Abstract: An apparatus for conveying products from a stack to an output includes a stack area configured for receiving a stack of a plurality of products, a guiding element extending to the output, and a transport mechanism configured for acting on at least part of the products in the stack for conveying the products in the direction of the output such that edges of the products abut on the guiding element.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism.

Abstract: A method for aligning a media sheet in a media path of an image forming apparatus includes aligning the media sheet against a first reference edge of an input tray. The media sheet may then move through an alignment nip which is constructed to laterally move the media sheet against a reference edge. The media sheet moves along the reference edge and becomes aligned prior to moving to a transport belt. The media sheet may then move through one or more transfer nips to receive one or more images.

Abstract: Positioning in the width direction of a sheet is performed by a skew correcting unit which is provided on a re-conveying path for reversing the sheet and conveying it again to an image forming unit and which has a reference surface that is come into contact with a side edge of the sheet and a plurality of diagonal feed units which obliquely convey the sheet so as to be come into contact with the reference surface. The pressures in nip portions of the other diagonal feed units excluding one of the plural diagonal feed units are reduced or cancelled by a reducing/cancelling unit according to a length in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet which is conveyed.

Abstract: An oblique feeding roller and a reference guide are provided on a re-conveying path for conveying a sheet in which an image has been formed on one side by an image forming unit to the image forming unit again. The sheet is obliquely fed by the oblique feeding roller. A side edge of the sheet abuts to a reference surface provided for the reference guide along a sheet conveying direction, thereby correcting the oblique motion and a positional deviation of the sheet. The reference guide is moved to a position according to a length in a width direction of the sheet which is conveyed by a movement of a cam.

Abstract: A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet.

Abstract: A document deskewing module comprises a set of sensors arranged to detect when a document transported in a first direction of document travel along a document transport path is deskewed, a first set of drive rollers in the form of hard drive rollers disposed along the document transport path, a first set of idler rollers moveable towards and away from the hard drive rollers, a second set of drive rollers in the form of soft drive rollers disposed along the document transport path, a second set of idler rollers moveable towards and away from the soft drive rollers, a track bottom disposed on one side of the document transport path and movable in the first direction of document travel, and a controller arranged to control operation of the first and second sets of idler rollers and the movable track bottom.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a skew amount detecting unit configured to detect an amount of skew of a sheet, two rollers configured to convey the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction when rotating in a same direction and to rotate the sheet around a predetermined point when rotating in mutually different directions, and a control unit configured to control the two rollers such that the two rollers convey the sheet to a position where a distance from the predetermined point to a specific edge of the sheet becomes a predetermined value and then rotate the sheet based on the amount of skew detected by the skew amount detecting unit to change an orientation of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing flat parts, in particular plastic substrates, preferably plastic cards, having a store containing the parts to be processed, at least one processing device defining a processing section and a transport device for transporting the parts over the processing section is characterized in that, before the processing device, a feed device extending over a feed section is provided, and in that the feed device comprises aligning means for aligning the parts over the feed section. A suitable method has appropriate method steps.

Abstract: A mail paper sealing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an input part, a compression roller part, a driving unit, and a convey accelerator. The input part supplies a mail paper. The compression roller part seals the folded mail paper conveyed from the input part. The driving unit generates a rotary force. The convey accelerator is provided between the input part and the compression roller part and adds a rotation frictional force to a top surface of one side of the mail paper in a convey direction.

Abstract: A transport device includes: a positioning member provided in a sheet transport path, used for positioning of a print sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction; and a skewed roller that transports the print sheet while skewing the print sheet toward a direction of the positioning member, a transport roller being provided in a position different from the skewed roller in the sheet transport direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which with a guide surface that is disposed upstream of a reference guide and is oblique so as to come close to a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of a re-conveying path as it extends from upstream to downstream, a sheet having been conveyed with deviated on the opposite side to the central portion side in the re-conveying path from a reference surface of the reference guide, is guided while being changed its orientation to the direction of the reference guide side. Furthermore, with a guide portion disposed along the guide surface, there is formed with respect to the guide surface a space acting to flex an edge portion of the sheet when the sheet is contacted with the guide surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which with a guide surface that is disposed upstream of a reference guide and is oblique so as to come close to a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of a re-conveying path as it extends from upstream to downstream, a sheet having been conveyed with deviated on the opposite side to the central portion side in the re-conveying path from a reference surface of the reference guide, is guided while being changed its orientation to the direction of the reference guide side. Furthermore, with a guide portion disposed along the guide surface, there is formed with respect to the guide surface a space acting to flex an edge portion of the sheet when the sheet is contacted with the guide surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for aligning bank notes in a transport system in which, when aligning bank notes in a transport system the alignment of a bank note transported separately in the transport system is detected, that it is checked, whether the detected alignment of the single bank note is a misalignment, that the single bank note according to the detected misalignment is aligned in a desired alignment by a movement of the single bank note in a direction deviating from the transport direction of the transport system, the alignment of the single bank note during the aligning being detected, and the aligning being terminated, as soon as the single bank note has the desired alignment.

