Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting a flexible sheet to a first element with improved lateral alignment. The method includes a step of measuring a first lateral misalignment after establishing a first contact between the flexible sheet and either of the first element and a sheet parking surface called anchor in the first stage. If the 5 misalignment exceeds a predetermined threshold the flexible sheet is parked at the anchor such that it is not in contact with the first element, and the relative position of the first element and the anchor is altered during the second stage for correcting the mismatch during a contact between the flexible sheet and the first element to be established within the next step of the method. During the steps of shifting the contact point to obtain the second stage 10 the contacting process is more accurate and reproducible than the process for establishing the initial contact.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided to convey and align sheets being fed to a processing machine. In the event of a machine “stop,” a sheet, which has been separated from an overlapping stream, is conveyed back into the overlapping stream by raising the rear sheet edge with a mechanical or pneumatic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning sheets in a processing machine includes translationally movable stops or front lays which can be driven through the use of a coupler mechanism or individually actuable electric motors.

Abstract: A method of positioning copy or subsets for the easy insertion of tabs thereinto that includes creating a shingled boundary between subsets, with the top sheets of all subsets in the same position, but with the rest of each subset progressively offset so that the last page of the upper subset is significantly offset from the top sheet of the next subset in sawtooth fashion. As a result, the subsets can then be separated from one side more easily and tabs or other pages can be manually inserted with minimal difficulty.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets, includes a first transport device to deliver overlap-free sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v1 along a plane of transport EV. A second transport device carries away the sheets or stacks of sheets at a speed v2 along a plane of transport EH. A decelerating device is arranged to receive the sheets or stacks of sheets at the speed v1 from the first transport device, decelerate the sheets or stacks of sheets to the speed v2 and deliver the decelerated sheets or stacks of sheets to the second transport device to form the stream of overlapping sheets or stacks of sheets. The decelerating device comprises a suction roller unit actuated independently of the transport devices. The suction roller unit comprises a stationary element and an unevenly driven movable element.

Abstract: The apparatus 10 has a conveyor 12 which may be configured as a multiple tape conveyor and the working section 14 of which, which is driven in a conveying direction (F), forms a supporting face 16 for the printed products 18 which accumulate in an overlapping formation (S). An aligning plate 66 is situated on each side of the conveyor 12. The working section 14 of the conveyor can be deflected out of a conveying plane by means of a switching means 34, in order, in particular for the aligning of thin printed products 18 with few pages, to form a bend 62 in the products which reinforces them transversely with respect to the conveying direction (F) so that they can be laterally shifted into alignment by the aligning plates without damage.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes an insertion portion configured to stack and insert a plurality of sheets in an upright state, a supply structure configured to move the plurality of inserted sheets in the stacking direction and supply a sheet at a leading edge in a moving direction to a take-out position at one end of the insertion portion, a take-out structure configured to rotate in contact with the sheet supplied to the take-out position, thereby take out the sheet in a direction almost perpendicular to the stacking direction, and a suction structure configured to permit an air current to act on the sheet, supplied to the take-out position by the supply structure, at the leading edge in the moving direction and absorb the sheet toward the take-out position. Wherein the suction structure, so as to raise the fallen sheet at the leading edge in the moving direction and permit it to face the take-out structure, makes a flow rate of the air current acting on the sheet different in a surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet discharging apparatus in which an apparatus main body portion is provided with plural discharging rollers for discharging sheets by rotation, and a shaft coaxially fixed to the discharging rollers. The shaft has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the discharging roller. At the discharging roller side of the shaft is provided a small-diameter portion, with the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion smaller than the outer diameter of another portion. A projection projects from a portion of the apparatus main body portion, a tip end of the projection being disposed in a step between the small-diameter portion and the other portion of the shaft. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus having the sheet discharging apparatus, in which an image is formed on a sheet, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged by the sheet discharging apparatus.

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 apparatus for adjusting paper copies which are skewed and for providing a shingled stream, the apparatus including an input, a singulating device having a vertically movable gate member, a first abutting surface formed on the gate member, a second fixed abutting surface formed rearwardly of the movable gate member, a gate member being reciprocally driven in a vertical direction, and an output section to receive copies from the singulating device. The apparatus can be used in conjunction with other copy handling machines such as various integrators.

