Abstract: An electronically actuated turning device for transport apparatus which receives product such as paper folders, detects the presence of the product, causes a ball to contact the product and allows the product to rotate 90 degrees, releases the ball and allows the product to be transported in the same direction by the apparatus for further operations as required.

Abstract: A sheet transfer member (17) has at least one outwardly opening slot (20) into which a sheet can be received. The member (17) is rotatably mounted in use so that a sheet in the slot (20) can be transferred to a sheet stacking position. A portion of the rotatable member (17) comprises high friction insert (22) which, during a dispense operation, withdraws sheets from the stacking position.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding flat, thin objects, such as valuable documents in the form of banknotes, cheques, etc., along a transport path, including object straightening and repositioning means which straighten or reposition the objects as they pass sequentially along the transport path. The straightening means includes rotating driven object straightening rollers that lie briefly against the objects as the objects pass along the transport path. The straightening means includes two rotatable, driven straightening rollers, each mounted on a driving shaft and intended to lie in abutment with the objects. The straightening means further includes control means which causes the rollers to move in accordance with the deviation of respective objects from an intended correct position on the transport path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus records an image on a recording medium after correcting a slant of the image according to a type of document sheet or an operating history of the image forming apparatus. Normally, a slant of the document sheet is corrected by bringing one edge of the sheet in contact with a document scale provided on a document platform. When the sheet is of thin paper or sheets of different sizes are mixed, an image signal obtained by scanning a document image is electrically processed so as to correct a slant of an image to be recorded. When the image signal is electrically processed so as to correct the slant of the image to be recorded, the correction of image slant may be based also on the operating history of the image forming apparatus, for example, the total number of sheets transported, the number of times a paper jam has occurred or the cumulative value of the slant angle of the image.

Abstract: An object tracking and motion control system includes a thermal marking unit such as a laser for inducing localized thermal indicia on objects. A thermal tracking unit, typically a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) such as a two dimensional thermal sensing array, is positioned to measure movement of objects marked with localized thermal indicia. A motion control unit is connected to the thermal tracking unit to permit adjustment of motion of objects marked with induced localized thermal indicia based on their measured movement.

Abstract: A stack of image receiving sheets, wherein each image receiving sheet has on one side of a support an image receiving layer, includes a cover sheet protecting the image receiving layer of an outermost image receiving sheet. The cover sheet has a detection mark distinguishing it from the image receiving sheets.

Abstract: A laser printer (3) can initiate a line of printing only when the sweep of the laser light reaches a point in its cycle. An inkjet printer (5) moves paper by stepper motor in increments. Switch (9) senses the paper (15) to determine the location of paper in path (6) with respect to nominal printing locations of the laser printer. The closest nominal position is selected for printing. The paper may lead or lag the selected position. Switch (11) senses the paper to determine the location of paper in the path with respect to nominal printing locations of the inkjet printer. Two leads are added to reach a net greater lead, a lag is subtracted from a lead, and two lags are added to reach a net greater lag. The closest nominal position is then selected. This assures that registration does not vary by more than one half of the spacing between nominal locations of the second printer.

Abstract: A justification apparatus, which receives cut sheets of different widths along a path in an in-track direction of travel, aligns the sheets relative to an in-track axis. The apparatus includes a tray having a planar surface for receiving unconstrained sheets. An edge abutment is movable in opposed directions parallel to the plane of the tray surface so as to contact a side edge of a sheet received on the surface to move the sheet with the edge abutment.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device can perform registration of a sheet with high precision even if the sheet is fed at high speed. The device includes a pair of active registration rollers, disposed at a side upstream from a reading unit in the sheet feeding direction, for correcting skew of the sheet, skew-amount detection sensors, disposed at a side downstream from the pair of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, respective pairs of feeding rollers, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, and sheet detection sensors, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of feeding rollers in the sheet feeding direction. Each of the pairs of feeding rollers includes a roller having a semispherical cross section at the driving side.

