with the stack of the objects.

Abstract: In an original transfer apparatus, a pair of rollers around which a transfer belt is stretched and pressing rollers provided between the pair of rollers and adapted to press the transfer belt against the platen are held with each end portion of each shaft of the rollers being fixed to a frame of a body of the transfer apparatus so as to be attachable and detachable directly and separately. The fitting of these rollers is executed by fitting at least three end portions of the shafts of the pair of rollers and each end portion of each shaft of the pressing rollers to the frame from a side opposed to the platen of the frame of the body.

Abstract: A device for transporting individual sheets of a sheet-form recording medium in office machines comprises an endless circulating conveyor belt for transporting the sheets. A pressure device holds sheets positively against the conveyor belt, and has a flat body parallel to and spaced from the conveyor belt; the body has thin, soft elastic pressure elements which press sheets against the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vertical stacking system comprising an apparatus and method to control stack formation based on a non-contact sensing of the reaction of the feed conveyor to the forming stack. In accordance with the invention a stream of signatures is fed by the feed conveyor onto a support surface. There is an upper feed extension of the feed conveyor located above the support surface. The stack is formed between the support surface and the feed extension. The top of the stack is adjacent to the upper feed extension. The location of the extension is determined by the location of the top of the stack. The non-contact sensing means senses the location of the feed extension and generates a location signal. This location signal is used to control a slide drive which moves the support surface.

Abstract: A metal sheet is supported and transported in relation to a punching and/or shearing station, by supporting the sheet on upwardly projecting flexible bristles, the tips of which define a supporting plane. The bristles have their bases embedded in strips that are removably jammed in grooves defined in a stationary base structure. A conveyor, arranged beside the supporting plane includes a driven, endless belt. The belt has transversally extending bristle bars mounted to it so that, in its carrying run, its upwardly projecting bristles have tips which are effectively coplanar with the stationary supporting surface.

Abstract: A method for in-plane separation of side-by-side parallel sheet articles that are transported along mutually-laterally-adjacent, in-plane paths, the method comprising: feeding unconnected sheet articles parallel to one another to mutually divergent belt arrangements that are driven at the same speed; conveying the sheet articles in a common plane divergently in relation to one another through the divergent belt arrangements and thereby irrotationally separating the sheet articles in the common plane and conveying the articles to a transporter; transporting the sheet articles and selectively stopping them by and in collectors of the transporter; collecting the selectively-stopped sheet articles in the collectors; and selectively releasing and thereby delivering stopped sheet articles for further handling.

Abstract: An improvement in a collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim from a singulating feeder in the same order as the sheets appear in the singulating feeder. The collating machine includes at least one upper belt and one lower belt for frictionally engaging and transporting the sheets, and ramp structure for lifting a succeeding sheet of paper over and onto a preceding, stopped sheet to form a collation. The improvement comprises a device for stopping each of the sheets, including at least one straight, vertical member against which the leading edge of each sheet abuts while the collation is being accumulated. The ramp structure and the stopping device are the upstream and downstream ends of a stacking section in the collating machine. There is a device, adjacent the stopping device, for transporting the collation from the stacking section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disclosed for shingling stacks composed of flexible planar objects, such as fabric workpieces. The stack is placed over an axis connecting two hinged support surfaces which are rotated relative to one another to bend the workpieces and form a shingle. For subsequent shingling, the rough shingled stack is driven on a conveyor under a series of spreading rollers having positive pressure to drive the rollers onto the stack.

Abstract: A feed table unit of a sheet-fed printing machine with machine side frames for feeding sheets of paper from a stacker to a printing unit includes a feed table including a table top, two side parts holding the table top, a conveyor having a drive for revolving the conveyor about the table top, and deflection rollers supported in the side parts for guiding the conveyor, the feed table being supported so as to be laterally displaceable with respect to the machine side frames from an operating position to a rest position, the feed table being laterally lockable into the operating position thereof, the printing unit having a drive connected with the deflection rollers in the operating position of the feed table.

