Abstract: A recording/reading apparatus includes a recording/reading device for recording or reading information on sheets, a suction cup for picking up an object by suction, with the suction cup having an air outlet hole, a container having an inner space that is closed except for an opening for connection with the air outlet hole. The container has a flexible portion, and the volume of the inner space is variable through deformation of the flexible portion. Also provided is a driving device for deformation-driving of the container and a hollow member for connecting the opening for connection with the air outlet hole of the suction cup.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying correction strips with encodable indicia to bank checks and similar documents and for removing previously applied correction strips from checks and reapplying a new correction strip to such a check. The apparatus includes feed mechanism for feeding checks without previously applied correction strips and with previously applied correction strips along parallel feed paths which merge to a common feed path provided by plural endless flexible belts. A rotatable drum is interposed in the common feedpath and is disposed in proximity to a heater element engageable with a heat activatable adhesive band portion of the correction strip for applying the adhesive band to the front lower face of bank checks and similar documents. A rotary cutter is disposed in one of the parallel feed paths for cutting a previously applied correction strip from the lower edge of a check.

Abstract: A food material transfer apparatus of the invention transfers flexible stacked food materials one by one to a predetermined position. The transfer apparatus is formed of a plurality of vacuum sucking pads for picking up one food material from the stacked food materials, a pad-lowering device connected to the vacuum sucking pads for lowering the same, a suction detection device communicating with the vacuum holding pads for detecting if at least one of the pads sucks the one food material, and a control section connected to the pad-lowering device and the suction detection device. When the suction detection device detects that the pads suck the one food material, the control section operates the pad-lowering device to further lower the pads for a predetermined amount to thereby securely hold the one food material by the plurality of the vacuum sucking pads.

Abstract: A printer in which a paper feeder (a cut sheet feeder or continuous sheet tractor feeder) is mounted as an option, and wherein the driving power of a paper conveying motor is transmitted to a gear 110 via a clutch mechanism C2. The gear 110 meshes with the driving gear of the mounted paper feeder. A paper conveyance path is switchable between a plurality of levels by means of a switching lever 90. The paper supply is enabled from the paper feeder at one switching position thereamong. The clutch mechanism C2 is interlinked with the switching lever 90 such that at one switching position, the driving power of the motor is transmitted to the paper feeder.

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 plate material separating apparatus comprises: a horizontal beam (9) movable up and down; a plurality of vacuum hanger members (11) fixedly arranged at regular intervals on both sides of the horizontal beam so as to extend horizontally; a plurality of support vacuum pad devices (13B, 13C) attached to each of the vacuum hanger members at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to an end surface of a plate material (W); a plurality of pivotal take-up vacuum pad devices (13A) each attached to an end of each of the vacuum hanger members so as to be located near the end surface of the plate material; and a plurality of driving devices (37) each associated with each of the pivotal take-up vacuum pad devices, for pivoting the pivotal take-up vacuum pad device to bend the plate material only at and along the end surface thereof so that air can be introduced between an uppermost plate material and a second plate material, thus allowing the plate material to be separated easily from the stacked materials.

Abstract: A copying machine that is capable of copying a large-size document original on a transfer sheet is provided in which the transfer sheet is prevented from being skewed from the desired transport path. In one embodiment, this bypass transportation path for a cut-sheet extends to a photoreceptor drum and is provided with a resist roller and a downstream transportation roller. A cut-sheet inserted from a manual sheet feeding section is stopped with its leading edge abutting against the resist roller, so that the leading edge of the cut-sheet is aligned with a line perpendicular to a transportation direction of the sheet. The cut-sheet is then transported by the resist roller and the transportation roller. At this time, the circumferential speed of the resist roller is slower by a predetermined degree than the circumferential speed of the transportation roller.

Abstract: A plate material separating apparatus comprises: a horizontal beam (9) movable up and down; a plurality of vacuum hanger members (11) fixedly arranged at regular intervals on both sides of the horizontal beam so as to extend horizontally; a plurality of support vacuum pad devices (13B, 13C) attached to each of the vacuum hanger members at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to an end surface of a plate material (W); a plurality of pivotal take-up vacuum pad devices (13A) each attached to an end of each of the vacuum hanger members so as to be located near the end surface of the plate material; and a plurality of driving devices (37) each associated with each of the pivotal take-up vacuum pad devices, for pivoting the pivotal take-up vacuum pad device to bend the plate material only at and along the end surface thereof so that air can be introduced between an uppermost plate material and a second plate material, thus allowing the plate material to be separated easily from the stacked materials.

