Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a single-sided image forming unit that forms an image on a first side of a sheet and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state, a first double-sided image forming unit that forms an image of an even page on a first side of the sheet, reverses the sheet on which the even page is formed, conveys the reversed sheet to an image forming unit, forms an image of an odd page on a second side of the sheet, and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state, and a second double-sided image forming unit that forms an image of an even page on the second side of the sheet and an image of an odd page on the first side of the sheet and discharges the sheet in a predetermined discharge state.

Abstract: Method for printing pages within a booklet to improve the appearance of images on opposing pages includes sequencing images such that opposing pages are printed with the same print engine and/or fused the same number of times. Booklets include opposing pages having images fused the same number of times and/or printed with the same print engine as the image on the opposing page.

Abstract: An ADU is turned around a first hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a first angle relative to the lateral side of an apparatus main body when dissolving a jam. The lateral side cover is temporarily taken away from a stationary side plate when maintenance the inside of a color copying machine. Then, a second engaging pin is put into a second hole section to engage the lateral side cover with the stationary side plate. The ADU is turned around the second hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a second angle greater than the first angle.

Abstract: For a sheet circulating transfer route that includes a sheet transfer portion of a printing mechanism provided with a transfer belt for transfer of a sheet as positioned thereto, a transfer section provided with drive rollers for transfer of a sheet as image-formed by an image former of the printing mechanism, and a sheet invert portion operable for inversion of the sheet as image-formed, there is a drive controller adapted, in conformity to a condition that a sheet to be positioned in the printing mechanism is equal in length to or longer than a path distance from the image former to the drive rollers, to set a transfer speed of the sheet as image-formed by the drive rollers up as an identical speed to a transfer speed of the sheet as positioned by the transfer belt, and in non-conformity to the condition, to set it up as a greater speed than the transfer speed by the transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of guiding a printing medium in a smooth manner by minimizing resistance to the printing medium feed and preventing a developer from adhering and accumulating on a printing medium guide device. The image forming apparatus includes a printing medium guide device to guide a printing medium in a print path to a discharge path or guide the printing medium in the discharge path to a reverse path, and the printing medium guide device includes rollers to rotate by contacting the printing medium.

Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.

Abstract: An imaging system including an image transfer structure configured to transfer marking material to a first side of a substrate; a tacker configured to fix the marking material to the substrate; a path controller; a substrate inverter; and a fuser. The path controller is configured to switch the substrate between a first path towards the fuser and a second path extending through the substrate inverter and returning to the image transfer structure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an improved structure to enable a user to conveniently operate the image forming apparatus at a front of the image forming apparatus, and a method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a main body formed with a discharge port at a front portion, a printing unit mounted inside the main body and disposed adjacent to a front panel of the main body, a feeding unit to feed paper printed by the printing unit toward a rear panel of the main body, and a discharge reversal unit to reverse a moving direction of the paper fed by the feeding unit to feed the paper to the discharge port. A sensor to detect a moving position of the paper and a paper guide guiding movement of the paper is mounted between the feeding unit and the discharge reversal unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit such as a process section for forming an image on a recording sheet. The apparatus may include a fixing unit for fixing the image formed by the image formation unit on the recording sheet, a reversible roller configured to receive the sheet from the fixing unit along a sheet transport path and reverse a transport direction of the sheet, and an air blower, positioned between the fixing unit and the reversible roller along the sheet transport path, configured to blow air in a sheet feeding direction onto the recording sheet on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a modular printing system having individual units comprising input modules, transporter modules, marking engine modules, fuser modules and exit modules each with its own support structure and cabinet. The modular units have common matching interface configurations for paper feed and electrical connections so as to permit numerous combinations and variations of printing systems capable of monochrome, color, duplex, hybrid and simplex printing by modular interconnection as opposed to built-up systems.

