Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus permits keeping predetermined sheet intervals, even when sheet conveyance is temporarily discontinued and then resumed, after resumption of conveyance. The sheet conveying apparatus has a first roller which feeds sheets at predetermined sheet intervals, and a second roller which conveys a plurality of sheet fed from the first roller. After temporarily discontinuing conveyance of the plurality of sheets, conveyance of the plurality of sheets is resumed by use of the first roller and the second roller. The variation in the sheet interval caused when temporarily discontinuing sheet conveyance is corrected upon resumption of sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A device for detecting a placement position of a document includes at least two sensors mounted on a document feeding device. Each of the sensors is in parallel with the tangential direction of the leading edge of a document feeding roller, and may be moved by the document feeding device to adjust the placing document width.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting the timing and spacing between envelopes being serially processed in a high speed mail processing inserter system, whereby a pitch correcting module receives sensor input detecting unwanted pitch variation between envelopes and a transport mechanism in the pitch correcting module accelerates or decelerates an envelope according to a pitch correcting profile calculation performed by the pitch correcting module, the pitch correcting module being dimensioned to optimally perform pitch correction without interfering with high speed mail processing.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the positioning of a media sheet in an imaging device is provided. Data is collected related to the positioning of a media sheet in a plurality of ejection/positioning sequences. The position of a subsequent sheet is adjusted based on the data.

Abstract: In a device for loading further-processing machines with printed products, in particular a feeder rack (5) in gather-stitcher machines or gathering machines (6) for folded sheets (1), sheets, booklets or the like, which has a first conveyor arrangement (15) extending in planar manner for the purpose of feeding printed products (1) standing on their edges in the form of a horizontal stack (2), a second, initially upwardly sloping conveyor arrangement (16) for drawing the printed products (1) off the stack (2) in an overlapping formation and for transferring the overlapping stream (3) to the feeder rack (5), and infinitely variable drives (20, 24) associated with the two conveyor arrangements (15, 16), a control means (23) is provided which controls the two drives (20, 24) at a speed ratio to one another which is dependent on the thickness (D) of the printed products (1) to be processed.

Abstract: A transport method and system that operates to feed mixed size mail pieces in singular fashion and adaptively controls the velocity of the mail pieces such that overall system performance is optimized is provided. The length of a mail piece is measured and a desired gap time between the mail piece and a subsequent mail piece is calculated. The gap time between the mail piece and the subsequent mail piece is measured, and a difference between the desired gap time and measured gap time is calculated. Based on the calculated gap time difference, the velocity of the subsequent mail piece is adaptively controlled to decrease the difference between the desired gap time and the measured gap time such that the measured gap time is adjusted to be approximately equal to the desired gap time, thereby optimizing throughput of the mailing system.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring grouped resources. A system and method of monitoring resource units in a stack is provided. The system and method includes providing a group of resource units and determining a thickness of one or more of the resource units. The system and method also includes indicating when the group of resource units reaches a predetermined size after one or more of the resource units has been moved from the group.

Abstract: A method of imaging an item is provided comprising the steps of determining a media type of a first portion of an item to be imaged, determining a media type of a supply of media for an imaging device, determining if the first portion media type is compatible with the first supply media type based on a criterion, and imaging the first portion on one or more sheets of the first supply media type using the imaging device if the first portion media type is compatible with the first supply media type. At least one of the determining steps is performed by sensing for multiple media types. Sensing the media type is preferably performed by at least one sensor.

Abstract: A sheet member feeding device comprises a first gear transmitting a driving force to a feeding roller for intermittently feeding a sheet member per a predetermined feeding amount, a second gear having a first mark and a second mark representative of a maximum eccentric position and a minimum eccentric position along a radial direction relative to a predetermined concentric circle in a tooth space, in opposition to each other and directly or indirectly transmitting a driving force to the first gear, a third gear directly or indirectly transmitting driving force from driving means to the second gear, detecting means for detecting the first mark and the second mark in the second gear and transmitting a detection output, and a control portion operating the driving means for performing operation for rotating the second gear through 180° between the first mark and the second mark with respect to feeding for a feeding amount of the sheet member for one time, on the basis of the detection output from the detectin