Abstract: A sheet carrying apparatus reduces skew of a sheet during carriage, and realizes high-quality print. A position detecting sensor detects a position in a direction perpendicular to a sheet carrying direction of the sheet carried by a sheet carrying roller. A skew angle of the sheet is calculated depending upon a deviation of the detected position from a predetermined reference position. Load rollers are on the right and left sides with respect to a sheet center line in the sheet carrying direction, and are respectively opposed to following rollers through the sheet so as to bring the sheet into pressure contact. A torque limiter to apply a braking force to the load roller, and the load roller are coupled or released by electromagnetic clutches. Thereby, the carrying forces can independently be controlled on the right and left sides of the sheet depending upon the skew angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating, feeding and sorting stacked products utilizes a computer controlled conveyor transport path. The transport path includes infeed, separating and output sections. The infeed section includes an infeed conveyor and feed roller to regulate downstream movement into the separating section. The separating section includes a plurality of individually and selectively controlled friction feeder rolls arranged on a laterally tilted incline plane. The method and apparatus includes sensors along the separating section for determining position and relative movement of products. Through computer control, individual feeder rolls or sets of feeder rolls on the inclined plane are selectively energized to separate underlying products from stacked overlying or overlapping products. The foregoing process is repeated until all products in a stack have been separated into individual units.

Abstract: An apparatus for ensuring proper registration of a mailpiece in a feed path of a postage meter prior to printing includes a printing mechanism; detecting structure which detects first and second edges of the mailpiece in the feed path, the detecting structure initiating printing by the printing mechanism on the mailpiece at times when the first and second edges are concurrently detected in the feed path by the detecting structure and inhibiting printing by the printing mechanism at times when the first and second edges are not concurrently detected in the feed path by the detecting means. A method accomplishes the function of the apparatus.

Abstract: A fluid transport system for moving flexible objects includes a conveyor configured to direct fluid flow against opposite sides of flexible objects. A sensor unit senses motion state of flexible objects, and a motion analysis unit is connected to the sensor unit to calculate relative or absolute movement of flexible objects based on the motion state. Overall movement, position, velocity, and orientation of flexible objects can be determined, as well as internal movement of the object attributable to flexure or edge curling. A motion control unit is connected to the motion analysis unit to modify fluid flow directed against opposite sides of flexible objects, accurately adjusting motion of flexible objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating, feeding and sorting stacked products utilizes a computer controlled conveyor transport path. The transport path comprises infeed, separating and output sections. The infeed section includes an infeed conveyor and feed roller to regulate downstream movement into the separating section. The separating section includes a plurality of individually and selectively controlled friction feeder rolls arranged on a laterally tilted incline plane. The method and apparatus includes sensors along the separating section for determining position and relative movement of products. Through computer control, individual feeder rolls or sets of feeder rolls on the inclined plane are selectively energized to separate underlying products from stacked overlying or overlapping products. The foregoing process is repeated until all products in a stack have been separated into individual units.

Abstract: A sheet carrying apparatus reduces skew of a sheet during carriage, and realizes high-quality print. A position detecting sensor detects a position in a direction perpendicular to a sheet carrying direction of the sheet carried by a sheet carrying roller. A skew angle of the sheet is calculated depending upon a deviation of the detected position from a predetermined reference position. Load rollers are on the right and left sides with respect to a sheet center line in the sheet carrying direction, and are respectively opposed to following rollers through the sheet so as to bring the sheet into pressure contact. A torque limiter to apply a braking force to the load roller, and the load roller are coupled or released by electromagnetic clutches. Thereby, the carrying forces can independently be controlled on the right and left sides of the sheet depending upon the skew angle.

Abstract: A copying machine having a two-in-one copying mode has a pickup roller 65, a separating roller 75, a register roller 90, a conveyor belt 95 and a pinch roller 101. The pickup roller 65 and the separating roller 75 feed a document toward a glass platen 29 one by one to stop the document at a first-out position. The register roller 90 conveys the document fed by the pickup roller 65 and the separating roller 75 onto the glass platen.

Abstract: A document alignment system includes a plurality of drive rolls (42, 44) operative to drive documents one by one along a feed path, and a plurality of alignment rolls (100) spaced apart along the feed path with their axes perpendicular to those of the drive rolls (42,44) and operative to move a document (124) transversely to the feed path so as to bring a long edge of the document (124) into parallel abutting contact with a reference surface (72). When the alignment rolls are operative the drive rolls (42) are inoperative and out of contact with the document (124). Each alignment roll (100) is arranged to cooperate with a spring biased rotatably mounted ball (112) whereby in the course of an alignment operation the document (124) is gripped resiliently between the alignment rolls (100) and the cooperating balls (112).

