Abstract: A printer device has a two-sided printing function and a circulatory transporting path for transporting a printing medium. The printer device is configured such that after creating a set of print data for a first recording surface to be printed with two-sided printing, the printer device adds a set of dummy print data for a second recording surface corresponding to a back side of the first recording surface to the set of print data for the first recording surface.

Abstract: A photocopier apparatus includes a scanning module configured to scan an original document; a printing module configured to print a copy of the original document using output from the scanning module; and a media feed path configured to transport the original document and the copy to a single output receptacle.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a recording device; discharge trays; a discharge mechanism; detectors; an input device through which is inputted authentication information relating to image data; and a controller including: an image-data reception portion; an authentication-information confirming portion to make a confirmation as to whether the authentication information contains specific information; a confirmation-necessity judging portion to judge whether the confirmation by the confirming portion with respect to the image data is necessary; a selecting portion to select one discharge tray on which the recording medium is not placed, wherein, where the judging portion judges that the confirmation is necessary, the controller permits selection of the one discharge tray, controls the recording device to record the image based on the image data after the confirmation that the authentication information contains the specific information, and controls the discharge mechanism to discharge, to the select

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a document input tray, a document discharge tray, a pushing member, and an elastic element. The document discharge tray is disposed under the document input tray. The pushing member is disposed on the document input tray. By pushing the pushing member, the pushing member is swung relative to the document input tray. The elastic element is contacted with the pushing member and the document input tray. The elastic element provides an elastic force to the pushing member. When the pushing member is not pushed, the pushing member is returned to an original position in response to the elastic force. By pushing the pushing member to allow the pushing member to be swung relative to the document input tray, the document discharge tray is exposed through the document input tray. Consequently, the paper sheet can be easily removed from the document discharge tray.

Abstract: A print control method allowing a printing apparatus to perform printing based on a plurality of contents used for outputting a plurality of components to be finally integrated is provided. The CPU determines whether component basis post-processing is set in each of the plurality of contents. The printing sequence is determined such that a first content determined as a content in which the component basis post-processing is set is printed in advance of a second content determined as a content in which the component basis post-processing is not set.

Abstract: A system for processing documents having fastening devices includes a document transport system and a fastening device detecting station connected to the transport system that is adapted to detect a fastening device securing together pages of a document. The fastening device removing station is adapted to remove a fastening device securing together pages of a document. A scanning station is adapted to scan the pages of a document. A page flipping station is adapted to flip and position pages of a document to be scanned. A systems controller controls the transport system and the stations based on information provided by the fastening device detecting station for a document to be scanned, to cause such document to be processed by the fastening device removing before scanning of the document or by the page flipping station during scanning of the document to be scanned.

Abstract: A method of digital printing in which each of the page images of a print job with a large number of sequential pages to be printed is classified as to the job or document type. Upon occurrence of a fault in printing, upon fault clearance and resumption of printing, only those pages having the same classification as the pages involved in the fault are reprinted in sequence from the fault.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a scanner unit for reading an image in an original; an instruction unit for receiving an instruction from a user and instructing operation of reading the image with the scanner unit; and a printer unit for printing the image that has been read on a medium. In the printing apparatus of the present invention, each reading operation with the scanner unit is started by receiving an instruction from the user with the instruction unit when the reading operation is to be performed with the scanner unit for a plurality of number of times and a plurality of the images that have been read are to be printed in their respective predetermined positions on the medium. The printing apparatus makes it possible to perform N-up printing of a new procedure that is different from conventional N-up printing.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a reversal tray on which printable media are temporarily stacked, and a reverse roller installed inside a main body immediately before the reversal tray at a junction between the reversal tray and an end of a second moving path, which is driven in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions by power transmitted via a discharge roller to guide one of the printable media towards and away from the reversal tray along a second moving path, wherein a feeder, a pick-up roller, a scanning unit, a discharge tray, and transport rollers are installed on a first moving path in order to scan images from one side of the printable medium, and the reversal tray and the reverse roller are installed on the second moving path in order to scan images from the other side of the printable medium.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, including: a first tray on which sheets to be fed are stacked; a second tray which is disposed above the first tray to provide a two-tier structure and on which the sheets after having fed from the first tray are stacked; a sheet-feed path extending from the first tray to the second tray; a sheet-feed mechanism which is operable to separate one of the sheets stacked on the first tray, to feed the one of the sheets into the sheet-feed path, and to discharge the one of the sheets to the second tray such that the one of the sheets slides under another of the sheets that has been discharged immediately before the one of the sheets; and at least one sheet guide which is configured to warp the sheets discharged to the second tray, in a direction perpendicular to a sheet-feed direction in which the sheets are fed.

