Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes discharge bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging into one discharging bin. The image forming apparatus in provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in one discharging bin to which discharging can be performed. When the operational discharging bin is changed, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs a start of image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging of sheets into a selected discharging bin. The image forming apparatus is provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in the selected discharging bin. When the selected discharging bin is changed to a newly selected discharging bin, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the newly selected discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs the start of image formation.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is combined with an optical machine module, and feeds a document to be scanned into the scanning area so that the optical machine module can capture the image on the document. The automatic document feeder according to the invention is designed so that single-sided and double-sided scanning of a manuscript can be attained. It mainly comprises a delivery route that can feed a manuscript through the scanning area, a return route and guiding-out route respectively connected with the delivery route. The manuscript can come out of the exit to complete single-sided scanning after passing through the scanning area. Or, the manuscript can be turned over to its other side and guided back to the delivery route to pass through the scanning area again to process the second scanning. Finally, the manuscript is guided out of the exit and the double-sided image capture is completed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is described for two-sided colour proofing with improved registering of front- and back-side images. Improved registering is performed by: web feeding device with de-curling system tumbler unit for turning the receiving medium alignment sensing and correction system.

Abstract: The switchback device has two switchback portions for inverting the conveying path of paper-like materials and a detour conveying path. The switchback portions receive paper-like materials in the nip between the switchback rollers and the pinch rollers, clamp the paper-like materials, decelerate, stop, and accelerate them in the opposite direction in a clamping state, thereby switch back the paper-like materials. The stopping time of paper-like materials in the switchback portions is changed according to the length of the paper-like materials in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.

Abstract: A double-side automatic feeding apparatus comprises a paper feeder, a first paper holder, a second paper holder, a document traveling path and a paper flipping unit. The paper feeder, the first paper holder and the second paper holder are arranged apart in longitudinal direction. The document traveling path is of E shape and connected to the paper feeder, the first paper holder and the second paper holder. The document traveling path is provided with a plurality of rollers to move a document from the paper feeder to one of the first paper holder and the second paper holder. The paper flipping unit is arranged in the document traveling path and can be trigger to flip the document during the document traveling path. By the double-side automatic feeding apparatus, a document can be selectively printed or scanned on single- or double-side thereof at user's disposal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for duplex printing has a duplex printing unit conveying the paper sheet, which is printed on a first side by a developing unit and a fixing unit on a first paper conveyance path and then conveyed to the paper discharge unit, to be fed back to the developing unit through the fixing unit to form another image on a non-printed side of the paper sheet.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus capable of producing duplex, or two-sided, prints, print sheets which have received a first-side image move to an inverter and a duplex loop which re-feeds the sheet to receive the second-side image. The sheets move through the duplex loop at different speed than through the main path where images are placed. A control system controls the time in which a change in speed of a sheet in the duplex loop is initiated. The control system takes into account a desired amount of buckle experienced by the sheet, which is useful in de-skewing the sheet before receiving an image.

Abstract: In an output control method for an image processing apparatus which has a function to invert a recording sheet and continuously performs image forming and outputting for the plural recording sheets in order to prevent that the recording sheets inverted and discharged and the recording sheets incapable of being inverted and thus discharged as it is mix together in one job, it is checked whether or not there is an instruction to invert the recording sheet, it is further judged if there is the instruction whether or not each of the plural recording sheets can be inverted by the inversion function, and if the recording sheet incapable of being inverted exists, all of the plural recording sheets are output without any inversion.

Abstract: The invention provides an image reader provided with an automatic document feeder which has a switchback path and can perform a both-faces processing operation, and which makes it possible to simplify the control of a switchback operation and handle a long-sized document sheet without making the diameter of a feed roller large and making the switchback path unnecessarily long. An automatic document feeder of the invention comprises a feed path for feeding a document sheet drawn out from a paper feed stacker to an image reading portion facing a feed roller, a switchback path c for making a document sheet which has been processed at the image reading portion switchback, a pair of switchback rollers which are provided so as to make a document sheet switchback in the switchback path and are able to turn forward and backward, and a paper discharge path for discharging a document sheet being in the switchback path onto a paper discharge stacker.

