Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for processing printed products such as newspapers, magazines or parts thereof in which the printed products are transported by controllable grippers of a conveying device wherein the printed product is held at a first edge which runs transversely to the conveying direction. The printed products are conveyed at a set conveying speed. The grippers are at least partially opened to displace the printed products in the mouth of the grippers. The printed products are then displaced in the mouth of the grippers until the second edge (which is opposite the first edge) is brought to rest on a straightening mechanism. The straightening mechanism is driven substantially in the conveying direction. The grippers are then closed to continue transporting the printed products. If the second edge of the printed products leads relative to the first edge, the straightening mechanism is driven at a lower speed than the conveying speed.

Abstract: The driver (12) comprises a carrier (14) for attachment to a conveyor, for example an endless chain. A pusher (16) made of hard-wearing material is attached to the carrier (14) in such a way that when the support moves forwards the pusher engages a rear edge of a sheet (10) to be fed. The pusher (16) is supported through at least one elastic spacer (18) on the carrier (14), in a rearwardly resilient manner. In a preferred embodiment of the driver (12), the pusher (16) comprises a flexible metal sleeve (30) which near each of its two ends rests, by way of a respective spacer (18) in the form of an electrically insulating washer, on a shaft (20) attached to the carrier (16). This makes high rates of acceleration possible when feeding thin metal sheets on a can welding machine, without the sheets being damaged by the driver (12).

Abstract: In an inserting machine, guide apparatus for maintaining control of individual sheets and collations that are conveyed along a transport deck by at least one pair of pushers, comprises a mounting beam coupled to a frame member of the inserting machine, and a plurality of guide arms pivotally mounted at one end to the mounting beam and biased against the transport deck. Each of the guide arms has a second end resting against the deck between the pair of pushers. Each of the guide arms has a curved shape for engaging a collation gradually An idler roller is rotatably mounted to the second end of each of the guide arms. The mounting beam is pivotally mounted at one end to the frame member of the inserting machine, whereby the other end of the guide apparatus is pivotable away from the transport deck.

Abstract: A pair of conveyor rolls for transporting each record sheet to be printed past the ink-jet printing head is disposed directly below the printing zone of an ink-jet printing head to permit the transportation of freshly printed record sheets within an ink-jet printer without the print being smudged. A gripping device grabs the printed record sheet at its lower edge immediately after it has left the pair of conveyor rolls and carries it out of the printing zone and into an output area.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling sheet material articles includes a hopper which supports a stack of sheet material articles with front edge portions of the articles skewed at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of a feed drum. A separator is sequentially engageable with a corner portion of each of the sheet material articles to move the corner portion of the sheet material article away from a next succeeding sheet material article. The feed drum pulls a sheet material article from the hopper with the front edge portion of the sheet material article skewed at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the feed drum. While a portion of the sheet material article is still in the hopper, the sheet material article moves from between the separator and the next succeeding sheet material article to expose the next succeeding sheet material article to the separator. A conveyor receives the sheet material article from the feed drum.

Abstract: Apparatus for the controlled feeding of products in sheet form in a collating or packaging machine comprising a framework on which there is installed a magazine portion containing the products in sheet form to be fed, a drawing/advancement unit for drawing one of the products in sheet form from the magazine portion and for advancing it towards a push-bar conveyor on top of which one of the products in sheet form, drawn in that way, has to be placed. This apparatus comprises at least one accompanying element which performs the task of accompanying the so-drawn product in sheet form to the top of the push-bar conveyor, with at least one accompanying element being interposed between the drawing/advancement unit and the push-bar conveyor, with actuation elements being furthermore provided. The actuation elements perform the task of actuating accompanying element, and intervene whenever the drawn product in sheet form has left the drawing/advancement unit and is placed in the nearby of the push-bar conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for aligning, i.e., de-skewing, sheet material having squared upstream and downstream edges which is being advanced along a path. The advancing apparatus includes a pair of endless belts having pushers projecting therefrom which engage the upstream edge of the sheet material to advance the sheet material with rotation of the belts. The disclosed apparatus adjusts the relative positions of the pushers so that the squared upstream and downstream edges of the sheet material are normal to the path of travel of the sheet material. The invention has particular application to mailing machines in which paper sheets to be inserted in envelopes are advanced towards a folding station and/or an envelope insertion station. The invention has particular application to use with apparatus that cross folds paper.

