Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.

Abstract: Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for providing localized high density plasma sources igniting local gasses during a wafer fabrication process to provide global uniformity. Such plasma sources are resonant structures operating at radio frequencies at or higher than microwave values.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sorting centre goods sorting method and apparatus, and a goods sorting system. The method may include: determining a current position of each first bag dropping opening included in the sorting center; using the current position of the each first bag dropping opening as each current cluster center; performing a clustering operation on each of bag dropping openings in the sorting center, using, in response to a position of an actual cluster center of each cluster corresponding to the current position of the each first bag dropping opening, the current position of the each first bag dropping opening as a final position of the each first bag dropping opening; and conveying the goods to the each of the bag dropping openings in the sorting center using the automated guided vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a discharge portion and a guide member. The discharge portion has a space surrounded by wall surfaces of a chassis, and a side opening portion to open the space. The discharge portion receives a sheet to be discharged from a discharge port of the chassis, and houses the sheet in the space so that the sheet can be taken out from the side opening portion. The guide member is arranged at an end portion in the side opening portion, and extends toward upward from the rear side toward the front side of the chassis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first apparatus configured to perform punching on a sheet by using a punching member; a second apparatus, including a stacking part on which a plurality of sheets punched by the first apparatus is stacked, and configured to perform binding so as to obtain a bookbinding article in which a binding member penetrates in a ring shape through punched holes of the plurality of sheets; a notification unit notifying information; and a control unit configured, in a case of starting a job using the first apparatus and the second apparatus and determining that a jam has occurred in the stacking part, to cancel the job, and to cause the notification unit to notify that a thickness of a sheet stack stacked on the stacking part exceeds a thickness that enables to be bound by the binding member used by the second apparatus.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to control a binding unit configured to perform a binding processing for binding sheets without using a staple includes a control unit that controls the biding unit to divide sheets subjected to printing into sheet groups in units of a number of sheets bindable by the binding unit, and to apply the binding processing to each of sheet groups or controls another binding unit to bind the sheets subjected to printing using a staple.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming images on a first sheet and a second sheet having a higher stiffness than the first sheet, a discharge rotary member pair, and a sheet supporting unit to support the first and second sheets discharged through the discharge rotary member pair. In addition, an abutment surface abuts against upstream ends of the first and second sheets supported on the sheet supporting unit, and an elevation unit moves the sheet supporting unit up and down. A control unit, in a state where no sheet is supported on the sheet supporting unit, executes a first discharge mode of controlling the elevation unit to position the sheet supporting unit at a first position before the discharge rotary member pair starts discharging the first sheet, and a second discharge mode of controlling the elevation unit to position the sheet supporting unit at a second position lower than the first position.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus with improved visibility of a sheet bundle discharged without post-processing thereto. The CPU circuit receives the conveyed sheet, drives and controls the sheet-returning paddle, the rack part, the rear end regulation part, the alignment plate and the like and forms sheet bundle comprising of a plural number of sheets as received. Further, the CPU circuit drives and controls the alignment plate when discharging the sheet bundle S from the processing tray, the sheet bundle S exceeding the number of sheets which can be post-processed by the stapler. Therefore, the sheet bundle S which includes sheets equal to the allowable number of sheets for post-processing of the sheet processing unit is discharged to the second discharge position which is different from the first discharge position.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus which is capable of shortening time wasted until actual start of punching and enhancing productivity. A drive unit causes a moving member which has a cam and reciprocates. A punching member is driven by a movement of the cam of the moving member and punches a sheet when the moving member moves forth and moves back. A determination unit determines a type of the sheet. A control unit controls, when a sheet to be punched is to be subjected to a punching process, the drive unit such that the moving member starts moving before conveyance of the sheet to be punched stops, and controls, when the sheet to be punched is to be subjected to the punching process, the drive unit such that timing with which the moving member starts moving is changed based on the determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus having a plurality of processing modes includes taking in sheets one by one from a bundle of the sheets in which a batch card having identification information, and the sheets as mediums to be inspected are piled, conveying the sheet which has been taken in, discriminating a kind of the batch card, switching the processing mode of the sheet processing apparatus based on the kind of the batch card which has been discriminated, discriminating and counting the sheets subsequent to the batch card, storing a count result of the sheets in correlation with the identification information, and sorting the sheet into a stacker based on a discrimination result of the sheet.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes an introductory conveying path, a processing tray, a paper receiving tray, an upper paper discharge roller, a lower paper discharge roller and a control section. The upper paper discharge roller and the lower paper discharge roller are disposed at an edge portion on the paper receiving tray's side of the processing tray. The upper paper discharge roller is capable of coming into contact with and away from the lower paper discharge roller. The control section causes the upper paper discharge roller to start a descending motion with a timing such that the upper paper discharge roller comes into contact with paper before the paper comes into contact with the paper receiving tray if the paper belongs to a second kind, where the paper of the second kind is lighter weight than that of a first kind.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a punch motor, an actuator which rotates by driving of the punch motor, a punching blade which punches a sheet by driving of the actuator, and a controller which controls the driving of the punch motor so that approach run is gained, if a thickness of the sheet exceeds a threshold, in a rotating direction of the actuator in which the punching blade does not move at the beginning of the driving of the punch motor.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, by which a failure in control does not occur even if cutting wastes are conveyed by a conveying unit and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus are provided. The sheet processing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a sheet, a dust box for accommodating the cutting wastes, a conveying belt pair which conveys the cut sheet, sensors for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying belt pair, and a controller for controlling conveyance of the sheet based on the signals detected by the sensors, wherein when the length of the sheet detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the controller does not determine the sheet as a sheet.

