Abstract: Between a sheet separation arrangement and a sheet skew correction means which are disposed along a non-linear sheet guide passage, there is provided at least one idle roller partly protruding into the passage so that the transferring efficiency of a sheet feeding device can be improved. Additionally by providing a damping member within the sheet guide passage, a sheet can be smoothly transferred along the passage at a high speed without producing harsh noises.

Abstract: A device for the transport of recording media (3) of varying or different widths and/or thicknesses while automatically aligning the same includes a rotatably mounted and driven friction roll (1) and a plurality of rotatable pressure rollers 2a, 2b, 2c arranged in abutment with the friction roll periphery. A guide surface (6) for one of the lateral edges (3a) of the recording medium, which surface extends perpendicular to the friction roll axis (5), is associated with one end (4) of the friction roll. The pressure rollers (2a, 2b, 2c) are located off-center with respect to the length (7) of the elongated friction roll on the side or section thereof closest to the guide surface (6), while the longitudinal section (8) of the friction roll (1) which is most remote from the guide surface (6) is free of pressure rollers.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for paper products in stream form having two parallel belt elements supported by rollers is made up of individual standardized self-contained prefabricated constructional elements which at least at a side lying in the product flow direction are couplable to a corresponding constructional unit in such a manner that only a single conveyor belt pair is provided which is supported by rollers or rolls and driven by a single drive unit, and at least one constructional unit is constructed for a deflection and/or turning of the product stream.

Abstract: A device for moving film from a supply magazine to a cassette loading station, the film removing device being in a unit with a film holding channel formed by parallel groups of rollers which engage opposed edges of the film.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a sheet member feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet member such as an envelope. The feeding apparatus has a pair of opposed contacted rotary members such as rollers and comprising a releasing member for releasing the contact between the rotary members provided on at least one of the rotary members in areas where front corners of the sheet member pass through. The feeding apparatus is applicable to a printing system, reader system and the like.

Abstract: A sheet detector comprises a pair of rollers disposed on opposite sides of a feed path, each roller having a conductive outer portion extending therearound. The conductive portions, which are supported on the roller shafts by electrically insulating, relatively yieldable cores, contact each other to establish an electrical connection in the absence of a sheet therebetween and are separated from each other during the passage of a sheet therebetween to break the connection and thereby indicate the presence of the sheet. Conductive brushes resiliently biased into circumferential grooves formed on the conductive portions couple the portions to an external circuit including a sheet counter and a length counter.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus for use in a sheet thickness monitoring system comprises a pair of rollers (1, 5) which define a nip or gap (25) therebetween, the rotation of the rollers (1, 5) causing sheets to be fed between the rollers. The passage of a sheet between the rollers (1, 5) causes deflection of one roller (5) relative to the other (1) by an amount related to the sheet thickness. The one roller (5) is biassed into engagement with the other roller (1). The apparatus further comprises elastomeric plugs (13, 14) for damping movement of the one roller (5) under the influence of the bias.

Abstract: Signature loader comprising a telescopically related main floor-mounted frame and a smaller auxiliary frame, first and second horizontal rotatable shafts between the frames spaced apart by a predetermined distance and so positioned that infeed belts thereon converge to define between them a signature infeed throat, one of said shafts being a pivot about which the auxiliary frame may be pivoted so the throat may be selectively positioned in one of two alternate attitudes.

Abstract: A document transport module for moving a document along a bidirectional feed line from an upstream area to a downstream area in, for example, an automated teller machine. The document transport module comprises first and second generally planar supports, with the first generally planar support having a first cooperating member and a second cooperating member located thereon. The first and second cooperating members each have ends which have ramp portions secured thereto. In addition, the first and second cooperating members each have an arcuately shaped recess therein which faces a second support. A document can be moved between the first and second supports and guided into the arcuately shaped recessed portions of the first and second cooperating members by the ramp portions. The ramp portions guide the document between the arcuately shaped recessed portions and a drive roller mounted in the second support.