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting overlapped mail pieces when sorting batches of flat mail pieces as the pieces are conveyed on their narrow sides, whereby the sorted mail pieces are moved successively standing on their narrow sides in a longitudinal direction along a bed or path. Positioned below the path is an electronic line camera arranged with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the feed direction of the sorted mail pieces that scans the lower narrow edges of the mail pieces through a gap in the bed. In one aspect, two sources of light, such as light emitting diodes, are positioned laterally from the line camera diagonally illuminate the mail pieces from below as the mail pieces pass over a window in the path so that the edges of the scanned narrow sides are emphasized by shadowing.

Abstract: An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.

Abstract: A resonance chamber is provided in a printing device, or in a print medium supply tray of the printing device, to determine the size of the print medium in the printing device. The supply of print medium and the resonance chamber are positioned so that the print medium covers a portion of the resonance chamber. An audio signal system then emits an audio signal to drive the resonance chamber. The frequency of the audio signal is varied until the natural resonance frequency of the chamber, as partially covered by the print medium, is discovered. The resonance frequency of the chamber will correspond to the amount of the chamber that is covered by the print medium and, hence, to the length (or width) of the print medium. In this way, the size of the print medium, whether standard or custom, can be determined.

Abstract: A method of tracking a document in a system for feeding and transporting documents includes detecting a document trailing edge at a fixed location upstream of a feeder. The system includes a feeder stage and a transport stage downstream of the feeder stage. The feeder stage includes the feeder and a separator. The method further includes tracking a position of the document trailing edge as the document trailing edge moves between the fixed location and the feeder, and performing an operation dependent on the document trailing edge position when the document trailing edge is between the fixed location and the feeder.

Abstract: A method is proposed for measuring thickness and detecting double and missing sheets during the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed printing machine. A corresponding monitoring apparatus has one or more sensing elements above or beneath the sheet stream. The sensing element can be displaced, with an actuating device having an actuating drive, in the direction towards and away from the sheet stream. The actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or it is formed by the latter.

Abstract: A method of document overlap/gap error detection and correction includes detecting a trailing edge of a first document at a feeder, and detecting a leading edge of a second document at an edge detector between the feeder and a transport stage. An overlap/gap error is determined and the feeder is controlled to correct the overlap/gap error, when the error is present. An overlap may be measured before the first document trailing edge arrives at the edge detector, providing a greater remaining length of the second document left in the feeder with which to perform the necessary feeder motions to correct the overlap/gap error.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting wrinkling of sheets of material is provided. A change in an angle the sheet forms with a reference line can be detected. When the change in the angle exceeds a threshold value, wrinkling of the sheet can be detected. In an exemplary embodiment, ultrasound signals may be used to detect wrinkling. As ultrasound passes through a sheet of material, for example, paper, there is both a phase shift and an amplitude reduction to that ultrasound signal. As the angle of the sheet changes with respect to the ultrasound signal due to wrinkling of the sheet, the phase shift and amplitude of the signal after it passes through the sheet changes. Thus, as the sheet begins to wrinkle, there is a change in the phase shift and amplitude of the signal. These changes can be used to detect the start of a document jam or wrinkling of a sheet of material.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention an apparatus for multiple document detection includes an ultrasonic transmitter (14) for transmitting an ultrasonic signal (16). An ultrasonic receiver (20) receives the ultrasonic signal (17), after it passes through the at least one of the multiple documents (18). A phase comparator (24) compares the transmitted ultrasonic signal (16) and the received ultrasonic signal (17), and an amplitude measurement circuit (26) compares the received ultrasonic signal (17) to a reference. A microprocessor (32) compares an information signal (28) from the phase comparator (24) and an information signal (30) from the amplitude measurement circuit (26) to a predetermined threshold to determine if multiple documents are present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for staging envelopes in a mail insertion machine. In the mail insertion machine, envelopes are moved into an envelope inserting area one at a time with the flap of the envelopes trailing the envelope bottom edge and flipped away so as to allow enclosure material to be inserted into the envelope. While one envelope is paused in the envelope inserting area for receiving enclosure material, the next envelope is moved towards the envelope inserting area such that the flap of the paused envelope in the envelope inserting area is partially overlapped with the next envelope in a shingling fashion. In order to properly separate these envelopes, a sensing device is used to sense the arrival of the bottom edge of the next envelope in order to control the further movement of the next envelope.

