Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a method of handling a sheet conveyance error is performed, includes an apparatus body, a fixing unit fixing an image to a recording medium at a nip area thereof, a sheet conveying path, a sheet output roller unit outputting the recording medium outside the apparatus body, a sheet output detector detecting the recording medium, a post-fixing nip detector detecting the recording medium, a notifying unit notifying a user of an error recovery process when the error is detected by the error detector, and a controller. A distance from the post-fixing nip detector to the sheet output detector is smaller than a given size of the recording medium. When the error is detected by the error detector and the recording medium is detected by the sheet output detector, the controller causes the notifying unit to display a different process according to the detection results.

Abstract: To make it possible to easily and accurately form a cutout indicative of the presence of a code in printed matter. An apparatus according to the present invention includes a unit configured to determine a position of attachment of a code including voice information in an image and an attaching unit configured to attach a mark in a position based on the determined position of code attachment in the image, wherein the mark indicates a position to be cut out from a sheet, on a side of which the image and the attached mark are to be printed and a cutout caused by the cutting indicates a position of code attachment.

Abstract: Provided are a member with recessed portions which solves the problem of fogging, and a method of manufacturing the same. The member with recessed portions, includes: a printing area in which a large number of recessed portions are formed on a surface thereof; and a non-printing area in which the recessed portions are not formed on the surface thereof, the surface being brought into contact with a viscous material so that the viscous material accumulates in the recessed portions, the excess viscous material being scraped off the surface by causing a doctor blade to horizontally stick up on the surface and relatively moving the doctor blade. The member with recessed portions further includes: a base member having the printing area in which the large number of recessed portions are formed on the surface and the non-printing area in which the recessed portions are not formed on the surface; and a DLC coating formed so as to cover the printing area and the non-printing area.

Abstract: The printing machine has a central impression cylinder (1) on which a web printable substrate (B) is supported and a plurality of printing stations arranged around the central impression cylinder (1). Each printing station includes a blanket cylinder (2) of variable diameter, a plate cylinder (3) of variable diameter, and an offset inking unit (4). The blanket cylinder (2), plate cylinder (3) and offset inking unit (4) are individually movable between respective withdrawn positions and respective multiple working positions for different diameters of the blanket and plate cylinders (2, 3). At least one of the printing stations has the axis of the blanket cylinder (2) and the axis of the plate cylinder (3) in an inclined first plane (P1), which does not include the axis of the central impression cylinder (1) at any of the multiple working positions for different diameters of the blanket and plate cylinders (2, 3).

Abstract: Provided is a post-processing device including a transport path that includes a first transport path which is bent in one direction and a second transport path which is continuous from the first transport path and is bent in the other direction, and that is directed vertically downward while being bent, a first processing unit that is disposed in the first transport path, a second processing unit that is disposed in the second transport path, and a third transport path that is continuous from the second transport path and that is directed vertically upward.

Abstract: A stripping mechanism includes a substantially sheet-shaped stripping member that has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, that is elastically deformed with part of the first surface in contact with an image carrier which rotates and carries an image, and that strips a recording medium from the image carrier; and an opposing member that is disposed downstream of the stripping member in a direction in which the image carrier moves, that extends toward the image carrier, and that is opposite the first surface of the stripping member.

Abstract: A printer with a tractor unit driven by a DC motor and a printing control method that acquires accurate load information when continuous paper is loaded. The printer has a printhead 2 that can move in a primary scanning direction and has discharge nozzles that discharge liquid onto continuous paper, and a tractor unit 4 that is driven by a DC motor Mt and conveys continuous paper toward the printhead 2 in a secondary scanning direction perpendicular to the primary scanning direction. The printer 1 and printing method also have a load information acquisition unit 23 that, when continuous paper is loaded in the tractor unit 4, drives the tractor units 4 at least two different constant conveyance speeds V1, V2, and acquires load information I1, I2 for the DC motor Mt at the at least two different conveyance speeds.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a stapler includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material, a power source configured to supply electric power to the image forming unit and the stapler, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the stapler. In the image forming apparatus, a time period for prohibiting the operation of the stapler is set such that a total of a power consumption of the image forming unit and a power consumption of the stapler is equal to or less than an electric power the power source can supply so as to perform the operation of the stapler and the operation of the image forming unit partially in parallel with each other.

