According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for folding a stack of superposed sheets. The method comprises transferring the stack to a folding station, gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip and forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding. Then the at least a part of the stack is folded over the first part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease, the folded stack is gripped with a second grip and the folded stack is transferred from the folding station to a next handling stage and releasing the first grip.

A feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape, the feed tray includes: a support portion configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roll at two support positions with a lower end of the roll being interposed therebetween and to rotatably support the roll; and a path having an inlet disposed between the two support positions and configured to guide the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The two support positions are shifted from each other in an upper-lower direction.

A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, a first folding conveyance path, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a conveyance roller. The first folding roller pair is composed of a first roller and a second roller forming a first folding nip by being brought into pressure contact with an upstream side of the first roller. The first folding guide is movable between a folding position at which it approaches the first folding nip, guiding a to-be-folded part of a sheet to the first folding nip, and a retracted position at which it is away from the first folding nip. The conveyance roller forms, together with the second roller, a first assist roller pair that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveyance path. The first folding guide has a pivot fulcrum on a downstream side relative to the first folding nip in the conveyance direction.

According to several embodiments, the invention relates to a device and a method for stacking card-like data carriers. The device includes a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path and a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path. The conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that they are fixed to it in a hanging mode of transport. The stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the latter in order to transfer them directly into a card magazine and to stack them therein.

The invention relates to a device and a method for stacking card-like data carriers. The device comprises (i) a conveying device for transporting individual card-like data carriers downstream along a conveying path and (ii) a stacking unit for selectively transferring and stacking card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying path. The conveying device is arranged to convey the card-like data carriers in such a way that they are fixed to it in a hanging mode of transport. The stacking unit is arranged to selectively release certain ones of the card-like data carriers conveyed along the conveying device from the latter in order to transfer them directly—i. e. in particular without intermediate processing, intermediate transport or intermediate storage—into a card magazine and to stack them therein when the card magazine is arranged in a stacking area at a stacking position which, in relation to the direction of gravity, is situated below the conveying path.

A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, a first folding conveyance path, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a conveyance roller. The first folding roller pair is composed of a first roller and a second roller forming a first folding nip by being brought into pressure contact with an upstream side of the first roller. The first folding guide is movable between a folding position at which it approaches the first folding nip, guiding a to-be-folded part of a sheet to the first folding nip, and a retracted position at which it is away from the first folding nip. The conveyance roller forms, together with the second roller, a first assist roller pair that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveyance path. The first folding guide has a pivot fulcrum on a downstream side relative to the first folding nip in the conveyance direction.

A recording medium processing device includes: a pair of contacting members including a first contacting member and a second contacting member, the first contacting member and the second contacting member contacting each other at a contact portion and contacting a recording medium passing through the contact portion, a contact position of the second contacting member on the first contacting member changing in response to displacement of the second contacting member with respect to the first contacting member in a state of being held in a position for recording medium transportation; and a guide member mounted to the second contacting member, the guide member guiding the recording medium having passed through the contact portion at which the first contacting member and the second contacting member contact each other.

A recording medium processing device includes: a pair of contacting members including a first contacting member and a second contacting member, the first contacting member and the second contacting member contacting each other at a contact portion and contacting a recording medium passing through the contact portion, a contact position of the second contacting member on the first contacting member changing in response to displacement of the second contacting member with respect to the first contacting member in a state of being held in a position for recording medium transportation; and a guide member mounted to the second contacting member, the guide member guiding the recording medium having passed through the contact portion at which the first contacting member and the second contacting member contact each other.

A feed tray configured to accommodate a roll, in which a sheet-shaped medium is rolled in a roll shape, the feed tray includes: a support portion configured to contact an outer peripheral surface of a lower portion of the roll at two support positions with a lower end of the roll being interposed therebetween and to rotatably support the roll; and a path having an inlet disposed between the two support positions and configured to guide the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The two support positions are shifted from each other in an upper-lower direction.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for folding a stack of superposed sheets. The method comprises transferring the stack to a folding station, gripping a first part of the stack with a first grip and forming a crease on the stack to facilitate the folding. Then the at least a part of the stack is folded over the first part of the stack that has been gripped by utilizing the crease, the folded stack is gripped with a second grip and the folded stack is transferred from the folding station to a next handling stage and releasing the first grip.