Abstract: A recording material transporting device includes a transport belt having an endless shape and having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface having a friction coefficient smaller than a friction coefficient of the inner peripheral surface. The transport belt transports a recording material by using the outer peripheral surface toward a reader that reads an image. The recording material transporting device further includes a driving roller that rotates while being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the transport belt and that rotatably drives the transport belt.

Abstract: An accumulator for an automatic sheet media punching and collating system includes a proximal end, having a shoulder, a distal end, and a moveable collating belt, disposed below the shoulder, extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The collating belt has an upwardly extending lower stop with an accumulating position opposite the shoulder, defining a drop region. The lower stop is configured to contact a lower edge of sheets of media sequentially received at the proximal end, whereby the sheets stop and accumulate in the drop region in a lift in a book order. The collating belt is selectively moveable to discharge the lift as a unit toward the distal end.

Abstract: A device for the output of notes of value includes a stacking unit for stacking notes of value to a value note stack, an output compartment for the output of the value note stack to a user of the device, as well as a transport unit with a pushing plate for the transport of the value note stack from the stacking unit to the output compartment. A guide element, which serves for guiding the notes of value during the stacking of the notes of value by the stacking unit, is mounted on the pushing plate.

Abstract: A device (10) for handling notes of value has a box receiving area (14) for receiving cash boxes (18) and a first transport unit (22) for transporting of notes of value between the cash boxes (18) and a head module (12). A first switch (50) is provided at a head module side-end of the first transport unit (22). Further, the device (10) has a stacking unit (26), an input and/or output compartment (28) and a reject and retract container (30). In addition, a second transport unit (24) for transporting notes of value between the stacking unit (26), the input and/or output compartment (28) and the reject and retract container (30) is provided. In a first switch position, the first switch (50) guides a note of value removed from the box receiving area (14) to the stacking unit (26) and in a second switch position to the second transport unit (24).

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a holding unit that holds a recorded recording medium in a standing posture, a roller that sends the recording medium to the holding unit, and a restricting unit that restricts the position of the recording medium not to be in contact with the roller.

Abstract: A sheet storage device is equipped with sheet storage portions which are provided in an upper portion of a copying machine body and receive sheets, conveyed in sequence from the copying machine body, from downward and store the sheets in such a state that the sheets stand. The sheet storage portions are relatively rotatably supported in sequence and parallel. Each sheet storage portion receiving the sheet from the copying machine body is rotated to be held in the rotational position.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus having a sheet conveying portion and a sheet storage portion to receive the sheet as conveyed upward from below by the sheet conveying portion and to store the sheet in a vertical direction. The sheet storage portion includes a guide portion, first and second holding members. The first holding member forms a first nipping portion between the first holding member and the guide surface. The first holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the first nipping portion, and holds the sheet by restricting the sheet from moving downward at the first nipping portion. The second holding member forms a second nipping portion between the second holding member and the guide surface. The second holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the second nipping portion, and holds the sheet at the second nipping portion.

Abstract: A conveying roller conveys a sheet. A sheet holding portion receives a sheet from below and holds the received sheet with keeping its forward end upward and its rear end downward. The sheet holding portion has: a storing guide provided in a vertical state and having a guide surface configured to guide the received sheet upward; a conveying guide provided to face the guide surface and having a curved surface portion whose distance from the guide surface increases in the upward direction; and a holding member provided between the guide surface and the curved surface portion and configured to roll on the curved surface portion toward the guide surface to nip the received sheet with the guide surface. An inclination angle of the curved surface portion with respect to the guide surface decreases with distance from the guide surface.

Abstract: An automatic sheet transporting apparatus includes a transporting unit with a discharge roller, the transporting unit discharge a sheet onto a discharge tray configured that support discharged sheets in a stack. A discharge guide, positioned on an upstream side of the discharge tray in a sheet discharging direction, guides a subsequent sheet transported by the transporting unit to a position between the discharge tray and a bottom surface of a previously discharged sheet in the stack. The discharge tray includes at least one rotating member that rotates when the discharge guide guides the subsequent sheet between the discharge tray and the bottom surface of the previously discharged sheet in the stack. The frictional resistance applied to the subsequent sheet is reduced to increase the number of sheets that can be stacked in the discharge tray.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium discharge unit in a standing position; and a medium pressing unit that protrudes to the holding unit with respect to a virtual surface in the feeding-out direction of the recording medium by the nip roller of the medium discharge unit, opposite to the holding unit, and presses the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium discharge unit against the holding unit.