Abstract: Device for skewed sheet correction in a feeder of a sheet-fed printing press having at least one sucker which is adjustable in height and is disposed on a driven movable sucker carrier for horizontally transporting and simultaneously aligning a sheet lifted from a sheet pile, a rocker arm mounted in a frame of the printing press, the sucker carrier being articulatingly connected to the rocker arm so as to be movable in a feeding direction of the sheet and swingably driven, and a cam guide which is adjustable in height, the sucker carrier being braced against the cam guide, includes another rocker arm adjustably supported in the press frame, the sucker carrier being spaced apart from the first-mentioned rocker arm in a direction transverse to the sheet feeding direction and being articulatingly connected to the other rocker arm.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a pair of suction cups for attracting an uppermost one of stacked sheets, the suction cups being spaced from each other in a direction across the direction in which the sheet attracted by the suction cups is fed, a swinging mechanism for swinging the suction cups toward each other while the suction cups are attracting the sheet, and a flexing mechanism for forcibly flexing a portion of the sheet between the suction cups toward a next one of the stacked sheets when the suction cups are swung toward each other by the swinging mechanism.

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: The label applicator for applying a label to an article. The label includes a first side having printed matter visible thereon and including a second side having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon. The label applicator includes plasma coated tray the defines a label support structure for supporting the label with the second side of the label resting on the label support structure. A label transfer pad structure is provided with an array of openings thereon that have a vacuum source communicating therewith for gripping the first side of the label, picking up the label from the plasma coated tray, and for pressing the label onto the article. The plasma coated tray gives a non stick surface that will not readily retain the adhesive side of the label. The label transfer pad has a suction cup portion for insuring complete separation of the label and any release liner.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism utilizing a continuous form sheet, with a plurality of equally spaced sprocket holes formed on both side edges thereof in the direction along a straight sheet feed path, is fed between a photoconductive member and transfer member. Each side of the sheet feed mechanism includes an endless tractor belt looped between two feed rollers disposed upstream and downstream of the transfer member, respectively. In one aspect, engaging pins are provided on the circumferential surface of the feed rollers and engaging holes on the tractor belt spaced at the same interval as the holes of the continuous form sheet, to feed the sheet by engagement of the engaging pins and the sprocket holes through the engaging holes. In another aspect, the endless belt is provided with the engaging pins and a regulation member for moving the tractor belt such that a portion of its upper part is separated from the photoconductive member.

Abstract: An automatic sheet printing and alignment system includes a holding table; a transport system for moving the table through a plurality of stations; a first station for positioning a sheet on the table; a second station for printing features on the sheet positioned on the table; a third station for receiving the printed sheet from its position on the table to compile a stack of sheets with their printed features in predetermined alignment; and a control system for sequentially moving the table through the stations for repeatedly printing and stacking each sheet aligned with prior printed and stacked sheets received, transported and printed by the same table.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a pair of suction cups for attracting an uppermost one of stacked sheets, the suction cups being spaced from each other in a direction across the direction in which the sheet attracted by the suction cups is fed, a swinging mechanism for swinging the suction cups toward each other while the suction cups are attracting the sheet, and a flexing mechanism for forcibly flexing a portion of the sheet between the suction cups toward a next one of the stacked sheets when the suction cups are swung toward each other by the swinging mechanism.

Abstract: A printing press feeder capable of sheet feeding from the rear, sheet feeding from the front, or stream feeding from the rear, using tracks above a stock support for the feeder, the sheet feeder head being movably mounted on these tracks, and a movable drive connection from a power source to the sheet feeder head for driving of the sheet pickup advancers in the different head positions. The sheet feeder has first and second alternate drive mechanisms, on opposite ends of the transverse drive shaft, the first drive mechanism having a variable speed drive for sheet feeding individual sheets and slowing feed of each sheet as the sheet approaches the print cylinder, and the second drive mechanism having a constant speed drive for stream feeding overlapping sheets to the print cylinder. The press has nonprint lift cylinders engaging the squeegee mount and actuable to lift the squeegee out of print position, but still within the stencil screen frame, to allow the stencil screen frame to cycle without printing.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a sheet from a stack of sheets including a frame, a suction plate for engaging a sheet from the stack, a lifter connected to the suction plate so as to move the suction plate in a vertical direction, a setting member pivotally connected to the suction plate, and a ramp member connected to the frame and positioned along a length of the setting member. The lifter serves to move the suction plate between a first sheet-engaging position and a second sheet-releasing position. The suction plate is pivotally connected to the lifter so as to align parallel to the surface of a sheet. The setting member extends upwardly from the suction plate The ramp member is in cooperative relationship with the setting member. The setting member causes the ramp member to be positioned in parallel relationship to the suction plate when the suction plate is in the first position. The ramp member is stationary during a movement of the suction plate between the first and second positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for separating a sheet one by one from stacked sheets, wherein a sucker is rotatably supported so that the sucker is moved up and down, back and forth. When the sucker is retracted in a state where the sheet is being sucked, the sucker is caused to be rotatively driven and to change the direction of suction surface, so that a front end portion of sucked sheet is lifted up, and one sheet can be separated reliably one by one.

