Abstract: A pillar delivery method is a method for delivering a plurality of pillars onto a substrate, including a glass panel, to manufacture a glass panel unit. The pillar delivery method includes an irradiation step, a holding step, and a mounting step. The irradiation step includes setting, over a holder, a sheet for use to form pillars and irradiating the sheet with a laser beam to punch out the plurality of pillars. The holding step includes having the plurality of pillars, which have been punched out of the sheet, held by the holder. The mounting step includes picking up some or all of the plurality of pillars from the holder and mounting the pillars onto the substrate.

Abstract: A feeder includes a body, a mount portion disposed in the body to support from below part of recording media stacked thereon, a lift that raises the mount portion, a support portion connected to the body to support from below another part of the recording media while the mount portion is raised, the support portion being located higher than a position of a mount surface of the mount portion while the recording media are stacked on the mount portion, a blowing portion that blows air between the recording media stacked on the mount portion, and a transport portion that transports the recording media stacked on the mount portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet loading portion which is capable of elevating operation and on which a sheet is loaded, a feeding member for feeding the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion, the feeding member being capable of elevating movement between a contacting position in contact with the sheet and a distanced position distanced upward from the sheet, and a control portion that controls the elevating operation of the sheet loading portion and the elevating movement of the feeding member. When the feeding member at the contacting position moves to the distanced position, the feeding member is distanced upward from the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion after the sheet loading portion starts a descending operation.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a conveyance roller pair. A skew correction roller pair conveys the sheet after contacting two nip portions, and a sheet skew is corrected in a state in which the skew correction roller pair is being stopped. The sheet having a toner image is bent by a first conveyance guide such that a sheet first surface becomes an inside surface. The sheet is bent by the first and second conveyance guides to cause the sheet first surface to be the inside surface and a sheet second surface to be an outside surface. The skew correction roller pair includes two first rotary members of a first roller. A second roller and the two first rotary members form the two nip portions. The second roller and the first conveyance guide contact the sheet first surface. The first roller and the second conveyance guide contact the sheet second surface.

Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead assembly and a dryer. A transport mechanism conveys the printed media in a downstream direction between the printhead assembly and a dryer and between the dryer and an output device. The transport mechanism includes an electric field-generating transport member. The transport member includes a continuous belt supported by rollers. The belt is driven to transport the printed media on an upper surface of the belt. The belt includes an electrically-insulating inner layer and an electrically-insulating outer layer. First and second sets of electrical conductors are positioned intermediate the inner and outer layers. Electrical conductors in the second set are grounded and alternate with electrical conductors in the first set, A charging unit selectively applies a voltage to only a subset of the electrical conductors in the first set at a time, to electrostatically attract the printed media to the upper surface of the belt.

Abstract: A system for automatically magnetically gripping non-magnetic objects. The system includes a robotic arm, a magnetic actuator, and a free magnetic element. The magnetic actuator may be coupled to an end effector of the robotic arm. A non-magnetic object may be placed between the free magnetic element and the magnetic actuator. The magnetic actuator may magnetically attract the free magnetic element to securely grasp the non-magnetic object therebetween. A corresponding method is also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: A main object of the invention is to provide a sheet material separation-aiding apparatus that ensures that there can be a gap produced stably between a specific sheet material from a stack of sheet materials and a sheet material just below it, and that achieves size reductions, reduced energy consumptions and a decreased parts count. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet material separation-aiding apparatus 1 comprises a rotating means 2 including an abutment portion 21 that is capable of coming in abutment on an end of the uppermost sheet material 101, a supporting means 3 that supports the rotating means 2 in a rotatable manner and is capable of moving in a vertical direction, a biasing means 4 that biases the supporting means 3 in a downward direction, and a lifting means 5 that lifts up an end 23 of the rotating means 2 in opposition to the abutment portion 21.

Abstract: An apparatus for de-stacking sheet metal blanks uses electro-magnetic pulses to separate sheet metal blanks from a stack of blanks. A fixture supports an electromagnetic attraction device that includes one or more multi-turn electrical coils and one or more insulated metal screens. The coil is electrically connected to a bank of capacitors. The metal screen is disposed in an electrical insulation material and is retained by the fixture between the coil and the top blank of the stack of blanks. Suction cups perform the primary lifting function and are connected to a vacuum source. The suction cups may be supported by the same fixture or another associated fixture that cooperates with the coil and insulated screen.