Abstract: A multiple document detector uses a driven wheel (40) opposed by an idler wheel (44) on a castoring arm (60). The wheels (40,44) each have a coefficient of friction against a document greater than the coefficient of friction of a document against another document. When a sensor (14A,14B) senses the presence of a document (26) a solenoid (70) operates to attract a magnetic slug (58). If only one document (26) is present the idler wheel (44) stays in a preferred position. If two documents are present the solenoid (70) has sufficient force to cause the idler wheel (44) to push one document (26) to slide against another. In doing so the movement of the idler wheel (44) is detected by a microswitch (18) which signals the presence of multiple documents.

Abstract: A sheet feed device for feeding a sheet-like material includes a feed roller disposed upstream with respect to a sheet feeding direction for feeding the sheet-like material and main and auxiliary roller pair disposed downstream with respect thereto for further feeding the sheet-like material fed out by the feed roller. At the start of feeding the sheet-like material, both the feed roller and the main and auxiliary roller pair are rotated, and after the sheet-like material is fed a certain distance and grasped by the main and auxiliary roller pair, only the main and auxiliary roller pair is rotated, whereby a load imposed to a motor for rotating both the feed roller and main and auxiliary roller pair is lessened.

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 transport device for multiple layered web material consists of a transport roll and a pressure roll between which the web material passes. The pressure roll is in the form of a hollow prism mounted with play on a supporting shaft. The interior of the prism has rounded corners with a radius of curvature matching that of the shaft. During rotation of the pressure roll, the transport roll translates with the web material during some portions of its movement and rotates relative to the shaft during other portions of its movement.

Abstract: A deckle-edge-simulating apparatus generally comprising a conveyor system for transporting a web of paper through the apparatus, and a novel deckle-edge-simulating assembly operatively associated with the conveyor system. The deckle-edge-simulating assembly generally includes a configured transport roller or anvil in association with a deckling fixture. The anvil is disposed beneath the web of paper, and includes one or more circumferential grooves in its surface. The deckling fixture includes a blunt-edged blade extending from and between a pair of nip forming rollers disposed on either side of the blade, and into one of the grooves of an anvil. As the web of paper passes across the anvil, the blunt-edged blade operates to burst the fibers of the paper to create a simulated deckled edge. The nip forming rollers serve to firmly hold the web of paper in position during this deckling procedure.

Abstract: A web retention and advancement mechanism for a rotating drum utilizes a pair of spaced belts operating in grooves formed in the drum peripheral surface to retain the web to the drum for an arcuate portion of its rotation. Pulleys spaced from the grooves guide the belts in a path that extends about a portion of the drum and about the pulleys. The pulleys are spaced axially a distance greater than the inner edges of the grooves to cause the belts to travel a convergent path toward the drum to grip edges of the web in the grooves and hold the web to the drum while the belts are disposed in the drum grooves. A divergent path from the drum permits the belts to release the web.

Abstract: Skew-correcting apparatus in which first and second sets of opposing feed rollers each comprise a pair of end rollers and a center roller between the end rollers. The first center roller has a sheet-gripping portion of limited circumferential extent forming a nip with the second center roller, while the first pair of end rollers engage the second pair of end rollers. The second set of rollers are coupled for common rotation; the first pair of end rollers are mounted for rotation relative to the first center roller. The first center roller is driven while the remaining rollers are retarded so that the remaining rollers are normally stationary to align the leading edge of a sheet but are driven by the sheet-gripping portion of the first center roller to advance the sheet through the nip. A downstream feed roller driven synchronously with the first center roller and also having a sheet-gripping portion of limited circumferential extent is used to advance a sheet to the opposing sets of feed rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus in which an advancing sheet is guided along a paper path. The apparatus includes a non-rotating, arcuate member, positioned closely adjacent to a drive roller, defining a nip through which the advancing sheet moves. The arcuate member resiliently urges the sheet into contact with the drive roller to move the sheet between adjacent guide plates along the sheet path.

Abstract: A sheet stack delivering apparatus has first and second pairs of opposing tape conveyors, the first pair moving at a faster rate of travel compared to that of the second pair, and the tapes of each pair being selectively pressed against one another for effecting delivery of sheet stacks at the faster or slower rates of travel of the first and second pairs of tapes.