Abstract: A device for feeding single sheets to a packaging, labelling or packeting machine, comprising a support structure provided with a table for positioning a stack of sheets to be fed, at least one pair of rotary drums arranged rigid with a drive shaft, and a plurality of operating elements associated with the pair of drums and comprising gripper elements positioned on the drums for gripping the sheets and sucker elements for withdrawing a single sheet from the bottom of said stack and transporting it towards the gripper elements. The drive shaft being divided into two parts which can be connected together in an intermediate region in a relative position rotated through any angle, a first linkage system comprising levers and cams being operationally associated with the operating elements of a first drum and a second similar linkage system being associated with the operating elements of a second drum, these being arranged on each of the two drive shaft parts.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a feeder wherein it includes at least one xed magazine (10) for storing stacked sheet elements (8), one press roller (11) cooperating with a device (4) for continuously feeding each flat support (2) to be provided with one sheet element (8), at least one member (22) for picking up and laying down the sheet elements one at a time by means of suction, and means (12 to 17) for supporting and actuating said picking up member (22), said means being disposed so as to provide said member with at least a partly hypocycloidal trajectory (30, 30') so that two points (31, 32) for turning back the hypocycloid coincide with firstly the point for picking up a sheet element (8) in said magazine (10), and secondly with the point for transferring said element (8) to said press roller (11).

Abstract: An sheet handling apparatus includes suckers for sucking up a sheet from a sheet storing unit and two sensors which are disposed on the suckers. One of the sensors detects whether the suckers come into contact with the topmost sheet of a sheet stack in the sheet storing unit, and the other sensor detects whether there is a sheet in the sheet storing unit. After the suckers were operated to suck up a sheet, these sensors detect whether the suckers catch the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing stacked paper sheets has a rotary withdrawing conveyor with an annulus of equidistant satellites having suction cups which attract successive lowermost sheets of a stack in a magazine adjacent a first portion of an endless path for the satellites. The satellites deliver the sheets into a second portion of the endless path where the leaders of the sheets are caused to project radially outwardly and to enter the spaces between the open jaws of grippers which are transported by an endless chain in such a way that a gripper which is about to receive a sheet is moved at the speed of the oncoming sheet-carrying satellite and in the same direction. The satellites have discs cooperating with an endless band serving to gradually release a sheet which is in the process of advancing with a gripper.

Abstract: A label transfer assembly providing for in-mold labeling of blow molded articles in blow molding machinery. A label carrier is utilized which includes means for individually receiving labels from a label storage magazine. Once loaded with labels, the label carrier is moved to a position adjacent a placement assembly. The labels are removed from the carrier by the placement assembly which includes arms that transfer the labels to positions in mold cavities in the machinery. During molding, the labels will become fused to the surfaces of the blow molded articles.

Abstract: An in-mold labeling apparatus includes a label transfer assembly having a pair of label carriage each with two label heads and two suction cups for engagement with labels from a magazine or a source of labels and placement of the labels in mold cavities of a blow molding machine. A continuously rotating drive member operates a first rotary drive to raise and lower the label transfer assembly between the label pick up and label discharge positions while dwelling the assembly at the two positions during label pick up and transfer. The drive member also operates a second rotary drive to extend and retract the dwelled label transfer heads at the two positions to pick up labels and then place the labels in mold cavities.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for folding boxes including suction heads disposed on a carrier and for holding the folding boxes by negative pressure. To enable adjusting the suction heads to a format of folding boxes to be manipulated, the suction heads have a plurality of cup-shaped suction devices, individual ones of which can be adjusted out of the working position into a position of repose and which can be blocked off from the negative pressure. To this end, the adjustable suction devices are mounted on necks displaceable in carriers, and the necks can be arrested in two positions.