Abstract: A conveyor including a conveyance element configured to rotate in a first rotary direction for sending in a first direction a sheet conveyed along a first path and in an opposite second rotary direction for sending the sheet to a second path including: a guide member for rotating between first and second positions; a first transmission element for transmitting a drive force to the conveyance element; a lever for rotating the guide member to at least one of the first and second positions; a second transmission element connected with the first transmission element to transmit the drive force to the lever; and a transmission controller for controlling transmission of the drive force from the second transmission element to the lever, wherein the transmission controller transmits the drive force from the second transmission element to the lever while the lever rotates the guide member.

Abstract: A reverse conveying apparatus which again conveys a sheet formed an image by an image forming portion to the image forming portion includes a plurality of roller grippers which supports a sheet formed an image, and a belt which moves the roller grippers to a receiving position where a sheet is received and a carry-out position where a supported sheet is conveyed out. When a sheet is conveyed out in the carry-out position, the sheet is conveyed out such that a rear end thereof when it is received at the receiving position is a leading end.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for preventing sheet jams and displacement of image formation when forming images on both front and rear sides is provided. The apparatus includes first and second width regulation mechanisms, a reverse transport mechanism and a link mechanism. The first width regulation mechanism is provided within a sheet holding chamber, and is movable with respect to a center of an image formation range of an image forming unit. The reverse transport mechanism is configured to turn the sheet from a first side to a second side upon the first side passing through the image forming unit. The second width regulation mechanism, provided within the reverse transport mechanism, is movable in the width direction. The link mechanism is provided between the first and second width regulation mechanisms for changing a position of the second width regulation mechanism in association with position change of the first width regulation mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a return-sheet conveyer unit to convey a recording sheet carried from the image forming unit along a return-sheet path to return to the image forming unit, an upper frame unit including a pair of side frames to support the image forming unit in a position there-between, and a pair of lower frames arranged to have a predetermined amount of clearance there-between to have the return-sheet conveyer unit in the clearance, and configured to be less rigid than the upper frame unit and to support lower sections of the pair of side frames. A vertical position of the return-sheet conveyer unit with respect to the image forming unit is defined with reference to the upper frame unit by having a part of the return-sheet conveyer unit aligned to be in contact with the upper frame unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit which fixes toner image on a sheet by heat; a first portion in which the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit is fed; a second portion in which the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit is fed; and a fan provided between the first portion and the second portion and for cooling the sheet in the first portion and the sheet in the second portion.

Abstract: A conveying device conveys a sheet of non-blank recording medium recorded with an image formed in an image forming unit, and includes a container that is detachable and contains a sheet of blank recording medium, a feeding unit that feeds the blank recording medium from the container, and a recirculating path that leads the non-blank recording medium to the feeding unit. The recirculating path is disposed lateral to the image forming unit. A part of the recirculating path is integrated into the container and forms a reversing path that leads to the feeding unit. At least one of surfaces of the reversing path can be exposed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; an image forming section that is arranged within the image forming apparatus main body, and that forms an image in a recording medium; a discharging member that discharges the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming section; a driving source that normally and reversely rotates the discharging member; and a both-face printing assembly body that returns the recording medium pulled-back by reversely rotating the discharging member to the image forming section, the driving source and the both-face printing assembly body being separately freely attached and detached with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a recording medium is temporarily stopped at an upstream of a fixing unit when the recording medium needs to be stopped for a longer time between the fixing unit and a curved path.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and a double-sided printing method for the image forming apparatus that can prevent occurrence of an image failure by providing a sheet retracting mechanism in a conveying path of an automatic double-sided printing device and preventing occurrence of temporary stop near a high-temperature fixing device during a double-sided printing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a heating device that heats images that have been formed on a sheet-like recording medium to thereby fix the images to the recording medium; an ejection member that rotates in a forward direction and ejects to the outside the recording medium that has been conveyed from the heating device; a blower member that blows air onto the recording medium conveyed between the heating device and the ejection member; and a controller that controls the blower member such that the blower member operates when a recording page count where images are continuously formed on the recording medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined recording page count.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer body having a developing portion and a fixing portion therein; a plurality of sheet feeding rollers successively disposed along a sheet discharge path of the printer body and driven to discharge a sheet from fixing portion to an upper portion of the printer body; and a rear cover portion having a rear cover provided on a side of the printer body to open and close, a guide rib member to guide the sheet from the fixing portion, an idle roller to rotate in contact with one of the sheet feeding rollers to feed the sheet, and a supplementary guide member to change a position thereof when the rear cover is open to prevent the sheet being discharged to the guide rib member from running into the idle roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a pair of first guides formed with a first opening; a pair of second guides; and a pair of third guides, wherein an air which has passed through a first opening of the pair of first guides is deflected to one pair of guides of the pair of the second guides and the pair of the third guides by the other pair of guides.