Abstract: A media handling subsystem picks a media sheet from a stack, then moves the picked sheet along a media path. Any skewing of the media sheet existing in the media stack or occurring during the pick cycle is removed before the sheet reaches a position to receive print markings. In particular, the alignment of the skewed media sheet is altered (i.e., the sheet is moved) to square the media sheet to the media path. An electro-optic sensor detects when the top of a media sheet enters between a drive roller and pinch roller. Upon entering, the media sheet moves a mechanical flag into the light circuit of the optical sensor. After the media sheet trips the flag, the drive roller moves the top edge of the media sheet backward along the media path out of the grasp of the pinch roller and drive roller. As the sheet moves out of the grasp, the top edge of the sheet falls into squared alignment with the drive roller and pinch roller. The squared media sheet then is moved forward tripping the flag again.

Abstract: A system for assisting manual placement of odd-shaped original documents on the exposure platen of a copier or scanner includes a detection device disposed on an edge of the platen. The device includes a light source emitting a light beam substantially parallel to a surface of the platen, and a photosensor adapted to detect light resulting from the reflection of the light beam by an object on the surface of the platen. A main focus direction of the light source and a main focus direction of the photosensor intersect at a predetermined position on the surface of the platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating, feeding and sorting stacked products utilizes a computer controlled conveyor transport path. The transport path comprises infeed, separating and output sections. The infeed section includes an infeed conveyor and feed roller to regulate downstream movement into the separating section. The separating section includes a plurality of individually and selectively controlled friction feeder rolls arranged on a laterally tilted incline plane. The method and apparatus includes sensors along the separating section for determining position and relative movement of products. Through computer control, individual feeder rolls or sets of feeder rolls on the inclined plane are selectively energized to separate underlying products from stacked overlying or overlapping products. The foregoing process is repeated until all products in a stack have been separated into individual units.

Abstract: Postal items are assembled using a system with delivery stations and a folding station. Documents are delivered by the delivery stations. The documents are gathered into a stack having on one side substantially aligned document edges. The stack is supplied to the folding station in a direction transverse to these edges. According to the invention the documents, after being delivered, are displaced relative to each other in an area downstream of the delivery stations and upstream of the folding station until these document edges are substantially aligned on one side of the documents. By virtue of the invention, it is possible, inter alia, to use delivery stations and transport means of simple construction. There is also proposed a system with an aligning station for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A fabric conveying, aligning and fabricating system comprising a table having a support surface having a length over which fabric blanks are conveyed with continuous and uninterrupted movement. Conveyors are associated with the table which are adapted to convey successive fabric blanks over the support surface. Fabric blank aligning apparatus is arranged intermediate the support surface length and includes steering apparatus operable to steer a longitudinal edge of the fabric blank. Edge sensing apparatus is operative to sense the location of the longitudinal edge of the fabric blank relative to a fixed reference during its movement over the support surface. The edge sensing apparatus is operative to actuate the edge steering apparatus which acts continuously to positively steer the longitudinal edge along the fixed reference during the movement of the fabric blank through the aligning apparatus. The aligning apparatus also includes fabric blank end control apparatus.

Abstract: A deposit processing module comprising a first transport having a first end for receiving envelopes and single document deposits and a second end from which the deposits are discharged, and a second transport operatively positioned for receiving and returning single document deposits to and from the first transport. Printing means are provided for printing deposit information on the deposits, a magnetic charge/read head is provided for charging and reading magnetic information on the single document deposits and an imager is provided for imaging one side of the single document deposits. A gate mechanism associated with the second end of the first transport is movable between a first position wherein envelopes and single document deposits may be discharged from the module and a second position wherein single document deposits may be transported between the first transport to the second transport.

Abstract: A sheet supply/conveyance mechanism for sheets includes a hopper for accommodating a stack of plural sheets, a conveyer for picking up the sheets from the hopper and conveying the sheets in an advancing direction along a path, two detectors for optically detecting a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed, a correcting device for correcting the horizontal alignment of the sheet in accordance with the detection results of said detectors, and right and left guide plates provided in the hopper for aligning the respective, opposite sides of the stacked sheets. The guide plates are slidable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the sheet advancing direction. The guide plates are respectively connected with the two detectors, so that the detectors are also slidable in the horizontal direction, together with the respective guide plates.

