Abstract: A stacker (10) includes a housing (18) provided with an inlet port (20) and an outlet port (22), a tray (14) arranged beneath the outlet port of the housing in an upward/downward movable manner, and a transfer mechanism for transferring printed sheets from the inlet port to the outlet port and discharging the sheets above the tray through the outlet port. The sheet transfer velocity of the transfer mechanism is controlled in three stages including an intake speed (V1) at which the printed sheets are taken in through the inlet port, a carrying speed (V2) at which the sheets are carried from the inlet port to the outlet port and a discharge speed (V3) at which the sheets are discharged from the outlet port above the tray. The carrying speed is higher than the intake speed, and the discharge speed is not lower than the carrying speed.

Abstract: A sheet feeder apparatus and method with throughput control. By varying the speed at which sheets are fed from a supply, the sheet feeder apparatus and method assures that the throughput capacity of a downstream operation is never exceeded. Speed is varied based upon the length of the sheets being fed. Furthermore, the sheet feeder apparatus can have worn components replaced quickly and by operators of minimal skill level.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing peak tensions and tearing in perforated sheet (40) being drawn along a flow path from a stack (S) into a finishing machine (F) is comprised of a drag unit (22), for retarding motion of the sheet; an assist unit (20) for urging the sheet along the flow path; and, a dancer unit (24) for changing the length of the flow path. The assist unit comprises a pair of constant speed rollers (42, 44) supported by mounting blocks (40). The orientation of the assist unit is changed by rotating the mounting blocks. The roller (30) of the dancer unit is spring biased against the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet separator to separate sheets of documents supplied as a stack into a single sheet. The sheet separator has a first separating mechanism and a second separating mechanism, each of which has a separating roller. The second separating mechanism is provided at a position downstream from the first separating mechanism. The peripheral velocity of the second separating roller may be set lower than a peripheral velocity of the first separating roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for feeding a print media through a closed, curved path such that any abrasion of any special coating on the printing surface of the media is prevented. A motor driven pulley subsystem bridging the entrance and exit of the path is selectively adjustable to change the positioning and shape of the media as it passes therethrough.

Abstract: A structure including a transporting roller for transporting sheets; and a curling roller for transporting the sheets at a location downstream from the transporting roller in a sheet-transporting direction, the driving torque of the curling roller being larger than the driving torque of the transporting roller. The transporting roller and the curling roller are constructed so that their speeds can be switched from a first transporting speed to a second transporting speed which is greater than the first transporting speed. The time required to switch the speed of the curling roller from the first transporting speed to the second transporting speed is made longer than the time required to switch the speed of the transporting roller from the first transporting speed to the second transporting speed.

Abstract: A document feeder which picks up documents from a tray, separates/feeds a document with a feed roller and a separation roller and transports the document on a reading position with read rollers. The speed of feeding a document by the feed roller is higher than the speed of transporting a document by the read rollers. The reading position is at a distance from the nip portion between the feed roller and the separation roller, the distance being longer than the length in the document feeding direction of the document.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a printer, e.g., a stencil printer including an ink drum with a master wrapped therearound and a press drum one of which is pressed against the other during printing is disclosed. The sheet feeding device is capable of feeding a sheet at a preselected speed without regard to a print speed varying every moment due to various factors particular to an ink drum driveline, i.e., whether a set print speed is higher than a standard print speed or lower than the same. This successfully obviates the short loop of a sheet which would result in a skew or a feed failure. In addition, the device reduces noise at print speeds lower than the standard print speed and used more often than the other print speeds.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus includes a tray to be loaded with a stack of sheets, a side guide for preventing the sheets from skewing, and a sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially picking up and feeding the sheets, the top sheet being first. The tray includes an abutment parallel to a direction of sheet conveyance. The stack of sheets abut against the abutment at one side thereof. The side guide is movable toward and away from the abutment in matching relation to the size of the sheets. The sheet feeding mechanism is positioned at the intermediate between the abutment and the position of the side guide matching with sheets of minimum size available with the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A recording system including a first feeding mechanism for feeding a sheet, a second feeding mechanism disposed at a downstream side of the first feeding mechanism and adapted to pinch and feed the sheet, a motor, and a controller for controlling the motor so as to drive the first and second feeding mechanisms to feed the sheet in a predetermined direction. The feeding speed is slowed prior to when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first feeding mechanism where part of the sheet is pinched by the second feeding mechanism, so that the sheet is conveyed at a slow speed by the second feeding mechanism when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first feeding mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet diverter for directing signatures moving in serial fashion along a path to one of a plurality of collation paths. The sheet diverter includes a non-uniform angular velocity drive mechanism, the function of which is to improve the collation process such that the quality of signatures is improved as the signatures move along one of the plurality of collation paths and to increase the speed of the folder.

