Abstract: A movable grill is mounted in a frame in such a way that the grill is capable of being moved a certain distance above a feed table towards an ejection point and a suction device is mounted above the section of the grill which moves towards the ejection point. An air-tight rear sealing skirt is suspended from the frame to enclose the space found between the afore-mentioned section of the grill and the top of a pile of sheets on the feed table; and a forward air-tight sealing skirt is suspended from the aforementioned section of the grill above the ejection point such that the vacuum created by the section means causes eddies of air around the edges of the pile of sheets in such a way that the top sheet of the pile of sheets is caused to vibrate and is drawn up to the section of the grill in order that the top sheet is moved with the grill towards the ejection point.

Abstract: Apparatus which takes stacks of pre-formed, stored printed signatures and forms them into a uniform shingle, running at extremely high velocity, for transport into a processing device such as a rotary trimmer or quarter folder. The apparatus, in certain major aspects, includes an input conveyor and a support table creating a vertical queue stack of signatures which is maintained at very low but essentially constant weight and height by photocell control of the speed of a conveyor which adds signatures to the top of the stack, a conveyor belt running beneath the bottom of the stack in a cut-out region of the stack-supporting table, with sequential vacuum clutching to the tail portions of successive signatures caused by spaced rows of holes extending across that belt and registerable with longitudinal slots in a vacuum shoe beneath the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing currency notes one by one from a stack of notes (82) includes a rotating suction drum (16) having openings (26) formed therein, and a fixed member (88) against which an end note (82') in the stack is urged. The fixed member (88) includes a curved portion (94) disposed adjacent to, and extending partially around the drum (16), the curved portion (94) being provided with a plurality of parallel slots (96) which are respectively disposed in cooperative relationship with the openings (26) in the drum (16). During rotation of the drum (16), vacuum is applied to the end note (82') so as to draw the lower part of this note into engagement with the curved portion (94), with the end of the note projecting slightly beyond the end of the curved portion (94). Feed rolls (38) are then moved into engagement with the end of the note, the rolls (38) and drum (16) thereafter drawing the end note away from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The air knife includes a pair of trapezoidal shaped fluffer jets that enable high speed feeding of 13# to 110# paper with one pneumatic setting while at the same time improving reliability and expanding stack height latitudes.

Abstract: A vertical vacuum corrugation feeder for separating and feeding sheets from either of two stacks includes a single feed mechanism positioned between the stacks having integral dual feed heads surrounded by at least one feed belt. The dual feed heads include vacuum plenums for pulling the sheets against the feed belt for forwarding away from the stacks.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The vacuum feedhead includes a vacuum plenum with a plurality of perforated feed belts entrained around it. The feed belts have a diamond shaped knurl pattern on their sheet engaging surfaces in order to obtain a higher pressure differential across the sheet material during sheet acquisition.

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: In a paper transport conveyor from a sheet feeder to a printing machine, the sheets are underlapped for speed reasons and for this purpose, the sheets are held and transported in a defined position using a conveyor table to which a vacuum is applied. In order to optimize the feed register in the printing machine in all states of operation, an additional conveyor device holds the sheets at the front gauges and aligns them. The vacuum at the conveyor table is quantitatively variable and the vacuum is so controlled according to operation as to be applied when sheets are required to be held on the conveyor table but interrupted when its action would obstruct the sheet alignment on the conveyor table.

Abstract: A flat article feeding apparatus has a stacker for accumulating a plurality of flat articles, in a standing state. A main suction chamber is arranged to confront a side of the flat articles which accumulate in the stacker. A perforated suction belt moves around the main suction chamber for picking up the flat article, one by one. A pair of confronting transfer belts transfer the flat articles within a pinch of the confronting belts, as they are delivered from the suction belt. An intake belt is positioned between the suction belt and the transfer belts. The intake belt flares outwardly to form an angle .theta., with respect to the flat artcle transfer direction. Fins are mounted on a roller which supports the intake belt in order to guide the oncoming flat articles carried by the belt. The speed V.sub.1 of the intake belt or fins is set at (V/cos .theta.) with respect to the transfer speed V.sub.2 of the flat article.

