Abstract: A method and unit for feeding blanks to a user machine, whereby at least two synchronized pickup heads withdraw the blanks from respective hoppers and feed them to respective conveying pockets moving continuously along a user path of the machine; each blank adheres by suction to a flat conveying surface of the respective pickup head, with a first lateral edge projecting outwards of the flat conveying surface and with a second edge contacting a push tooth projecting from the respective flat conveying surface, and is so inserted inside the respective conveying pocket as to be maintained in a flat configuration between the push tooth and a stop element moving together with the conveying pocket.

Abstract: A stack of sheets or blanks are supported for individual high speed feeding from the bottom of the stack on a table positioned adjacent to a feed cylinder. An air blast from a pivotal nozzle deflects the leading edge of the bottom blank downwardly into engagement by suction force with the surface of the feed cylinder. Rotation of the feed cylinder separates the bottom blank from the stack. A plurality of rocker arms are then oscillated forwardly into the gap between the stack and the separated bottom blank. The rocker arms are independently, rotatably supported transverse to the leading edge of the stack. The position of the rocker arms is adjustable to support the stack as determined by the die cut configuration of the blanks. A fast cam actuates oscillation of centrally positioned rocker arms beneath the central portion of the stack leading edge with an accompanying blast of air between the bottom blank and the stack.

Abstract: A process for selecting a single stacked flat object from a stack of flat objects. The lowermost flat object is downwardly detached from the rest of the stack of flat objects by negative pressure on at least one of its edge areas) running parallel to the take-off direction. In at least one suction area, the flat object is held by negative pressure onto a conveyor that can move back and forth. The flat object is advanced underneath a scraper and then further conveyed. The device for carrying out this process has a hopper for the stack of flat objects, a scraper, at least one suction device to partially detach the lowermost flat object, a conveyor, and a take-off device.

Abstract: An automated sheet dispenser for dispensing a single sheet removed from the bottom of a stack formed of a plurality of sheets. The dispenser includes a hopper for supporting the stack of sheets, the hopper having an opening provided in the bottom surface thereof to allow passage of a sheet through the opening; a separator for separating a leading edge of the bottom sheet from the stack through the opening and moving the leading edge to a position below the hopper; and a guide for engaging the leading edge of the sheet separated from the stack by the separator and guiding the sheet to a sheet exit chute. The separator is lowered from the stack to separate the leading edge of the bottom sheet and the guide pivots to engage the leading edge and guide the leading edge between a pair of feed rollers that transport the sheet to the exit chute. The lowering of the separator, the pivoting of the guide and the advancing of the gripping feed roller are actuated by rotation of a main cam.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets from a sheet stack, having a feed deck for supporting the sheet stack and a pair of spaced apart parallel guide rails on the feed deck for receiving the sheet stack between the guide rails. A sheet feeding assembly is mounted in proximity to a sheet feeding end of the feed deck and is operative to feed individual lowermost sheets from the sheet stack, the sheet feeding assembly including a continuously rotating feed drum having an inner and outer circumference and a plurality of suction openings and a vacuum assembly received in the inner circumference of the feed drum and having at least one rotating cylinder coupled to a vacuum source and movable between an actuated position for drawing air downward through the portion of the feed drum extending above the planar surface of the feed deck and a default position preventing the drawing of air through the feed drum when a vacuum is applied to the at least one rotating cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially feeding cards from the bottom of a vertical stack, which includes a card transport drum positioned below the stack so as to support the forward edge portion of the bottom of the stack. The drum includes a set of suction openings disposed transversely across the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and the openings are of oval outline. To sequentially feed the cards, the drum is rotated so that the openings move across the bottom of the lowermost card and the suction grips and holds the lowermost card on the surface of the drum, to thereby advance the lowermost card from the stack. The oval outline of the openings helps ensure that only the lowermost card is gripped and advanced by the suction openings.

Abstract: A vertically oriented feeder for a packaging manufacturing system is provided. The feeder supports a stack of blanks in an upright position and in a confronting relationship with a vertical vacuum belt. The vacuum belt draws a front blank off of the stack and pulls it upward past a gate and between the vacuum belt and a friction belt. After the blank is pulled upward past the gate, a lifting device is activated to push the stack away from the vacuum belt and prevent additional blanks from being drawn upward by the vacuum belt until the lifting device is retracted or de-energized. The lifting device ensures that adequate spacing is provided between adjacent blanks and that the timing of the placement of the blanks on the succeeding flighted belt is sufficiently accurate so that downstream operations may be carried out by automated equipment.

