Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for loading a sheet-like medium onto a drum without tension. The drum may be a vacuum drum of an imagesetter for example, or a vacuum drum of an input scanning machine.In order to load a sheet-like medium onto a drum without any tension, the sheet-like medium is taken over by take-over means before fixing it on the drum.

Abstract: A system for separating alternately stacked first and second sheets (5,6) such as film plates and paper. The system comprises a first sheet holding device (8,9) for holding a first sheet (5) of the stack; an eccentric (2) for causing relative separation movement between a sheet held by the first sheet holding device and the remainder of the stack so that the held sheet is positioned spaced above the remainder of the stack, the first sheet holding device being laterally moveable to feed the separated first sheet to an exit (12). A second sheet removal device (14) is provided for laterally feeding a second sheet (6) from the stack to an exit in generally the same lateral direction as the first sheet.

Abstract: A system for light-tight handling of a supply of media between a supply station, a workstation and a collecting station, comprises a media handling apparatus defined by a frame and a housing enclosing an internal confine. Within this confine are a supply station and a collecting station disposed at opposite ends of the frame. A positioning drive is suspended above the supply and collecting stations to move media between the supply, collecting and work stations. A lifting shoe is provided as part of the positioning drive and includes a flexible material handling sheet which assumes a first and a second given radius when respectively energized and reverse energized to engage the media supported in curved form. Also, supply and collecting cassettes are provided with a tambour coverings for respectively automatically uncovering and covering the supported media while still maintained in the light-tight confines of the housing.

Abstract: A partition inserter has a vacuum assembly which pivots out to contact an end partition in a stack, pivots back to remove the partition, and then moves downwardly to release the partition. The positioning of the vacuum assembly is controlled by a set of cams and a cam follower for controlling the horizontal position of the vacuum assembly and a third cam and cam follower for controlling the vertical position of the vacuum assembly. The vacuum assembly has an upper set of cups which move down with the assembly to lower the partition. The upper vacuum cups are also adjustably mounted to the assembly so that the same assembly may be used for partitions of various sizes. When the partition is released from the vacuum cups, the partition is guided downwardly by a pair of conveyors to a set of shooter wheels. The conveyor and shooter wheels are mounted to a set of plates which are adjustably mounted to the frame of the apparatus.

Abstract: A media handling unit is a selfcontained device which is capable of being moved to existing photoplotting structures to transport media sheets from a supply cassette housed within the unit and advanced into the plotter for conducting a plotting operation. The unit also retreives the scanned media from the photoplotter returning it the unit in a light tight environment where the scanned film is deposited onto a collecting tray. The supply of film is provided in a cassette having a semi-cyldrical support surface causing the film to take on a preformed configuration which is generally coincident with the shape of the support surface on the plotter.

Abstract: Feeding table assembly of a sheet-fed printing machine with conveyor belts for conveying paper sheets from a feed pile, via a region for lateral alignment of the sheets, to downline printing units includes a rigid frame; a member having a sheet-conveying surface extending in a conveying direction over the lateral alignment region and formed with at least one through-opening for receiving the rigid frame therein; deflection rollers journaled in the rigid frame; at least one conveyor belt looped about the deflection rollers and having a strand for conveying the paper sheets from a location at a beginning of the sheet-conveying surface to a location beyond the lateral alignment region; a holder fixed to the printing machine; and a device for removably fastening the rigid frame to the holder so that a strand of the conveyor belt provided for conveying is in a conveying position; and method of assembling the conveyor belt with the feeding table.