Abstract: A guide for a sheet aligning station for lateral positioning of a sheet includes a supporting surface mounted on a belt to support the trailing edge of a sheet and a roller extending slightly beyond the supporting surface to contact the sheet edge and reduce friction between the guide and the sheet during crosswise shifting of the sheet, for example by a lateral guiding ruler.

Abstract: An improved book block transport channel has adjustable lateral guide members, which define the channel width, and an adjustable skid plate with support finger projections outwardly in two opposed directions. The skid plate support fingers are received in slots in the guide members and define a discontinuous channel floor adjacent the guide members. The openings in the channel floor and the slots are partly bridged by guide rails which are mechanically coupled to a respective guide member and to the support fingers which are received in the slots in that guide member.

Abstract: Cams (36, 36') are arranged in each case laterally offset alternately on the chain (34) of the cam conveyor (30). The cams (36) are swivelled by the swivel rocker arm (44) into catching position (46), in which they are always actively conveying. Depending on the position of the control rocker arm (54), the cams (36') which can be switched away are left in their rest position (50) or likewise swivelled into the catching position (46). A retaining device (56), which holds back the printing products (18) deposited thereupon until they are pushed off by a cam (36, 36'), is provided at the depositing point (24). With the cams (36') which can be switched away actively conveying, each printing product 18 is individually seized by a cam (36, 36') and conveyed away in an imbricated formation.

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 device for transporting a recording medium to an image forming portion through a arcshaped path with pushing the trailing end of the recording medium by hooks provided at ends of levers which is pivotally mounted at the curvature center of the arcshaped path.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises two parallel and spaced apart conveyor belts and a toothed take-along belt guided parallel to and interposed between the two conveyor belts. The take-along belt has a thickened or otherwise rigidified section providing an engagement region. The belt runs at constant speed, faster than the conveyors. The engagement region runs slightly beneath the conveying surface of the conveyors until it reaches an engagement location, at which it may halt and then be instantaneously raised and restarted in response to a signal indicating an adjacent batch or leaves to lift the leaves off the conveyor belt and cause them to be moved with greater velocity than the conveyor belts to the delivery end thereof where they are stacked.

Abstract: An envelope (12) which is the lowest in a stack is grasped at the edge of its flap part (26) by a carrier tooth (24) arranged on a conveying belt (18) for separating it from a stacking magazine (10). The envelope is fed directly to an office machine in a feed direction (14). Due to the arrangement of the conveying belt (18) on the removal side (28) of the magazine (10), the separation and feed are effected in one step by the single conveying member.

Abstract: The apparatus for changing the position of printed products arranged in an imbricated formation comprises two band conveyors arranged in tandem as viewed in the conveying direction, and a position-change device arranged in the end region of the conveying-active path of the first of the two band conveyors. The disc-shaped supporting elements of the position-change device and each having a cam are seated at shafts, the rotational axes of which extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of conveyance of the first of the two band conveyors. The shafts are driveable synchronously and in opposite directions. The trailing or upstream edges of the printed products come to bear upon the disc-shaped supporting elements and the cams upwardly project in the region of the imbricated formation.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus, for use in laser beam printers, CRT printers or the like wherein the apparatus transports a photosensitive sheet to an exposure station for forming images thereon. The apparatus includes a guide plate for guiding the sheet to the exposure station and a conveyor belt having levers on its outer surface for pushing the trailing edge of the sheet by movement of the lever along the guide plate. The levers cause the sheet to move initially at a speed V1 and then at a speed V2 which is less than a speed V0 at which the sheet is transported to a station for further processing of the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for registering one or more sheets in a registration position defined for example in a corner formed by two edge stops has a sheet support member and a tamping member that engage the edge or edges of the sheet or sheets on the support member. The tamping member is mounted on the end of an arm which is mounted for angular movement about a shaft. On movement of the arm the tamper moves so as to push the sheet(s) into the registration position. The tamping member includes a brush having bristles that engage the edge(s) of the sheet(s).

