Abstract: An image forming apparatus (50) at least includes a paper output tray (80), an actuator (16) and a photo sensor (15). The actuator (16) is supported in such a manner as to be swingable above a paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80). The actuator (16) includes a fullness detection section (164) and a rear edge curling detection section (162). The fullness detection section (164) is disposed at a tip portion of the actuator (16), being configured so as to contact the uppermost paper on the paper output tray (80). The rear edge curling detection section (162) is formed so as to extend from the fullness detection section (164) toward a direction that gets further away from the paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80) toward a direction generally parallel to the paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80) and opposite to a paper conveying direction.

Abstract: A method and a device is provided for forming stacks of flat elements in a stacking region, the flat elements being guided to the stacking region substantially continuously. The flat elements are stacked on a main stack carrier. Upon achieving a finished stack of a predetermined number of flat elements stacked on the main stack carrier, an auxiliary stack carrier is inserted into the stacking region above the finished stack. Subsequent flat elements are then stacked on the auxiliary stack carrier. The finished stack is then removed from the main stack carrier and, subsequently, the main stack carrier is moved below the auxiliary stack carrier. The auxiliary stack carrier is then withdrawn from the stacking region, transferring the subsequent flat elements on the main stack. During or after this withdrawal process, at least an upper portion of the main stack carrier is moved substantially opposite the direction of withdrawal of the auxiliary stack carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for detaching a supporting fabric from a substantially-elongated piece of elastomeric material includes at least one plane for supporting the piece, first rollers located close to an exit edge of the plane, at least one second roller, and at least one actuator for moving the second roller. The second roller moves between a first position, not in proximity to the first rollers, and a second position, in proximity to the first rollers. In the second position, the first rollers and the second roller detach the fabric from the piece.

Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with discharge rollers for discharging a sheet, a fixed stacking portion for supporting a portion of the discharged sheet, a storage tray established below the fixed stacking portion with a larger surface area, and a stapler for applying a finishing process to the sheet in a state of straddling the fixed stacking portion and the storage tray. A pushing member moves the sheet finished by the stapler in a direction different from a discharge direction by the discharge rollers to discharge the sheet to the storage tray, thereby providing the sheet post-processing apparatus that can securely discharge the stapled sheet bundle to a storage tray after a post-processing such as stapling.

Abstract: A protective sheet peeling device which reliably separates, from a sheet, a protective sheet (an interleaf sheet) which is superposed with one surface of the sheet. A free roller is disposed at a downstream side of a conveying roller of a peeling section, in a state in which one portion of the free roller is disposed on an “imaginary conveying locus” of a printing plate precursor. Further, a displacement roller is disposed at a downstream side of the free roller. After the printing plate precursor, which is superposed with the interleaf sheet, has passed by the free roller, when the displacement roller moves to a position of reaching the “imaginary conveying locus”, the printing plate precursor and the interleaf sheet are curved along the free roller. Due to reverse rotation of the displacement roller, the interleaf sheet is peeled off of the printing plate precursor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for peeling a carrier web having a protective layer from a keeper sheet of image-bearing medium. The carrier web and the protective layer are peeled about a peel member as the keeper sheet moves over and is deformed by a constraining roller located at or downstream of the peel member putting the protective layer in tension. Preferably, at least one of the peel member or the constraining roller has a compliant material covering to facilitate separation of unused portions of the protective layer from edges of the keeper.

Abstract: Method for correcting gaps between mail items Given that the actual gaps b of a mail stream are smaller than the minimum gaps c which are required for processing, every xth mail item, where x=(a+b)/(c−b), with a=the average mail item length, is ejected. The mail stream is then divided by alternately supplying the mail items to two gap-correcting units, in which said mail items are shifted to the ejection gaps in such a way that the required minimum gaps are attained after both partial mail streams have been combined.

Abstract: A polarizer film tool, for removal of polarizer film from an LCD panel, is provided. The tool includes a take-up cylinder whose rotational action pulls the film from the LCD and wraps the removed film around itself. Two padded rotating stabilization cylinders guide the LCD in a preferred path through the tool to equally distribute the force used to hold the LCD as the polarizer film is pulled from its surface. The padded cylinders allow for deviations in the preferred path to accommodate any discrete parts mounted on the LCD that have a higher profile than the LCD surface. A method for removing the polarizer film with the above-mentioned tool is also provided.

Abstract: In a separator for separating a stripping sheet from a composite film formed by a base sheet and the stripping sheet which are superposed with each other, the composite film is first so carried and arranged that its forward end portion extends over a separating clearance formed in a support, and then a blade is pushed into the separating clearance for thrusting the composite film into the separating clearance in a bent state. Thus, the forward end portion of the composite film is separated (i.e., delaminated). Thereafter the base sheet and the stripping sheet are independently sucked/held on the delaminated forward end portion, and the stripping sheet is completely separated from the base sheet while widening the space between the held positions of these sheets. Due to the aforementioned structure and operation, the composite film can be separated in a simple structure with minimum force, and the separator can be reduced in size and power.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for peeling an image media-laminate to remove a throw-away layer from a keeper layer. The laminate is fed through a nip defined by upper and lower rolls and then the laminate is bent upwardly about a surface on the upper roll by an upwardly moving bar. One side of the bent laminate opposite the bar is held by vacuum adjacent a free edge of the laminate and then the bar is lowered during which a spring element on the bar deflects the free edge of the laminate to separate the layers due to differences in their stiffness. The lowering of the bar permits the keeper layer to descend as it separates from the throw-away layer which is released from the vacuum and continuously peeled by take-away rollers.