Abstract: A member for an image forming apparatus includes a surface layer including a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer includes a polyamide block and a polyether block and the composition ratio of the polyether block to the polyamide block is from 0.2 to 1.5.

Abstract: A magnetodynamic apparatus for separating conductive non-ferrous blanks includes at least one magnet positioned adjacent to a stack of the blanks and configured to generate a magnetic field in a first direction with respect to a major surface of an uppermost blank within the stack. The apparatus includes an actuator device for positioning the magnet with respect to the stack during production of an electric current in a second direction along the major surface. The second direction is normal to the first direction such that a magnetic separation force is generated in a third direction normal to the first and second directions. The separation force is sufficient for magnetically separating the uppermost blank from remaining blanks in the stack. The magnets may be rotated on a rotor or held stationary. The electric current may be induced or directly injected into the uppermost blank.

Abstract: Disclosed are electromagnetic apparatuses for separating non-ferrous blanks, methods for making and for using such apparatuses, and automated systems with electromagnetic destacking unit for handling stacks of non-ferrous blanks. Presented is a destacking unit with a magnet placed adjacent a stack of non-ferrous blanks, and two electrical terminals placed in contact with the top blank of the stack. The magnet generates a magnetic field across the surface of the top blank. The terminals pass electrical current through the blank transversely across the top surface. The direction of the electrical current is generally normal to the direction of the magnetic field such that a magnetic separation force sufficient to displace the blank from the stack is generated in a generally vertical direction.

Abstract: In some examples, printing device performance management may include determining a physical media feed motor speed of operation for a physical media feed motor for a printing device including the physical media feed motor for transferring a physical medium within a print zone of the printing device, and a further motor for transferring the physical medium towards the print zone. For each physical medium that is to be transferred towards the print zone, the further motor may be actuated to transfer the physical medium at a further motor speed that is greater than the physical media feed motor speed to reduce a further motor duty cycle.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable of performing sheet feeding by electrostatic adsorption at a low noise with a simple configuration. A first outer nip conveying roller 201b and a second outer nip conveying roller 202b that nip an adsorbing member 200 supported in a state an inside is loose by a first inner nip conveying roller 201a and a second inner nip conveying roller 202b are provided.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, an air intake portion, and a charging portion. The conveyance belt has a plurality of belt openings formed in a previously-set suction attraction region in end portions thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a sheet, and conveys the sheet. The conveyance plate has a plurality of platen openings formed therein at positions corresponding to the belt openings in the width direction, and is disposed on a back surface side of the conveyance belt. The air intake portion suctions air through the belt openings and the platen openings from the back surface side of the conveyance plate. The charging portion charges a previously-set electrostatic attraction region in a center portion in the width direction of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet container, a sheet conveying member disposed facing a sheet stack that includes multiple sheet members loaded on the sheet container to separate an uppermost sheet member placed on the sheet stack from the other sheet members and to convey the uppermost sheet member, and a pressing member switchable between a pressing position to press the sheet stack from above and a retracted position to separate from the sheet stack.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an attraction belt, a first tension roller, and a second tension roller, a support member to support the attraction/separation unit, a roller drive unit to rotate one of the first and second tension rollers, a charging member to uniformly charge a surface of the attraction belt, a mechanism to swing the attraction/separation unit to move the attraction belt reciprocally about the support member between a sheet attraction position and a sheet conveyance position being located farther from the sheet stack than the sheet attraction position, and a pressing member disposed inside a loop of the attraction belt to press the attraction belt at the sheet attraction position toward the sheet stack and separating from the attraction belt at the sheet conveyance position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyance belt, a conveyance plate, an air intake portion, and a charging portion. The conveyance belt has a plurality of belt openings formed in a previously-set suction attraction region in end portions thereof in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a sheet, and conveys the sheet. The conveyance plate has a plurality of platen openings formed therein at positions corresponding to the belt openings in the width direction, and is disposed on a back surface side of the conveyance belt. The air intake portion suctions air through the belt openings and the platen openings from the back surface side of the conveyance plate. The charging portion charges a previously-set electrostatic attraction region in a center portion in the width direction of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus include a conveying member that adsorbs a sheet by an electric charge and conveys the sheet, a first electric charger to charge the conveying member by applying voltage, and a second electric charger to charge the conveying member by applying voltage. The second electric charger is arranged downstream from the first electric charger in a conveying direction, and applies the electric charge with the same polarity as the first electric charger to the conveying member.