Abstract: In the making of hollow plastic articles wherein a label is positioned in each of a plurality of spaced partible molds in a predetermined array, a preform is positioned in each set of partible molds and the molds are closed and the preform is blown outwardly to the confines of the mold to apply the label to the resultant hollow plastic article, the apparatus for removing the labels from a conveyor and applying them to the open partible molds which comprises a vacuum head supported for movement between a position for picking up a label and a position for delivering a label to a partible mold. The head comprises an elongated body and a plurality of longitudinally spaced vacuum cups along the body. The body has a transverse cross sectional surface that generally conforms to the cross section of the internal surface of the mold to which the label is to be applied.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus which can form an image on both surfaces of a copying paper as required. The apparatus includes a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feeding means for feeding a copying paper sheet to the paper conveying passage, a conveyance controlling means disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, a copying paper discharging passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper reversing passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper returning passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the upstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper re-feeding passage, and a copying paper re-sending means for re-sending a copying paper returned through the paper returning passage to the paper conveying passage through the paper re-feeding passage.

Abstract: An embossing module for an automatic embossing machine utilizes a pair of opposed embossing element carrying wheels driven by oscillating bail arms which directly engage the embossing punch and die elements. An electromechanical interrupter mechanically decouples motion of the bail arm from the embossing elements in the event of a failure. The printwheels are driven by separate motors utilizing separate position encoders and common servo command circuits.

Abstract: Printed products to be opened are held at their folded or spine edge and, with their open or fan edge located opposite to this folded edge, are fed forward with their fan edge leading into an opening or spreading device or apparatus. A lower portion of the printed products possesses a leading edge section or marginal lap section due to an off-center fold. Circulatingly driven grippers or clamps grip this lower portion of the printed products in the region of the leading edge section and guide it along a downwardly and backwardly curved path. The printed products are simultaneously further transported or conveyed by means of feeders or feeding devices. Both portions of each printed product (i.e. the upper and the lower portions) are thus separated from one another. A collating conveyor of a collating drum or cylinder can be inserted into the opening thus formed between both product portions. Such a collating drum or cylinder may possess a plurality of circulatingly driven collating conveyors.

Abstract: The paper feeding device for a box making machine eliminates the intermittent paper feeding which gives rise to operational defects. The device operates continuously at a low speed to match the speed of feeding a quantity of paper with a timing correcting conveyor and increases the paper fed in the foregoing with the drawing belt conveyor in order to supply the paper to the timing correcting conveyor. Furthermore, the device detects the paper passing the shutter on the paper feeding belt conveyor and stops the paper feeding belt conveyor temporarily when the paper happens to be mounted on the pawl of the timing correcting conveyor. The feeding of the paper starts again after a time lapse so that the paper is positively mounted between the pawls.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for transporting a photosensitive film sheet for use in an image recording apparatus, including an auxiliary scanning drum, a nip roller held in contact with the auxiliary scanning drum, a support plate extending substantially horizontally in a sheet transport path, a push lever provided at one end of the support plate and a stopper provided at the other end of the support plate.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stacking serially advancing parallel streams of blanks, such as corrugated paperboard blanks, by serially advancing such parallel streams in which there are spaces between pairs of such blanks in each of the streams but no spaces between the blanks of the pairs, creating spaces between the blanks of each pair during advance, stopping the advance of the blanks one after the other, and guiding succeeding spaced blanks one on top of the other to form a stack of blanks from each stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides an installation for the continuous production of presecured folded cardboard packing cases, this installation comprising essentially a glueing unit, a folding unit, a two-speed positioning station and a stapler, disposed in line.According to the invention, the positioning station comprises two devices (17 and 34) for transferring the sheets, the first of which (17) is formed by mechanical chains (18) with retractable studs (24a to 24d) and the second (34) consists of a "drive sandwich" formed preferably from two superimposed trains of mobile belts (37 and 52), the upper belt train (37) being moveable in height. These first and second transfer devices may be made respectively inactive and operational, in response to setting the glueing unit alone in operation and respectively operational and inactive in response to setting the stapler in operation.

Abstract: This conveyor apparatus is used primarily with continuous business form processing machines to provide a means of producing a stream of overlapped blanks disposed on a continuous web. The apparatus includes upper and lower conveyors. The upper conveyor is formed from a pair of endless flexible elements having transversely aligned wedge-shaped pins disposed along the length thereof with inclined trailing flanks. Document blanks are fed onto the upper conveyor such that the leading edge rides up and beyond an aligned pair of associated pins an the trailing edge is engaged by a pair of following pins. Each of the blanks is pushed by a pair of transversely aligned pins in overlapped relation to the preceding blank. The document blanks are removed from the upper conveyor and deposited in reverse overlap relation onto gum lines provided on the continuous web carried by the lower conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus having a plurality of controlled overlapping chain drives, each chain drive containing a plurality of raised members for receiving collated stacks of mailing literature and conveying the literature over their successive paths in synchrony with a collating assembly to a film wrapping assembly coupled at the opposite end thereof. Independently hinged overlying hold-down assemblies prevent the collating material from curling or otherwise becoming disassembled before wrapping in a film wrapper or in a paper wrapper.