Abstract: An automatic document handler having a sheet separator-feeder mechanism for separating a sheet from a stack of such sheets and for forward feeding the separated sheet without damage to an image on the sheet. The automatic document handler includes a stacking tray having a surface for supporting a stack of sheets; air knife means positioned opposite the stack of sheets for separating a sheet at an end of the stack of sheets, and a sheet separator-feeder mechanism including a bi-level support plate having vacuum ports. The sheet separator-feeder mechanism is mounted toward the downstream end of the stacking tray relative to a direction of forward sheet movement, and applies a negative air pressure through the vacuum ports in the support plate.

Abstract: The apparatus has, along with a magazine in which flat, flexible objects such as cords are stored in a stack, a retaining device for holding the stack in the magazine. Symmetrically disposed retaining elements aligned parallel to the surface of the objects are provided in the retaining device. The form of the retaining elements is selected such that an object of the stack can be singled by being arched past the retaining elements and an object can also be stacked in the magazine by being arched past the retaining elements. A gripping device is provided for moving the objects.

Abstract: A method of producing at least one control signal data look-up table for a mail insertion machine having a 360 degree cycle of operation and capable of variable operating speeds within a given cycle. The mail insertion machine possesses predetermined electro-mechanical lag times for extending and retracting mechanical components. The method entails creating a baseline control signal data look-up table for a first operating speed based upon pre-determined electro-mechanical lag times. The look-up table comprises a start angle and a stop angle within the 360 degree cycle of operation. The start and stop angles are then compensated for a second operating speed based upon the pre-determined electro-mechanical lag times for extending and retracting mechanical components and the first operating speed. A second control signal data look-up table is then created by writing the compensated start and stop angles that correspond to the second operating speed into the second control signal data look-up table.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets seriatim from a stack of sheets which substantially prevents image ruboff. Such sheet feed apparatus includes a tray for supporting a stack of sheets. A plate associated with the tray supports the lead edge of the sheet stack. A major portion of the sheet stack, measured from the top of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, is supported by a mechanism associated with the plate. A positive flow of air is directed at a minor portion of the sheet stack, measured from the bottom of the sheet stack at the lead edge of the sheet stack, to enable the minor portion of the sheet stack to be levitated for separation of the sheets in the minor portion of the sheet stack.

Abstract: Air injection nozzles are provided for injecting air to both the leading end and the side ends of the sheets loaded on a sheet tray. Since air is injected from both nozzles, even for large-size sheets, the sheets can securely be separated by injecting air over the whole region between a sheet to be conveyed and other sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for computerized control of a "Phillipsburg-type" mail insertion machine. The mechanical timing and drive mechanisms of the prior art inserter are replaced with a programmable computer, solenoid valves, and pneumatic cylinders, or other suitable drivers. The computer's software includes a plurality of programmed look-up tables. An operational delay look-up table includes electro-mechanical lag times for the pneumatically driven stations/sub-assemblies of the inserter. Also provided are look-up speed tables, which include start and stop angles for actuation of each of the pneumatic cylinders. A first look-up speed table includes actuation data appropriate for operation of the machine within a relatively slow range of speeds. Four additional look-up speed tables provide correct actuation data for successively higher speed groups, up to 10,000 insertion cycles per hour.

Abstract: The machine includes a vacuum head which is mounted to rotate on the outer end of an elongated arm adapted to be pivoted upwardly and downwardly about a fixed pivot by a servo drive. As the arm pivots, the vacuum head picks either a carton blank or a tray blank out of a magazine and transfers the blank toward a conveyor. During the pivoting, the vacuum head is turned relative to the arm and, when the blank is a carton blank, the turning motion brings the blank into engagement with a fixed plow which erects the blank. During final downward movement of the arm, the vacuum head is held parallel to the conveyor and moves toward the conveyor with a vertical plunging motion. When the blank is a tray blank, such vertical plunging causes the blank to be erected by flights on the conveyor as the blank is loaded between the flights.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet supporting unit for supporting sheets, a sheet absorb device for air-absorbing a lowermost sheet from among the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the sheet absorb device, a regulator for regulating a downward movement of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit by abutting tip ends of such sheets against the regulator, a passage arranged between the conveyer and the regulator and adapted to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyer, and a controller for driving the conveyer in a reverse direction after the sheet conveyed by the conveyer is fed out through the passage.

