Abstract: A sheet safekeeping apparatus comprises a multistage tray in which a plurality of housing sections for accommodating sheets is arranged in a first direction, a removal port through which the accommodated sheet is taken out being formed in each of the plurality of the housing sections, and a cover configured for to close the removal port in an openable manner being provided in each of the plurality of the housing sections; a support section configured to support the multistage tray; a tray displacement unit configured to displace the multistage tray in the first direction with the support section; a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet to the plurality of the housing sections; and a cover displacement unit configured to displace the cover of one housing section determined by an operation of the tray displacement unit among the plurality of the housing sections to open the removal port.

Abstract: Even when descending of a sheet stacking unit is interrupted by an obstacle, sheet stacking operation is resumed in a range in which the sheet stacking unit is movable.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique of preventing a collision between an original document and a printing material on a conveyance path when an image forming apparatus executes both additional printing on the original document and printing on the printing material. In a case where both additional printing on an original document and printing on a printing material are executed, the image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the invention conveys a read original document to a transfer unit through a conveyance path commonly used for an original document and sheet, and prints an image to be added on the original document. After the original document is conveyed to the transfer unit through the conveyance path, the image forming apparatus feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding unit to the conveyance path, and performs copying on the sheet in the transfer unit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a method for creating at least one first sheet job offset including polling a printing spool and determining whether at least one print job is queued in the printing spool, determining whether a first sheet of the at least one print job is ready to be outputted from a printing apparatus after the at least one print job is determined to be queued in the printing spool, configuring an outputting mechanism to accelerate the first sheet of the at least one print job out of the printing apparatus, and configuring the outputting mechanism to decelerate each remaining sheet of the at least one print job out of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet stacking apparatus including a tray on which sheets are stacked, and an aligning member aligning the sheets stacked on the tray. The aligning member aligns sheets stacked, on a sheet previously stacked on the tray, with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheet previously stacked. An aligning operation of the aligning member is changed on the basis of whether or not the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked is a predetermined number or less.

Abstract: A method executed by an image forming apparatus for producing a print job, which includes the steps of: (a) receiving data representing a document to be printed in the print job; (b) receiving job information about the print job, the job information including an instruction to print multiple copies of the document; (c) printing the multiple copies of the document; and (d) ejecting one sheet of each of the multiple copies of the document at an ejection speed, that is either greater than or less than an ejection speed of the other sheets of the multiple copies of the document.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for processing a print job includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire information about a set of printed sheets to be post-processed by a post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus not being connected to the image forming apparatus via a conveying path of the print sheets output from the image forming apparatus, an analyzing unit configured to analyze the print job, and an output control unit configured to output printed sheets on the basis of the print job in which offset stacking is applied to each set of printed sheets to be post-processed as defined by the post-processing apparatus in accordance with a result of analysis performed by the analyzing unit and information regarding the set of printed sheets to be post-processed acquired by the acquiring unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a sheet stacking apparatus including a tray on which sheets are stacked, and an aligning member aligning the sheets stacked on the tray. The aligning member aligns sheets stacked, on a sheet previously stacked on the tray, with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheet previously stacked. An aligning operation of the aligning member is changed on the basis of whether or not the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked is a predetermined number or less.

Abstract: A sheet finisher having a post-processing section that conducts post-processing on a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, the sheet finisher comprising: an intermediate storing section in which a plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus are superposed to be stored temporarily; a pair of conveyance rollers that convey the plurality of sheets stored in the intermediate storing section to the post-processing section while the plurality of sheets are superposed; each of two drive motors which drives one of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with one sheet of the plurality of sheets and the other of the pair of conveyance rollers that comes in contact with the other sheet of the plurality of sheets, separately; and a correction controller that controls a rotation speed of at least one of the two drive motors.