Abstract: When a film is rewound, light is applied from light-emitting units to the film, and light that has passed through the film is detected by light-detecting units to detect a plurality of inclined defects in the film based on a change in the intensity of the light transmitted through the film. Slits oriented in the direction of the inclined defects are disposed in front of the light-emitting units and the light-detecting units. Detected signals outputted from the light-detecting units are transmitted to a processing device and processed thereby. The processing device processes the signals by approximating a maximum value array of extremal values of the signals in respective reference lengths of the film, with two functions in zones, and identifying a boundary between the zones as a position where a defect disappears.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: a conveyance path along which a recording sheet is conveyed; a separation roller that separates a recording sheet and conveys it; a registration roller that stops temporarily a recording sheet separated and conveyed by the separation roller and further conveyed along the conveyance path, and conveys the recording sheet again toward the image forming position at the prescribed timing; a detector that is provided in the conveyance path between the separation roller and the registration roller, and detects the recording sheet; a recognizing device that recognizes fluctuation of conveyance timing of the recording sheet based on the results of the detection made by the detector; and a controller that conducts conveyance control for the recording sheet at the upstream side of the registration roller based on the results of the recognition made by the recognizing device.

Abstract: Sheet handling apparatus includes a transport system for transporting sheets; a sensing system for monitoring the passage of sheets; and a controller. The controller determines, during a transaction involving the transport of one or a sequence of sheets, the existence of a jam condition from the sensing system. If a jam condition exists, the controller operates the transport system to attempt to release the jammed sheet. If at least three attempts to release the jammed sheet fail, the controller stops the current transaction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprises a sheet conveying mechanism for conveying sheets along a first conveying path (22) and stacking up them in a sheet stack-feed station (S), a tray (24) for storing a stack of cover sheets (P), a second conveying path (28) communicating with the first conveying path (22), a blow outlet (38) for blowing a jet of air towards the tray (24) to lift up each cover sheet (P), a sucker (30) for sucking the cover sheet (P), a sheet feeding mechanism for conveying the cover sheet (P) received from the sucker (30) along the second conveying path (28) and feeding it to the first conveying path (22), and a pneumatic pump (34) for providing a blow of air and a suction of air. The sheet feeding mechanism is changed to its standby mode when the cover sheet is transferred from the sucker (30) to the sheet feeding mechanism. Upon the sheets having been stacked in the sheet stack-feed station (S), the sheet feeding mechanism transfers the cover sheet.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus with excellent quality which can prevent image degradation and the like due to stacking too much recording material on a discharge tray, when the recording operation is carried out, a sensor measures the distance from the upper surface of a flapper to the stacked object. The output obtained here is taken in by a distance detecting circuit. After a calculation circuit carries out comparison and calculation, the distance is calculated and is transmitted to a control circuit. By comparing the calculated distance with thickness data with regard to the recording material and the like stored in advance in a memory device in the control circuit, the allowable residual amount of stack and the allowable residual number of sheets of stack are further presumed.

Abstract: A method for preventing limit values from being exceeded in sheet-fed printing machines includes acquiring values relevant to the printing process with respect to individual sheets, and processing those values so that predetermined limit values are maintained, detecting the development trend of a relevant value in the course of a series of sheets, and initiating measures when a change in the values occurs that would lead to a limit value being exceeded in an additional predetermined number of sheets if a continuation of the trend occurs; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: Detecting the presence of an object, preferably a leaf sheet-shaped or sheet-shaped object on a transport path, especially for preparation and/or control of a processing of the object, preferably for printing the object in a printing machine, especially a digital printer, where the object is transported on the transport path past a sensor device, preferably a photoelectric barrier, for detection and registration of the front edge of the object in the transport direction. After detecting the front edge of the object and/or its entrance into the measurement area, it is checked at least once to determine whether the object continues to be present in the measurement area of the sensor device.

