Abstract: Sheet conveyor apparatus for feeding sheets one at a time to a stop wall at the end of the conveyor with at least one overhead support extending above said conveyor. An overhead longitudinally adjustable roller carrying sub-assembly extends above the conveyor supported on the overhead support. The sub-assembly is comprised of a roller which engages a sheet of material moving on the conveyor and positioned to prevent "bounce back" thereof as the sheets are moved against the stop wall. The rollers are carried on resilient arms which may be adjusted to vary the downward force of the roller upon the sheet moving on the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus for moving a sheet in a predetermined direction, characterized by a guide located at the lateral side of the path for the sheet, a conveyor for conveying the sheet along the guide, and a flexure inhibiting member for holding down the sheet.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.

Abstract: Guide apparatus is provided for guiding paper from an image toner station to a pair of pressing rolls of a fixing station of a photocopying machine. The pressing rolls are arranged at a slight angle to the transport direction of the paper. In order to provide for simultaneous introduction of the paper across its width to the pressing rolls, the guide apparatus is so configured that the paper has different travel lengths across its width on its travel path between the toner station and the nip of the pressing rolls.

Abstract: In a xerographic image transfer device, copy sheets are sequentially aligned and position sensed before introduction to the image transfer zone. The position sensing is used to compare the copy sheet location with the position of the image panel on a moving photoconductor. The timing and velocity profile of the copy sheet drive after the position sensing is arranged so that the copy sheet arrives in registry with the image panel and at the same velocity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exposure device for reprographic techniques to expose photosensitive materials through a master in which the copy partners are pressed by a rubber mat against a glass plate and the exposure is effected through the glass plate.To improve the complete contact of the copy partners with each other and with the glass plate, a smoothing device (6) is provided on the rear surface of the rubber mat, consisting of pressure elements, in particular rollers (12), drawn on chains (7) over the rear surface of the rubber mat. The pressure elements squeeze out potential air pockets between the rubber mat and the glass plate and insure that the copy partners fit tightly against each other without separation over their entire surface.

Abstract: A bender bar intercepts xerographic copier paper traveling from a transfer corona to the fuser rolls in a manner that compensates for sheet skew before the sheet arrives at the nip of the transfer rollers. The bender bar is fixed in position but adjustable so that copy sheets encountering the bar can have different path lengths with respect to opposite ends of the bar as encountered by the sheets. The sheet leading edges arrive at the fuser roll nip in a manner that compensates for any transfer distortion caused by factors such as axial misalignment between the fuser and input rolls, engagement of the paper by other elements associated with the transfer station paper path, or the like.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus for a duplicating machine or copier is disclosed and includes a document supply tray, a turnaround roller and the exposure platen arranged in a general horizontal configuration wherein all operating areas and separate transports are available for operator observation and jam clearances. The turnaround roller permits return of document sheets to the platen in an inverted orientation to permit copying of duplex document sheets. The rotational speed for this operation may be significantly increased relative to the processing speed of the copier and the normal feeding speeds of the document sheets from the supply tray to the platen in order to maximize throughput of the copier. For normal return of the document sheets for the platen area, the rotational speed of the roller may be relatively high compared to the document feeding speed, thereby minimizing time losses due to machine pitch spacings between document sheet changes.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus for a duplicating machine or copier is disclosed and includes a turnaround roller arranged between an exposure platen for the copier and a document sheet supply tray for directing document sheets fed from the tray back into the tray in an inverted orientation when occasions arise for the inversion. One or more occasions may arise and be initiated automatically depending upon a selected mode of duplication or when an odd number of passes of a document set of sheets are necessary to complete a reproduction run. Other occasions may be operator selected for various reasons such as when pre-printed or pre-punched copy sheets are being processed.

Abstract: The method of transporting an electrostatic strip wherein the strip on a supply roll is pulled from the supply roll which is normally freely rotatable and the strip having been pulled from the supply roll is returnable to the supply roll by driving the supply roll in reverse to rewind the electrostatic strip; the unspooling of the electrostatic strip from the supply roll is performed by a pair of feed rollers; after imaging the electrostatic strip, it is carried between a pair of longitudinally ribbed guides past a magnetic toner to an inspection station at which station it may be viewed and optionally severed from the remainder of the electrostatic strip, which remainder is returned toward the supply roll for neutralization, detoning, reimaging and refeeding to the viewing station, while the portion of the electrostatic strip at the viewing station is carried in a generally horizontal planar course to a fuser for making permanent the toned, unfused electrostatic image.