Abstract: A document feeding device for feeding documents comprises a document input tray on which documents to be fed are placed, a document output tray to which the documents are ejected, and a feeding mechanism which is provided for a feeding path connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position and feeds each document from the document input tray to the scanning position and from the scanning position to the document output tray. The document output tray includes a tray part which holds the ejected documents, a projecting part which pushes up a part of the ejected documents on the upstream side in a feeding direction and thereby lifts an upstream end of the ejected documents, and a pressing member which makes contact with the ejected documents from above at a position on the downstream side of the projecting part's apex in the feeding direction.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic document feeder, comprising: a document tray; an output tray; a movable ejection flap configured to be movable between a first position where the document for which the image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a stacked document already staked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position; a setting unit configured to set the movable flap to one of the first position and the second position; a change unit configured to change a position of the movable flap to the second position in response to a fact that a predetermined condition is satisfied in a state where the position of the movable flap has been set to the first position through the setting unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a sheet storage device, which can enhance sheet taking-out property in taking out of a sheet from a sorting device and sheet visibility. A sheet storage device 300 is equipped with sheet storage portions 330a to 330e which are provided in an upper portion of a copying machine body 130 and receive sheets P, conveyed in sequence from the copying machine body 130, from downward and store the sheets P in such a state that the sheets P stand. The sheet storage portions 330a to 330e are relatively rotatably supported in sequence and parallel. Each sheet storage portion receiving the sheet from the copying machine body 130 is rotated to be held in the rotational position. According to this constitution, the sheet taking-out property in taking out of the sheet from the sheet storage portions 330a to 330e and the sheet visibility are enhanced.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus having a sheet conveying portion and a sheet storage portion to receive the sheet as conveyed upward from below by the sheet conveying portion and to store the sheet in a vertical direction. The sheet storage portion includes a guide portion, first and second holding members. The first holding member forms a first nipping portion between the first holding member and the guide surface. The first holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the first nipping portion, and holds the sheet by restricting the sheet from moving downward at the first nipping portion. The second holding member forms a second nipping portion between the second holding member and the guide surface. The second holding member permits the sheet to be conveyed upward to pass through the second nipping portion, and holds the sheet at the second nipping portion.

Abstract: A document feeding device comprises a document input tray, a document output tray, a feeding mechanism provided for a feeding path connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position to feed each document from the document input tray to the scanning position and to the document output tray, a turnover mechanism provided for a turnover path connected to the feeding path to return the document after passing through the scanning position to the upstream side of the scanning position while interchanging the front end and rear end of the document, and an ejection mechanism configured so that its document ejection mode can be switched between a first ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while stacking it on documents already ejected to the document output tray and a second ejection mode for successively ejecting each document while sliding it under the already ejected documents.

Abstract: A sheet output device includes a sheet receiver and a group of rollers. The group of rollers includes a plurality of output rollers arranged in the widthwise direction of the sheet and a plurality of pinch rollers arranged upward of the plurality of output rollers. The plurality of pinch rollers pinch the sheet with the plurality of output rollers and transport the sheet onto the sheet receiver. The sheet output device further includes at least one corrugation roller which is disposed between corresponding two of the plurality of output rollers and which has a diameter larger than the plurality of output rollers. The plurality of output rollers are rotatable relatively with respect to the at least one corrugation roller. The at least one corrugation roller rotates by being pushed by a leading end of the transported sheet.

