Abstract: An original handling apparatus has an original table for stacking originals thereon, rollers and belts for feeding each original to an exposure position, a partition arm set on the originals on the tables and detected when all the originals on the table are exposed once, and a CPU for controlling the operation of the overall apparatus. The originals can be reliably fed, exposed and returned.

Abstract: The printed products are supplied in an imbricated formation by an infeed device and are pushed together to form a reclining buffer stack concomitant with a reduction in their mutual spacing or imbrication pitch. This buffer stack is conveyed to a stack accommodating space of a feeder by a conveying device and at a reduced conveying speed as compared to the infeed rate of the infeed device. There is thus formed a stack of interaligned printed products. The printed products are individually removed from the stack at a product withdrawal location which is determined by a stop. The buffer stack forms a printed product storage device for bridging interruptions in the supply or infeed of the printed products.

Abstract: Paper sheets transported from a transporting line are stacked successively into a receiving station by a vane-wheel type receiving and guiding device. The paper sheets stacked in the receiving station are taken out to a subsequent transporting line one by one by a friction pick-up and separating and feeding device. The friction pick-up and/or the vane-wheel type receiving and guiding device are rotatable. The friction pick-up is retracted from the surface of the stacked paper sheets when the paper sheets are stacked and when the paper sheets are taken out and is moved to abut the surface of the stacked paper sheets to thereby permit the taking out of the paper sheets.

Abstract: A delivery device of piled corrugated fiberboard boxes is provided, which comprises a hopper for holding therein corrugated fiberboard boxes in a piled mode, a front sheet receiver and a rear sheet receiver held at a position higher than is the front sheet receiver and having an inclined guide surface whose height is adjustable, both the receivers being disposed in a lower portion inside the hopper, a kicker movable back and forth on and along the inclined guide surface for kicking out obliquely the upper and lower sheet end faces of a lowermost corrugated fiberboard box, and upper and lower feed rolls disposed on the send-out side of the front sheet receiver, whereby deformation of the lowermost corrugated fiberboard can be amended and prevented.

Abstract: A lamina retrieval device for storing microfiche, holograms and other flat, sheet-like materials. A stack of laminae are retained in a cage formed by a plurality of guides, with the guides being so mounted as to retain the laminae in an angularly displaced disposition, with each lamina in a group of laminae being angled with respect to an adjacent lamina. To allow for the removal of a lamina, the guides may be formed as split pins so that part of each pin is movable to form an opening in the cage. The device can include fingers for holding a stack of laminae apart to allow removal of the desired lamina. Removal is accomplished in one embodiment through an airflow.

Abstract: A lifting platform for feeding stacks of panels to a machining line, in synchronism with the operation of a composite pusher (12) which skims the top side of a stack on the platform, and has transverse beams (5-5') for locally lifting the stack. The pusher has fingers in the same vertical ideal planes as the transverse beams. Above the stack are dimension feelers (14), one for each beam and vertically aligned therewith. At the beginning of each feeding cycle, the lifting platform is in its lowest position, the feelers (14) are completely lowered and the platform is then lifted by a predetermined amount (X) which is detected and evaluated by the feeler(s) first engaging the top of the stack, whereupon the feeler(s) causes the platform to stop. Thereafter, the feelers that had not reached the predetermined dimension are also raised to the same plane by selectively actuating the underlying beams (5-5') which lift the interposed portion of stack by an appropriate amount.

Abstract: A document feeder for recirculating simplex or duplex document sheets to and from a scanning station of a reproduction apparatus for selectively producing pre-collated or post-collated simplex or duplex copies of simplex or duplex document sheets. The document feeder includes a first document sheet transport path extending from a hopper to the scanning station; a second transport path located in juxtaposition with the scanning station for moving a document in scanning relation to such station; a third transport path, for turning a document sheet over, located between the hopper and the second transport path; and a fourth transport path extending between the second path and the hopper. A drive mechanism, associated with the transport paths, is operative to transport a sheet in a particular direction along such respective paths.

