Abstract: An example method performed by a computing device may involve receiving print job data representing a print job to be carried out by a printer to produce at least one copy of a media product. The method may also involve using a condition set to select, from a plurality of bins of the printer each configured for storing media units output by the printer, a set of one or more bins for use in carrying out the print job. The condition set may include a first condition that the set of bins includes a particular bin having a remaining media unit capacity suitable for storing a total number of media units required to complete the print job. The method may also involve in response to using the condition set to select the set of bins, controlling the printer to carry out the print job using the set of bins.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: an input section that receives a sheet; a dispensing section that dispenses the sheet; transporters that transport the sheet input through the input section, to the dispensing section; storages that store the sheet; and diverting sections that divert the sheet transported by the transporters, to the storages, wherein diversion points at which the sheet is diverted by the diverting sections are provided at positions higher than terminal ends of the transporters.

Abstract: The sheet stacking system discharges a sheet to one of a first stacking apparatus including a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray, and a second stacking apparatus including a third stacking tray, executes one of a first discharging method and a second discharging method, the first discharging method for moving, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing a job, the sheet which has been discharged to the first stacking tray to the second sheet stacking tray and discharging a sheet to the first stacking tray of the first stacking apparatus by executing the job, and the second discharging method for, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing the job, discharging a sheet to the third stacking tray of the second stacking apparatus by executing the job.

Abstract: A stack state of a plurality of trays is collectively determined and is notified in steps. A printing apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet and create a printed material, a plurality of storage units each configured to store the printed material created by the image forming unit, a sorter unit configured to output the printed material to the plurality of storage units, and a determining unit configured to determine whether the plurality of storage units are in a nearly full state in which printed material is stored in almost all of the plurality of storage units.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while efficiently using space therein to thereby realize compactness thereof, and maintaining a high availability. Stacker trays for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus can be separately removed. It is detected whether any of the stacker trays is removed. When large-size sheets are stacked, a stacker control section causes the stacker trays to operate as one tray to stack the sheets in a state extending on the stacker trays, whereas when small-size sheets are stacked, the section causes one of the stacker trays to stack the sheets. Further, when one stacker tray is removed to make it impossible to stack the large-size sheets, the section causes a display section to display a guide message advising setting of the removed stacker tray.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a conveyance portion, a first sheet stacking portion, a second sheet stacking portion, and a controller. The conveyance portion includes a holding portion that moves while holding a downstream end of a sheet. The first and second sheet stacking portions include stacking surfaces and the second sheet stacking portion is arranged downstream of the first sheet stacking portion. The controller controls to cause the holding portion to convey to the second sheet stacking portion. When the sheet to be stacked on the second sheet stacking portion passes over the first sheet stacking portion, an upstream end of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction is guided along the first sheet stacking portion stacking surface, on which a sheet is not stacked, while the downstream end of the sheet is held by the holding portion.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus including first and second stacking trays configured to stack sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, a setting unit configured to set an upper limit on stacking amount for controlling the sheet stacking amount that is less than a maximum sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, and a control unit configured to stop stacking of sheets on the first stacking tray and stack sheets on the second stacking tray in a case where the sheet stacking amount which is detected by the detection unit reaches the upper limit on stacking amount that is set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus having a stacking control unit configured to cause a sheet on which an image is printed by a printing unit to abut a movable abutting member, followed by stacking the sheet on a stacking unit, the control method includes: determining a position of the abutting member; and controlling a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a first position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit and a sheet which is abutted to the abutting member moved to a second position determined by the determination and mounted on the stacking unit so that the sheets are mounted on said stacking unit while being prevented from overlapping from one another.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a paper path architecture for parallel printing using multiple marking engines. The media path configuration enables all the media feed trays to be located in one place, relative to the marking engines. A cross-over module is located between marking engines. The cross-over module can interleave media sheets that are being transported away from a first marking engine with the sheets being transported to the second marking engine. The cross-over module also includes a straight through path that enables media sheets to be transported directly to a finishing device without going through either marking engine. The marking engines include internal duplex loops such that media can be supplied to each engine in alternate groups. A merge module selectively merges the media which can then be further processed in a finishing transition module prior to communication to a finishing device.

