Abstract: Rolls of individual plastic bags are formed on apparatus that overlaps the bags before the bags are fed into the roll to provide a compact roll of individual bags. The apparatus overlaps portions of the bags so that a plurality of bags can be continuously fed into the roll even though the bags are not mechanically connected end-to-end to adjacent bags on the roll.

Abstract: A conveying device for transporting strip portions to be cut by a cutting device from a material strip in transverse direction of the material strip, which strip portions are then laid overlapping in the manner of roof-tiles onto a stacker, comprising:i) a first conveyor disposed adjacent the cutting device which transports the material strip for cutting and the cut strip portions at a first conveying speed V.sub.1 which is substantially equal to the supply speed V.sub.0 of the material strip; andii) a second conveyor preceding the stacker which transports the cut strip portions at a second conveying speed V.sub.2 which is greater than the first conveying speed V.sub.1and to a method for conveying strip portions cut from a material strip in transverse direction of the material strip, which strip portions are laid overlapping in the manner of roof-tiles on a stacker, comprising the steps of:i) conveying with a first conveyor the material strip for cutting and the cut strip portion at a first conveying speed V.

Abstract: An intermediate film storage device for a section of photographic material of limited length comprises feed rolls, exit rolls, intermediate rolls which separate a first buffer from a second buffer, and a guiding device which guides the section of film from the feed rolls to the intermediate rolls. Such an intermediate film storage device serves to equalize different operating speeds of stations for processing photographic material. In so doing, the activity of the processing stations connected in series ahead of the intermediate film storage device should have to be interrupted only for a short time as the intermediate film storage device is being emptied. The intermediate rolls wind the section of film into the first buffer, and rewind it into the second buffer in the opposite direction of motion and at a higher speed, the motion of the section of film in the second buffer being controlled by an arrangement of buffer rolls.

Abstract: A wide variety of product types, sizes and shapes are sorted into designated destination bins or other outputs utilizing a computer controlled transport path that includes an infeed section and a pinch roller diverting section. The infeed section receives a singulated stream of products to be sorted, optically scans each product for a destination code and transports the products downstream to the diverting section. The diverting section consist of a series of individually and selectively controlled roller pairs in combination with a number of diverting gates. Each roller pair includes an upper foam covered pinch roller and a lower friction drive roller oriented such that products moving downstream pass between each roller pair until diverted from the transport path. An array of photoelectric detectors provide product position information to identify and track product movement through the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for loading a garment for a sewing machine having a first device for moving the garment toward the sewing machine, a second device downstream of the first moving device for moving the garments towards the sewing machine, and a device for changing the speed of the first and second moving devices relative to each other to change the distance between adjacent moving garments according to programmed distance values.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism comprises a feed roller rotatable in one direction at a predetermined timing, which rotates in an overrunning manner if such need arises, a separation roller disposed in contact with the feed roller, which rotates together with the feed roller when a load torque exceeds a predetermined value, and a pickup roller disposed upstream of the feed roller in the direction of rotation of the feed roller for feeding a paper sheet according to a paper feed instruction, a device for varying the pressing force of the separation roller against the feed roller, a detector provided in the vicinity of the feed roller and the separation roller for detecting the speed of the paper sheet fed by the feed roller and the separation roller; and a controller for controlling the pressing force of the separation roller according to the detection signal from the detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lead edge type paperboard feeding apparatus suitable for a box making machine for corrugated board sheets and the like, and more particularly, provides a paperboard feeding apparatus provided with delivery rolls which deliver paperboards piled up between a front guide and a backstop are delivered successively from the lowest layer, comprising a mechanism which, when the dimension of above-mentioned paperboard reaches a predetermined length and longer, above-mentioned backstop is amde to vary (ascend and descend or incline) automatically interlocking with the variation in length (or interlocking step-wise at a predetermined ratio), or an indexing unit which is able to set a start timing or a stop timing of feeding selectively.

