Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that is required for high productivity, it is needed to execute skew correction of a sheet in a short time. Thus, when the sheet is struck against a roller or a skew correction member at a high speed to execute skew correction, it may cause a scratch or a noise caused by an impact. Accordingly, the sheet is struck against a skew correction stopper that is moving at a speed slower than a sheet conveyance speed to execute skew correction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a first conveying portion; a second conveying portion arranged downstream of the first conveying portion; a shutter member rotated by the pressure of the sheet and including a plurality of abutment surfaces against which a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts to correct a skew feed of the sheet; and an urging portion which provides the shutter member with an urging force for positioning one abutment surface at an abutment position at which the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the one abutment surface, the urging portion providing the shutter member with an urging force for rotating the shutter member to position another abutment surface at the abutment position after the leading edge of the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion.

Abstract: A sheet guide is rotationally supported by a shaft member to rotate freely on the shaft member. The sheet guide includes a support part that supports the sheet guide on the shaft member, a guide part that contacts sheets and guides sheets in a predetermined direction, and a weight, which has a predetermined weight, is arranged on an opposite side of the support part from the guide part, wherein the weight causes the guide part to rotate to a predetermined position when an external force applied to the guide part is released.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes an abutment member that moves downstream in a sheet transport direction and against which a leading end of a sheet that has been transported from upstream in the sheet transport direction abuts; and a transport unit that transports the sheet whose leading end has abutted against the abutment member further downstream. The abutment member moves at least to the transport unit in a state in which the leading end of the sheet abuts against the abutment member, and the abutment member is separated from the leading end of the sheet after the transport unit has started to transport the sheet.

Abstract: A disclosed sheet aligning device includes a sheet conveyance path; a detecting unit configured to detect a side edge of a sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a stopper provided on an upstream side of the detecting unit and configured to open/close in such a manner as to allow/prevent passage of the sheet through the sheet conveyance path and to position a leading edge of the sheet being conveyed in the sheet conveyance path; a first conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the stopper, the first conveying unit including a pair of first rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; a second conveying unit provided on an upstream side of the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit including a pair of second rollers configured to come in contact with/separate from each other; and a horizontal movement unit configured to move the pair of first rollers in an axial direction of the first rollers based on a detection result output by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a blocking member having a blocking surface with which a leading end of a sheet that is being conveyed comes into contact for obliquity correction. The blocking member is rotated by being pushed by the sheet against an urging force of a positioning unit that positions the blocking member to be in the standby position. The blocking member is rotatable to be in a sheet-passage-allowing orientation in which the sheet is allowed to pass. When a trailing end of the sheet that is being conveyed has passed the blocking member, the blocking member that is in the sheet-passage-allowing orientation rotates in a same direction as a sheet conveyance direction and is positioned to be in a standby position.

Abstract: A sheet skew feeding correcting apparatus includes a shutter member which abuts against a leading end of the sheet conveyed by the conveying apparatus, the shutter member is movable between a first attitude where the shutter member abuts against the leading end of the sheet and a second attitude where the shutter member permits the sheet to pass therethrough, and a loop abutting portion against which a loop portion of the sheet formed while the sheet is conveyed by the first sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the loop portion of the sheet whose leading end is abut against the shutter member moves the shutter member from the first attitude to the second attitude by a force pressing the loop abutting portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device comprises first and second sheet parallel conveyance paths each having first and second conveyance roller units each to receive and convey a sheet and first and second skew correctors each to correct skew of a sheet therein. A third conveyance path is disposed downstream of the first sheet conveyance path and the second sheet conveyance path, in which those sheet conveyance paths flow into each other. The sheet conveyance device alternately conveys the sheet to first sheet conveyance path and the second sheet conveyance path. One of the first pair of sheet conveyance rollers is one of the second pair of sheet conveyance rollers as a common roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus including, a conveying portion conveying a sheet; a rotation detection portion rotatably provided; a sensor portion detecting the conveyed sheet based on a rotational position of the rotation detection portion; a rotation transmission portion transmitting a rotational driving force to the rotation detection portion to rotate the rotation detection portion in a predetermined rotational direction after the rotation detection portion is rotated by being pushed by the leading end of the sheet; and an urging unit configured to apply an urging force to the rotation detection portion so that the rotation detection portion comes into contact with a surface of the sheet, thereafter the rotation detection portion is returned to a waiting position along with the passage of the rear end of the sheet through the rotation detection portion after the rotation detection portion is rotated by the rotational driving force of the rotation transmitting unit.

