Abstract: A switchable note-picking device (1) used at a note inlet of a note processing device comprises a note-bearing platform (17), a note-picking mechanism (13) for picking notes on the note-bearing platform (17) and a note-classifying mechanism (11) for classifying the picked notes. The note-classifying mechanism (11) comprises a note-classifying shaft (112) and a note-classifying wheel fixed on the note-classifying shaft (112). The switchable note-picking device (1) further comprises a driving component (15) for driving the note-picking mechanism (13) hidden below the note-bearing platform (17) to be exposed out of the note-bearing platform (17) and contact with the notes. By the driving component (15), the note-picking mechanism (13) is exposed out of the note-bearing platform (17) when picking notes and hidden below the note-bearing platform (17) when being free from picking notes, so that the switchable note-picking device (1) can stop deposition and deposit a specified amount of notes.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling machine includes: a storage unit 30 for storing therein paper sheets P in a batch form; a kicker roller 2 for providing drive force to the paper sheet P located in the lowest position, among the paper sheets P in the batch form, by rotating; a gate mechanism 5 for grasping each paper sheet P provided with the drive force by the kicker roller 2, and feeding out the paper sheet P along a feed out plane; and a pressing member 11 for pressing, from above, the paper sheets P stored in the storage unit 30. The gate mechanism 5 includes a feed roller 3 provided to the storage unit 30, and a gate member 4 provided to be opposed to the feed roller 3. Further, a guide roller 10, which is rotatable in a feeding direction of the paper sheets P, is provided to a bottom end of the pressing member 11.

Abstract: A media cassette comprises: a base on which a stack of media items may be placed, a pusher plate biased towards the base and a plurality of drive rollers located beneath the profiled surface and partially protruding through apertures defined in the profiled surface. The base includes a profiled surface extending from a central low region disposed along an axis of the base to higher regions on opposing sides of the central low region. The pusher plate is operable to urge a stack of media items onto the profiled surface. The plurality of drive rollers are operable to drive a media item in contact with the profiled surface out of the media cassette.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, which is configured to feed stacked sheets one by one in a sheet feed direction, is provided with a sheet tray configured to accommodate the stacked sheets, a feed-out roller protruded from the sheet tray and configured to feed the stacked sheets from the sheet tray, a feed-out nip member arranged above and opposite to the feed-out roller, the feed-out nip member being configured to contact an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets and bias the sheets toward the feed-out roller, a separation unit located on a downstream side, in the sheet feed direction, of the feed-out roller, the separation unit separating a lowermost sheet from the stacked sheets fed by the feed-out roller, and a friction member configured to contact the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets at a position different from a position where the feed-out nip member contacts the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray for stacking sheet-like conveyance-target media, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first and second pressing units face and apply a first and second pressing force, respectively, on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. The first pressing unit includes a first pressing unit separation roller, and the first contact area is defined wherein the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other. The second contact area is defined wherein the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other such that the first contact area and the second contact appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.

Abstract: A separator device for separating flat articles one-by-one from a stack of flat articles and for conveying them downstream, said separator device comprising at least one flexible bag provided with a plurality of balls and co-operating with a drive member so that, by deforming while said flat articles are being conveyed downstream, it separates said flat articles one-by-one. A particular application lies in separating mailpieces.

Abstract: In a mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck through which motor-driven conveyor members pass and on which a stack of mailpieces stands, and a monitoring and control circuit for actuating said motor-driven members at a determined drive speed in order to enable said mailpieces to be extracted one-by-one downstream, there is provided a method of controlling said motor-driven conveyor members wherein the drive speed of said motor-driven conveyor members varies as a function of the weight of said stack of mailpieces standing on said mailpiece-receiving deck.

Abstract: A singulating sheet feeder includes a deck for slidably supporting a plurality of sheets and a drive system for moving the sheets along the deck. The drive system includes a drive element for engaging a lowermost sheet to move the sheets into a shingled arrangement. The sheet feeder further includes a transport element for transporting the lowermost sheet away from the plurality of sheets and a separator element proximate to the transport element including a substantially planar surface for engaging leading edges of subsequent sheets to retard motion of the subsequent sheets as the lowermost sheet is transported, wherein the substantially planar surface is disposed at an acute angle to the deck.

Abstract: A banknote dispenser is constructed to include a housing adapted to hold banknotes in a stack for dispensing, a power module, a transferring wheel set driven by the power module to spread a stack of banknotes into a stepped stack of banknotes and then to dispense banknotes individually by a respective push block being rotated with a respective wheel of the transferring wheel set, an output wheel set adapted to transfer banknotes individually from the transferring wheel set to a banknote outlet, and a sensor adapted to control the operation of the power module subject to the presence of banknotes in the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets of material, such as paper, sequentially from the bottom of a stack of sheets comprises a suction chamber, a perforated belt movable over the suction chamber, a sheet restraining gate above the downstream end of the suction chamber, and a roller to produce an upward corrugation in the bottom sheet only of the stack. The gap between the bottom of the gate and the belt is profiled to match the corrugation in the bottom sheet to enable the bottom sheet only to pass through. The profile preferably includes a shallow triangular recess in the bottom edge of the gate.