Abstract: A sheet ejector, configured to eject sheets so as to insert a later-ejected sheet under an earlier-ejected sheet on a catch tray, includes a feed roller provided to the catch tray, wherein the feed roller is configured to feed, in a predetermined ejecting direction, the later-ejected sheet that is inserted under the earlier-ejected sheet, and a switching mechanism configured to switch a state of the feed roller relative to a sheet on the catch tray between a contact state where the feed roller contacts the sheet on the catch tray and a non-contact state where the feed roller is kept from contacting the sheet on the catch tray.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed tray receiving sheets, a catch tray receiving the sheets ejected thereon, a feeding mechanism conveying the sheets from the feed tray to the catch tray, an ejection mode switching mechanism switching an ejection mode between a first mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected on a stack of sheets already ejected and a second mode in which the sheets are sequentially ejected and inserted under a stack of sheets already ejected, an ejection detecting sensor detecting a sheet ejected on the catch tray, and a controller configured to, in response to an instruction to start feeding the sheets, forbid driving of the feeding mechanism when determining that the ejection mode is set to the second mode and determining with the ejection detecting sensor that a sheet is on the catch tray.

Abstract: A document feeding device comprises a document input tray, a document output tray placed above the document input tray, and a feeding mechanism provided for a feeding path (connecting the document input tray and the document output tray via a scanning position) to feed each document along the feeding path. The document output tray includes a reference tray and a pivoting tray (on the downstream side of the reference tray) pivotable with respect to the reference tray around a pivot shaft on the upstream side of the pivoting tray. The pivoting of the pivoting tray is restricted at a retracted position by a pivot restricting part when the pivoting tray has pivoted from a document stacking position to the retracted position. The pivot shaft is situated above an upstream end of a stacking surface of the pivoting tray when the pivoting tray is placed at the document stacking position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automated, continuous singling of loose sheet material, by the steps of feeding a stack of loose sheet material to be singled located on a first feeding element from a deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, sheet-by-sheet singling of the fed stack by the singling unit, the stack being fed by the feeding element such that the particular uppermost sheet of the stack can be grasped by the singling unit, feeding a further stack of loose sheet material to be fed located on a second feeding element from the deposit position to a position in which the uppermost sheet of the stack to be fed is located below the first feeding element, and uniting the stack to be singled and the fed stack by drawing the first feeding element out of the feeding path.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of easily detecting the width of a document is provided that can reduce the number of component parts. A surface to be detected of a moving section that moves in linkage with the movement of a document guide is detected using an image pickup device, so that the width dimension of the document is detected. This allows the image reading apparatus to detect the width dimension of the document by using the image pickup device.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a document tray, an output tray on which the document for which image reading is finished is placed, a roller applying carrying force to the document by rotating and contacting the document, and a movable ejection flap. The ejection flap is movable between a first position where the document for which image reading is finished is sunk into a position between the output tray and a bottom of a document already stacked on the output tray and a second position where the document is ejected on the output tray without being sunk into the position between the output tray and the bottom of the stacked document. The automatic document feeder also includes a switching unit to switch between a first motion of transmitting driving force of a driving source to the movable ejection flap and a second motion of transmitting driving force to the roller.

Abstract: A pair of discharge rollers is provided at a position most downstream in a conveying direction of a sheet conveying path defined by guide surfaces. The discharge rollers discharge a sheet from the sheet conveying path. A discharge chute portion, including upper and lower discharge guides, guides the discharged sheet toward a discharge tray. An elastic support piece is provided in the discharge chute portion and elastically urges a trailing edge of the discharged sheet toward the upper discharge guide. The pair of discharge rollers is arranged such that a direction in which the drive roller contacts the follower roller is inclined toward upstream in the conveying direction with respect to a direction of a normal line of a lower one of the guide surfaces that is located in the sheet conveying path at a position the most downstream in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.

Abstract: A document discharge cassette, an image scanner having the cassette, and a document scanning method to be embodied by the image scanner having the document discharge cassette attached thereto. The document discharge cassette includes a base, positioned under the document discharge exit provided at the scanner body and through which scanned documents are discharged, on which the discharged documents are stacked, and a document lift to lift a preceding document that is discharged through the document discharge exit higher than the document discharge exit relative to the base and to lower the preceding document on a following document that is discharged after the preceding document and placed at the base.