Abstract: A method and device for continuously feeding blanks for the formation of hard cigarette packs, whereby the blanks are withdrawn successively from the bottom opening of a feedbox and fed on to the outer periphery of a conveyor roller by means of mobile suction heads guided cyclically by crank mechanisms along a route having a portion substantially perpendicular to the bottom opening of the feedbox, and a further portion substantially tangent to the periphery of the conveyor roller and which further route portion is followed by the suction heads at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of the conveyor roller itself.

Abstract: In order to increase considerably the output of a rotary feeder (6) for removing individual blanks (1) from a stack (2), the invention proposes that the speed of the rotary movement of rotary suckers (7) is slowed down while they are being pressed against the blank (5) that is to be removed. This retardation operation is brought about by a special gear unit that drives a rotor (12) to which the rotary suckers (7) are attached.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system for feeding single sheets from a magazine containing plural sheets arranged in a stack. A vacuum type sheet pick-up mechanism picks up and deforms one end of the top most sheet to facilitate that sheets separation from the stack. Static and movable separators then act on the top most sheet to complete its separation from the stack and elevate the leading edge to bring it into contact with a friction drive mechanism. The friction drive mechanism is then activated by an external device to cause the sheet to be driven from the magazine. A programmed logic control system sequentially controls the cycling of the mechanism.

Abstract: A double-blank detecting apparatus for use in a destacker and comprises a plurality of rows of fixtures. Each row of fixtures is parallel with the direction of conveyance of blanks and includes a plurality of fixtures. Each fixture is mounted on the frame of the destacker in such a manner that it can be moved up and down by means of a lift cylinder. The double-blank detecting apparatus further has an attractor mounted on the fixtures, and a plurality of rows of conveyor having attracting functions which extend in parallel relationship with one another and with the direction of conveyance of blanks and mounted between the rows of fixtures. Further, each fixture in at least any one of the rows has a contact type sensor mounted thereon so that it can be moved up and down freely relative to the blanks having been attracted by the attractor.

Abstract: A method whereby a pack of metal sheets adhering to one another is suspended on upper gripping elements of an upper vertically-mobile element beneath which is fed forward a lower transversely-mobile element having lower gripping elements. The upper and lower gripping elements are caused to interact in such a manner as to divide the pack into two parts by raising the upper element; and the lower element is backed up so as to feed on to a production line the part of the pack consisting of a single sheet, and/or to feed on to a reject bed the part of the pack consisting of a number of inseparable sheets.

Abstract: A measuring device (60) measures the value (t) of a chosen parameter (thickness) of what has been lifted by a lifting assembly (40) from a stack of sheets (1) of material and allows the lifted material to be moved from the stack when the value is in a predetermined relationship to a reference value (T). One (45a) of a plurality of selectively releasable members (45) on the lifting assembly (40) is moveable in two horizontal directions to locate a sheet attached to the one releaseable members (45a) against locating pins (5, 6) on the work table (3) of the punch press (4). The entire system may be operated automatically by a controller (90).

Abstract: A suction device for taking-up, transporting, and depositing work pieces, ch as flat blanks of limp sheet material or panels, is equipped with a plurality of suction tubes. Each suction tube is individually connectable to a source of reduced pressure, whereby a pattern of effective suction tubes may be conformed to any particular configuration of a blank. The tubes are arranged in a housing, for example, in rows and columns. At least a portion of the housing is formed as a reduced pressure chamber. Each tube is individually connectable to the reduced pressure chamber to make the respective tube effective. Disconnection makes the tube ineffective. The connection of disconnection simultaneously moves the respective tube into a work position or into a rest position.

Abstract: A total system and method for storage and delivery of heads of various sizes is disclosed. The system and method are particularly adapted for application of circular disc heads to the end of a paper roll during a roll wrapping operation. A plurality of vertically spaced storage racks are provided for handling different sized heads, and a head dispenser including a pickup mechanism for lifting an uppermost head from a storage rack and delivering it to a pickup platen is also provided. The storage racks are preferably inclined to allow gravity feed to indexing positions at the lower ends of each rack. The pickup platen operates independently of the pickup mechanism so that heads can be lifted from the storage rack while the platen is enroute to the pickup location.