Abstract: A guide block (11) has a groove (16) with a flat floor cut into it, in which an endless belt (15) containing perforations (17) travels. A suction opening (18) opens into the floor of the groove (16), to which a vacuum is periodically applied by means of a valve (12). The endless belt (15) travels over a stack (1) of sheets (2) by means of guide rollers (4,5) and a drive roller (3). The vacuum, when periodically applied by the valve (12), operates through the perforations (17) so that the topmost sheet (2) of the stack (1) is sucked against the endless belt (15) and carried away in the same direction (28). One preferred form of the endless belt (15) is a toothed belt, with spaces between the teeth (21) that form vacuum chambers (22). With this compact and therefore easily positionable device, sheets (2) are sucked up from a stack (1) and transported away while maintaining their orientation, meaning that very high production rates are attained.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The air knife includes fluffer jets and vectored auxiliary fluffer jets in order to assist in separating and feeding downcurled sheets. To improve sheet acquisition, increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed, a vacuum plenum is preferably equipped with a negative pressure source that is on continuously during the feed cycle, with the only criteria for sheet feeding being that the motion of the vacuum feedhead is ceased prior to the trail edge of the acquired sheet exposing all of the vacuum ports.

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 top vacuum corrugation feeder employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The feedhead is valveless and has a vacuum applied thereto during the entire feed cycle in order to increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed. The top vacuum corrugation feeder includes fluffer jets and vectored auxiliary fluffer jets in order to assist the air knife in separating severely downcurled sheets for feeding.

Abstract: A bottom feeder for copy paper feeding has means for imparting a curvature to the sheets, the curvature being in the direction the sheets will be withdrawn. The curvature provides transverse rigidity to permit lifting weight of stack off the bottom sheet. This facilitates withdrawing the sheets one at a time from the bottom of the stack.A curved paper tray imparts a curvature to the paper. A pair of holding clamps are provided, one on either side of the stack of paper, which are partially withdrawn from the sides of the paper stack so that paper may be added to the stack. When sheets are to be fed, the clamps which comprise a pair of plates having a friction material on the paper facing side thereof are moved in to engage the sides of the stack of paper. An arrangement is provided to thereafter lower the paper tray slightly from the bottom of the stack, or lift the clamps and the curved paper stack. In either event, the pressure of the stack weight is now removed from the bottom sheet.

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: A system for measuring the coefficient of friction between the bottom two sheets of the stack. The vacuum corrugation feeder tray is rigidly mounted and supports a stack of sheets resting at one end of the tray against a movable backstop. An air knife provides air pressure between the bottom sheet from the rest of the stack. The stack of sheets is forced up the tray by the backstop and allowed to slide back down the tray when the backstop is moved. The coefficient of friction between the stack and the bottom sheet is determined by the acceleration of the stack as it moves back down the tray. The coefficient of friction is then used to control the amount of air pressure from the air knife until an optimum coefficient of friction is achieved.

Abstract: A top vacuum corrugation feeder is disclosed that employs a moveable air blocking vane capable of redirecting the flow of air from an air knife. The moveable vane when in a first position allows air to exit the air knife toward a stack of sheets uninterrupted. Alternatively, when the vane is moved to a second position, air flow from the air knife is interrupted to thereby allow an increased vacuum in a vacuum means adapted to lift the top sheet off the stack for feeding.

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: A top vacuum corrugation feeder is disclosed that employs a vacuum feedhead working in conjunction with an air knife to feed sheets from the top of a stack. The feedhead is valveless and has a vacuum applied thereto during the entire feed cycle in order to increase reliability and decrease minimum feed speed.

Abstract: A process camera with an automatic copy-feeder to set a copy at the specific position of a vacuum copy holder, an automatic copy feeder to load or remove the copy, an automatic exposure having mechanism to set exposing conditions, an automatic film processor. The copy feeder is automatically controlled to load and remove copies one by one relating to the condition of the copy holder at the removing position, at the loading position or at the exposing position. On the other hand, the film feeder and the exposure are automatically controlled to perforate, expose and convey a roll film. Further, the exposed film is cut and conveyed into the film processor. Each of these operations are respectively controlled to be synthetically consistent to each other.