Abstract: A reciprocator sleeve for use in a printing machine having an envelope feeder is disclosed which enables the feeder to convey windowed envelopes from a stack and into a pair of pinch rollers without marking the windows of the envelopes. The sleeve is adapted for use with the feeder reciprocator upon which the bottommost envelope in the stack is retained for its conveyance therefrom and into a pair of pinch rollers. The reciprocator has a cylindrical head which is reciprocatingly rotated about its longitudinal axis to provide a generally arcuate feed and return stroke between the stack and the pinch rollers, and a shaft extending from an end of the head to a drive assembly. The head is in fluid communication with a vacuum source and has at least one vacuum port for applying a negative pressure differential to the front face of the bottommost envelope in the stack to retain that envelope for its conveyance on the feed stroke from the envelope stack and into the pinch rollers.

Abstract: A roll or strip feed system for inserting flat stock to the operative position of a machine tool consisting of an automatic material lift apparatus working in conjunction with a centralizing guide to feed flat stock intermittently into an entry guide roller which pushes strip stock to an operative machine position, and thereafter, pulls the remnant strip by means of exit rollers to a discard position. The roller assemblies are pneumatically controlled as to tension and driven electrically as the total operation is under control of a pre-programmed controller.

Abstract: In a film loading device, a plurality of supply magazines of different sizes are arranged horizontally one above the other. The removal sides of the supply magazines are staggered such that the largest supply magazine is arranged at the top of the device and each following, smaller supply magazine is staggered backwardly below. An endless conveyor belt with projections is arranged opposite to the removal sides of the supply magazines, said belt being in an inclined position corresponding to the inclination of the staggered arrangement of the magazines. The conveyor belt extends from the upper most supply magazine down to a cassette unloading and reloading station disposed below the supply magazines. At the side of the conveyor belt which faces away from the supply magazines, a drive and control device of the film-loading device is positioned.

Abstract: A machine for sorting graphic and/or printing products in which the products are fed one after the other, comprising a framework, a conveyor for receiving individual products one after the other sensors for identifying each of the individual products on the receiving conveyor a central computer, a control console for the entry of predetermined data, selectively actuated elements for unloading the products from the receiving conveyor and at least one conveyor for discharging the unloaded products, wherein the receiving conveyor consists of a sliding surface and is disposed on the framework inclined at an angle of between 10.degree. and 90.degree.

Abstract: The apparatus for collecting, counting and stacking material in sheets has two cascade conveyors, a loading device arranged upstream of the first conveyor, a counting station arranged downstream of the second conveyor, and a station for stacking a material in sheets or in modular pieces which have already been counted in the counting station.

Abstract: In a light-tight photoplotter, a system handles sheets of photosensitive media from an initial supply location through the photoplotter and advances them to final a location. The system includes a loading device interposed between the supply location and a workpiece support surface on which surface a work operation is conducted on the involved media sheet. It further includes an off-loading device positioned at the opposite end of the workpiece support surface and the collecting location. The loading device includes a locating mechanism which allows the involved media to be precisely oriented on the workpiece support surface in registry with two orthogonally oriented coordinated axis. The system further permits loading and unloading of covered cassettes in daylight without exposing the media supply to light which might otherwise be cast onto it. The system further provides for the safety locking of stacked media within the photoplotter to prevent inadvertent removal.

Abstract: A vacuum platen serially picks up a sheet of film from a stack of unexposed sheets of film, transports the sheet of film to a large format camera for exposure, retains the sheet of film planar during exposure, transports the sheet of film to a stack of exposed sheets of film and drops the sheet of film upon the stack of exposed sheets of film.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for selectively taking out a sheet film from among sheet films accommodated in a plurality of magazines and loading the sheet film into a cassette. The sheet taken out from the magazine is adapted to be held in a holding device in a curved state. In a holding section, the sheet film is received from a lower end thereof and is taken out from an upper end thereof so as to be loaded into the cassette. Hence, even if there are a multiplicity of magazines, the film can be fetched speedily and loaded into the cassette, and the apparatus can be made compact. The magazine is drawn out from the apparatus body in a cantilevered manner so as to load the films, thereby facilitating the loading operation.

Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus comprises a support in which sheets are stacked, an entrance section for guiding the sheet to the support, a blowing mechanism for directing an air stream to a sheet stack on the support to separate a lowermost sheet from remaining sheets, and a feeding mechanism for attracting the sheet to feed it. Further, stopper plates are provided to be pivoted above the support so that it cooperates with the support to pinch and brake the sheet therebetween in a continuous reversing mode wherein the incoming sheet is immediately fed and that it abuts against the incoming sheet by a portion thereof opposing a leading end of the sheet in a stack reversing mode wherein while the sheets are being stacked the lowermost sheet is separated and fed.

Abstract: An envelope feeder which can be used on virtually all existing printing machines without the need to synchronize the latter comprises a low-pressure chamber (3), a perforated conveyor belt (4) and an adjustable barrier (6). An overlap with a very small overlap length (5) is thereby achieved. The envelope feeder can therefore be used not only for small envelopes (1), but also for those with very narrow flaps (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for the fault-free receiving and issue of sheets has guide rollers which are arranged on a carriage and which engage into belts to alter the geometry of the belts when the carriage is displaced on a rail over a stack by means of a drive. In the receiving or issue operation the sheet to be stacked or a top sheet to be issued rolls, without sliding, around one of the outer guide rollers, on the stack. Disposed between the outer guide rollers on a roller shaft are rotatable suction rollers whose suction cap sucks up the top sheet by means of reduced pressure at the beginnning of an issue cycle. A control arrangement is adapted to trigger off apparatus receiving and issue cycles and establishes predetermined positions of the carriage on the rail.

Abstract: A cash dispenser unit includes note transport means (74, 78, 86) driven by an electric motor and including first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls which are arranged to grip therebetween a note (18'), partly withdrawn from a currency cassette (14) by associated pick arms (36), for the purpose of removing the note (18') from the cassette (14). The first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls are respectively mounted on first (76) and second (80) shafts, the first shaft (76) being mounted so that one end thereof is movable away from the second shaft (80). For the purpose of protecting the transport means (74, 78, 86) from damage in the event of the occurrence of a gulp feed of notes, said one end of the first shaft (76) is operatively associated with a microswitch, whereby movement of said one end away from the second shaft (80) by more than a predetermined amount operates the microswitch so as to deenergize the motor.

Abstract: Pressurized air and vacuum levels are controlled to facilitate sheet separation and feeding reliability based on the weight of a document sheet stack on the document sheet stack support. The weight of the stack is determined by counting the total number of individual document sheets in such document sheet stack, determining the height of the original topmost document sheet of such stack at a particular point in time, counting the number of individual document sheets fed from such stack from such particular point in time, computing the weight of each individual document sheet based on the counted number of document sheets from such particular point in time, and calculating the total weight of such stack based on the weight of each individual document sheet and the total number of document sheets in the such stack.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for selectively taking out a sheet film from among sheet films accommodated in a plurality of magazines and loading the sheet film into a cassette. The sheet taken out from the magazine is adapted to be held in a holding device in a curved state. In a holding section, the sheet film is received from a lower end thereof and is taken out from an upper end thereof so as to be located into the cassette. Hence, even if there are a multiplicity of magazines, the film can be fetched speedily and loaded into the cassette, and the apparatus can be made compact. The magazine is drawn out from the apparatus body in a cantilevered manner so as to load the films, thereby facilitating the loading operation.

Abstract: An improved recirculating document feeder wherein the initial topmost document sheet of the document sheet stack is separated from document sheets in such stack returned to such stack as document sheets are fed along the feed path. Such separation is provided by an elongated member supported between its ends for pivotal motion about two mutually perpendicular axes. The elongated member is pivotable about a first of such axes such that a first end portion thereof engages the initial topmost document sheet to follow the level of such sheet and pivotable about the second of such axes for movement to a remote location for subsequent repositioning of said first end portion on the initial topmost document sheet of such stack after such sheet is fed. A plurality of sensors located at predetermined levels relative to the document supporting tray detect the elongated member at such predetermined levels.