Abstract: A transportation alignment device, a control method for a transportation alignment device, and a recording device determine the alignment of media having a transparent part with high transmittance at its leading end with a simple configuration, and prevent idling of processes downstream from the alignment member. A plurality of optical media detection sensors arranged across the width of the transportation path on the upstream side of the alignment plates each detect a medium touching the alignment plates. If all of the media detection sensors do not detect the medium when the medium has been advanced sufficiently to contact the alignment plate and align the medium, a medium, such as a laminated medium, having a high transmittance part at the leading end thereof is determined to be aligned, the alignment plate is retracted from the transportation path, and the medium is conveyed to the downstream side of the transportation path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying portion which conveys a sheet to be formed with an image, and an abutment member which is abutted by the tip end of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion, and movable to a first attitude of being abutted by the tip end of the sheet being conveyed, and to a second attitude of allowing passage of the sheet and being in the state of abutting the surface of the sheet, wherein the abutment member in the second attitude abuts a part which is outside an image forming region and on the sheet surface having the image forming region in a central part in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet medium processing device comprises a housing, a feeding mechanism (1) mounted on the housing, a stacking mechanism (2) and a switching mechanism (3). The stacking mechanism (2), which is located downstream of the feeding mechanism (1), comprises an upper channel (20), a lower channel (21) and a channel driving mechanism (22). The lower channel is fixedly connected with the housing, and the upper channel is hinged with the housing with one end thereof separatable from or contactable with the lower channel. The channel driving mechanism is used to drive the upper and lower channels to move synchronously to transport sheet mediums. The switching mechanism (3) comprises a first cam (30) and a cam driving mechanism (31), wherein the cam is joined with the upper channel to drive the upper channel to rotate.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus capable of correcting an inclination to a traveling direction when a paper sheet is inserted into an insertion slot. The paper sheet processing apparatus includes a pair of movable pieces capable of being moved toward a center direction of the traveling route through which the paper sheet is conveyed by a motor. The pair of movable pieces are moved toward the center direction of the traveling route by a driving source such that the distance between one movable piece and the other movable piece becomes shorter than a width of the bill and corrects the inclination of the bill to the traveling direction by regulating side edges of the bill to be conveyed before the bill reaches the movable pieces.

Abstract: The skew-feeding correcting apparatus of the present invention includes an abutment portion which is disposed to a conveying path to convey a sheet and to which a top end of the sheet is abutted to correct skew feeding of the sheet, a movement portion which moves the abutment portion in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller which controls driving of the movement portion to move the abutment portion to a position where a corner part of the sheet is not to be abutted to the abutment portion before the top end of the sheet is abutted to the abutment portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a blocking member having a blocking surface with which a leading end of a sheet that is being conveyed comes into contact for obliquity correction. The blocking member is rotated by being pushed by the sheet against an urging force of a positioning unit that positions the blocking member to be in the standby position. The blocking member is rotatable to be in a sheet-passage-allowing orientation in which the sheet is allowed to pass. When a trailing end of the sheet that is being conveyed has passed the blocking member, the blocking member that is in the sheet-passage-allowing orientation rotates in a same direction as a sheet conveyance direction and is positioned to be in a standby position.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit includes first and second conveyance rollers facing each other, a first stopper provided at an axial end portion of the first conveyance roller, projecting radially beyond a circumferential surface of the first conveyance roller, downstream rollers positioned downstream from the first and second conveyance rollers in a sheet conveyance direction, an engaging and disengaging unit to disengage the first and second conveyance rollers from each other, and a controller. The first stopper rotates to a contact position projecting into the sheet conveyance path and to a non-contact position away from the sheet conveyance path as the first conveyance roller rotates. The first stopper moves to the non-contact position after stopping a sheet. The first and second conveyance rollers are disengaged from each other after a leading end of the sheet reaches the downstream rollers, before the first stopper moves to the contact position.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a media sheet includes a sheet feed system for transporting the media sheet along a media feed path in a media feed direction and an alignment assembly is positioned to intersect the media feed path. The alignment assembly includes a deflectable member having a plurality of sets of arms, each of the arms of each set has a contact surface defining a plane unique to each set of arms. The media sheet aligns as it exerts a media engagement force on the alignment assembly and causes the alignment assembly to deflect when the media engagement force exceeds the aligning force.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a shutter member against which a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed abuts, for a skew feed correction, wherein the shutter member is pressed and moved by the sheet; and an actuation member which moves the shutter member that has been pressed and moved by the sheet being conveyed to a retracted position at which the shutter member is retracted from a sheet conveying path and holds the shutter member at the retracted position until the leading edge of the sheet being conveyed by the second conveying rotary member is nipped by the transfer nip portion.