Abstract: An automatic sheet loader for automatically transferring sheets to a cardboard packer. The sheet loader includes at least a pair of chains disposed between upper sprockets and lower sprockets so that the pair of chains face each other to form a sheet transfer path therebetween, brackets mounted on the chains at predetermined intervals and projecting toward the sheet transfer path for supporting a group of sheets from both sides thereof, and a drive motor for driving the chains so as to move the brackets along the sheet transfer path for transferring the group of sheets. When the dimension of each packaging container, the number of packaging containers in each group, or the manner of packaging is changed, a different type of sheet is set. Since each group of sheets is moved and transferred from the upper side to the lower side by the chains, it is easy to distinguish the new group of sheets from the previous group of sheets during the exchange operation.

Abstract: A rotating separator disk is movable between sheet material articles in a stack of sheet material articles. A variable speed drive which is connected with the separator disk and rotates the separator disk. The variable speed drive is operable to vary the speed of rotation of the separator disk between a high speed and a low speed during each revolution of the separator disk. First and second restrictor members engage a sheet material article in the stack of sheet material articles. A suction applicator head is operable to disengage one sheet material article from the first restrictor member. A leading edge of the rotating separator disk is then moved between the one sheet material article and an adjacent sheet material article. As this occurs, the speed of rotation of the separator disk is increased and the one sheet material article is disengaged from the second restrictor member by the separator disk.

Abstract: A produce labeller has first and, optionally, second selectively actuable label supply cartridge for selectively supplying labels from the fast or second selectively actuable label supply cartridge to corresponding fast and second label transfer positions in a fast plane. A rotatable label transfer piston housing is provided, rotatable in the first plane on a drive shaft. The rotatable label transfer piston housing has mounted radially therein in the fast plane radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer pistons for picking up labels from the fast or second selectively actuable label supply cartridge at the fast or second label transfer position, and rotationally carrying the labels from the first or second label transfer position to a label deposit point. The labels are carried on exposed ends of the radially spaced apart resiliently biased radially telescoping label transfer pistons, one label per exposed end, by selectively actuable vacuum apertures on each exposed end.

Abstract: A device whereby sheets can be discharged one by one from the bottom of a stack of sheets provided in a holder having a base support and side supports wherein in the transverse direction of sheet transport the base support surface has a downward bent shape so that the support surface has a deepened part on its supporting side such that in the proximity of the deepened part, beneath at least an edge zone of one side of a stack of sheets to be accommodated, the support surface is provided with at least one opening in which a vacuum can be created so that the bottom sheet is sucked against the support and air is blown against the side of the stack as considered with respect to the direction of sheet transport, in order to create an air layer at least between the bottom sheet and the stack thereabove, the airflow being ejected in the proximity of the deepened part of the support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus which uses vacuum to singly feed pieces from a stack. The feeding apparatus has a plate supporting a bottom of the stack and defining a plurality of plate apertures. The plate is connected to a drive mechanism which moves the plate between rearward and forward positions. The plate apertures are in fluid communication with a first vacuum source which provides a vacuum to the plate apertures. When the drive mechanism moves the plate from the rearward to the forward position, the vacuum source provides a vacuum to the plate apertures for holding a bottom-most piece of the stack against the plate. As the bottom-most piece of the stack is moved forward, a metering member prevents other pieces of the stack from being moved along with the bottom-most piece.

Abstract: The front limit stop of the stack receiving magazine of a sheet separator is provided, in the region contacted by the lowermost sheets of the stack, with a retractable wall portion. The movements of this retractable wall portion are synchronized with the operation of a device which causes downward deflection of the edge region of a sheet located adjacent the magazine front limit stop. Accordingly, simultaneously with the application of the deflecting force, the frictional retaining force is removed from the edge region of the sheet to be separated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting a plurality of sheets, a first sheet absorb unit arranged facing a sheet surface of the sheet stack supported by the sheet support for absorbing the sheet by air suction, a second sheet absorb unit arranged facing a tip end of the sheet stack in a sheet supply direction for absorbing the sheet by air suction and a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the first and second sheet absorb units. The first sheet absorb unit and the second sheet absorb unit are respectively disposed at positions where the first sheet absorb unit is substantially parallel to the sheet surface and the second sheet absorb unit is inclined relative to the sheet surface. When a sheet stops a feeding unit operates in response to return the sheet to the sheet stack as the sheet is being absorbed by the first sheet absorb unit.