Abstract: An improved recirculating document feeder for presenting sheets from a document sheet stack seriatim to a station of a reproduction apparatus for reproducing information contained on such document sheets. The improved recirculating document feeder comprises a support for a document sheet stack, with a selected side of each document sheet facing up and with the selected side of the topmost document sheet in said stack for ready viewing by an operator.

Abstract: A recirculating document feeder for use with an electrostatographic apparatus for producing precollated or post-collated simplex or duplex copies from simplex or duplex original documents with a transport arrangement which simplifies operational control over the feeder and reduces the potential of damage to the original document sheets. The document feeder comprises a hopper for holding a stack of original document sheets. A transport mechanism is provided for respectively transporting an original document sheet along a path in which such sheet is removed in one direction from the stack hopper and delivered in such direction to an exposure station; or a path in which such sheet is removed in a direction opposite to the one direction from the stack hopper, turned over, and delivered to the exposure station. The transport mechanism is selectively controlled to carry out delivery of document sheets depending upon whether the original documents in the stack hopper are simplex or duplex.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the uppermost article from a stack of alternating first and second articles. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of suction devices, the pins and suction devices being supported from the lower side of a support structure. The support structure, with the suction devices and pins, comprise a head or end effector for sequentially removing the alternating articles from the stack. Means are provided for moving the head from the stack to two respective locations for receiving the first and second articles in respective piles of the articles. The stack of alternating articles, and the respective piles of the articles after they are removed from the stack, are preferably held in an inclined cassette that aligns the articles and maintains the articles in alignment.

Abstract: Signature loader comprising a telescopically related main floor-mounted frame and a smaller auxiliary frame, first and second horizontal rotatable shafts between the frames spaced apart by a predetermined distance and so positioned that infeed belts thereon converge to define between them a signature infeed throat, one of said shafts being a pivot about which the auxiliary frame may be pivoted so the throat may be selectively positioned in one of two alternate attitudes.

Abstract: A device for feeding envelopes or similar work pieces to a printing press or the like utilizes a vacuum chamber mounted on a reciprocably driven roller for removing the lowermost envelope out of a stack of envelopes in a hopper and advancing it to a carrier for conveyance to the printing press. The vacuum is fed to the vacuum drum through an elongated passageway along the axis of the roller and a valve at the input of the vacuum at one end of the roller reciprocates with the roller to open and close the vacuum passageway. Also, a pusher lug is provided to assist in removing heavier stock from the hopper.

Abstract: A computer coordinated microfilm jacket feed and printer machine has a microfilm jacket aligning and feed structure and a microfilm jacket-stacking and aligning platform and elevator thereof. The jacket-feed mechanism positions a forwardly-stacked microfilm jacket in a predetermined pick-up position at which vacuum-oriented pick-up ports of a pivoted pick-up structure suction-attaches a forwardly-advanced feed microfilm jacket, and by the pick-up structure pivoting and injecting the jacket into a printer's platen's input-bite (input-bite position) and guides therefor. The computer activates the platen roller which thus pulls through the microfilm jacket to a print position after turning-off the suction cup's vacuum; the entire machine and computer combination turns-off if the transport mechanism fails to pick-up and transport the printed jacket.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a supply station wherein signatures fresh from the printing press are stacked. The stack is supported such that the signatures are in an arched, non-planar configuration. A sheet stripper extracts signatures successively from the stack and feeds them in a constant stream to a transfer conveyor. The stripper grips the sheets with a suction device which applies a constant but locally intermittent vacuum. The transfer conveyor carries the signatures to a delivery station. The delivery station includes fingers which arch the signatures. Arching the signatures in the supply and delivery stations prevents rolling of the signatures.