Abstract: Tab positions of tab sheets that are inserted between printed pages while a print job is performed are determined to be correct or incorrect using a control method for controlling an inspection apparatus which is connectable to a printing apparatus. The method includes reading tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus, detecting positions of tabs of the tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus according to the reading result, and determining whether each of the detected positions is correct or incorrect.

Abstract: To provide a sheet post-processing apparatus enabling a sheet to be aligned in a predetermined collection position irrespective of the basis weight of the sheet and image formation surface in dropping and collecting the sheet onto a tray from a sheet discharge outlet, the apparatus has a tray for collecting a sheet from the sheet discharge outlet, and a sheet discharge rotating body for transferring the sheet that is carried out to the tray toward a sheet end regulation member, and is configured to be able to adjust the timing of shifting the sheet discharge rotating body to an operation position engaging in the sheet from a withdrawal position above the tray corresponding to image formation conditions of the sheet.

Abstract: Tab positions of tab sheets that are inserted between printed pages while a print job is performed are determined to be correct or incorrect using a control method for controlling an inspection apparatus which is connectable to a printing apparatus. The method includes reading tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus, detecting positions of tabs of the tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus according to the reading result, and determining whether each of the detected positions is correct or incorrect.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sheet discharge section that feeds a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus to a post-processing section and leads the sheet that has passed through the post-processing section to a sheet discharge port; a sheet discharge tray that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port and can move to a first standby position and a second standby position higher than the first standby position and nearer to the sheet discharge port; and a controller that controls the height position of the sheet discharge tray by identifying the type of the sheet. The controller changes the height position of the sheet discharge tray to allow the sheet discharge tray to receive the discharged sheet at the first standby position in the case where the sheet is a first type while to receive the discharged sheet at the second standby position in the case where the sheet is a second type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents is provided. Documents having a selected characteristic are placed into a first area, whereas documents not having the selected characteristic are placed into a second area. A sensor in the first area detects the presence of documents in the first area. The documents are conveyed to a scanner that scans the documents to obtain information regarding the documents. The processing of the documents is controlled by a processor. A document is electronically tagged as having the selected characteristic and processed accordingly in response to the detection of the document in the first area and in response to whether the document arrived at the scanner during a pre-determined time frame.

Abstract: A system for binding variable thickness multi-sheet collations includes first and second processing stations including a stitcher and stapler, respectively and a means for determining the thickness of a multi-sheet collation. A processor is responsive to a thickness value signal and selects one of the first and second processing stations to bind the multi-sheet collation. A conveyance system then transports the multi-sheet collation to the selected one of the first and second processing stations. A method includes the steps of: stacking sheet material to produce a multi-sheet collation, determining the thickness of the multi-sheet collation, and selecting an apparatus to bind the multi-sheet collation from one of at least two binding apparatus based upon the thickness of the multi-sheet collation. The multi-sheet collation is then conveyed along a feed path to a selected one of the binding apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sheet discharge section that feeds a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus to a post-processing section and leads the sheet that has passed through the post-processing section to a sheet discharge port; a sheet discharge tray that receives a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port and can move to a first standby position and a second standby position higher than the first standby position and nearer to the sheet discharge port; and a controller that controls the height position of the sheet discharge tray by identifying the type of the sheet. The controller changes the height position of the sheet discharge tray to allow the sheet discharge tray to receive the discharged sheet at the first standby position in the case where the sheet is a first type while to receive the discharged sheet at the second standby position in the case where the sheet is a second type.