Abstract: Printing systems, printing apparatuses and methods of forming images on media are provided.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a sheet stack portion having a plurality of separately elevatable stacker trays configured to stack a conveyed sheet and arranged one after the other in a sheet conveying direction. When a number of sheets to be stacked is greater than a number of sheets stackable on a stacker tray, the sheets are conveyed on one stacker tray and then stacked on another stacker tray so that the sheet stacking apparatus is capable of stacking a large number of sheets.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a stage, a driving unit to drive the stage, and a sheet detection device to detect that a sheet exists on the stage. Operation of the sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that the stage descends in accordance with an amount of sheets to be stacked, and when a job executed in an image forming apparatus is completed, the stage automatically moves to a sheet removing position. The sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that sheets of a mixing prohibition job are not stacked with sheets of another job, by detecting that a sheet of another job exists on the stage.

Abstract: The image forming system includes: a first transporting unit transporting paper sheets along a first transportation route; an image forming unit forming images on the paper sheets; a sheet supplying unit having a second transportation route, and transporting a sheet along the second transportation route to supply the sheet to a gap between the paper sheets sequentially transported along the first transportation route, the second transportation route joining the first transportation route at a position located on a downstream of the image forming unit in a transportation direction; and a controller outputting, to respective first and second output units, a paper sheet located on a downstream of the gap, and a paper sheet located on an upstream of the gap while causing the image forming unit to form an image on the paper sheet on the upstream of the image forming unit, when the sheet is not supplied.

Abstract: An image recording system is configured in which a plurality of image recording apparatuses provided with a recording medium storage portion are disposed in a line, and a recording medium storage means shared by these image recording apparatuses is provided, and a recording medium that has been recorded by the plurality of image recording apparatuses is transported toward the recording medium storage means and stored in the recording medium storage means.

Abstract: A diverter panel comprises an elongated rectangular panel made of a substantially flat plate made of clear plastic. The plate has fasteners mounted at its front corners for mounting the panel to a frame of the sorting machine, a rear upright flange extending from the plate along the length thereof, the flange having a bottom edge which can be supported on a horizontal beam of the sorting machine. The panel is rigid enough such that vibration of the sorting machine does not cause significant movement of the panel when secured at its corners and with the rear flange supported by the beam of the sorting machine. An opening in the rear flange and an adjacent portion of the plate allows a drive shaft to pass therethrough, and a contact pad formed by an outwardly projecting portion of the rear flange is configured for engagement with a plunger of a switch.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a paper path architecture for parallel printing using multiple marking engines. The media path configuration enables all the media feed trays to be located in one place, relative to the marking engines. A cross-over module is located between marking engines. The cross-over module can interleave media sheets that are being transported away from a first marking engine with the sheets being transported to the second marking engine. The cross-over module also includes a straight through path that enables media sheets to be transported directly to a finishing device without going through either marking engine. The marking engines include internal duplex loops such that media can be supplied to each engine in alternate groups. A merge module selectively merges the media which can then be further processed in a finishing transition module prior to communication to a finishing device.

Abstract: A bill processing device comprises a hopping part 101 for receiving a placed bill, a carrying part 202 for carrying a bill received by the hopping part 101, a plurality of stacking parts 104 for stacking a bill carried by the carrying part 202, a identifying part 201 for identifying a bill received from the hopping part 101, a placing and running out part 103 which accommodates a bill received from the hopping part 101 and which can send out the bill, and a controlling part 300 which controls the hopping part 101, the carrying part 202, the plurality of stacking parts 104, the identifying part 201 and the placing and running out part 103. The controlling part 300 controls them to determine a destination stacking part from the plurality of stacking parts 104 according to an identification result of the identifying part 201, and when a bill can not be stacked in the determined destination stacking part, the controlling part controls 300 them to carry a bill to the placing and running out part 103.