Abstract: The apparatus has an input pocket into which a stack of sheets is inserted. At least the sheet to be picked from the stack by the picking device is transported by means of a feed device to a picking device which then picks one sheet from the stack at a time. To improve singling quality, a presingling device is provided which first transports only part of the stack to the picking device. In order to ensure that stacks of different-sized sheet material are singled reliably, an aligning device is provided which transports at least the sheet to be picked from the stack in the direction of a defined stop and thus aligns the sheet against said stop. The aligning device preferably cooperates alternatingly with the feed device. To increase singling reliability, a pressure plate is provided in the presingling device for acting upon the presingled partial stack with a certain pressure.

Abstract: A device for laterally aligning sheets in a printing machine can have a feeding table via which the sheets are stream-fed to front lays, and a corresponding side-pull device for laterally moving the sheets after having been aligned at the front lays. The side-pull device can operate by admitting a suction to the sheets, and when moving heavy sheets, e.g. cardboard, at high machine speeds, a pull roller can supplement the suction air by pressing the sheets onto the side-pull device.

Abstract: A paper transport system includes an apparatus for controlling movement of the sheets along the predetermined course to provide sheet buffering. The apparatus includes first and second friction surfaces mounted for movement in orbital paths on opposite sides of the predetermined course in opposed relationship to define a nip through which the paper sheets pass. A selectively operable drive is provided for independently controlling the movement of the first and second friction surfaces, and the first friction surface has a coefficient of friction with the paper sheets which is greater than the coefficient of friction of the second surface with the paper sheets which is in turn greater than the coefficient of friction between the paper sheets.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus is provided to laminate a material such as paper stock. Once the paper stock is laminated an image is transferred to the laminated paper stock. The image transferred to the laminated paper stock appears as if the image had been printed on said paper stock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the suction pressure drawn through a conveyor belt which conveys a stream of underlapping sheets to an alignment station where sheets are aligned prior to being fed to a sheet-processing machine. A source of high pressure is coupled to a low pressure suction chamber adjacent the alignment station when the final sheet in the stream reaches the alignment end. The high pressure source rapidly equalizes the pressure with the chamber, thus enabling easy lateral alignment of the final sheet in the stream which has no following underlapping sheets to otherwise block the suction pressure.

Abstract: An improved document feed mechanism for feeding documents in a vertical direction through at least two stations including a device for shingling the documents in at least one station by having successive ones of the documents overlap one another to thereby compress the amount of vertical space required for the feeding operation as opposed to the space that would be required if the documents were fed top edge to bottom edge, respectively.

Abstract: A method for feeding a blocked sheet unit for continuously taking out a blocked sheet unit from a sheet unit forming section and feeding the blocked sheet unit to a subsequent step, the method for feeding a blocked sheet unit comprises a first step of taking out a generally half length of the blocked sheet unit from the sheet unit forming section. A subsequent stop includes forming a state where a lower surface of a front portion of a blocked sheet unit subsequently fed is partially superposed on an upper surface of a rear portion of a blocked sheet unit precedingly fed. The preceding blocked sheet unit and subsequent blocked sheet unit are clamped at the superposed portion together and simultaneously taking out the generally half length of the blocked sheet units. The final steps include subsequently separating the preceding blocked sheet unit from the subsequent blocked sheet unit one after another and feeding thereof to the subsequent step.

Abstract: A machine for providing a collation of a series of forms with partial overlap defined by a predetermined stagger from a continuous web of such forms has; a tractor feed for feeding the web into a separating station; bursting rollers for separating the web along transverse lines; a conveyor for feeding individual forms consecutively to a collation station; a rotatable stop and indexing conveyor for advancing a form at the registration station through a distance of the stagger with respect to the next form to be received at the registration station, whereby each form as it arrives at the registration station is offset from the preceding form by the predetermined stagger; adhesive being applied to the forms to hold them together with said predetermined stagger.