Abstract: A device for peeling off an edge portion of a sheet which has an adhesive paper layer and a released paper layer. This device is provided with a casing, a guide portion for guiding the insertion of the sheet, two eccentric rollers provided in the casing in such a manner as to face to each other, a drive motor for rotating the eccentric rollers in a same direction, a control portion for controlling the drive motor, and a limit switch, connected to the control portion, for imposing a limitation on a position into which the sheet is inserted. The sheet is inserted into a space between the eccentric rollers by being guided by the guide portion. When the limit switch detects the sheet, the rollers are driven by the drive motor so as to make the adhesive paper layer and the released paper layer slide in opposite directions, respectively. Consequently, the released paper layer can be easily peeled away from the adhesive paper layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for peeling a laminate containing image media wherein the leading edge portion of the laminate is struck by beater blades to initially separate the leading edge portion of one layer from the laminate. The separated leading edge portion is then transported into a nip defined by a peel surface and a lower peel roll after which the leading edge portion is bent about the peel surface by a folder driven by a linkage mechanism. While the leading edge portion of the laminate is bent, one layer is held by a vacuum device while the remainder of the laminate returns to its path of travel under its own resiliency. The separated layer is then peeled from the laminate by take-away rolls while guided by the peel surface. The remainder of the laminate is guided by a deflector roll to move along the path at a predetermined angle while the layer is being peeled. In one method, the layer is peeled at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the laminate.

Abstract: A device for peeling off an edge portion of a sheet which has an adhesive paper layer and a release paper layer. This device is provided with a casing, a guide portion for guiding the insertion of the sheet, two eccentric rollers provided in the casing in such a manner as to face to each other, a drive motor for rotating the eccentric rollers in the same direction, a control portion for controlling the drive motor, and a limit switch, connected to the control portion, for imposing a limitation on a position into which the sheet is inserted. The sheet is inserted into a space between the eccentric rollers by being guided by the guide portion. When the limit switch detects the sheet, the rollers are driven by the drive motor so as to make the adhesive paper layer and the release paper layer slide in opposite directions, respectively. Consequently, the release paper layer can be easily peeled away from the adhesive paper layer.

Abstract: A laminating system for bonding, to receiver stock, a lamination sheet of the type including a carrier and a material to be applied to the receiver stock, and for subsequently de-laminating the carrier from the receiver stock after the material has been applied to the receiver stock, includes a fuser to apply the material to the receiver stock. The leading edge of the carrier has a de-lamination leader to separate the carrier from the receiver stock as the leading edge of the sandwich emerges from the fuser. A first portion of the carrier is manually directed through a pair of idler rollers as the sandwich emerges from the fuser to form the carrier into a generally S-shaped curve so that operator attention is thereafter not needed to separate the remainder of the carrier and receiver stock.

Abstract: To strip laminated foil cuttings, which are provided with incisions in a cover foil adhered to a carrier paper through a self-adhesive bottom layer, an incision forming a separation line is made into the carrier paper of a forward edge of each foil cutting before the edge zone is pulled off from the carrier paper by a transfer means in cooperation with a deflection edge.

Abstract: A laminating system for bonding, to receiver stock, a lamination sheet of the type including a carrier, a material to be applied to the receiver stock, and a de-lamination leader associated with one edge of the lamination sheet; and for peeling the carrier from the receiver stock after the material has been applied to the receiver stock, includes a fuser through which a sandwich of receiver stock and lamination sheet, with material to be applied to the receiver stock between the carrier of the lamination sheet and the receiver stock, is fed with the de-lamination leader and the one edge facing in the direction of feed to apply the material to the receiver stock. A pair of driven nip rollers receive the de-lamination leader therebetween as the sandwich emerges from the fuser to tension the carrier, thereby breaking the bond between the carrier and the receiver stock.

Abstract: A label separator separates labels from a backing. An infeed mechanism moves the labels in a downstream direction through a label path toward a breaker bar. A push member is moveable from a first position to a second position through a path which intersects the label path whereby the push member intersects the leading end of the backing in the label path and directs the backing out of the label path, around the breaker bar and to one side of the push member while the label continues along the label path on another side of the push member.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a removal arm which is provided at its front with two cooperating rollers to grip a printed product and with a movable flap in front of the rollers. A cylinder-piston unit can move the two cooperating rollers in the same plane and linearly to the first conveyor path. The cylinder-piston unit is controlled in such a manner that at least the extraction speed of the two cooperating rollers is proportional to the transporting speed of the first conveyor path. The apparatus is provided to serve as a turnout switch or to separate an overlapping stream of laterally offset, folded together printed products.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying a sheet of paper from a power feeder to an exit point including a frame for guiding the moving sheet along a preselected path and including a flexible member between the feeder and the exit point for normally guiding the sheet along the preselected path, the flexible member allowing the sheet to buckle in a direction normal to the plane of and away from the preselected path in response to an obstruction.

Abstract: A system removes and conveys a sample copy from a fast moving, orderly material flow of printed materials without disturbing the other products in the material flow. The apparatus includes a power driven conveyor and a conveying chain mounted on guide pulleys, with one of the pulleys located adjacent the material flow. A gripper is coupled to the chain and has a cushioning spring. A cushioning clamp engages and pretensions the cushioning spring to engage a selected sample copy. A control regulates operation of the gripper and clamp in response to detection of individual products and their speed.