Abstract: A singulation mechanism is provided for use in a handling system for mail or other substantially flat articles, the mechanism having a singulation head with a drive mechanism which, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, initially moves an article pressed thereagainst with high acceleration, interrupts the drive to the article for a brief instant and then moves the article again at high acceleration, a take-away mechanism removing the article exiting the head. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, movement at a high acceleration is imparted to the article pressed against the singulation head only when the head is energized and substantially no movement in imparted when the head is not energized.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting wrinkling of sheets of material is provided. A change in an angle the sheet forms with a reference line can be detected. When the change in the angle exceeds a threshold value, wrinkling of the sheet can be detected. In an exemplary embodiment, ultrasound signals may be used to detect wrinkling. As ultrasound passes through a sheet of material, for example, paper, there is both a phase shift and an amplitude reduction to that ultrasound signal. As the angle of the sheet changes with respect to the ultrasound signal due to wrinkling of the sheet, the phase shift and amplitude of the signal after it passes through the sheet changes. Thus, as the sheet begins to wrinkle, there is a change in the phase shift and amplitude of the signal. These changes can be used to detect the start of a document jam or wrinkling of a sheet of material.

Abstract: A method is proposed for measuring thickness and detecting double and missing sheets during the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed printing machine. A corresponding monitoring apparatus has one or more sensing elements above or beneath the sheet stream. The sensing element can be displaced, with an actuating device having an actuating drive, in the direction towards and away from the sheet stream. The actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or it is formed by the latter.

Abstract: This invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus excellent in reliability which maintain high productivity and yet can quickly detect bad conveyance when it occurs. A sheet feeding sensor is provided near the downstream side of a conveying roller and a retard roller, and a sheet discharge sensor is provided near the upstream side of discharge rollers, and when the length of a sheet in the direction of conveyance thereof is defined as Ls and the conveyance distance between the sheet feeding sensor and the sheet discharge sensor is defined as Lp and the number of sheets conveyed at a time at a spacing of zero (0) between sheets is defined as N, N is set so that Lp>Ls×N, and when the designated number of sheets is equal to or greater than N, N sheets as a set are conveyed at a spacing of zero (0) between the sheets, whereafter N sheets as a set are again conveyed at a predetermined spacing between the sheets detectable by the sensors, and this is repeated.

Abstract: A method and a configuration for controlling the passage of printed media, especially letters or envelopes, in a separating apparatus of a mail processing system, include transferring the printed media, on the output side, with an ejector to a following device, such as a scale or balance or a franking machine. The intention is to widen the field of use and the throughput of printed media is to be matched to that in the following device. A transfer speed is set on the basis of a transport speed of the following device and, in remaining areas of the separating apparatus, the transport speed is optimized on the basis of a respective printed medium position.

Abstract: A sheet-like object feed unit in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a feedboard, paper feed belts, connecting plate, improper paper feeding detector, swing arm shaft pregripper, transfer cylinder, non-motion roller, gripper closing cam, and air cylinder. The feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate convey a sheet-like object. The improper paper feeding detector is disposed on a sheet-like object convey path including the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate, and detects improper feeding of the sheet-like object. The swing arm shaft pregripper is disposed downstream of the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate in a sheet-like object convey direction, and has a first holding unit for holding the sheet-like object conveyed by the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the arrival of copy sheets at a photoreceptor in an image processing having a copy sheet path having a plurality of segments coupled at given transfer zones, a plurality of copy sheet drives, an image transfer station, a photoreceptor and a controller. The controller directs the image processing apparatus by tracking the movement of copy sheets at the image transfer station in relation to the movement of the photoreceptor, monitoring the movement of copy sheets at the transfer zones, determining the need to adjust the spacing of copy sheets along the plurality of segments of the copy sheet path, and suitably activating selected copy sheet drives.

