Abstract: A sheet unloading apparatus is used for rotary drum rotatable in one direction along with a paper sheet which is wound around a peripheral surface of the rotary drum and at rear end mechanically engaged in an engagement groove formed in the peripheral surface. The sheet unloading apparatus includes a separation paws for separating a front end of the paper sheet from the rotary drum by contacting the peripheral surface of the rotary drum while the rotary drum rotates in the one direction, and a pair of pinch rollers for rotating to pinch and feed out the paper sheet supplied according to the rotation of the rotary drum in a state where the front end of the paper sheet is separated from the rotary drum by the separation pawl and the rear end of the paper sheet is engaged in the engagement groove.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus has a heat roller, a paper-separating lug, and a guide roller. The lug engages the heat roller to separate a recording medium from the heat roller if the recording medium rotates in contact with the heat roller. The lug is movable between a first position and a second position. The lug is brought into contact engagement with the heat roller when the lug is in the first position and out of contact engagement with the heat roller in the second position. The guide roller is rotatably mounted to the lug. The guide roller extends into a plane in which a travel path of the recording medium lies, and guides the recording medium after the recording medium is separated from the heat roller.

Abstract: A fuser stripper apparatus for use in a machine which imparts an image to paper being fed therethrough. The apparatus has: a fuser roller rotatably fixed in the machine and having a surface treated with a coating for effecting the impartation of the image to the paper, the fuser roller has at least one slot formed in its surface; an idler roller rotatably fixed in the machine which has a surface in substantial contact with the surface of the fuser roller thereby creating a nip for passage of the paper therein when either of the fuser or idler rollers are rotated; a motor for rotating one of the fuser or nip rollers; and a wire member disposed in each of the at least one slot formed on the surface of the fuser roller, the wire member has first and second ends fixed to the machine such that the paper is prevented from wrapping around the fuser roller by the wire member.

Abstract: A fly stripping mechanism for stripping sheet-like objects such as printed material from a rotating fly assembly having a plurality of fly pockets is disclosed. A cam adjacent the fly assembly remains stationary as the fly assembly rotates. A lever is disposed adjacent each fly pocket and is also pivotally mounted to the fly assembly. A cam follower is connected to each lever. As the fly assembly rotates, the cam follower follows the contour of the cam. The contour of the cam slows the rotation of the cam followers relative to the rotational speed of the fly assembly. The slowed rotation of the cam followers in turn causes an end portion of the lever to move from a position adjacent a rearward portion of the fly pocket toward a forward portion of the fly pocket, thereby ejecting printed material from the fly pocket.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted to be used for the automatic handling of sheets from which leaflets are formed and which includes a transfer unit for conveying sheets, an accumulator station disposed adjacent the transfer unit and being adapted to receive sheets from the transfer unit and to accumulate the sheets in a stack, a sensor associated with the accumulator station and being adapted to generate a signal indicative of whether the height of the stack of sheets in the accumulator station is at least equal to a minimum height, a sheet feeder adapted to periodically remove sheets from the stack of sheets at a substantially constant rate and a control mechanism operatively coupled to the sensor and the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus capable of supplying sheets in a circulating manner, includes a sheet resting device on which the sheets rest, a sheet supplier for supplying the sheets rested on the sheet resting device, a trail and regulating member provided in correspondence to a trail position of the sheet and protruded from a sheet resting surface of the sheet resting device, and an urger for urging the sheets by abutting against the trail end of the sheet discharged on the sheet resting means through a sheet discharge opening to shift the sheet so that the trail end thereof rides over the trail end regulating member.

Abstract: The present invention is provided as a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a friction separating/feeding means for separating and feeding a sheet by making use of frictional force, an air separating/feeding means for separating and feeding a sheet by making use of air and a selecting means for selecting either one of the friction separating/feeding means and the air separating/feeding means and for making the selected means separate and feed the sheet.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a retractable contact skive assembly for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from said roller. The retractable contact skive assembly includes a plurality of skive fingers. A resilient member urges the skive fingers in a direction into operative relation with a roller of the pair of rollers to strip a receiver member therefrom. The resilient member is selected to exert a force on the skive fingers less than the force exerted thereon by a jammed receiver member. A retractor guide plate is engageable with the skive fingers when the skive fingers are moved by a jammed receiver member in a direction substantially opposite the direction of urging by the resilient member, and retracts the skive fingers out of contact with the fuser roller to prevent damage to the fuser roller by the skive fingers.