Abstract: A sorting device for reversing a sheet fed from a printer and adhering the tag on the sheet, which includes rollers for conveying the sheet in a forward or backward direction, a sensor for detecting a position of the sheet conveyed by the rollers, a flapper for switching a path conveying the sheet based on a result of the detection by the sensor, and a tag affixing unit for passing the sheet when it is reversed and affixing the tag to the sheet when it is ejected, whereby the sheet may be reversed to be affixed by the tag, and easily and precisely sorted in reference to the affixed tag.

Abstract: A flexible sheet handling apparatus comprising an input section for receiving the flexible sheet, a reversion section for rotating the flexible sheet about an axis of motion and an output section for transferring the rotated flexible sheet to a sheet processing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an original document processing apparatus for conveying and delivering mounted original documents to a prescribed position that includes a conveyance section, an original document delivery section and a reverse-delivery section having a reverse path for looping and reversing the original document conveyed from the conveyance section to return the original document to the conveyance section, a first conveyance path route leading from the conveyance section through the reverse path to the conveyance section, a second conveyance path route branching at midway of the first conveyance path route to the original document delivery section, a third conveyance path route leading from the conveyance section to the original document delivery section. The reverse-delivery section has a first deflector for selectively introducing the original document conveyed from the conveyance section to the first conveyance path route and the third conveyance path route.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet constant speed conveying device for conveying a sheet at a predetermined speed, a sheet conveying path for guiding the sheet being conveyed by the sheet constant speed conveying device, a sheet reverse feeding rotary member pair capable of forwardly rotating to convey the sheet toward a downstream side and then reversely rotating to send the sheet reversely, a surface reverse conveying path branched from the sheet conveying path and adapted to guide the sheet reversely fed by the sheet reverse feeding rotary member pair, a trailing end detecting sensor disposed between the sheet constant speed conveying device and the sheet reverse feeding rotary member pair and adapted to detect a trailing end of the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path, and a control device for controlling rotation of the sheet reverse feeding rotary member pair in such a manner that the sheet can be conveyed at a higher speed than the predetermined speed when the trailing end of the s

Abstract: A sheet surface reversing device includes a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed, a reverse feeding device for reversely feeding the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path, a sheet surface reverse conveying path for directing the sheet reversely fed from the reverse feeding device branched from the sheet conveying path, and a conveying path changing member rotatably disposed at a branched portion between the sheet conveying path and the sheet surface reverse conveying path. When a distal end of the conveying path changing member abuts against an inner wall of the sheet conveying path, the distal end of the conveying path changing member guides the sheet to be reversely fed into the sheet surface reverse conveying path. In addition, an interference avoiding device is provided for avoiding interference between the sheet reversely fed and the distal end of the conveying path changing member on the inner wall of the sheet conveying path.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a both-sided document having images on both sides thereof is provided with a document stand; a reading section; a feeder having a feeding passage and to feed the both-sided document from the document stand to the reading section along the feeding passage; a pair of reversing rollers provided on a reversing passage to reverse the both-sided document after an image of the both-sided document is read at the reading section and to reefed the reversed both-sided document from the reversing passage to the feeding passage so that an image on another side of the both-sided document is read at the reading section; a pair of ejecting rollers provided on an ejecting passage and to eject the both-sided document to a delivery section after the images on both sides of the both-sided document are read at the reading section; and a switching mechanism to connect an outlet passage of the reading section to one of the reversing passage and the ejecting passage; wherein one of the pair of reversing roll

Abstract: An inverter for reversing the orientation of a moving sheet includes a drive roller and an idler roller in circumferential contact in at least two positions, with a nip defined in each position.

Abstract: A printed sheet transporting apparatus has a sheet inlet adjustable to selected heights and including an optional inverter for incoming sheets, a sheet feed path leading to selected positions in which a deflector may be adjustably positioned for deflecting sheets to various receivers for the sheets which are mounted on the apparatus at a plurality of vertically spaced sheet receiving positions.

