Abstract: A system and a method to control the motion of envelopes within a postage printing module to accommodate the use of slower print techniques and to achieve high throughput in a mail processing system. The system transports envelopes according to a motion profile in which the envelope is decelerated from a transport velocity to a slower printing velocity. After the printing operation has been completed, the envelope is accelerated back to the transport velocity and transferred to a downstream module. None of the intervals of deceleration, low print velocity, or acceleration may occur while an envelope in the postage printing module is also in the control of another module. The print head is geared to operate in synchronism with the print transport. Further, upon the occurrence of an error condition, such as a jam, the print transport is decelerated to a stop in such a manner as to preserve the spacing between subsequent envelopes to be the same as if no error condition had occurred.

Abstract: A sheet feed image scanning apparatus comprises a sheet feeding unit mounted to an image scanning unit. The sheet feeding unit has a casing that comprises the mount of a sheet conveyor assembly to convey a document sheet along a conveyance path that passes over a scanning window. The sheet conveyor assembly comprises a motor-driven central conveyor roller and a plurality of idler rollers mounted in circumferential contact with the central conveyor roller. The document introduced in the sheet feeding unit engages between the central conveyor roller and the idler rollers to be conveyed over the scanning window, through which the scanning unit captures an image of the document sheet.

Abstract: A device for removing printed products, having a fold and being transported uniformly spaced and astraddle by a transport device, has a rotatingly driven gripping device with controlled gripping elements for gripping one of the printed products by the fold on the transport device and removing the printed product while stably holding the printed product. The rotatingly driven gripping device has control elements for controlling an opening movement and a closing movement of the gripping elements and is adjustable for adaptation to the different thicknesses of the printed products during running.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus including a feed roller supplying paper to a image reading position and a discharge roller discharging the paper. A load in the rotational direction is provided at the discharge roller to prevent the image reading turbulence at the time when the paper is separated from the feed roller.

Abstract: The footprint of a document scanning unit such as a copier, facsimile machine or document scanner or combinations thereof is reduced by causing overlap of the leading and trailing edges of long document sheets to be scanned in the document delivery roller system downstream of the scanning station. Differential slippage of the overlapping ends between a drive roller and a pinch roller is provided in a first embodiment. A second embodiment uses a moveable pinch roller in the document delivery system to selectively open and close a gap to permit slippage of the leading and trailing edges of the document. A third embodiment uses three document delivery rollers defining two spaced nips in which the leading and trailing edges of a long document are simultaneously present and a crenellated roller surface to guide the leading edge of the document to the desired nip in the delivery system.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for sorting a single stream of signatures into two or more streams, the apparatus includes two counter-rotating bucket assemblies. Each bucket assembly includes a plurality of buckets spaced from one another along a common axis. The respective common axis of each bucket assembly is disposed parallel to the common axis of the other. Each of the buckets of one of the bucket assemblies is disposed adjacent to and in a respective common plane with a respective one of the buckets of the other of the bucket assemblies. Further, each of the buckets includes a plurality of blades, the tips of the blades of each bucket defining a circumference. A respective circumference of one bucket overlaps the circumference of the other bucket disposed in the common plane. Two neighboring blades have respective surfaces defining a slot therebetween.