Abstract: A stripping finger, for use in an electrophotographic apparatus, formed by molding a glass polymer consisting of phosphate glass and resin. The stripping finger does not attack the peripheral surface of a roller of the electrophotographic apparatus. The material of the stripping finger can be molded precisely by injection molding; has a sufficient degree of heat load resistance, heat deformation property, and heat fatigue resistance; and is capable of maintaining the original shape of its tip.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder feeds documents placed on a document table to a document exposure position, and has a document discharge means having a discharge roller for discharging the document after exposure onto the document table, the document discharge means being movable in the document conveying direction. The automatic document feeder includes a drive pulley mounted on an end portion of the discharge roller; a pair of transmission pulleys disposed outside the moving range of the drive pulley in the document conveying direction, and rotatably supported at a stationary part; a timing belt looped between the pair of transmission pulleys and the drive pulley; and a drive source transmittingly connected to one of the pair of transmission pulleys and disposed at a stationary part.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets seriatim from a stack of sheets which substantially prevents image ruboff. Such sheet feed apparatus includes a tray for supporting a stack of sheets. A plate associated with the tray supports the lead edge of the sheet stack. A major portion of the sheet stack, measured from the top of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, is supported by a mechanism associated with the plate. A positive flow of air is directed at a minor portion of the sheet stack, measured from the bottom of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, to enable the minor portion of the sheet stack to be levitated for separation of the sheets in the minor portion of the sheet stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of flat workpieces from a first conveyor to a second conveyor consists of a first conveyor with two endless pulling members circulating parallel to each other over guide wheels or drive wheels which carry in pairs supporting elements with pins. The pins perforating and conveying the workpieces project above a table forming the conveyance path by virtue of the supporting elements and the pins having attachments which run in guides that are parallel to the table and which displace the attachments towards each other. The pulling members of the second conveyor carry in pairs supporting elements with pins which project above a table forming the conveyance path. In the transfer zone of the two conveyors, a plunger is arranged in the frame and mounted in guides. The plunger can be raised and lowered and impales the workpieces onto the pins of the second conveyor.

Abstract: A stripping finger for a copier having a tip acutely arcuated with extremely high precision and less likely to be deformed when heated or collided repeatedly with a roller, and capable of stably maintaining high paper stripping ability, as well as high lubricity and non-tackiness at the surface for a long time. The stripping finger is formed from a polyphenylene sulfide resin composition containing 40-70 wt % of a polyphenylene sulfide resin having a melt viscosity of 3000 poise or over at 315.degree. C., 18-30 wt % of a polytetrafluoroethylene having an average particle diameter of 1-5 .mu.m, 2-7 wt % of a polyolefin, such as a high-density polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.942 g/cm.sup.3, and 10-40 wt % of a fibrous reinforcing material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body on which a toner image is created. A sheet carrying/transporting rotational body adsorbs a recording sheet to which the toner image on the image carrying body is transferred, and transports the sheet. The recording sheet is detached after transfer from the sheet carrying/transporting rotating body, and an assisting device thrusts against the non-image area of the recording sheet to limit its detachment from the sheet carrying/transporting rotating body. The image forming device can prevent transportation failure and image smudging that is otherwise generated when a thick sheet provided with a curl before it is adsorbed to a sheet carrying/transporting rotational body is detached in the curved state from the rotational body and transported to a fusing means.

Abstract: A fuser assembly including a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member along a travel path therebetween and permanently fix a marking particle image to a such a transported receiver member, a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller from such roller, and a mounting for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism mounting includes a support for the skive mechanism. The skive mechanism is selectively moved about the support mechanism into operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly adjacent to the travel path. The skive mechanism is urged in a direction, in opposition to the selective movement of the skive mechanism, from operative relation with the roller of the fuser assembly toward a location remote from the travel path, whereby clearance of a receiver member jam in the fuser assembly is facilitated.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating flat stacked objects is composed of a stacking hopper, the base of which supports the stack and is composed of rolls. The rolls pass through at intervals and roll against the respective bottommost workpiece. The rolls are provided in a traveling series and are driven in a rotating manner. A conveyor belt for transporting material away is arranged below the series of rolls. The respective bottommost workpiece successively peeled off the stack by each roll passage is placed onto the conveyor belt. In sync with the passage of the rolls, suction boxes grip and pull down a lateral edge of the respective bottommost workpiece between two rolls in such a way that the roll that arrives below the stack still supports the stack through the workpiece. The subsequent roll passes between the workpiece and the workpiece located above the previous workpiece and causes a reliable separation of the respective bottommost piece from the stack.