Abstract: A device for a pick-up unit for an infeed station of a processing machine which includes a carriage mounted in a main frame for shifting both laterally and vertically. The carriage is provided with a bar carrying several suction cups and is shifted laterally by a rack gear on the carriage being engaged by a pinion from a drive motor which rotates in response to the sensed lateral position of the sheet being lifted. The device is preferably used for centering sheets being picked up from a stack or pile of sheets within a feed station of a machine designed for converting or processing these sheets.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printer having a photosensitive drum disposed in a body for transferring an electrostatically adhered toner to the lower surface of a sheet, a fixing unit disposed at the downstream side of the photosensitive drum for fixing the toner transferred to the sheet, and a suction conveying mechanism disposed between the photosensitive drum and the fixing unit for conveying the sheet transferred with the toner by the photosensitive drum by sucking the sheet transferred with the toner from above comprising a retaining roller rotatably pressed in contact with the lower surface of the conveyor belt of the suction conveying mechanism. Thus, the printer can positively and stably convey a sheet of all types including an envelope toward the fixing unit when the sheet transferred with a toner image to its lower surface is conveyed while the sheet is sucked from the upper surface.

Abstract: Suction head includes a vertically adjustable lifting suction device having a respective guiding element, and an axially displaceable, telescopically guided suction chamber arranged on the guiding element, the suction chamber having at least two suction nozzles disposed adjacent one another transversely to a direction in which sheets are conveyed, the suction nozzles being united into a double suction chamber so as to form a narrowly defined vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A loader and unloader mechanism is attached to a standard photoplotter equipment. The mechanism performs a sequence of operations for loading and unloading sheets of film onto and from respectively such equipment completely automatically.

Abstract: A device for supplying/discharging PS plates in an inclined-type step and repeat machine having a rearwardly inclined exposing table which includes a supplying holder disposed on a side of the exposing table for supplying the PS plate thereto, the holder having a surface thereof rearwardly inclined at the same angle with respect to the horizontal as that of a surface of the exposing table, a pair of endless chains respectivley disposed along both side edges of the holder and adapted to move up and down longitudinally of the holder in synchronism with each other, metal support supported by the chains at both ends thereof, support bars also supported by the chains at respective both ends thereof via metal pieces the chains being driven to move up while carrying the PS plate which is being held by the metal support and support bars, and a guide provided on the top of the supplying holder and bent backwardly for guiding upward the plate being discharged.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for loading an unexposed film on a rotary drum in a exposure/recording apparatus, such as raster plotter or a color scanner, and unloading the exposed film out of the drum, the replacement of films being automatically carried out by the use of a supply pallet and a discharge pallet, suckers, and maneuverable linkages so as to enable the film to travel from the supply pallet to the drum, and, after exposure, to the discharge pallet.

Abstract: A sheet film feeder according to the present invention is incorporated in an X-ray photographing apparatus and feeds a sheet film from an unphotographed film housing magazine to a sheet film holder at a waiting position. A suction mechanism for sucking an unphotographed film is provided to the sheet film feeder. In addition, the feeder has a transportation apparatus for transporting the suction mechanism from the unphotographed film housing magazine to the sheet film holder, and a rotation apparatus for rotating the suction mechanism through approximately 90.degree. when the suction mechanism is transported from the unphotographed film housing magazine to the sheet film holder. Therefore, the suction mechanism is rotated approximately 90.degree. and transported from the magazine to the holder. For this reason, the unphotographed film is rotated from the vertical to horizontal state and fed to the holder without damage.

Abstract: Stacks of fabric plies are sequentially positioned by a carousel feeding apparatus in an unloading position where the uppermost ply in a stack, so positioned, is individually and sequentially separated from the stack, and an edge thereof presented between the jaws of a gripping device. Once the gripping device is satisfied that one and only one fabric ply is in place between the jaws, the single ply is transferred over onto the receiving end of a conveyor for further processing. The fabric separation occurs by means of an aerodynamic technique which tends to lift by suction the uppermost ply from the remainder of the stack. A proximity switch determines the spacing between the gripper jaws which spacing confirms the existence of one and only one fabric ply therein.

