A dispensing structure (102) for dispensing sheets, such as notes (106) or flags, that is adapted to be removably coupled with a support structure. A dispensing assembly comprising a stack (104) of sheets, such as notes or flags, and the dispensing structure. The dispensing structure comprises: a first clamping member (118) defining a first end (120) and a second end (122); a second clamping member (146) pivotally coupled to the first clamping member, the second clamping member defining a third end (148) and a fourth end (150), the second clamping member comprising: abase plate (152) defining an aperture (154); a retention element (182) laterally spaced apart from the base plate to define a space (184) therebetween, wherein a stack of a plurality of sheets are disposed within the space; and a plunger (200) slidable within the aperture of the base plate; and a biasing member (218) connected to the first clamping member proximate the first end thereof and to the second clamping member proximate the third end thereof, wherein the biasing member is adapted to bias the second end and the fourth end of the first and second clamping members, respectively, towards the support structure for coupling the dispensing structure with the support structure. The retention element (182) includes a first plate (186) and a second plate (188) longitudinally spaced apart from the first plate such that a slot (190) is defined therebetween, and wherein at least one of the sheets of the stack is adapted to pass through the slot.

A dispensing structure (102) for dispensing sheets, such as notes (106) or flags, that is adapted to be removably coupled with a support structure. A dispensing assembly comprising a stack (104) of sheets, such as notes or flags, and the dispensing structure. The dispensing structure comprises: a first clamping member (118) defining a first end (120) and a second end (122); a second clamping member (146) pivotally coupled to the first clamping member, the second clamping member defining a third end (148) and a fourth end (150), the second clamping member comprising: abase plate (152) defining an aperture (154); a retention element (182) laterally spaced apart from the base plate to define a space (184) therebetween, wherein a stack of a plurality of sheets are disposed within the space; and a plunger (200) slidable within the aperture of the base plate; and a biasing member (218) connected to the first clamping member proximate the first end thereof and to the second clamping member proximate the third end thereof, wherein the biasing member is adapted to bias the second end and the fourth end of the first and second clamping members, respectively, towards the support structure for coupling the dispensing structure with the support structure. The retention element (182) includes a first plate (186) and a second plate (188) longitudinally spaced apart from the first plate such that a slot (190) is defined therebetween, and wherein at least one of the sheets of the stack is adapted to pass through the slot.

A sheet conveyance device includes a shape detecting portion, and a switch control portion. The shape detecting portion detects a shape of a sheet at a detection position between a first conveyance member and a second conveyance member. The switch control portion, when a front end of the sheet has passed a arrangement position at which the first conveyance member is arranged, switches an detection interval at which the shape of the sheet is detected by the shape detecting portion, to a first interval that corresponds to a rotation speed of the first conveyance member, and when a rear end of the sheet has passed the arrangement position, switches the detection interval to a second interval that corresponds to the rotation speed of the second conveyance member.

A pick-up device picking up stacked sheet-shaped workpieces from the top, the device includes a nozzle mechanism that includes a pick-up nozzle pulling up a first workpiece from the top of the stacked workpieces by air blowing, and a holding mechanism that holds the first workpiece from the top. The pick-up nozzle includes a ventilation groove provided on a bottom surface opposite to an upper surface of the first workpiece from the top and passing through to an air blowing side end part of the bottom surface, and a nozzle port blowing air toward the air blowing side end part of the bottom surface along the inside of the ventilation groove, and the air blowing side end part of a groove inner bottom surface of the ventilation groove is formed in a shape directed in a direction of being separated from the workpiece.

A paper supply apparatus includes: a primary paper supply roller that feeds out and conveys a print medium from a paper tray on which the print medium is placed; resist rollers that a leading end of the print medium abuts to form a flexure in the print medium by temporarily ceasing conveyance, and rotate at a predetermined timing after this flexure is formed, to convey the print medium toward a conveyance mechanism; and a control unit that executes assist control that drives the primary paper supply roller during the time that the print medium is being conveyed by the resist rollers to assist conveyance of the print medium by the resist rollers. The control unit executes the assist control such that the flexure in the print medium remains at a point in time at which the leading end of the print medium reaches the conveyance mechanism.

The invention concerns a method of handling stacks of flexible substrates (14) by means of a gripper (8) as well as a robot cell (1) for carrying out the method. The gripper (8) is arranged on an arm (6) of a robot (2) and has a lower finger and a corresponding upper finger. The method comprises the steps of inserting said lower finger below a bottom substrate (14) of a stack resting on a base and said upper finger above a top substrate (14) of the stack, and gripping the stack by clamping it between said lower and upper finger. Then by means of the gripper (8) starting at a stack front the entire stack is lifted into a pendent state and moved to a support (16). There the stack is lowered such that a stack rear, which is opposite to said stack front, comes into contact with the support (16). Finally the entire stack is laid out on the support (16) with said bottom substrate (14) up by further lowering and while horizontally displacing the gripper (8) in a bottom-to-top substrate direction before letting the gripper (8) release the stack.

A feeder system for feeding a stack (101) of stackable flat, carton elements to a processing device: A delivery ramp (103) includes a receiving surface (104) on which an edge portion (111) and a center portion (116) of the stack (101) is arrangeable. A transport device (125) includes a supporting platform on which at least a further edge portion (115) of the stack (101) is supportable, wherein the supporting platform is arranged adjacent to the receiving surface (104) such that the further edge portion (115) of the stack (101) may be received. A downholder element (117), adjusts a size of a gap (705) between the downholder element and a supporting platform, such that the further edge portion (115) of the stack (101) is clampable between them. The transport device (125) is movable between the receiving position, at which the stack (101) may be received by the delivery ramp (103), and a hand over position at the processing device such that the stack (101) is movable from the receiving position to the hand over position.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes a second conveying roller adjoining a motor driven first conveying roller, a phase determiner to determine a rotational phase of a rotor of the motor, a controller, and a discriminator. The controller controls a drive current flowing through a winding of the motor to reduce phase deviation. The discriminator executes a discrimination regarding one of whether a front end of a sheet has reached a nip portion and whether a rear end of the sheet has passed through a nip portion. The controller controls such that the first conveying roller rotates at a first conveying roller peripheral velocity which is different from a peripheral velocity of the second conveying roller. The discriminator executes the discrimination based on a value of a parameter corresponding to a load torque applied to the rotor where the first conveying roller rotates at the first conveying roller peripheral velocity.

A sheet conveyance device includes a shape detecting portion, and a switch control portion. The shape detecting portion detects a shape of a sheet at a detection position between a first conveyance member and a second conveyance member. The switch control portion, when a front end of the sheet has passed a arrangement position at which the first conveyance member is arranged, switches an detection interval at which the shape of the sheet is detected by the shape detecting portion, to a first interval that corresponds to a rotation speed of the first conveyance member, and when a rear end of the sheet has passed the arrangement position, switches the detection interval to a second interval that corresponds to the rotation speed of the second conveyance member.

The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. A paper feed mechanism feeds paper that is separated from the stack by a stack separation mechanism to the cutter elements. The feed and separation mechanisms can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the stack separation mechanism moves in an alternating manner between retracted and extended positions to disengage and engage and insert the stack to separate (with its edge) paper therefrom to feed to the feed mechanism for shredding. The paper stack separation mechanism can move in an non-undulating manner relative to the stack. A device for stripping stapled pages, a pivotable support plate, and pressure plate can also be used, as well as a number of sensors.