Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit installed in a main body of the image forming apparatus and a tray stack including stacked media supplying units for supplying the media piece from selected one of the stacked media supplying units to the image forming unit. The tray stack is detachable from and attachable to the main body. The tray stack includes a register installed only in uppermost one of the stacked media supplying units. The register functions to correct skew of the media piece with respect to a transport direction along which the media piece is transported and then feed the media piece to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An integrated printing system is provided and includes at least two generally vertically aligned image marking engines and at least two generally horizontally aligned image marking engines. The printing system further includes at least one generally horizontal interface media transport for transporting media between and to the vertically aligned and the horizontally aligned image marking engines.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems and methods incorporate inverter assemblies for not only inverting media during transport through the system but also to register the media or provide a velocity buffer transports with different drive velocities. The inverter assemblies can include the capability to optionally deskew the media and provide lateral registration corrections. The inverter assembly nip rollers are sufficiently spaced from process drive nip rollers to decouple a document in the inverter assembly from the highway paths. The method comprises combining the inverting function selectively with either the registering or the velocity buffering functions.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems include first and second adjacent electronic printers and at least one sheet bypass section extending around the second electronic printer to provide a sheet transporting path overlying the second electronic printer and bypassing the second electronic printer. The sheet bypass section includes an output for merging printed sheets from the first electronic printer with printed sheets printed by the second electronic printer. The output preferably comprises a intermediate transport section having a first input aligned with the output of the bypass section and a second input aligned with the output of the second electronic printer.

Abstract: An upper surface of a sheet feeding apparatus located below the switch back feeding path is opened. When a relay feeding apparatus is drawn out from the body apparatus, a supporting tray is also drawn out from a switch back feeding path and a lower surface of a switch back feeding path is opened into the sheet feeding apparatus between the supporting tray open end and a holding member and one end of a sheet discharged into the switch back feeding path hangs in the sheet feeding apparatus. An intermediate tray is pulled out on the front of the sheet feeding apparatus and the operator's fingers are inserted into a space in which the intermediate tray is mounted and the sheet discharged into the switch back feeding path is grasped and drawn out on the front of the sheet feeding apparatus and collected.

Abstract: A tray 1 can be inserted in and pulled out of a main body 10 of an image forming apparatus. A lifting member 23 is provided in the main body 10 so that the lifting member 23 is able to enter into the tray 1 and lift a stack of sheets in the tray 1. The lifting member 23 is driven by a motor 25 provided in the main body 10. A switching member 27 is provided for connecting and disconnecting the transmission of the power of the motor 25 to the lifting member 23. When the tray 1 is fully inserted in the main body 10, the switching member 27 connects the transmission. In contrast, when the tray 1 is to be moved out of the main body 10, the switching member 27 disconnects the transmission, so that the lifting member 23 swings downward out of the tray 1.

Abstract: A paper handling apparatus having: at least one of a paper guide opening for receiving a paper carried from outside, and a paper discharge opening for discharging a paper outside; and a coupling section for coupling to other paper handling at a position approximately equal to that of the paper guide opening or the paper discharge opening in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A roll comprising polymeric foam having a density of at least about 6 pounds per cubic foot and a compression force deflection of at least about 2.5 pounds per square inch. The roll may be used in image forming devices, and may be specifically employed as a toner added roll in electrophotographic image forming devices for toner applications.

Abstract: Representative embodiments provide for a control system including a controller configured to selectively control an imaging apparatus, a sensor in signal communication with the controller and configured to provide a scan signal corresponding to sheet media, and a computer-accessible storage media in data communication with the controller and containing a data table, wherein the controller is configured to selectively gather data from the data table in response to the scan signal provided by the sensor. A method of the present invention includes receiving a print job from a user, providing a scan signal in response to sensing at least one sheet media characteristic, selectively reading sheet media data in response to the scan signal, and selectively controlling an imaging device of an imaging apparatus in response to the print job and the read sheet media data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image recording device and a recording material supply device, and an external recording material supply device is connected to the recording material supply device in parallel. In a main body of the recording material supply device, a space is formed between the inner wall on a peripheral equipment connecting side and a longitudinal transport path so as to allow the longitudinal transport path to open from a front side of the recording material supply device. The longitudinal transport path is provided for transporting the recording material from the recording material supply device to the image recording device.

Abstract: The carrying apparatus comprises a carrying device for carrying an object to be carried, along a carrying route having a straight part and an arc-like corner part, a straight escape part provided in the carrying device, and a control device for letting the object carried along the carrying route escape temporarily to the escape part and for keeping it therein, if necessary.

