The provided containers (100, 200) and methods provide for gravitational alignment of a plurality of stacked articles (120), in which at least two edges (140, 142) of each article align along inner walls (108, 114, 208, 214) of a respective container. The aligning walls of the container are provided with low-friction surfaces to facilitate sliding and alignment of the articles. By aligning the stack of articles along two edges, the articles can be registered relative to not only each other but the container itself, thereby facilitating loading, unloading, and conversion of articles in the stack. Optionally, a compressible layer (147) opposing one or both of the aligning walls conforms and distributes stress along the non-aligning edges, thereby preserving registration of the articles relative to each other when the container is transported.

The provided containers (100, 200) and methods provide for gravitational alignment of a plurality of stacked articles (120), in which at least two edges (140, 142) of each article align along inner walls (108, 114, 208, 214) of a respective container. The aligning walls of the container are provided with low-friction surfaces to facilitate sliding and alignment of the articles. By aligning the stack of articles along two edges, the articles can be registered relative to not only each other but the container itself, thereby facilitating loading, unloading, and conversion of articles in the stack. Optionally, a compressible layer (147) opposing one or both of the aligning walls conforms and distributes stress along the non-aligning edges, thereby preserving registration of the articles relative to each other when the container is transported.

A feeding unit to feed blanks in a packer machine has a frame supporting a hopper and conveyor. The hopper holds a stack of blanks and has a pick-up opening, through which one blank at a time can be retrieved from the stack. The conveyor moves the blanks along a moving path ending in the hopper. The feeding unit can be adjusted by a format change operation to contain blanks with different formats by changing the feeding unit from a first configuration for containing a first format to a second configuration for containing a second format, different from the first format. A plurality of different and interchangeable hoppers are provided, each associated with a corresponding format of the blanks. Each hopper is fixed to the frame in a removable manner in order to be replaced during a format change operation.

A medium stacking apparatus comprises a stacking surface for stacking a medium; a first guide to guide the stacking of the medium in the case of stacking of the medium and to press the medium in the case of separating of the medium stacked on the stacking surface; and a second guide that is capable of supporting the medium stacked on the stacking surface, the first guide including a first plate, and a second plate that is rotatably connected to the first plate, the second plate being rotated about the first plate in the case of stacking of the medium, and a portion or all of the second plate being overlapped with the first plate in the case of separating of the medium.

Embodiments of a system and method for unloading articles from a container of items for use in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a belt, a moveable lower paddle, and a moveable upper paddle, wherein the lower paddle is configured to partially extend through a belt of the automatic stack feeder. The movement of the belt, the lower paddle, and the upper paddle are coordinated such that there is no need to interrupt the operation of the automatic stack feeder to unload the container.

The invention relates to a feeder device (1) for feeding mailpieces (2) to a postal sorting conveyor (3), the feeder device comprising an unstacker head (4) designed to put the mailpieces in series and on edge on the sorting conveyor, an unstacker plate (5) designed to unstack the mailpieces one-by-one towards the unstacker head, and a mailpiece feed conveyor (6) designed to convey the mailpieces in a stack and on edge against the unstacker plate. The unstacker plate comprises a stationary portion (5a) that extends from the unstacker head, and a moving portion (5b) that extends the stationary portion, said moving portion being mounted to pivot from the stationary portion between a first position in which the stationary portion and the moving portion are aligned with each other, and a second position in which the stationary portion and the moving portion are angularly offset relative to each other.

A reusable media shell has a frame to hold sheets of media in an interior. A removable cap connects to the frame and its manipulation unveils the media for picking by an imaging device. The cap resides on a terminal end of the frame so the frame covers a majority of the media. A lift plate in the interior forces upward the sheets for picking. Two magnets on the frame magnetically secure the frame to magnets in a base of the imaging device and position the sheets in the base. Upstanding walls, a lid and bottom define the interior of the frame. Inserts attached to the walls allow adjustment to accommodate various sizes of the media.

A medium conveying apparatus includes an imaging device to image a medium and configured to move in a moving direction, a roller configured to move in the moving direction, on an upstream side of the imaging device, a conveyance guide provided with the imaging device to move the imaging device, wherein the conveyance guide includes a slope for coming into contact with the medium, an engaging member provided with the imaging device to move the imaging device, and a moving member to move the imaging device by engaging with the engaging member in conjunction with a movement of the roller. The engaging member and the moving member are configured to be separated at a distance from one another when the medium is not conveyed. The moving member moves the imaging device by engaging with the engaging member only when the medium has a thickness greater than the distance.

A medium conveying apparatus includes an imaging device to image a medium and configured to move in a moving direction, a roller configured to move in the moving direction, on an upstream side of the imaging device, a conveyance guide provided with the imaging device to move the imaging device, wherein the conveyance guide includes a slope for coming into contact with the medium, an engaging member provided with the imaging device to move the imaging device, and a moving member to move the imaging device by engaging with the engaging member in conjunction with a movement of the roller. The engaging member and the moving member are configured to be separated at a distance from one another when the medium is not conveyed. The moving member moves the imaging device by engaging with the engaging member only when the medium has a thickness greater than the distance.

An image forming apparatus includes a first side plate, a second side plate and a sheet feeding unit. The first and second side plates are opposite to each other. The sheet feeding unit is attached between the first and second side plates. The sheet feeding unit has a feed frame, a pickup roller, a feed roller, a separation member and a weight member. The feed frame has a first side wall supported by the first side plate in a facing manner and a second side wall supported by the second side plate in a facing manner. The pickup roller and the feed roller are supported in the feed frame. The separation member forms a nip and separates the sheet at the nip. The weight member is disposed above the feed roller in the feed frame and configured to damp vibration of the feed frame.