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes an auto document feeder configured to be openable and closable around a hinge with respect to a unit including an image sensor. The auto document feeder includes a roller configured to move a document relative to the image sensor, a motor, a gear train configured to transmit a rotation of a rotational shaft of the motor to the roller, and an encoder unit configured to detect rotation information of the motor, and including a sensor and a code wheel. An orientation of the rotational shaft is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the hinge, and the gear train is arrayed in a direction of an extension of the rotational shaft. A gear that is a part of the gear train is attached to one end of the rotational shaft, and the code wheel is attached to the other end thereof.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes an endless attraction belt that is rotatably disposed facing a top surface of a sheet stack, a belt charger to attract an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack, and a sheet separator to press the attraction belt against the sheet stack, bend a contact region to which the uppermost sheet is attracted and contacted to the attraction belt, and separate the uppermost sheet from a subsequent sheet or other sheet of the sheet stack. In this configuration, a curvature of a contact surface of the sheet separator with respect to the attraction belt is changeable.

Abstract: A sheet separation/conveyance device that is included in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an endless belt on which a region of attraction and a region of no attraction that divides the region of attraction are aligned in a sheet conveying direction, the endless belt configured to hold an uppermost sheet placed on top of a sheet stack contained in an image forming apparatus by using electrostatic attraction, a charger configured to charge a surface of the endless belt, the charger including an electrode configured to contact the surface of the endless belt due to a supply of a voltage and a detector configured to detect a charged condition on the surface of the endless belt based on a detection result obtained when the electrode contacts the endless belt, and a sheet conveying unit configured to convey the uppermost sheet held by the electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling a printer including a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to provide an electrostatic holding force for transporting a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is controlled to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an initial electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem positioned downstream of the charging subsystem is controlled to deposit a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A level of charge on the receiver medium is sensed using a charge sensing device positioned downstream of the inking subsystem. A recharging subsystem is controlled responsive to the sensed level of charge on the receiver medium to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.

Abstract: A printer includes a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to transport a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is configured to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem is positioned downstream of the charging subsystem and deposits a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A dryer positioned downstream of the inking subsystem is adapted to dry the inked receiver medium. A recharging subsystem positioned downstream of the dryer is configured to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device incorporable in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet holder to hold multiple sheets including an uppermost sheet placed on the sheet holder, a sheet separating and feeding unit disposed above the sheet holder and movable between a first position and a second position, a controller to control operations performed by the sheet separating and feeding unit moving between the first position and the second position, and a sheet regulator disposed downstream from the sheet holder in the sheet feeding direction to regulate movement of the multiple sheets on the sheet holder in the sheet feeding direction. The controller controls the separating and feeding unit to move the uppermost sheet forward to abut against the sheet regulator and backward to its original position on the sheet holder to separate the uppermost sheet from the multiple sheets on the sheet holder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a grounding member arranged to a housing and electrically grounded, a sheet loading part arranged to the housing and loading a sheet, a sheet conveying path extending from the sheet loading part and conveying the sheet in a conveying direction, a sheet feeding part and a swinging member. The sheet feeding part is arranged facing to the sheet loading part and conveys the sheet on the sheet loading part in the conveying direction. The electro-conductive swinging member is swingably supported to the housing and swung in a first direction by bring the sheet from the sheet loading part into contact with the swinging member. The swinging member includes a first contact part receiving the contact of the sheet and a second contact part coming into contact with the grounding member accompanying to the swing in the first direction of the swinging member.

Abstract: A semi-conductive media transport is used with an ink jet printing system. A belt is held flat and slides across a conductive platen, causing electrostatic charges on the belt. The belt is made semi-conductive to prevent charge buildup. The belt has an effective surface resistivity between a lower limit to preclude a buildup of electrostatic charges, and an upper limit to enable electrostatic tacking of the media to the belt. The resistivity limits vary depending upon belt velocity, thickness, material, belt and media dielectric constant, and slot width. A pair of charged nip rollers tacks the media substrate to the belt. An AC corotron is disposed above the belt to establish a net neutral charge state on the media substrate and the belt. Platen slots directly below the ink jet print heads will maintain the net neutral charge state on the media substrate and the belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a sheet and a sheet feeding unit to feed the sheet to the image forming device. The sheet feeding unit includes an endless, dielectric belt disposed facing an upper surface of a sheet stack to contact and attract an uppermost sheet to the surface thereof and feed the sheet in the sheet feeding direction, and an electric potential pattern forming unit to form an electric potential pattern on the surface of the dielectric belt. The electric potential pattern has multiple potential holding sections of identical absolute values and opposite polarities disposed adjacent to each other at a uniform pitch. The electric potential pattern forming unit forms the electric potential pattern to have equal numbers of positive potential holding sections and negative potential holding sections.