Abstract: A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of preventing a motor from losing synchronization when initializing a roller position at power-up time, even if a diagonal feed mechanism does not have a sensor for detecting a position of a diagonal feed roller pair.

Abstract: An oblique feeding roller and a reference guide are provided on a re-conveying path for conveying a sheet in which an image has been formed on one side by an image forming unit to the image forming unit again. The sheet is obliquely fed by the oblique feeding roller. A side edge of the sheet abuts to a reference surface provided for the reference guide along a sheet conveying direction, thereby correcting the oblique motion and a positional deviation of the sheet. The reference guide is moved to a position according to a length in a width direction of the sheet which is conveyed by a movement of a cam.

Abstract: A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet.

Abstract: An oblique feeding roller and a reference guide are provided on a re-conveying path for conveying a sheet in which an image has been formed on one side by an image forming unit to the image forming unit again. The sheet is obliquely fed by the oblique feeding roller. A side edge of the sheet abuts to a reference surface provided for the reference guide along a sheet conveying direction, thereby correcting the oblique motion and a positional deviation of the sheet. The reference guide is moved to a position according to a length in a width direction of the sheet which is conveyed by a movement of a cam.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a regulating member, provided along a feeding path of the sheet, for regulating a widthwise position of a sheet by being abutted by an edge of the sheet A sheet turning mechanism including a first pair of first driving roller and first follower roller for nipping and feeding the sheet is disposed at a position upstream of the regulating member, as is a second pair of second driving roller and second follower roller, where the first pair and the second pair are disposed in a line extending in a widthwise direction of the feeding path, and where the first and the second driving roller are rotatable in opposite directions to turn the sheet to abut the edge of the sheet to the regulating member.

Abstract: A sheet conveying path is constituted by a fixed guide portion and a movable guide portion movable in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of a sheet for regulating the position of one side edge of the sheet by a skew feed correcting portion, and an auxiliary guide for guiding the sheet is provided between the fixed guide portion and the movable guide portion for movement in the width direction. When the skew feed of the conveyed sheet is corrected, the movable guide portion is moved in advance to a position corresponding to the size of the sheet, and in operative association with the movable guide portion, the auxiliary guide is moved to a guide position corresponding to the size of the sheet.

Abstract: Positioning in the width direction of a sheet is performed by a skew correcting unit which is provided on a re-conveying path for reversing the sheet and conveying it again to an image forming unit and which has a reference surface that is come into contact with a side edge of the sheet and a plurality of diagonal feed units which obliquely convey the sheet so as to be come into contact with the reference surface. The pressures in nip portions of the other diagonal feed units excluding one of the plural diagonal feed units are reduced or cancelled by a reducing/cancelling unit according to a length in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet which is conveyed.

Abstract: A device and system for registering or justifying product such as mail pieces in a vertical position for future processing of such mail pieces. The system includes a mounting block having an angled bore and a driven alignment mechanism mounted within the angled bore. The driven alignment mechanism includes a shaft assembly mounted in the angled bore such that the shaft assembly is at approximately a same angle as the angled bore. At least one surface is mounted to the shaft assembly which, when contacting a product, is driven and provides a downward correction vector to the product for vertically aligning the product.

Abstract: A media transportation mechanism comprising a first transportation roller pair and second transportation roller pair disposed in the transportation path on the upstream and downstream sides, respectively, of image scanners convey a slip over a sliding guide surface. The first transportation roller pair produces a feed force towards the sliding guide surface so as to push the leading end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface. The second transportation roller pair produces a feed force in the direction away from the sliding guide surface so as to push the trailing end edge of the slip to the sliding guide surface.

