Abstract: A stack-like arrangement of printed products with folded edges, in which arrangement the printed products are all arranged with identical orientation, has an increased stability, if it comprises stack sections, within which the folded edges of the printed products indeed lie on top of each other, but wherein the stack sections are arranged displaced in relation to each other, such that the stack sections with folded edges protruding from the arrangement alternate with stack sections with edges opposite the folded edges protruding from the arrangement.

Abstract: An image-reading portion switches between a storage state in which a conveying path extends substantially vertically along a front surface of a main unit and a usage state in which the conveying path extends diagonally downward. In the storage state, the entire device can be made suitably compact, whereas in the usage state, the operability of the image-reading portion is enhanced.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device neatly and uniformly aligns edges of print sheets irrespective of the thickness of a print sheet, and exerts the same effect even at a low discharge speed.

Abstract: At the time when an aligning unit collects and aligns a recording sheet, the front portion of a movable supporting member of a collecting tray is moved toward the recording sheet to close a space in the collecting tray. Moreover, the front portion of the movable supporting member abuts against the front end of the recording sheet. As a result, the front end of the recording sheet does not hang loose in the space.

Abstract: A sheet-stacking apparatus includes a gripper configured to convey a sheet, two stacker trays stacking sheets arranged in a row, and a support member configured to separately elevate the two stacker trays. The stacker tray is selected according to a sheet length.

Abstract: A medium guide elevating device includes a rotor, a medium guide unit, a sensor, a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The rotor is driven in forward rotation or in reverse rotation. The medium guide unit is moved to a first position when the rotor is driven in forward rotation, and is moved to a second position when the rotor is driven in reverse rotation. The sensor has a selector switch that switches between an on state and an off state. The sensor enters the off state when the medium guide unit is located between the first position and the second position. The first engaging portion engages the selector switch to switch the sensor to the on state when the medium guide unit is moved to the first position. The second engaging portion engages the selector switch to switch the sensor to the on state when the medium guide unit is moved to the second position.

Abstract: A sheet collecting device for collecting sheets leaving the printing device, which includes a delivery rack for collecting sheets, a front edge stopper for collecting the front edge of a sheet in a first position of the sheet collecting device in which the sheet is deposited on the delivery rack, and wherein the sheet collecting device can be placed in a second position in which the sheets can be deposited on the delivery rack without the intervention of the front edge stopper.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording medium feeding mechanism for feeding a recording medium by one at a time, a recording head for performing recording, a discharging roller having a discharging driven roller and a discharge driving roller and a recording medium stacker capable of being changed to a first position in which recording is performed on a hard recording medium and a second position in which recording is performed on a recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding mechanism, wherein the discharging driven roller is in contact with the discharge driving roller in case the recording medium stacker is in second position, and the discharging driven roller is separated from a recording medium transfer path in case the recording medium stacker is in first position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method transport a sheet on a tray. In one embodiment, feet carried by an endless member contact a bottom and edge of the sheet to move the sheet off of the tray. In one embodiment, the sheet is arced while it is being engaged by the feet.

Abstract: A recording section includes a recording head operable to record information on a first medium and a second medium. A first stacker has a first face and a second face, and is movable between a first position and a second position. A stacker position changer is operable to move the first stacker placed in the first position in a first direction, and then to move a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, thereby placing the first stacker in the second position. The first face is adapted to receive the first medium conveyed from the recoding section in the first direction, when the first stacker is placed in the first position. The second face is adapted to guide the first medium and the second medium conveyed to the recording section in a third direction opposite to the first direction, and to receive the first medium and the second medium conveyed from the recording section in the first direction, when the first stacker is placed in the second position.

Abstract: A bottom surface of a stacking and accommodating portion is structured such as to be sloped to be lower in accordance with moving away from a paper carry-in side, and a push plate is controlled so as to be moved in a direction moving close to a carry-in port of the paper by detecting a stack paper width determined on the basis of a product of a stacked number count information of the papers and a thickness information per one paper, and the papers are accommodated.

Abstract: A document finisher is arranged for forming a document stack whose top surface is maintained substantially level. The document finisher includes a document stack leveling container for containing a document stack of one or more documents. Each document has a document thick side that is thicker than the opposite document thin side. The document stack leveling container includes a hollow. The document finisher is arranged for disposing documents in the hollow, thus forming a document stack therein. The hollow includes a bottom shaped such that the document stack top surface is maintained substantially level.

