Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets within an image forming device. One embodiment includes a registration mechanism located along the media path. The mechanism may include a series of discrete registration nips that each includes a pair of drive rolls and idler roll. The nips are spaced at intervals across the media path. Guide ribs are arranged across the media path and may be positioned between the nips. The guide ribs further guide the media sheets through the registration mechanism and along the media path.

Abstract: A paper feeder assembly for an image forming apparatus is configured to sandwich a sheet of paper between a roller and an opposing pressing member and feed the sheet of paper by the roller being rotated. The paper feeder assembly includes a pressure variable member for varying pressurized contact force between the roller and the pressing member. In conjunction with ON/OFF action of a power supply switch provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, the pressure variable member ensures pressurized contact force enough to fix an image when the power supply switch is turned on, whereas the pressure variable member operates to separate the roller and the pressing member from each other when the power supply switch is turned off.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a sheet folding mechanism including: a folding unit; a shaft; a pair of discharge rollers provided on the shaft; a pair of pinch rollers; a pair of clutches configured to transmit a rotational force only in the reverse direction; a pair of corrugation rollers, each of the corrugation rollers having a cam surface including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and an eccentric bearing to be fixed to each of the pair of clutches; a lock member configured to prevent the pair of corrugation rollers from idling; a drive unit configured to rotate the shaft; and a controller configured to cause the corrugation rollers to apply corrugation on the sheet bundle using any one of the first diameter portions and the second diameter portions according to the number of sheets in the sheet bundle.

Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus of the invention includes a driving roller that is rotated by a predetermined driving source, a driven roller that rotates in response to movement of said driving roller, said driven roller being placed opposite said driving roller and having contact with a roller surface of said driving roller, a pressing member that presses a roller surface of said driven roller toward said roller surface of driving roller at a predetermined pressure, and driven roller holding member that includes an opening being elongated in a tangential direction at a contact point between said driven roller and said driving roller or between said driven roller and a sheet, on a circle forming said roller surface of said driven roller.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a suction mechanism that suctions an interior of a bag, and a connecting mechanism that connects an opening of the bag and the suction mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a guide member disposed in a space on a side of a pair of rotating bodies. The guide member is supported such that the guide member can project outward from an outer periphery of one of the rotating bodies located upstream in a sheet conveying direction. When a front end of a conveyed sheet abuts against the guide member and pushes the guide member, the guide member retracts from a projecting position into the space on the side of the pair of rotating bodies, and in this state, the front end of the sheet is guided to a nip portion of the pair of rotating bodies.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a surface of a conveyed sheet; a guide that guides the sheet conveyed from the image forming unit; a correction roller located downstream of the guide in a conveyance direction of the sheet, the correction roller correcting a curl of the sheet conveyed; a plurality of rollers disposed opposite the correction roller along the periphery of the correction roller, the rollers nipping the sheet with respect to the correction roller; and a guide member having a wheel that guides the sheet being guided by the guide and conveyed toward the correction roller.

Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle-stitching unit to stitch a center of a sheet bundle, a folding unit to fold the center and to form a fold, a first and a second rollers that move along a direction of the fold while nipping and pressing the fold of the sheet bundle and reinforce the fold, and a drive section to move the first and the second rollers along the fold from a standby position apart from an edge of the sheet bundle, and the first and the second rollers are separate from each other in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle at the standby position, and after the first and the second rollers reach to a position where they pass the edge of the sheet bundle of a processable maximum size, they come close to each other in the thickness direction and nip the fold.

Abstract: A sheet-conveying device conveys a recording medium to a sheet support surface positioned downstream of the sheet-conveying device in a sheet-conveying direction when recording an image with an image-recording unit. A drive roller and a follower roller define a nip line therebetween. The nip line is positioned above the sheet support surface. A first support member rotatably supports the follower roller. A moving unit moves the first support member from a first position to a second position upstream of the first position in the paper-conveying direction immediately after a trailing edge of the recording medium leaves the sheet-conveying unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus comprising a pair of rollers configured to pinch a sheet to be conveyed, a driving source, a roller mechanism configured to change a clearance between the pair of rollers with a force generated by the driving source, and a manual mechanism including an operation member which a user manually moves and a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a manual force from the operation member to the roller mechanism to change the clearance between the pair of rollers, wherein the transmission mechanism is configured to cut off transmission of the force generated by the driving source to the operation member when the manual mechanism is in a default state.