Abstract: A removable media input tray assembly comprising a housing for receiving a removable media input tray. One or more housing assemblies stackable beneath an image forming device. The assembly having a substantially continuous media reference surface extending the height of a media feed path formed by two vertically aligned plates, one plate mounted on the removable media input tray and the other mounted on the housing and extending into the removable media input tray when installed in the housing, the arrangement of plates minimizing any gaps in the media reference surface within the assembly and adjacent assemblies and the image forming device.

Abstract: The method or system for controlling a printing or copying system for processing single sheets, a first single sheet and at least a second single sheet immediately following the first single sheet is processed with aid of n processing units. A required minimum distance between the first and the second single sheet is determined for each processing unit. A delay distance is determined for the first and at least for each of the n?1 following processing units. A difference between the minimum distance of a processing unit and a sum of the delay distances of the preceding processing units is formed. A smallest possible distance with which the second single sheet is fed to the first processing unit after the first single sheet is determined by a highest value of the determined minimum distance of the first processing unit and the determined differences.

Abstract: An auto document feeder which loads and feeds a document to a read position provided on a read surface of a reader, the auto document feeder including a conveying device having an upstream roller placed upstream of the read position and a downstream roller placed downstream of the read position, the conveying device conveying the loaded document through the read position, a stabilizing roller provided upstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the stabilizing roller stabilizing movement of the document conveyed by the conveying device, and a guide member provided downstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the guide member guiding the document conveyed by the conveying device, wherein the following relationship is established the thickness of the document<a gap between the read surface and the stabilizing roller<a gap between the read surface and the guide member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet discharge unit, a reading unit disposed above the sheet discharge unit, an operating panel, and an opening portion formed between the reading unit and the sheet mount unit such that the sheet can be taken out from the front side of the apparatus. The operating panel extends to the front side of the apparatus in the reading unit so that the tip thereof is located at the same position as the front end portion side of the sheet mount unit or projects from the front end portion side. There is provided an area where the projection amount from the reading unit is set to be smaller than the maximum projection amount of the operating panel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job.

Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a housing unit, spatially interconnected first and second paths, an inverting path in spatial communication with the first path, a bypass path spatially inter communicating the second path and the inverting path, a feeding roller unit for feeding documents onto the first path, first and second transfer roller units disposed respectively on the first and second paths, an ejecting roller unit aligned with the second path and the inverting path, and two switching gates disposed pivotally on the housing unit for guiding movement of the documents. The bypass path and the switching gates are internal to the ejecting roller unit so as to reduce document transportation travel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an automatic document conveying apparatus including a table, first and second conveyance paths, a scanning device, and first and second switchback mechanisms. A document of the document bundle set on the table is reversed and conveyed by the first conveyance path through the scanning device with its first surface facing the scanning device, guided to the first switchback mechanism by the second conveyance path, switched back by the first switchback mechanism, reversed and conveyed to the second switchback mechanism by the second conveyance path, and switched back by the second switchback mechanism to detect a size of the document based on information sent from a sensor included in the first conveyance path. Thereafter, the document is reversed and conveyed by the first conveyance path to the scanning device to have its first surface scanned. A method of automatically conveying documents is also described.

Abstract: An auto document feeder which loads and feeds a document to a read position provided on a read surface of a reader, the auto document feeder including a conveying device having an upstream roller placed upstream of the read position and a downstream roller placed downstream of the read position, the conveying device conveying the loaded document through the read position, a stabilizing roller provided upstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the stabilizing roller stabilizing movement of the document conveyed by the conveying device, and a guide member provided downstream of the read position and opposing to the read surface, the guide member guiding the document conveyed by the conveying device, wherein the following relationship is established the thickness of the document<a gap between the read surface and the stabilizing roller<a gap between the read surface and the guide member.

Abstract: An image formation device is equipped with a withdrawably provided paper supply cassette. A display portion and a cover-like opening/closing portion are also provided. The display portion is formed at an upper portion of a withdrawal side of the paper supply cassette and shows information relating to the paper supply cassette. The opening/closing portion structures a portion of a side wall of the device at an upper side relative to the paper supply cassette, at the withdrawal side of the paper supply cassette, and includes an openably/closeably attached manual tray. A masking portion, which masks at least some of the display portion when the manual tray is open, is also provided.