Abstract: A sheet processing device wherein sheets are deposited in a staggered configuration relative to one another, which includes a paper path, a first and second sheet edge guide fitted substantially parallel to one another in the feed-through direction, and a transportation device arranged to convey a sheet through the paper path in the feed-through direction and the lateral direction, where the first and second sheet edge guides are arranged statically relative to the paper path and in a staggered configuration relative to one another in the lateral direction, and a switchable control mechanism is fitted to adopt a first and second configuration, allowing a sheet edge to be conveyed into respective first and second sheet edge guides during operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which conveys a sheet to a nip portion between an intermediate transfer belt and a secondary transfer out-roller to record an image includes a sheet conveying device which conveys the sheet to the nip portion, a CCD line sensor which detects a sheet size in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet, and a transfer-side regulating device which is arranged near the nip portion and regulates the width direction of the conveyed sheet. The transfer-side regulating device can move the nip portion to a position where the width direction of the conveyed sheet is regulated based on a detection result obtained by the CCD line sensor.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet to an image forming portion has a first aligning member for effecting the alignment of the sheet with one of the opposite side edges of the sheet parallel to a sheet conveying direction as a reference, a second aligning member for effecting the alignment of the sheet with the leading edge of the sheet orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction as a reference, and an aligning operation controlling device for selectively operating one of the first aligning member and the second aligning member on the basis of at least one of image information, sheet information and sheet processing information.

Abstract: A sheet-conveying device includes a sheet conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed, a conveying roller, an inclined roller, an inclined-roller-supporting member that supports the inclined roller such that the inclined roller can rotate around a rotational axis that is inclined with respect to a rotational axis of the conveying roller, and a sheet contact member having a contact surface with which an edge portion of the sheet comes into contact. The inclined-roller-supporting member moves between a position where the inclined roller comes into pressure contact with the conveying roller and a position where the inclined roller is separated from the conveying roller. The sheet contact member moves between a position where the edge portion of the sheet can come into contact with the contact surface and a position where the contact surface cannot restrict the position of the edge portion of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for handling mailpieces. A mailpiece handling device includes a substantially horizontal deck for receiving a mailpiece. The device also includes a substantially vertical registration wall that extends upwardly from an edge of the deck. The device further includes a disk mounted for rotation in a circular opening in the deck adjacent the registration wall. The disk has a substantially horizontal surface. In addition, the device includes an arm mounted above the disk so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction. Also, the device includes a steering member mounted at a free end of the arm. The steering member is for applying downward pressure to a mailpiece that is in contact with the disk.

Abstract: A configuration for the transport and simultaneous alignment of sheets has a straightedge, at least one conveyor belt disposed slightly at an angle to the straightedge in the direction of movement of the sheets, and an air suction device. The conveyor belt exhibits open transverse slots on its upper side carrying the sheets. The upper half of the conveyor belt runs in a guide channel that is open in an upward direction, and the transverse slots are connected to the air suction device in such a way as to permit the flow to take place. A controller is provided to control the supply of air in the area of the transverse slots.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus with a skew feed correcting device including a first guide supporting one side edge of the sheet, an aligning device provided in the first guide and having an abutment portion and a first roller pair for causing the sheet to abut the abutment portion, a contact-separation device for separating and contacting the first roller pair, a second guide supporting the other side edge of the sheet, a positioning device for moving the first guide in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a second roller pair downstream of the first and second guides, a slide device for moving the second roller pair in the direction, and a sheet detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which with a guide surface that is disposed upstream of a reference guide and is oblique so as to come close to a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of a re-conveying path as it extends from upstream to downstream, a sheet having been conveyed with deviated on the opposite side to the central portion side in the re-conveying path from a reference surface of the reference guide, is guided while being changed its orientation to the direction of the reference guide side. Furthermore, with a guide portion disposed along the guide surface, there is formed with respect to the guide surface a space acting to flex an edge portion of the sheet when the sheet is contacted with the guide surface.

Abstract: An offsetting discharging apparatus with aligning member or a sheet discharge apparatus is provided with a sheet discharge device for discharging sheets, a storage device for receiving the sheets discharged from the discharge device, and an alignment reference member for aligning at least one edge of the sheets discharged to the storage means. Furthermore, the sheet discharge apparatus includes rotating bodies (belt unit) that contacts the sheets while the sheets are discharged by the discharge device to move the sheets discharged to the storage device to the alignment reference member. The rotating bodies for alignment do not hinder a discharge operation of discharge rollers of the discharge device, thereby fully utilizing a capacity of a sheet storage tray.