Abstract: A device for changing the direction of flow of paper products supplied in shingled formation with an inflow element, and an outflow element, wherein the inflow element incorporates suitable guide rollers for guiding pressure belts handling the product flow, and the outflow element incorporates further guide rollers mounted on carriers which may be swiveled, for the purpose of changing the direction of the product flow between 0.degree. and 45.degree..

Abstract: A film conveying apparatus comprises first conveyor belts for conveying a film by contacting with one side of the film and a second conveyor belt for conveying the film by contracting with the other side of the film, plurality of the first conveyor belts being arranged with fixed intervals in a crosswise direction of the film being conveyed crossing the conveyance direction, the second conveyor belt being disposed between the first conveyor belts.

Abstract: A pinch roller is be retrofitted to existing automatic teller machines (ATMs) to eliminate misfeeding of deposit envelopes. The pinch roller is secured between the frame members for the conveyor belts which serve to transport the envelopes. The pinch roller mechanism can be adapted to the ATMs without the necessity of drilling new holes into the frame members since an existing hole (previously unused) and a bolt are used for securing the pinch roller mechanism. Specifically, the pinch roller is located between the frame members above the foam-like drive roller for the conveyor belt. A pinch roller axle, in the form of a hex-head bolt having its other end provided with internal screw threads, passes through an aperture already existing in one of the frame members and is secured to an exposed bolt, securing a motor housing to the frame members. Also, the pinch roller is chamfered on its ends to facilitate ease of insertion between the frame members.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for paper products in stream form having two parallel belt elements supported by rollers is made up of individual standardized self-contained prefabricated constructional elements which at least at a side lying in the product flow direction are couplable to a corresponding constructional unit in such a manner that only a single conveyor belt pair is provided which is supported by rollers or rolls and driven by a single drive unit, and at least one constructional unit is constructed for a deflection and/or turning of the product stream.

Abstract: A depository for receiving under conditions of security bank transaction deposits in envelopes of carying thicknesses one at a time, wherein the envelopes may contain coin in different sizes and numbers. The depository has a transport mechanism including a fixed upper platen, an endless belt having a lower flight movable below and supported by the fixed upper platen, and a lower platen movable with respect to the fixed upper platen at an angle downward from the belt and in the direction of belt travel when the belt is driven. An envelope being conveyed is pinched between the belt and a narrow longitudinal central ribbed plastic rail projecting upward from the movable lower platen. The plastic rail ribs have slippery low friction surfaces and the belt engages a low friction slippery surface portion of the fixed upper platen.

Abstract: A system for distributing flexible sheet material by class into separate containers includes a large endless belt and a number of individual distribution roller assemblies each of which includes a smaller endless belt which opposes the larger endless belt at successive locations. The sheet material is transported vertically between the larger endless belt and the smaller endless belts of the individual roller assemblies. Distribution of the sheet material into one of the containers results when the roller assembly associated with that container is repositioned mechanically so that the smaller endless belt and the opposing portion of the larger endless belt are positioned horizontally at the entrance to the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a base is disclosed which comprises a crosswise base guide for causing a centerline in a conveyance direction of the base to coincide with a centerline in the conveyance direction of the apparatus, a base position detecting sensor for causing the crosswise base guide to start its operation and base breadth detecting sensors for causing the crosswise base guide to stop its operation. The apparatus may further comprise base guide moving mechanism for causing a centerline of the crosswise base guide to coincide with the centerline of the thin film.

Abstract: A device (10) for advancing documents (12) from an input location (14) to an output location (16) along a path includes belts (24, 26) for capturing a document (12) and for temporarily imparting a stiffness to the document that is greater than the inherent document stiffness. Structure (34, 60) is provided for driving belts (24, 26) to move the document (12) from the input location (14) to the output location (16) along the path. A guide (90) is disposed adjacent the belts (24, 26) and along the path for contacting the edges of the document (12) to thereby cause lateral aligning shifts of the document (12) transverse to the direction of document (12) advance, while the document (12) is captured by belts (24, 26) and while the document (12) is being advanced along the path.

