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 sheet conveying apparatus includes: a supporter having a support surface configured to support sheets; a supplier having a conveying surface exposed from the support surface and moved to supply one or more sheets; a separator including a separating roller and a retard roller located downstream of the supplier; and an inclined surface disposed upstream of the nip position and pivotable about a pivot axis. The inclined surface has a first end portion and a second end portion, and the second end portion is located downstream of the first end portion. The inclined surface is inclined such that the second end portion is nearer to the support surface than the first end portion. The first end portion is located upstream of a downstream end portion of the conveying surface. The second end portion is spaced apart from the conveying surface.

A feeding device for digital processing machine includes a paper passage, a friction device, and a sheet-feeding module. The sheet-feeding module is disposed in the paper passage and opposite to the friction device. The sheet-feeding module includes a sheet-feeding roller, a first idle wheel, and a belt. The sheet-feeding roller is for separating a sheet with the friction device. The first idle wheel is disposed in the upstream side of the sheet-feeding roller. The belt encircles the first idle wheel and the axle of the sheet-feeding roller. The sheet-feeding module rotates from a first position to a second position when the sheet-feeding roller rotates, such that the belt contacts the sheet when the sheet-feeding module is at the second position.

A medium feed device includes a feed roller provided to a device body and configured to feed paper, a separator roller provided at a position on the device body facing the feed roller and configured to separate the paper, and a medium support section configured to support the medium in an inclined state upstream of the feed roller. The medium support section is configured with a variable contact angle between the paper supported by the medium support section and the separator roller.

A paper sheet feeding unit includes: a plurality of feed rollers; a plurality of gate rollers respectively disposed opposite to the plurality of feed rollers in a one-to-one relationship; a biasing member that biases the plurality of gate rollers individually in a direction of the plurality of feed rollers; and a supporting member that supports the plurality of gate rollers and the biasing member.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a supporter having a support surface configured to support sheets; a supplier having a conveying surface exposed from the support surface and moved to supply one or more sheets; a separator including a separating roller and a retard roller located downstream of the supplier; and an inclined surface disposed upstream of the nip position and pivotable about a pivot axis. The inclined surface has a first end portion and a second end portion, and the second end portion is located downstream of the first end portion. The inclined surface is inclined such that the second end portion is nearer to the support surface than the first end portion. The first end portion is located upstream of a downstream end portion of the conveying surface. The second end portion is spaced apart from the conveying surface.

An individualization station has a supply deck for supplying flat goods to a goods processing apparatus following in the transport path in the transport direction x of a Cartesian coordinate system, with openings in the supply deck for a drum in an individualization region, and with individualization assembly as well as with a contact pressure box. The contact pressure box is movable in the z-direction, and has a linkage that is pivotable at a downstream end. An individualization assembly carrier forms an L-shape at an upstream end of the linkage that is pivotable in the contact pressure box. A stop side of the undeflected individualization assembly carrier is aligned parallel to the y/z-plane and extends counter to a y-direction. The individualization assembly carrier can be deflected above the supply deck at a variable distance corresponding to the thickness of the flat good to be individualized, and is adjustable in the y-direction and counter thereto by an adjustment assembly.

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 drop feeder conveys the document packets to the feeder. A sensor provides information related to the thickness of the document packets and the drop feeder is controlled in response to the information related to the thickness of a packet in the feeder. The method includes the control of the drop feeder in response to information related to the thickness of a document packet at the feeder.

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 feeding device for a digital processing machine includes a paper passage, a sheet-feeding roller, a friction device, and a slide. The sheet-feeding roller is disposed in the paper passage, and the friction device is disposed opposite to the sheet-feeding roller. The sheet-feeding roller separates a sheet with the friction device. The slide is disposed at a left side and a right side of the sheet-feeding roller. The slide is lowered from a first position to a second position when the sheet-feeding roller rotates, such that the sheet contacts the sheet-feeding roller.