Abstract: A device for loading X-ray film cassettes comprises a housing having a compartment receiving a cassette, a plurality of boxes accommodating film dispensing magazines positioned one above another in the housing, a suction device and transport roller pairs for transporting a film sheet sucked by the suction device towards the cassette. The suction device which includes at least one sucker is displaceable between a dispensing magazine, which contains a film pack corresponding in size to that of the cassette, and the transport roller pairs so as to provide a transport path for the film sheets with very few direction changes.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reading a radiation image comprises an image recording section provided with a first stacker for stacking stimulable phosphor sheets carrying no radiation image stored therein and a second stacker for stacking stimulable phosphor sheets carrying a radiation image stored therein, an image read-out section provided with a third stacker for stacking the stimulable phosphor sheets conveyed from the second stacker and a sheet feeder for feeding the stimulable phosphor sheets carrying no radiation image stored therein to the first stacker, a light-tight connector for rotatably connecting the image recording section with the image read-out section, and a drive unit for rotating the image recording section. The stimulable phosphor sheets are transferred via the light-tight connector between the sheet feeded and the first stacker, and between the second stacker and the third stacker.

Abstract: In a suction roller for a paper processing machine of the type having at st one supply passage leading to a control head disposed at an end face, the improvement which includes the suction opening being a suction slit. The suction roller may have an insert disposed in a recess at the periphery of the roller, the insert having a side surface cooperating with the recess to define a suction slit.

Abstract: A sheet is disposed around the outer peripheral surface of a drum. The drum is provided with sheet suction holes for attracting the sheet against the drum surface. The sheet suction holes extend through the drum from the interior to the exterior thereof, and are disposed in a plurality of circumferentially spaced rows. Each of the rows includes a plurality of sheet suction holes and is connected to suction means, which is operable to withdraw air outside the drum into the interior thereof through the row of suction holes. At least the leading edge of the sheet is retained by a sheet seizing claw which is movable toward or away from the drum surface. The claw is urged into abutment against the drum surface under the influence of a centrifugal force as the drum rotates.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a suction-lifting conveyor for the transfer of sheet-shaped objects, in particular of sheets of plywood veneer (4), one by one from a stack to further processing or to another stack. The device comprises a box-shaped suction-channel equipment (1) extending substantially over the entire length and width of the conveyor, blower means (2) for maintaining a negative pressure in the suction-channel system, endless belts (3) performing the transfer of the sheets and running substantially horizontally above the stacks of sheets, the said belts being arranged so that during their transfer movement they run against the outside of the bottom face of the suction-channel system, being subject to the effect of the negative pressure in the suction-channel system, and that during their return movement they run in the suction-channel system.

Abstract: In a high speed mail sorting machine, a mechanism for feeding envelopes one at a time to a pickoff device such as a vacuum belt system. The envelopes are loaded onto a floor panel which inclines from side to side. A chain conveyor moves the envelope supply along the floor panel with each envelope having its lower edge traveling on the floor and one side edge travelling along an inclined side panel. The envelopes are successively discharged from the inclined floor onto a conveyor belt which is driven transversely to the floor and at a greater speed than the chain conveyor. The speed difference causes the envelopes to spread out as they travel downstream. The conveyor belt loads the envelopes onto a driven roller having a spiral groove which feeds the individual envelopes flatly against the vacuum belts of the envelope pickoff device.