Abstract: An improved system for administering a computer and paper-based test, including a multifunction peripheral having a printing function and a scanning function for operating on the test, and a host remotely connected to the peripheral over a network. The multifunction peripheral is configured to receive the test from the host and transmit a scanned copy of a modified paper test to the host, and the host is configured to transmit a result of an evaluation of the modified test to the peripheral. A method for administering a test including transmitting a registration code, receiving a print job including a test associated with the registration code and printing the test. The method further includes digitizing the test and transmitting the digitized test.

Abstract: A non-gated print media crossover for a printing system includes crossover pathways which intersect at a crossover junction. A control system controls arrival of sheets of print media at the crossover junction whereby a sheet conveyed on the first crossover pathway traverses the junction in an intersheet gap between sheets traversing the junction on the second crossover pathway. The printing system includes print media processing units, such as marking engines, paper sources, and output destinations, which are connected by a conveyor system incorporating the crossover.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a convenient printing system applicable not only to the office environment but also to the POD environment. To accomplish this, a printing system capable of supplying a print medium to a printing apparatus from a plurality of feeding apparatuses each having a feeding unit for feeding a print medium, a multi feed detection unit for detecting occurrence of multi feed of overlapping print media, and a multi feed discharge unit for discharging multi-fed print media includes a multi feed discharge destination setting unit for, when the multi feed detection unit detects occurrence of multi feed, setting which of multi feed discharge units is to accept multi-fed print media, and a control unit for controlling the feeding apparatus to discharge the multi-fed print media to the multi feed discharge unit set by the multi feed discharge destination setting unit.

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: An image forming system includes: a first sheet stacking device including a rack, provided downstream of an image forming apparatus in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and connected with the image forming apparatus, for stacking the recording sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus; a second sheet stacking device, which is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking device and connected with the first sheet stacking device; and a controller for controlling the image forming apparatus and the first and second sheet stacking devices. At least one of the first and second sheet stacking devices has a job stop button for stopping a printing job, and when the job stop button is turned on while the printing job execution is in progress, the controller controls the sheet stacking device to stop a stack of a recording sheet to the rack.

Abstract: A multi-bin sheet collection system comprising at least one secured stacking bin operatively configured to secure imaged sheets from general purview.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collating a plurality of groups of mail items, such as flats mail, each group being pre-sequenced according to prioritized delivery addresses, into a final sequenced set of the mail items from the groups, utilizing the prioritized delivery addresses. Each bundle of mail items is formed into a single input stream of the individual mail items. The mail items are transported along a conveyor system from the input stream to a staging station. The mail items are sorted at the staging station into a plurality of subsets of mail items re-sequenced as an intermediate step to achieving the final sequenced sets. The mail items are then collated and merged into a single output stream from the respective subsets of mail items in the final sequenced set. Portions of the output stream from the staging station are collected in batches in a collection device which maintain the sequence consistent with the prioritized delivery order sequence of the mail for a given carrier route.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a main body and a sheet post-processing unit. The main body has a first discharge path, a second discharge path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The sheet post-processing unit has a first sheet receiving path and a second sheet receiving path each connecting to a common sheet transport path, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first discharge path is connected to the first sheet receiving path by coupling the first mounting portion of the main body to the first mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. The second discharge path is connected to the second sheet receiving path by coupling the second mounting portion of the main body to the second mounting portion of the sheet post-processing unit. By providing the plurality of mounting portions in the top and side portions of the main body, the sheet post-processing unit can easily be disposed on the top or side of the main body.