Abstract: A signature conveying apparatus is disclosed which is structured simply and which enables a stable high-speed operation to be performed when a chopper-folding operation is performed by conveying the signatures to a chopper-folding unit at a low speed. A signature conveying unit of a folding machine incorporates a delivery cylinder which is rotated at a speed lower than the peripheral speed of a gripping cylinder and a speed-reduction cylinder. A high-speed conveying means conveys signatures received from the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder at the same peripheral speed as that of the delivery cylinder and the speed-reduction cylinder. A speed-change conveying means receives the signatures conveyed from the high-speed conveying means to convey the signatures to a low-speed conveying means such that the conveyance speed is gradually reduced.

Abstract: An improved delivery section of a folder of a printing press in which the bucket assemblies and side guides are adjustable to accommodate varying widths of signatures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a sheet feeder assembly for an imaging apparatus, the sheet feeder assembly including a motor coupled to a gear train for applying a rotational force to a sheet picker roller, a media supply tray for holding a media stack having a plurality of media sheets, and a buckler for buckling a top sheet of print media to separate the top sheet from the media stack, the method including the steps of driving the sheet picker roller at a initial velocity until a backlash of the gear train is eliminated and/or the top sheet has been buckled; and thereafter, accelerating the sheet picker roller from the initial velocity to a target velocity using selectable sheet picker roller velocity profiles.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for feeding astride signatures (3) to a collection path. The signatures (3) are removed from a magazine (4) with a conveyor drum (6) and transferred to an opening device (16). The transport speed of the signature lifted from the magazine (4) is first increased relative to a circumferential speed of the conveyor drum, in order to lengthen the time interval until the next signature (3) is removed. Thereafter, the transport speed of the signature (3) is decreased again either before or inside a region of the discharge location or in a capture region of the opening device, whereby the signature (3) is moved again in the opposite direction with respect to the circumference of the conveyor drum.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for conveying flexible sheet-like products wherein a plurality of conveying elements (12) are arranged one behind the other on a rotatable support member in a circular array, and each conveying element comprises a roller segment (24), which is driven continuously in the direction of rotation (D), and a mating element (26), which interacts with the roller segment. In the product receiving region (14), a recess section (44) of the respective roller segment (24) forms, with the mating element (26), an introduction gap (48), of which the leading end is closed. The forward position of the recess section (44) forms a stop (62) for engaging the leading edge (52) of the fed product (19).

