Patent classifications
B65H31/3009
Automatic napkin dispenser
The present application provides a napkin dispenser for dispensing a number of folded napkins from a sheet material to an end user. The napkin dispenser may include a loading station for loading the sheet material, a folding station for folding a napkin from the sheet material, and a presentation station for presenting one or more of the folded napkins to the end user.
Post-processing apparatus and image forming system
A post-processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit that transports sheets such that at least two of the sheets are transported while being stacked on top of one another, the sheets being sent to the buffer unit from an image forming unit; and a compilation tray that is inclined with respect to a direction opposite to a direction in which the sheets are transported in the buffer unit such that the sheets, which are supplied from the buffer unit, are transported into the compilation tray from above the compilation tray and stacked onto a placement surface as a stack of sheets.
Finisher output bin assembly
A system for presenting media sheets includes a finisher output bin assembly. The finisher output bin assembly includes a translatable output floor, and a guide substrate coupled to the translatable output floor to guide the translatable output floor relative to the guide substrate in at least one coordinate direction. The finisher output bin assembly includes an output structure mechanically coupled to the translatable output floor to drive the translatable output floor relative to the guide substrate.
Sheet processing apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first tray that holds a sheet transported to the sheet processing apparatus in a sheet transport direction. A second tray is provided below the first tray and holds the sheet moved from the first tray. A first member, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, rotates about a turning shaft, and presses a first portion of the sheet toward the second tray by making a pressing portion of the first member contact with the first portion. A second member, when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, protrudes toward the second tray at a position between the turning shaft and the pressing portion of the first member, and presses a second portion of the sheet toward the second tray, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion.
Automated mail tray loading system and method
Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a system and method for loading mail trays in a sorter without human intervention. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments utilize an automated mail tray having a bottom plate that is selectively moveable between an elevated position and a lowered position. The automated mail tray may be positioned on a shelf under a corresponding output pocket of a mail stacker, and the bottom plate may be elevated to receive mail product transferred from the output pocket to the automated mail tray. After receiving the mail product on the elevated bottom plate, the bottom plate of the mail tray may be lowered so that the mail product is transferred from the output pocket to a position fully situated in the automated mail tray. The mail tray filled with mail product may then be removed from the shelf and replaced with an empty automated mail tray.
Stacking apparatus
There is provided a stacking apparatus capable of stably conveying and stacking sheets without occurrence of damage or buckling of the sheets in the structure of discharging the curled sheets one by one. In regard to each of a plurality of clamp guides which project toward stacking trays from a conveyor to guide sheets S, the projecting position varies in accordance with a size and an amount of stacked sheets on the stack trays. The stacking tray comprises an inclined surface and a curved surface. An upper guide is located to face the inclined surface by a predetermined interval, and the upper guide is located not to face the curved surface or is located to face it by an interval larger than a predetermined interval.
STACKER HOPPER WITH FEED INTERRUPT
A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.
FINISHER OUTPUT BIN ASSEMBLY
A system for presenting media sheets incudes a finisher output bin assembly. The finisher output bin assembly includes a translatable output floor, and a guide substrate coupled to the translatable output floor to guide the translatable output floor relative to the guide substrate in at least one coordinate direction. The finisher output bin assembly includes an output structure mechanically coupled to the translatable output floor to drive the translatable output floor relative to the guide substrate.
Dual-stage sheet stacking and dropping apparatus
A method for rapidly stacking and dropping sheets is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of sheets from a sheet delivery device onto a landing platform of a stacking and dropping apparatus. The method also comprises lowering the landing platform from an original upper position. Lowering comprises maintaining a drop height between the sheet delivery device and a stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a delay signal that comprises a command to delay the receiving of the plurality of sheets from the sheet delivery device. The delay signal is sent in response to a detection of a predetermined stack height of the stack of delivered sheets. The method also comprises sending a movement signal, immediately following the sending of the delay signal. The movement signal comprises a command to move the landing platform, such that the plurality of sheets are received by a catch tray unit. The method also comprises dropping, utilizing the catch tray unit, the plurality of sheets onto a sheet receiving device. The method also comprises returning, automatically, the landing platform to the original upper position. The method also comprises sending a resume signal, that includes a command to the sheet delivery device to resume sheet delivery. The delay signal, movement signal and resume signal are sent by a central processor component of the stacking and dropping apparatus.
Document folder having a controlled drop feeder
This disclosure describes various aspect of a unique standalone document handler that is coupable to and controllable by a fulfillment. The standalone documents handler is attachable to a standard printer or copier and has a drop chute that is designed to hold groups of fulfillment documents and drop them into a fulfillment receptacle positioned under the document handler. Upper and lower scanners scan document identification codes placed on one or more pages of the fulfillment document, which allows a system controller to control the timing of dispensing the correct documents in the designated fulfillment receptacle at the correct time.