Abstract: An object tracking and motion control system includes a thermal marking unit such as a laser for inducing localized thermal indicia on objects. A thermal tracking unit, typically a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) such as a two dimensional thermal sensing array, is positioned to measure movement of objects marked with localized thermal indicia. A motion control unit is connected to the thermal tracking unit to permit adjustment of motion of objects marked with induced localized thermal indicia based on their measured movement.

Abstract: A label dispensing and applicator assembly for use with a roll of backing tapes having labels with pressure-sensitive adhesives on the backside detachably adhering the labels to the backing tape, wherein the assembly includes a label dispensing unit having a label separator mechanism attached to the frame and positioned away from a dispensing strip take-up reel wherein the label separator peels the label from the backing tape as the backing tape moves forwardly over the label separator and abruptly changes direction and extends rearwardly beneath the bar such that the labels are stripped and move forwardly from the label separator. A pair of pinch rollers is rotatably supported by the frame away from the label separator and a pinch roller is positioned to removably receive the dispensing strip therethrough as the dispensing strip is pulled through the label dispensing unit. The pinch roller has a drive belt connected to a conveyor assembly that is positioned forward of the label separator unit.

Abstract: A sheet stacking and registration system particularly suited for high speed sequentially stacking of the flimsy printed sheets output of a high speed reproduction apparatus in a sheet stacking area, with a stacking registration position; with a vacuum belt sheet transport system acquiring only a limited lead edge area of the sheets and transporting them over the stacking area with non-slip sheet feeding towards the registration position; and an integral system peeling the lead edges of the sheets off of the vacuum transport and guiding them downwardly and towards the lead edge registration position while reducing but partially maintaining the sheet's vacuum acquisition, and applying a normal force, preferably with a roller pressing down the lead edges of the peeled off sheet against the previously stacked sheets adjacent the registration position, to frictionally slow the sheet as it approaches the registration position, and also holding down the sheet after it reaches the stacking position.

Abstract: A separating pawl is attached to a fixed portion around a rotatable member, and a separating end of the separating pawl extends from a fixed end of the separating pawl onto a circumferential surface of the rotatable member. A portion between the separating end and the fixed end of the separating pawl forms a convex arch in the same direction as that of the rotatable member. A pressing plate is attached to the fixed portion around the rotatable member, and is brought in contact with the convex side of the separating pawl so that the separating end of the separating pawl comes in contact with the rotatable member to press the separating pawl for performing a sheet separating operation.

Abstract: A device for transporting material, in the form of discrete sheets, seriatim to a stack of discrete sheets, and subsequently seriatim away from such stack. The discrete sheet material transport device comprises a support for a stack of discrete sheets. The stack support includes a first stop for a first marginal edge of a discrete sheet, and opposed second and third stops for opposed marginal edges of a discrete sheet perpendicular to the first marginal edge of such discrete sheet. Discrete sheets are delivered seriatim to the vicinity of the stack support and are urged in a first direction into engagement with the first stop to form a stack of discrete sheets on the stack support. The discrete sheets are subsequently urged seriatim in a direction opposite the first direction to remove discrete sheets seriatim from the stack on the stack support. The second and third stops are located to accurately position the stack of discrete sheets on the stack support.

Abstract: A paper folding member and a jam sensor are disposed downstream of the position at which a transfer drum confronts an image carrying body and in proximity to the transfer drum. The paper folding member is a platelike member substantially assuming a right-angled triangle, and has an edge that projects more to the upstream side at a position closer to the transfer drum pulling side. When a paper jam occurs, engagement between gears for transmitting a driving force from the image carrying body to the transfer drum is released, so that the transfer drum becomes freely rotatable in its normal rotational direction. When the transfer drum is pulled, a recording sheet is gradually taken out of a cleaning device first from its portion on the side opposite to the transfer drum pulling side, and is inserted between the paper folding member and the transfer drum as the transfer drum is rotated. As a result, the recording sheet can be taken out of the apparatus without getting separated from the transfer drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming stacks of individual articles, particularly diapers, contains a supply mechanism, which transfers the diapers successively and tangentially to a transfer device. The transfer device contains a plurality of revolving, tangentially positioned receptacles, which individually receive the articles. At a sequencing station the articles are then radially slid out of the receptacles, so that with a low impact speed and without spacing they form a stack.