Abstract: A print assembly is disclosed. The print assembly includes a printhead for printing on a printing medium having encoded positional data thereon, a media feed assembly for feeding the medium past the printhead, a capper assembly movable between a capped position covering the printhead and an uncapped position exposing the printhead, and a print controller having a reader configured to operatively read the positional data to provide the print controller with a signal indicative of a position of the medium relative to the printhead. The controller is configured to derive a feed speed of the medium from the signal, and to correlate printing of the printhead with such feed speed.

Abstract: In a scan apparatus, a sheet feeder having a sheet-stopping function includes a rotating shaft, a sheet-input roller, a pick-up mechanism and a sheet-stopping mechanism. The pick-up mechanism, including a bracket mounted on the rotating shaft and a pick-up roller mounted on the bracket, picks up a sheet from a paper tray. The sheet-stopping mechanism, driven independent of movement of the bracket by the rotating shaft, switches between a sheet-stopping state and a sheet-non-stopping state. The rotating shaft rotates in a first direction to enable the sheet-stopping mechanism to enter the sheet-non-stopping state and rotates in a second direction to enable the sheet-stopping mechanism to enter the sheet-stopping state, in which a passage to the sheet-input roller is blocked up.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a conveyance portion configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path; a skew-feed correction member positioned in the conveyance path such that a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion contacts the skew-feed correction member to correct a skew-feed of the sheet; a receiving portion configured to receive information indicative of the width of the conveyed sheet, the width being in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction; and a control portion configured to adjust a skew-correction conveyance amount of the conveyance portion applied to correct the skew-feed of the sheet by the skew-feed correction member. The skew-correction conveyance amount is adjusted on information which the receiving portion receives such that the skew-correction conveyance amount is set to be larger for a sheet of smaller width compared to a sheet of greater width.

Abstract: A printing medium supplying apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a printing medium aligning unit which is disposed on the apparatus main body to move between an aligning position at which the printing medium aligning unit aligns a printing medium and a distanced position at which the printing medium aligning unit is distanced from the aligning position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for registering and moving a sheet article along a path that can use an actuator to mimic a biased device such as a spring-loaded device. The actuator can include a solenoid and an arm. The movement of the arm with the solenoid can be done by pulse-width modulation by providing a high pulse-width modulation duty cycle to the solenoid to provide a resistive force on the arm and providing a low pulse-width modulation duty cycle to the solenoid to provide a less resistive force on the arm. Inserting stations use in sheet article inserting system that employ the actuator are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet-conveying apparatus including: a skew-feeding correction member having an abutting portion which is brought into contact with a conveyed sheet; and a positioning portion positioning the skew-feeding correction member and having a biasing member for biasing the skew-feeding correction member to a direction opposite to a direction to which the skew-feeding correction member rotates by the sheet. The sheet-conveying apparatus is set so that a formula M+MS<MA is established when the sheet is pulled out, wherein a moment generated in the skew-feeding correction member due to a resultant force of tensions to upstream and downstream sides is assumed to be MA, a moment generated in the skew-feeding correction member due to a frictional force between the skew-feeding correction member and the sheet is assumed to be M, and a moment generated in the skew-feeding correction member due to the biasing member is assumed to be MS.