Abstract: An envelope feeder sequentially feeds envelopes from a loading station to a printing station of a conventional printer for addressing, and releases addressed envelopes at a discharge station. The feeder includes an upstanding housing that journals a platen roll at its lower end and an idler roll at its upper end. The feeder's platen roll replaces the printer's conventional platen roll and serves to drivingly connect the feeder to the printer. The housing has a front guide surface that faces forwardly with respect to the printer, and a rear guide surface that faces rearwardly. At least two transport belts have reaches that extend along the front and rear guide surfaces. The belts extend around and are held taut by the feeder's platen and idler rolls.

Abstract: A high speed slitter for slitting large sheets (3) of thin metal into rectangular strips has pairs of rollers (10, 10') mounted on parallel, driven shafts (12, 13). Each roller has a hub (98, 98') carrying a cutter ring (100, 100') with a circular cutting edge (112). A draw ring (92, 92'), cooperating with the opposite cutting ring (100', 100) to draw the sheet between the rollers, consists of a resilient ring (94, 94'), gripping the hub but capable of slipping around it when subjected to sufficient appropriate force, and a steel tire (96, 96'), carried only by the resilient ring and engaging the sheet. The tire can be deflected radially by virtue of the resilient ring.

Abstract: A trail edge registration system is disclosed that includes drive belts adapted to accept sheets from a source. The drive belts have pin-like members on the surface thereof that are adapted to contact the trail edge of the sheets and provide the timing and skew registration function, as well as the transport function for the system. A scuffer roll mechanism side registers the sheets in the transport before they are contacted by the pin-like members on the belts.

Abstract: In connection with a unit for parallelizing a chain of overlapping printed products such as signatures (that is to say causing the leading edges to be parallel), delivered by way of a fan wheel onto a delivery belt thereunder, the purpose of the invention is to make for trouble-free operation, to see that the signatures are completely regularly placed, and to make upkeep work on the unit simple. For this purpose, the unit has at least one driver which is moved along at a higher speed than the signatures so as to come up against the trailing edge of each signature as its leading edge comes onto the delivery belt. The driver is moved along a line of motion in such a way that at least part of such motion is directed out of the transport plane of the delivery belt. The driver may be a simple kicking edge of a part fixed to a driver support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sequentially feeding pieces of stationery such as envelopes from a supply hopper to a conventional printer mechanism for printing addresses or the like thereon, and for sequentially transporting printed pieces to a storage hopper. The system of the invention utilizes a dispensing mechanism for feeding one piece of stationery at a time from the supply hopper, a positioning mechanism for receiving a piece of stationery and positioning it along the path of travel of a pair of transport belts, and a transport mechanism for belt-feeding pieces of stationery around a printing platen for printing.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking, transportation and depositing of sheeted and/or folded material from different bundles or bunches of material comprises a conveyor module for transport and registration of the sheeted material, the conveyor module including a control device for controlling and registering the material to be transported by the conveyor in a desired direction of transport, at least one conveyor belt, chain or the like driving the material along the conveyor module, a motor coupled to drive the at least one belt, chain or the like, the direction of travel of the belt, chain or the like being placed at a sharp angle in relation to the control device. Also disclosed is an inserter which can pick different sheets of material by means of suction from a raised or a lying position and to transport the sheets in a desired position, such as on the conveyor. Still further, apparatus and a method of calibration and adjustment of the inserter is provided.

Abstract: In sheet feeding apparatus of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,647, at least one conveyor chain extending in a closed loop is moved on supporting structure in a path having two reversing portions arcuate about respective axes of curvature, a feeding portion substantially straight and parallel to the plane of intended sheet movement, and a return portion, the feeding and return portions connecting the reversing portions. The axes of curvature of the reversing portions are obliquely or perpendicularly transverse to the plane of sheet movement. The conveyor chain has at least one sheet engaging dog fastened to a corresponding link of the chain in such a manner that the dog moves in the plane of sheet movement while the associated chain link moves in the feeding portion of its path, and the dog moves about the axes of curvature in respective arcs of smaller radii of curvature than those of the reversing path portions when the associated chain link moves in the latter.