Abstract: A paper conveying device for overrunning paper from a stop position and then, switching the paper back to stop the paper in a stop position. The driving of a paper conveying section for conveying paper is stopped at the time point where the rear end of the paper reaches the stop position. Thereafter, the amount of overrun of the paper is detected, so that the paper is switched back by the amount. Consequently, the amount of overrun and the amount of switchback of the paper are suppressed to the minimum amounts required. In addition, the stress applied to the paper is reduced, and the paper is set in a short time.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is formed of a transfer device having a transfer belt situated above a platen to transfer a sheet on the platen, and a belt motor for actuating the transfer belt, a sheet detecting device situated near the transfer belt for detecting the sheet, and a feeding device located near the transfer belt at a side of the sheet detecting device. The feeding device feeds the sheet between the transfer belt and the platen. A controlling device is electrically connected to the sheet detecting device and the belt motor. The controlling device, while the belt motor for transferring the sheet on the platen is actuating, outputs a stop signal to stop the belt motor when a predetermined time has passed after the sheet detecting device detects the sheet so that the sheet is placed on a predetermined position on the platen. The feeder further includes a compensating device connected to the controlling device.

Abstract: An envelope positioning assembly for a postage meter. A typical postage meter includes a registration wall, a deck and a printing apparatus for printing a postage indicia on an envelope. The envelope positing assembly includes: (1) a pin fixably mounted to the registration wall and generally aligned perpendicular to the deck, (2) a stop having an obstructing surface and a cutout, (3) positioning apparatus and (4) a microcontroller in communication with the positioning apparatus. The stop is slidably mounted on the pin to move between a first position where the obstructing surface extends above the deck and provides an obstruction to the envelope and a second position where the cutout extends above the deck and does not obstruct the envelope. The microcontroller means causes the positioning apparatus to move the stop to the second position upon initiation of a print cycle.

Abstract: A media handling subsystem picks a media sheet from a stack, then moves the picked sheet along a media path. Any skewing of the media sheet existing in the media stack or occurring during the pick cycle is removed before the sheet reaches a position to receive print markings. In particular, the alignment of the skewed media sheet is altered (i.e., the sheet is moved) to square the media sheet to the media path. An electro-optic sensor detects when the top of a media sheet enters between a drive roller and pinch roller. Upon entering, the media sheet moves a mechanical flag into the light circuit of the optical sensor. After the media sheet trips the flag, the drive roller moves the top edge of the media sheet backward along the media path out of the grasp of the pinch roller and drive roller. As the sheet moves out of the grasp, the top edge of the sheet falls into squared alignment with the drive roller and pinch roller. The squared media sheet then is moved forward tripping the flag again.

Abstract: A feeder for a sheet-fed printing machine having a feeder table having at least one pulling unit coupled to the machine drive train for imparting to each newly arrived sheet a defined direction of pull, and a sensing arrangement for sensing the position of the side edges of the sheet, the feeder which includes at least one sensor having a response range, facing a respective side edge of the sheet, the sensor which produces two distinctly different signals that indicate the presence or absence, respectively, of the sheet in the desired position of the sheet before and after imparting the pull; electronic logic control apparatus operatively responsive to the signals from the sensor that are produced at the first and second interrogation of the sensor before and after the pull for determining if the sheet after the pull is positioned within the response range of the sensor; and alarm indicator operatively responsive to the logic control apparatus for producing an alarm indication in case it is determined by the

Abstract: A fabric panel loader for automatically feeding a fabric panel from a stack of fabric pieces to a work station. The apparatus includes a fabric pickup assembly for removing the fabric panel from the stack of fabric pieces and transferring the panel to a smoothing table. The smoothing table receives the fabric panel and automatically moves the fabric panel from the stack of fabric pieces to a predetermined orientation. A panel loader removes the fabric panel from the table and transfers the panel to the work station.

Abstract: A method of straightening a skew in a cut sheet according to the present invention including the steps of feeding the cut sheet toward a sheet forward roller which is rotating forwardly in a sheet forward direction by a sheet feed roller, rotating the sheet forward roller backwardly immediately after a front end of the cut sheet is nipped by the sheet forward roller, adjusting a position of the front end of the cut sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet forward direction by a difference between widthwise sheet nipping amounts on right and left ends of the cut sheet, and feeding the cut sheet by rotating the sheet forward roller forwardly again. An apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a sheet feed device for image forming equipment, a sheet feed section and a register section are each provided an exclusive drive arrangement. The sheet feed section starts feeding a sheet toward the register section in response to a feed start signal generated in an image forming section. The time for causing the sheet feed section to stop feeding a sheet or the time for causing the register section to start driving the sheet is delayed in matching relation to a print speed. As a result, the sheet feed section provides a sheet with a sufficient slack while the register section brings the sheet into accurate register with an image and can change the position of an image on the sheet in the top-and-bottom direction.