Abstract: A stopping device and a multi-function peripheral (MFP) using the same are provided. The stopping device disposed in a track having a recess includes a driving unit, a forcing unit, a first restricting point, a second restricting point, a rotating unit, and a stopping unit. The forcing unit has a pivoting portion pivoted with the driving unit and a forcing portion. The forcing portion is located between the first restricting point and the second restricting point aligned in a perpendicular direction. The rotating unit has a rotating axle, and a first end and a second end located at two opposite sides of the rotating axle. The forcing portion of the forcing unit contacts the first end. The stopping unit has a third end and a fourth end. The third end has an opening, through which the second end of the rotating unit passes.

Abstract: A movable component which can be moved between a protruding position in which the movable component protrudes from the outer chute into a curved path toward an inner chute so as to be able to contact the recording medium and a retracted position in which the degree of protrusion of the movable component from the outer chute into the curved path is smaller than the degree of protrusion in the protruding position, and the movable component is moved from the protruding position to the retracted position at a timing on or after a first timing and before a second timing.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed and a transparent member disposed on the conveying path and including a surface facing the sheet being conveyed. The transparent member including a reference line extending across the transparent member in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The sheet conveyor further includes a guide member comprising a guide edge that includes a first guide edge and a second guide edge, the guide edge having a shape, such that a distance from the guide edge to the reference line varies in the direction in which the reference line extends. The guide edge further may include a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The guide member is disposed upstream of the transparent member in a conveying direction of the sheet, and the guide member is configured to guide the sheet to the transparent member. The first guide portion may include a first guide edge disposed separate from a reference line by a first distance.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet transport apparatus is provided with a registration roller, a sheet transport path, a first optical sensor, a second sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at an upstream side of the first optical sensor in a sheet transportation direction Xd, and a sheet transportation control unit that stops the driving of the registration roller after an elapse of a transportation time after the detection of sheet absence following sheet presence by the first optical sensor, wherein the sheet transportation control unit does not perform control with sheet detection by the first optical sensor within a detection restricted time after predetermined sheet detection by the second sensor when the sheet is of a specific type.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a holding section connected to a downstream end of a main transfer path for consecutively transferring paper sheets and formed of a curved transfer path, which consecutively transfers the paper sheets led out from the main transfer path in a curved state and holds them in an overlaid state.

Abstract: A conveying device that conveys a recording medium includes an aligning member into which the leading edge of a recording medium bumps and a control unit that changes conveyance speed of the recording medium moving on a conveying path to bump into the aligning member.

Abstract: An improved sheet accumulator for stacking serially fed sheets transported on a paper path includes a guide deck. Above the guide deck, a plurality of parallel belts are positioned to provide a driving force for sheets on the deck. Within the accumulator, a ramp apparatus is positioned across the paper path whereby sheets driven by the belts on an upstream portion of the accumulator deck are driven over the ramp apparatus and deposited in an accumulating region of the accumulator deck on a downstream side of the ramp apparatus. Sheets are stopped by an accumulator stop mechanism located at a downstream end of the accumulating region that prevents movement of sheets by the belts while sheets for an accumulation are being collected. When an accumulation is completed, the accumulator stop mechanism allows sheets to be transported from the accumulating region.

Abstract: Means for superposing a bundle of value sheets which have been misfed from a value sheet store is disclosed. Also disclosed is a value sheet handler which includes a first value sheet store for receiving value sheets from, and dispensing value sheets to, a user and a second value sheet store where the second value sheet store provides value sheets to resupply the first value sheet store. The handler may include means for detecting a misfeed from the second value sheet store and a bundle of misfed value sheets may be stored in a third store after superposition of the bundle, where it includes overlapping value sheets.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is cable of moving a sheet without applying extra load to the movement of the sheet in the case of laterally moving the sheet for sorting after completion of punching of holes in the sheet. A sheet is conveyed toward an abutment member. The sheet comes into abutment with the abutment member, whereby skew of the sheet is corrected. A punching unit punches holes in the sheet in abutment with the abutment member. A shift unit shifts the punched sheet that has been punched by the puncher in a direction intersecting with a conveying direction of the conveying unit. A controller causes the shift unit to start shifting the sheet in response to separate between the punched sheet and the abutment member.