Abstract: This invention concerns a feeding and advancing apparatus in a document processing machine for aligning and registering flat articles against a registration wall. The articles are advanced through a first feeding apparatus that pushes them towards a registration wall, and a second feeding apparatus advances them along a second direction substantially orthogonal in relationship to the first feeding apparatus when a registration sensing system causes the second drive system to engage the articles. If there is not registration of the articles at the registration wall, the first feeding apparatus will re-establish the prior registration condition when the second feeding apparatus is disengaged. Then, the first feeding apparatus will re-establish registration. Once the articles are re-registered, the second feeding apparatus will be engaged to continue advancing the articles along the second direction to the desired downstream location.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus is provided with a discharge device for discharging a sheet; a support device arranged below the discharge device; a storage device arranged below the support device; an aligning device having a reference member as a reference to align the sheet and alignment rotating members for moving the sheet to the reference member; a shift device for shifting the discharge device to move the sheet to a position where the sheet can contact the alignment rotating members; a finishing device for finishing the sheet aligned by the discharge device, the shift device and the aligning device in a state that the sheet straddles between the support device and the storage device; and a transport device for transporting the sheets finished by the finishing device to the storage device.

Abstract: Manually-insert banknotes are aligned by using a fan to reduce the air pressure above a banknote so that it is pulled into engagement with a drive means which drives the edge of the banknote to a guide, causing the banknote to rotate until the edge is aligned with the guide.

Abstract: A media alignment mechanism of a printer having duplex capabilities has two spaced elements (33, 34) defining a predetermined return feed path. Two reference edge segments (50, 61) are disposed between the spaced elements and separated from each other in the direction of advancement of each sheet of media. The spaced elements have non-linear portions extending between the two separated reference edge segments and shaped to break the beam of the sheet of media. This allows a side surface (68) of each sheet of media to simultaneously engage each of the two separated reference edge segments even though the first reference edge segment is at angle to the second reference edge segment to prevent the leading edge of the sheet of media from engaging the entry end (66) of the second reference segment, which provides the desired alignment of the sheet of media for its return to the printer for printing on its second side.

Abstract: The present invention includes a deskew mechanism for a mailing machine. The deskew mechanism includes a horizontal feed deck and a vertical registration wall. A roller is mounted for rotation and located spaced from the registration wall so as to extend upwardly from the feed deck. A deskew finger is pivotally mounted above the feed deck. The deskew finger includes an inboard ski located to form a corrugation gap relative to the roller and at least one outboard ski located at an opposite side of the roller from the registration wall. A stop mechanism restricts downward movement of the deskew finger to prevent the deskew finger from contacting the feed deck.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a right angle transfer and for aligning stuffed envelopes in a high speed mail processing inserter system, whereby unwanted timing variation in the aligning process is lessened by using a moving vertical aligning belt as the aligning wall against which envelopes are impacted and aligned.

Abstract: A method of and a device for controlling the orientation and the alignment of individual sheets of paper travelling on a sheet conveyor are provided. Each sheet passes over a pair of closely spaced rotating disks inserted between upstream and downstream sheet conveyor sections. Each sheet is locally engaged with each disk in a limited contact area. The contact areas between the sheet and each disk are varied so as to achieve a target orientation or alignment of the sheet.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a right angle transfer and for aligning stuffed envelopes in a high speed mail processing inserter system, whereby unwanted timing variation in the aligning process is lessened by using a moving vertical aligning belt as the aligning wall against which envelopes are impacted and aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively streaming and merging side-by-side sheets is provided. In general, sheets enter in a side-by-side orientation onto an input feed surface and are directed selectively upwardly or downwardly onto overlying upper and lower feed surfaces by a diverter assembly having two diverter sides. The diverter sides can be independently moved to direct sheets upwardly or downwardly. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface have opposing edge guides. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface can be moved with respect to each other so that the edge guides are placed one sheet width apart or more than two sheet widths apart. By orienting the two diverter halves, and setting the desired distance between the upper and lower edge guides, sheets can pass along each of the upper and lower surfaces in a side-by-side streamed or over-lapping merge orientation.