Abstract: An improved accumulator and method of accumulation into stacks of a number of seriatim-fed sheets selectively in the manner of "over" or "under" accumulation and for conveying accumulated stacks to further equipment. The accumulator comprises driven endless elastic belts to drive sheets therebetween and a driven roller pair for nipping and feeding the sheets to a stacking location to be accumulated therein. The nip of the roller pair is offset in relation to the plane in which sheets are driven thereto by the belts. The roller pair drives a sheet in positively nipped manner to the stacking location selectively over or under a previously arrived sheet. Further included in the roller-accumulator is a stop gate device for stopping sheets fed to the stacking location and for selectively releasing accumulated stacks to be transported by and between the endless elastic belts to further equipment.

Abstract: In a reversible collating machine for stacking sheets of paper fed seriatim thereto from a singulating feeder in the same or reverse order as the sheets appear in the singulating feeder, the collating machine comprising a plurality of upper and lower belts suspended over a plurality of pulleys, each of the belts having an upper and lower reach wherein the lower reach of the upper belts and the upper reach of the lower belts frictionally engage and transport the sheets of paper, a plurality of upper ramp guide blocks secured to a frame, wherein each of the upper ramp guide blocks includes at least two idler rollers for defining a path for the upper belts, an improvement comprises a removable idler roller shaft having rotatably mounted thereto one of the idler rollers for each of the upper ramp guide blocks, wherein each of the upper ramp guide blocks has a first slot in which the idler roller shaft rests and a second slot perpendicular to the first slot in which the one idler roller rotatably fits when the idl

Abstract: An article of manufacture for use in letter processing apparatus, the article comprising; a frame including two elongate generally rectangularly-shaped side walls; a pair of axially parallel spaced rollers extending between the side walls of the frame and rotatably connected thereto, each of the rollers including an outer surface having formed therein a plurality of circumferentially-extending ridges which are respectively serrated in transverse cross-section; and an elongate endless belt including an inner surface having formed therein a plurality of longitudinally-extending ridges which are respectively serrated in transverse cross-section, and the belt looped about the rollers for disposing the belt ridges in meshing engagement with the ridges of the respective rollers.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus for transporting sheets to and from a flat surface comprising an endless belt movably supported around at least two support members to define a belt transport run across and parallel to said flat surface, said endless belt having a top and bottom layer of flexible material, and a layer of tubes sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer, the layer of tubes interlocking along a predetermined plane to provide rigidity to the belt transport in a first direction and flexibility to the belt transport in a second direction.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus having a conveyor belt which moves documents along a platen glass plate of a photoreproducing machine, first and second rollers which support the conveyor belt, a driving source connected to the first roller, and a member for driving the second roller so that it prevents the conveyor belt from slackening. In preferred forms of the device, the first roller is connected to the second roller by a one-way clutch and the line speed of the first or second roller on the document feed side is greater than the line speed of the first or second roller on the discharge side.

Abstract: The veneer strip charging apparatus comprises a belt conveyor with a plurality of conveyor belts evenly distributed over the width of the apparatus. The belt conveyors transport the veneer strip placed thereon only by means of static friction. Furthermore, there are provided a plurality of spacer members circulating in endless closed guiding tracks. The spacer members engage between the individual veneer strips along the conveying path besides the conveyor belts and are moved along the feeding path by the veneer strips. These spacer members together with their guiding tracks are located below the conveyance level. By this measure, an unhindered view is ensured to the veneer strip contained in the apparatus. Furthermore, even thin veneer strips can be processed without a risk of damage thereof, and the apparatus is much simpler in design.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for aligning, i.e., de-skewing, sheet material having squared upstream and downstream edges which is being advanced along a path. The advancing apparatus includes a pair of endless belts having pushers projecting therefrom which engage the upstream edge of the sheet material to advance the sheet material with rotation of the belts. The disclosed apparatus adjusts the relative positions of the pushers so that the squared upstream and downstream edges of the sheet material are normal to the path of travel of the sheet material. The invention has particular application to mailing machines in which paper sheets to be inserted in envelopes are advanced towards a folding station and/or an envelope insertion station. The invention has particular application to use with apparatus that cross folds paper.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying one or more sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a supporting housing; a first, upstream pulley and a second, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing; a lower, endless, elastic belt mounted on the first and second pulleys, the belt having an upper and a lower reach, the reaches being substantially horizontal; a third, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt; a fourth, upstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt, the fourth pulley biased toward the lower belt; and an upper, endless, elastic belt mounted on the third and fourth pulleys, whereby the fourth pulley can move away from the lower belt when the thickness of the sheets being conveyed requires a larger gap to engage the upper belt.