Abstract: A mounting device for an image forming apparatus comprises a mounting rack for mounting an image forming apparatus for forming an image at a predetermined speed, a feeding section provided within the mounting rack for feeding a medium into the image forming apparatus, and a changing section for changing a medium feeding speed of the feeding section in accordance with an image forming speed of the image forming apparatus. The changing section comprises a movable gear having coaxially-arranged large and small gear portions different in the number of teeth and rotating upon receipt of driving force, and first and second power transmitting sections for transmitting power to the feeding section when the large and small gear portions are selectively connected by shifting the movable gear, to thereby drive the feeding means at a different speed.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a feed tray 2 on which documents are placed, a feeder 4 for feeding documents on the feed tray 2 to a conveyor path, conveying 8 for conveying the fed documents to an image reading position, a discharging 9 for discharging the read documents onto a discharging tray 37, and a controller by which the discharging speed of the documents after being read so that the discharging speed varies with respect to the conveying speed, wherein, if the conveying speed when reading a document is within a predetermined range, the discharging speed after reading the document is controlled to be equal to the conveying speed when reading the document, and if the conveying speed when reading the document is out of the predetermined range, the discharging speed after reading the document is controlled to be within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for feeding a processing machine with flat products, such as printed sheets, cards, patterns or the like. Over a conveyor path arranged between a storage unit and the processing machine and forming a product storage unit, the flat products are carried from the storage unit in a stream formed by products arranged in an overlapping configuration. The product stream conveyed on the conveyor path toward the processing machine is followed by a product stream having a higher speed. The apparatus includes a device with a drivable storage unit for removing the flat products, wherein the storage unit is connected through a conveyor unit to a processing machine for processing the products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for conveyance of sheets, in which said sheets are advanced or slowed down in such a manner that a distance is altered. A value of said change in distance can be preselected.

Abstract: A separator and sequencing apparatus comprising a first selective document transport means for selective movement of documents and a second selective document transport means for selective movement of documents positioned adjacent to the first selective document transport means, the first and second selective document transport means configured to move at least one of a pair of documents located in said separator and sequencing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of controlling a device for removing flat items of post as a function of the spacing of the item of post to be removed from an item of post already removed, the actual spacing between the item to be removed and the removed item being determined, and the item to be removed being removed as soon as the actual spacing corresponds to a nominal spacing. According to the invention in order to reduce the difference between average gaps between the items of post and minimum gaps, the item of post to be removed is first accelerated to an intermediate speed value which is slower than a predetermined final speed. As soon as the actual spacing equals the nominal spacing, the item of post is accelerated to the final speed.

Abstract: A sheet transport array for advancing sheets along a track at a desired speed past a process station. A sheet speed measuring device is coupled to the process station. A drive roller assembly includes at least a drive roller and a drive idler, with the drive roller driving the advancing sheet at the desired speed toward the process station. A second roller assembly includes at least a second roller and a second idler, with the second idler moving at the speed of the advancing sheet. A floating roller assembly includes at least a floating roller and a floating idler. The floating idler is coupled to the second idler to move at the same speed as the second idler and the advancing sheet. The floating roller and the floating idler define a pinch point with a pinch force such that the floating roller and the floating idler move at the same speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transport and slowing of folding copies in a folding machine. The folding copies are transported by belt groups, and the copies are removed from a surface of the copy-guiding cylinder by the belt groups. At least two belt groups are provided for transporting the folding copies. A belt group preceding a longitudinal-folding device is driven by a drive that is independent of the folding machine drive.

Abstract: A plurality of sheets are fed along a plurality of rows of conveying paths in a state in which leading edges of the respective sheets in the conveying direction are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and fed from an outlet of the conveying paths by a high-speed feeding means at a speed which is greater than or equal to a conveying speed of the conveying path. In the feeding section, the plurality of sheets are received by a moving endless belt, arranged, and then fed out. As a result, the present invention can provide a sheet conveying apparatus which has a simple structure and a simple control system and in which a plurality of the sheets which are conveyed along the plurality of rows of the conveying paths are fed while being arranged in a single row in the feeding section.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a separating unit for separating individual sheets of an original document. The separating unit feeds such individual sheets to a reading unit which can read images on a document. To ensure stable operation of both the separating unit and the reading unit, the separating unit is provided with a dedicated separating motor for driving the elements therein, and the reading unit is provided with a dedicated reading motor for driving the elements therein. Moreover, a first transporting roller in the separating unit has a rotating speed which is equal to or greater than a rotating speed of a second transporting roller provided in the reading unit, to thereby ensure stable feeding of the original document sheet from the separating unit to the reading unit. This structure ensures that any fluctuations in the driving elements of the separating unit will not adversely affect any driving elements in the reading unit.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a rotary printing drum around which the stencil master is wrapped, a main motor which rotates the printing drum, a press roller which is rotatable in parallel to the printing drum in contact with the printing drum, and a pair of opposed conveyor rollers which feed a printing paper between the printing drum and the press roller. A conveyor roller motor is provided separately from the main motor and drives the conveyor rollers. A printing drum rotation detector detects rotation of the printing drum on the basis of the reference position, and a conveyor roller rotation detector detects rotation of at least one of the conveyor rollers.