Abstract: A second support member supports a first support member so that the first support member is movable between a predetermined first position and a second position at an upstream side of the first position in a conveying direction of a recording medium. The first support member is moved to the first position during conveyance of the recording medium by a first conveying section. The first support-member is moved to the second position during non-conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveying section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet. The sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is provided with: a spherical conveying rotation member that is driven to rotate in a desired direction; a driven rotation member disposed above the conveying rotation member so as to be pressed onto an upper portion of the conveying rotation member so that the driven rotation member nips a sheet in cooperation with the conveying rotation member to convey the sheet; two driving rollers press with the conveying rotation member so as to drive the conveying rotation member to rotate; and a driven roller that is made in press-contact with the conveying rotation member to be driven together therewith, and in this structure, the two driving rollers and the driven roller are disposed below the conveying rotation member so as to support the conveying rotation member by the two driving rollers and the driven roller from below.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveyor includes a first roller 62 having a first cam 71, rotating against the first roller, whose cam diameter simply increases and a second roller 63 having a second cam 72, rotating against the second roller, whose cam diameter simply increases. The first cam contacts the second cam at their cam surfaces of increased cam diameters when the sheet is conveyed by the first and second rollers. When the rear end of the sheet goes out of the first and second rollers, a delay time is provided by the first and second cams until the first and second rollers directly contact one the other because the first and second cams rotate by the same distance from the contacting cam surfaces of increased cam diameter.

Abstract: An elastic sponge roller is provided at a confluence portion where a first sheet conveyance path joins in a second sheet conveyance path and a leading edge and a rear edge of a sheet are brought into contact with the sponge roller when the sheet is conveyed from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path. Further, the sponge roller is connected to drive via a one-way clutch. Such a configuration reduces a sound produced at the confluence portion and prevents the leading edge of the sheet from being bent in colliding with the sponge roller to stabilize the conveyance of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed roller that includes a feed roller shaft, the feed roller being capable of feeding a sheet, a frame that supports the feed roller shaft, a helical gear attached to the feed roller shaft, a motor that drives the feed roller shaft via the helical gear, a disc attached to the feed roller shaft, a sensor body that detects a rotation of the disc, and a pressing member that presses the feed roller shaft from a side of the feed roller shaft in a thrust direction toward another side of the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: A recording medium transporting device includes a transporting unit that transports a recording medium; a guide member that supports and guides the recording medium in a downstream direction, the guide member being disposed downstream of the transporting unit; and a restraining unit that includes a restraining member having a restraining section, the restraining section being movable relative to the guide member. The restraining section imposes a restraint on the recording medium to prevent the recording medium from rising above the guide member at a position downstream of the transporting unit. A restriction state of the restraining member is switchable between at least two states, and the restriction state is switched so that a degree of the restraint is reduced or the restraint is removed before a trailing edge of the recording medium passes the restraining section.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus capable of favorably guiding a sheet material to perform smooth feeding comprises a pair of rolls and first and second guide members and permits a sheet material to pass between the first guide member and the second guide member. One of the rolls has a plurality of circumferential grooves arranged between both ends of a sheet material feeding surface in an axial direction and spaced from one another in the axial direction, and the first guide member includes guide portions passing through the respective circumferential grooves and extending continuously to a downstream side from an upstream side between the pair of rolls in a sheet-material conveyance direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding procedure supplies recording media from a medium enclosing portion to a medium conveying path. An overlap-feed detecting procedure monitors a thickness of recording media supplied to the medium conveying path, thereby detecting the overlap-feed media. Sheet returning procedures (A) and (B) return the overlap-feed media into the medium enclosing portion when the overlap-feed media are detected. A looseness forming procedure applies rotational forces of different rotation speeds to upper and lower surfaces of the overlap-feed media during the medium returning procedure, thereby forming a looseness in the overlap-feed media. A medium re-feeding procedure supplies again the returned recording media to the medium conveying path from the medium enclosing portion. In the medium feed control, the overlap-feed can be further certainly recovered.