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

Abstract: A system embodying the present invention includes first structure having a first area for stacking at least one sheet to form a first collation, second structure having a second stacking area adjacent to the first stacking structure for stacking at least one sheet to form a second collation, and diverting structure arranged in a sheet path between the feeder and the first and second stacking structure for diverting the sheets fed by the feeder. The diverting structure having first and second operative positions for respectively diverting the sheets to the first stacking structure and to the second stacking structure. The system further provides control structure operatively coupled to the diverting structure for actuating the diverting structure to one of its operative positions and sensor structure operatively connected to the control structure for sensing when a sheet is conveyed to the diverting structure.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a uniform velocity of a belt which is driven on rollers. A first roller is provided with a first encoder which supplies a pulse train to a first control device which controls a first servomotor. The first servomotor drives the first roller which provides torque to the belt. A second roller is provided with a second encoder which supplies a pulse train to a second control device which controls a second servomotor for selectively dampening the second roller. When a variation in the speed of the belt is detected by the second control device a signal is sent from the second control device to the second servomotor. The second servomotor dampens any speed variations so that the belt maintains a constant speed at a location proximate to the second roller.

Abstract: An automatic document conveying device for an image-processing machine including a housing having on its upper surface a transparent plate on which to place a document to be processed. The device includes an opening-closing frame member mounted on the housing so that it is free to pivot about a pivot axis extending along the rear edge of the transparent plate between a closed position at which it covers the transparent plate and an open position at which it exposes the transparent plate to view; a stationary frame member to be mounted on the housing adjacent to the upstream end of the transparent plate; a document table disposed on the stationary frame member; a document sending unit for sending a plurality of sheet-like documents placed on the document table to a document carrying-in passage one by one; and a document carrying-in unit for introducing the sheet-like documents sent to the document carrying-in passage toward the transparent plate.

Abstract: Cable-type supporting elements (26) are stretched between the two serially arranged belt conveyors (10, 12). The supporting elements (26) are fixed in the end or starting region of the belt conveyors (10, 12) on supporting plates (24) over which the conveying sides of the conveyor belts (14) slide. The supporting elements (26) support the leading edges (30) of the printed products (28) in the region between the two belt conveyors (10, 12).

Abstract: The housing of a delivery unit is engaged with a predetermined part of the body of an image forming apparatus, the housing being pivotable upwardly from the body. An endless belt is wound on a pair of pulleys. One of the pulleys is mounted on a first shaft which is secured to the housing which is latched in position on the body while the other pulley is mounted on a second shaft that is movable with respect to the housing. The second shaft is attached to the body, and the endless belit is stretched to restrain the housing from being unlatched and pivoted upwardly from the body. The delivery unit is attached without use of screws. Accordingly, the delivery unit may be readily placed in its operating position on the body with no possibility of the photoreceptor being damaged. In an image forming apparatus having electric component elements disposed under the delivery unit, the maintenance of the element is facilitated.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for folding sheets and for slitting the folded sheets to form adjacent parallel rows or streams of folded sheets being conveyed by belts into a stacking station. A jogger located adjacent the conveyor belts may jog folded sheets laterally to indicate a predetermined count of sheets in a column. The folded sheets in each column are fed by the belts upward against stops. A generally horizontal support holds a container to receive parallel streams of on-edge vertical folded sheets each of which is pushed into the container while on-edge and vertical by a succeeding folded sheet. The container is removed having parallel rows of on-edge, vertically positioned, folded sheets stacked therein.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for automatically inverting workpieces of limp sheet material, such as fabric sheet material. The apparatus includes an endless conveyor having a forward-traveling upper reach for conveying workpieces in a forward direction. A gripper grasps a portion of the workpiece adjacent its leading edge as the workpiece travels on the conveyor, and lifts the leading edge portion of the workpiece off the conveyor. The gripper holds the leading edge portion stationary with a trailing portion of the workpiece extending downwardly from said pick-up means. A pushing mechanism acting on a generally rearwardly facing surface of the trailing portion of the workpiece pushes the trailing portion forwardly to effect complete inversion of the trailing portion as the leading edge portion is held stationary by the gripper. The gripper releases the leading edge portion of the workpiece after the trailing portion of the workpiece has been inverted.

Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a belt conveyor having shingled sheets which includes aligned crowned belt pulleys rotating endless belts. A vertically movable table is located such that the conveyor propels the sheets falling downwardly to form a pile of sheets thereon. A fork unit moves inwardly across the stacker as a temporary support during pile removal. A brake and clutch unit is connected to the pulleys. A sheet control includes pivoted fingers aligned with the belts and secured to a shaft. An actuating arm pivots the shaft to move the fingers into engagement with said aligned belts on the downstream side of the pulleys. A pneumatic control provides a conjoint control to actuate said brake and pivot the finger shaft for momentarily stopping sheet movement in synchronism with the actuation of the fork.

Abstract: A load accumulator which has one or more stacking wheels mounted for high speed rotation is provided with an improved conveyor for conveying load items to the stacking wheel. The conveyor includes platforms that extend toward each stacking wheel in a plane located above the stacking wheel. An endless conveyor is mounted above the platforms and has a forward run that extends toward a discharge end from the platform which opens into a pocket of the transfer wheel. A plurality of load pushing fingers are mounted on the conveyor and project toward the platform. The fingers positively drive the load items along the platform and ensure that the load items are correctly positioned for entry into the pockets of the transfer wheel at high speed.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking system, especially for a printer or copier set complier, in which sheets are sequentially fed for stacking into a stacking tray to a stacking registration wall position, a sheet stacking assistance and control system is provided by partially supporting and rotating an endless weighted chain-like lose element member, e.g., a metal bead chain, from above the stacking tray, preferably by two spaced and commonly driven pulleys, so that a first chain portion continuously moves downwardly towards the stacking tray in the path of said sheets being fed in the stacking tray to help pull them down, and then the chain flexes so that a substantial second chain portion continuously lies on the top sheet being stacked and continuously drags it towards the registration position, and then desirably an immediately following third chain section is pulled through the registration wall and sharply arcuately dropped there below the stack top level to continuously drag down the sheet edges there.

Abstract: A document conveyance apparatus for conveying a document to an exposing surface of a copying apparatus, and conveying the document out from the exposing surface after an exposure to copy the document. The apparatus including a driving roller unit for supporting and driving a conveyance belt, including (i) at least a pair of driving rollers, rotatably mounted on a conveyance frame with first supporters, for driving the conveyance belt suspended thereon, wherein at least one of the driving rollers is driven by a driving motor, (ii) the first supporters for supporting both ends of the driving rollers, wherein each of the driving rollers is supported movable in the direction of its axis of rotation so that at least one end of the driving rollers is capable of being removed from the roller supporters, and (iii) a positioner for being mounted on each of the driving rollers so that each of the driving rollers is positioned in the direction of its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A transport belt for a stimulable phosphor sheet is adapted for placing or transporting a sheet in the clamped state in a transport system of a radiation image information recording and reproducing system. The belt is composed of a fiber layer presenting an undulating surface, an electrically conductive layer formed at least on the front side of the fiber layer, a protective coating formed on the current conductive layer, and a resin layer formed on the back side of the fiber layer. It is durable and prevents generation of static charges on the sheet by the transport belt or deposition of dust and dirt or contamination, while being free from unnecessary stripes attributable to static electricity or white spots attributable to dust and dirt or contamination, so that an extremely clear and accurate image information may be obtained.

Abstract: A cash dispensing unit includes first (68) and second (70) cooperating endless groups of belts for feeding a stack (72) of currency notes to an exit location (50). First ends of the first (68) and second (70) groups of belts respectively pass round first (26) and second (30) group of pulleys of equal diameter mounted in a central position of a support framework (11), and second ends of the two groups of belts (68, 70) respectively pass round two smaller groups of pulleys (66, 52) disposed adjacent the exit location (50). The first group of belts (68) pass partly around the periphery of the second group of pulleys (30), and are resiliently stretchable so that the stack (72) can pass between this group of belts (68) and this group of pulleys (30).

Abstract: In order to avoid a pushing-together or pulling apart of an imbricated stack of sheets during reversal around the reversing roller (3) of a rotary sheet feeder (1), belt-like flexible guide means (18) are used which are disposed at intervals over the axial length of the reversing drum (3), one end of the feeder frame side forming an intake gusset while the other end of each is articulated through a spring (19) on a rod (20) which connects the side walls of the feeder frame (7). The flexible guide means (18) pass between the reversing element (13) and the intake side roller (8) of the second belt conveyor (6) which forms the withdrawal table, the reversing element (13) like the other rollers of the second belt conveyor being mounted on a pivotable frame (11) which is articulated in turn on the feeder frame (7) and is initially tensioned in the direction of the reversing drum (3).