Abstract: An improved hopper and singulating/feed assembly for a utilization device, such as an inserter, that feeds sheet-like materials from a hopper feed stack that reduces the various geometrical and physical problems that lead to jams, misfeeds and failures to properly singulate the stack is provided. A hopper reduces the pressure on the bottom sheets of the stack by providing a parallel wedge structure at the stack base. This wedge structure also helps to drive bottom sheets successively forward toward a front face so as to further break frictional and adhesive contact between sheets at the bottom of the stack. Hopper side guides with integral angled shelves engage front side edges of the stack and allow easier singulation of respective bottom sheets. Likewise a fixed sucker block assembly, which seats a suction cup in a rotating base with a surrounding planar block face and an integral fulcrum edge improves the separation of the bottom sheet from the overlying stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing individual thin sheet-like articles from a supply stack of articles includes a supply magazine, and a base closing off the supply magazine. The base includes a dispensing assembly which includes a reciprocatably driven roller upon which the article supply stack rests on. Two openings are located on opposite sides of the roller so that the bottommost article may be bent into one opening as the roller is driven in one direction to free it from the supply stack. Rotation of the roller in the opposite direction urges the bottommost article against a curved deflector plate out of the second opening.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for separating and feeding workpieces of limp material one at a time and one another from the bottom of a stack of the workpieces wherein the stack is supported at the bottom with a gap in the support for exposing a portion of the bottom surface of the bottom workpiece, the support being movable to move the gap away from and back to a forward position. The portion of the bottom workpiece exposed in the gap in the forward position is fed rearward to form a loop in the bottom workpiece, the loop being gripped and pulled down which the support is moved to move the gap away from its forward position, the support then acting to peel the bottom workpiece away from the next workpiece above, followed by the release of the grip on the loop to release the bottom workpiece for being carried away.

Abstract: A separating apparatus having a magazine in which stacked sheets made of plastics material or the like are arranged, and having movable suction means for moving the separated sheets to a workplace, where the sheets in the stack are supported in a horizontal position by holding means on the bottom edge of the magazine, and therebetween the bottom most sheet is freely disposed and is accessible to the suction means. The holding means comprises a rotatably driven shaft arranged along the two bottom edges of the magazine, the cross-section of which shaft, in the region of the length of the sheet, is recessed so as to form a shoulder, the depth of the shoulder being equal to the thickness of the sheet to be separated, and arranged approximately in the center between the edges of the magazine are the suction means which are able to move toward and away from the bottom sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing, one by one, a stack of media as stacked in a stacker table by friction rollers to separate and supply the media to the next work station. The friction rollers are rotated in such a manner that rotational force thereof is provided to overcome any frictional resistance generated between the media so that no slip is caused between the rollers to obtain a smooth medium without damage thereto.

Abstract: To separate sheet-type recording media of different stiffnesses from a stack, a separating roller acts by friction on the current first sheet of the stack, in order to push it against a ramp and lift it up from the stack along this ramp. The separating roller is mounted in freely movable manner in a plane parallel to the plane of the stack, so that, as a function of the stiffness of the recording medium, it rolls over the stack and away from the ramp until the front edge of the sheet is able to bend sufficiently at the ramp to be separated. Thereby the separating roller adjusts automatically to the distance from the ramp that is optimum for the stiffness of the current recording media.

Abstract: A metering hopper which utilizes an oscillating friction pad to engage and initiate the feeding of successive, bulky newspaper sections or the like from the bottom of a stack may be converted into a machine using a vacuum separating feeder for thin, single-sheet articles by disabling the rocker pad assembly and bolting in place a tray module having an essentially self-contained oscillating vacuum sucker head assembly. When the tray is installed, the self-contained oscillating mechanism for the sucker head assembly makes operable engagement with pre-existing drive means on the machine so as to carry out the necessary rocking action of the sucker heads in timed relationship with other functions of the machine. Connecting the sucker assembly to vacuum control mechanism and a source of vacuum pressure completes the conversion.

Abstract: An apparatus for picking up and feeding, one by one, workpieces which are stacked in a guide, such as shirt cuffs or the like having an inconsistent thickness. A pair of delivery rollers is rotated so as to slacken the lowermost workpiece so that the latter is readily drawn from the guide by a pickup means for supply to an automatic sewing station.