Abstract: At least one simplified skive member for a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller. The simplified skive member includes an elongated, relatively flexible skive finger. The skive finger is readily releasably received in a support body so as to support a major portion of the skive finger to increase the rigidity thereof. Particularly, the support body has a first ledge upon which a skive finger can be slidably received, a second ledge opposite to the first ledge to retain a skive finger therebetween, a stop member to limit the distance to which the skive finger can slide along the first ledge, and a locking feature for preventing the skive finger, after engagement with the stop member, from moving in a direction opposite such sliding direction.

Abstract: Stacks of part-products are arranged on the circumference of a rotating processing drum that has radial receiving compartments that open along the drum circumference. Rotatable rollers are provided in the region of the introduction opening of each receiving compartment on which the stacks of part-products are supported. Each stack has a separating device with a suction head separating member that seizes the bottom part-product in the stack and moves it to a location between the rollers of successive receiving compartments. The part-product that has been seized, in this manner, is fully detached from the stack by the roller and is deposited into the corresponding receiving compartment where it can be processed. For example, the part-product can be folded or cut at the borders, and assembled with other part-products by collating or inserting to form a multi-part end product.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device conveys sheets by using a suction conveyor belt having small holes. The lowermost sheet stacked on a sheet table is conveyed while being adsorbed on the conveyer belt. A suction fan sucks the lowermost sheet by way of an air suction port formed in a suction duct and the small holes. Sucked air is introduced into an air nozzle through a guide duct. Air blown off from the air nozzle raises the second sheet from the lowermost sheet and the subsequent sheets, to separate the sheets from the lowermost sheet. The suction duct is provided with an auxiliary suction port for ensuring the amount of air blown off from the air nozzle.

Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: A fuser assembly having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and at least one skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser assembly roller from the said roller. The skive mechanism includes at least one elongated, relatively flexible skive finger. A major portion of the skive finger is supported by a support body so as to increase the rigidity thereof. The skive finger support body is mounted on an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a fuser assembly roller. The longitudinal axes are spaced apart a predetermined fixed distance less than the sum of the longitudinal dimension of the support body for the skive finger and the radius of the fuser assembly roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a movable image bearing member, such as a movable amorphous silicon photosensitive member, and an image forming member forms an image on a surface of the image bearing member. The image on the surface of the photosensitive member is transferred to a transfer material. A separator electrostatically separates the transfer material from the photosensitive member after the image is transferred by the transferring member. The separator is supplied with an electric power having a voltage of a waveform which periodically changes. In one embodiment, the voltage waveform includes at least two sine waves of different frequencies superposed to lower the peak value of the first sine wave.

Abstract: Stripping fingers for use in a copying machine, molded of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition made up of a liquid crystal polyester having a flow temperature of 340.degree. C. or higher and titanium oxide whiskers. The stripping fingers have excellent heat deflection resistance, heat aging resistance, thermal shock resistance, heat load resistance, low attack on the counter roller, good shape retainability of the finger edges, and good non-stick property against toner. Coating with PFA at 330.degree. C. or higher on the stripping finger increases non-tackiness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring an article from one conveyor to another and a printing system incorporating the same, including an array of endless conveyorized strips carried by a roller and a relatively rigid member, the roller and the member being positioned within the strips, and a mover operatively associated with the roller for effecting its rotation and hence movement of the strips. The apparatus is positioned between and in cooperation with adjacent ends of successive conveyors of a printing system. The surface of each strip is characterized by a series of upwardly extending projections, each projection being of a relatively small diameter in relation to its length. The roller is adjacent to the exit end of the apparatus and has disks positioned longitudinally between the strips and coaxially with and about the roller at intervals across its width.

Abstract: A device for the pre-sealing of a document to a plastic band comprises at least one first cylinder on which the document is wound from a first given point of space tangential to the cylinder and a mechanism for heating the plastic band at a second point tangential to the cylinder where the plastic band is in contact with the document, this tangential point forming a constant angle (.alpha.) with the given point of space, the document being pre-sealed by the affixing of the plastic band to this second tangential point. Application to the pre-sealing, to a plastic band, of documents that are to be plastified on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A skive for a pressure roller fuser separates a receiving sheet that has a tendency to stick to one of the rollers in the fuser. The skive includes a finger having a tip which is spring urged against the roller. A mount for the finger permits the tip to move along the periphery of the roller in response to a difficult-to-separate sheet. The skive continues to attempt to separate the sheet without further pushing the tip into the roller. A guide surface on the finger continues to be directed by the mount toward a desired post-fuser path for the receiving sheet despite movement of the tip along the roller.