Abstract: A urethane composition for making a sheet transport roll, the composition comprising: (A) a polyether polyol blend containing polytetramethyleneether glycol (PTMG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) in a weight ratio of PTMG/PPG=99/1 to 50/50; (B) a polyisocyanate; and (C) a chain lengthening agent; the urethane composition in a cured state having a hardness of not smaller than 40, and a crosslinking density of 0.15 to 0.8 mmol/cm3 or an allophanate bond concentration of 0.03 to 0.07 mmol/g.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus which easily sorts sheets into groups, and makes these groups readily distinguishable on a single output tray. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a sheet sorting apparatus located at the sheet outlet location of an image processing device, the sheet sorting apparatus including a marker attaching mechanism for attaching markers at a certain position on the output sheets. The marker attaching mechanism includes a tape feeding device in which the tape has an adhesive surface along one side edge, a cutter for making a marker by cutting the tape at a preset length, guides for positioning the marker in the proper location on the output sheet, a marker attaching roller, and a feeder for feeding the sheet and marker together. The feeder presses the marker against the sheet to attach it. The advantages of the invention include the markers for separating the groups being attached to the sheets, so they will not fall out if the sheets are removed from the output tray.

Abstract: Preparing substrates for one-sided or two-sided printing in an electrophotograpically operated digital printing apparatus, in which process substrates are fed out of a supply unit or several supply units onto a conveyor operation sequence and are transferred, preferably in the course of the conveyor operation sequence, onto a conveyor belt that runs through a printing unit, with the least possible space between successive substrates. An acceleration time related to the type of substrate stock, of which the substrate is composed, is selected for feeding a substrate from a supply unit or from the supply unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit having a first printing section for forming a first image on the paper; a second image forming unit having a second printing section for forming a second image on the paper; and a paper conveying unit for conveying the paper from the first image forming unit to the second image forming unit. Accordingly, two kinds of image can be formed employing one image forming apparatus. The first image and the second image may be formed using the same recording material (toner) or different recording materials (toners).

Abstract: An upper surface of a sheet feeding apparatus located below the switch back feeding path is opened. When a relay feeding apparatus is drawn out from the body apparatus, a supporting tray is also drawn out from a switch back feeding path and a lower surface of a switch back feeding path is opened into the sheet feeding apparatus between the supporting tray open end and a holding member and one end of a sheet discharged into the switch back feeding path hangs in the sheet feeding apparatus. An intermediate tray is pulled out on the front of the sheet feeding apparatus and the operator's fingers are inserted into a space in which the intermediate tray is mounted and the sheet discharged into the switch back feeding path is grasped and drawn out on the front of the sheet feeding apparatus and collected.

Abstract: A printer or copier and method for its operation includes two printing units in the paper path. The paper path is formed into two adjoining loops or rings and shunts are provided at intersections to selectively redirect the paper to permit single sided or double sided printing, printing in different colors or re-supplying the paper to a printing unit for a second pass. Papers can be turned over by selective control of the shunts and the conveying directions in the paper paths. Spacing of the sheets if controlled and pre-printed sheets may be selectively brought in to the paper flow.

Abstract: A finishing apparatus of an image forming apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, in which various block modules performing finishing functions are provided and a user can selectively use any module by detachably fixing the same in a copier. The finishing apparatus includes a paper conveyer module detachably fixed to an image tray module, a mail box module, a finisher module, and a booklet module, the paper conveyer module being detachably fixed in a copier. The paper conveyer module includes a controller sensing whether the respective modules are detachably provided to selectively control functions of the respective modules in accordance with an output signal of the copier. In addition, paper path switch devices provided in the paper conveyer module include a plurality of paper dispensers that dispense papers in three or more directions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes: an image forming apparatus main body provided with an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an upstream-side sheet feed unit which is juxtaposed to the image forming apparatus main body and feeds a sheet contained therein to the image forming portion; a sheet treatment portion for treating a sheet fed thereto; and a downstream-side sheet feed unit which is juxtaposed between the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet treatment portion and feeds a sheet contained therein to the sheet treatment portion, in which each of the upstream-side sheet feed unit and the downstream-side sheet feed unit is selectively attachable to the image forming apparatus main body, and the upstream-side sheet feed unit and the downstream-side sheet feed unit have the same construction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater for heating a recording material for fixing a transferred toner image to the recording material at a transfer portion. A fixing unit includes at least one overheat preventive device for preventing the heater from overheating. A recording material sensor detects a front end timing of the recording material. A part of all of the at least one overheat preventive device is placed on a plane perpendicular to a conveyance surface of the recording material and passing the recording material sensor.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveying mechanism control unit which performs a first processing and a second processing almost simultaneously, when it is detected that a recording medium has reached a stop position. The first processing is to make invalid the output of a servo computing device and make effective the output in accordance with an output-for-stop setting register. The second processing is to generate an auto stop interrupt to inform that the output in accordance with the output-for-stop setting register is made effective. With this configuration, the recording apparatus enables the increase in speed of a stop operation control processing of a DC motor for use in conveying a recording medium and the improvement of the stop position accuracy of the recording medium.

