Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting media items along a transport path. The apparatus comprises a first transport member and a further transport member that selectively apply an urging force to at least one media item to urge said media item along a transport path, wherein in a first mode of operation, the urging force is applied to said media item to transport said media item at least partially along the transport path and, in a further mode of operation, the urging force on said media item is released to allow at least one end region of the media item to move freely along the transport path.

Abstract: A pickup arm for print media arranged to engage a roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a curve-shaped conveying path conveying a sheet from a first conveyance direction toward a second conveyance direction, a drive conveying portion conveying the sheet in the second conveyance direction by a pair of mutually-pressed rollers, and a belt conveying portion conveying the sheet toward the drive conveying portion by an endless belt member, wherein the belt conveying portion is configured to include a first belt support roller which is arranged coaxially with one of the pair of rollers and a second belt support roller which is arranged at an upstream side of the drive conveying portion from the first belt support roller, to wind the belt member around the first and second belt support members, and to set an outer diameter of the first belt support roller including the belt member to be smaller than an outer diameter of the one roller.

Abstract: A flat-article feed device comprising a supply magazine in which flat articles are moved in a stack on edge in a first transfer direction, a separator for separating the leading flat article of the stack from the remainder of the stack and for driving it in a second transfer direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first transfer direction, an unstacker that takes a flat article that is being unstacked and brings it in the second transfer direction to the inlet of a conveyor, and a retainer that exerts a retaining force that opposes movement of the flat article towards the conveyor, the unstacker being offset from the separator by a distance not less than the maximum length of a flat article, and the retainer being provided facing the unstacker. A postal sorting machine including such a feed device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt disposed facing an upper surface of a sheet stack to convey sheets of the sheet stack forward in a first moving direction of a surface thereof, an attraction unit to attract an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack to the endless belt, a contact and separation unit to contact and separate the endless belt relative to the sheet stack, and a controller to cause the endless belt to contact or substantially contact the upper surface of the sheet stack to attract the uppermost sheet to the endless belt, perform a pre-separation operation in which the endless belt moves in a reverse direction that is opposite the sheet conveyance direction, and then perform a separating operation in which the endless belt separates from the sheet stack.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a control section which detects an offset of a recording sheet being conveyed, the offset being in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet; performs an offset regulation control which adjusts a main scanning direction image area signal in accordance with the offset; and forms a patch at a non-transfer area on an image carrier, wherein the control section performs a first control based on the offset of the recording sheet for the offset regulation control while a sub scanning direction image area signal is active for image forming on the recording sheet, and performs a second control for the offset regulation control while the image area signal in the sub scanning direction is inactive.

Abstract: A banknote handling apparatus includes multiple units each for banknote receiving, disbursing, and the like, and a conveyance drum. Multiple pressure rollers are each pressed against an outer surface of the drum. A circling route for banknote conveyance, having a discrimination sensor, is formed around the outer surface of the drum. The units are connected to the circling conveyance route by their respective interconnecting route for banknote conveyance. A route changer is provided for conducting route changes from the circling conveyance route to each interconnecting conveyance route, and vice versa. A rotational direction of a rotary drum during the conveyance of a banknote into either of the units, and a rotational direction of the drum during the conveyance of a banknote into either of the units arranged at an opposite side from the units in a diametral direction of the conveyance drum, are also made opposite to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method stand up and process articles of different dimensions, in particular flat mail items. A conveying device transports articles to an up-ending apparatus. The up-ending apparatus transports the articles further and, in the process, up-ends the articles such that the up-ended articles stand on an edge. Up-ended articles are transported to a separating apparatus. The separating apparatus separates flat articles such that a stream of upright, spaced-apart articles leaves the separating apparatus. Up-ended and separated articles are transported to a format-separating device. The format-separating device divides the articles as a function of the dimensions thereof into article classes such that all of the articles of a set of articles belong to the same format class. All of the articles of a set of articles are transported as a stream of upright and spaced-apart articles to an appropriate processing device. The processing device processes the articles.