Abstract: A method of processing sheet media is provided. The method may include moving a sheet medium upward by contact of a face of the sheet medium with a roller. The method also may include carrying a trailing edge of the sheet medium upward and then over the roller.

Abstract: A scanner includes a document feed plate on which one or more documents to be read are stacked, an image sensor disposed adjacent to the document feed plate to read a lower surface of the one or more documents, a plurality of document output rollers arranged vertically adjacent to each other to change a direction along which the read one or more documents proceed along a reverse C-shaped path and to output the read one or more documents through a document outlet, and a document output plate located above the document feed plate on which the output one or more documents are stacked. The plurality of document output rollers rotate in the same direction, and each of the document output rollers has a shaft that is a rotational center and a plurality of roller bodies arranged to be separated from one another along a lengthwise direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A bottom stacker having a pair of slotted disks to receive incoming mail pieces one at a time from an input nip. The mail pieces are separately placed in the slots and carried by the rotation of the disks to a stack support in the stacker. The stack support is disposed at a small angle from the vertical axis so that the mail pieces in the stack are kept in the stack by gravity. When a new mail piece is carried in a slot toward the stack support, the lead edge of the mail piece is stopped by a stopping surface so as to disengage the mail piece from that slot. As the disks rotate further, part of the outer periphery of the disks moves the disengaged mail piece toward the stack so as to deposit the mail piece at the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for stacking flat products, in particular, folding boxes, comprising a stack shaft for receiving the flat products which comprises an inlet opening opposite to an impinging surface, and is provided with guiding element disposed in side flanks, which guide the flat products in the form of a stack, wherein each side flank comprises a transport means for upward and downward vertical movement of a tray which projects into the stack shaft and which carries the flat products.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (01) for aligning at least along one edge several stacked sheets (09) into a book, while maintaining the serial order of sheets, said device comprising an editing table (11), having on one of its sides, a front stop (13) for aligning the edges of the sheets (09). The invention is characterized in that upstream of the editing table (11) is provided a support plate (02), whereon the sheet (09) can be set into a bound book with non-aligned edges, and is further provided in the device (01), a sheet feeder (08, 04, 06) whereby the sheets can be conveyed from the support plate (02) towards the front stop (13) of the editing table (11), while forming a stream of subjacent webs.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a apparatus for stacking mailpieces comprising elongated intermittently rotating S-elements, one of the rotating S-elements has an S-shaped cross section, the other of the rotating S-elements has a mirror image of the S-shape cross section. In the preferred embodiment, a new mailpiece to be stacked enters the stacker below the top curve of the rotating S-shaped elements, and above the shelf-like center portion of the S-shaped elements. The imaged portion of the mailpiece (i.e. the top side) does not contact the stack or the S-shaped elements while being moved into the stacker. The likelihood of smearing is greatly reduced. Once the new mailpiece is moved into the area below the stack and between the two rotating S-shaped elements, the two elements are rotated. This action lifts the new mailpiece upward directly into contact with the bottom of the stack, thus lifting the entire stack by the thickness of the new mailpiece.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a means for holding the stack in a tilted position, the means comprising a tilted base; a sliding retainer positioned to support a side of the stack that is tilted toward the sliding retainer by the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; a first input area positioned above retainer element; a second input area positioned below the retainer element and above the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; a second input area positioned below the retainer element and above the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; and a translating carriage means attached to the means for holding the stack in a tilted position, the translating carriage means movable in an about vertical direction in response to a control signal indicating the direction of about vertical movement; whereby the apparatus is configured to selectably add mailpieces to the top of the vertical stack via the first input area or the bottom of the vertical stack via the second

Abstract: A feeding mechanism comprising an accumulating area mechanism for feeding sheets into the accumulating area to form a stack, exit mechanism, mechanism for moving the stack of sheets from the accumulating area through the exit mechanism, support mechanism are provided to keep the trailing edge of a previous sheet fed in the accumulating area uplifted until the leading edge of a subsequent sheet is moved beneath a previous sheet.