Abstract: When a new paper sheet is supplied onto a compiling tray, a sub-paddle holds down paper sheets having already been stacked on the compiling tray until a leading edge of the new paper sheet S touches the stacked paper sheets. Thereafter, the sub-paddle gets apart from the sheets stacked on the compiling tray with timing, with which the rear edge of the new paper sheet falls on the compiling tray.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention includes a sheet feeding tray capable of aligning and storing plural sheets, a discharging member that discharges a sheet at the top of a bundle of the sheets aligned from the sheet feeding tray, and a retracting member that moves the sheet at the top of the sheet bundle in a direction opposite to a direction of the discharge. When plural pieces of plural types of sheets are stored in the sheet feeding tray, the sheet processing apparatus controls the operations of the discharging member and the retracting member, discharges, for each of the types, a sheet located at the top of the sheet feeding tray and retracts the remaining sheets, performs alignment again at a point when the discharge and the retraction are finished for all the types, and repeats the operations to sequentially discharge the sheets of the respective types.

Abstract: A paper-handling unit serves for generating groups of items, wherein each group includes a plurality of items. The paper-handling unit includes at least one input channel for receiving the items, a portion to generate groups from the received items, a drive-out station for driving out a generated group, a detector detecting predetermined features from the items of a driven-out group, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine whether a predetermined event has occurred to drive the drive-out station to drive out a group if the predetermined event has occurred, to determine whether information was obtained from the detector during a predetermined interval, to stop the paper-handling unit if no information was obtained from the detector during the predetermined interval, and to stop the paper-handling unit if information was obtained from the detector during the predetermined interval which indicates that the driven-out group does not meet at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.

Abstract: There is provided a technique which can realize stable loading performance irrespective of the state of a loaded object loaded on a tray. A loading information acquisition unit 106 acquires loading information relating to a sheet loading height on a loading tray 101 on which a sheet subjected to a specified processing is loaded, and a press force adjusting unit 107 moves, based on the loading information, at least one of the loading tray 101 and a pressing unit 104 to press from above the sheet loaded on the loading tray in a direction in which the loading tray and the pressing unit 104 are distanced from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet finisher including: a push-in member to push a sheet bundle; a pair of rollers to fold the sheet bundle pushed-in by the push-in member; a movement member to move at least one roller of the pair of rollers; an acquiring member to acquire information of a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control member to control the movement member so as to adjust a clearance between the pair of rollers, based on the information of the thickness of the sheet bundle acquired by the acquiring member.

Abstract: A sheet bending apparatus bends a sheet in a standing state. The apparatus includes: an information obtaining section that obtains a sheet information indicating the type of the sheet; a sheet moving member that has an abutting section capable of abutting the bottom edge of the sheet and vertically moves the sheet with the abutting section; a sheet bending section that is disposed within a range of the movement of the sheet moved by the sheet moving member, has a pushing member extending laterally and intersecting the vertical direction of the sheet, and bends the sheet by causing the pushing member to push a predetermined position of the sheet; and a controlling section that controls an amount of movement of the abutting section according to the type of the sheet to allow the abutting section to abut the predetermined position of the sheet.

Abstract: A device which aligns bundles of paper Q with a predetermined number of A4 paper PA4 as small size paper and A3 paper PA3 as large size papers formed by successively receiving paper P fed from image forming device 19, comprising a stacking unit 30 as a main retaining device which aligns and retains in a stacked condition paper P successively received from the image forming device 19, a paper detour retaining device 20 as a preliminary retaining device located directly upstream of the main retaining device stacking unit 30, which temporarily retains the paper P destined to the stacking unit 30, and a controller which controls feeding to the stacking unit 30 by temporarily retaining the A4 paper PA4 paper, and combining the retained A4 paper PA4 with the large size paper A3 paper PA3 before sending to the stacking unit 30 in an overlaid condition.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a conveying member configured to convey recording media and a tray configured to receive the recording media conveyed by the conveying member. The tray includes a holding member configured to hold the recording media therein and to contact a first edge of the recording media such that the recording media is positioned, a rotatable moving member configured to contact the recording media such that the holding member abuts against the recording media, a discharging member configured to discharge the recording media stacked by the holding member, and a protruding member mounted on the discharging member and configured to contact a second edge of the recording media such that the recording media is positioned. One of the rotatable moving member and the protruding member positions the recording media stacked in the tray in a travel direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which makes it possible to carry out optimal bundling, such as bookbinding, according to sheet thickness, thereby enhancing the operability of the apparatus. A sensor LED control section 114 detects the thickness of a bundle of sheets to be processed. A post-processing control section 115 calculates a thickness of each sheet based on the thickness of the bundle of sheets detected by the sensor LED control section 114. The post-processing control section 115 changes the upper limit of the number of sheets that can be processed as a bundle based on the calculated thickness of each sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention includes a sheet feeding tray capable of aligning and storing plural sheets, a discharging member that discharges a sheet at the top of a bundle of the sheets aligned from the sheet feeding tray, and a retracting member that moves the sheet at the top of the sheet bundle in a direction opposite to a direction of the discharge. When plural pieces of plural types of sheets are stored in the sheet feeding tray, the sheet processing apparatus controls the operations of the discharging member and the retracting member, discharges, for each of the types, a sheet located at the top of the sheet feeding tray and retracts the remaining sheets, performs alignment again at a point when the discharge and the retraction are finished for all the types, and repeats the operations to sequentially discharge the sheets of the respective types.