Abstract: A discharge mechanism capable of discharging a sheet facedown is advantageous to miniaturization of a duplex printing apparatus. The discharge mechanism includes a discharge roller gear engaged with a driving gear; a pair of discharge rollers rotatable by the discharge roller gear, keeping in contact with each other; a disklike support member having a shaft fixed on a same line of a shaft of the driving gear, intervening between the driving gear and the discharge rollers; a friction disk attached to the discharge roller gear, for transferring a driving force of the driving gear to the disklike support member; a compression coil spring interposed between the friction disk and the disklike support member, a shaft of a selected one of the discharge rollers passing through the compressing coil spring; and a solenoid for restricting rotation of the disklike support member when unactuated and for allowing rotation of the disklike support member when supplied with a current.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet original conveying apparatus having an original reverse apparatus and in which originals stacked on a tray are separated one by one by a separation means and a separated original is supplied to a reading portion for reading an image. It comprises a first convey path provided at a downstream side of the separation means in a supplying direction to direct the supplied original to the reading portion, a second convey path branched from the first convey path to direct the supplied original to the reading portion after a travelling direction of the original is reversed in a travel reverse portion, and a switching means disposed at a branched area between the first and second convey paths to switch the first and second convey paths from one to the other.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a sequence of pages to be printed with a printer and a printer/photocopier incorporating this method are disclosed. The printer has a printing station and a duplex loop for returning duplex sheets, of which a first page has been printed on one side, to the printing station for printing the second page on the second side, the duplex loop accommodating a predetermined number N of sheets at a time, such that skips in the stream of pages are filled with first pages of duplex sheets or with simplex sheets, without changing the desired order in which the sheets are completed. When a new print command for printing a new job occurs, the pages of the new job are appended to the remainder of the previously scheduled sequence that has not yet been printed, with re-scheduling of the thus assembled sequence.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper supply inlet and a first paper ejection outlet disposed above the paper supply inlet, a paper supply path for leading a document supplied from the paper supply inlet to a reading section, and a paper ejection path for leading the document from the reading section to the first paper ejection outlet. The automatic document feeder further includes a circulation path situated between the paper ejection path and the paper supply path for reversing a transfer direction of the document, and a document reversing path connected between the paper ejection path and a second paper ejection outlet different from the first paper ejection outlet for reversing front and rear surfaces of the document. The transfer direction as well as the front and rear surfaces of the document can be changed, as desired.

Abstract: A reversing device for a sheet-fed rotary printing press, having a sheet transport device for accepting a sheet, that has been printed on one side thereof, at a leading edge thereof from an upline sheet-guiding cylinder, reversing the sheet by turning it about a longitudinal axis thereof in a sheet transport direction, and then transferring the sheet, in the reversed condition thereof with a leading edge thereof leading, to a downline sheet-guiding cylinder, and having a cam path extending substantially like that of a Mobius strip for guiding the sheet transport device, includes an electric linear drive for advancing the sheet transport device.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has a conveying path for directing sheet materials supported on a supporting portion one by one to an image processing position and also directing them to a discharging portion after the completion of image processing, and a reversing path for containing a predetermined number of sheet materials therein, and reversing the sheet materials and directing them to the image processing position. When the interval between the predetermined number of sheet materials to be directed into the reversing path widens to such an extent that the sheet materials cannot be contained in the reversing path, preceding one of the sheet materials is decelerated or stopped in conformity with the widening to enable the predetermined number of sheets to be contained in the reversing path.

Abstract: A document transporting system for conveying documents along a transport path in a first direction from a document infeed station to a document processing station, certain of such documents being advanced along the transport path from the infeed station with an improper facing orientation. A plurality of document re-orienting devices are disposed adjacent the transport path between the infeed station and the document processing station. Each of the document re-orienting devices are adapted to receive an improperly oriented document, to reverse the orientation of the previously improperly oriented document, and to transport the correctly oriented document back onto the document transport path. Control elements operatively associated with each of the plurality of document re-orienting devices deliver improperly oriented documents into a pre-selected empty re-orienting device.