Abstract: Exposure device for originals comprising an endless conveyor path for passing an original repeatedly through an exposure zone either by continuously conveying the original in one direction through the endless path or by conveying that original successively in opposite direction through the endless path. Detectors are provided for selecting the appropriate conveying by measuring the length of a original introduced into the path. When it is determined that the length of original is smaller than a predetermined value smaller than the length of the endless path, or is larger than the endless path, the original after being exposed is conveyed in an opposite direction, past the exposure zone until it reaches the initial exposure situation again. When it is determined that the length of an original introduced is between said predetermined value and the length of the endless path, the original is conveyed continuously in the same direction for carrying out a succession of exposures.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus which can form an image on both surfaces of a copying paper as required. The apparatus includes a copying paper conveying passage, a copying paper feeding means for feeding a copying paper sheet to the paper conveying passage, a conveyance controlling means disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the paper conveying passage, a copying paper discharging passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper reversing passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the downstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper returning passage extending from its upstream end adjacent to the upstream end of the conveyance controlling means, a copying paper re-feeding passage, and a copying paper re-sending means for re-sending a copying paper returned through the paper returning passage to the paper conveying passage through the paper re-feeding passage.

Abstract: The invention is a simple method for quickly defining page numbers for signature production, calculating a check value based on the total of page numbers, and displaying document identities and orientations on the platen for each signature to form a booklet. In particular, the operator enters the number of pages to appear in the booklet, the control calculates the number of pages in the finished book, the total number of signatures and a check value. The pagination of signatures is displayed for ease of operator orientation.

Abstract: A document feeder is disclosed wherein a document stack is bent or curved when it rests on a fixed curved stackholding tray. A stack of paper becomes rigid when curved, and therefore, capable of being raised by applying an upward force along the curved edge on each end of the stack provided by a pair of curved lifting blades which move horizontally relative to the ends of the stack to move in and out underneath the edges of the stack, and thereafter move vertically to lift the entire stack out of the path of the returning copy. The document to be copied may be lifted off the top of the document stack either before or after the lifting action of the blades. A vacuum belt type arrangement is provided for moving successive documents from the top of the stack. The document loops through the machine, and returns at a lower level, aligned with an opening beneath the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A recirculating document feeder for presenting document sheets to a copier apparatus for reproducing multiple collated sets of information respectively contained on one face of such document sheets, or information respectively contained on both faces of such sheets, at a rate which makes maximum use of the full reproduction rate of the copier apparatus. In the recirculating document feeder, during the first circulation of a set of document sheets, after both sides of each sheet are exposed to reproduce information contained thereon, such sheets are returned to the hopper with their facial orientation reversed with respect to their initial facial orientation in the hopper. During all during subsequent circulations of such document sheets except the last circulation, after both sides of each sheet are exposed to reproduce information contained thereon, such sheets are returned to the hopper with the facial orientation reversed with respect to their initial facial orientation in the hopper.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus conveys a copying paper sheet through a copying paper conveying passage thereby to form an image on one surface of the sheet, selectively introduces it into a copying paper returning passage, returns it to a copying paper re-sending device through the returning passage, and again feeds it into the paper conveying passage from the re-sending device so as to form an image on the other surface of the paper sheet. The paper re-sending device includes a copying paper receiving stand for receiving copying paper sheets and a delivery device disposed above the receiving stand. The delivery device is selectively maintained in a non-operating state in which it moves away from the copying paper received on the receiving stand, a first operating state in which it acts relatively weakly on the copying paper received on the receiving stand, and a second operating state at which it acts relatively strongly on the copying paper received on the receiving stand.

Abstract: In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning.Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened.The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine.The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bill receiving/dispensing apparatus applied to a vending machine and a money changing machine which can house and store bills inserted by users and return a desired number of bills. Provision of a reversing roller (10) makes it possible to ensure that in paying out a bill (1) only a single bill is paid out at a time from a plurality of bills (3) overlaid one on another in a bill storing device (2).

Abstract: A note sorting and counting apparatus comprises an ejecting device for ejecting notes one by one from a stack of notes, an identifying device for identifying the notes, a sorting device for sorting the notes into groups in accordance with the result of the identification, and a plurality of containers allotted to the respective groups, each container receiving the notes of the group to which it is allotted. The identification may be as to whether the note is obverse or reverse, and as to the denomination, and the notes may be sorted into groups comprising obverse notes of the respective denominations and a group comprising reverse notes. The identification may alternatively include one as to whether the note is normal or damaged, and the notes may then be sorted into a group comprising obverse and normal notes and a group comprising obverse and damaged notes.

Abstract: Apparatus for making paper receptacles includes a magazine fed rotary turret receptacle forming machine having a magazine defined by a plurality of spaced apart and upwardly extending magazine rods. An independently operable blanking machine continuously supplies receptacle blanks to the forming machine and includes a die set and a plurality of spaced apart guide rods which depend from the die set and form an upward extension of the magazine.