Abstract: A system for conveying mailpieces along a feed path including first and second conveyances. A first conveyance is operative to convey mailpieces along the feed path and includes a singulating and drive belt. The singulating and drive belts define a throat or singulating a mailpiece from the stack of mailpieces. A second conveyance accepts mailpieces from the first conveyance and conveys singulated mailpiece downstream of the first conveyance. The system further includes a series of sensors extending from the first to the second conveyance for issuing a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the feed path. Additionally, the system includes a means to vary the velocity of the drive belt based upon the location of the gap signal along the series of sensors.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling mechanism and method includes a loop-shaped part configured to hold a paper sheet (W1). Once a paper sheet (W2) present on the upstream side of a transport path relative to the loop-shaped part is fed to the loop-shaped part, the paper sheet (W2) present on the upstream side and the paper sheet (W1) present on the loop-shaped part are respectively moved, such that the paper sheet (W2) can be stacked with paper sheet (W1) circulated along the loop-shaped part. A paper sheet length detector determines whether the length of the paper sheet (W2) in the transport direction, which is fed to the loop-shaped part from the upstream side relative to the loop-shaped part along the transport path, is longer than a predetermined length. If the length is longer than the predetermined length, the paper sheet (W2) is ejected from the loop-shaped part.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting a sheet of media through a print zone including a media entrance station, a media exit station and a first media transport translatable in a reciprocal manner between the entrance and exit stations. A second media transport transports a sheet onto and off of the first media transport. The second media transport transports the sheet in a first direction as the first media transport is moving in a second opposite direction.

Abstract: A conveyer includes a first rotating body; a second rotating body pair; and an intermediate rotating body arranged between the first rotating body and the second rotating body pair. A curl of the recording medium is corrected by winding and bending the recording medium around and with the intermediate rotating body at a bent angle formed by a tangent line shared by the intermediate rotating body and the first rotating body, and a line on which such a tangent line of the intermediate rotating body is connected to a nip point of the second rotating body pair. The intermediate rotating body includes an escape mechanism that is capable of causing the intermediate rotating body to escape in a direction to increase the bent angle depending on the width of the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for conveying of sheets (2a, b), comprising upper and lower receiving rolls (3, 4), an upper belt element (5) and a receiving surface (6). The belt element (5) extends in a region above the receiving surface (6). The sheets (2a, b) are conveyed in a substantially horizontal direction of movement (7) towards the receiving rolls (3, 4), which receiving rolls (3, 4) during rotation move the sheets (2a, b) one after another between and past the receiving rolls (3, 4), during which the respective sheet (2a, b), after passing between and past the receiving rolls (3, 4), are situated between said receiving surface (6) and upper belt element (5). The sheets (2a , b) between the upper belt element (5) and the receiving surface (6) are placed on one another such that a rear edge (8) of a sheet (2a) passing through and between the receiving rolls (3, 4) is overlapped by a front edge (9) of a following sheet (2b).

Abstract: It is presented a note transport unit for feeding notes one after the other to and from a note handling unit. The note transport unit comprises at least one note storage drum to and from which input notes and output notes, respectively, are transported. A bidirectional roller is arranged to transport notes along a first guide surface towards and from the at least one note storage drum. Moreover, first and second films are provided, between which films notes are stored on the at least one note storage drum. Several converging areas are used for the capturing of both input notes and output notes when notes are transferred between the note handling unit and the at least one note storage drum. It is also presented a method for bidirectional transfer of notes to and from the note transport unit.

Abstract: A device for withdrawing flat items of mail from a decollating section includes conveyor belts, and guide rollers. The conveyor belts extend around guide rollers and act unilaterally upon upright items of mail. The guide rollers are individually mounted, and, at an exit of the decollating section, are rotatably disposed jointly with transfer rollers of an adjoining transfer region, which are driven independently of the conveyor belts on a common guide axle. On a side of the conveying path pressure rollers are provided at a level of the transfer rollers, which press the items against the transfer rollers. The pressure rollers are mounted pivotably at a locally fixed fulcrum, which is situated in withdrawal direction upstream thereof and laterally offset from a conveying channel, and in which rollers driven synchronously with the transfer rollers are rotatably mounted. Belts forming an inlet extend over the pressure rollers and the driven rollers.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a main body defining a passage for transporting a document. A feeding roller unit includes a feeding driving roller and a feeding idle roller coupling with the feeding driving roller. The feeding driving roller and the feeding idle roller are disposed at opposite sides of the passage. A drawing-out roller unit includes a drawing-out driving roller and a drawing-out idle roller coupling with the drawing-out driving roller. The drawing-out driving roller and the drawing-out idle roller are disposed at opposite sides of the passage. The drawing-out driving roller and the feeding driving roller are at the same side of the passage. And a belt is put around the feeding driving roller and the drawing-out driving roller to mate with the feeding idle roller and the drawing-out idle roller respectively for flatting and conveying the document into and out of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: A transfer drum for conveying a sheet has an outer contour which can be set within a turning apparatus as a function of a setting of a turning operation. A flexible plate forms an outer contour of the drum which acts for sheet guidance. The plate is connected to a drum body through at least one joint, and an apparatus for adjusting a relative position acts at ends of the plate. The ends lie in such a way that they face a gripper system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.