Abstract: A suction roll sheet transfer device disposed between a sheet feed table and the front lays of a sheet fed rotary printing press including a first set of suction rolls adapted for oscillating movement between a position substantially in the plane of said feed table for engaging successive sheets under suction pressure and transferring the sheet in register toward the front lays of the press and a raised position for engaging a preceeding sheet and separating it from the following sheet disposed therebelow, even when the sheets are in strongly adhering relation to each other during high speed printing operations. Suction pressure is communicated to the suction rolls in predetermined timed intervals, commencing upon retraction of the suction rolls substantially to the plane of the feed table.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a sack disposed at the leading end of a series of shingled sacks, which have been unwound from a roll of shingled sacks and which have openings at their leading ends. The sack is aligned by transversely spaced gripping rollers that are operable to align the leading edge of a sack for proper orientation prior to transfer of the sack to a filling apparatus. An intermittently driven conveyor belt conveys the unwound series of shingled sacks as they are unwound from a roll. At least one pressure-applying roller is disposed above the conveyor belt and acts on the leading sack of the series of shingled sacks and cooperates with a backing roller, which is adapted to be driven, and optional pressure-applying elements, which are adapted to be lowered onto the next following sack.

Abstract: A method of aligning sheets during stream feeding of a multiplicity of sheets over a feed table to a first steadily rotating cylinder of a sheet-processing medium includes in a first feeding stage, conveying the sheets in an imbricated arrangement thereof via the feed table and in a given direction to an alignment region; in a second feeding stage, aligning a lateral and a leading edge of the sheets in the alignment region while the sheets remain in the imbricated arrangement thereof and without interrupting movement of the sheets in the given direction and, in a third feeding stage, accelerating the speed at which the sheets are stream fed to a peripheral speed of a rotating cylinder and feeding the sheets to the first steadily rotating cylinder, while finally aligning the sheets at front markers.

Abstract: A stream of partially overlapping paper sheets is advanced below one or more wheels which are driven by the sheets and transmit torque to one or more rotary disc cams which cooperate with a roller follower provided on an intercepting device having a pallet which can be moved into and retracted from the path of movement of oncoming leaders of successive sheets. The periods of dwell of the pallet in the path of movement of the leader of each sheet are selected in such a way that the spacing between successive leaders is equalized to match the sum of spacings of successive leaders divided by the number of such leaders. A leaf spring biases the roller follower against the periphery of peripheries of the cam or cams.

Abstract: In a paper transport conveyor from a sheet feeder to a printing machine, the sheets are underlapped for speed reasons and for this purpose, the sheets are held and transported in a defined position using a conveyor table to which a vacuum is applied. In order to optimize the feed register in the printing machine in all states of operation, an additional conveyor device holds the sheets at the front gauges and aligns them. The vacuum at the conveyor table is quantitatively variable and the vacuum is so controlled according to operation as to be applied when sheets are required to be held on the conveyor table but interrupted when its action would obstruct the sheet alignment on the conveyor table.

Abstract: A feeding device for a sheet processing machine for stream feeding to the sheet processing machine, in mutually overlapping relationship, equally thick sheets taken singly from a pile of the sheets, in combination with an alignment device for laterally aligning the sheets as they are being fed to the sheet processing machine, the feeding device includes a feed table having, together with the lateral alignment device, surfaces whereon the stream-fed sheets are supported, at least one section of the surfaces of the feed table and the lateral alignment device being disposed at a different level from that of another section thereof, at least while the sheets are being aligned, the difference in the levels being such that a preceding sheet being aligned, at the moment lies fully on a surface section of the lateral alignment device, the latter surface section being at substantially the same level as the upper surface of a leading portion of a next succeeding sheet underlying a trailing portion of the preceding shee

Abstract: A singulation system for receiving unsingulated mail at a singulation station and for passing to an output station singulated mail. The singulation system includes a camera for viewing the unsingulated mail at the output edge of the singulation station for determining a profile of the top piece of unsingulated mail and a positionable lip at the output edge of the singulation station responsive to the signal indicating the profile for becoming shaped to the profile so that the upper piece of unsingulated mail can be passed over the lip to an output station.

Abstract: A method of feeding sheets in register in a sheet-processing machine wherein the sheets are conveyed in a given direction in the machine, which includes, during conveyance of the sheets, initially displacing the sheets, respectively, by means of an aligning device, in a direction substantially perpendicularly to an edge thereof which is to be aligned, so that the edge of the sheet passes a measuring zone of a scanning device and clears the scanning device; generating a signal in response to clearance of the scanning device by the sheet edge and, in response to the generated signal, further displacing the sheet a given distance from the measuring zone of the scanning device to a position wherein the respective sheets are in register.