Abstract: A money feeding machine having a friction feed mounted to feed from the top of a stack of money is disclosed. The stack of money is contained within a cassette having a moveable bottom. The bottom of the cassette is raised by a motor as money is fed from the top of the stack in order to maintain the top of the stack of money substantially at the top of the cassette and available for feeding by the friction feed. Ramps are mounted a predetermined distance down from the top of the cassette to squeeze sheets of money inwardly and cause them to bow upwardly as they are pushed up by the motor. The ramps cause blocks of mint money to be separated into a short loose stack of sheets above the ramps for reliable feeding by the friction feed.

Abstract: One stack space is provided for accommodating each stack of a plurality of stacks of printed products to be supplied to the processing line. Each stack space is provided with a powered feed mechanism which urges the associated stack toward a predetermined processing location, such as a product singling or supply device for singly transferring printed products to the processing line. To be able to prepare the supply of printed products at a location remote from or independent of the processing line, a plurality of transportable winding frames are provided. The winding frames are equipped for exchangeably accommodating a wound package of mutually identical printed products. The winding frames are provided with drive and conveying means which drive the wound package in an unwinding direction and convey the printed products unwinding from the printed package to a transfer location.

Abstract: Loader for signatures and the like, comprises, between the signature feeding path and the signature raising path, a step capable of breaking and dividing the signature pack, so as to form a stack portion of very reduced weight. The adhesion of the signatures to be conveyed on the raising path is improved by applying a negative pressure. There is further provided a sensor for detecting the presence of signatures on the raising path which sensor is swingably supported and is capable of acting as an abutment for the signatures forming the pack portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming images on both sides or surfaces of sheets corresponding to images on two-side originals.In a method for two-side image formation for forming images on both sides of sheets from images formed on two-side originals, a first-side image formation cycle is continuously performed for a required number of sets of sheets, the first-side image formation cycle including sequential operations for forming images on the first sides of the originals on the first sides of the sheets and for storing the one-side copied sheets in an intermediate storing portion, and thereafter a second-side image formation cycle is performed by sequentially forming images of the second sides of the originals on the second sides of the corresponding sheets. The invention also relates to an apparatus adopting this method.

Abstract: A recording apparatus records an image impression of an original on a sheet. The recording apparatus comprises a flip lever arranged to oppose a distal end of a first convey path for conveying the sheet recorded by a recording mechanism. The flip lever is movable between the first position where the sheet conveyed along the first convey path is guided in a second convey path and a second position where the sheet is guided in a third convey path. A temporary stacking tray is arranged to oppose a distal end of the second convey path and temporarily stacks the sheet guided by the flip lever from the first convey path to the second convey path while the first surface of the sheet faces upward. In front of the temporary stacking tray, an inverting mechanism is provided for conveying the sheet temporarily stacked on the temporary stacking tray to the third convey path through a fourth convey path without passing through the flip lever while the second surface opposing the first surface faces upward.

Abstract: An original feeding apparatus for single or both side original copy has belts and rollers to carry an original to an exposure position a glass platen, motors for driving the belts and rollers, an electromagnetic brake and a drive control circuit to apply electromagnetic and electric brake forces on the motors, and a .mu.-COM to control the operation of the apparatus. The original can be stopped at the exposure position with high position, and both side original copy can be automatically performed without requiring the user to rearrange the originals after the copy operation.

Abstract: An integral removable duplex module for use in conjunction with a reproduction processor is disclosed including two paper trays, a first operable as a duplex copy buffer tray or a papaer tray and a second operable as an auxiliary paper tray, each tray having a copysheet feeder associated therewith comprised of a single cam operated mechanism having two cantilevered arms supporting constantly rotating feed rollers suspended above each paper tray and associated tray elevator mechanisms which enhances copysheet feeding when the feed rollers are pivoted toward the trays into copysheet feeding position and maintain copysheet trays in non-feeding positions during non-feeding operation. Copysheets are received in the duplex copy buffer tray from the reproduction processor via a reversible exit nip at the output of the processor, which directs sheets passed to an output back to a duplex module paper path, for repassing through the reproduction processor.