Abstract: Sheet thickness data obtained from the output of a sheet thickness detecting sensor are calculated to thereby calculate a sheet bundle thickness. When the sheet bundle thickness reaches a predetermined value, other aftertreatment differing from a set aftertreatment is executed.

Abstract: A universal and precise stapling assembly is provided and includes (a) a moveable stapling head for driving staples at precise locations through an aligned set of sheets on any one of plural types of alignment apparatus; (b) a drive device coupled to the stapling head for moving the stapling head relative to the any one of plural types of alignment apparatus and the aligned set of aligned sheets on the any one of the plural types of alignment apparatus; (c) sensors for sensing a position of the aligned set of sheets; and (d) a programmable controller connected to the drive device, to the sensors, and to the stapling head, and including calculating capability for precisely calculating a precise staple location responsively to a type of any one of the plural types of alignment apparatus and to the secured position of the aligned set of sheets, thereby reducing staple mislocation due to a tolerance stack up from components of the stapling head and components of any one of the plural types of alignment apparatus.

Abstract: A bookbinding device is disclosed to adhesively bind a back surface of a stack of pages to a center portion of a cover page, which includes a page supply unit (1), a thickness sensor (2), an adhesive applicator (3), a page conveyor unit (4), a cover supply unit (5), a press unit (8) and a cover folding unit (9). The cover supply unit includes a trimmer (6) for trimming a side edge portion of the cover sheet depending upon thickness of the page stack detected by the thickness sensor, and a positioning unit (7) for positioning the cover sheet such that a center line of the cover sheet which has been trimmed by the trimmer is aligned with a center of thickness of the page stack, at which position the page stack is adhesively bound to the cover sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet finisher, which receives sheets from an image forming apparatus, such as an electro-photographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., to align and bind the sheets. There is described a sheet finisher which includes a conveyance roller pair to convey the sheets, an intermediate stacker to stack the sheets, an aligning device to align the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacker, a binder to bind the sheets stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker, an ejector to convey and eject the sheets bound by the binder, a driver to drive the aligning device, a controller to control the driver and an overlapped sheets conveying device to grip and convey two sheets. In the sheet finisher, the controller controls the driver in a manner such that the aligning device aligns an initial one sheet stacked on the intermediate stacker under a first aligning condition, while the aligning device aligns two overlapped sheets under a second aligning condition.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus including a stacking tray having a stacking surface for receiving and stacking sheets thereon and a stopper portion for regulating the end portions of the sheets, a delivery rotary member for delivering the sheets to the stacking tray, an endless belt member contacting with and acting on the upper surface of the sheets on the stacking tray, and feeding the delivered sheet so as to pull the end portion thereof into the stopper portion, and a traction device for pulling a portion of the endless belt member in a predetermined direction, wherein during the feed of the sheet caused by the endless belt member, the traction device is operated in conformity with the height of the sheets stacked on the stacking tray to thereby control the contact pressure of the endless belt member against the sheets stacked on the stacking tray so as to become substantially constant.

Abstract: A blank is provided adapted for forming into a file folder. The blank comprises a planar sheet having a first surface and a second surface. The sheet has a first cover portion joined to a second cover portion along a mutual cover hinge line. The sheet is adapted for folding about the cover hinge line such that the first cover portion and second cover portion overlie each other and the folder is adapted to receive sheet material therebetween. The first cover portion includes a tab extension along one edge thereof either adjacent to the fold line or opposite thereto. The tab extension includes an inner tab portion and an outer tab portion joined together along a mutual hinge line. Folding the tab extension about the tab fold line causes the outer tab portion to overlie the inner tab portion forming a tab which extends from an edge of the first cover portion beyond the second cover portion when the second cover portion is folded to overlie the first cover portion.