Abstract: A media stacker which can be inserted into a main body of a liquid ejecting apparatus and stack a discharged recording medium moves downward in an inclined direction to be located below a liquid ejecting portion and a discharge portion when the media stacker is being inserted and moves upward in the inclined direction to be located vicinity to a discharge slot when the media stacker is being extracted. A guide mechanism for guiding movement of the media stacker and a guide gear which is rotated while following to the guide mechanism are formed on both sides of the media stacker.

Abstract: Providing a sheet collecting device capable of being downsized and of operating stably wherein a sheet ejecting device that conveys and ejects a sheet in the direction for making the sheet fall along a slanted sheet collecting board is provided, and a leading edge stopper that holds sheets on the sheet collecting board is set so that a trailing edge of the sheet may be at a constant height independently of a sheet size.

Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus including: a sheet discharging section that discharges sheets at a position lower than a height H0 of 381 mm from a floor surface; and a sheet stacking section, which stacks the sheets discharged from the sheet discharging section, including a sheet raising section which raises the sheets discharged from the sheet discharging section so that a position of a top part of each of the sheets is higher than the height H0.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for supporting objects in a tray and moving different portions of the objects at different rates for inputting or outputting from an objects processor. These techniques may be applied to stacking objects that has a thickness at one end greater than the thickness at another end, for example, resulting in stacking height of the thicker end increasing faster than the stacking height of the other thinner end.

Abstract: A bottom surface of a stacking and accommodating portion is structured such as to be sloped to be lower in accordance with moving away from a paper carry-in side, and a push plate is controlled so as to be moved in a direction moving close to a carry-in port of the paper by detecting a stack paper width determined on the basis of a product of a stacked number count information of the papers and a thickness information per one paper, and the papers are accommodated.

Abstract: A paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus to execute an accumulating processing, in which paper sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit are accumulated in an accumulating unit in a direction of accumulation, and a feeding processing, in which paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating unit are fed to the conveyance unit, comprising a rotating member including one or more pieces, which spread radially from an axis thereof, the rotating member being provided in the vicinity of a connection between the conveyance unit and the accumulating unit to enable the piece or pieces to slap and move a paper sheet in the accumulating unit in the direction of accumulation at the time of accumulating processing, and a guide member provided to guide the piece or pieces to enable the same to be stored toward the axis of the rotating member, whereby the paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus is able to readily set the piece or pieces long and endures an operation over a long term and frequent operations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feed tray that can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body and a cover tray that can double as a manual feed tray. The paper feed tray has first side walls and first protrusions formed on the inner surfaces of the first side walls. The cover tray has: connection portions that are configured to be detachably connected to pivot shafts provided at the apparatus body and that are connected to the pivot shafts so as to rotate about the pivot shafts; second side walls; and second protrusions formed on the outer surfaces of the second side walls. The cover tray serves as a cover for covering sheets of paper stacked on the paper feed tray when it is in a position where the second protrusions are located below the first protrusions.

Abstract: A printing device includes a recessed output tray having a nudging mechanism including a nudger component that engages a stack of paper such that when the nudger moves, the stack will move with it and an actuating mechanism to move the nudger, thereby moving the stack of papers. The nudger may be automatic or may be controlled manually. The stack may be moved in a particular direction or may be rotated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming part forming an image on paper, and a housing accommodating the image forming part and having a paper stack part stacking paper discharged from the image forming part, and the image forming apparatus includes an accommodating part formed in an edge of the paper stack part and extending in a paper discharge direction; a base plate mounted in the accommodating part to be slidable in the paper discharge direction and a reverse direction opposite to the paper discharge direction; and a stopper hinge-coupled to the base plate to be tiltable among a stand up position where the stopper blocks paper discharged from the image forming part, a rear folding position where the stopper is folded onto the base plate and is at least partially accommodated in the paper stack part, and a front folding position where the stopper is folded in the paper discharge direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for multi-destination pick using motes. In embodiments, each receptacle may be assigned to a destination and may have a sensor that detects when an item is placed in the receptacle to deactivate the indicator and/or to verify that the item was placed in the correct receptacle. The sensor may be coupled via a wired or wireless connection to a mote that may include a communication interface for communicating with a control system and with other motes in an ad-hoc network. In some embodiments, each mote may also include an indicator that may be activated by a control system to indicate to the agent that the receptacle is the destination receptacle for a picked item. The agent may then place the item in the indicated destination receptacle. In one embodiment, the mote on the destination receptacle may be activated when the picked item is scanned by the agent.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a discharging member configured to discharge recording media. A tray is configured to receive the discharged recording media. A rotatable moving member is configured to contact the discharged recording media such that an angular position of the rotatable member changes in response to a number of the recording media on the tray. A detecting member is configured to detect a movement of the moving member. A controller is configured to control an output of the recording media to the tray based on an output of the detecting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a loading portion that is capable of receiving a recording sheet. The loading portion includes a correction member which has a bending portion, wherein the bending portion selectively moves between a first position and a second position, the second position being located higher than the first position, and a stopper that selectively moves between a closed position and an open position in which the stopper extends upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal surface when the stopper is at the open position.