Abstract: In a sheet conveyance apparatus, a sponge roller is provided at a joining portion in which a first sheet conveyance path joins a second sheet conveyance path. A leading edge of a sheet or tailing edge of a sheet abuts at the sponge roller when the sheet is conveyed from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path. In a projection surface in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction in the second sheet conveyance path, an outer periphery of the sponge roller and an outer periphery of a conveyance roller, which is positioned in a downstream side, are partially overlapped in the second conveyance path. Further the sponge roller is rotatably arranged. With such a configuration, the noise generated in the joining portion can be reduced, and effect to reduce the noise can be continued.

Abstract: A linkage arrangement for handling sheets in a sheet accumulator including an accumulation gate and a locking over center mechanism. The accumulation gate pivotally mounts to a support structure of the accumulator and includes a stop surface for traversing the sheet path. The stop surface is movable between an interference position and a release position wherein the interference position inhibits the travel of sheets along the sheet path, and the release position releases the sheets for continued travel along the sheet path. The locking over center mechanism includes longitudinally aligned actuating and connecting arms. The actuating arm pivotally mounts to the support structure about a rotational axis while the connecting arm pivotally mounts to the accumulation gate at one end and pivotally mounts to the actuating arm at the other end. The locking over center mechanism inhibits motion of the accumulation gate in response to a force applied to the accumulation surface.

Abstract: A paper feeder disposed on a casing for feeding a paper is provided. The paper feeder includes a feeding axle and a paper stopper. The feeding axle has a first engaging portion. The paper stopper includes a blocking plate and a second engaging portion. The paper stopper is co-axially and rotatably disposed on the feeding axle. When the feeding axle rotates in a first direction to engage the second engaging portion with the first engaging portion, the feeding axle drives the paper stopper to rotate in the first direction until the blocking plate blocks the paper. When the feeding axle rotates in a second direction to detach the second engaging portion from the first engaging portion, the feeding axle is able to feed a paper.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous alignment of sheets which are fed to a processing machine, includes an alignment cylinder on which stops for the sheets are disposed. The stops are pivoted out of the periphery of the alignment cylinder and moved on a translational movement path during an alignment phase.

Abstract: An apparatus for deskewing a media sheet includes a sheet feed system for transporting the media sheet along a media feed path in a media feed direction. A split alignment gate is positioned to intersect the media feed path. The split alignment gate subjects the media sheet to a deskewing force, wherein an amount of the deskewing force is determined based on a width of the media sheet in a direction transverse to the media feed direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a paper feeding method used with the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus includes: a paper feeding unit to accommodate a plurality of papers loaded thereon; a pick-up roller which picks up the papers loaded in the paper feeding unit and is set to rotate at multi-step speeds; a paper arrangement unit which aligns the papers to be transferred without skewing by applying a constant pressure to the front end of a paper transferred by a the pick-up roller; a printing unit which is disposed below the paper arrangement unit and forms a predetermined image on the transferred paper; a paper type sensing element which is disposed on a paper transfer path along which the paper feeding unit, the pick-up roller, the paper arrangement unit, and the printing unit are arranged; and a control unit which operates the pick-up roller at a rotation speed according to an identified paper type.

Abstract: A manual sheet feeder including a pickup roller; a pickup arm; a sheet stopper; a rotation regulation member; a solenoid including a movable core having a straight line motion; a solenoid link rotatively coupled to the movable core; and a first spring to bias the pickup arm in a direction in which the pickup arm is rotated downward. At start of sheet feeding operation, the pickup arm is rotated by the first spring in a direction in which the pickup roller is moved downward in conjunction with rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in one direction, and the rotation regulation member is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in the one direction to release regulation of rotation of the sheet stopper.

Abstract: A cam unit includes three cams fixed on a common cam shaft for moving a pair of feeding rollers, a pair of lateral registration rollers, and a stopper unit, respectively. A control unit corrects a lateral registration of a sheet whose skew is corrected by the stopper unit, based on a detection result of a detecting unit that detects a position of a side edge of the sheet, while conveying the sheet, controls the rollers not nip the sheet at least during the lateral registration, and controls rotations of the cams according to a length of the sheet.