Abstract: A method of mounting a flexographic printing plate with structured patterned backing tape includes attaching a first end of a structured patterned backing tape to a printing plate cylinder at a scribe line. The structured patterned backing tape is wrapped around the printing plate cylinder. A second end of the structured patterned backing tape is cut at the scribe line. A first end of a flexographic printing plate is attached to the printing plate cylinder at an offset seam location ahead of the scribe line. The flexographic printing plate is wrapped around the printing plate cylinder. A second end of the flexographic printing plate is cut at the offset seam location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for marking articles, comprising a marking head suitable for applying a marking force on an article along a marking axis. The marking head comprises a carriage movable in translation along the marking axis and along a transverse axis, which is perpendicular to the marking axis (X10). The marking head also comprises a first roller and a second roller carried by the carriage, rotatable respectively around a first axis and a second axis each located in a plane perpendicular to the marking axis. The rollers are capable of alternately marking the same article or two successive articles, depending on movements of the carriage. The invention also relates to a method for marking articles.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members that contact each other and that rotate or circulate, and that heat and press a sheet that is transported with a toner image being carried thereby and that is interposed between the fixing members, to fix the toner image to the sheet; and a guide member that guides to a fixing area the sheet that is transported towards the fixing members. The guide member includes a metallic member and resin members. The metallic member has a guide surface that faces the sheet that is transported towards the guide member. The resin members are disposed at the guide surface so as to be spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. The resin members protrude from the guide surface and are struck by a front edge of the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet.

Abstract: An approach is provided for applying a release agent to a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a release agent supply device to supply release agent to a release agent applicator. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a release agent metering device configured to control an amount of release agent applied to a roller configured to apply release agent to the first surface of the substrate. The roller is configured to accommodate the substrate under a tension over at least a portion of a circumference of the roller such that a pressure is exerted between the roller and the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a main body, an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium, a plate to open and close a first side of the main body; a pickup unit which includes a driven gear to rotate in forward and backward directions, a pickup roller to receive a driving force from the driven gear to pick up the printing medium disposed on the plate, and a support frame to rotatably support the pickup roller and to interlock with the forward and backward rotations of the driven gear to move toward and away from the plate, a driving source to drive the image forming unit and the driven gear, and a blocking gear disposed between the driven gear and the driving source, to prevent the support frame, spaced apart from the plate, from moving toward the plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of properly reducing recovery printing time, while reducing abrasion and deterioration of image bearing members. As an image formation mode determining method, a first method is selected before a print job is interrupted e.g. a jam, whereas for recovery printing, one of the first method and a second method is selected. In the first method, if an image to be formed is a color image, an image formation mode is set to an all-contact mode having an intermediate transfer belt brought into contact with all of photosensitive members, and if the image is a monochrome image, the mode is set to a partial-contact mode having the belt brought into contact only with a photosensitive member for black toner. In the second method, the mode is set to the all-contact mode for all pages on which image formation is to be performed.

Abstract: The loading device according to the invention comprises a magazine for receiving at least one printing plate and transferring it from the magazine to the plate cylinder. It also comprises at least one guide rail to guide a printing plate during transfer thereof by cooperation with a notch of a front edge of the printing plate, the notch sliding along the guide rail during the transfer.

Abstract: A processing device comprising a ribbon cartridge including an ink ribbon wound around a feed-out core and a wind-up core winding up the ink ribbon, a device main body to which the ribbon cartridge is detachably attached, a cartridge-side brake mechanism provided to the ribbon cartridge and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, and a device-side brake mechanism provided to the device main body and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, wherein a rotational braking force by the cartridge-side brake mechanism is set stronger with respect to a rotational braking force by the device-side brake mechanism.

Abstract: A printing operation assisting device for assisting a printing operation performed by a solder printer configured to print a solder cream on a substrate surface, including: a measure determining portion configured to determine a remedial measure against a deterioration of a print quality specified on the basis of print-result information obtained from an inspecting machine configured to inspect a print result by the printer, in accordance with a kind of the print-quality deterioration; and a measure issuing portion configured to issue a command relating to the remedial measure determined by the measure determining portion to at least one of the printer and its operator, wherein the measure determining portion is configured to determine a remedial measure against a certain print-quality deterioration and to redetermine another remedial measure different from the previously determined remedial measure where the deteriorated print quality is not improved by execution of the previously determined measure.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (34) (ITM) transfers ink solids from an image bearing surface to a substrate. The ITM has an outermost surface having an absorptivity of less than or equal to about 5 percent when measured after 36 hours of immersion in Isopar L at 100 degrees Celsius. An imaging liquid developer system (22) deposits the ink solids and an ink solids carrier onto the outermost surface of the ITM, wherein the imaging liquid developer system (22) is configured to supply the ink solids carrier at a reduced thickness or reduced density as compared to more absorptive ITMs.

Abstract: A recording material conveying device includes a stripping claw being in contact with one rotary body of a first pair of rotary bodies, and a supporting member supporting a recording material curved when a jam occurs. The supporting member includes a supporting section located more away from the stripping claw than an imaginary straight line (C) passing a nip portion of the first pair of rotary bodies and a surface on a conveying path's side of the stripping claw, and the supporting section supports the recording material curved when the jam occurs. The recording material conveying device further includes a conveyance guide that is disposed on the downstream side from the supporting member and is displaced toward a pressed direction by a pressing force acting when the curved recording material comes into contact with the conveyance guide.