Abstract: A system and method designed to position a tray for either horizontal stacking or vertical stacking of product. The system includes a stationary conveyor and a tray carriage in a tray transportation path with the conveyor. The tray carriage is moveable between an elevated, horizontal position and an inclined position. Guides are located near the tray carriage to guide the tray carriage into the inclined position.

Abstract: There is provided a bill handling device in which the size of the device can be reduced by disposing various component members in a limited amount of installation space in a space-efficient manner and efficient bill collection is further realized. The bill handling device includes a bill transport mechanism for transporting a bill inserted from a bill insertion slot along the insertion direction and ejecting the bill toward a bill push area located downstream of the bill transport mechanism; a press plate provided on one side of a housing and pressing the bill ejected in the bill push area toward the other side; a stacking tray reciprocally movable along the insertion direction and stacking and storing the bill pressed by the press plate; a stacking tray drive mechanism for reciprocally moving the stacking tray; a shutter mechanism having a shutter, the shutter mechanism opening and closing the shutter through which the front end area of the stacking tray can project.

Abstract: A document finisher is arranged for forming a document stack whose top surface is maintained substantially level. The document finisher includes a document stack leveling container for containing a document stack of one or more documents. Each document has a document thick side that is thicker than the opposite document thin side. The document stack leveling container includes a hollow. The document finisher is arranged for disposing documents in the hollow, thus forming a document stack therein. The hollow includes a bottom shaped such that the document stack top surface is maintained substantially level.

Abstract: When a sheet is conveyed from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a bar-like pushing member is moved in a direction of the stacking tray in synchronization with an ejector. Consequently, simultaneously with the movement of the sheet by the ejector, a lower surface of a leading end of the sheet is pushed to relax and reduce a contact force between the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet and the stacking tray (or an upper surface of a sheet already stacked on the stacking tray). As a result, static friction at the leading end of the sheet is changed to dynamic friction and the entire sheet is conveyed to the stacking tray without bending.

Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle; a folded edge blocker configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle supported by the undersurface support, a lower end of the folded edge blocker being held by the undersurface support, and a canceller configured to release the lower end of the folded edge blocker from the undersurface support if a predetermined amount of sheet stacks are loaded on the undersurface support.

Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider, the folded edge support movable back and forth in a direction declined from a side near the sheet bundle provider, and an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in a lead, including: an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider; a folded edge blocker configured to take a blocking position to block the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle on the undersurface support and a releasing position to release the folded sheet bundle; and a joint configured to evacuate from an orbit of the folded edge blocker returning from the releasing position to the blocking position, the joint is configured to join the undersurface support with the folded edge blocker at the blocking position after the returning to the blocking position.

