Abstract: A lifting sucker for separating sheets from a sheet stack includes a suction cup formed as a double-walled bellows sucker having at least one suction chamber that can be acted on pneumatically to contract the bellows sucker. A punch and a sheet-fed rotary printing press having the lifting sucker are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a banknote stacking apparatus comprising at least one pair of transmission assemblies, a hot wheel and a guide plate, wherein the guide plate guides the banknotes to be stacked such that the banknotes are stacked onto a banknote stacking rack. The pair of transmission assemblies comprises a ratchet wheel assembly and a pinch wheel assembly. The ratchet wheel assembly comprises a first transmission wheel, a ratchet wheel and a first conveyer belt stretched over the transmission wheel and the ratchet wheel, wherein the ratchet wheel comprises multiple ratchet teeth. The pinch wheel assembly comprises a second transmission wheel, a pinch wheel and a second conveyor belt stretched over the second transmission wheel and the pinch wheel. The first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt form a holding and conveying channel.

Abstract: In sheet conveying device, first pair of rollers, driven by first driving motor, conveys sheet on conveyance path that passes image forming portion that forms image on the sheet. Second pair of rollers, driven by second driving motor, conveys the sheet on the conveyance path together with the first pair of rollers. Speed difference calculating portion calculates speed difference between speed related to sheet conveyance speed of the first pair of rollers and speed related to sheet conveyance speed of the second pair of rollers. The motor control portion determines target speeds respectively for the first driving motor and the second driving motor based on the speed difference calculated by the speed difference calculating portion, and performs control during non-image formation period so that driving speeds of the first driving motor and the second driving motor respectively become the target speeds.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper feeding portion that sends-out a paper placed in a paper placing tray, and is used in an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine. The paper feed apparatus comprises a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion that are arranged in the vicinity of a downstream side of a paper feeding position by the paper feeding portion. The first regulating portion is arranged outside a second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a first width paper such as A4 paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. On the other hand, the second regulating portion is arranged inside the second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a second width paper such as a name card placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction.

Abstract: A conveyance device includes an image-forming drum (52) which fixes a rear surface (PB) of a sheet (P) and conveys the sheet along an arc-shaped path at a transfer position (312), a chain gripper which includes a gripper (64D) which is disposed on the downstream side of the image-forming drum in a conveyance direction and holds a leading end portion of the sheet, conveys the sheet along the arc-shaped path at the transfer position, and is disposed at a position at which a portion of the path leads to the image-forming drum side from the transfer position, and a blower unit (300) which is disposed on the chain gripper side from the transfer position, blows air from the chain gripper side to the image-forming drum side on the downstream side of the transfer position in the conveyance direction, and blows air toward the sheet conveyed by the chain gripper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an induced voltage detection portion configured to detect an induced voltage Vk in a motor; and an engagement/disengagement completion time detection portion configured to detect an engagement completion time and a disengagement completion time based on the induced voltage Vk detected by the induced voltage detection portion. The engagement completion time is a time at which engagement of a clutch is actually completed. The disengagement completion time is a time at which disengagement of the clutch is actually completed. A control portion determines a command timing based on any one of the engagement completion time and the disengagement completion time detected by the engagement/disengagement completion time detection portion, the command timing being a time at which a command is given to the clutch to perform an engaging operation or a disengaging operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medium separation device of an automated teller machine (ATM) that includes a pickup roller for sequentially picking up and feeding stacked media through a friction member on a portion of the outer periphery of the pickup roller, a feed roller for feeding the picked-up and fed media toward a transfer path through a friction member provided on a portion of the outer periphery of the feed roller while rotating with the same phase as the pickup roller, and a medium separation unit for separating a following medium simultaneously fed with a preceding medium fed to the feed roller while in close contact with the bottom, from the preceding medium through a separation belt, to pick up and feed media through a partial roller structure partially having a friction member and simultaneously perform the separation of the media through the medium separation unit.

Abstract: A sheet skew feeding correction device has a controller that performs a first mode in which the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts the sheet stopping portion in the first posture, and the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion operating to convey the sheet while the sheet moves the sheet stopping portion toward the second posture against the urging force of the urging portion and performs a second mode in which the leading end of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts the sheet stopping portion in the first posture, the sheet moves the sheet stopping portion against the urging force of the urging portion, and the leading end of the sheet abuts the nip portion of the stopped second sheet conveying portion so that a loop shape is formed in the sheet.

Abstract: An image scanner system and method with document sorting capability that includes the ability to sort based on image content is described. A processor instructs drive motors and rollers of the transport system moving the document along a transport path within the scanner to stop movement, such that document is stopped at a position after it is imaged to provide time for the processor to analyze the image content and make a sorting decision. The transport system is then restarted and the document is delivered to a paper path switching mechanism to provide the physical sort. Based on the processing, the switching mechanism is positioned such that the document will follow a transport path into a desired output tray. The system may reverse the transport system to back up the document before being restarted in order to allow for paper path switching of longer documents.