Abstract: A sheet material feeder and an image forming apparatus in which, even when a sheet of thick paper is transported through a sharply curved sheet material guide, the sheet can be adjusted to a lateral registry position. A base plate, a movable lower guide and a movable upper guide can slide in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sheet transport in union with each other. Where a sheet material stopped at a lateral registry adjustment position is a sheet of thick paper, it is brought into a tightly stretching condition supported at three points, i.e., a crotch point of the movable upper guide, a top of the movable lower guide, and a guide surface of a regulation-side lateral register plate. The sheet material supported from both sides at the three points is moved together with the movable lower guide and the movable upper guide toward a reference-side lateral register plate for abutment against the same, whereby the lateral registry position adjustment of the sheet material is completed.

Abstract: An image forming and paper bundling device and method for bundling the paper that is able to accurately correct the skew of a paper sheet independent of the shape or cutting accuracy of the paper sheet. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on the paper sheet, a paper transfer unit for transferring the paper sheet towards the image forming unit, and a skew correcting unit for correcting the skew of the paper sheet being transferred. The skew correcting unit making correction of the paper sheet with reference to an end of the paper sheet that is parallel to the paper transfer direction. The skew correction unit making the correction by urging an end of the paper sheet towards a reference guide as the paper sheet travels through the skew correction unit. A register control portion moves in a direction perpendicular to the path of the paper sheet to register the sheet to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A material-feeding device (14) includes a base (52), a material passage (54) formed on the base, at least one guide member (56, 58) provided in the material passage and having a material-guide surface (56a, 58a), a direction-correcting roller assembly (60) provided in the material passage, and a conveyor roll mechanism (62) disposed downstream of the direction-correcting roller assembly in relation to a material-feeding direction, for conveying a material along the material passage. The direction-correcting roller assembly (60) includes a pair of integrally rotatable polygonal rollers (76) having a common rotation axis oblique to the material-guide surface and a freely rotatable ball (78) opposed to the pair of polygonal rollers and elastically supported in an operative position closer to the polygonal rollers to define a gap between the ball and each of the polygonal rollers for allowing the material to be inserted into the gap when the ball is in the operative position.

Abstract: A sheet registration device includes: sheet transporting means for transporting a sheet in a transport direction thereof; a sheet positioning member which is disposed in a side of a sheet transport path and in parallel with the transport direction; lateral moving means for moving a sheet transported a long the sheet transport path, toward the sheet positioning member; detecting means for detecting a side edge of the sheet transported along the sheet transport path; moving means for moving the sheet transporting means in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, the sheet transporting means being disposed downstream from the lateral moving means; and controlling means for, on the basis of a detection result of the detecting means, controlling a movement operation of the sheet transporting means by the moving means.

Abstract: A paper path is provided with a paper guide for guiding paper, an oblique roller for obliquely moving the paper toward the paper guide and an electromagnetic clutch allowing and interrupting transmission of a rotating force to the oblique roller. Sensors for detecting the paper are provided upstream and downstream of the oblique roller. Also provided in the paper path is a controller which controls the electromagnetic clutch in accordance with paper sensing operation of the sensors to drive the oblique roller while the paper is passing under the oblique roller. A low-friction paper guiding surface is formed on the paper guide by coating it with a fluoroplastic.

Abstract: A job offset assembly to separate into multiple stacks the output from a copier, printer or the like, includes a platform upon which a plurality of offset assemblies are rotatably mounted, each offset assembly including a skew roller which turns about an axis that, when the offset assemblies are rotated, is not parallel to the axis about which a drive roller associated with the skew roller turns. A gear or rack-and-pinion type offset actuation system enables the offset assemblies to rotate repeatedly back and forth between predetermined positions, so that as media encounters the skew rollers it is directed against a reference edge and into an output stack associated with the offset assembly position.

Abstract: A pretransfer sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic printing machine that minimizes impact with and delivers a sheet to a photoreceptor at a desired tangential position. The sheet feeding device includes a selectively engageable drive nip and a biased baffle member which forms a buckle chamber. There is further a plurality of rollers located so as to provide substantially frictionless directional guidance to the sheet while also inducing a predetermined bend to the sheet so as to deliver the sheet to the photoreceptor. The pretransfer rollers are also moveable so that the angle of approach of a sheet can be adjusted based on sheet weight or other characteristics. Once the sheet is tacked to the photoreceptor in the transfer zone, the disengageable drive nip is released and the sheet is controlled by the photoreceptor so that speed mismatch is not a problem.