Abstract: A discharge tray includes a guide portion that is retractable or extendable, relative to medium stacking portions, in consonance with the form of the recording media that are to be discharged. When the recording media that are to be discharged have a predetermined form, the guide portion at the medium stacking portion is prepared so as to guide a recording medium from a discharge portion to the medium stacking portion. With this arrangement, when recording media are so formed that arranging them on the medium stacking portion is difficult, the recording media can be guided from the discharge portion to the medium stacking portion, where they can be stacked accurately.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus ejects the sheet to witch image processing unit perform to an ejection tray or a staple stacker by a pair of ejection rollers and the like. A sheet path for guiding the sheet to the ejection rollers is opened and closed in conjunction with slide movement of the ejection tray when the ejection tray is attached to a main body of the apparatus, and the sheet path is opened and closed in conjunction with the slide movement of a staple stacker when the staple stacker is attached to the main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: To ensure that the leading edge of the sheet ejected onto a tray 12 does not push and move loaded sheets in advance, loaded sheets are retained at position (II) by a retaining roller. A roller (returning roller in this case) 121 for applying external force to a sheet S ejected onto the tray 12 and moving the sheet toward a end face 131 for alignment is displaced to a different position in the direction of ejection “a”, thereby firmly gripping the trailing edge of the sheet S ejected on the tray 12.

Abstract: A device for receiving documents is described and in one example, a device for stacking media in a mail creation inserter system is described including at least one document support member (30), adapted to receive documents and to be moved along a longitudinal axis by its own weight, and an actuator member (32) for allowing said support to move, placed on the path of movement of the documents and adapted to move between a first or blocking position preventing longitudinal movement of said support and a second or released position allowing longitudinal displacement thereof, movement from the first position to the second position being triggered by the contact of at least one document (36) with said actuator member.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a sheet to a surface, comprising a rotating gripper that receives and grips the sheet at or near a leading edge thereof at a first position and delivers the leading edge to a second position, the first and second positions being situated along a circular path along which the rotating gripper travels; a surface having a stop at the second position; and a blower adapted to blow air at the sheet as it is held by the rotating gripper and after it is released by the gripper at the second position, the blowing of the air being in a direction that urges the sheet away from the circular path. The sheet is not positively held on the circular path except by the leading edge grippers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing sheets in a machine that preferably processes sheets by graphic means, in particular for a printing machine, preferably for an electrophotographically operating machine, comprising at least one deposit tray for depositing and preferably also for stacking processed sheets. Furthermore, the invention relates to a deposit tray for a device of the aforementioned type. The object of the invention is to provide a device or a deposit tray of the aforementioned type, which permits a controlled depositing and stacking of sheets, in particular, at greater sheet-processing speeds, and, preferably, in a cost-effective manner. In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in that a deposit surface of the deposit tray is arranged, or can be arranged, at an angle that deviates from the horizontal.

Abstract: When a print process is started, discharge speed of recording papers is first set to a first discharge speed set based on the case in which a recording paper receiving unit for placing recording papers is in a reference state. Then, when a record instruction is given for starting a process of recording images onto recording papers, it is determined whether or not the recording paper receiving unit is in the reference state. If it is determined that the recording paper receiving unit is in an extended state in which the recording paper receiving unit is extended from the reference state, the discharge speed of the recording papers is set to a second discharge speed that is faster than the first discharge speed. Then, following a paper feed operation and an image record operation, the recording papers are discharged according to the set discharge speed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for aligning sheets that are deposited on a sheet stack, there are sheet leading edge stops disposed so as to be vertically displaceable by a common leading edge shaft. An auxiliary stack carrier that is to be introduced into the stack region for nonstop operation causes the leading edge shaft or leading edge stops to be raised.

Abstract: A sheet feed tray is openably/closably (or foldably) attached to the main body of a recording apparatus, and a separator, which separates recorded media to be discharged above the sheet feed tray from unrecorded media loaded on the sheet feed tray, is provided so as to be displaceable relative to the sheet feed tray. When the sheet feed tray is pivoted a predetermined distance or more in the direction indicated by an arrow A, the separator is turned in the direction indicated by an arrow B and enters the inside of the sheet feed tray. With the arrangement, the interference between a separator and the main body of a recording apparatus is avoided, without causing a reduction in the permissible number of unrecorded media to be loaded and an increase of the size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a housing having a cavity therein, a linkage arm disposed within the cavity, an input media tray movably latched to the housing, and an input media tray latch coupled to the linkage arm and releasably engaged with the input media tray. Moving the linkage arm places the imaging apparatus in an operational mode, and releases the input media tray latch and unlatches the input media tray from the housing.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets one-at-a-time along a path having: a feeder/separator for engaging the sheets and feeding them one-at-a-time along the path whilst remaining sheets not being fed along the path are halted by the separator; and a clearance mechanism for engaging the remaining sheets and removing them from the separator region in a sheet clearance process.

