A center-alignment apparatus for use in an ATM has a transport mechanism to transport a document into the ATM. One or more plates operable in tandem to move the document toward a centerline of a path the document is to travel. Edge-detection sensor(s) on the plate sense an edge of the document when the plate(s) is moved toward the centerline. A translate/rotate mechanism translates and rotates the document while the translate/rotate mechanism transversely moves the document toward the center until another edge-detection sensor detects an edge of the document to create a parallel-aligned document. The control logic controls the plate(s) to centers the parallel-aligned document about the centerline to create a centered document.

In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

In a paper cassette, a guide slides on a tray to place a sheet at a proper position. A lift mechanism uses a restoring force of an elastic member to push up the tray and make the sheet on the tray approach a pickup roller. When the paper cassette is pushed by a user from an opened position, which is out of the housing of a printer, to a closed position, which is in the housing, an adjuster mechanism mechanically converts a force of the user pushing the paper cassette to the restoring force of the elastic member from a time the guide reaches a specific point on a trajectory along which the guide travels together with the paper cassette, thus adjusting the strength of the restoring force continuously to a distance by which the guide overruns the specific point.

A sheet stacking device includes a pair of first sheet stackers, a pair of sheet alignment members, a second sheet stacker, a sheet removal portion, and control circuitry. The first sheet stackers stack both end portions of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet ejecting direction. The sheet alignment members contact both ends of the sheet in the orthogonal direction to align the sheet on the first sheet stackers. The second sheet stacker is disposed lower than the first sheet stackers and stacks the sheet dropped from between the first sheet stackers. The sheet removal portion is disposed on one side in the orthogonal direction. The control circuitry causes one of the first sheet stackers and one of the sheet alignment members to move toward an opposite side of the sheet removal portion in the orthogonal direction after the sheet is dropped from between the first sheet stackers.

A vacuum lifter apparatus for lifting sheet material articles comprises an upper chassis, a modular lower suction plate supported beneath the chassis, a controller and a source of vacuum air pressure, the suction plate comprising a suction lifting surface for providing vacuum lifting pressure to said articles. The modular suction plate has plural side-by-side modules, each module providing a different portion of the suction lifting surface and having one or more air outlets, outlets of one module separate from outlets of other modules and in fluid communication with the corresponding portion of the suction lifting surface and not with different portions of the suction lifting surface. The chassis comprises at least one air outlet connected to said source of vacuum air pressure, and a plurality of separate air flow channels through the chassis. Each air flow channel has an associated air flow valve and a valve actuator.

An escrow unit has an escrow wheel and a movable-continuous belt. The escrow wheel rotates about an axis. The movable-continuous belt is wrapped partially around the escrow wheel forming an open gap between the belt and escrow wheel. The open gap allows the belt to transport a document through the open gap and to store the document by holding the document between the belt and the escrow wheel.

A detection system for detecting double sheets being supplied to a lateral positioning device (100) for a sheet element (20, 20) in a sheet element processing machine. The machine has a drive system including a cam disk (174) and a cam follower lever (172). The detection system includes a detector lever (130) mounted so as to be displaceable between a sheet receiving position and a detection position. The detector lever (130) has a sheet sensing end (132) for engagement with an upper face of the sheet element (20, 20) when being in the detection position, and a position detector end (133) for cooperating, when being in the detection position, with a position detector (140) adapted for generating a signal dependent on the thickness of the sheet element (20, 20), and further includes a raising lever (170) for raising the sheet sensing end (132) of the detector lever (130). The raising lever (170) is mounted on the cam follower lever (172) of the sheet element processing machine. Further disclosed is a sheet element processing machine including a detection system as outlined above, mounted in an introduction station (10) upstream of a processing station.