Abstract: A tax stamp machine for printing tax stamps on documents. The tax stamp machine includes: a housing; a registration point marked on the housing; a feed deck for receiving documents; a device for printing a tax stamp on a portion of the documents; a pair of drive rollers for feeding the documents to the printing device; and a device for indexing the drive rollers to thereby register the documents with the registration point prior to printing the tax stamp.

Abstract: Endless drive belts are provided in a spaced-apart relation to each other such that one endless driven belt is set in contact with one of these drive belts and the other endless driven belt is set in contact with the other drive belt. The one drive belt is driven by one pulse motor through one drive roller and that other drive belt is driven by the other pulse motor through the other drive roller. A bill is conveyed with its opposed edges gripped by the drive and driven belts. A controller measures the skew of the bill and bill-to-bill interval on the basis of output signals detected by forward-stage detecting units against the conveying bill and controls the respective rotational speeds of the one pulse motor and that other pulse motor on the basis of a result of measurement.

Abstract: A unit for feeding semifinished parts, whereby a carriage travelling along a straight slideway supports a rectangular table in turn supporting a parallelepiped stack of semifinished parts and which is floatable by means of an air cushion. The carriage presents a device for positioning the stack and comprising four articulated arms, each fitted to the carriage and having, on its free end, a locating element designed to contact the lateral walls of the stack.

Abstract: According to the sheet supply device of this invention, a sheet supplied from a sheet supply cassette is fed to a reference position. On the basis of a distance between where the sheet is fed from the reference position to where a tip portion of the sheet is detected by a sheet detection sensor, a sheet feed amount is determined. The sheet feed amount corresponds to the position where the sheet will be fed to a sheet supply completion position after the tip portion of the sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor. Accordingly, the tip portion of the fed sheet is accurately located at the sheet supply completion position. Thus, an image can be formed at a predetermined position on the sheet through printing, copying or other image-forming operations.

Abstract: A base plate conveyor includes conveyance rollers for conveying a base plate to a prescribed position, and a base plate centering mechanism having right and left centerers for centering said base plate on said base plate conveyor. The conveyor further includes a device for moving the right and left centerer at a prescribed speed in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of the base plate. The moving device moves the centerers at the prescribed speed to such a position that the distance between the right and left centerers is slightly larger than a width of the base plate. The moving device thereafter moves the right and left centerers toward the base plate at a speed lower than the prescribed speed, such that the base plate is centered.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for stopping a conveyance of a sheet at a registration location. The sheet feeder includes: registration rollers, positioned at a registration location, for stopping a conveyance of a sheet; buckling rollers for conveying the sheet toward the registration rollers, and for conveying the sheet so that said sheet has a pressure contact with the pair of buckling rollers; a photosensor for detecting a leading edge of the sheet at a predetermined location, and for generating an edge detection signal; a driver for releasing the pressure contact of the sheet with the pair of buckling rollers; and a controller for controlling the driver to release said sheet based on the edge detection signal.

Abstract: Process and device for aligning and jointly processing flaccid workpiece layers (4, 104). The workpiece layers (4, 104) to be processed jointly are brought toward one another in the hanging position by endless conveyors (1, 101). A scanning and aligning station (10) is located in the delivery path of the two endless conveyors (1, 101). The workpiece layer is temporarily removed from the respective conveyor in at least one of the endless conveyors and aligned in relation to the other workpiece layer. The workpiece layer is then returned in the aligned position to the conveyor. After which the workpiece layers that are associated with one another will leave the scanning and aligning station (10) together. The present invention permits simplified fastening of clamps (16, 17; 116, 117) for the workpiece layers to the endless conveyors.

Abstract: A mailing machine base comprising, structure for feeding a sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge in a path of travel, the sheet feeding structure including a roller, the sheet feeding structure including structure for driving the roller at a desired sheet feeding speed corresponding to a desired reference voltage, structure for controlling the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the roller driving structure, the controlling structure including structure for sequentially sensing the leading and trailing edges of the sheet in the path of travel and providing corresponding successive signals to the microprocessor, the sheet having a predetermined length from the leading edge to the trailing edge thereof; and the microprocessor programmed for providing a predetermined reference voltage corresponding to the desired sheet feeding speed, counting a time interval in response to receiving the successive leading and trailing edge signals, determining whet