Abstract: A print head and check flipper subassembly having a removable flipper cartridge allows printing of both sides of a check or other document in one continuous operation, in which the orientation of the check or other document is reversed in relation to a print head, eliminating the need for an operator to remove and reinsert the check during the printing or handling process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of parallel mounted sheet conveying paths including at least two guide plates swingable between a sheet guiding position in which the plates guide a sheet, and a jammed sheet removing position in which the sheet conveying path is opened. The image forming apparatus further includes an opening and shutting mechanism for moving the swingable guide plates between the sheet guiding position and the jammed sheet removing position.

Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus has a plurality of trays for receiving sheets from an image forming apparatus and discharge rollers corresponding to the respective trays. The discharge rollers are rotatable in forward and reverse directions. The sheet discharging apparatus has a transport path for connecting the trays and a sheet discharge opening of the image forming apparatus. A gate for switching the destinations of sheets is disposed at each branched point in the transport path. A selected tray for finally receiving sheets is selected from the trays, and a temporary tray is selected from the trays other than the selected tray. A sheet is temporarily fed in a non-reversed state to the temporary tray from the image forming apparatus. Then, by rotating the discharge rollers in the reverse direction, the sheet is discharged in a reversed state to the selected tray from the temporary tray. A tray which can efficiently execute reverse discharge processing is appropriately specified according to the selected tray.

Abstract: According to a document feeder for an image-forming apparatus of the present invention, when a double-sided document fed from a feed paper stacker, the document with the front surface thereof having been read out by a document reader unit is inverted in a switch-back path provided between the document reader unit and a discharged paper stacker on which documents after having been read out will be stacked, and is conveyed again to the paper reader unit so that the back surface is read out. The document after its both surfaces have been read out is again inverted in the switch-back path and then discharged onto the discharged paper stacker. With such a construction, the documents after having been read out can be stacked in the order of sequence of pages of the documents. Furthermore, the size of the device can be decreased, contributing to shortening the time required for reading the double-sided document and to increasing the efficiency for forming images.

Abstract: A print head and check flipper subassembly having a removable flipper cartridge allows printing of both sides of a check or other document in one continuous operation, in which the orientation of the check or other document is reversed in relation to a print head, eliminating the need for an operator to remove and reinsert the check during the printing or handling process.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus for depositing a sheet from a printer in one of a plurality of output trays. The apparatus has a pair of rollers that moves the sheet, leading edge first, out of the printer. As the sheet exits the rollers, it encounters a deflector. Depending on the position of the deflector, the sheet either moves into a first output tray or to a flipper assembly. The flipper assembly inverts the sheet so that trailing edge of the sheet exits the flipper assembly before the leading edge of a sheet. A continuous belt removes the sheet from the flipper assembly trailing edge first. Finally, a distribution head, which is movable along the continuous belt, is positioned adjacent to the one of a plurality of output trays prior to the arrival of the sheet. The distribution head then removes the sheet from the belt and directs it to the output tray.

Abstract: In a sheet output system with a stacking tray for a reproduction apparatus, in which sheets sequentially moving in an output path are fed out from a sheet ejection nip for stacking in the stacking tray, a sheet separating assistance unit is mounted adjacent the ejection nip with three evenly circumferentially spaced radially extending sheet separating arms, with one separating arm automatically normally extending into the output path for engagement and partial rotation and translation solely by a moving sheet lead edge in the output path, while maintaining at least one separating arm in contact with the moving sheet as the moving sheet is fed out from the sheet ejection nip to provide sheet separating assistance, even if the nip reverses for duplexing. The automatic realignment of the device to a lead edge catching position after each sheet is provided by gravity with an eccentric over-center mounting system with a large triangular shaped mounting aperture.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a pneumatic picker for picking the top sheet from a stack of sheets, and a flipper for inverting upside-down sheets. The picker has a row of suction cups, supplied with vacuum through hoses, for picking up the top sheet. The lip of each suction cup is inclined to the top surface of the stack at a fixed angle. If the angle is properly chosen, exactly one sheet will be picked up as the picker is moved onto and away from the stack. The inclined suction cups are for permeable materials such as cloth. The picked sheet may be inverted by a twisted-belt flipper if needed. The flipper has four rollers with axes in a rectangular configuration, and two twisted belts. Each belt is wrapped around a pair of rollers on opposite corners of the rectangle, and the belts run closely in between the far pairs. A sheet will be flipped as it travels through, held between the two belts. To select which sheets are to be flipped, a photocell and gate work to direct sheets into or around the flipper.