Abstract: A deskewing document transport device delivers individual documents one at a time into the nip of a pair of pickup rollers. The documents are gravity fed from an angled panel into the nip. A curved guide finger is positioned near the bottom of the angled panel and confronting one of the pickup rollers in order to form a curved gap which causes the documents to curl slightly as they approach the nip. A horizontal table is positioned under the curved gap so that, if the document is skewed, the leading edge of the curled document is lightly pressed against the table for deskewing the document as it passes through the gap. The inventive transport device is particularly well-suited for use with a microfilming camera.

Abstract: A film storage device that is placed between an X-ray film cassette and X-ray film processor. The device is capable of storing three X-ray films at a time and enables an operator to reduce the waiting time for a typical set of three films per patient to be made available.Each film drops from the cassette into a light tight enclosure where it engages the nip of a S shaped system of rollers and belts. The film is carried fast to the end of the belt system where a curved plate and roller system delivers it to a slower travelling set of rollers which are part of the processor. The curved plate and rollers ensure that the X-ray film is appropriately curved and in compression as it awaits processing. An electrical indicating device on the processor is connected electrically to a switch on the fast S shaped roller system. The operation of these controls ensures that the delivery of film to the processor can be halted if necessary while the first film is being processed.

Abstract: A gravity impelled transport for moving an original to an exposure station in a photographic printer or copier and there aligning the original in a reference position for exposure. The transport includes an inclined chute defining first and second planar guides for supporting and directing the original along a face and an edge thereof. The chute has a compound slope with respect to the horizontal such that gravitational forces will urge the original into guided association with the separate guide beds while moving the original along the chute. A retractable pin at the exposure station intercepts and stops the moving original thereby permitting the gravitational forces to align the original in the reference position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for joining overlapping fore and rear ends of two pieces of deformable material which are placed in overlapping relationship through the conjunctive use of a first fixed support surface supporting a protruding rear edge of one of the pieces of material and a second rotative support surface supporting a non-protruding fore edge of the second piece of material. Each support surface is provided with associated devices for shifting an associated support edge of material to create small waves of material near the edges of the first and second pieces of material. The shifted pieces of material are overlapped by rotating the second support surface into substantial alignment with the first support surface thereby bringing the fore edge of the second piece under and in contact with the rear protruding edge of the first piece. A pressing device joins the overlapped edges of the two pieces of material by pressing them against the second support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding record cards to and from a utilization station in a record card utilization machine comprises a support housing for a card origination hopper and a card collection hopper, which is mounted below the origination hopper. A transfer carriage is mounted for reciprocal, pivoted movement from a first position where it receives a card from the origination hopper, to a second position at the utilization station where the card is utilized, and back to the same first position where it returns the card to the collection hopper. A card feeding and returning mechanism is associated with the hoppers to feed cards to and remove cards from the carriage at different times in the sequence of operation of the apparatus, but nevetheless with the carriage at the same first position in its path of reciprocal, pivoted travel.

Abstract: A paper registration control device for printing presses includes a carrier having a plurality of holes extending vertically therethrough and arranged in tandem and a plurality of spherical pressure elements, each element adapted for seating in one of the carrier holes. A segment of each of the pressure elements projects below the carrier and floats within the carrier to thereby exert a constant pressure on paper being fed into the registering position. At least one of the spherical pressure elements has a weight different from the other pressure elements. Therefore, the pressure elements may be arranged in different patterns along the carrier to exert the optimum pressure necessary to provide exact register at substantially increased feed rates.

Abstract: A side feeding shearing apparatus is provided with an upper frame having a side opening to allow sheets to be swung between the shear punch and die to position the sheet for feeding past the shear punch. The shear punch is positioned below the sheet supporting surface of the shearing apparatus and is raised for shearing the sheets. Sheets are delivered to the shearing apparatus by a transfer mechanism that includes a base secured to an adjacent N.C. punch press. An arm which clamps the sheet is pivotally mounted on the base and the arm is accurately aligned on the base by a shot pin and corresponding aperture. Movement of the sheet through the shearing apparatus is provided by the sheet positioning means of the N.C. punch press.