Abstract: A sheet feeder attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack of a plurality of stacked sheets, and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeder includes an endless belt, a charging device, and a control device. The endless belt is made of a dielectric material, passes over upstream and downstream rollers, and is disposed above the sheet stack to face the sheet stack. The charging device applies an alternating voltage to an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns. The control device separately controls the respective rotation states of the upstream and downstream rollers to make a sheet contact surface of the endless belt go slack in sheet attraction and make the sheet contact surface of the endless belt taut with tension into a substantially flat surface in sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder including a belt unit including an attraction belt facing a sheet stack and first and second tension rollers to keep the attraction belt taut, and a side holder to rotatably support the belt unit about the first tension roller that serves as a pivot of the sheet feeder being disposed upstream from the second tension roller in the sheet conveyance direction, a contact and separation drive unit to swing the sheet feeder to make the attraction belt contact with and separate from the sheet stack, and a swing range adjuster to adjust a range of swing of the belt unit with respect to the side holder between contact and separation of the attraction belt with respect to the sheet stack, according to a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes an attraction/separation unit including an attraction belt, a first tension roller, and a second tension roller, a support member to support the attraction/separation unit, a roller drive unit to rotate one of the first and second tension rollers, a charging member to uniformly charge a surface of the attraction belt, a mechanism to swing the attraction/separation unit to move the attraction belt reciprocally about the support member between a sheet attraction position and a sheet conveyance position being located farther from the sheet stack than the sheet attraction position, and a pressing member disposed inside a loop of the attraction belt to press the attraction belt at the sheet attraction position toward the sheet stack and separating from the attraction belt at the sheet conveyance position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit, a cover unit, an openable unit, and a conductive member. The cover unit is pivotable relative to the main unit, and includes a metal frame and a reading device configured to read an image of a document conveyed through an upper path of a U-shaped conveying path. The openable unit is pivotable relative to the cover unit, and includes a document pressing member configured to face the reading device when the openable unit is closed relative to the cover unit. The conductive member is configured to electrically connect the metal frame and the document pressing member.

Abstract: A mailpiece feed device designed to be mounted upstream from a franking machine, and comprising at least a mailpiece feed zone for receiving a stack of mailpieces of various formats supported by a first plurality of drive rollers and a separation zone for individually selecting the mailpieces and having a second plurality of drive rollers, at least first clutch means E3 being provided for actuating said first plurality of drive rollers, said mailpiece feed device further comprising at least one sensor CN for detecting passage of said mailpieces as they enter said separation zone, and control means for subjecting said first clutch means to forced deactivation followed by an activation/deactivation series so long as the sensor CN is not activated, so as to cause a rapid succession of horizontal movements generating jerky motion on said stack, conducive to facilitating mutual separation of said mailpieces.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a loading member, an attraction separation unit, and a control device. The loading member carries sheet materials. The attraction separation unit includes an endless dielectric belt, holding rollers, and an adjustment device. The endless belt attracts and holds the uppermost one of the sheet materials. The holding rollers holding the endless belt include upstream and downstream holding rollers. The upstream holding roller is rotated around a shaft of the downstream holding roller as the rotation axis in accordance with rotation of the downstream holding roller. The adjustment device provided to the upstream holding roller adjusts the movement range of the upstream holding roller in the height direction. The control device controls, in accordance with the type of sheet materials, an operation of lifting and lowering the loading member, to thereby allow the adjustment device to adjust the movement range of the upstream holding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack of a plurality of stacked sheets, and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeder includes an endless belt, a charging device, and a control device. The endless belt is made of a dielectric material, passes over upstream and downstream rollers, and is disposed above the sheet stack to face the sheet stack. The charging device applies an alternating voltage to an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns. The control device separately controls the respective rotation states of the upstream and downstream rollers to make a sheet contact surface of the endless belt go slack in sheet attraction and make the sheet contact surface of the endless belt taut with tension into a substantially flat surface in sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: an attraction separation unit including an attraction belt stretched between rollers and facing the upper surface of a sheet bundle to attract an uppermost sheet thereof, rotatably supported by a support member at a position upstream of the attraction belt in a sheet feeding direction, and supporting the rollers to be released from the support upon contact of the rollers with the uppermost sheet via the attraction belt; and a swing device for swinging the attraction separation unit around the support member as a pivot to move the attraction belt between an attraction position and a feed position more distant from the sheet bundle than the attraction position, and swinging, after the uppermost sheet has been attracted to the attraction belt at the attraction position, the attraction belt to the feed position to be rotated to feed the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A print medium feeding apparatus includes an endless belt disposed to face stacked media and configured to rotate, the endless belt divided into sections having electrodes, respectively, fixed terminals configured to be in contact with two or more of the electrodes while the two or more of the electrodes are passing through a position facing the media as the electrodes are moved by rotation of the endless belt, a voltage applying unit connected to the fixed terminals and configured to apply voltage to the two or more of the electrodes that are in contact with the fixed terminals, a connection unit configured to make and break a connection between the voltage applying unit and at least one of the fixed terminals, and a switching unit configured to change a state of the connection of the connection unit in response to size of the media.