Abstract: 1. Apparatus for the storage and extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12).2.1. An extraction unit (16) having a sun wheel (17) and planet wheels (18, 19) rotating about the latter serves for the continuous extraction of blanks (10) consisting of thin cardboard from a blank magazine (12). Each planet wheel (18, 19) rotating about its own axis extracts a lower blank (10) of a blank stack (11) in the blank magazine (12) and transfers this onto the sun wheel (17). The blank is transferred from the latter, in conjunction with a transport disc (51, 52), into a blank track (14).2.2. The sun wheel (17) and the planet wheels (18, 19) grasp the blanks (10) solely in a middle region, namely in the region of a blank middle strip (46), with the exclusion of lateral folding tabs (39, 40; 41, 42).

Abstract: A Sheet Feeding System (10) having a reciprocating vacuum shuttle plate (52) includes a knife gate (112) and high-friction rollers 118 and 120 position between the knife gate and an additional conveyor formed by a driven feed roller 94 and an idler feed roller 96. The high-friction rollers form a singulator gap (188) with shoulders 184 of a vacuum-groove (186) on a sheet-engaging surface of the reciprocating shuttle plate. The sheet feeding system includes a transition tray (14) downstream of the additional conveyor for providing a transition to clamps of an endless chain (178). The transition tray comprises an endless conveyor belt (156) with a floating feed roller (160) biased thereagainst. The position of the floating feed roller can be adjusted so as to space it approximately a sheet length from a stationary clamp (176) on the endless chain.

Abstract: In a system and method for feeding sheets from a stack, a support arrangement is provided having a plurality of rows of rollers mounted on support levers to support the stack above a first carrier. The rollers are lowered so that a lowermost sheet of the stack contacts the first carrier which is driven to cyclically accelerate the lowermost sheet in a direction perpendicular to the rows so that the sheet achieves a linear velocity. A second carrier is driven at a constant speed to transport the sheet away from the first carrier at the linear velocity. Each row of rollers is sequentially raised when a trailing edge of the sheet has moved beyond that particular row.

Abstract: A machine includes a scheme for detecting the level of curl in sheets in a stack by measuring the time it takes to acquire a sheet with a bottom corrugation vacuum feeder (BVCF). A vacuum switch changes state at a preset vacuum level thereby detecting any significant rise in vacuum which occurs when a sheet has been acquired by the BCVF. A digital control circuit senses the change of state which takes place in the vacuum switch and feeds a signal to the machine's microprocessor which in turn signals an air knife in the BVCF to increase or decrease air pressure toward the sheet stack to compensate for the stressed state of the sheets.

Abstract: A planar article or sheet, such as a divider sheet for stacked products, and the method of supplying substantially planar articles from a supply magazine to an article transfer device, which then transfers the article to a desired location for further processing. The planar article itself can be a divider sheet for stacked beverage containers, folded paperboard cartons for carriers, or any other substantially planar article which is adapted to be consecutively arranged with other such articles in a group, and placed in a supply magazine for singular delivery to an article transfer device. The method of the present invention is specifically designed to insure that only one sheet at a time is removed from the group by the article transfer device. The sheets or articles themselves, are designed to cooperate with the supply magazine to facilitate singular delivery.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism for flat flexible items is provided having a hopper for receiving a stack of the items, a rotatable cylindrical member positioned to engage a lowermost item of the stack with an outer circumferential surface thereof, a motor for rotationally driving the cylindrical member, a source of vacuum connected to the cylindrical member, at least one vacuum port extending through the outer surface of the cylindrical member which communicates with the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the port, a high friction surface at the outer surface adjacent to the vacuum port, at least one belt carried on the cylindrical member so as not to protrude above the outer surface through a portion of the circumference, the belt also being captured on a pulley member such that the belt extends away from the cylindrical member on a side opposite the portion, at least one pressing roller for pressing against the outer surface of the cylindrical member at the portion.

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 vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.

Abstract: Two sheets (10,14) are removed simultaneously from the sheet stack (1). While one sheet (10) is already in the transfer position, from which it is introduced into the conveyor line by two feed rolls (7,8), a first suction element (20) seizes the next sheet (14) from the stack (1). This sheet is moved along the curve a into the now vacated transfer position. A second suction element (30), which is no longer needed to hold the first sheet (10) there, moves to the stack (1) to seize the next sheet (15) and bring it to the transfer position, while the first suction element moves back to the stack. In this way, destacking can proceed at a faster rate than hitherto.

Abstract: A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.