Abstract: In a system of plurally recirculating a set of document sheets for precollated copying wherein the document sheets are repeatedly individually fed seriatim from the bottom of an overlying stack thereof for copying with registration and returned to the top of the stack for restacking in a tray having a support surface, a rear guide and two edge guides, an improvement is disclosed that includes a straight ramp attached to one of the edge guides so that document sheets returned to the support surface will lie flat against the edge guide and thereby provide a positive registration position along the junction between the ramp and the rear guide thereby reducing the possibility of mis-registration due to bending of the document sheets during feeding and recirculation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for stamping flat objects of different sizes and thicknesses, particularly postal items, said objects are arranged vertically on a feed table. The objects are individually removed from the latter and successively moved past a stamp and are then conveyed to a depositing table. The supplied and deposited objects are in parallel planes to one another. The feed and depositing tables are successively arranged in a vertical direction to one of these planes. The objects are removed from the feed table at right angles to said direction and are supplied to the depositing table. The objects are placed on the feed table by their leading edge in the transfer direction during individual removal. The conveying path of the object between the feed and depositing tables is horizontal.

Abstract: A paper sheet manipulator has a main manipulation member, an auxiliary manipulation member and devices for moving the main and auxiliary manipulation members. The main manipulation member is adapted to temporarily receive the front edges of paper sheets being fed for the purpose of accumulating the paper sheets into a sheet unit composed of a prescribed number of accumulated paper sheets, whereas the auxiliary manipulation member is adapted to press down the sheet unit to form a sufficient gripper insertion space between the sheet unit and the temporarily received paper sheets and suppress swelling and play of the upper layer of the sheet unit, thereby eliminating the drawbacks suffered by the conventional paper takeout and supply apparatus in operating a gripper of the apparatus for taking out and supplying to the subsequent step the sheet unit.

Abstract: An attachable feed and delivery system for envelopes in a high speed, batch printer (14) environment is described. Included is a hopper (10) having input (30) and output sections (32) separated from each other by a spring loaded bail (34). The transport path to and from the print station includes a picker/separator (90) located adjacent to the input section of the hopper. Fresh envelopes are urged toward the pick area by the spring loaded bail (34). Endless belts (56) passing through the base (50) of the hopper (10) assist in urging printed envelopes into the output area (32).

Abstract: A method for producing duplex copies from a duplex original wherein only one copy of the odd or even sides of the original documents is made during the first circulation of the originals to and from the exposure platen. During each subsequent circulation of the original documents, excluding the last circulation, two copies of the odd or even sides of the original are produced and either stored in a buffer tray if one side of the copy sheet is blank or transported to an exit tray if duplex copying has been completed on the copy sheet. Only one copy of the odd or even sides of the original documents are made during the last circulation and transfered to the blank sides of the copy sheets in the buffer tray to complete a duplex copy.

Abstract: An automatic duplex copying type copying apparatus for automatically copying opposite copying faces of an original document onto opposite faces of a copy paper sheet, respectively, including first and second trays for sequentially accommodating first and second copy paper sheets, respectively, an original feeding device for feeding first and second original documents from an original feeding tray to an original platform, a transport device for transporting the first and second copy paper sheets to the first and second trays, respectively, an original returning device for returning the first and second original documents to the original feeding tray and a paper feeding device for feeding the first and second copy paper sheets from the first and second trays, respectively.

Abstract: A holder for a stack of sheets which can be fed therefrom in successive cycles from the bottom of the stack and returned to the top of the stack or, in the last cycle, discharged to a tray. The holder includes a separator which can be engaged between the sheets of the stack for separating returned sheets from the other sheets of the stack. A detection system is provided for detecting sheets that have been placed in the holder (for starting a first cycle) and for detecting when all of the sheets have been returned to the holder (for starting a next cycle). The detection system includes a light source and a light sensitive detector installed at the bottom of the stack. When, by the feeding of sheets, the separator reaches the bottom of the stack, the separator intercepts the light from the light source to cause a signal from the detector. This signal is similar to the signal of the detector when the holder is empty, but which signal differs from the reaction of the detector when a sheet intercepts the light.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for supplying flattened cardboard boxes or work units to an automatic packing machine. The apparatus comprises a first belt conveyor on which the work units are placed groupwise in a standing posture closely in contact with each other, a second belt conveyor onto which the work units on the first are transferred while maintaining them upright, a holding bracket slippingly disposed on the first belt conveyor, and retaining means provided at the juncture of the first and second belt conveyors. The holding bracket is adapted to be borne by friction so as to hold and push the work units upright in close contact and to slip on the first conveyor belt owing to the reaction from the work. The retaining means comprises two holding pins which are kept retracted under the belts until the work has been completely transferred onto the second belt conveyor and then project above the belt conveyor so as to hold the work units from the rear to prevent them from falling backward.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine comprises a document intake/return member for taking in each one of the document papers to the copying machine to conduct a copy operation, a document transport member for transporting a single document paper between the document intake/return member and a light scanning portion to provide an electrostatic latent image, a document exhaust member for exhausting the single document paper on an outside tray after being copied, and a mode selector for selecting the document transport member to forward the single document paper from the light scanning portion to the document exhaust member or return the same from the light scanning portion to the document intake/return member.