Abstract: The carrying apparatus comprises a carrying device for carrying an object to be carried, along a carrying route having a straight part and an arc-like corner part, a straight escape part provided in the carrying device, and a control device for letting the object carried along the carrying route escape temporarily to the escape part and for keeping it therein, if necessary.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater for heating a recording material for fixing a transferred toner image to the recording material at a transfer portion. A fixing unit includes at least one overheat preventive device for preventing the heater from overheating. Recording material sensors detect the existence of the recording material on a conveyance route or confirm passage of the recording material.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a box-shaped case having an opening, and an image scanner part which carries out an information input operation and is disposed in the opening so that the image scanner part can be pulled out therefrom.

Abstract: A paper drive sheet feeder system includes an edge guide, a paper transport mechanism, a paper edge detector, and control circuitry. The edge guide serves to guide the edges of a sheet of paper along a travel path of a peripheral device. The paper transport mechanism is configured to move the sheet of paper along the travel path. The paper edge detector is provided along the travel path to detect a leading edge of the sheet of paper. The control circuitry communicates with the paper transport mechanism and the paper edge detector and is operative to locate the sheet of paper in response to the detected leading edge of the sheet of paper along the travel path to accurately superpose successive image planes during a multiple color image transfer process. A printing system and a method are also provided.

Abstract: In a recording medium conveying mechanism for an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a first and a second rotary body rotate in contact with each other for conveying a paper sheet to which a toner image is to be transferred. The first and second rotary bodies are respectively mounted on the apparatus body and an openable cover mounted on the apparatus body. The second rotary body moves into or out of contact with the first rotary body in interlocked relation to the closing or the opening, respectively, of the cover. The conveying mechanism includes a first support member rotatably supporting the first rotary body on the apparatus body and including a first engaging portion. A second support member rotatably supports the second rotary body on the cover and includes a second engaging portion. The first and second engaging portions mate with each other when the cover is closed.

Abstract: A print media sheet feeder system includes an edge guide grit belt to guide and move a sheet of media along a travel path of a peripheral device, and at least one pinch roller provided for co-rotation with the grit belt, wherein the sheet of media is moved between the belt and the roller along one edge.

Abstract: A printer or copier includes a high speed monochrome or two color printer portion and a slower full color printer portion. Print job signals are divided into monochrome and color printed pages and sent to the corresponding printer portion. The printers, or a paper handling path between the printers, is controlled to assemble the printed pages into a predetermined sequence order.

Abstract: A recording material separating apparatus has a rotary member contacting with a recording material, a separating member for contacting with the rotary member and separating the recording material from the rotary member, and a guide member for guiding that surface of the recording material separated from the rotary member which is adjacent to the rotary member. The guide member is provided for retraction from a guide position by the pressure of the recording material when jammed, and the separating member is retracted from a separating position in operative association with the retracting action of the guide member.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a sheet processor in which the setting of punch action is permitted during a specified period of time, even after image formation is started when the setting of a punch action has been forgotten. When the start key of the image formation apparatus is operated for starting image formation in a situation in which a setting of an action for punching at least one hole in a sheet by a punch setting button is forgotten, an action setting by the punch setting button is permitted during a specified period of time taken after inputting of the start for image formation, so that sheet processing and image formation can be continued without pausing the apparatus.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying apparatus, starting sound is reduced and downsizing is contrived without causing any increase in cost. The sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a plurality of pairs of rotary members disposed along a sheet conveying path for guiding a sheet, and conveying the sheet, a plurality of rotary driving devices for rotating the pairs of rotary members, and a control device for staggering the starting time of each rotary driving device and starting the rotary driving devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a scanner for reading image information from a document. The image forming apparatus includes a scanner section, an image forming section, a sheet discharging section, a sheet stacking section, a sheet finishing section, and a relaying section. The scanner section is configured to read image information of a document that can then be formed into an image in the image forming section. Exemplary options include an image forming apparatus with a scanner mounted on the apparatus body above the image forming section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing individual sheets gathers the sheets in groups and feeds the sheets past a printer unit. Paper paths are provided in two ring shapes and two printers are provided to permit printing on one side in one color, both sides in one color, one side in two colors and two sides in two colors or one color on one side and two colors on the other side.