Abstract: The ADF 11 is a device for feeding an original document toward an original document scanning position R, comprising an original document loading unit 31, paper feeding roller 51, pressure sensor 33 and lift plate drive unit 35. The original document loading unit 31 comprises a lift plate 41 allowing an original document to be loaded and vertically movable in an original document loading direction. The paper feeding roller 51 is disposed above the lift plate 41 disposed at the lowermost position with an interval therebetween, and is capable of moving upwardly in coordination with a force received from below from the lift plate 41. The pressure sensor 33 is capable of detecting upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51. The lift plate drive unit 35 causes the lift plate 41 to be lowered upon detection of upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51.

Abstract: The image copying apparatus of the present invention comprises a document drawing-in port for drawing an original document before reading operation in and a document discharging port for discharging the original document after reading operation, and copies images of the original document on a medium. The image copying apparatus further comprises trays more than two which are movable upward and downward within a range covering a document feeding position to the document drawing-in port, a receiving position from the document discharging port, and a bottom region located further lower than the lower of these positions. At least one of the trays moves to a position within the bottom region, a tray on which an original document is placed moves to a document feeding position, and another tray moves to a document receiving position.

Abstract: A tray and a method thereof that uses the tray including a surface with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end a projection extending away from the surface and from the second end of the surface and a recess formed below the surface and from the projection toward the first end.

Abstract: Based on the difference in shape between a mount and a dummy mount subjected to scanning, an output signal having a pattern which differs depending on whether the mount or the dummy mount is transported is outputted from a photo coupler 54 along with driving of a mount pusher pawl 23. Further, a detection signal indicative of whether the mount or the dummy mount is transported or neither the mount nor the dummy mount is transported following the driving of the mount pusher pawl 23 is outputted from a photo coupler 59. With the use of these two output signals, whether the mount is transported or not, whether the dummy mount is transported or not or whether neither the mount nor the mount is transported or not can be detected by the driving of the mount pusher pawl with high accuracy.

Abstract: A substrate compiling system includes an actuator, cable and tamper device. The tamper device includes a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly is retracted and extended. The clamp assembly can be used to clamp an edge of each compiled set of substrates and transfer the compiled set to a stacking tray, platform or the like. The clamp assembly may remain in an extended position until all other substrate supporting structures no longer support the substrates and an opposing unclamped edge of the compiled set engages the stacking tray below.

Abstract: A sheet post-treating apparatus is provided with a discharged sheet stacking tray displaceably provided in a casing portion for stacking thereon sheets discharged from the casing portion, and a holding portion for holding the discharged sheet stacking tray in a first position and a second position overlying the first position, and is designed such that the sheets are stacked on the discharged sheet stacking tray when in the first position, and therefore, when the sheet post-treating apparatus is incorporated into a printer and a cartridge in the printer is to be interchanged with a cartridge cover opened, a user can retract the discharged sheet stacking tray to the second position to thereby interchange the cartridge.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a document stacking tray on which documents are stacked, a feed roller for picking up, one sheet at a time, the documents that are stacked on the document stacking tray, a curved transporting path through which the document is transported, and a CCD reading unit and a CIS reading unit for reading images from the document. The document stacking tray includes a electric tray for raising or lowering the document within a range of a height of the curved transporting path, so as to feed the document to the feed roller. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of separating and transporting a large number of documents and efficiently reading images from the documents even when the documents are thick.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus transfers a sheet to a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a discharge tray; a support device for rotationally supporting the discharge tray; an interconnecting device that activates according to a rotation of the discharge tray; and a sheet regulating device engaging the interconnecting means to be movable between a regulating position for regulating a movement of the sheet and a retracted position for allowing the sheets on the discharge tray to move. A control device prevents the sheet regulating device from moving to the regulating position from the retracted position even though the discharge tray is rotated when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the sheet regulating device.

Abstract: The image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading device which reads the images of documents fed into an image reading area, a first document feeding device which feeds first documents into the first image reading area of the reading device, and a document feeding unit which is detachably mounted on the first document feeding device and feeds second documents into the second image reading area of the reading device.

Abstract: In a document feeder with a superposed sheet input tray and sheet output stacking tray for feeding and then restacking print media paper sheets of variable dimensions, the lateral setting (repositioning) of the at least one variable position side guide of the input tray to the sides of the input sheets automatically correspondingly resets the corresponding side guide of the underlying output stacking tray, to reduce sheet scattering in the sheet stacking, especially skewed sheets. This may be accomplished by a simple direct mechanical integration of these respective side guides into a single repositionable component with upper and lower extending sheet edge guide portions.