Abstract: A bottom sheet separator feeder is described for separating and forwarding sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets to be fed. It comprises a tray for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed, a vacuum belt feeder extending through at least a front end of the tray for acquiring and advancing the bottom sheet of the stack, and an air knife arranged to inject air into the front end of the stack. A common blower creates a negative sheet acquisition pressure at the vacuum feed belts and a positive air pressure at the air knife. An air knife relief valve can be opened or closed to vary the air pressure at the air knife relative to the sheet acquisition pressure at the vacuum feed belts. The feeder may be shared by two trays of which one of the trays can be raised and lowered into and out of position within the other tray, the valve being open when the one of said trays is raised and closed when the tray is lowered.

Abstract: A bill handling apparatus of the recycle type having a bill receiving system and a bill disbursing system. The bill receiving system includes a bill insertion opening, a bill discriminating unit, a unit for arranging bills so that the front and back sides of the bills face in the same direction and for accumulating the bills, and bill-receiving boxes for receiving bills according to denomination. The bills to be deposited are fed from the bill insertion opening, via the discriminating unit, to the bill arranging and pooling unit and, thereafter, via the discriminating unit, to the bill receiving boxes. The bill disbursing system is constructed so that the bills received in the bill receiving boxes are fed, via the discriminating unit, to a bill disbursing opening.

Abstract: The device comprises a conveyor assembly for continuously feeding edge arranged signatures and provided with side guiding members for restraining and guiding the signatures at the end portion of the side guiding members in the signature feeding direction there being provided a narrowing width region for bending the signatures with a convexity facing the signature a feeding direction, feeding belt being further provided for picking the bent signatures and loading them, in a turned over condition, on a conveyor.

Abstract: In a paper sheet dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, horizontally stacked bills are removed by a dispensing roller through a dispensing port one by one. When the dispensing operation is completed, one end of the stack of bills which is located furthest away from the dispensing port is held by an upper flapper, and the stack is moved by a predetermined distance in a stacking direction away from the position of the dispensing roller as the upper flapper moves. Thereafter, the upper flapper from the stack of bills is released, and the stack is moved toward the dispensing roller by an urging force of a spring and is brought into contact with the dispensing roller.

Abstract: The in-line web printing press 15 will be discharging shingled sheets at a rate set the press operator and operator of the stacking and folding machine 10 will set its speed of operation to match that of the web printing press. To this end, it is preferred to have an electric counter device 260 (FIG. 1) connected to a photocell 262 with the photocell actually counting each sheet passing underneath it on the alignment conveyor 22. A digital counter 264 on the electric counter device displays the operating speed so that the operator can match the speed precisely to that of the in-line web printing press. An electric motor control 266 has an adjustable knob 268 which changes the speed of the motor 270 which has its motor drive shaft 126 (FIG. 10) driving the side joggers 30 and the rear joggers 26. A motor 272 (FIG. 1) drives the alignment conveyor 22 and its speed may be adjusted by the operator at motor control device 274 having a control adjustment knob 276.

Abstract: In an enhanced throughput sorting machine objects injecting by two injectors working in parallel are sorted in two sorting lines also in parallel. The machine incorporates a routing unit to direct the objects from each injector to the relevent sorting line and a dynamic storage system for halting the advance of an object when the objects injected by the two injectors are for the same sorting line.

Abstract: A recirculating document feeder for a copier/duplicator removes sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets, circulates a removed sheet to a position for copying, and then returns the sheet back onto the top of the stack of sheets. A sheet separator engages the sheet that initially is on top of the stack for separating the sheets in the stack that have been circulated along the path from those sheets in the stack that have not been circulated along the path. In response to feeding of the top sheet of the stack along the path, the separator is retracted and then returned to the top of the stack after the top sheet has been circulated for copying. The separator is driven along a generally rectilinear path and guided along that path by a pin in the separator that travels along a slot formed partially in each of two facing surfaces.