Abstract: A sheet transport system incorporating a control for matching drive speeds imparted to a sheet extending between adjacent workstations is disclosed. The copy sheet is engaged by a receiving surface disposed between the workstations and is adhered to the receiving surface by vacuum. The copy sheet follows a path offset from a linear path extending between the workstations. Fuser rolls are driven at a slightly higher speed to tension the copy sheet and lift it from the transport surface. The lifting is detected by a sensor for sensing the vacuum in a plenum communicated with the receiving surface. The drive speed of the fuser rolls is controlled in accordance with the signal from the sensor.

Abstract: A document gap detecting device for facsimile is disclosed in which the bottom plate is formed in a stepped shape, and the linear speeds of an ADF roller and a carrying roller are designed to be same, thereby making it possible to produce a gap between the continuously fed document sheets without requiring a difference between the linear speeds of the ADF roller and the carrying roller. There are further provided with transmitting and receiving optical sensors. According to the present invention, there will occur no undesirable phenomenon such that the sheet at the receiving end is outputted in an extended length.

Abstract: A sheet conveying/sorting system which sorts sheets being successively conveyed by a target number of sheets, that is, by a package units. The sheet conveying/sorting system includes a downstream conveyor, an upstream conveyor, sucking conveyor and controller. In the sheet conveying/sorting system, in accordance with a signal output from the control, the successively conveyed sheets are separated from each other and, after separation, the respective parts of the system are returned to their original positions. By repeating these steps sequentially and sucessively, the sheets can be sorted by the package units.

Abstract: A first conveyor is adjoined downstream, as viewed in a predetermined conveying direction for an imbricated product stream, by a gap-forming device. A gap is formed in the imbricated product stream by means of the gap-forming device which feeds the imbricated product stream to a second conveyor. The gap-forming device comprises a belt conveyor provided with two laterally spaced transport belts, as well as an accelerating conveyor arranged between the two transport belts. A conveyor belt of the accelerating conveyor comprises passages which are distributed over approximately one half of its length. At the region of the conveying-active path of the conveyor belt, the passages are in connection with a suction trough. In order to form a gap in the imbricated product stream, the conveyor belt is driven at a higher speed than the belt conveyor, and the suction trough is connected to a negative pressure source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to deskew sheets in a short paper path in an electrophotographic printing machine by differentially driving two sets of rolls so as to create a paper buckle buffer zone in the sheet and then differentially driving a roll set to correct the skew while the sheet is still within the nips of multiple drive roll sets. Contrary to stalled roll techniques, leading edge damage to sheets is eliminated as the deskewing rolls are initially traveling at the same velocity as the sheet.