Abstract: A printer or copier includes a high speed monochrome or two color printer portion and a slower full color printer portion. Print job signals are divided into monochrome and color printed pages and sent to the corresponding printer portion. The printers, or a paper handling path between the printers, is controlled to assemble the printed pages into a predetermined sequence order.

Abstract: A main printer that prints the cut papers fed from the paper feeding part and a support printer that prints and ejects the fed cut papers. The transporting part of the support printer has a cut paper transporting mechanism and a transporting control device. The cut paper transporting mechanism has a transporting route that transports the cut papers from the main printer to the inlet of the paper exit of the support printer or to the support printer and another transporting route that transports the cut papers exiting the support printer. It also has a transporting device that transports cut papers along the transporting routes. The transporting control device establishes the transporting route based on the given transporting destination specifying information and drives the transporting device.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus and receiver tray capable of automatically accommodating receiver sheets of various sizes, and method of assembling same. The tray includes a housing having a lateral sidewall and a rear sidewall. The tray also includes a resilient first alignment member disposed adjacent the lateral sidewall of the housing for abutting a lateral marginal edge of the stack. The tray further includes a resilient second alignment member and a resilient third alignment member both adjacent the rear wall of the housing. If a sheet of a first size (e.g., “A4-sized”) is loaded onto the platen, the lateral marginal edge of the sheet will abut the first alignment member and a rearwardly-facing marginal edge of the sheet will rest atop and compress the second alignment member; however, the rearwardly-facing marginal edge of the sheet will abut the third alignment member.

Abstract: An apparatus according to the present invention removes printing material from a recording member on which an image is recorded by the printing material. The apparatus includes a releasing member and a separation member. The releasing member comes into pressure contact with the recording member and adheres to the printing material on the recording member. The separation member separates the recording member from the releasing member at a separation point and releases the printing material from the recording member by bending the releasing member and the recording member in mutually opposite directions so as to make the radius of curvature of the recording member smaller than the radius of curvature of the releasing member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming part which forms an image on a recording medium; a recording medium switchback portion which receives the recording medium on a first run, one side of which has been printed when passing the image forming part, and sends the recording medium for a second run; a recording medium path which communicates with the recording medium switchback portion so as to send the recording medium to and from the recording medium switchback portion; an inverted recording medium transfer path through which the recording medium is sent to the image forming part again with an upper surface and a lower surface of the recording medium reversed; and a recording medium transfer part which transfers the recording medium along the inverted recording medium transfer path.

Abstract: An image reproduction machine is provided, and includes a paper substrate feeding assembly having a substrate path for feeding a portion of paper substrate; a moveable image bearing member having an imaging path; toner image forming devices along the imaging path for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an image transfer station along the substrate path for transferring the toner image onto a portion of paper substrate fed by the paper substrate feeding assembly; and a toner image fusing assembly having heat and pressure devices for heating and fusing the toner image onto the portion of paper substrate. The reproduction machine importantly includes a blank paper substrate preconditioning apparatus (PSPA) for changing and stabilizing a size of the portion of paper substrate before it is fed to the image transfer station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type having a sheet transport path extending substantially vertically upward from a sheet feed section to a sheet discharge section is disclosed. The apparatus allows different kinds of finishers to be mounted thereto without lessening the advantages particular to the substantially vertical path configuration. A relay unit intervenes between the sheet discharge section and the finisher. A sheet jamming the relay unit or the sheet discharge section during usual sheet discharge mode operation can be removed with ease.

Abstract: A method for operating a printer or copier is disclosed.

Abstract: A document scanning unit is disposed so that a scanning direction of a document on a table glass by a lamp unit is equal to a longitudinal direction of a photoreceptor drum provided in a mechanism unit. A face-down tray is mounted above the document scanning unit, and a face-up tray is positioned on a side of the apparatus opposite to the face-down tray with respect to the mechanism unit. The discharge-opening switching section switches the discharge openings so that a recording sheet is discharged to the face-down tray in a printer mode, or to the face-up tray in a copy mode. This structure enables a reduction in the size of an image forming apparatus by decreasing the width of the apparatus without increasing the height thereof. Moreover, with this structure, it is possible to perform the discharge of sheets according to operation modes, namely the printer mode and the copy mode.