Abstract: A sheet handling unit including a processing station having a stapling mechanism for stapling a plurality of sheets; a plurality of mail trays for receiving sheets transported from the processing station; and a bulk tray for receiving sheets transported from the processing station. The processing station is fixedly provided in a sheet handling unit body. The sheets transported from the processing station are delivered switchably to any of the mail trays or to the bulk tray.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus is equipped with a control device for controlling the sorting of sheets from a sheet processing device and a memory for storing data concerning the number of sorted sheets. The memory has a back-up power source that is independent of the sheet processing device which discharges sheets to the sorter and includes a transmitter for transmitting the data stored in the memory to this upstream sheet processing device.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting sheets successively supplied thereto, comprising: a fixed frame; a movable frame movable vertically with respect to the fixed frame; a plurality of bins arranged one over another at a predetermined distance and each having an upper surface sloping upwardly in a sheet supply direction for receiving thereon one or more of the sheets, the bins being supported on the movable frame; a non-sort bin situated upwardly of the bins and supported pivotally on an upper portion of the movable frame for receiving the non-sorted sheets, the non-sort bin being biased normally so as to slant upwardly in the sheet supply direction; and a holder mounted on the fixed frame, at a position to which the sheets are to be supplied, for holding the non-sorer bin horizontally against the bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sorter, includes a plurality of bins for accommodating sheet materials, the bin each having sheet material sheet inlet portion, a discharging device movable along the inlet portions of the bins to discharge the sheet material to selected one of the bins, a sheet material accommodating tray other than the bins to accommodate the sheet materials, a guiding device switchable to direct the sheet material selectively to the bin or to the sheet material accommodating tray, and a device for switching the guiding device to direct the sheet material to the discharging device when the discharging device is at a position for discharging the sheet material to the bin, and the sheet material to the accommodating device when the discharging device is not at the position.

Abstract: A modular, customer installable bypass paper transport allows printed output from a printer to bypass an output tray of the printer and pass directly into a separate finisher so as to ensure no detrimental impact on the IOT of the printer when the units are coupled or decoupled. The bypass transport fits into an output tray of the finisher and is powered by the printer. Alignment is accomplished by the use of two switches on the mating end of the bypass transport that have plunger type actuators that are actuated with minimal contact with the separate finisher in order to indicate correct or incorrect docking of the separate finisher with the bypass transport.

Abstract: A multiple sorter includes several sorter units disposed in series at a paper discharge outlet of an image forming apparatus. Each of the sorter units includes a paper distributing mechanism for distributing paper to several sort bins, and a first path change-over mechanism for changing over the connection of a paper lead-in path to either a paper feeding path to the paper distributing mechanism or a paper discharging path to a non-sort bin. The sorter also includes several bypass carrying paths, each provided across the paper discharging path of each of the sorter units and the paper lead-in path of another one of the sorter units which is adjacent to the one sorter unit in a serially connecting direction of the sorter units. The non-sort bin is provided on an upper portion of the bypass carrying path of each one of the sorter units so that the non-sort bin serves another one of the sorter units upstream of the one sorter unit.

Abstract: Sheet stack loader and sheet stack unloader arrangements provide load-while-run or unload-while-run capabilities. In a stack loader, a pusher element laterally pushes a stack or receiver into a sheet feed receiver. In a stack unloader, the pusher element pushes a finished stack from a stacking receiver to a removal receiver. By employing smooth paper support surfaces in the receivers, with close side-by-side positioning and an unobstructed path of movement, stacks of sheets of paper can be moved laterally by the pusher mechanism, which engages a side surface of the stack to be moved. Compact drive systems utilizing toggle drives and lead screws are utilized to minimize space requirements. Continuous run capabilities can be provided by auxiliary supply or stacking trays which are operative during the stack transfer sequence.

