Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item in a receptacle are disclosed. Features are disclosed for receiving and guiding an item in a receiving space of a receptacle so as to attenuate or remove the impact force of the item on the receptacle. Some embodiments of the disclosure include a bumper having an impact surface which absorbs most or all of the impact force of the item and thereby mitigates or removes the imposition of cyclic impact loads on the receptacle from repeated receipt of items. The bumper may be structurally and/or functionally de-coupled or otherwise physically separated from the receptacle such that an advantageous division of labor is created between absorbing the impact and receiving the item. This disclosure may be useful, for example, in modern industrial operations where a high volume of items are received daily, such as in mail sorting and handling operations.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking member having a separation unit and an opening portion disposed upstream from the separation unit, a feeding member, and a moving device that includes a slope portion having a slope along which sheets are guided toward the separation unit. The moving device moves the stacking member between a first position where the feeding member and sheets stacked on the stacking member are in contact with each other, and a second position where the feeding member and the sheets are not in contact with each other. When the stacking member is at the first position, the slope portion is disposed at a position lower than the separation unit in a vertical direction. When the stacking member is at the second position, the slope portion is disposed to protrude via the opening portion to be higher than a stacking surface of the stacking member.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking member having a separation unit and an opening portion disposed upstream from the separation unit, a feeding member, and a moving device that includes a slope portion having a slope along which sheets are guided toward the separation unit. The moving device moves the stacking member between a first position where the feeding member and sheets stacked on the stacking member are in contact with each other, and a second position where the feeding member and the sheets are not in contact with each other. When the stacking member is at the first position, the slope portion is disposed at a position lower than the separation unit in a vertical direction. When the stacking member is at the second position, the slope portion is disposed to protrude via the opening portion to be higher than a stacking surface of the stacking member.

A paper sheet stacking device includes: a conveyance mechanism that conveys paper sheets; a stacking mechanism including a stacking space in which the paper sheets, which are conveyed by the conveyance mechanism, are stacked, a first space regulating member that moves in a thickness direction of the paper sheets in the stacking space, a support member that extends in the moving direction of the first space regulating member and supports one side of the paper sheets in the stacking space, and a second space regulating member that is provided to face the support member and moves in a direction toward and away from the support member; and a controller that controls the stacking mechanism. The controller controls a position of the second space regulating member in accordance with an outer dimension of the paper sheets that are conveyed into the stacking space by the conveyance mechanism.

According to some embodiments, a stacking assembly accepts mail-pieces traveling from a re-direct mechanism in a first direction and urges a leading edge portion of a mail-piece toward a registration wall of a sortation bin. The stacking assembly may include a plurality of neighboring cam shafts, each with at least one cam, arranged along the first direction, such that rotation of the cam shafts results in synchronized rotation of the cams to guide an incoming mail-piece. Rotation of the cam shafts may also urge a previously stacked mail-piece away from the cams, and into the sortation bin, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to some embodiments, a stacking assembly accepts mail-pieces traveling from a re-direct mechanism in a first direction and urges a leading edge portion of a mail-piece toward a registration wall of a sortation bin. The stacking assembly may include a plurality of neighboring cam shafts, each with at least one cam, arranged along the first direction, such that rotation of the cam shafts results in synchronized rotation of the cams to guide an incoming mail-piece. Rotation of the cam shafts may also urge a previously stacked mail-piece away from the cams, and into the sortation bin, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

A stacker of the disclosure is disposed at an ejection opening of a processing apparatus. A support member of the stacker is movable toward an upstream side and a downstream side in an ejecting direction, receives each of the media ejected through the ejection opening, and supports the medium in such an orientation that the medium is inclined with an end edge of the medium on the downstream side in the ejecting direction positioned above an end edge of the medium on the upstream side in the ejecting direction and that the end edge of the medium on the upstream side in the ejecting direction abuts the stacking surface. A receding mechanism of the stacker causes the support member to recede toward the downstream side. A position maintaining mechanism of the stacker maintains a position of the support member having been moved by the receding mechanism.

A stacker of the disclosure is disposed at an ejection opening of a processing apparatus. A support member of the stacker is movable toward an upstream side and a downstream side in an ejecting direction, receives each of the media ejected through the ejection opening, and supports the medium in such an orientation that the medium is inclined with an end edge of the medium on the downstream side in the ejecting direction positioned above an end edge of the medium on the upstream side in the ejecting direction and that the end edge of the medium on the upstream side in the ejecting direction abuts the stacking surface. A receding mechanism of the stacker causes the support member to recede toward the downstream side. A position maintaining mechanism of the stacker maintains a position of the support member having been moved by the receding mechanism.

According to some embodiments, a stacking assembly accepts mail-pieces traveling from a re-direct mechanism in a first direction and urges a leading edge portion of a mail-piece toward a registration wall of a sortation bin. The stacking assembly may include a plurality of neighboring cam shafts, each with at least one cam, arranged along the first direction, such that rotation of the cam shafts results in synchronized rotation of the cams to guide an incoming mail-piece. Rotation of the cam shafts may also urge a previously stacked mail-piece away from the cams, and into the sortation bin, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

According to some embodiments, a stacking assembly accepts mail-pieces traveling from a re-direct mechanism in a first direction and urges a leading edge portion of a mail-piece toward a registration wall of a sortation bin. The stacking assembly may include a plurality of neighboring cam shafts, each with at least one cam, arranged along the first direction, such that rotation of the cam shafts results in synchronized rotation of the cams to guide an incoming mail-piece. Rotation of the cam shafts may also urge a previously stacked mail-piece away from the cams, and into the sortation bin, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.