Abstract: A controlling system for mechanisms which deliver sheets taken off from a sheet pile in a processing machine. A first height detecting element for a rear part of the sheet pile and a second height detecting element for a front part of the sheet pile are provided with respective first and second detection fingers. The first and second detecting elements are connected to a command circuit which actuates a reduction motor driving the elevator lifting the sheet pile. The calculator also actuates the motor for the lifting or lowering of the sucking unit. The device is used in devices feeding sheets taken off from the top of a pile into a processing machine.

Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus having defined therein a copying paper conveying passage extending from a paper feeder to a paper receiver through a transfer zone and a fixing zone. In the transfer zone, a toner image on an electrostatographic material is transferred to a copying paper, and then fixed in the fixing zone.

Abstract: A label handling system, particularly for use in supermarkets. The system includes a plurality of boxes (108) for receiving parts of labels (103) from merchandise (106). The box with a stack of labels in it is placed in the box-receiving station (109) where the labels are fed upwardly into a downwardly facing hoppper. Labels are sequentially removed from the top of the stack in the hopper and passed through a data reading station (112) at which price and weight data are read from the labels and subsequently further processes (113, 114, 115).

Abstract: A method and device for sorting flat and indexed articles are disclosed, the method involving two passes. In the first pass, articles having a destination common to a very large member of articles are sorted and distributed to N/2 receptacles (10), the receptacles being fewer in number than the total number (N) of possible destinations for the articles, while the other articles are put aside in a buffer receptacle (12). In the second pass, a control circuit (7) assigns new destinations to the sorting receptacles, placing a marker (16) after each pack of articles contained in the receptacles, and the articles initially set aside (21) are resorted to the new destinations. The invention is particularly applicable to mail sorting.

Abstract: A system for handling discrete sheets including a nozzle for simultaneously lifting the sheet from a surface by suction and propelling the sheet in a direction generally corresponding to the plane of the sheet.

Abstract: An original supply apparatus for use in a copying machine of such a type that an original supplied automatically on a contact glass is located on the basis of one side edge of the contact glass, wherein a carrier roller provided on the upper surface of the contact glass is designed to be movable at a right angle with the travelling direction and this carrier roller is designed, by the action of the interlocking mechanism, to move in the same direction as that of a side guide member in cooperation with the movement of said side guide member provided, to an original tray, movably at a right angle with the travelling direction.

Abstract: A bottom sheet separator-feeder for separating and forwarding sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets includes a stack tray and endless vacuum belts extending through the front end of the tray for acquiring and advancing the bottom sheet, the belts extending across a support surface having vacuum ports therein for applying a negative pressure at the back of the belts. In order to reduce unwanted vacuum effects upstream of the vacuum ports, a transverse lip extends across the support surface upstream of the vacuum ports.

Abstract: In a recirculating document handler for a copier for recirculating document sheets from a stack thereof in a document tray of the document handler to be copied and to be restacked therein after copying, with a document feeder for feeding the documents from the stack which is automatically controlled in response to sensing the approximate height of the stack and sensing each time the stack has been so recirculated, in response to the position of elevation relative to the stack of a set separator finger, the improvement in the sensing system comprising two spaced switches positioned to be variably actuated in response to variable positions of the set separator finger, and the set separator finger being adapted for actuating one, none, or both of the switches at respective different positions thereof, and a control providing six different automatic controls in response to four different combinations of sensed actuations or non-actuations of the two spaced switches and the operating times at which the combination

Abstract: A loader for box-type feeders of packaging machines, bookbinding machines and the like, in which the products are loaded into a feed channel with an inclined base formed by a conveyor belt, to be brought into contact with a counteracting plate. Sucker arms cyclically withdraw one product at a time and transfer it to wheels provided with grippers which insert the product between pairs of belts by means of which the product is transferred until it discharges into the feeder box. Feeler elements cyclically determine the thrust of the products in the feed channel and enable the conveyor belt to advance through one step when the thrust is smaller than a predetermined value, whereas they prevent said advancement when the thrust is greater than said value.

Abstract: A high-speed compact sheet handling device is disclosed. In this device sheet members are supplied from a stacking table to a required position and are ejected at a higher speed from that position to the stacking table, and the functions of supply and ejection can be effected at the same time.