Abstract: A recycling automatic document feeder (RADF) for a copier or similar image forming apparatus and capable of preventing curled or otherwise deformed documents from being damaged when such documents are recirculated. The RADF includes a parting plate for separating part of a stack of documents not undergone illumination from the other part undergone illumination and returned to the stack. When the parting plate is raised to a level above a predetermined height, the RADF is inhibited from returning the illuminated documents to the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding material, in the form of discrete sheets, seriatim from a stack of discrete sheets. The sheet feeding apparatus comprises a support for a stack of discrete sheets. A sheet in the supported stack of discrete sheets is engaged by a friction mechanism for selectively removing such sheet from the stack. Such sheet is attracted to the friction mechanism by vacuum directed adjacent to the friction mechanism. The vacuum attraction increases the force of engagement of such sheet with the friction mechanism to facilitate removal of such sheet from the stack of discrete sheets by the friction mechanism.

Abstract: A currency note picking and feeding apparatus (10) includes feed belts (28) for feeding notes from the bottom of a stack of notes (20) to the nip of a rotating suction drum (22) and separating belts (64) of frictional material which engage with the periphery of the drum (22). The suction drum (22) grips and feeds the lowermost note to a further conveyor means (76,82,84), with the separating belts (64) holding back any notes superposed on the lowermost note. If a feeding failure of the drum (22) occurs, as recognized by photodetector (90) associated with the further conveyor (76,82,84) failing to sense the passage of a note within a predetermined time interval, then pivotably mounted pressure rolls (92) are caused to be moved temporarily into cooperative association with the suction drum (22) so as to press the notes present at the nip of the drum (22) and the separating belts (64) against the drum (22), thereby increasing the grip of the drum (22) on the lowermost note.

Abstract: A bottom vacuum corrugated feeder (BVCF) includes a tray for supporting a stack of documents. The tray is angled downhill relative to the feeding direction of the documents such that the leading edge of the stack is urged to a common stop member. The tray also includes a single side guide for aligning one side edge of the stack. A stack height sensor sends a signal corresponding to stack height to a controller which in turn controls voltage to be applied to a DC motor controlled blower based on a predetermined ratio of air flow pressure to stack pressure. The structure enables intermixed size document feeding in a BVCF.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheet-shaped blanks (9) of deep-drawable synthetic plastic material to the receiving station of a deep-drawing machine having a plurality of suction plates (15) wherein a supply roll (2) holding a web (1) of synthetic plastic material which is capable of being intermittently driven by pairs (3, 4, 23) of drive rollers and moved in front of a cutting means (5) having on its downstream side a magazine (8), a movable flap (11) provided with suckers (33) and a first supporting plate (13) being adapted to be brought into engagement with the removal side of the magazine (8), a second movable supporting plate (16) provided with suckers (33) being disposed on the other side, guide means (35) being provided in order to feed the blanks (9) from the movable flap (11) and round onto the opposite side of the suction plate (15) to the second supporting plate (16).

Abstract: The sucker assembly is driven into contact with the stack of sheets by a fluid drive air cylinder at relatively slow speed. The stack of sheets is held at a steep incline in the hopper which includes a stock advance drive for keeping the entire stack properly positioned adjacent the sucker pickup point. A pressure sensing transducer measures the vacuum at the suction cupped tip of the sucker and triggers the relatively brisk retraction of a single sheet when proper vacuum is sensed.

Abstract: The intermediate tray of a copying machine for copying on both sides of recording paper or recording paper feeding apparatus incorporates a mechanism for loosening and separating recording papers by air blow in order to prevent duplicate feed. Conventionally, such constitution could not be commonly applied to recording papers of plural sizes, and the recording paper vibrated due to the air flow to give off a loud noise. In the invention, the air flow is formed by plural nozzles arranged in the widthwise direction of the recording paper, and the nozzles near the both ends are controlled by opening and closing depending on the paper size. When the recording paper is conveyed by vacuum attracting to the belt, the recording paper is attracted closely to the belt, eliminating the space for allowing the air flow to enter in, so that vibration may be prevented.

Abstract: Recording papers stacked up on a tray are conveyed as being attracted in vacuum by the conveying belt located above or beneath. To convey the recording papers one by one, air flow is blown to the front edge of the recording papers to separate. Accordingly, plural nozzles are disposed in the widthwise direction of the recording paper, and the air flows from the nozzles are directed to converge at the upstream side in the conveying direction front the front edges of the recording papers. By setting this converging position near the both ends in the widthwise direction of the recording papers, the recording papers may be separated securely and stably.