Abstract: A display apparatus (18) capable of sequentially displaying a plurality of annotated image prints (36), each image print having audio data encoded (54) and made integral its back surface (46), thereby providing a convenient way to both display image prints and play back audio data associated with image prints. In one aspect of the present invention, the display apparatus (18) also records audio data for a plurality of image prints and provides a handwritten means to electronically associate a particular image print with its respective audio recording.

Abstract: An improved signature stacker is disclosed which has a drive drum which operates to re-orient the signatures into a vertical stack. The drum has a curvature which is less than the maximum allowable curvature that the signatures can withstand and still recover an initial planar configuration elastically. Also disclosed is a direct drive arrangement having the drum being gear driven from a frequency controlled alternating current motor.

Abstract: An output card hopper for use in connection with an identification card printer as a hopper that receives the cards and permits the cards to be supported on movable lift rails. The rails can be moved up and down, and the hopper has a pair of pawls that extend into the hopper from the sides and which are retracted as the card is lifted up by the lift rails, and then permitted to move back inwardly so that as the card support is lowered, the card that had been carried up by the rails is supported on the pawls in a stack above the pawls. The hopper includes one adjustable side wall to permit adjusting the width of the hopper. The card lift rails are raised and lowered by operating a cam, with a spring return on the card lift rails to urge the lift rails toward a home or lowered position.

Abstract: A sheet receiving and stacking apparatus has an infeed tray to which sheets are sequentially fed with their printed side facing upwardly starting in order, sheet one to the last sheet of a set or job, and continuing through the last sheet of the set or job, the trailing end of successive sheets being elevated and progressively moved upwardly to form a stack of sheets commencing with the first fed sheet with the last fed sheet of a set or job at the bottom and stacked on an upper run of a sheet elevating device which provides a stacker for stacking sets or jobs in sequential order with the first fed sheet of each set or job on top.

Abstract: A 1-N and N-1 cut sheet receiving and stacking apparatus for receiving and selectively stacking sheets to a top location, as well as to a bottom location on a stack of such sheets. The sheet receiving and stacking apparatus comprises a frame, a sheet supporting member mounted to the frame for receiving and supporting a stack of cut sheets. Importantly, the cut sheet receiving and stacking apparatus includes at least one cut sheet lifting and locating assembly mounted to the frame for locating a cut sheet being received to a top location of the stack, and for lifting the stack and locating a cut sheet being received to a bottom location of the stack. The cut sheet lifting and locating assembly has a first down position for locating a cut sheet being received to the top location of the stack of cut sheets, and at least a first up position for lifting the stack of cut sheets thereon and locating a cut sheet being received to the bottom location of the stack.

Abstract: A document accumulator comprising for high-speed document assembly includes first and second pulleys, a first outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys for contacting and transporting a document, a second outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys, and extending generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from the first outer belt, for contacting and transporting a document, and an inner belt generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from both the first and second outer belts such that it lies between the first and second outer belts. A first side guide has a first vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the first outer belt, and a second side guide has a second vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the second outer belt. A belt-dampening table having a horizontal surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the inner belt is provided for dampening oscillations of the inner belts which occur at high speeds.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding an original document, the time which is needed until the first original document is transported onto a transportation path after storing original documents is shortened. The original documents stacked on an original document supporting plate are successively supplied one by one in order from an uppermost original document. A discharged original document is steadily and easily inserted between the original document supporting plate and the original documents stacked on the original document supporting plate. When a hopper sensor detects that the original documents are stacked on the original document supporting plate, the original document supporting plate is moved upward until the upper surface of the uppermost one of the original documents contact a level sensor. At this stage, the original documents are supplied successively one by one from the uppermost original document by a paper feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A paper handling device adapted to allow for the size of an accumulator region to be varied is disclosed. Apparatus 1 includes a feed section 2, and an accumulation region 3. Paper is fed into accumulation region 3 by roller 16, and out of accumulation region 3 via rollers 26. Thus, there are no belts extending across the accumulation region, and its size can be readily altered by mutual movement of track parts 19, 20. This allows for different sized paper to be easily accommodated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking sheets on a stationary stack is disclosed comprising conveying a sheet to a roller and rolling the sheet onto the stack of sheets. The roller is preferably moved across the stack of sheets by a carriage while the sheet is being rolled onto the stack.