Abstract: A mailing machine base comprising, structure for a direction of the path of travel and feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a fence defining against which the an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment therewith and thus in the direction of the path of travel, structure for controlling the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including structure for sensing a sheet fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the signal having a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for less than a predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed into blocking relationship wi

Abstract: A fuzzy logic control device is used in conjunction with a pair of coaxially aligned and independently controlled paper feed rollers and a paper skew detector to detect and correct skew in a conveyed paper in a paper feeding device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for aligning the lateral edge of sheets fed to a printing press. The lateral position of a sheet is detected. A slidable suction device beneath the sheet is operated to pull the sheet toward a lateral abutment at a constant speed, the suction being applied at an individual time for each sheet in accordance with the detected position. Suction pressure is released when the sheet reaches the side lay, such that suction pressure is only applied for the time necessary to place the sheet in proper registration.

Abstract: A sheet registration mechanism for aligning a sheet moving along a substantially planar transport path relative to such transport path in a plurality of orthogonal directions (e.g., the cross-track and in-track directions and remove skew). The mechanism comprises a first roller assembly having a first urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path. A second roller assembly has a second urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path. A third roller assembly has a third urging roller mounted for rotation about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the transport path, and substantially perpendicular to the direction of sheet travel along the transport path.

Abstract: In this printer, switching between a single-sheet form feed path and a continuous form feed path occurs by rotating a paper guide when feeding the forms. When the printed single-sheet form is to be discharged onto a table, the tail end of the form is detected by a first single-sheet form sensor. Form feed is stopped for a moment, and the paper guide is rotated toward the continuous form feed path. Reverse feed of the form is resumed and continued until the tail end of the form reaches approximate center of the paper guide. The paper guide is then rotated toward the single-sheet form feed path. The tail end of the form is bent toward the table, and the form is discharged onto the table. As a result, single-sheet forms fed from a manual insertion port or from an automatic paper sheet feeder can be conveyed after finishing printing to the position where the forms are inserted in a stabilized manner without causing the forms to jam on the discharge path.

Abstract: Article positioning apparatus having a positioning surface and sensors for sensing the location of an article on the positioning surface with reference to an X direction, with reference to a Y direction perpendicular thereto, and with reference to an angular orientation in the plane of the positioning surface about an axis generally perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction. Motors are provided for moving the article in the X direction, in the Y direction, and for rotating the article generally about the axis. A controller responsive to the sensors selectively activates the X motor, Y motor and rotating motor to position the article.

Abstract: Sheets, such as business forms, are turned so that their orientation is changed from landscape to portrait mode, or vice versa. Simple apparatus effects sheet rotation, and includes a conveyance surface on which a sheet travels in a first direction, first and second rollers for engaging the sheet traveling on the conveyance surface, and first and second drives (e.g., D.C. stepper motors) for driving the first and second rollers independently of each other. A sensor senses the position of the sheet just downstream of the rollers, and a controller (computer)--in response to the sensor--controls the speed and direction of rotation of the motors so that one roller rotates with a given tangential speed in a first direction of rotation, while the other roller rotates at that same speed in an opposite direction of rotation.

Abstract: In a primary paper feeding device, a document is conveyed from a document stock section to a pair of registration rollers by a first conveying device. The document conveyed to the registration rollers is further conveyed forward in a downstream direction by the registration rollers. When the lead (downstream) edge of the document arrives at a predetermined first reference position downstream of the registration rollers, document conveying by the registration rollers terminates. In this way, the document is conveyed such that the trailing edge thereof does not pass through the registration rollers. Thereafter, when a document change signal occurs, the registration rollers again are driven so that the document advances toward a position for document reading.

Abstract: A registration system for copy sheets uses a pair of drive rolls and a drive system for commonly driving both drive rolls. A differential drive mechanism is provided for changing the relative angular position of one of the rolls with respect to the other roll to deskew the copy sheet. A control system is supplied with inputs representative of the skew of the copy sheet and controls the differential drive mechanism to deskew the copy sheet. The system offers enhanced performance and reduced cost.

Abstract: A sheet handler for successively transporting sheet-like material units to and from processing stations in image processing devices such as printers, copiers, and scanners. The sheet handler includes an idler and driven cross-roller set. The rollers are preloaded so that a normal force exists between the rollers at the nip. The nip is positioned in a path for receiving the sheet like material units and to urge such units along the path and into alignment along a registration edge. Apparatus for adjusting the preloaded force are provided to thereby adjust the normal force on sheet-like material passing through the nip.