Abstract: A setting acceptor is operable to accept printing settings for a current printing job, including a setting of a first printing condition involving a confirmation print to print a copy set of sorted pages before a temporary pause waiting for a continuation instruction to print a designated number of copy sets, and a setting of a second printing condition involving a sorting print to print the designated number of copy sets of sorted pages, and a controller stores a last stack position in a previous printing job, as a first stack position, and is operable, as the printing settings accepted includes the setting of the first printing condition and the setting of the second printing condition, to discharge sheets in the confirmation print to a second stack position offset from the first stack position, and after the continuation instruction, discharge sheets of the designated number of copy sets in the sorting print to an alternating stack position alternating every copy set between the first and second stack posi

Abstract: A document reading apparatus is disclosed. The document reading apparatus includes a scanner; an energy-saving power supply unit; an energy-saving control unit; a clock IC; an output compensation unit for updating digital conversion parameters including image signal amplification gain such that image data of a reference white board read by a CCD of the scanner are made into a proper value; and an output compensation controlling unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on sheets, includes: a storage unit for storing the number of jobs in which a discharge position of the sheets is switched; a switching unit for switching the discharge position of the sheets; a sheet discharge unit for stacking the sheets; and a control unit for controlling the switching unit to switch the discharge position of the sheets per the number of jobs, which is stored in the storage unit, to discharge the sheets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a print job including a plurality of raster image processed pages. A tab page is created that includes a tab image located at a predetermined position in the tab page, the predetermined position associated with a tab position on tab stock. The tab page is raster image processed, and the rasterized tab page is inserted at a selected position in the print job. The tab image is detected on the rasterized tab page at the predetermined location, and then the rasterized tab image is positioned at the associated tab position.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding apparatus 556 which folds a sheet bundle, a switching portion which switches a nipping pressure by the folding apparatus 556 against the sheet bundle, and a flattening apparatus 700 which presses and flattens a folded-back portion of the folded sheet bundle, and the switching portion operates such that the nipping pressure by the folding apparatus 556 against the sheet bundle when the flattening processing is executed becomes weaker than that of the folding apparatus 556 when the flattening processing is not executed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor for conveying sheets; a first loader for loading a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyor; a lateral aligner for aligning opposite side edges of the sheet bundle loaded on the first loader in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; a stapler for performing a stapling treatment with respect to a sheet bundle aligned by the lateral aligner; a sheet bundle conveyor for conveying a sheet bundle stapled by the stapler; a second loader for loading sheet bundles conveyed by the sheet bundle conveyor; and loading position controller for loading sheet bundles to be loaded onto the second loader so that the loading positions thereof are displaced from each other along the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A discharge unit is disposed downstream of a principal transport path of a compound machine, and a shifter function is provided in this discharge unit. By shifting the paper passage position relative to a photosensitive drum when printing the front side and the paper passage position relative to the photosensitive drum when printing the back side, the region in which the surface electric potential of the photosensitive drum increases is diminished, and the region in which photographic fog is generated is made smaller. Thus, when printing the second and subsequent sheets, even when a slight amount of displacement of the transport position of the recording paper occurs, it is possible to suppress that recording paper making contact in the photographic fog region on the photosensitive drum, and defective printing can be prevented.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus for passing sheets between an upper jaw and a lower jaw of a binder that is fixed on a intermediate stacking portion and stapling the ends of the sheet, wherein binding processing is possible for a large number of sheets and the problems of paper jams due to inclining or poor alignment are solved and which has a small size, is low in cost and is highly reliable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, determining in sorting recording sheets whether or not recording sheet transport interval is shorter than a first predetermined value, sets the longest time settable as a delay time when the interval is longer than the first value. When the interval is shorter than the first value, the apparatus, determining whether or not the interval is shorter than a second predetermined value, sets the shortest delay time settable when the interval is shorter than the second value, and sets a reference delay time when the interval is longer than the second value. The apparatus prevents sheet jam before a sheet eject mechanism by ensuring that the mechanism returns to an initial position before the front end of a following sheet reaches sheet eject rollers after the rear end of a preceding sheet passes through the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that: a demanded printing-job is accepted at a printing-job accepting unit, and a printing executing unit executes printing according to the accepted printing-job so as to produce an output sheet onto a discharge tray; an output-sheet detecting unit detects the presence of a printed output-sheet on the discharge tray; if the removal of discharged sheets from the discharge tray is detected, a printed-sheet mixture determining unit determines the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of demands are mixed among the removed output-sheets; and if it is determined the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of the demands are mixed among the output-sheets, warning information is produced by a warning voice producing unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that: a demanded printing-job is accepted at a printing-job accepting unit, and a printing executing unit executes printing according to the accepted printing-job so as to produce an output sheet onto a discharge tray; an output-sheet detecting unit detects the presence of a printed output-sheet on the discharge tray; if the removal of discharged sheets from the discharge tray is detected, a printed-sheet mixture determining unit determines the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of demands are mixed among the removed output-sheets; and if it is determined the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of the demands are mixed among the output-sheets, warning information is produced by a warning voice producing unit.