Abstract: A medium carrying mechanism includes a carrying roller that carries a medium, two correction rollers for medium correction that face the carrying roller and that are positioned along a medium carrying direction, a bracket that includes a rotation shaft and that supports the correction rollers, a supporting member that supports the rotation shaft, and a bias member that biases the rotation shaft toward the carrying roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a guide member disposed in a space on a side of a pair of rotating bodies. The guide member is supported such that the guide member can project outward from an outer periphery of one of the rotating bodies located upstream in a sheet conveying direction. When a front end of a conveyed sheet abuts against the guide member and pushes the guide member, the guide member retracts from a projecting position into the space on the side of the pair of rotating bodies, and in this state, the front end of the sheet is guided to a nip portion of the pair of rotating bodies.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a driven roller that rotates in response to movement of a sheet, and a rotary encoder that detects a moving distance of the sheet based on rotation of the driven roller. The driven roller and the rotary encoder are connected by a gear unit having backlash. When the sheet moves in a reverse direction and thereby the driven roller rotates in reverse, the rotary encoder does not detect the moving distance of the sheet.

Abstract: A media path jam clearance apparatus installable in a supporting structure includes media drive mechanisms for moving flexible media through media paths and a rotatable, removable jam clearance element. Within the jam clearance element facing surfaces of guide elements define guide surfaces for media paths, with the guide elements having external surfaces capable of supporting the flexible media as it is wrapped around the external surfaces. A pivotal support element supports and enables rotational movement of the jam clearance element within the supporting structure. The jam clearance element may be partially or entirely extracted from the supporting structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling documents of value comprises at least a first device, which has a transport path portion, along which a document of value is transported to and/or from the first device and/or into the first device, at least a second device, which has a transport path portion, along which a document of value is transported to and/or from the second device and/or into the second device, wherein the devices are arranged such that a document of value can be transported from the transport path portion of the first device into the one of the second device and/or from the transport path portion of the second device into the one of the first device, and at one coupling end of the respective transport path portion in a fixed position in relation to the respective transport path portion a pair of rolls mounted to be rotatable around a rotation axis, between the rolls of which a document of value is clamped when transported and the rolls of which in a section through the rotation axis have a comblike structure

Abstract: A media path jam clearance apparatus installable in a supporting structure includes media drive mechanisms for moving flexible media through media paths and a rotatable, removable jam clearance element. Within the jam clearance element facing surfaces of guide elements define guide surfaces for media paths, with the guide elements having external surfaces capable of supporting the flexible media as it is wrapped around the external surfaces. A pivotal support element supports and enables rotational movement of the jam clearance element within the supporting structure. The jam clearance element may be partially or entirely extracted from the supporting structure.

Abstract: A device is provided for feeding horizontally oriented packages or bags at a regular interval to a zipper profile attaching device. The loose packages or bags are placed onto a servo-driven lugged chain conveyor wherein the lugs are evenly spaced at the nominal desired center-to-center spacing of the packages or bags. The servo-driven lugged chain conveyor feeds the packages or bags to be captured between upper and lower secondary constant velocity conveyors. The lower secondary constant velocity conveyor includes an encoder which is used to slave the servo of the servo-driven lugged chain conveyor, with an adjustable programmable ratio. This achieves a consistent center-to-center distance of the horizontally oriented packages or bags which are then fed to a zipper profile attaching device.

Abstract: A medium-directing device includes: first-third roll members, the third roll member contacting the first and second roll members in first and second regions, respectively; and a directing member having first and second directing surfaces and being rotatable between first and second positions such that the directing member, when located at the first position, directs a medium conveyed along a first conveyance path toward the first region via the first directing surface and directs a medium conveyed from the second region toward a second conveyance path via the second directing surface, the directing member including a region of the second directing surface on a side closer to the second region relative to a bent portion, in which, when the directing member is at the first position, a distance between the second directing surface and a tangential line between the second and third roll members increases toward the second region.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a fluid-supply device, a connecting pipe communicating with the fluid-supply device, and a plurality of force units connecting to the connecting pipe, each force unit having a pressing wheel on one end thereof, wherein each pressing wheel operates in coordination with a paper feeding wheel for feeding paper. The force units output equal force according to the same hydraulic pressure so that the pressing wheels provide the same component force to the corresponding paper feeding wheel so as to improve the quality of paper feeding. Furthermore, a method for using the paper feeding apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.

Abstract: Device for the transport and weighing of letters, wherein the letter is conveyed between at least two conveyance elements and is stabilized laterally outside the conveyance elements by at least one guide element so that a deflection or fluttering of the letter can be reduced or avoided, at least when the letter is seized at its front edge by the transport elements.