Abstract: A method of separating and feeding sheets from a stack comprises the steps of bringing a pick-up head into engagement with an intermediate portion of the top sheet of the stack while leaving the opposite ends of the sheet free, applying an air stream from each of the opposite sides of the stack and directed inwardly to impinge against the stack and to cause the free ends of the top sheets of the stack to separate from the underlying sheets, and moving the pick-up head with the picked-up top sheet away from the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring sheet separation of a single sheet workpiece from a stack of workpiece sheets which consists of a lifting assembly having at least three spaced sets of sheet workpiece holding suction members with at least a poriton of one set being reciprocatable in a vertical movement to cause flexure of a sheet being raised by the lifting device to cause separation of an underlying sheet which may have adhered to the sheet being lifted.

Abstract: A radiographic system for obtaining a visible radiation image by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet including a spot shot apparatus having a transport system for transporting the stimulable sheets from the supply magazine to the receiving magazine through a park and exposure station at which radiation is directed to the sheets. A plurality of the sheets are stacked in a supply magazine with the side of each sheet opposite the side having the phosphor layer facing upward. The sheets are sequentially transported to the exposure station for radiographic imaging, and then to a receiving magazine by a transport system. The receiving magazine includes a light-tight receiving magazine including one side having an access opening for receiving the exposed stimulable phosphor sheets. A removable shutter is insertable in the receiving magazine to block the access opening, and maintains the light-tight environment when the magazine is inserted in and removed from the housing structure defining a spot shot apparatus.

Abstract: A radiographic system for obtaining a visible radiation image by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet, including a spot shot apparatus featuring a transport system for transporting the stimulable sheets from the supply magazine to the receiving magazine through a park and exposure station at which radiation is directed to the sheet. A plurality of the stimulable phosphor sheets are stacked in a supply magazine and are taken-up one by one from the stack in the supply magazine.

Abstract: A radiographic system for obtaining a visible radiation image by use of a stimulable phosphor sheet including a spot shot apparatus having a transport system for transporting the stimulable sheets from a supply magazine to a receiving magazine through a park and exposure station at which radiation is directed to the sheets. A plurality of the sheets are stacked in a supply magazine with the side of the sheets opposite the side having the phosphor layer facing upward. The sheets are sequentially transported to the exposure station for a radiographic imaging, and then to a receiving magazine by a transport system.

Abstract: An articulated vacuum arrangement. A plurality of vacuum fingers are pivotably coupled to a base member, each vacuum finger comprising an arm extending from the point of pivot to an orifice to the atmosphere, each arm defining an air passage channel. The base member includes, for each vacuum pad, an orifice. An airtight structure connects between each base member orifice and its associated vacuum pad arm. A structure is included for creating at selected ones of the vacuum fingers a reduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a peripheral auxiliary system for the automatic feeding and unloading of a stamping/nibbling machine. In machines of this kind, the blanks have previously beed fed in by automatic devices. Other transport or depositing devices have been provided for the stamped parts and the stamped-out blanks. For these purposes, an industrial robot with a gripping mechanism is be used. According to the invention, the gripping mechanism of the robot is also designed to remove the stamped parts, and a stacking means is provided, whose delivery surface can be swiveled and displaced uniformly in one operation.

Abstract: Folding boxes (10) are held in readiness for filling in the flat folded state in magazines in conjunction with packagaing machines. An erection of the folding boxes is necessary for this purpose. For this purpose there is provided a gripping arm (33) movable pivotably and in translation and having suction cups (34), which removes the respective front folding box (10) from the magazine (19), transports it to a stationary holder, also having suction cups (38), (37) and then erects the folding box conjointly with the stationary holder.

Abstract: In a rotary applicator, suction rollers planetating about a central shaft are provided with suckers which are arranged in a row, project beyond the enveloping cylinders of the rollers and are placed on sucker carriers having suction air bores. The carriers communicate with suction air conduits and are rotatably but axially undisplaceably placed by means of sleeve-like tube members on the suction air conduits, the latter consisting of supporting tubes. The walls of the tubes and tube members are provided with bores which are in registry in the operative position of the suckers and of which the bores of the tube members communicate with the suction air bore of the sucker carrier. The suckers are rotatable to a position in which they are swung back within the enveloping cylinder and the walls of the tube members cover the bores of the supporting tube.