Abstract: A method and system for scheduling copy sheets in a duplex copy mode uses an interleave mode in which at least one skipped pitch is provided between copy sheets along a paper transport path. The method includes transporting first and second copy sheets along the paper transport path, determining whether the paper transport path contains an even or an odd pitches and creating a skipped pitch when an even number of pitches is detected and the first and second copy sheets are in adjacent pitches and from different sets. According to another method, first and second copy sheets in first and second sets, respectively, are transported along a paper transport path, a determination is made as to whether the first and second copy sheets occupy adjacent pitches, and one of the first and second copy sheets is shifted into an adjacent available pitch to create a skipped pitch between the first and second copy sheets when it is determined that the first and second copy sheets occupy adjacent pitches.

Abstract: This specification discloses a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet comprising sheet supporting means for supporting the sheet thereon, a sheet feeding roller for contacting with the sheet supported on the sheet supporting means and feeding the sheet, and cleaning means for contacting with that portion of the sheet feeding roller which contacts with the sheet, and cleaning the contacting portion, the sheet feeding roller having a cut-away portion which does not contact with the sheet, secondary cleaning means for cleaning the cleaning means being provided in the cut-away portion. The specification also discloses an image forming apparatus provided with such sheet feeding device.

Abstract: A method of controlling the movement of copy sheets along a copy sheet path by providing a target by a high level controller for the movement of copy sheets within the copy sheet path and controlling movement of copy sheets within segments of the copy sheet path. Movement in each segment is controlled by subcontrollers activating segment drives. Feedback data are conveyed to the high level controller and to other subcontrollers on the movement of copy sheets within segments of the copy sheet path and copy sheet movement is adjusted by the copy sheet drives of selected segments of the copy sheet path in order to achieve the target.

Abstract: Carbonless papers manufactured as grain-short paper and wherein the grain direction is parallel to the direction of feed when a toner image is transferred upon in electrophotographic copiers, copier/duplicators, and laser printers results in reduced paper jams, reduced paper curl, and allows the use of lower basis weight papers and the use of non-xerographic grade papers than that normally used in electrophotography.

Abstract: A printing system for printing multiple colors on a sheet of print media includes an electrophotographic printer having a photoconductor drum and a transfer roller configured to interact in co-rotation with the drum during transfer of a color image plane from the drum onto a sheet of print media passed therebetween. A paper drive sheet feeder system is included which has a grit shaft extending generally transverse of a paper travel path, a first pinch roller configured to interact in co-rotation with the grit shaft along a first edge of a sheet of print media, and a second pinch roller configured to interact in co-rotation with the grit shaft along a second edge of the sheet of print media. The grit shaft is driven in rotation to drive the sheet of print media along a bidirectional sheet travel path such that a plurality of different colored image planes is superposed onto the sheet of print media in accurate registration therebetween. A method for printing multiple colors is also described.

Abstract: A multiple print engine system includes a plurality of print engine modules (10) that are arranged in a parallel configuration. Each of the print engine modules (PEMs) is a dedicated print engine having an associated photoconductor drum (44) and a transfer drum (42). Paper is pulled from an associated paper bin (78) or (80) and passed through the transfer nip (46) between the two drums (44) and (42). The printed copy, either made by a monochrome process or a multipass color process, is then passed through a fuser (74) to a print buffer (16) which has an associated print buffer path (104). The paper is maintained in the print buffer until it is selected by the output combiner (20). The output combiner (20) extracts the paper from the print buffer (16) at a faster rate than it was processed by the associated one of the print engines (10). The images are distributed to the various print engines by an image distributor (30) which determines which image is associated with which engine.

Abstract: A duplex electrophotographic device has a driving apparatus that is constructed using only one motor to drive the various gears and rollers of the electrophotographic apparatus. A main gear is driven by the motor. The main gear is engaged with a set of gears that are mounted on a rod that is pivotally mounted inside of the housing of the electrophotographic device. A solenoid is attached to one end of the rod to move the set of gears between a first and a second position. When the set of gears is in a first position a first assembly is engaged with the set of gears. This assembly rotates a first plurality of rollers to transport a sheet of paper in a first direction. While the set of gears is in a second position, the set of gears is engaged with a second assembly that rotates both a first and second plurality of rollers in a second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member, a transfer device for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material at a transfer station and a guide member for guiding the transfer material to the transfer station. The guide member has a notch formed at a most downstream side and, on account of the notch, a final guide point, effected by the guide member, of a transfer material having a small width in a direction perpendicular to the transfer material moving direction is positioned at an upstream side of that of a transfer material having a wide width.