Abstract: An image recording device includes plural retaining units each of which retains a recording medium on circumference thereof, a printing head that forms an image on the recording medium, a loop unit that retains the plural retaining units on a closed path, a first driving unit that drives each of the plural retaining units, and a second driving unit that conveys the retaining units on the loop unit, wherein when the first driving unit drives one of the plural retaining units to form an image on a first recording medium retained on circumference thereof, the first driving unit drives another one of the retaining units to mount a second recording medium on circumference thereof, and the second driving unit conveys one of the retaining units to a recording medium peeling position after completing image formation, and another one of the retaining units to a printing position.

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 continuous high speed throughput in a mail processing system. At least two print heads in series are utilized to ensure continuous printing operation, even when a print head must be taken out of service for maintenance, or fails. Depending on which print head is in used, different sets of transport elements in the print module are used to affectuate the motion profile appropriate for the print head that is in operation. Based on the status of the print heads, a controller selectively groups different individual transport elements together to act in unison for the motion control. Print heads may be geared to operate in synchronism with the motion of the print transport.

Abstract: Paper storage apparatus is provided with friction members that are provided at opposing sides (7c) of a lifting table (7) facing a pair of guide rails (3, 4) such that the friction members (30, 31) project toward the guide rails (3, 4). When a paper (10) is moved by the lifting table (7) so that end portions of the paper (10) escape from the grooves (3a, 4a), the paper (10) slides while being in contact with the friction members (30, 31), thereby to prevent the paper (10) from being moved on the lifting table (7).

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: An apparatus for conveying a sheet-like recording material is provided. The conveying apparatus includes a recording material feeding device for feeding the sheet-like recording material to a rotating drum from a feeding guide disposed in a direction tangential to the drum; and a recording material ejecting device for ejecting the recording material from the drum to an ejecting guide disposed in a direction tangential to the rotating drum. The feeding guide and the ejecting guide of the conveying apparatus are disposed near to each other in a thickness direction thereof, and the drum is in the same rotational position at the commencement of feeding the recording material to the drum and when the ejection of the recording material from the drum is completed.

Abstract: In a method for conveying sheets in a sheet-printing machine, the sheets are held securely in position on a circumferential surface of sheet-guiding cylinders with the aid of an adhesive, which can be detached again a number of times and does not transfer itself onto the sheets, and are conveyed through the printing stations of the printing machine. For transport without using grippers, the sheets are held in an area of their front and rear edges only by the adhesive, and are lifted off the circumferential surface of the impression cylinders with the aid of a sheet-lifting device in order for the front edge to be transferred to a downstream sheet-guiding cylinder. Lifting the sheets off the circumferential surface of the cylinders results in a peel-off effect, by which the adhesive bond can be readily released again.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a sheet material through a sheet-processing machine is described. The transport system for the sheet material has a drive that is driven independently of the cylinders on the stations processing the sheet material in the sheet-processing machine. The transport system provides at least synchronization of a transport device conveying the sheet material and of the cylinders.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic printing machine that minimizes trail edge flip when delivering a sheet to a photoreceptor at a desired tangential position. The sheet feeding device includes a baffle member which has two control points, one of which is an idler roller. The baffle further includes a ramp member which controls the trail edge of a sheet to maximize the beam length to reduce the bending energy which results in trail edge flip.

Abstract: A device for processing accepted banknotes uses a processing junction with banknote accumulators arranged on either side thereof and a banknote vault or stacker located at one end of the processing junction. A banknote dispensing outlet is associated with the banknote accumulators for receiving previously accumulated banknotes which are dispensed through the outlet.

Abstract: A winding device for storing banknotes and dispensing banknotes previously stored comprises a driven winding drum adapted for rotation in a first direction to wind received banknotes on said drum and rotatable in a second opposite direction to dispense previously stored banknotes. The winding device includes tapes which are applied to both sides of each banknote as the banknote is wound on the drum, the tapes being staggered in relation to each other for allowing more space-efficient winding around the drum.