Abstract: A switch is located near a pair of register rollers for feeding a document sheet toward a platen glass. A pair of document-feeding rollers are located near a platen glass. When the switch detects the rear edge of the document sheet being fed by the register rollers, it generates a signal. Upon receipt of this signal, the document-feeding rollers rotate, thus feeding the sheet for a prescribed distance and placing it at a predetermined position on the platen glass. The image on the sheet, thus positioned, is copied. An upper roller and a lower roller contacting each other are arranged at the exit side of the register rollers. The document sheets are braked as they pass, one after another, through the gap between the upper and lower rollers and are fed at the same speed, thus reducing their speeds to one and the same speed in spite of their different inertias.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder for sheets includes sheet conveying members for holding and conveying the sheet utilizing travelling waves, a sheet feed detection member for detecting a feed of the sheet, and a drive control circuit for applying alternating electrical signal to each of electric/mechanical energy conversion elements on the basis of the sheet feed detection information from the sheet feed detection member. The travelling wave is formed in each of the sheet conveying members by applying the alternating electric signal controlled by the drive control circuit to each of the electric/mechanical energy conversion elements, by which a conveying force is applied to the sheet. The drive control circuit feeds the sheet in the following manners on the basis of the sheet feed detection information from the sheet feed detection member. The sheet is fed first at a fixed high speed until it has been fed to a position close to the desired distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a stream of signatures into discrete batches includes an infeed conveyor transporting signatures at a constant velocity V.sub.1, an outfeed conveyor transporting signatures at a higher constant velocity V.sub.2, and a plurality of parallel endless belts disposed between the infeed and outfeed conveyors. The plurality of parallel belts each include a raised portion for engaging and transporting signatures. Each belt is independently driven, and the belts are positioned with the raised portions staggered to engage successive portions of the incoming stream of signature. Each belt is driven alternatively at speeds V.sub.1 and V.sub.2, first matching the infeed velocity and then matching the outfeed velocity. As each successive raised portion fully engages a portion of signatures, it is accelerated to V.sub.2, thus introducing a gap between that portion of signatures and the remainder of the stream, which is engaged by the raised portion of the succeeding belt traveling at V.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for feeding documents stacked in a document tray for use in a facsimile machine. The device includes a pick-up roll for picking up the undermost document of the stacked documents, a transferring roll for transferring the document picked up by the pick-up roll, the two rolls being mounted parallel and synchronized with each other, a shaft for rotating the pick-up roll, a bushing having a cylindrical portion and a notch portion and fixedly mounted on one end portion of the shaft, a driving gear having a cylindrical portion and a plurality of notch portions and loosely mounted on the end portion of the shaft with the cylindrical portions opposing each other, and a clutch spring having an internal end and external end and encircling the two cylindrical portions with the internal and external ends respectively caught in the notch portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deceleration device for folded products, with which folded products following one behind the other are gripped by decelerable transport devices (6, 7) and conveyed. The oppositely arranged transport devices (6, 7) tracing a path of motion (15) are driven by a planetary gearing (16). While planetary gears (21, 22) rotate around a sun gear (23), an instantaneous centre P1 describe a cardioid which, via drive brackets (17, 18 and respectively 55) causes the transport devices (6, 7) to take different speeds during rotation of the planetary gears (21, 22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering cards or like paper stock fed singly from a stack of the cards to a demand location for dispensing in sequence, in which each card fed from the stack is advanced through a plurality of stages of a conveyor, each stage being independently operable, each stage and all preceding stages and the stack feeder being actuable when no card is present at that stage, the leading stage being also operable to deliver a card on demand, the cards being feed at a higher rate than the dispensing rate.

Abstract: Disclosed are Power Encoder means for imprinting MICR characters on checks, with optical check-sensing means disposed along a check-transport path, including optical skew-sensor means.

Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus which facilitates increased printing speed in a printer, such as a laser printer, by providing rollers which are rotated at different respective speeds at different times during a paper feeding and image transfer operation, so as to provide even feeding of the paper to an image transfer device. The paper is fed, one sheet at a time, relatively rapidly to the image transfer device, and at a slower speed, in synchronism with the image transfer operation, while transfer is being effected.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for a facsimile machine, photocopier or the like is provided. The device includes a feed roller rotatably mounted on an axle which is supported by a frame. The axle is attached by a bushing and a spring clutch to a paper feeding gear which is driven by a suitable device or motor. The feed roller includes a sleeve arranged to co-operate, via a groove, with a spring pin fixed to the axle so as to provide a lost-motion mechanism between the shaft and the sleeve. A gear is arranged to drive a transfer roller faster than the gear drives the axle. In use, when paper is present between rollers, the pin is at one end of the groove. After a sheet of paper has been fed from the feed roller to the transfer roller, the feed roller will stop and not be driven by the gear until the spring pin of the lost motion mechanism has rotated from one end of the groove to the other end.

Abstract: Servo methods and apparatus whereby unit-record documents are transported past a process-station according to one of several "velocity-profiles", depending upon document type and/or condition, the methods involving: using a microprocessor whereby the documents are transported past one or more process-stations according to one of several "velocity-profiles", depending upon document type and/or condition.The methods involve arranging the microprocessor to store at least two different velocity-profiles and to store prescribed characteristics of each contemplated document and deploying passage-sensors along the path in prescribed spaced-relation with the process stations, whereby a given velocity-profile is automatically selected, in real time, and on-the-fly, by the microprocessor for each said document transported.