Abstract: A transfer jam detecting apparatus for a wet type electrophotographic color printer capable of detecting various kinds of jams occurring at a transfer roller, including: a printed matter entrance sensor disposed on a front side of a transfer roll, for detecting an entrance of a printed matter into the transfer roll; a feed roll disposed by a shaft to be rotated in either direction on a transfer section printed matter guide disposed on a rear side of the transfer roll, the feed roll being passively rotated by the conveyed printed matter; a pressing roll assembly disposed on an upper portion of the feed roll, for pressing the printed matter in a manner that the feed roll is passively rotated by the conveyed printed matter; and feed roll rotational direction detecting section for detecting the presence of a jam by detecting the rotation and rotational direction of the feed roll.

Abstract: A sheet-like object feed unit in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a feedboard, paper feed belts, connecting plate, improper paper feeding detector, swing arm shaft pregripper, transfer cylinder, non-motion roller, gripper closing cam, and air cylinder. The feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate convey a sheet-like object. The improper paper feeding detector is disposed on a sheet-like object convey path including the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate, and detects improper feeding of the sheet-like object. The swing arm shaft pregripper is disposed downstream of the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate in a sheet-like object convey direction, and has a first holding unit for holding the sheet-like object conveyed by the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing sheets carrying images thereon and sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus in consecutive bins thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes a deflector for deflecting a sheet toward the inlet of a preselected bin and a plurality of cylindrical cams cooperating to open and close the inlet of the bin. The deflector and cams are interlocked to each other to operate at a relatively high speed. The apparatus is capable of surely inserting a sheet into the inlet of the bin and highly reliable and durable.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a sheet thickness detector (810) used for distinguishing single sheets from double sheets which pass through the machine. The thickness detector includes a radiation source (822). Radiation from the radiation source is directed by radiation guide (824) to a generally linear elongated radiation outlet (826) which extends transversely to the sheet path. A receiver (814) includes a radiation sensitive element (830) which is also transversely elongated relative to the sheet path. Sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver cause variations in the amount of radiation reaching the receiver. The transversely elongated surface of the sheet through which the transmission of radiation is sense enables accurately distinguishing single sheets from double sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus separates printed media, especially letters or envelopes, which are disposed as stacks between a spring-mounted curved pressure plate and drive rolls as well as a guide plate inclined slightly to the rear. Cylindrical envelope surfaces of the drive rolls project through openings in the guide plate. The printed media are transported away to the side. Such an apparatus is used in mail processing systems for reliably pre-separating and separating the printed media with the lowest possible technical outlay and space requirement. The apparatus includes a pre-separating area with drive-roll combinations having different coefficients of friction and a common, separate drive with freewheeling as well as a separating area with separating elements, a sensor for detecting printed media, an ejection-roll pair on the outlet side and a common, separate drive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormal paper feed such as a paper jam in a printing press which can reduce the work load for an operator and prevent productivity and printing quality from being lowered by detecting the elapsed time of travel of a first sheet of paper from a paper feeder to a register, with the time corresponding to the number of sheets reaching the register. This number is compared to a number of paper sheets stored in a memory. When there is an agreement between the compared sheet numbers, normal paper feeding is indicated. When the detected number of sheets is more or less than the number stored in memory, abnormal paper feeding is indicated and further paper feeding is interrupted. A number less than the required number is indicative of paper remaining on a feeder board from a previous printing operation. A number larger than the required number is indicative of a paper jam.

Abstract: A feeding rotatable member, a conveying rotatable member and a separating rotatable member are driven by a sheet feeding motor, a feeding motor and a separating motor, respectively, which are independent driving means to thereby feed an original. The separation and conveyance of the original are effected while the opening amount between the conveying rotatable member and the separating rotatable member is changed by a sheet thickness adjusting motor.

Abstract: A sheet-material feeding device individually separating and sequentially feeding a bundle of sheets of a sheet material mounted on a sheet-material mount. The device includes a detector for detecting the presence of the sheet material on the sheet-material mount, and a pressing member for pressing the sheet material on the sheet-material mount when the presence of the sheet material has been detected by the detetector. A sheet-mounting angle of the sheet-material mount can be changed so that an upstream portion of the bundle of sheets is lower than a portion where the sheets are separated.