Abstract: A drop-prevention mechanism for keeping original document sheets from falling off a document loading table openable on the upper surface of a multifunctional printer having, for example, faxing and photocopying capabilities. A loading section on the loading table loads documents for feeding to an automatic document feeder (ADF) that positions documents onto a rear image-reading part of the upper surface of the multifunctional printer. A discharge section of the loading table beneath the loading section receives documents discharged from the rear image-reading part by the ADF. The loading table is openable to expose a front image-reading part of the upper surface of the printer, where odd-sized documents, books and the like may be manually positioned for photocopying.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as digital copying machine can perform an operation to read the original document by an image reader and an operation to output image data stored in an image memory by a printer, independently of each other. A first timer measures a period of time that has elapsed since the suspension of reading of the original document by the image reader. A second timer measures a period of time that has elapsed since the suspension of output of image data stored in the image by the printer. The timers running independently of each other. Therefore even when one of the processes is continuing, if the other process is suspended due to either intentional discontinuation or an error, this other process may be cleared. As a result, an operator who wishes to input a job to the digital copying machine can learn the current status of each job residing in the digital copying machine.

Abstract: Every time the paper size setting key is operated, the count value in the counter is increased by one. It is judged whether the count value in the counter after increment is greater than the maximum value Cm. If the count value of the counter is greater than the maximum value Cm, the count value is set at ‘1’. Then the CPU highlights the feeder position corresponding to the count value of the counter, among several feeder positions in the paper size setting frame. If new paper is loaded during the waiting period for the operation of the paper size setting key, the CPU detects count value Cs corresponding to the feeder position to which new paper has been loaded and sets the counter at a count value of Cs−1.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a low profile, small footprint document output tray having an overall length of about one-half a document length and a shallow curvature with a centrally disposed medium depressor at the central region of the curve that forces a medium sheet to stiffen and to take the curved shape of the output tray.

Abstract: An improved sheet jam removal system for a sheet feeding system with an enclosed internal sheet feeding path unit and connecting first and second sheet stacking trays. The first tray is overlying the second and is pivotally cantilever mounted about a first pivot axis so that when a sheet feeding jam occurs the first tray readily manually pivots upwardly about the first pivot axis to expose sheets in the second tray, and also a camming surface on the tray, which may be provided by edge guides adjacent the first pivot axis, engages and automatically unlatches, with high leverage, a top cover of the enclosed sheet feeding path unit, which top cover pivots open about a second pivot axis spaced from the first. The top cover may be spring loaded to automatically pop further open for full exposure and removal of sheets inside the unit upon said automatic unlatching.

Abstract: A document feeder having a main document setting plate for holding thereon a stack of document originals to be processed, an auxiliary document setting plate for holding thereon a stack of document originals to be processed after the processing of the document originals set on the main document setting plate, a transfer mechanism for transferring the document originals set on the auxiliary document setting plate to the main document setting plate, and a feeding mechanism for feeding the document originals set on the main document setting plate one by one to a processing position. The document originals are transferred from the auxiliary document setting plate to the main document setting plate in synchronization with the one-by-one document feeding from the main document setting plate to the processing position by the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: In an image scanner having a flat bed type structure and an automatic document feeding type structure, the scanner includes: an image read unit at least including a lamp, a mirror and CCD sensors to read a manuscript which is put on the structure; an image control unit operatively connected to the image read unit to process an image read by the image read unit; a host computer operatively connected to the image control means; and the image control unit including a main printed-circuit board provided for the original functions of the image scanner, a main connector connecting the image control means to the host computer, a user printed-circuit board selectively provided by a user as an extended slot and the board being mounted within the image control unit, and a user connector connecting the main printed-circuit board to the user printed-circuit board.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to systems and methods determining an overflow situation for a output catch tray device for holding a predetermined capacity of a image-carrying medium in image-duplicating machines such as photocopiers, facsimile machines and printers. The overflow condition is monitored by keeping track of a number of sheets of an image-carrying medium in a predetermined size and is independent from an inflexible mechanical device such as a torque limiter on a holding roller. In addition, the overflow beyond the predetermined capacity is flexibly adjusted based upon the conversion data.

Abstract: A tandem electrostatographic reproduction machine including a Tandem Automatic Document Handler (TADH) for programmed ahead handling of first and second hard copy jobs in tandem. The TADH includes a housing for mounting over a platen of the reproduction machine. The TADH includes a first Recirculating Automatic Document Feeder (RADF) assembly mounted within the housing. The first RADF assembly has a first RADF tray and a first document path for recirculatingly moving sheets of documents seriatim from the first RADF tray over the platen, and back into the first RADF tray. More importantly, the TADH includes a second Recirculating Automatic Document Feeder (RADF) assembly mounted within the housing and in alignment with the first RADF assembly. The second RADF assembly includes a second RADF tray and a second document path for recirculatingly feeding sheets of documents seriatim from the second RADF tray over the platen, and back into the second RADF tray.