Abstract: A printer comprises a first sheet feed mechanism comprising a first transportation unit and a first sheet container, and a second sheet feed mechanism comprising a second transportation unit and a second sheet container. A sheet fed from the second sheet container is transported by the second transportation unit to the first transportation unit. The insertion of a sheet fed from the second sheet container into the first transportation unit is detected by a sheet detector. The feed speed of the second transportation unit is adjusted to a feed speed higher than that of the first transportation unit before the sheet detector detects the leading edge of a sheet fed from the second sheet container. The feed speed of the second transportation unit is adjusted to a feed speed not higher than that of the first transportaton unit upon the detection of the leading edge of the sheet fed from the second sheet container by the sheet detector.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cut-sheet feeder installed on a printer to feed a cut sheet from a sheet hopper (1) included in the cut-sheet feeder to the printing unit of the printer at a sheet feeding speed corresponding to that of the printer. The printer gives a correction signal (S.sub.1) of a predetermined pulse width to the cut-sheet feeder, and then the cut-sheet feeder converts the pulse width of the correction signal into a corresponding number of pulses of a clock signal generated by its control unit (25), and obtains the difference between the number of pulses of the clock signal and a predetermined reference value to determine the deviation of the frequency of the clock signal from a reference frequency. The difference between the number of pulses of the clock signal and the reference value is added to a reference motor controlling value for driving a stepping motor (4) at a reference speed to obtain a corrected motor controlling value. When the printer gives a sheet feed command signal (S.sub.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for the supplying of stream of single sheets to a sheet-processing machine. Preferably, a pile of sheets is carried by a pile table to a sheet-singling apparatus. The sheet-singling apparatus transfers a continuous stream of individual sheets, via a conveying table, to the sheet-processing machine. The invention allows for an extension of the time for changing the pile of sheets, due to the fact that a pile of sheets is provided on either side of the machine.

Abstract: A sheet separating and feeding apparatus has a separating device and a vacuum-attracting device to separate and feed sheets one by one from piled sheets. The separating device includes a compressed air plenum chamber, and main nozzles, first auxiliary nozzles and second auxiliary nozzles which are provided on the compressed air plenum chamber for causing air to blow to an upper portion of the piled sheets to separate the uppermost sheet from the remaining sheets. The vacuum-attracting device includes a vacuum chamber and an endless belt having a plurality of through holes provided in a part of the belt. The endless belt rotates around the vacuum chamber, and attracts the uppermost sheet which is separated by the separating device, when the through holes intermittently communicate with a negative pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A paper conveying mechanism in an image forming apparatus has an image forming body section of a manual operating type provided with a forward conveying path for conveying a discharged sheet of recording paper having an image thereon on front and rear sides of the image forming apparatus; an after-treatment device for after-treating the sheet of recording paper and arranged in parallel to a side portion of the image forming body section; a perpendicular conveying path for conveying the sheet of recording paper discharged from the forward conveying path in a direction approximately perpendicular to the forward conveying path, the perpendicular conveying path being connected to the forward conveying path such that the sheet of recording paper is fed to the after-treatment device; a paper feeder for feeding the sheet of recording paper in the forward conveying path; a paper feeder for feeding the sheet of recording paper in the perpendicular conveying path; and a common change-over mechanism additionally dispose

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a document, the apparatus comprising: structure for feeding a document in a downstream path of travel, the document have a downstream edge relative to the path of travel; structure for registering the downstream edge of a document in a direction extending transverse to the path of travel, the registering structure including at least one member extending into the path of travel, the registering structure including structure for moving the at least one member downstream in the path of travel; and structure for controlling the feeding structure to urge a document into engagement with the at least one moving member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for carrying out image forming in any of a plurality of image forming modes by changing the relationship between the drive starting time of the document scanner and the time at which registration rollers feed paper to the image forming unit. The paper feeding unit is adapted to feed paper from a paper housing unit at predetermined time intervals, determined according to the sizes of paper. The time intervals at which the registration rollers feed paper to the image forming unit are equal to these predetermined time intervals. Such predetermined time intervals remain unchanged for all image forming modes. Further, the period of time during which paper is once stopped by the registration rollers remains unchanged even though the image forming mode is changed.