Abstract: A paper handling system for a copier is disclosed. A paper sheet is wrapped around a drum of a copier by utilizing the exhaust air flow of a vacuum to lift the paper to the drum and to hold the paper sheet onto the drum. In addition, if a second paper sheet is lifted to the drum in a double pick situation, the second sheet is returned to a paper tray for subsequent copying thereon.

Abstract: A bottom sheet separator-feeder for separating and forwarding sheets seriatim from the bottom of a stack of sheets to be fed. It comprises a stack tray defining a surface for supporting a stack of sheets to be fed, the tray having a depressed control portion in at least the front part of the surface. Vacuum feed belts are disposed in the pocket to pull the bottom sheet in the stack into the pocket and feed the sheet from beneath the stack. An air injection knife disposed adjacent the front of the tray injects air between the bottom sheet in the stack and the tray and between the bottom sheet and the remainder of sheets in the stack. Ramps are provided at the front ends of the tray at each side of the pocket for raising the lead edges of the sheets in the stack above the support surface to control multifeeds and misfeeds of downcurled sheets.

Abstract: A system for feeding a flat article has a suction chamber; a suction belt for picking up one of a plurality of flat articles which are stacked in a vertically standing state. The suction belt moves along the front surface of the suction chamber. The flat articles are carried over a transport path by the suction belt. At an upstream position in the transport path, the intervals between the flat articles are detected. First and second motors drive the suction belt, varying the rotational motor speeds. A roller along the transport path contacts the transferred flat articles in accordance with the interval which is detected by the detecting member.

Abstract: An automatic document handler adapted to receive a stack of documents to be copied, feed the documents seriatim to the platen of a reproduction machine and return the documents to the stack. The combination of a vacuum-belt document corrugator/feed assembly and dual air knives is provided to assure positive feeding of each document to the platen without misfeeds or multifeeds.

Abstract: The labeling machine comprises a stationary label hopper, a rotatable turret provided with suction means located adjacent to the leading edge of the terminal label in the article and constructed to enter into the hopper to lift by vacuum the leading edge of the terminal label out of the hopper and then in coaction with a pressure roll to mechanically withdraw the remainder of the label from the hopper and insert such leading label edge into the entry end of a fixed label guideway. Located intermediate the ends of the guideway and clamping the label in the guideway therebetween are a feed roll and a pressure roll spaced from the turret a distance substantially less than the length of the label so that they clamp the label before it moves past the turret and its associated pressure roll. Positioned adjacent to the discharge end of said guideway is a rotatable glue roll onto which the label is directed as it is discharged from said guideway.

Abstract: Device for the conveying of sheets from each of a plurality of sheet piles via a partially common conveyor track. This track extends in vertical direction along superposed stock holders. Adjacent to the sheet delivery side a driven roller is stationarily arranged above each pile. Each of these rollers can function both as suction roller for separating sheets from a pile and as friction roller for conveying sheets in the common track. For separating sheets from a pile, each pile can be brought by pneumatic means into short contact with a driven roller then functioning as a suction roller. For conveying sheets in the common track, each roller cooperates with a pressure roller. After a sheet in the common track has been gripped between a driven roller and a pressure roller, the sucting action of that driven roller is interrupted.

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: A magazine (2) for stamps is provided with an escapement mechanism in the form of upper and lower gripping means (24, 26) which alternately support the stack of stamps, thereby allowing the stamps to be fed at a constant head to a withdrawal rotor (10). The upper and lower gripping may each be constituted by a rubber tube (38) which is inflatable against the side of the stack via a thin pivotal strip (36).

