A system for gathering one or more mail items. The system includes a first gathering mechanism configured to press against a first of the mail or other articles, wherein the first gathering mechanism is configured to expand from a compact state to an expanded state. The area of surface contact between a first one of the one or more mail items and the first gathering mechanism increases when the first holder mechanism is in the expanded state.

A sheet handling apparatus configured to feed sheets from outside into the sheet handling apparatus, transport the fed sheets in a storage area which is outside of a storage bag in the sheet handling apparatus and store the transported sheets in the storage bag includes: a holder configured to be capable of detachably holding the storage bag; a pushing member configured to push a plurality of sheets transported in the storage area into the storage bag through the opening of the storage bag; and a pressing member configured to press the sheets stored in the storage bag held by the holder.

A magazine for packs of blanks includes a vertical channel configured for inserting and extracting packs of blanks, a succession of groups of supporting parts movable between a retracted position to allow the packs of blanks to move along the channel towards a portion under the supporting part, and an at least partly extracted position, in which the supporting part intercepts a pack of blanks moving down the channel and provides a steady support for the pack of blanks, and transmission means configured to automatically move each supporting part from the retracted position to the at least partly extracted position when the supporting part immediately below it intercepts a respective pack of blanks, thereby defining the steady support.

The sheet storage apparatus of the present disclosure includes an attachment unit to which a storing bag for sheets is attached; a holding unit that holds the sheets toward an inner side in a storage direction of the storing bag attached to the attachment unit, the sheets being stacked and stored in the storing bag; and a closing unit that closes an entrance of the storing bag by sandwiching the storing bag from outside thereof. The closing unit closes the entrance by moving from a first position to a second position, the first position being a position before the closing unit starts sandwiching the storing bag, the second position being a position when the closing unit sandwiches the storing bag. The closing unit passes through the inner side in the storage direction than the first position between moving from the first position to the second position.

A sheet handling apparatus configured to feed sheets from outside into the sheet handling apparatus, transport the fed sheets in a storage area which is outside of a storage bag in the sheet handling apparatus and store the transported sheets in the storage bag includes: a holder configured to be capable of detachably holding the storage bag; a pushing member configured to push a plurality of sheets transported in the storage area into the storage bag through the opening of the storage bag; and a pressing member configured to press the sheets stored in the storage bag held by the holder.

An automated system for transferring articles from a container. An item transfer system includes retainers configured to secure a first tray and a second tray, a movable paddle assembly, a frame, and a plurality of actuators. The system is configured to transfer articles from the first tray to the second tray by an automated process including securing the articles within the first tray with the paddle assembly, rotating the frame by approximately 90° to 100°, moving the paddle assembly in a series of linear translations to remove the items from the first tray and place the items into the second tray, rotating the frame back to its initial orientation, and releasing the items into the second tray.

According to one embodiment, a delivery accumulating apparatus includes a collection base which is capable of accumulating a plurality of deliveries to be sequentially overlapped in a standing state in an accumulating direction on a surface thereof; an accumulating paddle which is capable of supporting a plurality of the deliveries accumulated on the collection base from an opposite direction of the accumulating direction, the accumulation paddle being arranged from above the collection base so that evacuation is possible; and an accommodation box which is arranged below the collection base, and is capable of accommodating a plurality of the deliveries.

An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.

A stacking device for flat objects standing upright stacks the objects to form a stack which increases in a stacking direction. The stacking device includes at least one stacking point at which the objects are respectively added to the stack. The stacking device also includes at least one stack holder drive with which at least one stack holder receiving the stack can be moved in the stacking direction relative to the stacking point. A stack holder for a stack of flat objects standing upright and a sorting system for sorting flat objects including a plurality of stacking devices, are also provided.

A dual-stage rapid sheet stacking system is provided. In one embodiment, the dual-stage rapid stacker comprises a landing platform and a first actuator configured to control a vertical position of the landing platform. A vertical position sensor is configured to monitor the vertical position of the landing platform. A CPU is configured to receive a signal from the vertical position sensor and, in response to the received signal, to send a corresponding command to the first actuator such that the first actuator maintains a minimum sheet drop distance. A sliding catch tray unit, is mounted on a plurality of suspension rails. The dual-stage rapid sheet stacking system comprises a second actuator configured to receive commands from the CPU to control a horizontal position of the sliding catch tray unit. The dual-stage rapid sheet stacking system is configured to stack a plurality of sheets on the landing platform and then discharge, a plurality of sheets through the sliding catch tray unit.