Abstract: A sheet paper feed unit comprises an actuator, which is formed of a piezoelectric device, and an idling roller, and sheet paper is clamped between the actuator and idling roller and transported by the vibration of the piezoelectric device. A control unit determines information pertinent to a parameter specific to the sheet paper to be transported, and imparts a drive condition which complies with the information to the piezoelectric drive unit. The piezoelectric device is activated in the condition which complies with the paper specific parameter, whereby the sheet paper is transported at a stable speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet feeding device having a vibration member for generating vibration for feeding a sheet member. The vibration member is in frictional engagement with the sheet member, which is fed by vibration generated in the vibration member. The device further has a member for controlling the amplitude of the vibration of the vibration member according to the feeding speed of the sheet member whereby the sheet can be fed with a desired speed.

Abstract: A sheet feeder in which a cam member shiftable transversely of the sheet feed path provides concomitant adjustment relative to the feed rollers of stripper shoes carried by resilient arms integral with stripper supports mounted for movement as a unit relative to the feed rollers and in which elements on the supports adjust the positions of the resilient arms for individual adjsutment of the shoes. A rib on a curved guide adjacent to the feed rollers prevents snapping of sheets against the feed rollers as they are picked up by an accelerating nip formed adjacent to the end of the guide by a pair of acceleration rollers, one of which is formed with a groove for accommodating the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing a continuously conveyed stream of shingled workpieces, such as bags or sacks, into leading and trailing parts has two consecutive endless belt conveyors. The downstream second belt conveyor is driven, during a dividing operation, at a higher velocity than the first upstream conveyor in order to pull the shingled stream apart. After the stream has been divided into the leading and trailing parts the second conveyor is driven at the same velocity as the first conveyor. To provide separation of the stream into parts consisting of an exactly predetermined number of workpieces, an intermediate endless belt conveyor is provided, which extends parallel to the trailing portion of the second belt conveyor and during the dividing operation revolves at a lower velocity than the second belt conveyor. The intermediate conveyor is provided with cams for arresting the leading workpiece of the trailing part of the shingled stream, against an upper pressure belt.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting sheets between two process stations in hard-copy output apparatus, such as copiers and printers. The system includes a plurality of interleaved belts which extend between the process stations and around rollers of different diameter to selectively raise the belts in a predetermined fashion for contact with the sheet at specific portions along the sheet transfer path. The belts are divided into two groups which operate at different speeds. The faster group receives the sheet from the first process station and moves the sheet to the second group of belts which moves at a slower speed. The speed of the second group can be adjusted by sensing the speed of the sheet in the transition area of the two belt groups to compensate for slippage between the sheet and belts.

Abstract: A blank feeder for feeding blanks. It has a feed table on which a plurality of blanks are stacked, a suction unit provided under the table to suck the lowermost one of the stack downward, a motor-driven first feed rolls mounted in the suction unit and adapted to feed the lowermost blank in contact therewith, and second feed rolls located downstream of the first feed rolls and adapted to be driven at a constant speed. The first feed rolls are accelerated from zero speed to the speed of the second feed rolls before the front end of the blank reaches the second rolls, then driven synchronized with the second feed rolls, and decelerated to zero speed again by the time the next cycle begins. A kicker for pushing out the blank may be provided. The kicker is moved forward so as to be synchronized with the second feed rolls before the front end of the blank reaches the second feed rolls. Once synchronized, this state is maintained until the rear end of the blank gets off from the kicker.

Abstract: An automatic sorting and stamping apparatus includes a supply section to which a stack of mail items including standard-size items and nonstandard-size items is placed. The supplied mail items are transferred to a sorting and stamping section along a transfer path extending through a plurality of processing units while being applied with desired processes thereby. The transfer path is constructed by a plurality of conveyors whose operations are controlled by a control section. The control section stores various control values for determining the operations of the conveyors. One of the control values, which is suitable for processing the mail items of the supplied stack, is selected in accordance with the ratio of nonstandard-size items to all mail items forming the supplied stack. The conveyors are driven, based on the selected control value.