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium processing apparatus including a pair of arranging members. The arranging members have both an arranging function for arranging paper piled on a tray after being discharged in a discharge direction from a paper discharge roller at a fixed position, and a sorting/arranging function for arranging the papers grouped together at a different position in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction for grouping together a predetermined number of papers. The apparatus arranges and sorts using low drive power and arranges the paper with high precision regardless of the amount of paper on the tray.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet-shaped medium after-treatment apparatus where an arranging device is moved from a position predetermined to arrange sheet-shaped mediums on a sheet piling device to a position receiving the sheet-shaped mediums in a body so that, in taking out the sheet-shaped mediums from the body, an injury of hands or destruction of the arranging device can be prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of performing post-processing so as to ensure that sheets on which images are formed and inserted sheets are aligned in orientation when performing sheet insertion processing and post-processing in combination. The image forming apparatus is capable of having attached thereto a finisher that performs post-processing on sheets with images formed thereon. An insertion sheet is placed on one of sheet supply trays and a manual feed tray. An operating/display section controller inputs a post-processing instruction for causing the finisher to perform post-processing. A placing direction in which the insertion sheet is to be placed on one of the sheet supply trays and the manual feed tray is instructed according to the post-processing instruction input by the operating/display section.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing stacks of printed sheets from falling apart which can occur when continuously printing stacks of sheets of different sheet sizes. A printing press is controlled to suspend printing for removal of printed sheets, to change the storage destination of the printed sheets or to change printing order, based on a result of sequential or simultaneous comparisons between print sizes of a plurality of print data and a previously determined permissible limit.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus includes a discharge device having a pair of rotating shafts and discharge rotating bodies supported on the rotating shafts; a shift device for shifting the rotating shafts in a shaft direction; a support device for receiving and supporting the sheet discharged by the discharge means; an alignment device having an alignment reference member for aligning one edge of the sheet discharged on the support means and a moving member for moving the sheet to the alignment reference member along the shaft direction; a finishing device disposed at a side facing the support device with the alignment reference member in between for finishing the sheet aligned by the aligning device; and a shift tolerance portion disposed at a side facing the support device with the aligning device in between for allowing the rotating shafts to protrude when the shift device shifts the rotating shafts.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, determining in sorting recording sheets whether or not recording sheet transport interval is shorter than a first predetermined value, sets the longest time settable as a delay time when the interval is longer than the first value. When the interval is shorter than the first value, the apparatus, determining whether or not the interval is shorter than a second predetermined value, sets the shortest delay time settable when the interval is shorter than the second value, and sets a reference delay time when the interval is longer than the second value. The apparatus prevents sheet jam before a sheet eject mechanism by ensuring that the mechanism returns to an initial position before the front end of a following sheet reaches sheet eject rollers after the rear end of a preceding sheet passes through the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image formation apparatus to which a postprocess unit requiring a discharge condition that a transfer member of which image formation face is being turned downward is discharged and a binding position at a time of binding the member at its trailing edge is being at the left of the image formation face can be installed. On a platen glass, an original is carried in such a state as its read face is opposite to an upper face of the glass, and an image on the read face of the original is read by a scanner supported at a running read position when the original passes the running read position. Then, through a mirror image process, it is formed on an image formation face (upper face) of a sheet the read image of whcih direction is the same as that of the set original. When the image-formed sheet is discharged externally by the reverse sheet discharge control, the sheet is discharged in such a state as its face is being turned downward.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating an offset (2) of transported flexible sheet material (3), especially sheets of paper, with a feeding and a discharging transport path section (5 and 7) and a transport path section (6) which is assigned to the offset generating means (10). These devices of the prior art often require a control, resetting of the offset generating means after each sheet of material (3) or they do not operate independently of format. The invention affords relief by the offset generating means (10) having at least two deflections (8, 9 or 8, 8′, 9, 9′) which are parallel, which work in opposite directions, and which can be moved to an angle (gamma) to the transport direction (4); this angle is measured in the plane of the feeding transport path section (5) and is not equal to 90° projected onto this plane.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: When a storage memory becomes full during processing of printing out of image data read from a page memory and transferred to both a storage memory and a printing portion at the same time for a first copy, a function of an image rotating portion is not effected for copies subsequent to the first copy, and, also, for pages of image data which are stored in the storage memory are printed out, and a page of image data processed at the time the storage memory became full is transferred from the page memory to the printing portion and is printed out.