Abstract: The labeling machine comprises a stationary label hopper, a rotatable turret provided with suction means located adjacent to the leading edge of the terminal label in the article and constructed to enter into the hopper to lift by vacuum the leading edge of the terminal label out of the hopper and then in coaction with a pressure roll to mechanically withdraw the remainder of the label from the hopper and insert such leading label edge into the entry end of a fixed label guideway. Located intermediate the ends of the guideway and clamping the label in the guideway therebetween are a feed roll and a pressure roll spaced from the turret a distance substantially less than the length of the label so that they clamp the label before it moves past the turret and its associated pressure roll. Positioned adjacent to the discharge end of said guideway is a rotatable glue roll onto which the label is directed as it is discharged from said guideway.

Abstract: The transport, that carries the material to be scanned to and from scanning position, is held against its support by suction. After the transport has been moved into scanning position the suction is applied progressively starting at one end of the transport and continuing to the other end. A squeegee roller presses the transport against its support. This roller passes over the portion of the transport to which suction has just been applied, but prior to the time that suction is applied to the next section of the transport.

Abstract: The invention provides a way of positioning the material to be scanned with respect to a mirror that both rotates and translates in order to reflect a scanning beam on the material. A sector of a cylinder has the same axis as the rotating mirror. The material to be scanned is mounted on the top of a flexible plate. The flexible plate may rest flat on a table outside of the area scanned. The flexible plate may then be pushed into the cylinder with the bottom face of the flexible plate in contact with the inner side wall of the sector of the cylinder. When the flexible plate has reached the proper position in the cylinder, the bottom face of the plate of the flexible plate is held in position against the inner wall of the sector of the cylinder by suction, so that scanning may proceed.

Abstract: In a sheet feeder wherein sheets are fed from the bottom of a stack of the sheets in a stack support there is disclosed an automatic integral plural mode sheet stack sensor which, in a first mode, controls a variable pneumatic feeding means in response to sensing the height of the stack of sheets, and which, in a second mode, provides a signal indicative of the feeding from the stack support of all of the sheets in the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for serially removing the forwardmost plate from a stack of plates comprises rotating a cylindrical carrier having a chordal segment defined on its periphery with the stack of plates oriented so that the forwardmost plate is tangentially adjacent to the periphery of the carrier. A vacuum source draws air into an air inlet located on the chordal segment thereby creating a low pressure area. Accordingly as the chordal segment becomes parallel with the stack the low pressure causes the forwardmost plate to be drawn into contact with the chordal segment and thus block the air inlet. The plate continues to rotate with the carrier until it reaches a desired location where an air valve causes the vacuum to be temporarily discontinued thus allowing the plate to drop free of the carrier. An advance mechanism causes the stack to be advanced one plate thickness during each rotation of the carrier to position the next plate into contact with the carrier after each plate has been removed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets from the top or bottom of a stack of sheets which includes a sheet stack supporting tray, a vacuum plenum and feed belt sheet separating and feeding assembly with at least one feed belt having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belt, the vacuum plenum and the belt assembly being positioned adjacent a sheet to be fed such that a rear portion of the plenum and belt assembly lies opposite a portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and is adjacent and substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet to be fed and a front portion of the plenum and belt assembly which lies opposite the front portion of a stack of sheets to be fed and in a plane angled away from the plane of the sheet to be fed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for taking a stack of flat articles such as folded newspapers, and delivering them successively to a conveyor in an overlapped or shingled arrangement to move to a processing station for labeling or addressing or for opening them to receive inserts. A rectangular hopper or gate is located over a traveling belt means to hold a stack of such flat articles with its converging angle pointing downstream. Each bottom article is gripped by the belt means, which is vacuumized in the area under the stack, and is pulled under the gate and downstream.When a given article is only partially through the gate, the succeeding article is gripped primarily by its side portions and pulled under the gate in overlapping or shingled relation with the preceding one, each article being arranged with its side edges at a substantial angle to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet support tray, a rear vacuum plenum chamber adapted to acquire the rear portion of a sheet, a front vacuum plenum chamber positioned over the front of the sheet and adapted to acquire the front portion of a sheet, sheet transport means associated with the front vacuum plenum to transport a sheet acquired in a forward direction and an air knife positioned at the rear of the stack of sheets to inject air between the trailing edge of the top sheet in a stack and the remainder of the stack. In a specific embodiment the trail edge of a sheet in a stack is separated by the air knife, acquired by the rear vacuum plenum then acquired by the front vacuum plenum and transported in a forward direction. As the trailing edge clears the rear vacuum, the rear vacuum which together with the air knife is continuously activated, acquires the next sheet in the stack.