Abstract: A two member stripping device has a pivotable stripping finger and a mounting bracket for supporting the pivotable stripping finger in stripping engagement with a photoreceptor, the mounting bracket having two spaced parallel integrally molded support arms with male pivot bearing surfaces for pivotally supporting the stripping finger, the male bearing surfaces being oppositely faced toward each other on the interior of the arms; the stripping finger having integrally molded a stripping tip at one end, a pivoting ballast at the opposite end connected by a web member which has female pivot bearing surfaces between the finger and the ballast in the shape of cups on each side of the web for pivotal engagement with the male bearing surfaces, the extension of the female bearing surfaces extend axially beyond the operating bearing surfaces as a protective shield for the bearing surfaces.

Abstract: An improved fusing apparatus including a baffle assembly having at least one member for imparting an arcuate-shaped profile in a sheet of recording substrate subsequent to the transport thereof through a fuser nip. The arcuate-shaped profile is imparted along a generally central axis of the recording substrate, substantially perpendicular to the path of movement thereof, providing lateral strength to the substrate for eliminating the formation of longitudinal waves therein.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus having a flexible web member and detack roller assembly that includes a plurality of rotatable rollers over each of which a copy sheet and the flexible web member (while in intimate contact), can be trained. The plurality of detack rollers include a first, small diameter roller for forming a small web-wrap angle and a large sheet separation angle, and a second, larger diameter roller for forming a relatively larger web-wrap angle and a relatively smaller sheet separation angle. The first and second rollers are mounted on a frame for selective indexing into training engagement with the flexible web member.

Abstract: A stripper finger separates a substrate from a fuser member in an electrophotographic printing apparatus. The stripper finger is a member defining an edge in the form of a symmetrical convex arc across the width of the member. The thickness of the member decreases from a chord through the convex arc perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the arc, to the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of a used thermal stencil master sheet, in a superior disposing efficiency and secret-retainability, and a process for disposing of the same are provided, which apparatus is provided with a stripping nail for stripping a used thermal stencil master sheet wound up on a stencil body therefrom, a waste stencil box for encasing the stripped master sheet and rolls for waste stencil for feeding the master sheet into the box, and is characterized by providing a means for heating the master sheet so that it is heat-shrinked and/or melted within the box, and which process comprises discarding the used master sheet of a thermal stencil master sheet, and heating the used master sheet so as to subject it to heat-shrinkage and/or melting.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus installed in an image forming apparatus and having a pair of rollers engaged with each other for fusing and fixing toner images to a paper. Pivotable sheet separator pawls are resiliently engageable at their free ends with the periphery of one of the said rollers for separating from the periphery of the roller a leading end portion of the paper coming out of a nipping section of the rollers with the fixed toner images. The sheet separator pawls moves in parallel with the direction of axes of said rollers while said rollers stop.

Abstract: A suction type sheet carrying mechanism for a high speed image forming apparatus, in which a sheet is separated from an electrophotosensitive drum by air suction performed by mechanically combining fixed air suction holes of a hollow shaft and rotated air suction holes of belt pulleys. The sheet is stuck onto rotating endless belts and carried along a curved route by air suction performed by combining moving air holes of moving endless belts. High speed air flows through ditches provided on a belt guide board placed under the endless belts. The sheet is carried through a fixing unit under high temperature circumstances by rotating air suction metal rollers arranged perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet is carried. Fixed air suction holes in a hollow shaft and rotating air suction holes at ring-shaped ridges of a cylinder rotated around the hollow shaft of each air suction metal roller combine to form suction to hold the sheet.

Abstract: A paper separation charger for separating paper from a photosensitive member in electrophotographic copiers and the like including a grid member disposed between a corona wire and the photosensitive member. The grid member has an aperture efficiency which is varied in the direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of paper.

