An automated sheets processing system has a vertical stacks accumulating region (SAR) into which sheets are uninterruptedly fed to build vertical stacks for pre-specified loads including completed loads and newly building nascent loads. A tiltable Stacking Deck has a downstream discharge end from which the sheets can be fed at different elevational levels into the stacks accumulating region. A nascent sheets accumulator system has a plurality of support surfaces that are retractably interjectable into the stacks accumulating region for defining a separation gap between the top of a completed load and the bottommost sheet of a nascent new load. At least one of the support surfaces is retractably interjectable in an upstream direction into the stacks accumulating region while at least two others of the support surfaces are retractably interjectable in a downstream direction into the stacks accumulating region. One of the support surfaces has an anti-scuff feature.

An automated sheets processing system has a vertical stacks accumulating region (SAR) into which sheets are uninterruptedly fed to build vertical stacks for pre-specified loads including completed loads and newly building nascent loads. A tiltable Stacking Deck has a downstream discharge end from which the sheets can be fed at different elevational levels into the stacks accumulating region. A nascent sheets accumulator system has a plurality of support surfaces that are retractably interjectable into the stacks accumulating region for defining a separation gap between the top of a completed load and the bottommost sheet of a nascent new load. At least one of the support surfaces is retractably interjectable in an upstream direction into the stacks accumulating region while at least two others of the support surfaces are retractably interjectable in a downstream direction into the stacks accumulating region. One of the support surfaces has an anti-scuff feature.

A sheet transport device includes a sheet feeding tray, a reading device, a sheet feeding path, a discharge tray, a discharge path, a discharge elevation device, and a movable wall. On the sheet feeding tray, a plurality of sheets are placed. The discharge tray is located on a lower side of the sheet feeding tray, and receive the plurality of sheets. The discharge path delivers the sheet to the discharge tray. The discharge elevation device moves the discharge path up and down. The discharge path includes a discharge outlet that moves up and down, in a range between the sheet feeding tray and the discharge tray, following an up and downward movement of the discharge path. The movable wall is provided between the discharge outlet and the sheet feeding tray, and changes a posture according to the up and downward movement of the discharge path and the discharge outlet.

A sheet transport device includes a sheet feeding tray, a reading device, a sheet feeding path, a discharge tray, a discharge path, a discharge elevation device, and a movable wall. On the sheet feeding tray, a plurality of sheets are placed. The discharge tray is located on a lower side of the sheet feeding tray, and receive the plurality of sheets. The discharge path delivers the sheet to the discharge tray. The discharge elevation device moves the discharge path up and down. The discharge path includes a discharge outlet that moves up and down, in a range between the sheet feeding tray and the discharge tray, following an up and downward movement of the discharge path. The movable wall is provided between the discharge outlet and the sheet feeding tray, and changes a posture according to the up and downward movement of the discharge path and the discharge outlet.

In some examples, a media stacker includes a drawer defining a chamber, and a plurality of moving elements to engage media sheets of different sizes as the media sheets are output from a system. The plurality of moving elements are to slide the media sheets to a target position in the drawer, and the plurality of moving elements are to disengage from the media sheets once the media sheets have reached the target position. A plurality of retaining elements are to engage the media sheets of the different sizes as the media sheets slide into the drawer.

In some examples, a media stacker includes a drawer defining a chamber, and a plurality of moving elements to engage media sheets of different sizes as the media sheets are output from a system. The plurality of moving elements are to slide the media sheets to a target position in the drawer, and the plurality of moving elements are to disengage from the media sheets once the media sheets have reached the target position. A plurality of retaining elements are to engage the media sheets of the different sizes as the media sheets slide into the drawer.

A sheet stacking system for transporting sheets and depositing them in a stack includes a layboy, a transport conveyor downstream of the layboy, and a main conveyor downstream of the transport conveyor, the main conveyor having a frame and being supported by a conveyor support, a discharge end of the main conveyor being movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the conveyor support. The main conveyor intake end is configured to move from a first position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the lowered position to a second position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the raised position, and also a variable length conveyor between the transport conveyor and the main conveyor, the variable length conveyor having a discharge end connected to and movable with the main conveyor intake end and movable relative to the transport conveyor discharge end.

A sheet stacking system for transporting sheets and depositing them in a stack includes a layboy, a transport conveyor downstream of the layboy, and a main conveyor downstream of the transport conveyor, the main conveyor having a frame and being supported by a conveyor support, a discharge end of the main conveyor being movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the conveyor support. The main conveyor intake end is configured to move from a first position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the lowered position to a second position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the raised position, and also a variable length conveyor between the transport conveyor and the main conveyor, the variable length conveyor having a discharge end connected to and movable with the main conveyor intake end and movable relative to the transport conveyor discharge end.

A device for transferring pre-formed layers of objects to the top of a pallet. The device has a guide column (2), a depositing head (4) designed to deposit the layers (11) on top of one another on the pallet (6), and a receiving tray (3) for receiving a pre-formed layer of objects. The receiving tray (3) is movable relative to the depositing head (4). The depositing head (4) and the receiving tray (3) is each slidably mounted in cantilever fashion on the guide column (2).

A reading apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a document, a feeding tray on which the document to be read by the reading unit is stacked, a feeding roller that feeds the document from the feeding tray to a position where the document is read by the reading unit, a feeding pressure plate that presses the document against the feeding roller so that the document is pinched between the feeding roller and the feeding pressure plate, and a discharge roller that discharges the document read by the reading unit to underneath the feeding pressure plate, wherein a position of the discharge roller moves depending on a number of documents pinched between the feeding roller and the feeding pressure plate.