Abstract: An improved folder includes a first series of belts which grips and moves sheet material along converging deflectors to fold the sheet material. As the space between the deflectors narrows, a second series of belts grips the sheet material and continues its movement between the deflectors. The first series of belts includes a first plurality of tapes disposed on a first side of a fold line and a second plurality of tapes disposed on a second side of the fold line. The second series of belts includes a pair of creaser belts which extend from between the tapes to an outlet portion of the folder. The speed of movement of the tapes and creaser belts is coordinated by using speed signal generators which are driven at the speed of movement of the tapes and creaser belts. A controller compares the speed signals and maintains a desired relationship between the speed of movement of the tapes and creaser belts. It is believed that the creaser belts will usually be driven at the same speed.

Abstract: A sheet storing apparatus which is attachable to a copying machine and a method of controlling it, wherein sheets ejected from the copying machine one after another are stacked in order. A detector for detecting the condition of the sheet transportation is installed in a sheet transporting section thereof, and a control section controls the timing of driving a sheet storing section, a sheet transporting section and a sheet aligning section, based on an output of the detector and data on the speed of the sheet transportation in the copying machine. The control section has a timer for determining the timing of driving each section, and the value of the timer is adjusted in accordance with the data on the speed of the sheet transportation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mechanism for the handling of and the singulating of a stack or plurality of aligned and substantially flat materials such as for example, sheets of paper, cards, printed flyers, envelopes, checks, business cards, labels, other printed documents and the like. There is incorporated into the mechanism novel systems and assemblies which control the rate of the advance of the stack of materials, which advance is effected by an amplitude or magnitude of a unidirectional jogging motion. The magnitude is a function of the attitude of the stack or the angle formed with the horizontal of the leading sheet of the stack. There is also provided a pulsing mechanism for pulsing, synchronously with jogger belts of an input conveyor assembly for joggingly advancing the plurality of flat materials, the first singulator assembly which pulsing enhances the action of singulation of the plurality of flat material.

Abstract: A mechanism registers a sheet of film and advances it toward an imaging station for exposure by a laser scanning system. A registration member is located along a surface that receives the sheet and the member is engageable by an edge of the sheet for registering and guiding the sheet toward the station. An urging guide located along another portion of the surface is skewed relative to the registration member and spaced from it so that the end portions of the guide and registration member nearest the station are spaced apart sufficiently to enable the sheet to lie flat on the surface while other portions thereof are sufficiently close together to prevent the sheet from lying flat on the surface. The guide projects above the surface and is tilted away from the registration member so that the guide imparts a component of force onto a sheet resting thereon which urges the sheet toward the registration member.

Abstract: The apparatus for forming an imbricated product formation, in which the pitch between successive printed products can be deliberately selected, comprises successively arranged first and second conveyors. A scanning device detects the printed products arriving on the first conveyor at a first imbrication pitch, and delivers for each printed product a signal to a measuring unit. This measuring unit determines a time dependent value, such as the repetition frequency of the signals produced by the scanning device and delivers such to an evaluation circuit. In the evaluation circuit the thus determined time dependent value is combined with a signal proportional to the deliberately selected pitch between the products and which deliberately selected pitch is different from the first imbrication pitch, and the resultant signal value is delivered to a motor regulator.

Abstract: A method of controlling print positioning comprises the steps of: detecting the time which elapses until a sheet of paper reaches a given position; predicting the time which would elapse until the paper reaches an image transfer position on the basis of the time detected in the detection step; calculating the time difference between the predicted time and an elapse time calculated on the basis of a paper carrying speed pattern which is previously stored and has at least two speeds; and controlling the paper carrying speed so that the calculated time difference becomes zero, thereby preventing any misregistration between a toner image and the paper.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic document feeder for the copying machine or the like, which is capable of adjusting the sheet transporting speed automatically according to the sheet quality or the status of sheet transportation. The feeder detects the status of transportation in the first, and accordingly adjust the transporting speed for the subsequent sheets. Additionally, a monitor monitors the operational state of the transport mechanism by monitoring detection output of a detection sensor when an original sheet is not present and corrects the transport timing on the basis of the information so obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for variably accelerating a rotatable drive member comprises a slotted drive member mounted to rotate a drive shaft. A sun gear has two opposingly situated planet gears mounted to mesh with the sun gear. A driven annular gear rotates the planet gear. Each planet gear includes a cam member mounted to each planet gear off axis relative thereto. The cam members are received in the slotted drive member. As the annular gear is driven with angular velocity omega the cam members travel towards and away from the sun gear as they orbit around the sun gear. This movement causes the rotational movement applied to the drive member to vary between a maximum and a minimum angular velocity. Consequently, it is possible to arrange the apparatus to receive a rapidly moving product and slow it down before delivery onto a conveyor.