Abstract: In an sheet finishing apparatus for receiving a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, and for ejecting the sheet after a front side thereof is reversed, the sheet finishing apparatus includes: a sheet conveyor for conveying the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus downstream; a sheet reversing device for receiving the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and for reversing the front side of the sheet by rotation; a sheet holder provided on a peripheral portion of the sheet reversing device for holding a leading edge portion of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, the sheet holder capable of being opened or closed; a sheet stopper for blocking the leading edge portion of the sheet to be stopped at a position where the front side of the sheet is reversed by a rotation of the sheet reversing device; and a sheet stacking member for stacking the sheet separated from the sheet reversing device by a further rotation of the reversing device after the leading edge of the she

Abstract: The impact sound when a sheet member forms a loop is reduced so as to make the apparatus less noisy. A speed control device is provided for making the transport speed when the sheet member is made to hit a first transport device by a second transport device relatively slower than that of the first transport device. By changing the amount of transport of the first transport device along the width of the sheet member at right angles to the transport direction of the sheet member, the loop is formed successively along the width of the sheet member.

Abstract: A mailroom conveyor system for transporting and handling a stream of printed and folded signatures supplied by high speed tapes of a folding apparatus of a printing press. The system includes a plurality of grippers, a rail system for guiding the grippers, an electric linear drive system for individually driving the grippers in the rail system, and a control system coupled to the electric linear drive system for individually controlling the movement of the grippers in the rail system.

Abstract: A document feeder is provided for feeding documents along a document feed path. The document feeder comprises a tray for containing a stack of documents to be fed along the document feed path. A picker mechanism is provided for picking a document from the stack of documents stored in the tray and moving the picked document along the document feed path. A sensor mechanism is provided for (i) detecting movement of documents along the document feed path, and (ii) providing an output signal indicative thereof. A controller responsive to the output signal from the sensor mechanism is provided for controlling operation of the picker mechanism to provide a gap of at least a predetermined size between adjacent documents moving along the document feed path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream. An infeed conveyor conveys at least two sheet streams side-by side in a direction toward a merger. The merger separates and separately conveys the sheet streams to a merge location. The sheet streams are transported at different accelerations or speeds, such that each article of one of the sheet streams is directed into a gap between the articles of the other sheet stream in order to produce a single, merged sheet stream traveling at an accelerated outfeed speed for further processing.

Abstract: An electromechanical friction feed device for controlling the single feed of sheet-like articles from a stack of such articles has a feed belt and stripper wheel that are used to draw a single article from the bottom of the stack to the discharge section of the feeder. The stripper wheels slowly rotate in a direction opposite to the feed movement to hold the penultimate sheet and those above it in a stack while the lowermost product is translated by the feed belt through the machine. The reverse rotation of the stripper wheel is accomplished using a dual ratchet mechanism along with unidirectional needle bearing assemblies that provide a smooth, continuous rotation of the stripper wheels. The two ratchet mechanisms are driven 180.degree. out of phase with respect to one another to achieve the smooth continuous stripper wheel rotation.