Abstract: A document accumulator for high-speed document assembly includes first and second pulleys, a first outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys for contacting and transporting a document, a second outer belt extending between the first and second pulleys, and extending generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from the first outer belt, for contacting and transporting a document, and an inner belt generally parallel to and horizontally displaced from both the first and second outer belts such that it lies between the first and second outer belts. A first side guide has a first vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the first outer belt, and a second side guide has a second vertical surface adjacent to a horizontal reach of the second outer belt. A belt-dampening table having a horizontal surface adjacent to it horizontal reach of the inner belt is provided for dampening oscillations of the inner belts which occur at high speeds.

Abstract: A press force control apparatus for use in a apparatus for stacking sheets of paper that have been cut from a continuous roll of paper by inserting each successive sheet of paper beneath a previously stacked sheet of paper. The press force control apparatus includes a paper press for pressing a top surface of the sheets of paper, after the sheets of paper have been placed in a stacked position, wherein the paper press is translatable up and down with respect to a stack height of the sheets of paper.

Abstract: Apparatus for accumulating paper sheets singulated from a paper sheet feeder on a registration deck. The apparatus includes: a sheet feeder for feeding the topmost paper sheet from a stack of paper sheets; an accumulator having an accumulation deck for receiving the sheets of paper from the sheet feeder; a registration stop for stopping the advance of the paper sheets along the accumulation deck; a deflector downstream of the sheet feeder and above the accumulation deck; and a pair of top and bottom rollers defining a nip, the nip being located adjacent, upstream and above the deflector and downstream of the sheet feeder.

Abstract: In a sheet discharger with a simple structure, the subsequently discharged sheet can be stored under such a condition that this subsequently discharged sheet is overlapped on the rear surface of the previously discharged sheets. The sheet discharger includes a vertical type sheet discharge tray inclined backwardly along an upper direction; an discharge roller apparatus having a front side discharge roller and a rear side discharge roller, which are arranged at a lower end portion of the vertical type sheet discharge tray. The vertical type sheet discharging tray includes a rear surface supporting member for supporting a rear surface of an discharged sheet, a bottom member for supporting a lower end of the discharged sheet, and a front surface supporting member for defining a forward position of the lower end of the discharged sheet.

Abstract: A document accumulator capable of tool-less adjustment to accomodate a plurality of paper sizes includes a shaft laterally oriented across a paper path through the accumulator, a guide element mounted to the shaft for contacting and guiding documents transported through the accumulator, a connector for slidably connecting the guide element to the shaft, and a compressible O-ring inserted between the shaft and the connector for imparting friction therebetween, whereby the guide element can be translated along the shaft without the use of a tool.

Abstract: An intermediate storage apparatus for the storage of sheets has an acceptance cycle and a transportation cycle and includes a feed system and a transportation system. In the acceptance cycle the intermediate storage apparatus waits until a first detector detects the presence of a sheet at an entry and triggers off an acceptance operation in the feed system by way of a control device. The feed system stacks the sheets which are fed by a conveyor system to provide a stack in the transportation system which is locked in the acceptance cycle. As soon as the acceptance cycle is concluded, the control device decides whether the transportation system is to pass the stack into a box or into a return dish and switches on a drive unit of the transportation system to transport the stack. The intermediate storage apparatus then returns to the acceptance cycle.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is operative to horizontally discharge successive printed paper sheets printed side up into a specially designed sheet receiving and stacking section of the printer. A spaced plurality of vertically oriented helical drive members disposed in the receiving and stacking section are continuously rotated during the printing operation and are arranged in laterally opposed pairs that receive opposite side edge portions of the discharged printed sheets. Rotation of the helical drive members upwardly moves each successively received sheet, keeping the sheets in a vertically spaced, parallel relationship that permits the ink on each sheet to dry before the sheets upwardly exit and are supported on the top ends of the drive members in a printed sheet stack in which the first printed sheet is on top of the stack and the last printed sheet is on the bottom of the stack.