Abstract: A conveyor for removing stock items from the bottom of a stack comprising an intermittently operable roller member having conveying and lifting portions movable in an orbit, the conveying portions being operative during their operative periods to drag against the lowermost item of the stack seated thereon and enter one end of the item into a metering device which is operative during the same intervals to enter the leading end of each article into a pair of pullout rollers, the roller member cycling to dispose the lifting portions in lifting positions to the stack and providing smooth surfaced areas releasing the partially withdrawn items from under the stack during this interval.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets from the top or bottom of a stack of sheets which includes a sheet stack supporting tray, a vacuum plenum and feed belt sheet separating and feeding assembly with at least one feed belt having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belt, the vacuum plenum and the belt assembly being positioned adjacent a sheet to be fed such that a rear portion of the plenum and belt assembly lies opposite a portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and is adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet to be fed and a front portion of the plenum and belt assembly which lies opposite the front portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and in a plane angled away from the plane of the sheet to be fed.

Abstract: A device and a method for dispensing articles in the form of sheets from a supply. In order to dispense the articles, for example banknotes, from a supply in the form of a stack of banknotes, the outermost banknote of the stack is first displaced in one direction so that the banknote is made to form a bulge after its resistance to buckling has been overcome, whereupon the banknote is displaced in the opposite direction for being fed out from the dispensing device. The banknote is displaced by means of a withdrawal roller of appropriate shape, wherein the peripheral surface of said roller for example may be concave or convex and/or may be provided with helical projections for affecting the resistance of the banknote to buckling. In consequence of said bulge being formed in the banknote the latter will be effectively separated from the immediately following banknote of the stack, said separation being facilitated additionally by the design of the withdrawal roller.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for separating sheets at the bottom of a stack comprising two contrarotating suction drum assemblies (14,15:17) and a suction pipe (18) extending between the two assemblies. In order to ensure that the edges of the lowermost sheet are fully separated from the sheet above before the sheet is extracted from the bottom of the stack, one assembly has a central suction drum (14) having suction outlets (25) and the other assembly (17) has suction outlets (29) to draw the edges of the lowermost sheet in their central regions downwardly from the sheet above. Two pairs of contrarotating double ended fingers (32) are mounted on either side of the drum assemblies to enter the stack above the lowermost sheet where the central region has been drawn downwardly and to move along the edges of the stack towards the ends of the stack to separate the edges of the lowermost sheet from the sheet above.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing trays one at a time from the bottom of a nested stack of flanged flexible trays are disclosed. The bottommost tray rests on two supports, thereby supporting the stack, and a rotating barb or the like compresses the bottommost tray lengthwise so that it can pass between the supports and fall free of the stack.

Abstract: An improved sheet paper feed apparatus for a printing apparatus having a platen for holding and providing at least longitudinal motion to a sheet of paper. The sheet feed apparatus comprises a rectangular tray including a rear paper support portion and a spaced apart forward paper support portion, the portions for supporting thereon the opposite ends of a stack of paper. A shingler wheel is positioned intermediate the support portions for engaging the lowermost sheet of the paper sheet stack, and the shingler wheel is rotated in a first direction to move the lowermost sheet of the stack away from the forward support portion until the lowermost sheet is no longer supported thereby, and then in the opposite direction to drive the lowermost sheet beneath the forward paper support portion, the forward paper support portion comprising in the preferred embodiment a pair of inwardly projecting, spaced apart fingers.

Abstract: The label dispensing system includes an upright label housing which is open at its lower end, a stationary shelf at one side of the opening of the housing for supporting the edge portion of the bottom label in a stack of labels in the housing, a movable platform at the opposite side of the opening of the housing, and pointed instruments movable through slots in the shelf to impale and push the bottom label off the shelf. The platform moves to a level above the shelf to bow the bottom label downwardly as the pointed instruments impale and push the bottom label off the shelf. A suction head is movable from a position immediately beneath the bottom label in the housing through a downward arc to a position above a moving work piece, to grasp and pull the bottom label from the platform and move the bottom label from the stack in the housing to the work piece.

Abstract: In a bottle labeller of the type having a rotating discharge roller with an extending finger that withdraws a label from a magazine, the discharge roller contains a piston in which the finger is carried by a complimentary shape of a slot in the piston with the base of the finger. The piston moves in a cylindrical bore both axially and rotatably to retract the finger from extended position into the roller when a bottle detecting system discovers an interruption in the flow of bottles to the labeller. The detecting system directs pressurized air to the roller, forcing the piston to move in the bore and retract the finger when an interruption is discovered.

Abstract: A magazine and feeder for carton blanks. The magazine has two stages and a pair of independently-driven rollers located between the two stages, which rollers support the major portion of the stack of carton blanks. Below the lower stage is an ejector mechanism which has a suction cup for pulling blanks downwardly one at a time and cooperating pressure and feed rolls for driving each blank individually out of the magazine. Assist rolls are also provided to assure proper alignment of the blanks as they are thrust out of the magazine. The lower stage includes a detector finger which is operatively connected to the independent drives for the rollers to cause the rollers to rotate from time-to-time to drop carton blanks into the lower stage, thereby replenishing the supply as blanks are fed from the ejector mechanism into the magazine.