Abstract: A separation unit includes separation pawls for separating paper from a photosensitive drum, and a second shaft for supporting the separation pawls. Each separation pawl has a mounting hole extending therethrough and a slit opening the mounting hole. The second shaft has a mounting portion which cannot pass through the slit and a chamfered portion which is formed continuous with the mounting portion. The portion of shaft where the chamfered portion is formed can pass through the slit. An annular bush is loosely fitted on the second shaft so as to be pivotal and movable from the mounting portion to the chamfered portion. The bush is detachably fitted in the hole of the separation pawl and supports the separation pawl. A holder is attached to the second shaft so as to regulate the movement of the bush toward the chamfered portion of the second shaft when the pawl is used, and to allow the movement of the bush toward the chamfered portion of the second shaft when the pawl is attached/detached.

Abstract: A stripper for separating a print substrate from a fuser member in an electrostatographic printing machine has a substantially flat, thin, resiliently flexible finger-like member having a raised dimple-like bump adjacent one end of the finger-like member for contacting the print substrate when stripped from the fuser member, the finger-like member being coated on both sides with a smooth low surface energy film.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for a photocopy or similar machine directs the media, particularly wide-format media, into a receiving tray along a path which is substantially parallel to, but in the opposite direction of, the original media path. This allows for the removal of media from the front of the photocopy machine. With the drive mechanism in a first configuration, the leading edge of the media is fed directly into the receiving tray. Responsive to a position of the leading edge of the media, the drive mechanism changes to a second configuration so that the subsequent portion of the media is allowed to form a loop and to be delivered to a second receiving area.

Abstract: A device used to deliver folded printed products from delivery fanwheels of a folder to a conveyor uses chains driven by the fanwheel shaft and which pass over cam segments to clamp the folded products. The chains each carry angle elements and clamping pieces which cooperate with the vanes of the fanwheels to clasp the printed products.

Abstract: The invention provides that a vacuum drum with rows of vacuum ports over its surface is used to transport self adhesive labels from a first location at which the labels are applied (adhesive surface outwards) to the drum to a second location at which the labels are detached from the drum. The labels are held to the drum during the transport by applying vacuum to the ports until the label reaches the second location, when the first and second rows of ports at the leading edge of the label are applied with air under pressure, the pressure of the air supplied to the second row of ports being less than that supplied to the first row and slightly in advance in the time sequence, so that the edge of the label is slightly inwardly of the adjacent label extremity, initially lifted from the drum and then the extremity is blown sharply away from the drum providing effective, positive and reliable detachment of the labels from the drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer sheet guiding device. The transfer sheet guiding device includes a separator for separating one lateral side of the transfer sheet from a photosensitive drum and a guiding plate for guiding the transfer sheet in a direction away from the photosensitive drum. The guiding plate extends in an adjustably inclined position with one lateral side thereof adjacent the separating means disposed at a level lower than the other lateral side thereof.

Abstract: A transfer paper separating apparatus for separating transfer paper attracted by a photosensitive member of a copying machine from the photosensitive member is disclosed, in which the front edge of the transfer paper is peeled off from the photosensitive member by a pick-off blade and then the transfer paper is separated therefrom by a separation belt and a separation roller. The separation belt and the pick-off blade are mounted on a first support plate and the separation roller is mounted on a second support plate, and the first and second support plates are movable away from the photosensitive member independently each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and stacking thin flexible objects or strips, which is particularly useful for labels and may also be used for tickets, cards, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown a supply of the strips is provided by withdrawing an elongated sheet from roll stock and cutting it into strips by coacting knife drum and strip support drum apparatus. A vacuum drum picks up the strips from the strip support drum and transfers the strips to a stacking apparatus. The transfer drum has grooves formed in its periphery to receive stripping fingers extending from the stacking apparatus. The stripping fingers divert the strips from the transfer drum to a stacking position at the stacking apparatus. A magazine and strip pusher are disposed on the opposite sides of the stacking position. Side and bottom wall extensions of the magazine define the stacking position and support the strip therein. The strip pusher includes a frame positioned across from the magazine opening.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an image bearing or forming drum which is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction at constant speed. As the drum rotates, an image is formed on its peripheral surface electrostatically or electrophotographically. The image, developed or undeveloped, on the drum is then transferred to a transfer medium with the stiffness of the transfer medium being adjusted prior to the transfer. The drum has a diameter which is small enough for the transfer medium to be separated away from the drum by its own stiffness after image transfer, thereby allowing to dispose of an extra separating device and to make the whole apparatus compact in size and simple in structure.