Abstract: The printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a system for pre-warning of impending shutdown due to slippage of sheets within the printing apparatus sheet transport system. The system includes a plurality of sensors positioned along a sheet transport path for sensing sheets moving along the sheet transport path and a controller for determining an amount and location of slip within the sheet transport path by comparing outputs of the plurality of sensors. Once the location of the slip has been determined, automatic correction may be performed by the printing apparatus or manual correction may be performed by a service representative.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a separating unit for separating and paying away the sheets tacked on the stacking portion, a feeder for feeding the sheets downstream of the separating unit, a plurality of conveyance paths leading from the separating unit to the feeder, and a switching device for switching the plurality of conveyance paths, the separating unit being effective to feed the sheets at a speed higher than the feeding speed of the feeder.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying device, sheets having of various width sizes can be adjusted to sheet conveyance reference of a regulating device without moving the regulating device in the lateral direction of a sheet. An image forming apparatus uses two kinds or sheets of different width sizes (the LTR-size and the A4-size). The regulating device is fixed to a position where an LTR-size sheet can be regulated. When performing switchback conveyance of an A4-size sheet, switchback conveying devices convey the sheet while moving it toward the sheet conveyance reference of the regulating device by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding device has a document feeding roller which feeds a document from a stack to a conveying roller which conveys the document for further processing. The document feeding roller has intermittent motion which feeds the conveying roller with three different speeds: first, at a first speed for feeding the document; then, at a speed faster than the first speed as dragged by the document; and finally, a temporary stop. The temporary stop provides sufficient interspace between the successive documents so that a correct pagination signal is generated. The intermittent motion is provided by a power transmitting component which is coupled to the document feeding roller to speed it up when engaged and is decoupled during the stop interval.

Abstract: A document feeding device for transmitting the data of a document includes a feed roller for feeding successive sheets of document, a document sensor for sensing if the document sheet is loaded, a reading device for reading the data of the document and for converting the data into a digital signal, a feeding roller for feeding the document sheet to the reading device, and a register sensor located before the reading device, in which the document sheet is and by a power transmission gear, by driving a driving motor clockwise or counterclockwise at a constant revolution rate, optimum condition in any transmission modes can be maintained.

Abstract: A sheet accumulator for advancing successive sheets between first and second color printing presses comprising an accumulator sheet conveyor for advancing sheets from one press to the other press, a sheet lifter at the conveyor to lift a first sheet and thereby enable the sheet conveyor to advance a second sheet beneath the first sheet, and a sheet sensor at the conveyor, operably associated with the sheet lifter to actuate and deactuate the sheet lifter based on the position of the sheet.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes a separating unit for separating a stack of original documents one by one. The separating unit feeds the separated document to a reading unit capable of reading an image out of the document. To insure stable operation of both the separating unit and reading unit, the separating unit and reading unit are respectively provided with an exclusive separating motor and an exclusive reading motor. A first transporting roller is included in the separating unit and rotated at a speed equal to or higher than the rotation speed of a second transporting roller included in the reading unit. This insures stable transport of the document from the separating unit to the reading unit. Even when any drive element included in the separating unit fluctuates, drive elements included in the reading unit are free from the influence of the fluctuation.

Abstract: A drive system for an oscillating gripper of a sheet-fed printing machine has a main drive train and a controlled drive. The pregripper is mechanically coupled to the main drive train. The controlled drive supplies energy required to drive the pregripper in accordance with a position of the pregripper. The controlled drive at least approximately meets the discontinuous energy requirement of the pregripper.