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: Sheets are fed from the top of a stack (12) by a continuously rotating vacuum wheel (40). After the leading edge of a just-fed sheet is detected, a control circuit (110) de-energizes valve means (92) whereby the wheel (40) is effectively disconnected from a source of vacuum (90). Indicia borne on the just-fed sheet is read using a probe (23). If the indicia indicates that the just-fed sheet is related for grouping purposes to previously-fed sheets, the control circuit (110) energizes valve means (92) whereby vacuum is applied to the wheel (40) for the feeding of a further sheet. If the indicia indicates that the just-fed, just-read sheet is not related to previously-fed sheets, the control circuit (110) does not energize the valve means (92) for the feeding of a further sheet until the control circuit (110) receives an indication that all previously-fed sheets have been grouped and discharged onto an insert track (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for the exposure of photosensitive plates on two sides, in particular for the preparation of printed circuits for electronic devices, comprises two similar exposure devices, mechanically connected and arranged adjacent to each other, each being equipped under a copying frame with an illuminating system, wherein a glass plate filling the format is arranged in the copying frame onto which a negative or positive master may be placed, together with a photosensitive plate above it, with a reversing station being associated with each of the exposure devices and both between each exposure device and the reversing station associated with it, and between the reversing stations a pivoting arm rotatable by 180 degrees each being arranged. The light source of each exposure device is arranged in or under the associated reversing station, wherein the beam of light may be conducted to the plate to be exposed of each exposure station.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for exposing works, such as printed circuit boards, to light uses a pallet in which a number of works and at least one associated mask are stored. The works are located in stacked relation to one another. The mask is located above the works. The printing apparatus comprises an exposure device including light sources and transparent plates, an admitting device for holding the pallet in an access position and for holding the uppermost one of the mask and works in the pallet at a certain height, a conveying device including a rail extending from the access position to a takeout position past an exposure position at which an exposure operation is performed, and an attraction device including attraction plates having a number of attraction pads mounted to the underside thereof for attracting and holding the mask and works. Each attraction plate is vertically movable while keeping a horizontal posture.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for destacking individual flats from a horizontally extending stack thereof for processing as well as a device for restacking of the processed flats. Biasing devices are disclosed for maintaining the integrity of the horizontally extending stacks of flats prior to processing such as washing and subsequent to such processing. A vacuum pick-up device is movable from the supply stack to a conveyor traveling through the processing station. A flat removal device which is cam operated is cyclically movable from a removal position to a restacking position and vice versa. Resilient retaining members such as spring biased doors and flexible plastic and steel members are included for retaining the uppermost flats of the horizontally extending supply stack and the lowermost flats of the horizontally extending restacked flats.

Abstract: An automatic document handling system 20 for recirculative precollation copying in reverse serial order of a set of simplex document sheets on a simplex and duplex copier 10 to provide precollated simplex or duplex (two-sided) copies with proper orientation of the document images on the outputted copy sheets 128 for copies made on preprinted, prepunched, or other special orientation restricted copy sheets, as well as for copies made on plain paper or other non-orientation sensitive copy sheets. The copier 10 has a special copy sheet supply 107 for said special orientation restricted copy sheets and a main copy sheet supply 106 restricted to conventional nonorientation sensitive copy sheets. Switching systems, e.g. 200, provide for selecting between the feeding of copy sheets from the main supply 106 or the special copy sheet supply 107 and for selecting between simplex or duplex copying, and connect with overall control system 100.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for securely holding stacked bank notes in a bank note stacker box. The device is to be assembled in an automatic money depositing and disbursing machine, and comprises a combination of a stopper and a push cover having an operation plate fitted with a frictional member.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening up folded sheets has a rotary withdrawing conveyor which extracts successive folded sheets from a stack and places successive withdrawn sheets into a path between two rotary spreading elements in such a way that the front edges of the sheet in the path are adjacent to the respective spreading elements and the back of the sheet is located at a level above the front edges. The spreading elements are driven in opposite directions and carry jaws which engage the respective front edges of a sheet therebetween in first angular positions of the spreading elements, whereupon the jaws move the sheet downwardly to move its front edges apart and to separate it from the withdrawing conveyor, and ultimately release the sheet in second angular positions of the spreading elements so that the sheet can descend onto a removing conveyor.