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

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system that projects a pattern image of an original onto a substrate, an original stage that holds and drives the original, a substrate stage that holds and drives the substrate, and a position detecting system that detects the relative positional relationship between position detection marks formed on the original or the original stage and fiducial marks formed on the substrate stage. The position detection marks form a plurality of mark groups arranged in a first direction. Each of the plurality of mark groups has a first mark for measuring the position in the first direction and a second mark for measuring the position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The position detecting system has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, which simultaneously detect a plurality of the first marks or a plurality of the second marks.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an improved structure to enable a user to conveniently operate the image forming apparatus at a front of the image forming apparatus, and a method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a main body formed with a discharge port at a front portion, a printing unit mounted inside the main body and disposed adjacent to a front panel of the main body, a feeding unit to feed paper printed by the printing unit toward a rear panel of the main body, and a discharge reversal unit to reverse a moving direction of the paper fed by the feeding unit to feed the paper to the discharge port. A sensor to detect a moving position of the paper and a paper guide guiding movement of the paper is mounted between the feeding unit and the discharge reversal unit.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus configured to switch between an inter-leaf operation and a non-inter-leaf operation is provided for double-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a endless conveying belt (50) which conveys a sheet (P) on which an image is to be formed, and is twisted 720 degrees, and a plurality of suspending members which suspend the conveying belt (50). The conveying belt (50) is suspended on the suspending member like a figure of eight, and conveys a sheet (P) by rotation driving of the conveying belt (50).

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing control unit that performs, between printing on a first printing side of a paper sheet and printing on a second printing side thereof, to print on the first printing side of a next paper sheet; a determination unit that determines, when the printing on the first printing side of the paper sheet is finished, whether a process of processing print data for the next paper sheet has been completed; and a standby control unit that causes a printing unit to delay a printing process on the second printing side of the paper sheet until printing on the first printing side of the next paper sheet is finished if it is determined that the process of processing the print data for the next paper sheet has not been completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image electrophotographically, comprises an image transfer unit which transfers a toner image to a recording medium, a fixing unit comprising a heat roller and a pressure roller, a conveying direction change unit which changes a conveying direction of the recording medium discharged from the fixing unit upwardly, a discharge roller which discharges the recording medium, of which conveying direction has been changed by the conveying direction change unit, to a discharge part, and a curl removing roller which is provided on a conveying extending between the conveying direction change unit and the discharge roller and bends the recording medium in an opposite direction from a bend direction imparted to the recording medium at the heat roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing unit that fixes the image formed on the recording medium by the image forming unit by applying heat; a first detector unit that detects a length of the recording medium in a transport direction, the first detector unit being disposed upstream of the fixing unit in the transport direction; and a second detector unit that detects the length of the recording medium in the transport direction, the second detector unit being disposed downstream of the fixing unit in the transport direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; plural developing devices that store respective developers of different colors and visualize the electrostatic latent image with the developers; a developing device switching mechanism that switches among the developing devices; a transfer unit that transfers a developer image visualized by the one of the developing devices to a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the developer image transferred by the transfer unit onto the recording medium; a first transporter that transports in a first direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon; a second transporter that transports in a second direction the recording medium with the developer image fixed thereon; and a transporter switching mechanism that switches between the first transporter and the second transporter in conjunction with an operation of the developing device switching mechanism for switching among the developing devices.