Abstract: A roll feed apparatus has first and second rolls for gripping a plate when rotated in first directions and moving from each other when rotated in second directions, and first and second brake pieces for fixing the plate during rotation in the second direction. A pivot body has support portions along its length for rotatably supporting a first roll shaft at opposite ends. A pair of pivot shafts parallel to the first roll shaft are rotatably connected to the pivot body and a housing and eccentric with respect to each other. First and second adjusting arms are fixed to the shafts; third and fourth adjusting arms are pivotally fitted to the support portions and support the first brake piece. A first adjusting device with first and second links coupled to the first and second adjusting arms moves portions of the first roll and first brake piece located next to first and second arms towards or away from the second roll and the second brake piece by pivoting these arms.

Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus is disclosed which includes a buckle chamber and input and output rollers which cooperate with a common roller respectively to form input and output nips for conveying a sheet into and out of the buckle chamber to reverse the lead and trail edge orientation thereof. The trail edge of the sheet is engaged by foam rolls coaxial with the common roller to transfer it from said input nip to said output nip and one or more fingers are arranged to urge the sheet trail edge into contact with the foam rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a rotatably mounted roller cooperates with a rotatably mounted polyhedron to define a nip through which a set of sheets is advanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a base by means of feed rollers and presser rollers in disclosed which comprises a base support member for supporting the base in place. The base support means is projected to a predetermined position when the base is fed to a pressure applying position. The apparatus is provided with a base holding member for temporarily fixing in place the base which has been fed to the pressure applying position, without changing a condition of the base. The base support means operated in cooperation with or independently of the base holding member.

Abstract: A feed apparatus for strip wrapping material, comprising two pairs of power driven, breasted belts which incorporate sets of transverse teeth offset one from the other and are looped around respective pulleys driven from the output shaft of a motor interlocked to monitoring and control means; the drive is stopped for a given interval each time the belts are indexed through a distance corresponding to the length of the wrapping sheet, thus ensuring that the sheet lies directly in the path of the oncoming commodity.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for feeding paper to a printer wherein the paper is advanced by a paper feed motor and a print head prints on the paper while the paper is supported by a platen. The feeding device includes a paper stacker for storing a stack of paper sheets, a feed roller which is disposed for contact with a top sheet of the paper stack for feeding the top sheet when the roller is rotated, a first paper path for directing the top sheet from the paper stacker to the printer, a second paper path for directing another sheet of paper to the printer without passing the feed roller, a transmission mechanism disposed between the feed roller and the paper feed motor for transmitting a rotary motion of the paper feed motor to the feed roller, and a cut-off mechanism disposed in the transmission mechanism which is manually operated to a cut-off position in which the feed roller is operatively disconnected from the paper feed motor.

Abstract: A feeding device for photosensitive materials arranged between the printing unit and the developing unit of a photographic processor. A photosensitive material supplied from the printing unit is smoothly transported on the surface of a feed drum which intermittently rotates, synchronized with the speed of development at the developing unit. While the web is being fed, its leading and tail ends are pressed by presser bars against the drum surface. Also provided is a loop formation plate adapted to tilt gradually downwardly under the increasing weight of the photosensitive material lying thereon to allow it to slide down smoothly. Thus, the web is formed into a loop while hanging. The material is fed straight without meandering owing to an anti-meandering mechanism including a pair of restrictor frames for restricting the material from moving sideways and a roller for pushing the material into between the restrictor frames when it is in its operative position.

Abstract: A feeder for supplying sheetlike items such as envelopes or the like to a processing machine such as an office printer. The feeder may employ a pickup such as a coil for detecting a change in magnetic field to thereby detect operation of an intake device in the processing machine. The feeder may pass an item downstream into the processing machine in response to such detection. The feeder may be arranged to move each item into a ready position and then advance each item downstream from the ready position while permitting realignment of the item by the processing machine.

Abstract: A conveyor having a conveying surface, which contacts an object to be conveyed, by plural coiled springs which rotate endlessly in accordance with the rotation of a main roller. The springs are trained over the main roller and a subordinate roller, which is provided at an appropriate distance from main roller and which rotates freely, in such a manner as the axis of spiral of each coiled spring runs in the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet feed device applicable to a recorder such as an ink jet printer or a thermal printer has feed rollers mounted on the same shaft in a spaced relationship and platen blocks mounted in spaces between the feed rollers. A sheet fed along the feed rollers is conveyed to the platen blocks by a feed force of the feed rollers.

