A separator (1) for temporarily receiving sheet elements (9) that are to be transferred from a stacking table (2) to an output conveyor (3) of bundles of sheet elements comprises: a support (10) mounted with the ability to slide in a vertical direction; a drive device (11) for driving the support in the vertical direction; several arms (13) extending in a longitudinal horizontal direction, spaced apart in a transverse direction, at least one arm (13) being mounted with the ability to move in the longitudinal horizontal direction with respect to the support, the movement of the arm modifying its overhanging length with respect to the support (10) on a first side in the longitudinal horizontal direction; a drive system (12) configured to simultaneously move the arm in the longitudinal horizontal direction and to keep another of the arms in its longitudinal position.

An example finisher includes a first portion extending in a vertical direction, a second portion including an entrance to receive paper as a finishing process target, and a finishing unit to perform a finishing process, the second portion extending from the first portion in a lateral direction, a stacker to receive paper discharged from the finishing unit and which extends in an opposite direction to the second portion based on the first portion, and an elevation driving unit provided on the first portion to elevate the stacker in a vertical direction.

An example finisher includes a first portion extending in a vertical direction, a second portion including an entrance to receive paper as a finishing process target, and a finishing unit to perform a finishing process, the second portion extending from the first portion in a lateral direction, a stacker to receive paper discharged from the finishing unit and which extends in an opposite direction to the second portion based on the first portion, and an elevation driving unit provided on the first portion to elevate the stacker in a vertical direction.

The present invention provides a paper sheet handling device that can calculate the number of paper sheets in a paper sheet batch being transported on a transport route without requiring complicated processing. The paper sheet handling device includes a transport unit that can transport a paper sheet batch, a shifting unit that shifts according to the thickness of the paper sheet batch when the paper sheet batch is transported, a generating unit that generates thickness information based on a shift amount of the shifting unit, a memory unit that memorizes reference information determined based on the thickness of one paper sheet, and a calculating unit that calculates the number of paper sheets in the paper sheet batch from the thickness information and the reference information.

The present invention provides a paper sheet handling device that can calculate the number of paper sheets in a paper sheet batch being transported on a transport route without requiring complicated processing. The paper sheet handling device includes a transport unit that can transport a paper sheet batch, a shifting unit that shifts according to the thickness of the paper sheet batch when the paper sheet batch is transported, a generating unit that generates thickness information based on a shift amount of the shifting unit, a memory unit that memorizes reference information determined based on the thickness of one paper sheet, and a calculating unit that calculates the number of paper sheets in the paper sheet batch from the thickness information and the reference information.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising first and second pallet supports to engage pallets in at least a first and a second pallet location. The first pallet location positions a pallet to receive output from a print press. The second pallet location is a pre-use pallet holding location. The apparatus further comprises an actuator to move the first and second pallet supports to transfer a first pallet away from the first pallet location and a second pallet from the second pallet holding location to the first pallet location. A method of transferring pallets is also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting items of media along a transport path. The apparatus comprises at least one clamp member to apply a clamp force to a bunch of media items located between a support surface and said clamp member, wherein said clamp member is selectively moveable towards or away from said support surface to apply a predetermined clamp force to the bunch of media items.

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a processing tray, a longitudinal alignment mechanism, a horizontal alignment mechanism and an interlocking mechanism. The processing tray can stack a sheet. The longitudinal alignment mechanism includes a rotatable paddle. The longitudinal alignment mechanism can align the sheets stacked on the processing tray in a sheet conveyance direction. The horizontal alignment mechanism includes a horizontal alignment plate movable in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. The horizontal alignment mechanism can align the sheets placed on the processing tray in the sheet width direction. The interlocking mechanism interlocks the paddle in the sheet width direction in synchronization with the movement of the horizontal alignment plate in the sheet width direction.

A method and a device for stacking flat items in order to form stacks with a predefined number of flat items by means of a stacking wheel has the following steps: a) introducing flat items into compartments of the stacking wheel, b) transporting the flat items in the compartments of the stacking wheel, c) removing the flat items from the compartments of the stacking wheel and forming a stack with the predefined number of flat items, and d) removing the stack with the predefined number of flat items, wherein, after introduction of the predefined number of flat items into the compartments of the stacking wheel, no flat item is introduced into at least one subsequent compartment of the stacking wheel, and repeating steps a) through d).

A sheet handling apparatus (e.g., banknote insertion/discharge mechanism 20) includes a transport unit (e.g., first transport unit 30) configured to transport a sheet (e.g., banknote) in a first transport path 30a; and driving units 36m and 38m configured to move, along the width direction of the first transport path 30a, at least portions of guiding members 36 and 38 forming edges of the first transport path 30a.