Abstract: In an image-forming apparatus, which discharges to a stacker a sheet on which an image has been formed, the sorting of printed matter is performed on the stacker without providing optional equipment. Because of being constituted so as to independently drive a plurality of discharging rollers (30, 31), which discharge a sheet (100) to a stacker (19), and such that a controller (50) differs the driving of this plurality of discharging rollers for a normal mode and an attitude control mode, sorting of printed matter can be performed on top of the stacker with a single paper feeding means and a single stacker without providing optional equipment.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: According to the collating apparatus of the present invention, if the collation error is detected, the erroneously collated matter selection and discharge unit discharges the erroneously collated matter so as to be distinguishable from the correctly collated matters. Besides, the collation error can be recognized and the erroneously collated matter can be removed after the collation operation is completed for all collated matters. Therefore, it is possible to continue the collation operation without stopping the collation operation when the collation error occurs.

Abstract: The CPU detects an error in the timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker on the basis of the time when the offset motor signal for driving the offset motor is generated and the time when the initial position sensor is turned ON. Upon detecting an error in the timing of offset stacking, the CPU forces the image formation by the image forming unit and the paper transportation by the paper transporting motor to stop, thus preventing paper from being introduced into the offset stacker.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet, a tray for stacking a sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming device, a shifting device for shifting the sheet for each copy to stack the sheet on the tray, and a control device for controlling the shift operation of the shifting device at the time of the shift mode, wherein the control device controls the shifting device in such a manner that the shifting device does not shift the sheet when the number of the sheets per one copy is one while the shifting device shifts the sheets when the number of the sheets per one copy is two or more.

Abstract: The CPU detects an error in the timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker on the basis of the time when the offset motor signal for driving the offset motor is generated and the time when the initial position sensor is turned ON. Upon detecting an error in the timing of offset stacking, the CPU forces the image formation by the image forming unit and the paper transportation by the paper transporting motor to stop, thus preventing paper from being introduced into the offset stacker.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus including a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet, a first stacking tray for receiving the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device, an aligning device for aligning a sheet bundle on the first stacking tray by a pinching movement effected by a first and second aligning members shiftable independently in a direction perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction, and a transferring device for transferring the sheet bundle on the first stacking tray to a second stacking tray, wherein, in the first stacking tray, alignment positions of the respective sheet bundles are offset by shifting the alignment positions by a predetermined amount to first and second aligning positions alternately by the first and second aligning members, and wherein the first and second aligning positions of the first stacking tray are opposite directions transverse to the sheet discharging direction with respect to the position of the sheet discharged.