Abstract: In a mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces for printing, selector means for extracting the mailpieces for printing one-by-one from said stack, and superposed conveyor rollers including movable upper rollers for conveying downstream the mailpieces extracted one-by-one in this way, there are further provided movable optical read means that are placed downstream from said selector means and that move synchronously with said movable upper conveyor rollers for conveying the mailpieces, so that, in cooperation with processor means, said optical read means scan and recognize automatically the data printed on said mailpieces.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from a sheet feeding unit to obtain an image with photographic quality, at least a part of the recording medium has a transparent portion. When an image obtained by reversing an original image is transferred onto the transparent part, sheet-delivery rollers are operable in a direction in which a pressure onto the recording medium is reduced immediately after fixing of the image.

Abstract: Methods and devices for aligning a media sheet in a media feed path of an image forming device. One embodiment includes a drive shaft with skew correction rollers spaced apart on the drive shaft. The media sheet contacts a first skew correction roller and then contacts a second skew correction roller. The drive shaft is then rotated, driving the second skew correction roller and aligning the media sheet to the media feed path.

Abstract: The paper carrying apparatus includes a first paper carrying mechanism (first carrying mechanism), a second paper carrying mechanism (second carrying mechanism) provided on the downstream of the first carrying mechanism in a carrying direction, an electric motor that drives the first carrying mechanism, a stepping motor that drives the second carrying mechanism, and an acceleration sensor that is a vibration detecting mechanism detecting vibration generated in the rotation shaft of the stepping motor. When the first carrying mechanism and the second carrying mechanism concurrently carry the same paper sheet, the electric motor is controlled in driving velocity based on information of vibration detected by the acceleration sensor at the timing of the rear end of the carried paper sheet passing the first paper carrying mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a duplex document feeder for installed in scanning devices such as facsimile machine, printer, scanner or multi function peripheral (MFP). The duplex document feeder can control the motion accuracy of the sheet and avoid the happening of jam. The duplex document feeder includes a pick-up module, a sheet-controlling roller module and a an ejection module. The pick-up module is used for feeding the sheet into a first feed channel; the sheet-controlling roller module provides a first nip force to feed the sheet outside the duplex document feeder and provides a second nip force to feed the sheet into the interior of the duplex document feeder again; the ejection module provides a third nip force to feed/eject the sheet into/from the duplex document feeder.

Abstract: An image reader has a transport passage for transporting an original, a CIS for reading an image on the original transported on the transport passage, and a control member for pressing the transported original against an abutment member disposed at an opposed side of the transport passage at a read position of the CIS. The original does not slide on glass at the read position of the CIS and is moved with the original abutted against the abutment member of a chute on the opposed side, and image data is read in sequence.

Abstract: A method of controlling transport amounts of a pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers, the pair of first rollers operable to nip a medium so as to transport the medium in a transport direction, the pair of second rollers operable to nip the medium so as to transport the medium and disposed at a downstream side of the pair of first rollers in the transport direction, the medium on which a recording is performed by a recording head disposed between the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers, the method includes performing a first correction with respect to the transport amounts of the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers; and performing a second correction with respect to the transport amounts of at least the pair of first rollers, from a state in which length between a trailing end of the medium and a nip point of the medium at which the medium is nipped by the pair of first rollers is a predetermined length to a state in which the medium is released from being nipped

Abstract: A rotary die cut stacking system for use with a rotary die cutter having a rotary die configured to output die-cut sheets of material, the system including a stacker and a layboy for carrying die-cut sheets of material in a first direction from the die cutter to the stacker, wherein, the layboy has upper arms and lower arms defining a nip region therebetween for receiving the die-cut sheets, at least some of the upper arms and at least some of the lower arms being moveable transversely to the first direction, the layboy including at least one optical beam generator configured to direct an optical beam against a portion of the rotary die cutter so that a position of the arms relative to the rotary die can be determined based on the location of the optical beam on the portion of the rotary die cutter.