Abstract: A downsized recording apparatus capable of housing inside a holding member that holds a disc recording medium so as to convey the disc recording medium. The recording apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet; a recording unit that performs recording on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit; a duplex conveyance path that guides the sheet having recording performed on a first side thereof by the recording unit and reverses the sheet before guiding the sheet to the conveyance unit so that recording is performed on a second side of the sheet having recording performed on the first side thereof, the second side being opposite the first side; a holding-member-housing portion provided at a position enclosed by the duplex conveyance path, the portion housing a holding member that holds a disc recording medium; and a moving unit that moves the holding member to the conveyance unit so that the holding member is conveyed by the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.

Abstract: A method and system for printing image documents using a variety of toners where some toners using a multi-development station having two or more development stations. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver by the multi-development station.

Abstract: A technique in an image forming apparatus in which the front and back sides of a sheet are reversed by using a reversal conveyance path is provided for causing the sheet to wait such that the sheet is not damaged when a unit for conveying the sheet to the reversal conveyance path is pulled out for the purpose of clearing a jam or the like. A roller for conveying the sheet is controlled such that the sheet to be turned back and directed into the reversal conveyance path is caused to wait until the sheet can be conveyed into the reversal conveyance path. As a standby position of the sheet while the sheet is caused to wait, a position is set such that an upstream end portion in the second conveying direction of the sheet to be directed into the reversal conveyance path does not extend for a predetermined length or longer into another conveyance unit adjacent to the intermediate conveyance unit upstream from the intermediate conveyance unit in the second conveying direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit which feeds a sheet to an image forming unit forming an image on the sheet; a re-transport roller which reverses the sheet with a toner image fixed on the sheet and re-transports the sheet to the image forming unit; and a control unit which controls a sheet feed operation of the sheet feed unit for feeding the sheet, wherein, as the temperature of the re-transport roller sensed by the temperature sensing unit is lower, the control unit retards a timing to cause the sheet feed unit to start the sheet feed operation when a duplex image formation in which the image is formed on both sides of the sheet is performed after a one-side image formation is completed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet feed unit that feeds a sheet to an image forming unit forming a toner image on the sheet; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed in the image forming unit to the sheet; and a control unit that controls the sheet feed unit, when starting duplex image formation for forming both sides of the sheet after an one-side image formation, the control unit retards a timing to cause the sheet feed unit to start the sheet feed operation as the number of sheet with an image formed on one side thereof in the one-side image formation is greater.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes an inner guide member and an outer guide member that define a sheet feeding path therebetween. The sheet feeding device also includes an engaging member positioned adjacent to one of the inner guide member and the outer guide member, and a receiving portion positioned at the other one of the inner guide member and the outer guide member. The engaging member moves between an engaged position to engage the receiving portion and a disengaged position to disengage from the receiving portion. The inner guide member is selectively connected to the outer guide member via the engaging member and the receiving portion. When the engaging member contacts the sheet in the sheet feeding path, the engaging member is in the disengaged position, and when the engaging member is separated from the sheet in the sheet feeding path, the engaging member is in the engaged position.

Abstract: A sheet discharge unit of an image forming apparatus includes a first path discharging the sheet to the outside, a second path for feeding the sheet again to the image forming unit in the case of performing a duplex image forming process, a sheet conveyor conveying the sheet from the first path to the outside, and a corrugating member corrugating the sheet in a width direction of the sheet orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet to give the sheet stiffness when the sheet conveyor conveys the sheet. The second path includes an upstream path section having a width that extends in a thickness direction of the sheet, the width being set to be narrow to such a degree that the corrugation of the sheet is reduced when the sheet passes the upstream path section.