Abstract: A receiving well for use with a thermal dye sublimation printing apparatus is disclosed. The receiving well is used to receive cut sheets printed using the thermal dye sublimation printing. The receiving well includes two angled surfaces, referred to herein as ramps. The ramps are spaced apart from one another, and a waste area is positioned between the two ramps. The waste area captures the scrap or waste paper that can result from cutting the receiver media after printing. In some embodiments, both ramps slope down to the bottom surface of the receiving well. In other embodiments, one of the ramps is raised off the bottom surface of the receiving well at its lowest point. The waste area may also be offset such that it is closer to one side of the receiving well than the other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a multi-tray device and a relay device. The relay device includes a relay device cover that openably and closably covers a top side of the relay device. One of an edge portion at a side of the relay device in a lower end portion of the multi-tray cover and an edge portion at a side of the multi-tray device in a top surface portion of the relay device cover includes an inclined surface portion forming a shape by chamfering the edge portion. The inclined surface portion is formed so as to produce a component force in a direction to close the multi-tray cover when the top surface portion of the relay device cover bumps against the lower end portion of the multi-tray cover, while the relay device cover opens in a state where the multi-tray cover is opened.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.

Abstract: The devices and systems described herein include one or more fluid paths, e.g., channels, and one or more selectively permeable obstacles arranged in the fluid path(s), each including a plurality of aligned nanostructures, e.g., nanotubes or nanorods, defining an outer surface of the obstacle and an internal network of voids. The obstacle(s) can further include binding moieties applied to the outer surface and/or to the surfaces of the individual nanostructures within the obstacle(s). The devices can be manufactured by forming the dense groupings of nanostructures to extend outwards and upwards from a substrate; forming a fluidic channel, bonding the fluidic channel to the substrate; and optionally applying binding moieties to the obstacles. The devices can be used to manipulate cells within fluid samples.

Abstract: Sheet alignment module and post-processing device comprising such sheet alignment module for aligning sheets in an operative orientation on a substantially horizontal sheet support member, comprising a support roller, the support roller being rotatably mounted on the sheet alignment module and configured to support the sheet alignment module during a sheet aligning movement, the sheet alignment module further comprising a jogger member comprising a substantially flat surface extending in a substantially vertical direction, the jogger member is moveably mounted on the sheet alignment module such that the jogger member is freely moveable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the sheet alignment module.

Abstract: A manual paper feeder includes is for installation at a side surface of a main body of an image forming apparatus. When the first auxiliary tray is located at an extension position in a state where the second auxiliary tray is housed downwards, an abutment between an upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and an inferior surface of the second auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a first angle. When the second auxiliary tray is extracted from the first auxiliary tray at the extension position, an abutment between the upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and the inferior surface of the first auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a second angle. The second angle is smaller than the first angle.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus has first and second trays arranged on an upstream of a conveyor and configured to support the sheet in contact with the conveyor, a feeder configured to feed the sheet on the first tray toward the conveyor, a first sensor configured to output a first signal in response to the sheet being present on the first tray, a second sensor configured to output a second signal in response to the sheet being present between the first tray and the conveyor and configured to output the second signal in response to the sheet being present between the second tray and the conveyor, and a controller configured to execute a removal notifying process to output a notification indicating removal of the sheet on the first tray in response to output of the second signal before a time period since the first signal was output exceeds a threshold period.

Abstract: Configuration with paired register rollers cooperative with a downstream head unit on a circulation route to register a print sheet, a feed route extending up to the register rollers, and feeder elements controllable for a downstream feed of print sheet along part of the feed route to the register rollers, the feeder elements being controllable for a change of feed speed or acceleration in accordance with information on a back tension of a print sheet on the circulation route.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medium conveyance device whose reliability is enhanced. Namely, a roller conveyance section uses support parts to couple together an upper side shaft, which receives a first reaction force produced in accordance with a first contact-pressure force that urges first driven rollers toward first drive rollers, and a lower side shaft, which receives a second reaction force produced in accordance with a second contact-pressure force that urges second driven rollers toward second drive rollers. Because of this, the medium conveyance device of the present invention may cancel out the two reaction forces that cause an upper side guide and a lower side guide to bend in two bank note conveyance paths adjacent to one another.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a restricting portion provided on a second roller side with respect to a sheet conveying path and near a nip portion. This restricting portion is configured such that a first abutment portion is positioned on the second roller side from a straight line connecting a point protruding most to the sheet conveying path of the restricting portion and the nip portion in a state in which a second abutment portion is in contact with a surface of a first sheet as a rotary member rotates in a predetermined direction by the first abutment portion being pushed by the first sheet.

Abstract: A surface winder for winding a log of web material convolutely about a core is disclosed. The surface winder has a frame providing the web material with a path therethrough, a first winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on one side of the path, a stationary finger mounted on the frame on the other side of the path adjacent the first winding roll and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive the core to be wound in the path, the first winding roll cooperating with the stationary finger means to rotate the core, a cam-controlled core insertion device for a surface winder, and a second winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on the other side of the path and downstream in the direction of web advance from the stationary finger means and forming a nip with the first winding roll.