A method and apparatus for processing documents are provided. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving a packet of a plurality of documents and separating the documents to serially feed the documents to a scanner. A retard adjacent the feeder is operable in first and second positions. In the first position the retard forms a nip with the feeder so that the retard is operable to impede the progress of one or more documents in the packet while the feeder feeds one of the documents in the packet. In the second position, the retard is spaced apart from the feeder to form a gap between the feeder and the retard. The system further includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the documents in a packet indicative of whether the number of documents in the packet exceeds a predetermined threshold. A drive mechanism automatically drives the retard pad between the first and second positions in response to the detected characteristic

A holding device (1) for a succession of sheet-shaped elements circulating in a processing machine (100) along conveying path T. The holding device (1) has two series (10, 20) of a plurality of suction members (11, 21). At least one series of suction members 20 extends along and is movably mounted parallel to the transport path T of the sheets, between a retracted position and a deployed position. Each series is in an array, parallel to the transport path and the suction members are arranged spaced apart alongside one another, so that the array of members extend perpendicular to the conveying path T of the sheets and the suction members (11, 21) of each series (10, 20) are transversely offset relative to the suction members (11, 21) of the other series (10, 20).

A media stacker (100) comprises a stacking platform (102), a feed mechanism (104), a media arresting mechanism (106) and a controller (108). The feed mechanism conveys media sheets for dispensing onto the stacking platform, wherein the media sheets are dispensed onto the stacking platform with a momentum imparted by the feed mechanism. The media arresting mechanism reduces the momentum of media sheets. The controller determines that a trailing edge of a media sheet is to be dispensed onto the stacking platform, and further control the media arresting apparatus to reduce the momentum of the media sheet in response to the determination.

A media stacker (100) comprises a stacking platform (102), a feed mechanism (104), a media arresting mechanism (106) and a controller (108). The feed mechanism conveys media sheets for dispensing onto the stacking platform, wherein the media sheets are dispensed onto the stacking platform with a momentum imparted by the feed mechanism. The media arresting mechanism reduces the momentum of media sheets. The controller determines that a trailing edge of a media sheet is to be dispensed onto the stacking platform, and further control the media arresting apparatus to reduce the momentum of the media sheet in response to the determination.

An image forming apparatus comprises a first conveyance unit, an image forming unit, a second conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls, in a case where a sheet stacking condition of the stacking unit does not satisfy a predetermined stacking condition, the second conveyance unit to convey the sheet at a second conveyance speed that is faster than the first conveyance speed. The control unit controls, in a case where the sheet stacking condition of the stacking unit satisfies the predetermined stacking condition, the second conveyance unit to convey the sheet at a third conveyance speed that is slower than the second conveyance speed.

A holding device for holding an element in sheet form 10 during its phase of insertion into a work station 300 of a converting machine 1. The holding device 310 includes a suction member 320 able to partially hold each sheet 10 by its rear portion during insertion of the sheet 10 into the work station 300. The holding device also includes a blower 330 able to flatten the rear portion of each sheet 10 against the suction member 320 during the phase of insertion.

There is provided a sheet post-processing device that has a first tray, outlet rollers, and a control section. The first tray holds sheets for post-processing with respect to the sheets supplied from an image forming device. The outlet rollers discharge the sheet to the first tray. The control section controls a rotational speed of the outlet rollers to be decelerated after a leading end portion of the sheet passes through the outlet rollers and before the leading end portion of the sheet comes into contact with the first tray.

There is provided a sheet post-processing device that has a first tray, outlet rollers, and a control section. The first tray holds sheets for post-processing with respect to the sheets supplied from an image forming device. The outlet rollers discharge the sheet to the first tray. The control section controls a rotational speed of the outlet rollers to be decelerated after a leading end portion of the sheet passes through the outlet rollers and before the leading end portion of the sheet comes into contact with the first tray.

A delivery system is used for delivering printed sheets which can be fed in a region of an inlet side of a delivery device. The delivery device includes at least one first discharge station and one second discharge station which is mounted downstream of the first discharge station, which is upstream in the transport path. The delivery stations are associated respectively with a format or transport-relevant device which can be controlled by a drive including a control element for adapting or correcting the guiding and delivery of the sheets in the relevant discharge station. At a delivery device level upstream of a lateral inlet in a stacking space of the upstream second discharge station, at least one operator interface, with at least one actuating device is provided. The at least one actuating device can be permanently connected to a signal or can be activated by an additional actuating device, with the control element of the at least one format- or transport-relevant device of the first discharge station and which allows or which can allow, during actuation, the control element of the system of the first discharge station which can vary with regard to the format- or transport-relevant size format, to be controlled.

During the operation of a delivery device, having a first and a second stack delivery, in a transport direction, in which a first braking device is provided in the transport path of sheets which are conveyed by a conveyor system along a transport path in the entry region of the first stack delivery, and in which a second braking device is provided in the input area of the second stack delivery, the sheets to be printed, which come into the first braking device come in in a form- or friction-locking operative contact with an active surface of a holding means comprised by the braking device. The active surface coming into this operative contact with the sheet to be printed is moved forcibly by a drive in the transport direction. In a first operating mode, during a form- or friction-fit interaction between the sheet and the active surface, a speed for the movement of the active surface is reduced from a first speed to a comparatively lower stacking speed. The first braking device is operated in a second operating mode for a subsequently incoming sheet that is to be deposited on a stack of the second stack delivery. The active surface is moved, for at least the entire duration of the existing form- or friction-fit operating contact, with a speed between the respect sheet and the active surface. That speed corresponds approximately, i.e. with a deviation of 10%, to the conveying speed of the conveyor system.