Abstract: A loader for feeding signatures into a generally vertically extending pocket in which the signatures are supported on a folded edge and from which signatures are fed by a feed mechanism, such as through a signature inserter, to a saddle of a saddle gathering machine, wherein a generally horizontally oriented hopper is located between a first feeding mechanism from a supply station and a second feeding mechanism to the pocket, a quickly detachable coupling arrangement is provided for forming the pocket with the loader, and the second feeding mechanism includes an adjustably mounted vacuum manifold and perforated stripper belts for moving signatures in a shingled stream into said pocket.

Abstract: A high speed mail sorting machine which includes an improved screw conveyor in the magazine section and an improved pick off device for separating the individual envelopes from one another. The screw conveyor includes four driven rollers having spiral grooves for receiving the lower edges of the envelopes to convey them along the rollers. A pair of raised rollers with spiral grooves maintain the envelopes in a vertical orientation as they are conveyed along the lower rollers. The pick off device includes a conveyor belt and a relatively strong vacuum box which draws the leading envelope against the belt. An opposing vacuum box of lesser intensity draws any stuck envelopes away from the leading envelope to assure separation. The opposing vacuum box has a beveled surface which effects a staggered shingle arrangement of any extra envelopes adhering to the leading envelope.

Abstract: A bottom sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet separator and feeder and a sheet stacking tray which has a planar base portion defining a base plane, the front of the base portion having an opening within which said bottom sheet separator is positioned, the tray further including two sloping planar side wings, one at each side of said opening in the base portion. The sloping planar side wings are angled upward from the base plane and are angled outward from front to rear of the tray and intersect the base plane such that the intersection at the rear of the tray is in the approximate location of the rear corners of a rectangle the size of a sheet to be fed and the intersection of the planar wings and the base plane at the front of the tray is approximately midway between the front corners of a sheet to be fed and the centerline of a sheet to be fed. In a preferred embodiment the sheet separator feeder comprises a plurality of vacuum belts having a vacuum plenum disposed within the run of the belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrostatically transferring a transferable image from an image-carrying member to a receiver member. The transfer apparatus includes a resilient, deformable electrically conductive member adapted to be connected to a source of electrical image transferring potential. The conductive member defines a passage connectible to a vacuum source for vacuum tacking a receiver member to a surface of such member. Such passage has a longitudinal axis which, at the surface of conductive member, defines an oblique angle to such surface. During image transfer, the conductive member deforms during pressure contact with the image-carrying member to eliminate the surface discontinuity at the passage opening so that an electrical transfer potential is uniformly applied to the receiver member.

Abstract: An apparatus in which sheets are separated and fed, in seriatim, from a stack with a flow of pressurized fluid being directed between the stack and support thereof. The pressurized fluid produces a gap between the stack and support which is detected. The pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the detected gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for alternately stacking finite numbers of n positive battery plates and n+1 negative battery plates wherein a negative battery plate is provided at both the top and bottom ends of the stack. The apparatus includes a moving conveyor belt on which the positive plates are deposited having a spacing interval greater than the length of two negative plates. A negative plate is dropped onto the conveyor belt in the space between the positive plates and, in order to provide a negative plate at both the top and bottom ends of a resulting stack, two negative plates are dropped into the space between the positive plates whenever the required number of positive plates for a stack have been deposited on the conveyor belt. The negative and positive plates are then sequentially removed from the conveyor belt and dropped on top of each other thus producing a stack of alternating negative and positive plates, with a negative plate at both the bottom and top of the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus which moves documents in a recirculating path from a stack to an imaging station. Successive uppermost document are fed from the stack to the imaging station. After imaging, the documents are returned to the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for singling of sheets of a paper stack in a magazine disposed over a suction box having suction openings in a concave surface thereof transversely positioned relative to conveyance direction of a perforated endless conveyance band disposed between the stack and the suction box. A vacuum is applied to the suction box so that the lowest sheet of the stack is sucked down onto the conveyance band and conforms to the concave surface of the suction box. The lowest sheet is transported on the conveyance band, and the vacuum is switched off just before the suction openings are uncovered, at which time a blast of air is introduced into the suction box so that the next sheet of the stack is not sucked onto the conveyance band until the last sheet is removed from between the stack and the suction box. Preferably, air is injected between the lowest sheet and the next sheet from in front to prevent a vacuum formation therebetween. A second magazine system supplies the sheets of paper to the stack.

Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus including a cylindrical tube mounted above a stack of documents for separating individual documents from the stack. The cylindrical tube houses a rotatably mounted shaft to which are secured a series of spaced beater and turbine blades respectively. The cylindrical tube defines a series of apertures along its bottom surface which are aligned with the beater blades and allow the beater blades to extend outwardly into contact with a separated sheet. At one end of this cylindrical tube is coupled a vacuum source which when energized rotates the turbine blades and reduces the pressure inside the tube. Accordingly, a single sheet is first separated from the top of the stack by attraction toward the reduced pressure inside the tube and once separated is driven away from the stack by the beater blades mounted to the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus picks up and transports a topmost sheet of a stack of sheets in a one-by-one manner. A suction drum with a cylindrical member rotating in a cyclic manner picks up the leading edge of the topmost sheet by suction force when the cylindrical member is substantially in a momentary stop state. A stationary separation suction head disposed adjacent the stack in the transport direction separates by suction force any sheets underlying the topmost sheet undesirably picked up by the operation of picking the topmost sheet from the stack. A belt conveyor system disposed adjacent the stationary separation suction head in the transport direction gradually grasps the leading edge of the sheet picked-up by the suction drum while the trailing portion of the grasped sheet is also attracted by the suction drum means so that a slight tension is given to the sheet until it is firmly held and transported by the belt conveyor system.

Abstract: The envelope feeder apparatus of the present invention is suitable for use with conventional mail sorting machines. The envelope feeder apparatus is capable of receiving a supply of envelopes on a feeder magazine which is incorporated into the body of the apparatus. The individual envelopes are picked off in succession at a feeder station by means of a suction device which operates in combination with a pair of conveying belts having a friction surface facing the incoming envelopes. The suction device acts through holes in the conveying belts to draw the lead envelope against the friction surface of the conveying belts for separation of the lead envelope from the rest of the supply. The separated envelope is then conveyed through an arcuate path and introduced into a transport channel which is positioned parallel to the feeder magazine of the apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic document handler adapted to receive a stack of documents to be copied for feeding the documents seriatum to the platen of a copy machine and returning the copied documents to the stack. The combination of a vacuum-belt document corrugator/feed assembly and an air knife is provided to assure positive feeding of each document to the platen without misfeeds or multifeeds.

Abstract: A rotatable drum switches a vacuum source on and off towards an outermost bill in a stack to separate bills one at a time at high speeds from the stack and provide registration between the separate bills. As the bills are separated from the stack, means are provided to maintain a relatively constant pressure on the stack of bills. Flexible bands transport the separated bills away from the stack.

Abstract: There is disclosed transport apparatus for transporting flexible sheet-like rticles, especially envelopes. The apparatus comprises a transport cylinder, which is mounted on a shaft rotatably journalled in a frame and which comprises two cylindrical body portions. The body portions are each provided with axial suction ducts with outlet openings communicating with the circumferential surfaces of the body portions. The body portions are provided at their mutually remote ends with bores into which project bushes, which are mounted to the frame to be secure against rotation. A suction device is connected in a certain rotational position of the cylinder, through passages which are provided in the bushes and open at the circumferential surfaces of the bushes, with the suction ducts of the cylinder body portions. In another rotational position of the cylinder, the suction ducts of the body portions are ventilated by the bushes. The apparatus is capable of high operating speeds with minimum noise production.