Abstract: A method and personal banking machine is described by which two items such as cash and statement can be issued simultaneously through one and the same gate. The optimum point in time is determined and adaptively controlled by which the front edge of statement touches the bundle of bank notes during issuing movement of the bank notes. Then both, bank notes and statement, are moved together to their respective end positions. The method and the machine starts the statement transport after a certain monitored delay time (DELTA-STATEMENT). By calculating out of the time difference between the point in time at which the bank notes reach the end position and the statement reaches its end position, a new time delay (DELTA-STATEMENT) is calculated for the next combined cash and statement issue operation. The method provides for the simultaneous issuance of bank notes and a statement through a common exit gate.

Abstract: An envelope drive assembly for assuming displacement control over an envelope along a deck supported on a support assembly including a drive means for receiving the envelope traversing the deck and assuming displacement control over the envelope. The drive means has a shaft having a drive roller fixably mounted centrally around a portion of the shaft such that a radial portion of the drive roller extent into an opening in the deck. A motor drive is provided for rotating the shaft. A support member having at least one biasing roller rotatively mounted thereto is positioned radially opposite the drive roller. The support member is pivotally mounted and biased such that the biasing roller is biased against the drive roller. A processor controls the drive motor. A sensor is provided for sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edge of the envelope in the nip area of the biasing roller and drive roller and informing the processor thereof.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus having a sheet discharging outlet includes a sheet stacking portion, a conveyer for receiving a sheet material from the sheet outlet of the image forming apparatus and for conveying the sheet material to the sheet stacking portion, speed controller for changing a conveying speed of the conveyer to provide a first conveying speed while the sheet material is being confined by the image forming apparatus and to provide a second conveying speed which is higher than the first speed after the sheet material is released from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus for example for use as a banknote counter comprises a stripper system having a pair of rollers; and a banknote detection system including two pairs of rollers defining respective nips into which single notes are fed by the stripper system. The relative deflection of the sheet detection system rollers due to the passage of a sheet through the nips is monitored in use. The stripper system rollers and the rollers of the sheet detection system are substantially coaxially mounted on a shaft and are driven by a common drive motor.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding signatures on to a fixed horizontal saddle of an input conveyor to a sewing machine; whereby the signatures, arranged with the backs facing rearwards, lying in respective vertical planes parallel to the fixed saddle, and separated by a distance of less than the maximum width of the signatures, are fed along a conveyor sloping downwards in the travelling direction of the input conveyor; the signatures being fed in an oblique direction in relation to the backs; each signature having a top corner projecting laterally from the stream of signatures travelling along the conveyor, which corner is engaged by a number of suction type parting heads located along, and moving reciprocatingly in the travelling direction of the signatures along the conveyor; and the signatures being so fed to an accelerating device designed to successively withdraw the signatures off the conveyor, and transfer the same, now parted, on to the fixed saddle; the parted front corner of each signature being guide

Abstract: A transfer or delivery cylinder for a sheet-fed rotary printing press having an endless chain conveyor carrying gripper bars and grippers and driven by a sprocket wheel concentrically mounted on a drive shaft for pulling freshly printed sheets from the impression cylinder onto the transfer or delivery cylinder for movement to a further processing station within the press, wherein the transfer or delivery cylinder is a right circular cylinder eccentrically mounted to the drive shaft so that upon initial engagement of the freshly printed sheet by the grippers, the leading edge of the cylinder is spaced below the sheet which is thereafter pulled smoothly and uniformly into contact tangentially with the sheet support surface of the transfer or delivery cylinder.