Abstract: A bill handling machine includes a take-out roller whose entire circumferential surface is formed with a high friction material and which is adapted to engage with leading edge portions of stacked bills and can take out the bills, a separation roller for cooperating with the take-out roller and preventing two or more bills from being simultaneously taken out, a bill sensor provided downstream of the take-out roller and the separation roller for detecting whether or not any bill is present, transporting rollers provided downstream of the bill sensor and rotated at higher speed than the take-out roller, and a controller for temporarily stopping the take-out roller when detection signals have been continuously input from the bill sensor for a time period longer than a predetermined time period. According to the thus constituted bill handling machine, it is possible to reliably and efficiently separate and handle bills whose lengths in the bill transporting direction differ greatly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image transfer unit disposed along a sheet feed path. A sheet feed roller feeds a sheet toward an image transfer position where an image can be transferred by the image transfer unit. A sheet detect unit detects the sheet fed by the sheet feed roller and a control unit controls the rotational operation of the sheet feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the sheet detect unit. As such, a sheet feed path length, which extends between the image transfer position and a detection position where the sheet is detected by the sheet detect unit, is set at an integer multiple of a circumferential length of the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of synchronizing entry of a mailpiece from a mail feeder into a designated mailpiece location of a mail sorting conveyor. The method includes the steps of establishing a symmetric speed versus time profile around a send signal. In a first case, when the mailpiece stops before receiving the send signal, the method further includes following the speed versus time profile to accelerate to a merge speed for merging the mailpiece with the designated mail location of the sorting conveyor. In a second case, when the send signal arrives before the mailpiece reaches the stop position, holding the mailpiece at a constant speed across the speed versus time profile until the position of the mailpiece intersects an opposing side of the speed versus time profile and then following the speed versus time profile to accelerate the mailpiece to a merge speed for merging the mailpiece within the designated mail location of the sorting conveyor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stacking conveyor including slow-down wheels to reduce the exit speed of individual sheets of material. In one preferred embodiment, a non-driven friction drag belt is positioned above the slow-down wheels so as to assist in reducing the discharge velocity of the sheets.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for decollating blanks of cardboard or the like stacked behind a stop in a feeding station from a magazine or stack of blanks and for feeding the blanks to a transfer station of a subsequent process operated in a machine cycle, wherein the apparatus includes at least one delivery conveyor arranged underneath the stack of blanks, and wherein the delivery conveyor includes a conveyor belt and a belt guide for the controlled removal of the respectively lowermost blank and for conveying the blank to the timed subsequent process. The transfer station of the subsequent process controls the speed of the delivery conveyor which operates without fixed cycle.

Abstract: A floating feedhead having a variable sheetpath for an electrophotographic printing machine. A feeder for feeding sheets from the top of a stack to a processor for a printing machine is disclosed. The feedhead is of a standard retard feed type having either a nudger roll/feed roll or a feed belt in combination with a retard member to separate sheets. The feedhead is connected to the sheet delivery area of the machine by a variable length, variable speed sheetpath. The sheetpath has a drive member such as a drive nip in cooperation with the feedhead. When the sheetpath is at its longest the feedhead and variable drive member operate at a higher speed to deliver the sheets to the sheet intake area at a predetermined time interval. As sheets are fed and the sheetpath becomes shorter, the variable drive and feedhead slow to maintain proper sheet timing. The sheetpath may be of a telescopic baffle configuration or could alternatively be a variable speed vertical transport arrangement.

Abstract: A friction paper-feed apparatus and method used in an information processing apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus prevents a paper-feed failure caused by a slippage produced at a contact region between a friction paper-feed roller and a sheet of paper. The friction paper-feed roller is driven with at least one of a drive operation having a relatively long time length, another drive operation having a relatively short time length, or both of the relatively long time length and the relatively short time length. The friction paper-feed roller is controlled to execute a stop operation after each of the drive operations. The stop operation is also executed after repeating a driver operation for a number times so as to terminate an execution of paper transferring operation and to prevent a paper-feed failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet handling apparatus having a hopper drum (1) for receiving individual signatures (23) from a feed tray, the hopper drum being equipped with at least one set of signature seizing grippers (16). A hopper drum surface element (13) revolves counter to a direction of rotation (7) of the hopper drum (1) upon reversal of direction (33) of the signatures (23). A seizing element (26) is assigned to the direction reversal position (38) of the signatures (23).

Abstract: A finishing machine is proposed for printed sheets delivered individually in rapid succession by a reproduction machine such as a printing press or a copier. The machine renders possible the manufacture in a production line in a completely automatic manner of brochures, leaflets or booklets without trimming edges. The machine comprises as its main part a station for takeover of the delivered sheets; a device for controlled retardation of the sheets received from the takeover station; a station for horizontal stacking of the retarded stacks; a mechanism for the alignment of the stacked sheets; a device for gripping the stack of aligned sheets a device for pivoting of the gripped stack from a horizontal position to an on-edge position; and a device for encasing the stack in a cover.