Abstract: A full productivity, high performance inverter apparatus includes a sheet input nip, a sheet output nip, a reversing roll nip downstream of the input and output nips, and adjustable interleaving baffles for guiding sheets of a wide variety of lengths between the input nip, output nip, and the reversing nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sheet material conveyor includes an image forming unit, a sheet material conveyor on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, a conveying path situated at a downstream side of the conveyor for guiding the sheet material which may be upwardly curved, a paper discharging tray for supporting the sheet material guided through the conveying path, discharging rollers situated at an exit side of the conveying path which can switch between a forward rotation for discharging the sheet material onto the paper discharging tray and a reverse rotation for returning the sheet material in a direction opposite to the direction of discharge, and a reconveying path for accepting the sheet material returned on the conveying path by the reverse rotation of the discharging rollers and for guiding again the sheet material to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An inverter for turning a sheet over and reversing the lead and trail edges of the sheet includes a disc stacker that works in conjunction with a vacuum transport. A sheet transported from a source is captured lead edge first by fingers or in a slot of the disc stacker which is rotating in a first direction. A vacuum transport is positioned adjacent the disc stacker and draws the sheet away from the disc stacker at a predetermined point and transports the sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction trail edge first for further processing.

Abstract: A random access sheet receiver has pairs or sets of trays for receiving sheets arranged in vertically spaced relation and extending horizontally in opposite directions from a central sheet path defined by gates and feed rollers and extending vertically between the sheet inlet ends of the trays. Each set of trays may have one or a plurality of trays of selected sheet capacity. A double acting actuator is employed to selectively actuate any gate or deflector randomly to direct sheets in a selected direction into a selected tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes an electrophotographic copying machine operable to form an image on a recording paper and a laser printer operable to form an image on a recording paper independently of the copying machine. The copying machine includes a paper feeder from which the recording papers are selectively supplied to an electrophotographic image forming station in the copying machine and to a paper supply unit in the laser printer. The image forming apparatus also includes a paper recirculating unit operable at a specific timing to replenish the recording paper, supplied from the paper feeder, onto the paper supply unit in the laser printer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a single-side image forming device with a sheet inverting unit attached thereto for image forming on the reverse side of a sheet, and a double-side image forming apparatus that employs such a sheet inverting unit. The sheet inverting unit is detachable from an image forming apparatus, which has a sheet cassette; an image forming mechanism; a stacker; and a feeding path along which the sheet supplied from the sheet cassette is conveyed first to the image forming mechanism and then to the stacker. The sheet inverting unit comprises a switching lever for selectively guiding the image bearing sheet either toward the stacker or upward of the image forming device; switchback rollers for feeding the sheet guided upward by the switching lever and then inversely feeding the sheet; a guide path, which extends from the switchback rollers to a terminus in the vicinity of an inserting port of the image forming device; and feeding rollers provided along the guide path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a rotatable upper cover, one surface of which serves as a first exit tray on which recording sheets are discharged with image sides face downward, the other surface of which serves as a second exit tray on which recording sheets are discharged with image sides face upward. Guide members which are activated in accordance with the rotation of the rotatable upper cover are provided above delivering rollers, thereby the recording sheets delivered by the delivering rollers are selectively discharged with the image sides either face downward to the first exit tray or face upward to the second exit tray.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer for conveying a sheet so that an image of a document is duplicated on both sides of the sheet by an image forming machine such as a photocopy machine. The sheet conveyer has; a first conveyance path for conveying the sheet to an image forming section of the image forming machine; a second conveyance path for conveying the sheet from the image forming section to a tray; the tray for holding the sheet; a third conveyance path for conveying the sheet from the tray to the image forming section; and, a pair of nip rollers, located at the vicinity of the tray, for holding the sheet conveyed through the second conveyance path, and forwarding the sheet into the third conveyance path; in which the sheet conveyance apparatus has a first mode that the sheet is forwarded into the third conveyance path by the nip rollers without being placed on the tray, and a second mode that the sheet is once placed on the tray and forwarded into the third conveyance path by the nip rollers.