Abstract: Assembly for stream feeding sheets overlappingly staggered relative to one another via a feed table to an aligning device and for delivering the sheets aligned by the aligning device to a sheet-processing machine, the assembly maintaining movement of the sheets in direction towards the sheet-processing machine during alignment of the sheets by the aligning device, includes an aligning cylinder disposed under the feed table for receiving a sheet to be aligned which is fed thereto via the feed table, at least two rows of front lays disposed symmetrically on and around the circumference of the aligning cylinder, as well as a respective device disposed adjacent the rows of front lays for aligning side edges of the sheet, and a gripping device for holding the sheet until other further-transferring conveying device take over the sheet in-register.

Abstract: An improved alignment/restraint station for interposition in an automatic document feed path is disclosed. A unitary structure including back-up rollers and sawtooth restraint members is positioned downstream of the document separation station and transverse to the direction of feed. Adjacent either end of the unitary structure are dual purpose edge alignment members. The unitary structure is moveable into and out of position in the feed path and includes guide members for leading a document over the edge alignment members.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting a scalloped stream of paper sheets from a first horizontal path into an aligned second horizontal path or into a downwardly sloping third path has a flap which is pivotable in a gap separating the first and second paths between a first position of coplanarity with the first and second paths so that the stream can enter the second path by traveling along the upper side of the flap and a second position in which the flap extends above the first and second paths to block the entry of the stream into the second path while permitting the stream to advance from the first into the third path. An intercepting plate is moved across the discharge end of the first path prior to pivoting of the flap from the first to the second position to temporarily prevent (e.g., for an interval of a few milliseconds) the advancement of sheets beyond the first path.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for implementing a technique of shingling a stack (10) of cut sheets using fluid jets. Air (34), or other fluid under pressure, travels through a drum having exit holes arranged about its periphery. The passage of the air causes the drum (30) to self-propel. As each fluid jet contacts the uppermost sheets in the stack, a roll-wave is created. Continued rotation of the drum causes a fluid jet to describe a linear path relative to the stack surface.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding arrangement for transferring sheets from supply stack to a printing machine includes a sheet-feeding table having a rear end and a front end. A pair of belt conveyors are provided in the arrangement for advancing a group of overlapped sheets from one end of the table to another. A first pair of stops for preliminary aligning of the sheets being advanced is arranged rearwardly from the front edge of the table and a second pair of stops are arranged at the front edge of the table for final aligning of the sheets being transferred. The first pair of stops are spaced from the second pair of stops in the direction of sheet advancement by a distance which is at least equal to the length of the individual sheet of the stream to prevent interference of the group of the following advancing sheets with the group of the preceding advancing sheets being moved from the preliminary steps towards the final stops.

Abstract: The reciprocating auxiliary gripper system includes a parallel linkage the coupler of which supports a spring-biased gripper in the form of a suction head which is lifted upon application of suction to a spring space, so that the sheet performs during its transport from a takeover position on the feed table to a transfer position opposite a feed cylinder an additional movement superposed to the rocking movement of the linkage.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of feeding from a stack of sheets to be printed the first sheet on a feedboard, aligning the leading edge of the sheet with a preliminary stop line whereby the sheet is brought to a rest position, sucking from below the preliminary aligned sheet and removing the preliminary stop line, forwarding the preliminary aligned and positively coupled sheet in feeding direction to a second stop line and relieving the suction whereby the leading edge of the sheet is finally aligned and a successive sheet is fed to the first stop line or the preliminary alignment of its leading edge, laterally adjusting the register of the first sheet abutting against the second stop line, removing the second stop line and advancing the first sheet into the press.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of feeding from a stack of sheets to be printed the first sheet on a feedboard, aligning the leading edge of the sheet with a preliminary stop line whereby the sheet is brought to a rest position, sucking from below the preliminarily aligned sheet and removing the preliminary stop line, forwarding the preliminarily aligned and positively coupled sheet in feeding direction to a second stop line and relieving the suction whereby the leading edge of the sheet is finally aligned and a successive sheet is fed to the first stop line or the preliminary alignment of its leading edge, laterally adjusting the register of the first sheet abutting against the second stop line, removing the second stop line and advancing the first sheet into the press.

Abstract: An elongated array of partially overlapping sheets advances to a printing machine and, prior to entering the same the individual sheets of the array, one after another, are aligned both along their front edges and along one of their lateral edges. This is accomplished by first displacing the respective sheet transversely of the array so that a lateral marginal portion adjacent to the one lateral edge becomes exposed, after or during alignment along the front edge, and by subsequently engaging the exposed lateral marginal portion of the respective sheet and displacing the latter a further distance only transversely of the array into a position in which the one lateral edge is aligned. Subsequently to the alignment along both of the above-mentioned edges, the respective sheet may be partially returned by a given distance prior or during feeding of the sheet into the printing machine.

