A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets is provided with a delivery roller for delivering sheets on a stack tray, and an air blower mechanism for blowing air to the sheets on the stack tray, and selects to execute one of first operation for blowing air to the sheets to handle the sheets on the stack tray in a state in which the delivery roller is brought into contact with the sheets stacked on the stack tray, and second operation for blowing air to the sheets on the stack tray to handle the sheets in a state in which the delivery roller is retracted from the sheets stacked on the stack tray.

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets is provided with a delivery roller for delivering sheets on a stack tray, and an air blower mechanism for blowing air to the sheets on the stack tray, and selects to execute one of first operation for blowing air to the sheets to handle the sheets on the stack tray in a state in which the delivery roller is brought into contact with the sheets stacked on the stack tray, and second operation for blowing air to the sheets on the stack tray to handle the sheets in a state in which the delivery roller is retracted from the sheets stacked on the stack tray.

A paper feeder for transporting paper sheets, includes: a head fan that blows air on the paper sheets; a suction fan that applies negative pressure to the paper sheets blown by the head fan; a switching member that changes the direction of the air from the head fan; a head shutter that blocks the flow of the air directed by the switching member; and a hardware processor that determines the blocking time of the airflow, wherein the switching member changes the air direction between a first direction for floating the paper sheets and a second direction toward the suction fan, and the hardware processor determines stop timing of the air blow in the second direction directed by the switching member as the start timing of clocking the blocking time of the airflow, based on the weight and the resistance to an external force of the paper sheets.

A paper feeder for transporting paper sheets, includes: a head fan that blows air on the paper sheets; a suction fan that applies negative pressure to the paper sheets blown by the head fan; a switching member that changes the direction of the air from the head fan; a head shutter that blocks the flow of the air directed by the switching member; and a hardware processor that determines the blocking time of the airflow, wherein the switching member changes the air direction between a first direction for floating the paper sheets and a second direction toward the suction fan, and the hardware processor determines stop timing of the air blow in the second direction directed by the switching member as the start timing of clocking the blocking time of the airflow, based on the weight and the resistance to an external force of the paper sheets.

A medium feeding device includes: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.

A medium feeding device includes: multiple transporters each including a stacking unit on which a medium is stackable in a vertical direction, a feeder that feeds air to multiple media, each of which is the medium, stacked on the stacking unit to cause the multiple media to float and separate, a delivery unit that successively delivers the media floated and separated by the feeder, and a detector that detects a state of the medium floated and separated by the feeder; and at least one processor configured to: upon detection of a state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector of one of the multiple transporters during transport, switch to another transporter at a predetermined timing to feed the medium; and upon detection of the state of possibility of jam or multi feeding of the medium by the detector, change an amount of air feed by the feeder of the one transporter before being switched.

A feeding support apparatus includes a processor configured to: present plural parameters related to blowing conditions of a plural blowing units that support feeding by blowing air to paper accommodated in a paper storing unit; blow air from the plural blowing units based on the plural parameters and perform feeding from the paper storing unit in a case where an instruction for test-feeding based on the plural presented parameters is given; present a correction parameter obtained by correcting at least one of the plural parameters in a case where an error has occurred during feeding from the paper storing unit; and blow air from the plural blowing units based on the correction parameter and perform feeding from the paper storing unit in a case where an instruction for test-feeding based on the presented correction parameter is given.

A feeding support apparatus includes a processor configured to: present plural parameters related to blowing conditions of a plural blowing units that support feeding by blowing air to paper accommodated in a paper storing unit; blow air from the plural blowing units based on the plural parameters and perform feeding from the paper storing unit in a case where an instruction for test-feeding based on the plural presented parameters is given; present a correction parameter obtained by correcting at least one of the plural parameters in a case where an error has occurred during feeding from the paper storing unit; and blow air from the plural blowing units based on the correction parameter and perform feeding from the paper storing unit in a case where an instruction for test-feeding based on the presented correction parameter is given.