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sheets has a rotary withdrawing conveyor which extracts successive folded sheets from a stack and places successive withdrawn sheets into a path between two rotary spreading elements in such a way that the front edges of the sheet in the path are adjacent to the respective spreading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.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying apparatus includes a photosensitive surface capable of retaining an electrostatic latent image for at least two cycles of the surface so a first copy of an original can be made upon scanning the original and the latent image can be recycled to produce a second copy of the same original during the return of the scanning mechanism. The apparatus includes an improved mechanism for driving the scanning mechanism, as well as improved developing and transfer stations.

Abstract: A sheet feeder employing a vacuum feed belt in conjunction with a vacuum control plenum immediately adjacent the downstream edge of the vacuum belt, a self actuating valve being provided to shut off the vacuum supply to the feed belt when the sheet being fed blocks the openings in the control plenum to prevent acquisition of a second sheet by the feed belt until the trailing edge of the sheet being fed clears the control plenum.

Abstract: A singler device which includes an input position with a first and second suction means mounted along one face of a traveling suction belt, a passage, and a delivery position with first and second detector members. The second detector member operates the first or second suction means depending on the first detector member being in its non-operated or operated condition, respectively. The use of this device permits flat articles to be separated from a stack in the correct order even when they are misaligned to a certain extent.

Abstract: A bottom sheet feeder employing a vacuum feed assembly in conjunction with an air knife for separating and feeding sheets from a sheet stack. A self regulating blower input and output bleed valve assembly utilized in conjunction with a single blower regulates air flow through the blower to the air knife irrespective of the degree of air flow through the vacuum feed assembly caused by blockage thereof by the acquired sheets.

Abstract: A low inertia rotary drum supports sheets of paper of different sizes for transport and processing. The drum has a plurality of leading edge ports formed in its surface along the length of the drum. A vacuum is selectively applied to one or more of the ports in accordance with the dimension of the paper in the direction of the length of the drum. The drum has a plurality of sets of trailing edge ports formed in its surface with each of the sets being disposed a predetermined arcuate distance from the set of leading edge ports in accordance with the other dimension of the paper. Each set of trailing edge ports has the ports arranged longitudinally along the drum and parallel to the set of leading edge ports. Only one set of trailing edge ports extends for the same length as the set of the leading edge ports. One of the sets of the trailing edge ports has a vacuum applied thereto with the same number of ports of the trailing edge set having the vacuum applied thereto as the number of the leading edge ports.

Abstract: Signature feeding machine operable in a run mode or jog mode and having means to time differently the application and disapplication of vacuum to an extractor in accordance with the modes.

Abstract: Vacuum feeder for feeding sheets having holes adjacent to a marginal edge of the sheets. Removable port-closure members are inserted through and close the feeder ports which are aligned with the holes in the sheets to be transported by the feeder.

Abstract: A feeder/transporter having a ported hollow cylindrical vacuum housing and an internal complimentary shaped control valve. The housing is mounted for rotation about an axis located so as to position a sheet receiving outer surface of the housing for movement in a path from adjacent to a tray for supporting a stack of sheets toward a remote location to which the sheets are to be fed. The control valve is non-rotatably supported on the axis of the housing, and is mounted for reciprocable movement along the axis to control the opening and closing of ports in the housing. The control valve has an opening extending for a portion of its circumference with a series of port-blocking tabs extending into the opening.

Abstract: A suction air control device used in conjunction with feed tables for feeding individual sheets in paper processing machines is arranged between a source of vacuum and a sheet feed suction bar. The device incorporates the use of a three-way valve which may be controlled by electric switching pulses, for example, in response to movement of the main operating lever or response to a monitoring device for monitoring double and incorrectly fed sheets in the event two sheets are disposed on top of each other or a sheet is disposed at an angle.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt having a series of perforations is positioned between a vacuum outlet and a carrier having a stack of substantially flat documents. The vacuum is operated only when the perforations in the belt are positioned in front of the vacuum outlet to reduce drag on the belt. When the vacuum is operational, the belt will attract one of the documents from the stack and deliver it to a subsequent processing station. Means are provided for maintaining the documents in spaced relation from the belt when the vacuum is inoperative to preclude premature removal of a document from the stack by frictional contact of the document and the belt. A deflectable roller is also located adjacent the belt which rotates counter to the direction of travel of the belt to preclude the feeding of more than one document at a time by the belt to the subsequent processing station.

Abstract: A labeling system for automatically fixing information bearing labels to articles includes: a conveyor belt; means for placing articles on the conveyor belt at a variable periodic rate; a source of labels providing labels at said periodic rate; and a label transfer wheel, coupled to the drive source, for fixing each of the labels from the source to a different one of the articles. The label transfer wheel has a cylindrical surface, a stationary chamber communicating with a vacuum source, and a plurality of holes on the surface which periodically communicate with the chamber to pneumatically hold labels as they are transferred from the label source to the articles.

Abstract: A system for automatically fixing information bearing labels to randomly delivered articles includes: a transport for the articles; a sensor for detecting the articles as they are moved by the transport; a label source for providing labels when articles are detected; and a label transfer wheel driven at a uniform rate for fixing labels from the source to the articles. The label transfer wheel has a cylindrical surface, a stationary chamber communicating with a vacuum source, and a plurality of holes on the surface which periodically communicate with the chamber to pneumatically hold labels as they are transferred from the label source to the articles.

Abstract: A label transfer wheel includes a cylindrical structure having an annular cavity extending into a side thereof; an axially extending hole engageable by a rotary drive; and two circular series of holes, each hole extending radially from the cylindrical surface of the structure to a cylindrical surface bounding the cavity. A plate rotatably coupled to the structure generally covers the cavity and includes a port adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The plate is coupled to a pair of devices located within the cavity, each of the devices having a polyurethane foam seal which is in abutment with the bottom boundary of the cavity and a section of the cylindrical surface bounding the cavity to provide, in combination with the plate, a fluid tight chamber coupling the port to arcuate sets of holes of the series of holes. The devices are movable with respect to each other to permit varying the size of the chamber and the number of holes communicating therewith.

Abstract: A rotary suction device selectively removes individual paper money or currency bills or banknotes endwise from a stack or bundle thereof and delivers each removed bill endwise to conveyor means which successively, individually transports the bills to a dispensing station. Sensor means detects the presence of multiple bills on the suction rotor during removal from the stack; and, before delivery of any bills in multiple to the conveyor means, the multiple bills are rejected and bypass-discharged directly from the suction rotor to a reject station. A plurality of rotary suction devices may be installed side by side to deliver bills in various denominations, such as 1, 5, 10 and 20 dollar bills.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control arrangement for sheet feeders having a pull-off device for transferring the sheets serially to a continuously operating conveyor apparatus, with disposed in the path of the sheets, a sensor which, when it recognises the rear edge of a sheet, generates a switching signal by means of which the pull-off device can be switched on, and having a switch arrangement by means of which the pull-off device can be switched off after a delay.

Abstract: Corrugated cardboard sheets are drawn individually from the bottom of a stack by two perforated, continuous belts downwardly bounding a receptacle space which is bounded in a forward direction by a gate. The front part of each belt under the receptacle space travels over a suction box while the rear part may be shifted between an operative position in which the front and rear parts are longitudinally aligned and an idling position in which the rear part is offset from the operative position downward and outward of the receptacle space.