Abstract: A plurality of spaced, endless, coplanar, envelope feed belts have their upper runs interleaved and coplanar with the upper run of an envelope support belt at one end of the apparatus, which conveys the envelopes through an apparatus for applying sealant material to the flap closure portion and an adjacent body portion of the envelope. The envelopes are smoothly transferred from the feed belts to the support belt due to the simultaneous support of both belt systems at the delivery end of the apparatus. Another belt is then overlapped with the support belt at the delivery end of the apparatus to clamp the envelopes therebetween as they are conveyed through the sealant applying apparatus.

Abstract: A blank feeding apparatus for feeding blanks one after another from a stack of blanks to the next processing rolls. Blanks are pushed by kickers attached to an endless conveyor. The motor for driving the conveyor is electronically controlled so that one cycle of kicker operation will be completed while the processing rolls make a full rotation, said one cycle including the acceleration tuned-run and deceleration steps.

Abstract: A device for the reading of identification cards and the like including a feed slot which directs the longitudinal edges of the card into spaced guide grooves which serve to straighten and properly align the card and into a conveyor which carries the card past a reading or checking device.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting substantially flat articles, such as mail, along a trough by pusher fingers. The pusher fingers are individually mounted to carriers which are connected to pulling mechanism and guided by guide rails. The present conveyor design causes reduced operational noise and need for maintenance.

Abstract: Document conveying apparatus without roller contact on the documents. An upper chain is mounted on upper sprockets and a lower chain is mounted on lower sprockets. A plurality of equally spaced friction grip members are mounted on the chains so that the upper and lower grip members contact each other in the absence of a document. The leading edges of the documents are gripped by the upper and lower sets of grip members and the documents are conveyed by the chains without roller contact on the documents.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for feeding rectangular metal sheets from a supply to a cupping press in which can body blanks are cut and drawn from the metal sheets. The apparatus includes a table providing a flat conveying surface, and three sheet feeding mechanisms are provided at locations along the table between the opposite ends thereof. A sheet to be transferred is deposited on one end of the table and is transferred therefrom to a second position by an endless chain and feed finger arrangement. At the second position, the trailing edge of the sheet is engaged by a reciprocating feed finger arrangement to advance the sheet one step to a third position on the table in which the sheet is accurately spaced longitudinally relative to a reference point in the press.

Abstract: Cover lining sheets are attached to adhesive-coated edge faces of groups of leaves in a bookbinding machine while the groups are held and advanced by grippers along a first horizontal path. The sheets are fed in front of successive pushers which thereupon advance along a second horizontal path below the first path and alternate with the grippers. The speed of pushers is increased during a first stage of movement along the second path so that the pushers catch up with and thereupon move at the speed of the preceding grippers during transfer of sheets to the edge faces of the groups thereabove. The speed of the pushers is thereupon reduced to a speed which is less than the speed of the grippers. The grippers are attached to an endless chain and each pusher is attached to two endless chains.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device wherein a roll pair in contact to the top sheet of a sheet stack is adapted to buckle the top sheet to enable subsequent engagement of the buckled portion of the sheet by a hooked belt to feed the buckled sheet off the stack in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the buckle roll pair.

Abstract: A table is detachably mounted to a fixing apparatus adjacent to and aligned with an inlet opening thereof. The table is formed with a longitudinal slot through which a pusher member vertically extends. A transfer sheet is placed on the table, and drive means reciprocally move the pusher member to push the transfer sheet into the fixing apparatus and return the pusher member to its original position.

Abstract: A stack of items having an irregular thickness such as folded sheets, booklets, filled envelopes and the like are positioned in a stack receiver with the stack leading edge resting against the pair of support rails. The stack lowermost item is supported adjacent its rear edge by rotatable supports mounted adjacent to a feed cylinder. A depending wiper device is mounted adjacent the leading edge of the stack and has a flexible bottom edge portion that is positioned either abutting or closely adjacent the cylinder surface. The feed cylinder positioned below the stack has a longitudinal protuberance that extends beyond the cylinder surface and is arranged upon rotation of the cylinder to contact the lowermost item of the stack and move this item between the wiper bottom edge and the cylinder to a position where the leading portion of the lowermost item is moved beyond the wiper device.