Abstract: In a document feeder, documents are contained on a document rest in a stacked state. These documents are sequentially transported to a specified exposure region on a table glass member of a copying machine by a feeder and transporter and are then exposed. The documents are then discharged again onto the document rest. The documents are thereby circulated for copying. When the documents are small in number, the documents are not discharged until a copying operation of a necessary number of sheets is completed, and the documents are moved back and forth for exposure between a transport path of the feeder and the transporter. This design enables the time required for copying a small number of documents to be shortened.

Abstract: A combined system of an image processing machine (e.g., a copying machine) and a sheet handling machine. They are placed with an image reading part (e.g., a glass plate of the copying machine) therebetween. In the combined system, one-sided or two-sided original sheets and processed sheets are orderly stacked on respective final tray after they are finished processing if the original sheets are stacked orderly in the initial tray, i.e., the original sheets are laid on the final tray with the order of the page numbers maintained from the order at the initial tray, and the processed sheets are also stacked on the finish tray with the same order. In a simple mode: the original sheet is placed on the image reading part, processed (copied), reversed and ejected to a first final tray, while the process sheet (copy sheet) is processed and ejected onto the finish tray without reversing.

Abstract: A sheet transport for a printer moves the leading edge of a sheet along a short and substantially straight path while inverting the sheet side-to-side. An output path feeds back to the printer input so a second side is printed in the correct orientation. Preferably a non-inverting sheet transport feeds directly into the output path, so that a once-printed sheet is transported to another printer, or is returned to the printer for a second pass either inverted, or on the same side. A deflector curls the sheet over a bar onto a transport at a different level, and as the paper advances, its trailing edge is drawn over the bar, flipping the sheet over.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing machine having printing units for processing sheets with single-side multicolor or first form and perfector printing, a feeder for feeding the sheets to the printing units, and a preceding sheet processing unit located upstream of the printing units as viewed in sheet-feeding direction in the printing machine, also has a work and tumble device including a sheet turning device disposed in the sheet-feeding direction between the preceding sheet processing unit and the printing units for the first form and perfector printing.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a sheet includes a first transporting path provided with rollers for transporting the sheet to an image forming section, a second transporting path for conducting the sheet in a direction transverse to the first transporting path, and a control section for controlling the first and second transporting paths so that they can be connected and disconnected to each other.

Abstract: A document fed from a document loading tray is first transported into one branch transport path for invention of the transporting direction thereof, and then is guided through the other branch transport path and transported on to a document scanning area. In this process, when the trailing edge of the inverted document has passed the branching point between the two transport paths, the feeding of a succeeding document toward said one transport path is initiated. Also, when the trailing edge of the inverted preceding document has passed the branching point, the transportation of the preceding document is temporarily stopped, during which time the transporting direction of the succeeding document is inverted. This allows the succeeding document to be brought close to the preceding document. At this time also, the feeding of a further succeeding document may be initiated.

Abstract: Image recording equipment capable of selectively discharging sheets each carrying an image thereon to either one of the operating side or front of the equipment where the operator is expected to stand or to the opposite side or rear, depending on the number of sheets to be discharged to a tray. When a tray provided on the rear of the equipment is selected, the tray loaded with discharged sheets is moved to the front of the equipment and then automatically returned to the original position after the sheets have been removed by the operator.

Abstract: In a system of transporting sheets in an output path of a copier or printer to a sheet stacking area with opposing first and second sheet feeding rollers forming a sheet transporting nip engaging the leading edge of a sheet, while producing a relative orbital motion of the opposing rollers to progressively pivot the nip and thereby change the angular direction of motion of the leading edge of the sheet, plural mode selectable operation of this pivotal motion is provided. There is a selection between faceup and facedown stacking of the sheets by one selectable orbital motion of the nip. This selected orbital motion pivots the nip by greater than 90 degrees with the sheet's leading edge held in the nip, so that subsequently, the leading edge of the sheet is moving in a direction substantially different from the direction of motion of the leading edge when the leading edge first entered the nip, and the sheet is inverted.