Abstract: When stacking up recording papers on a tray and conveying one by one from the top or bottom, they are conveyed by attracting in vacuum to a conveying belt. An example of conveying from the bottom is illustrated. When one recording paper is conveyed, its rear end comes into the attraction region of the conveying belt, and the second recording paper is attracted into the region out of the first recording paper in the attraction region, which results in duplicate feed. Therefore, the size of the attraction region is variable depending on the size of the recording paper so that the attraction region of the conveying belt may not come out from the rear end of the recording paper until the first recording paper is conveyed and its front end is held by the rear rollers of the conveying belt or the like.

Abstract: A holder for receiving sheets and discharging sheets therefrom one-by-one from the bottom of a stack of sheets is provided including a carrier having a rear portion, an intermediate portion and a front portion, providing a carrying surface for the sheets, the carrier being bent at the intermediate portion thereof, transverse to the direction of conveyance of the sheets, so as to create a deepened section between the rear portion and the front portion. Lateral supports extend from lateral edges of the carrier, with at least one elevated part provided in the deepened section at the intermediate portion extending transverse to the direction of conveyance on the carrying surface of the carrier.

Abstract: Air flows from an air flow forming means are jetted to near the downstream end of a plurality of sheets stacked on a laying plate so as to separate either a uppermost sheet or a bottommost sheet from the remaining sheets. The uppermost sheet or the bottommost sheet is vacuum attracted to a vacuum attracting area defined in a feeding belt by a vacuum attracting box. Based on the size of the sheet, the open suction area uncovered by the stacked sheets in the vacuum attracting area is controlled, thereby enabling the feeding belt to control the power of suction thereof to the sheets. Accordingly, a multiple feeding of the sheets can be prevented due to an excessive power of suction.

Abstract: A suction table which, in a machine converting sheets into package, transfers the last, lowermost sheet of a batch to a subsequent processing station. The table is provided with numerous blowing and sucking nozzles and is fitted on a hollow frame movable with regard to a fixed distributory housing which provides sucking and blowing action. The housing comprises a distributory shaft and tubes movable with respect to the table and thereby sliding within corresponding guides formed in the frame. The shaft and tubes are provided with cooperating ducts which will allow the nozzles to suck or blow as required by the angular position of the distributory shaft and the position of the table.

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: A magazine for holding a plurality of articles, such as cartons, which are to be singularly withdrawn at a downstream end, and a method of feeding articles. The magazine includes guides, spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the cartons in their folded condition, thereby creating a gap between an inner guide surface and one of the edges of the cartons. A pair of stoppers oppositely project toward each other and are spaced apart by a distance less than the width of the cartons, to thereby hold the most downstream carton in a position to facilitate its withdrawal at the discharge end of the magazine. The stoppers are positioned to engage the particular edges of the cartons of which the distance between them is not apt to be variable, to thereby reduce the likelihood of the cartons becoming jammed within the magazine. At least one feed roller projects from one inner guide surface toward the other inner guide surface upstream of the discharge end.

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 paper refeeding device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for temporarily stacking paper sheets each coming out of an image forming section and carrying an image on one side on a refeed tray and, then, refeeding the paper sheets to the image forming section. An air velocity switching mechanism causes an air knife to blow air at a breeze velocity or a zero velocity which does not lift the paper sheets stacked on the refeed tray, until more than a predetermined number of paper sheets have been discharged by discharge rollers and stacked on the refeed tray.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for feeding a paper in which there are provided a stacker for placing a stack of papers and threefold cylinder for separating the lowermost paper by vacuum suction from the stack of papers placed on the stacker and sequentially feeding the separated paper one by one. The threefold cylinder is disposed below the stacker in the vicinity of the leading edge of the stacker in relation to the feeding direction. And, the threefold cylinder includes a first cylinder rotatable and provided with a number of through holes on the circumferential surface; a second cylinder, installed inside the first cylinder, provided with a slit-shaped opening on the circumferential surface; a third cylinder, installed inside the second cylinder, provided with a slit-shaped opening on the circumferential surface thereof. The third cylinder is connected to vacuum suction.

Abstract: The feed table of a paper folder is provided with a downward step at the discharge end of the feed table. The downward step provides a discharge area so that the leading edge of a sheet can be pulled forward and down for a positive feed without wrinkling the leading edge through contact with the feed table. A vacuum wheel engages and holds the paper to effect the feed, and the vacuum wheel has an increased number of holes for a stronger grip. The rear ends of paper guides are movable by screws for carefully controlled skewing of the paper with respect to the feed table.