Abstract: A sheet transport device according to this invention is provided with: a sheet tray on which a sheet to be transported is placed; a device main body provided with a transport path led from the sheet tray to a discharge outlet; a transport mechanism for transporting the sheet from the sheet tray to the discharge outlet via the transport path; shafts projecting from positions in the vicinity of opposite ends of the discharge outlet of the device main body to horizontal directions opposite to each other; a discharge tray having a main tray which retains the discharged sheet and is provided with bearings for the shafts; and locking members provided in the vicinity of the shafts of the device main body. The locking members lock the shafts of the discharge tray in the bending posture. This locking prevents the discharge tray in the bending posture from coming off the device main body. The locking members allow the bearings of the discharge tray in the bending posture to move toward the front ends of the shafts.

Abstract: A paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus to execute an accumulating processing, in which paper sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit are accumulated in an accumulating unit in a direction of accumulation, and a feeding processing, in which paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating unit are fed to the conveyance unit, comprising a rotating member including one or more pieces, which spread radially from an axis thereof, the rotating member being provided in the vicinity of a connection between the conveyance unit and the accumulating unit to enable the piece or pieces to slap and move a paper sheet in the accumulating unit in the direction of accumulation at the time of accumulating processing, and a guide member provided to guide the piece or pieces to enable the same to be stored toward the axis of the rotating member, whereby the paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus is able to readily set the piece or pieces long and endures an operation over a long term and frequent operations.

Abstract: To ensure that the leading edge of the sheet ejected onto a tray 12 does not push and move loaded sheets in advance, loaded sheets are retained at position (II) by a retaining roller. A roller (returning roller in this case) 121 for applying external force to a sheet S ejected onto the tray 12 and moving the sheet toward a end face 131 for alignment is displaced to a different position in the direction of ejection “a”, thereby firmly gripping the trailing edge of the sheet S ejected on the tray 12.

Abstract: A sheet storing device that has a conveyance device that holds a folded sheet to convey and a sheet storing section on which a sheet falling after being released from holding is placed, and allows a position of holding lower end position of the aforesaid conveyance device to be variable, a post-processing apparatus equipped with the sheet storing device and an image forming system equipped with the aforesaid items.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge is provided that receives articles in an article receiver that includes a stop wall to receive the front edge of each article and stop horizontal motion of the article and a rotatable segmented roller for receiving the bottom edge of each article. The segmented roller is rotatable about a central axis of the cylinder and includes a planar surface, the planar surface receiving the bottom edge of each flat article when the planar surface is in a horizontal position. The segmented roller is rotatable from a stopped position wherein the planar surface is in the horizontal position to form a gap to receive the bottom edge of one article at a time to a rotating configuration wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the segmented roller drives the one article against a stacking conveyor bed.

Abstract: A sheet holding apparatus having: a feeding mechanism to feed a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, from a predetermined feeding position; a tray section having a tray to contain the sheet fed through the feeding mechanism; an initialization mechanism to initialize the tray section; and a control section to make a determination about necessity or unnecessity of an initialization of the tray section and/or a content of the initialization on the basis of information about a position of the tray, which is notified from the image forming apparatus, and to control the initialization of the tray section through the initialization mechanism according to the determination.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feed tray, which is attached to the apparatus body so as to be freely opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body, and a paper pressing plate disposed inside the apparatus body. The paper feed tray has a pair of protrusions on the inner surfaces of the side walls thereof. The paper pressing plate has a pair of notches formed by partially cutting the side portions of the plate so that, when the paper feed tray is in the closed position, the protrusions of the paper feed tray are received in the notches and the side faces of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed face the protrusions in a manner that are almost in contact with the protrusions. When a force acts on the paper feed tray in the closed position to bend inward the side walls of the paper feed tray, the protrusions are pressed against the portions of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed so as to stop the inward bending of the side walls.

Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for paper collations having an accumulation chamber for receiving sheet material, the chamber defined by a fixed guide on one side, a movable guide on the other side and a movable stop member at one end. Rollers are included for driving the sheet material against the stop member, and gates are provided for moving the movable guide between a first position in which it is spaced from the fixed guide by a gap sufficiently small to prevent buckling of the sheet material as it is driven by the rollers against the stop member, and a second position in which the movable guide is spaced away from the fixed guide for discharge of the sheet material from the chamber.