Abstract: A measuring device of a length of a recording material includes: a rotary unit that rotates while coming into contact with the recording material; a pulse signal output unit that outputs a pulse signal in response to a rotation angle of the rotary unit; first and second detection unit that detect the recording material; and a calculation unit that calculates a length of the recording material. The calculation unit calculates a peace of the length of the recording material corresponding to a time below pulse interval of the pulse signal and then calculates the total length in the transport direction of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixer including a heating member and a pressure member, a reverse transport part to forward a recording medium transported from the fixer to the image forming part, a toner image sensor to detect presence of a toner image on the recording medium, and a controller. When a glossy image formation mode is selected and no toner image is detected on the recording medium, the image forming part does not form a toner image on the recording medium, the fixer performs a first heating and pressing process and transports the recording medium to the reverse transport part, the reverse transport part transports the recording medium to the image forming part, the image forming part forms a toner image on the recording medium transported from the reverse transport part, and the fixer performs a second heating and pressing process and fixes the toner image thereon.

Abstract: A drive switching mechanism includes a first gear, a second gear, a support member for movably supporting the first gear and the second gear, and a switching unit that moves the support member to reverse an output direction of the first gear and the second gear.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording portion for recording an image on a recording sheet; feeding means for feeding the recording sheet through the recording portion, wherein in a both-side recording operation, a sheet inclination rectifying operation in a recording sheet feeding direction is carried out when the recording is effected on a first side of the recording sheet, and the sheet inclination rectifying operation is not carried out when the recording is effected on a second side of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A modular duplexing housing for an all-in-one device which may be added at a final stage of assembly in order to convert a simplex printing unit into a duplex printing and duplex ADF scanning unit. The modular duplexing unit includes a duplexing feedpath which may be positioned for feeding communication with a simplex printing feedpath in the all-in-one device. The modular duplexing unit may also comprise a secondary input tray in feeding communication with the simplex printing unit and duplexing ADF scanning unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a switch-back conveying portion to convey a sheet conveyed through either a first conveying path or a second conveying path as being switched-back, a mode in which a sheet passed through the first conveying path is conveyed to the second conveying path as being switched-back by the switch-back conveying portion and a mode in which a sheet passed through the second conveying path is conveyed to the first conveying path as being switched-back by the switch-back conveying portion are selectively performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital offset printing method for producing a composite image on a substrate wherein the image is made up of a first plurality number of component images, each being formed from a different ink. The method comprises providing a first component image on a first surface, transferring the first component image from the first surface to an intermediate transfer module, repeating said provided and transferring steps for further component images until a second plurality number, less than the first plurality number, of component images has been accumulated on the intermediate transfer module, and transferring the accumulated component images from the intermediate transfer module to the substrate.

Abstract: A conveyor has a first conveying unit including a pair of first nip roll sets configured to nip and convey the sheet, and a second conveying unit including a second nip roll set configured to nip and convey the sheet from the first conveying unit. The second nip roll set nips the sheet at an inner location than the first nip roll set, and the first nip roll set nips the sheet more strongly than the second nip roll set.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus wherein, when forming an image on transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is shifted across the width immediately before transfer of the image onto transfer sheet based on the position of a toner image formed on an intermediate transfer member as an image carrier, and the misalignment across the width is adjusted, thereby ensuring high-speed and high-precision adjustment of the position of the image formed on a single side or both sides.

Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided for enabling multiple usages of the same printing job separator page. Separator pages are scanned and an image of the separator page content is obtained in order to determine the location on the separator page of prior print job identification information blocks. The prior identification information block is then obscured and identification information for a newly queued print job is printed in a new information block which is positioned in an unused area of the separator page. The separator pages may be reused until the full extent of each separator page has been filled-up with used or obscured print job identification blocks.