Abstract: In a printer having a pen movable in an X-direction, a platen, and a sheet feeder for feeding a recording sheet in a Y-direction and displaced from the platen in the Y-direction, the platen comprises a platen roller rotatable around a center axis thereof. A pen is opposite to the platen with the recording sheet interposed therebetween and is brought into contact with the recording sheet to press the recording sheet against the platen roller, each time when recording is carried out. The platen roller is rotated by frictional force which occurs between the recording sheet and the platen roller. The platen roller may forcibly be rotated in the same direction as a driving roller included in the sheet feeder. Preferably, the driving roller has a knurling portion along an outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: In a sheet slider means used in a packaging system in which flat sheets are taken, one by one, out of a magazine and are delivered by a magazine conveyor, each sheet being transferred to a case transporting conveyor located adjacent the magazine conveyor and flaps of the sheet being folded and pressed for joining purposes, a high-speed wrapping machine has sheet sliders guided by guide rails and slidable in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the magazine conveyor is advanced, a device for continuously transferring the sheets in a flat fashion onto buckets formed by sheet guides provided on the case transporting conveyor, the conveyor being driven synchronously with the magazine conveyor, and a plurality of vertically and transversely adjustable press rods and press brushes provided at the upper portion of an entrance in the magazine conveyor for pressing the sheets.

Abstract: Sheet conveyor apparatus for feeding sheets one at a time to a stop wall at the end of the conveyor with at least one overhead support extending above said conveyor. An overhead longitudinally adjustable roller carrying sub-assembly extends above the conveyor supported on the overhead support. The sub-assembly is comprised of a roller which engages a sheet of material moving on the conveyor and positioned to prevent "bounce back" thereof as the sheets are moved against the stop wall. The rollers are carried on resilient arms which may be adjusted to vary the downward force of the roller upon the sheet moving on the conveyor.

Abstract: Sheet transporting apparatus and methods provide an elongate guide for the sheet in contact with the drive belt. The guide is bowed along an arc extending into the transport path in parallel to the direction of sheet transport. The drive belt is bowed by that guide and is driven along the path for moving the sheet along the bowed guide. The sheet guide may also be tilted on an axis extending in the direction of sheet transport. Preferably, the sheet guide is tilted by different angular amounts at different points along the transportation path to provide a skew adjustment for the traveling sheet.

Abstract: A decorrugating sheet transport system includes a drive shaft with three drive rollers mounted for rotation in relation to three idler rollers. The three drive rollers have relieved areas on portions of their circumferences and are positioned on the drive shaft so that upon receiving the lead edge of a corrugated sheet only the two outer rollers drive the sheet initially. This allows the corrugations in the sheet to expand toward the outer rollers. Next, all three rollers drive the sheet for about a 30.degree. arc and then the sheet is driven only by the center roller with the outer two rollers separated to allow the corrugations to dissipate to the edges of the sheet through a small gap between the outer rollers.

Abstract: The disclosed data reading apparatus carries an inserted sheet continuously inward and around a drum where data on the sheet is sensed optically and out of the apparatus reversely, close to the point of insertion. Sheets of different widths are aligned initially, and are held against the drum by tensioned belts. The drum "floats", being movable toward and away from the data reader to accommodate abnormal sheet thickness, wrinkling, etc. and to limit the sensing gap. Jamming of an inserted sheet is virtually eliminated by the floating drum and other special provisions. The entire apparatus is very compact, due in part to making the drum hollow and mounting the drive motor in the hollow.

Abstract: A transport device for paper sheets incorporates driven rollers which frictionally engage the paper sheets and are mounted on shafts arranged parallel with one another in the transport direction. Filaments extending in the transport direction are utilized to bias the paper sheets from below against the rollers. The filaments permit the paper sheets to glide or slide thereover and extend between the rollers in a lower tangential plane, said filaments being mounted elastically at one extremity thereof. A slight inclination of the shafts of the rollers causes the paper sheets to be transported while engaging a lateral guiding edge to accomplish transportation of said sheet in an accurately aligned manner.