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for stacking and moving sheets of paper and the like in which sheets are moved to a stacking area where they are held stationary and accumulate in a stack. The stack is released and moved away from the stacking area after a predetermined number of sheets having accumulated in said stack. The moving mechanism includes upper and lower transport belts transversely offset from each other which are in different vertically adjacent planes to cause the belts to grasp and move the sheets. The stacking area is located between a sheet recording mechanism to record the number of sheets passing thereby and a stop mechanism to prevent forward movement of the stack. The sheet recording mechanism comprises a deflecting unit and the stop mechanism comprises a rotatable stop wheel.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for stacking and moving sheets of paper and the like in which sheets are moved to a stacking area where they are held stationary and accumulate in a stack. The stack is released and moved away from the stacking area after a predetermined number of sheets have accumulated in said stack. The moving mechanism includes upper and lower transport belts transversely offset from each other which are in different vertically adjacent planes to cause the belts to grasp and move the sheets. The stacking area is located between a sheet recording mechanism to record the number of sheets passing thereby and a stop mechanism to prevent forward movement of the stack. The sheet recording mechanism comprises a deflecting unit and the stop mechanism comprises a rotatable stop wheel.

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

Abstract: In handling flat sheets as for example from a sheet processing machine to a downstacker a plurality of narrow parallel belt conveyors are necessarily employed. Non-uniformity in manufacture of the belts and different slippage on the pulleys causes unequal speed of travel of the individual belts resulting in improper and unequal handling. Utilizing a lower set of conveyor driving belts on which are super-imposed overlapping driven carrier belts overcomes this problem by producing uniform speed of travel of the belts.

Abstract: An automatic document transportation device is attached to a copier and can be opened and closed with respect to its document table. Its various components for transporting a document sheet to and from the document table are supported by plates which are directly attached to a flexible outer housing piece. Rollers for a conveyor belt for transporting a document sheet has collar-like pieces directly attached to their axes such that a fixed distance can be maintained between the conveyer belt and the document table.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for automatic printers has a single cassette sheet feeder in which the printer rests. The printer supports an over-the-top feed apparatus which receives sheets from the cassette and transports sheets to the platen of the printer and from the platen to a receiver.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for accumulating currency notes into a stack includes a rotatable cylinder (14), an endless belt (22) driven together with the cylinder (14) and arranged to be in cooperative relationship with the cylinder (14) over a major part of the periphery thereof, and feeding mechanism (98, 84) for feeding currency into an entry throat (174) between the cylinder (14) and the belt (22), whereby a single or multiple note fed into the entry throat (174) is held between the belt (22) and the cylinder (14) and is carried around the axis of the cylinder (14). The operation of the feeding means (98, 84) is synchronized with the rotation of the cylinder (14) so that each successive single or multiple note fed into the entry throat (174) is brought into a superposed relationship with the note or notes already held between the belt (22) and the cylinder (14) so as to form a stack of sheets (24) between the belt ( 22) and the cylinder (14).

Abstract: Apparatus and method of feeding sheets to a sheet gatherer, comprising moving the sheets along a horizontal path and then arcuately downwardly to lay the sheets in the gatherer hopper. The sides of the sheets are supported by members which have irregular surfaces disposed in vertical upstanding planes for engaging the opposite sides edges of the upstanding sheets and thereby support the sheets while advancing them toward the hopper. The sheets are continuously moved from a loading position and in the horizontal direction and then through a downwardly extending arc and into the hopper.

Abstract: Flat article feeding apparatus comprises a feeder comprising a feed belt for feeding approximately flat articles one by one in a feeding direction and a predetermined number of idler pulleys. The idler pulleys are individually urged towards the feed belt so that the idler pulleys are in contact with one of the flat articles that is fed on the feed belt as a particular article. The idler pulleys are driven so as to feed the particular article reversedly relative to the feeding direction. The apparatus is applicable to feeding the flat articles successively to a utilizing device which is typically a bar code printer. For this purpose, the feeder and the idler pulleys are controllably driven in response to a completion signal which the utilizing device produces upon completion of a predetermined process.