Abstract: A sheet feeder attracts an uppermost sheet of a sheet stack of a plurality of stacked sheets, and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeder includes an endless belt, a charging device, and a control device. The endless belt is made of a dielectric material, passes over upstream and downstream rollers, and is disposed above the sheet stack to face the sheet stack. The charging device applies an alternating voltage to an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt to form thereon alternating charge patterns. The control device separately controls the respective rotation states of the upstream and downstream rollers to make a sheet contact surface of the endless belt go slack in sheet attraction and make the sheet contact surface of the endless belt taut with tension into a substantially flat surface in sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet carrying unit and an attraction separation and conveyance device. The sheet carrying unit is configured to carry thereon a sheet stack. The attraction separation and conveyance device is configured to electrostatically attract the uppermost sheet of the sheet stack and separate and convey the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack, and is placed between the upstream end and the central position in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet stack located at a sheet carrying position and having a minimum sheet size compatible with the sheet feeding device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet carrying unit, an attraction separation device electrostatically attracting and separating an uppermost sheet from a sheet stack and including multiple rollers, an endless dielectric belt stretched over the multiple rollers, and an elastic member provided inside a loop of the belt to cause the endless dielectric belt to contact the uppermost sheet, a sheet conveying device, and a lifting and lowering device. The lifting and lowering device lifts the sheet stack to a lift position at which the uppermost sheet contacts with the attraction separation device, and the attraction separation device stands by for a predetermined time to attract the uppermost sheet and starts to convey the uppermost sheet after the predetermined time elapses in a state in which the sheet stack remains at the lift position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: an attracting and separating device disposed above a leading end portion in a sheet-feeding direction of a sheet stack, attracting and holding an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack with electrostatic force and separating the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack, a sheet loading device carrying the sheet stack, and including a first bottom plate carrying a rear-side portion of the sheet stack and a second bottom plate separated from the first bottom plate and carrying the leading end portion of the sheet stack below the attracting and separating device; and a lifting device lifting and lowering the sheet loading device, and including a first lifting device lifting and lowering the first bottom plate and a second lifting device lifting and lowering the second bottom plate to move the leading end portion of the sheet stack toward and away from the attracting and separating device.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes an attractive separation unit and a contacting and separating device. The attractive separation unit includes an attraction belt arranged to face the upper surface of a sheet stack, two rollers that stretch the attraction belt taut, with the upstream-side roller in the sheet conveying direction supported to be movable in substantially upward and downward directions within a predetermined range with respect to the upper surface of the sheet stack, and a charging device which charges a surface of the attraction belt. The contacting and separating device swings the attractive separation unit to make the attraction belt come into contact with and separate from the sheet stack, with a fulcrum of the swing of the attractive separation unit set to a position upstream in the sheet conveying direction of the upstream-side roller in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt disposed facing an upper surface of a sheet stack to convey sheets of the sheet stack forward in a first moving direction of a surface thereof, an attraction unit to attract an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack to the endless belt, a contact and separation unit to contact and separate the endless belt relative to the sheet stack, and a controller to cause the endless belt to contact or substantially contact the upper surface of the sheet stack to attract the uppermost sheet to the endless belt, perform a pre-separation operation in which the endless belt moves in a reverse direction that is opposite the sheet conveyance direction, and then perform a separating operation in which the endless belt separates from the sheet stack.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a sheet feeding unit, a belt pressing member, and a moving unit. The sheet feeding unit includes an endless, dielectric belt to contact and attract the uppermost sheet to a surface thereof and feed in a sheet feeding direction, and an electric potential pattern forming unit to form an electric potential pattern on a surface of the dielectric belt. The moving unit moves the belt pressing member between a sheet attracting position and a sheet feeding position. The dielectric belt attracts the uppermost sheet at the sheet attracting position, the moving unit moves the belt pressing member to the sheet feeding position, and an entire flat portion of the dielectric belt feeds the uppermost sheet in the sheet feeding direction while carrying the uppermost sheet thereon as the dielectric belt rotates.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus has first and second conveying roller pairs pair; a first conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed downstream of the second conveying roller pair; and a second conveying path through which the sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed upstream of the second conveying roller path. |Va|>|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the first conveying path and |Va|?|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the second conveying path, where |Va| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the first conveying roller pair, and |Vb| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the second conveying roller pair.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes an attraction belt, multiple rollers, a charging device, and a contacting and separating device. The attraction belt is arranged to face the upper surface of a stacked sheet stack. The multiple rollers stretch the attraction belt with tension. The charging device charges a surface of the attraction belt. The contacting and separating device causes the attraction belt to come into contact with and separate from the sheet stack, with different tensions set for the attraction belt at a contact position in contact with the uppermost sheet of the sheet stack and the attraction belt at a separation position separate from the sheet stack.