Abstract: A de-skew mechanism, in an image forming device, with a correcting member disposed in a rotatable manner to the rotary shaft and turning with driving roller by a spring between them. A torque spring suppresses the turning of the correcting member to correct the skew of the medium. When conveyed, the medium will butt against the correcting member to be stopped and corrected. The medium conveying force and the force that the spring brings to the driving roller are sufficient for turning the correcting member and passing therethrough. At one time, the force that the correcting member brings to the medium will reduce to zero. As such, the medium will not be damaged by the correcting member while being conveyed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a bypass sheet supplier configured to supply a recording medium and an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on the recording medium sent from the bypass sheet supplier according to image data. The bypass sheet supplier includes a bypass tray, a lateral side fence, and a sensor unit. The bypass tray is configured to load the recording medium. The lateral side fence is configured to regulate the recording medium in a main scanning direction. The sensor unit is configured to detect whether a lateral edge of the recording medium extending in a sub-scanning direction contacts the lateral side fence.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous alignment of sheets which are fed to a processing machine, includes an alignment cylinder on which stops for the sheets are disposed. The stops are pivoted out of the periphery of the alignment cylinder and moved on a translational movement path during an alignment phase.

Abstract: A registration device usable with an image forming apparatus includes a registration roller, a registration lever to rotate between an alignment position to block and align a leading edge of a paper sheet supplied to the registration roller and an opening position to allow the paper sheet to be fed beyond the registration lever, and a resilient member to resiliently urge the registration lever to rotate into the alignment position. The resilient member has a center portion and first and second arms extending from the center portion. An end of the first arm is coupled to the registration lever and the resilient member is pivotable about an end of the second arm.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding (ADF) device includes a document feed tray wherein documents are stacked, a shaft rotatably disposed on the document feed tray, an automatic document feeding roller rotatably coupled to the shaft and transporting the documents one by one, a bracket rotatably coupled to the shaft, a pick-up roller rotatably coupled to the bracket and picking up the documents stacked on the document feed tray by using a rotating force received from the shaft, a document stopper disposed to be able to rotate about the same axis as the pick-up roller rotates about and limiting a movement of the documents stacked on the document feed tray, a latch arm locking the document stopper to limit the movement of the documents and prevent the document stopper from rotating, and a flag rotatably coupled to the shaft and pushing the latch arm to unlock the document stopper.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for electric equipment includes an input tray, a driving mechanism, and a block mechanism. The input tray has a receiving end, a discharge end, and a first path extending from the receiving end to the discharge end. The driving mechanism includes a separating-roller shaft disposed above the input tray and in proximity to the discharge end, and a separating roller sleeved fixedly on the shaft. The blocking mechanism includes a blocking member pivotable between a blocking position whereat the blocking member is disposed on the first path, and a non-blocking position whereat the blocking member is removed from the first path. A driven arm is connected to and co-rotatable with the separating-roller shaft so as to pivot the blocking member between the blocking position and the non-blocking position.

Abstract: Method and device for separating letters by transporting a pile of non-separated and unordered letters by a conveyor band in a continuous flow of essentially non-superposed letters which are largely distributed on said conveyor band. At least one retention plate which is fixed to an axis of rotation in a radial direction with respect thereto rotates around the axis of rotation, which is transversally arranged with respect to the transporting direction of the conveyor band, horizontally and above said conveyor band in such a way that the retention plate arranged under the axis of rotation has a velocity component oriented in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the conveyor band.

Abstract: A stack-like arrangement of printed products with folded edges, in which arrangement the printed products are all arranged with identical orientation, has an increased stability, if it comprises stack sections, within which the folded edges of the printed products indeed lie on top of each other, but wherein the stack sections are arranged displaced in relation to each other, such that the stack sections with folded edges protruding from the arrangement alternate with stack sections with edges opposite the folded edges protruding from the arrangement.

Abstract: On a paper path in a photo printer, a skew corrector is provided to correct skew of recording sheets simultaneously in two lines. The skew corrector consists of a first conveyer roller pair, a second conveyer roller pair and a strike guide. The recording sheets are conveyed by the first conveyer roller pair after their leading edges strike on the strike guide, to bend the recording sheets flexibly between the first conveyer roller pair and the strike guide, thereby to correct skew of each recording sheet. A necessary transport amount for correcting the skew of the recording sheet is calculated on each line based on detection signals from photo sensors, which are disposed between the first and second conveyer roller pairs, and a width of the recording sheet. The recording sheets of the respective lines are conveyed by the largest necessary transport amount among the calculated ones.