Abstract: In a conveyor device for conveying sheet material in sheet or web form, two pairs of conveyor rollers are spaced apart with their axes parallel to one another, each pair including a deformable roller cooperating with a substantially non-deformable conveyor roller, and the two pairs of rollers are driven by a non-deformable drive roller which is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis disposed between them, with the deformable conveyor roller of each pair pressed against its cooperating non-deformable conveyor roller and also against the drive roller so that compensating differences of peripheral speed occur at the two pressure nips of each deformable conveyor roller. Each deformable roller is pressed in a direction located in or at least proximate to the plane of the bisector of the dihedral angle between a plane through the axes of the drive roller and the deformable roller and a plane through the axes of the deformable roller and its cooperating non-deformable conveyor roller.

Abstract: A roll feed apparatus having a first roll and a second roll for intermittently clamping therebetween and feeding sheet material. An adjusting device is provided for adjusting the gap between the first and second rolls and includes a pivot member adapted to cause, when it pivots, the first roll to more towards and away from the second roll. First and second braking members temporarily fix the sheet when it is unclamped from the rolls. The second braking member is carried by a braking position adjusting arm disposed between the pivot member and the path of feed of the sheet. The adjusting arm is pivotally carried by the pivot member and arranged such that an imaginary plane connecting the portions of the first roll and the second braking member closest to the path of feed of the sheet is moved, when the pivot member pivots over a predetermined angle, substantially in parallel with the path of feed of the sheet.

Abstract: A roll feed apparatus having a first roll and a second roll for oscillatory rotation in opposite directions such as to intermittently feed a sheet clamped therebetween. The roll feed apparatus comprises a pivot member having one end fitting on a pivot shaft extending from the housing of the apparatus substantially in parallel with the first roll shaft and the other which is free, the pivoting member being mounted at its portion between the one and the free ends on a first roll shaft, the pivot member being adapted to cause, when it pivots, the first roll shaft and the first roll to move towards and away from said second roll, a first adjusting device for adjusting the force by which the first roll is urged towards the second roll is adjusted, and a second adjusting device for adjusting the gap between the rolls in accordance with the thickness of the sheet to be fed. The first and second adjusting devices are operable independently of each other.

Abstract: Sheets selective loading apparatus making groups of a given number of sheets discharged on a sheet stacker from sheet discharge rollers in an image recording apparatus and selectively loading the groups of sheets one on top of another alternatively on positions offset from each other. The sheet discharge rollers are movably held by a given distance in their axial direction. Sensors are provided to detect the trailing edge of sheets leaving respectively sheet-carrying rollers right upstream of the sheet discharge rollers, and the sheet discharge rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus suitable for use with a printer such as an ink jet printer. A flat guide member is disposed between paper bail rollers and a deflector to be movable toward and away from the periphery of a platen. The guide member is drivably controlled such that it faces the substantially entire peripheral area of the platen which extends between the paper bail rollers and the deflector only for a short period of time until a leading end portion of the sheet is retained between the paper bail rollers and the deflector.

Abstract: A transport mechanism is disclosed for transporting a document around a track in a groove. A boundary wall in the form of a continuous wall or an array of guide cylinders is provided on the outside of a corner around which the track passes. A breaking cylinder which is rotated with the same surface velocity as the document constricts the document against the boundary and opens out any longitudinal folds therein to reduce the mechanical strength which they cause in the document. A drive mechanism then flattens the document against the boundary and renders the document flexible for the continuation of its transportation around the curved track. Dog-ears on the leading edge of a document are conditioned to prevent their causing impediment to further document transportation either by being folded back against the document or by being folded back into the plane of the document.

Abstract: A device for transporting a flexible strip (11) along a guide (15) by means of conical pressure rollers (35 and 45), whose apices face each other. The pressure rollers (35 and 45) are loaded by a spring (65, 135) common to both rollers, as a result of which an accurately defined directional force is obtained towards the guide (15).