Abstract: A media sheet transport including a belt for supporting the media thereon. The belt is operably connected to a drive mechanism for moving the belt in a process direction past an image marking unit. The belt has a plurality of openings therein. A vacuum plenum has a surface disposed below the belt and is operably connected to a vacuum source. The vacuum plenum is adapted to applying a negative pressure to the media for holding the media to the belt. An electrostatic hold down apparatus includes a first tacking roller spaced in a cross-process direction from a second tacking roller. The first and second tacking rollers are engagable with the belt. The first tacking roller is disposed to engage the inboard edge of the media, and the second tacking roller is disposed to engage the outboard edge of the media. The first and second tacking rollers impart an electrostatic charge to the edges of the media for electrostatically securing the inboard and outboard edges of the media to the belt.

Abstract: A sheet separating and feeding unit incorporable in an image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a sheet container, a sheet feeding unit including an endless, dielectric belt and an electric potential pattern forming unit, a belt supporting mechanism including a first supporting roller and a second supporting roller, and a moving unit. The first supporting roller rotates to rotatably move the second supporting roller between a sheet attracting position and a sheet feeding position so that the flat portion of the dielectric belt moves between the sheet contact position and the sheet pick-up position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a loading member, an attraction separation unit, and a control device. The loading member carries sheet materials. The attraction separation unit includes an endless dielectric belt, holding rollers, and an adjustment device. The endless belt attracts and holds the uppermost one of the sheet materials. The holding rollers holding the endless belt include upstream and downstream holding rollers. The upstream holding roller is rotated around a shaft of the downstream holding roller as the rotation axis in accordance with rotation of the downstream holding roller. The adjustment device provided to the upstream holding roller adjusts the movement range of the upstream holding roller in the height direction. The control device controls, in accordance with the type of sheet materials, an operation of lifting and lowering the loading member, to thereby allow the adjustment device to adjust the movement range of the upstream holding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that can be incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeder including a belt unit including an attraction belt facing a sheet stack and first and second tension rollers to keep the attraction belt taut, and a side holder to rotatably support the belt unit about the first tension roller that serves as a pivot of the sheet feeder being disposed upstream from the second tension roller in the sheet conveyance direction, a contact and separation drive unit to swing the sheet feeder to make the attraction belt contact with and separate from the sheet stack, and a swing range adjuster to adjust a range of swing of the belt unit with respect to the side holder between contact and separation of the attraction belt with respect to the sheet stack, according to a predetermined condition.