Abstract: A device for registering of sheets, received in an underlapped stream, upon a feed table. The feed table has a retractable front stop and a side guide defining a condition of accurate register for the sheet. Cooperating with the side guide is a wiping mechanism which includes a lower wiping member and a cooperating upper wiping member for engaging a sheet between them for wiping the same into laterally registered position. A pre-gripper grips the leading edge of a registered leading sheet for transporting it forwardly and upwardly to a receiving cylinder thereby forming a wedged-shaped gap above the following sheet. Upon formation of the gap the upper wiping member is momentarily inserted into the gap in active wiping position, with the result that the following sheet is fully registered while it is still partially covered by the leading sheet.

Abstract: A sheet positioning mechanism for the feed table of a sheet-fed printing press which includes a set of releasable front stops and a side guide, with a wiper adjacent the side guide, the wiper having a limited zone of action. The sheets are fed in a straight stream, in shingled relation, along the feed table, the stream being laterally spaced from the side guide and out of the zone of action. A pair of swingable suckers are provided near the front end of the table and laterally spaced below the sheet path, the suckers being swung forwardly in unison about an arcuate path synchronized with the arrival of the sheet to be positioned so that such sheet is transported both forwardly in the direction of the front stops and laterally from its position in the stream into the zone of action of the wiper so that the wiper acts exclusively on the sheet to be positioned without interference by the overlapped closely following sheet.

Abstract: A machine for feeding inserts, for example, newspaper advertisements, to a device which separates or orients the inserts into a shinglelike arrangement and delivers them to a device which inserts them into the main portion of the newspaper. An oscillating or vibrating plate is utilized which moves into and out of the flow path of the inserts to strike the inserts from a direction which is perpendicular to the path of movement thereof to gradually orient the inserts as they move along a conveyor belt toward the separating device. A diaphragm plate effects the proper separation of the inserts prior to their delivery to the device which effects an insertion of the insert into the main portion of the newspaper.

Abstract: A newspaper streamliner for mounting in a newspaper conveyor system which includes a pair of roller-operated belts disposed in essentially parallel relationship on each side of a newspaper stream, and a flat cover plate disposed between the belts to receive a continuing flow of newspapers. The belts are wider at the upstream, receiving end of the streamliner than at the discharge end in order to effect a straightening of the newspapers as they enter the wide end and are forced into alignment as they exit the narrow end of the moving belt. The streamliner is designed to be compatible with existing newspaper conveyor systems and can be mounted by means of an adjustable frame onto the frame of such a conveyor system, or in the alternative, on the floor or other area in the vicinity of the conveyor system.

Abstract: A device for interrupting the feeding of sheets to a sheet-fed printing press. A feed table is provided having stops to define the registered position of successively fed sheets. After a register interval during which the sheet settles against the stops the sheet is picked up by a gripper cylinder. Photocells are provided for detecting failure of a sheet to register during the register interval. The photocells energize a retaining device on the feed table having a retaining foot which presses downwardly against the non-registered sheet to prevent such sheet from being picked up by the gripper cylinder. A device providing a time delay is interposed ahead of the retaining device to delay operation of the retaining device for a brief time interval to insure that the preceding sheet picked up by the gripper cylinder is clear of the feed table. A latch is provided to maintain the foot in pressing engagement with the sheet, but the foot is resiliently mounted so that an offending sheet may be manually removed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding table has pull-type side lays and front lays. Mounted beneath the feeding table and nearer the front lays are suction drums spaced apart and rotated by a transversely extending drive shaft on which they are mounted. The shaft is driven through toothed wheels having relative axial movement with respect to each other. A cam plate rotates with the shaft and a pair of fixedly mounted rollers guide the cam plate and impart reciprocating motion to the shaft and the suction drums. The lateral shifting of the suction drums clears the sheet from the pull-type side lay for the successive sheet. Each drum has a suction piece sealed and biasedly positioned adjacent a portion of the inside peripheral surface of the drum which rotates thereby and brings the drum suction holes into communication with the suction chamber within the suction piece. The suction chamber is in communication with a vacuum supply and a control valve is interposed in the supply.