Abstract: A sorting device includes a plurality of shelves placed one above the other in a frame, each adapted to receive a printing plate in sorted fashion. Located in front of the insertion opening of the shelves is a transport device for moving the printing plates along the shelves, preferably from top to bottom. Between the transport device and the shelves is a sorting carriage which can travel along the shelves and which includes a pivotable flap which operates to deflect the printing plates from the transport device to a desired shelf. To allow the printing plates to be introduced into the shelves, while keeping the shelves placed close together, the shelves are pivotally mounted at their lower edges and the sorting carriage is provided with a tappet for engaging the shelf located above the selected shelf, to lift the upper shelves and thereby enlarge the insertion opening. The arrangement is especially suitable for sorting so-called "flexoplates" and flexible offset plates.

Abstract: A modular customer installable bypass paper transport that allows printed output from a printer to bypass an output tray of the printer and pass directly into a separate finisher. The bypass transport fits into an output tray of the finisher and is powered by the printer.

Abstract: A sorting device includes a plurality of shelves placed one above the other in a frame, each adapted to receive a printing plate in sorted fashion. Located in front of the insertion opening of the shelves is a transport device for moving the printing plates along the shelves, preferably from top to bottom. Between the transport device and the shelves is a sorting carriage which can travel along the shelves and which includes a pivotable flap which operates to deflect the printing plates from the transport device to a desired shelf. To allow the printing plates to be introduced into the shelves, while keeping the shelves placed close together, the shelves are pivotally mounted at their lower edges and the sorting carriage is provided with a tappet for engaging the shelf located above the selected shelf, to lift the upper shelves and thereby enlarge the insertion opening. The arrangement is especially suitable for sorting so-called "flexoplates" and flexible offset plates.

Abstract: A copying apparatus includes a sorter which has a plurality of bins, a binding unit for binding the sheets taken-out from each of the bins, a first path for transporting the sheets ejected from a copying machine to the sorter, a second path for transporting the sheets to the binding unit. Sheets are conducted to the first path when a sorting mode is selected, but to the second path regardless of the selection of the sorting mode when the input number of copy sets is 1. Further, the copying apparatus includes a first roller and a second roller for taking-out the sheets from the bins, wherein, the second roller is moved down to pinch the sheets on the bin in cooperation with the first roller when the bin reaches the sheet take-out position, and then the sheets on the bin are taken-out to the binding unit by the rotation of the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet stacking device. The sheet stacking device has a sheet sorting function, and in addition, sheet re-feeding function so as to make it possible to produce a duplex copy or superimposed copy. It is further possible to use the sorter portion as a sheet feeding facility.

Abstract: In a serial connection of plural sheet sorters, each sorter is capable of checking the state of downstream sorters and, in case an assigned sorter is not in a normal state, the sheets are stored in an immediately preceding sorter. In this manner it is made possible to prevent a situation where the function of the entire sorters is blocked by a single failure. Also sorters of desired number can be connected in series since same control circuits can be used in all sorters.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sorter provided with transporter for transporting sheet members supplied with a first speed at a larger second speed along a transport path and plural bins arranged along the transport path for storing the sheet members transported by the transporter, wherein said second speed is so selected that, when a sheet member is stored in one of the bins, the succeeding sheet member does not arrive at the most upstream bin in the transport path.

Abstract: A method and device for sorting flat and indexed articles are disclosed, the method involving two passes. In the first pass, articles having a destination common to a very large member of articles are sorted and distributed to N/2 receptacles (10), the receptacles being fewer in number than the total number (N) of possible destinations for the articles, while the other articles are put aside in a buffer receptacle (12). In the second pass, a control circuit (7) assigns new destinations to the sorting receptacles, placing a marker (16) after each pack of articles contained in the receptacles, and the articles initially set aside (21) are resorted to the new destinations. The invention is particularly applicable to mail sorting.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a copying machine having a sorter connected thereto, the copying machine is operated in selected one of book mode or sheet mode while the sorter is operated in selected one of sorter mode and collator mode. When the sheet mode is selected for the copying machine, a control unit selects the collator mode for the sorter, and when the book mode is selected for the copying operation, the control unit selects the sorter mode for the sorter. The copying machine monitors energization status of the sorter and if the sorter is deenergized, copy papers ejected from the copying machine are prevented from being fed to the sorter.