Abstract: A spring is bridged between a pair of press levers, and a pair of driven rollers is pressurized uniformly, so that clamping and conveying force of the sheet of paper P on the front side and rear side by conveying rollers and the driven rollers is made equal such as Pf=Pr, the sheet of paper P are prevented from being skewed, while the sheet of paper P are clamped and conveyed by a conveying device, and the good conveying of the sheet of paper P is improved, thus the image quality is improved.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying mechanism, a first bulging space and a second bulging space are provided on a downstream side and an upstream side, respectively, of a conveying path. The second bulging space has a length L1 along the conveying path. The conveying path between the first and second bunging spaces is defined to have a length L2. The lengths L1 and L2 are set to satisfy a predetermined relationship with a frequency of noise propagating through the conveying path. The sheet conveying mechanism can inexpensively reduce noise generated inside the conveying path during sheet conveyance without hindering the conveyance of the sheet.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a transport driving roller, and a transport driven roller. The recording head discharges ink onto a transported recording medium, thereby performing recording. The transport driving roller is provided on the upstream side of the recording head in the transport direction and includes driving side roller portions and depressed portions. The driving side roller portions are rotationally driven, thereby transporting the recording medium. The diameter of the depressed portions is smaller than that of the driving side roller portions. The driving side roller portions and the depressed portions are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium in such a manner that at least one driving side roller portion alternates with at least one depressed portion. The transport driven roller is provided opposite the transport driving roller and includes driven side roller portions and presser rollers.

Abstract: A media sheet deformer provides an adjustable amount of media sheet deformation. The media sheet deformer nonpermanently deforms a media sheet in a printer to increase the beam strength of the media sheet temporarily. The device includes a deformer, a support member, and a positioning member. The deformer is positioned in a media path within a printer. The deformer is configured to deform a media sheet temporarily with an amount of media sheet deformation. The amount of media sheet deformation causes the media sheet to exhibit an arched profile that increases the beam strength of the media sheet. The support member is coupled to the deformer. The support member is movably coupled to a printer frame. The positioning member is coupled to the support member. The positioning member is configured to assert a force on the support member and alter the amount of media sheet deformation.

Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of preventing meandering of a belt. A flange roller arranged at an entrance of sheets is used for a conveying roller immediately before a flange roller for feeding conveying rollers to a first conveying path for conveying the sheets. Namely, the flange roller is arranged just closely to an upstream side of the conveying belts arranged on the flange roller in a rotational direction. Further, a flange roller arranged at an exit of the sheets is used for a conveying roller immediately after a flange roller for feeding the conveying rollers finishing conveyance of the sheets on a second conveying path for discharging the sheets. Namely, the flange roller is arranged just closely to a downstream side of the conveying belts arranged on the flange roller in the rotational direction.

Abstract: A feeding paper apparatus includes a rod having a fulcrum member thereon, and two pressing unit disposed on the opposite ends of the rod. Each pressing unit has a connecting device disposed on the rod, a buffering device movably and pivotally disposed on the connecting device, and a pressing wheel rotatably disposed on the buffering device. The pressing wheels provide the same component force on the corresponding feeding paper wheel so as to improve the quality of feeding paper. Furthermore, a method for using the feeding paper apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device which is capable of stably conveying a sheet, irrespective of the material of the sheet. A first conveying roller pair nips and conveys a sheet. A drive motor drives the first conveying roller pair. An encoder detects the rotational speed of the first conveying roller pair. A first nip pressure-adjusting unit controls the nip pressure of the first conveying roller pair, and a CPU controls the first nip pressure-adjusting unit according to a change in the rotational speed of the first conveying roller pair detected by the encoder during sheet conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet feed assembly for feeding sheets of material having a known bending stiffness through a device with low friction. The sheet feeding assembly has feed path structures for defining a feed path, the feed path having a first point with a first radius of curvature, a second point with a second radius of curvature and a transition section extending between the first point and the second point. The transition section defines conforms to a shape adopted by one of the sheets of material extending from the first point where it has a curvature of the first radius, to the second point where it has a curvature of the second radius.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus that can realize a jam disposal mechanism with simple structure and that can achieve size reduction has a manual operation unit that is fitted coaxially with a roller shaft of an upstream-side transport roller or with a roller shaft of a downstream-side transport roller and that, when rotated in a state where drive motors are stationary, makes the upstream-side transport roller shaft and the downstream-side transport roller shaft rotate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a body comprising a conveyance path into which a sheet is conveyed and a feed tray. The feed tray includes a separation pad, which is provided at a widthwise center of the feed tray; and a holding member, which is provided downstream of the separation pad in a direction of conveyance of the sheet, the holding member comprising a driven roller, which is wider than the separation pad, and at least two guide members, one guide member arranged on each side of the driven roller.