Abstract: An item dispensing system is disclosed wherein in a preferred sheet dispensing embodiment, primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups are mounted to one end of a pick arm which is rotated between a stack of sheets and a dispensing path. Initially, a two-way valve is controlled to pass a vacuum from a vacuum source only to one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups. The selected set of suction cups then attempts to vacuum lift and pass a sheet to and along the dispensing path. The failure of a sensor to sense that sheet in the dispensing path within a preselected period of time indicates that the selected set of vacuum cups may have been unsuccessful in vacuum lifting that sheet from the stack due to a poor vacuum seal between the selected set of vacuum cups and that sheet. Such a failure causes a processor to generate a signal to cause the two way valve to apply the vacuum from the vacuum source only to the other one of the primary and secondary sets of vacuum cups.

Abstract: A separation mechanism part is provided wherein a negative pressure to suck a recording paper apart from a stack is obtainable by contacting an uppermost sheet of the recording paper using a suction head, air flow into the suction head being cut off by contact of the suction head with the first sheet of the recording paper. The recording paper is sucked and separated one sheet by one sheet by bringing up the suction head, as such, by the negative pressure. This paper feeding apparatus can feed recording paper surely separated sheet by sheet, and even though the amount of piling of the recording paper in the piled state changes, the separating force applied to act on the uppermost sheet of recording paper when suction is applied is kept small and uniform.

Abstract: The retard roll in a paper transport mechanism is rotated by the feed roll to transport manually supplied paper when a photodetector indicates that manually supplied paper is present, the retard roll is substantially stationary and serves its normal purpose of preventing more than one sheet at a time from being transported by the feed roll as it rotates in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A new and improved vacuum document feeder provides a vacuum cup support mechanism which follows a somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve that eliminates the vacuum cup wear-producing disadvantages of the prior art; improves separation of documents, and provides for increased feeding rates. A four-bar system moves a table over the somewhat crescent-shaped coupler curve, while at all times holding an edge of the table parallel to the documents. Two vacuum cups are individually pivotally mounted on the table, to sweep over an angle which accommodates leaning documents. Cams on a drive pulley associated with the transport system coordinates the table movement with both the pivoting and vacuumizing of the cups. The cups move in a manner to cause the document to buckle thereby improving separation between documents and eliminating double feeding.

Abstract: A single paper sheet product separator, feeder and transport mechanism is provided capable of high speed in line product feed rates from a stack of products of 60,000 per hour for on-line operations with high speed rotary presses, trimmers, binding machines, folders, etc. By initially bending only a bottom edge of the product stacked on edge, reliable high speed separation is feasible. A scalloped periphery rotary member provides indentations for precisely seating and spacing the individual documents and grasping them to pull them substantially horizontally from the stack, in shingled array if desired. The products are retained against the rotary member by a moving belt over an arc of substantially 180.degree. to be discharged substantially horizontally onto a conveyor belt for further transport.

Abstract: A large number of presensitized plates are stacked on a platform. The platform is controlled to lift the stack of presensitized plates so that the uppermost presensitized plate in the stack is always positioned at a predetermined level. Sucking members suck the uppermost plate and lift it away from the rest of the stack. The lifted plate is placed on a plurality of parallel endless belts and transferred to a printing section. The plate is positioned in two dimensions with respect to the printing section on the way thereto.

Abstract: A bag tube feeder has an intermittently operated conveyor supporting a row of aligned stacks of bag tubes with a plurality of movable suction cups positioned over an outfeed station in which a stack of bag tubes is positioned. A pair of pneumatic cylinders lowers the suction cups to engage the uppermost bag tube, then lift the bag tube and a pneumatic cylinder swings the bag tube into the nip of a roller and an outfeed conveyor belt which takes the bag tube to a discharge location. A photo-electric sensor senses lowering of the stack of bag tubes in the outfeed station to automatically actuate a pneumatic cylinder arrangement for lifting the discharge end of the conveyor to maintain the top of the stack in a desired position. A mechanical sensor senses the depletion of the stack in the outfeed station to initiate actuation of the stack infeed conveyor to move the next adjacent stack into the outfeed station automatically.

Abstract: In apparatus for feeding blanks for hinged lid packets, the blanks are supported in a stack by two pairs of pivotal claws which operate alternately so that at any given time only one pair of opposed claws supports the stack. A plunger device, having a central and two tiltable outer sections, engages the lowermost blank by suction and bends down opposite ends of the blank through a small angle, thus progressively withdrawing the blank from the stack.In a modification one pair of claws is replaced by fixed ledges, and a fixed finger is associated with each pivotal claw.