Abstract: The presence of overlapped sheets on a paper transport is detected by employing such sheets as an acoustic interference filter. A beam of ultrasonic energy of appropriate frequency, angularly oriented to the planar transport path, will be attenuated to a much greater extent than the attenuation calculated based on the attenuation of a single sheet, as a result of destructive combining of wavefronts reflected from the facing surfaces of the overlapped sheets.

Abstract: A print media level sensor and method for determining a height of a stack of print media for use in printing devices are disclosed. An embodiment of a print media level sensor includes a print media stack follower configured to contact a top of a stack of print media and remain in contact with the top as a height of the stack changes. The print media stack follower also includes encoded data representative of a plurality of heights of the stack of print media. The print media level sensor additionally includes a decoder configured to read encoded data on the print media stack follower and output a signal representative of the encoded data. The print media stack follower may further include a computing device that receives the signal representative of the encoded data from the computing device and converts the signal representative of the encoded data into a signal representative of the stack height.

Abstract: An original carrying apparatus includes a separation unit for separating one original from a plurality of stacked originals, a carrying roller for carrying the original separated by the separation unit, a carrying belt for receiving the original carried by the carrying roller, and carrying the originals in a state where the plurality of originals are being held, wherein the carrying belt carries the original such that the original passes through an exposure position at a first speed, and a control unit for performing control to set an interval between the two originals carried by the carrying belt to be a first distance. The control unit performs the control to set the interval between the two originals to be the first distance after setting it to be a second distance shorter than the first distance, by using the carrying roller. Further, the control unit accelerates the carrying belt up to a second speed, decelerates the second speed to the first speed to set the second distance to be the first distance.

Abstract: A method for alerting a user when the time has arrived to replace a media feed roller on a printing device, employs statistical analysis of data gathered relating to the number of pages between misfeeds associated with the media feed roller. It has been ascertained that the misfeed rate associated with media feed roller failure follows a characteristic pattern, which may be treated as a step function. That is to say that, beginning with a new media feed roller, the feed failure rate, which is usually measured in pages printed between misfeeds, remains relatively constant. However, as the time for replacement nears, the graph begins to plunge precipitously, as misfeeds begin to occur with increasing regularity. After the plunge, the misfeed rate continues to increase, but at a decreasing rate. Eventually, the feed failure rate reaches a value that represents a misfeed during every page feed. The optimum time for replacement is deemed to be shortly after the graph begins to plunge.

Abstract: A low cost inverter apparatus of includes a dual positionable, multi-function gate and a stationary baffle that guides sheets toward catch or output trays or work in conjunction with reversible rolls to direct the sheets into a duplex path. The dual positionable gate and stationary baffle have points thereon that are positioned to use the beam strength of the sheets to align the sheets with a duplex nip that feeds the sheet into the duplex path.

Abstract: A position detecting sensor for detecting that a sheet having come into an openable both-face conveying path for reversing the surfaces of the sheet having an image formed on one surface thereof and conveying the reversed sheet to an image forming portion has arrived at a predetermined re-feeding position, and the position detecting sensor is designed to be capable of detecting also the presence or absence of the occurrence of jam in the both-face conveying path, the mounting and dismounting of a both-face conveying portion and the opening and closing of the both-face conveying path.

Abstract: An automatically sheet sorting device has multistage trays for storing sheets fed from a copying machine or the like, which each incorporate a sheet detecting mechanism including a sheet-empty detection lever of sheet-empty detecting means for detecting the sheet existing on the tray, and a sheet-full detection lever of sheet-full detecting means for detecting the sheets reaching a prescribed storage limit. The individual operable sheet-empty detection lever and sheet-full detection lever can be assembled in the tray compactly. A sheet-empty actuating member connected to the sheet-empty detection lever for actuating a sheet-empty switch and a sheet-empty actuating member connected to the sheet-full detection lever for actuating a sheet-full switch are of electrically non-contacting mechanism, thus to enable the tray to he readily detached from and attached to the device without any troublesome work of establishing an electrical connection or disconnection of electric elements between the tray and the device.