Abstract: A sorter is provided, which has: a transfer direction switching section for selectively switching a transfer direction of a conveyed paper sheet between first or second transfer directions; a first paper transfer section for transferring the paper sheet in the first transfer direction selected by the transfer direction switching section; a second paper transfer section for transferring the paper sheet in the second transfer direction selected by the transfer direction switching section; a nonsort/storage section for sorting and storing the paper sheet transferred by the first paper transfer section; a sort/storage section for sorting and storing the paper sheet transferred by the second paper transfer section; and a paper transfer/drive section for interrupting the second paper transfer section so as to perform nonsort/storage operation by driving only the first paper transfer section when the paper sheet to be sorted is jammed.

Abstract: A collator includes a series of twenty bins arranged in parallel with each other. A copy feeding member feeds copies supplied from a copying machine along inlets of the successive bins. First and second deflecting devices are arranged at uppermost two bins for delivering the copies into the uppermost two bins. A distributor is movable between the third bin and the twentieth bin for delivering the copies into the bins. An extra tray is provided separately from the bins. The collator further comprises a collate mode selecting member, a job separation mode selecting member and a non-collate mode selecting member.

Abstract: A deflecting device for a sheet sorter includes a sheet receiving and transporting assembly having a conveyor system for receiving recording sheets and for transporting the sheets to a collating device, and a main sheet tray overlying the conveyor system. A deflector disposed at an inlet end of the receiving and transporting assembly is movable between a first position in which an upper plate of the deflector forms a continuation of the main tray and sheets are directed onto the main tray, and a second position in which sheets are directed by a lower plate of the deflector to the conveyor system for transport to the collating device.

Abstract: A modular assembly for selectably changing or diverting sheet items from an input pathway into a selected one of a number of output pathways. Three irregularly shaped one-way gate members, actuated by the passage of the item, act to prevent return movement of the item into the input pathway. Two sets of three diverter members coupled together by means of a novel linkage to a single actuating solenoid act to cause the two sets of diverters to move in unison in one or the other of two opposite directions to divert the items into selected output pathways as desired.

Abstract: A document feeder system, interfaced with a copier system having, inter alia, a semi-automatic document feeder (SADF), an automatic document feeder (ADF) a document queue, and an associated logic control system that allows the suspending of a prior task being run on either of the foregoing document feeders and the commencing of a subsequent or urgent task on any one of the other foregoing document feeders immediately thereafter. Thus, when an urgent task operator selects a feeder suspending/commencing mode button, a single control panel is instantly made available so that the urgent task copy quantity and feature selections can be made. After the foregoing is accomplished, the single copying of the prior task original document on the document viewing glass is completed and the document stored in the document queue or ejected into a prior task exit pocket. Then the chosen urgent task feeder is enabled for feeding.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing sets of copies from a set of document sheets, some of which can be produced in a collating mode by means of a recirculating feeder and others cannot be produced in a collating mode. The copies that are produced in a noncollating mode are stored temporarily. Programmable means control the making of copies in a collating mode and the delivery of copies temporarily stored so that the copies arrive at a receiver or finisher in collated sets of copies with the page order of the copy sets corresponding to the page order of the document set.

Abstract: A copy receiving tray having a general vertical orientation with a bottom stop member a first vertical stacking portion inclined to the horizontal, a second vertical stacking portion on top of the first portion further inclined to the horizontal to provide a stacking surface for copy sheets up to a first size, and a third vertical stacking portion above the second portion generally in the same plane as said first vertical portion to provide a stacking surface for the top portion of a copy sheet of a size greater than said first size.

Abstract: Multimode reproducing apparatus with a first copy catch tray and a bin sorter for collecting and sorting letter and legal size copies and also a generally vertically inclined external copy catch tray adjacent the sorter for collecting oversize copies of oversize originals. The external copy catch tray may also be used to collect any other special copy produced such as copies of magnification reduced from the original.