Abstract: A stapling stacker has a sheet infeed, a pivoted shelf on which the trailing ends of sheets are assembled with the leading ends supported by previously stacked sets, the sets are side edge aligned, stapled into sets and offset with respect to previously stapled sets, and the shelf then is operated to dump the trailing ends onto previously stapled sets of sheets on the stacker.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying individual output jobs from an output stack, each output job including a stack of one or more individual sheets. The method includes the steps of: providing a sheet handling device having a sheet delivery device and an output tray, the sheet delivery device operative to move individual sheets from the sheet handling device to the output tray; delivering an output job with the sheet delivery device to the output tray; and delivering a job separation page with the sheet delivery device to the output tray, the job separation page stacked adjacent the output job such that an offset portion of the job separation page extends outwardly of an adjacent edge of the output job; wherein the job separation page is operative to identify one end of the adjacent output job.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet feeder for feeding a first sheet; a second sheet feeder for feeding a second sheet for discrimination; a sheet sticking device for sticking the second sheet fed from said second sheet feeder on the first sheet in the first sheet feeder such that a part of the second sheet is partly extended out of the first sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising convey means for conveying a sheet, image forming means for forming an image on the sheet, and stacking means onto which the sheet is discharged after image formation thereon. Wherein a plurality of jobs each comprising a plurality of sheets on which the images were formed are continuously discharged onto the single stacking means. It further comprises a control device for offsetting an end of a preceding job from an end of a next job when the next job is overlapped with the preceding job after the preceding job was discharged onto the stacking means, on the basis of offset information. Wherein the image forming means records additional information for identifying the job on an offset region of at least a last sheet of the job on the basis of the offset information during image formation regarding the job.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a printer for recording a received image on a sheet, a sorter for sorting the sheet by stacking the sheet recorded by the printer in one of a plurality of bins, a determination unit for determining a bin in which the sheet is to be stacked, a discrimination unit for discriminating if the sheet can be stacked in the determined bin, a memory for storing the received image when the discrimination unit discriminates that the bin determined by the determination unit cannot stack the sheet, and a second memory for storing bin information indicating the bin determined by the determination unit in correspondence with the image stored in the memory.

Abstract: A modular copier/printer or similar image forming apparatus of the type having an image transfer body in the form of a drum or belt allows documents to be reproduced in a paper discharge mode which discharges paper sheets, or recording media, in page-sequential order. When an automatic two-sided copy mode is selected, the apparatus automatically sets up the page sequential paper discharge mode to a "collation mode" through a minimum number of sorter bins which has been optimally designed to correspond with the shortest two-sided copy loop. Hence, when mixed black-and-white documents and color documents are reproduced together in the automatic copy mode, paper sheets exit the apparatus in the correct page order. As a result of this automatic change in operating modes, fewer "skip" frames need be introduced during the copying operation, thereby enabling the copier to produce multiple collated copies of the multipage document very efficiently.

Abstract: In a multi-bundle stacker having an inclined bundle-discharging mechanism for frontward discharging of copy-sheet bundles from adjacent upwardly inclined sorting trays of a sorter disposed on the side of a photocopying machine, a stowing bin is provided having a bundle-receiving platform lying at an inclination generally parallel to the inclination of the sorting trays. A bundle discharge/stowing path, that the trailing end nearest the copying machine of a sheet bundle discharged into stowage follows, is defined having a portion generally orthogonal to, and lying between, the bundle-discharging mechanism and the stowing bin. A standing wall extends partially in the discharge/stowing path upward from the stowing bin. A tilted bundle stowing guide is mounted on a triangular foot over the standing wall. A bundle turning guide assembly including a pusher mechanism intersects the bundle discharge/stowing path at an angle below the bundle stowing guide.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus including a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet, a first stacking tray for receiving the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device, an aligning device for aligning a sheet bundle on the first stacking tray by a pinching movement effected by a first and second aligning members shiftable independently in a direction perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction, and a transferring device for transferring the sheet bundle on the first stacking tray to a second stacking tray, wherein, in the first stacking tray, alignment positions of the respective sheet bundles are offset by shifting the alignment positions by a predetermined amount to first and second aligning positions alternately by the first and second aligning members, and wherein the first and second aligning positions of the first stacking tray are opposite directions transverse to the sheet discharging direction with respect to the position of the sheet discharged.