Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing; a sheet tray; an image-forming unit; a conveying unit; and a switching mechanism. The sheet tray is detachably housed in the housing. The image-forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet tray. The conveying unit includes a first roller and a second roller configured to nip and convey the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit to the image-forming unit. The switching mechanism is disposed between the sheet tray and the conveying unit and configured to bring the first roller and the second roller to be in peripheral contact with each other in conjunction with a loading operation of the sheet tray into the housing and separate the first roller and the second roller in conjunction with an unloading operation of the sheet tray from the housing.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a banknote storing/feeding unit which is capable of effectively utilizing winding spaces of a drum and a reel, to increase the number of banknotes to be stored. The banknote storing/feeding unit includes the drum which winds and rewinds a banknote together with a tape, and the reel which winds and rewinds the tape on and from the drum. A guide body swinging according to winding and rewinding of the tape and the banknote on and from the drum is provided between the drum and the reel. The guide body has a guide passage that guides the tape and the banknote to be wound and rewound on the drum. The guide body swings centering on a supporting point located within a region parallel to a virtual line connecting a rotational center of the drum and a rotational center of the reel.

Abstract: There are provided a sheet feeding apparatus which, with a simple configuration, can suppress generation of noise during feeding of a sheet without having an affect on sheet separating performance, and an image forming apparatus which includes this sheet feeding apparatus. The sheet feeding apparatus includes: a feeding roller which feeds a sheet S; a separation roller which is pressed against the feeding roller and rotates in a reverse direction to a direction of feeding by the feeding roller to separate sheets, fed by the sheet feeding apparatus, one by one; a feeding rotational shaft which transmits rotational driving force to the feeding roller; and a roller dumper which is provided between the feeding roller and the feeding rotational shaft, and transmits the rotational driving force from the feeding rotational shaft to the feeding roller, while absorbing vibrations of the feeding roller.

Abstract: A system for testing semiconductor modules may include a first testing unit, a second testing unit, a classifying unit and a transferring unit. The first testing unit may test functions of the semiconductor modules mounted on a main board. The second testing unit may test the semiconductor modules tested by the first testing unit using a terminal. The classifying unit may classify the semiconductor modules tested by the second testing unit into normal semiconductor modules and abnormal semiconductor modules, or pass/fail. The transferring unit may be connected in-line between the first testing unit and the second testing unit, and between the second testing unit and the classifying unit to transfer the semiconductor modules from the first testing unit to the second testing unit and the classifying unit. Thus, the semiconductor modules may be automatically transferred to the units, so that a test time may be reduced.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording unit and a transporting mechanism to transport a recording medium. The transporting mechanism includes, a guide surface to guide an end portion, of the recording medium, in a direction intersecting with a transporting direction of the recording medium, and a pair of rollers arranged, in a direction orthogonal to the guide surface, at a position between the guide surface and a central portion of the transporting path. The pair of rollers includes, a driving roller to transport the recording medium, and a driven roller having a rotary portion facing a recording surface, of the recording medium, on which the image is recorded, and configured to rotate about a rotation axis thereof following movement of the recording medium, and a first shaft to support the rotary portion rotatably. The rotary portion is supported rockably with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A cover opening-closing mechanism is provided, which is configured to allow a cover to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to a housing, the cover opening-closing mechanism including a connecting member configured to connect the housing with the cover, a first contact portion disposed at the cover, and a second contact portion disposed at the housing, the second contact portion configured to contact the first contact portion of the cover so as to hold the cover in a hold position relative to the housing.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a pair of registration rollers configured to convey a print medium to a printing unit of a printing machine in a conveyance direction, a motor configured to rotate the registration rollers, and a controller configured to control the motor such that after the print medium strikes the registration rollers and thereby forms a predetermined amount of slack in the print medium, the motor starts rotating the registration rollers to convey the print medium, and the motor stops rotating the registration rollers once the print medium exits the registration rollers. In stopping rotating the registration rollers, the controller is configured to drive the motor to generate torque in a reverse rotational direction opposite from a rotational direction in which the motor generates torque to convey the print medium in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a supplying section from which a sheet placed thereon is supplied into the image processing apparatus, a processing section configured to execute an image processing on an image formed on a sheet, a first storing section configured to store a sheet, a second storing section configured to store a sheet, a first conveying section configured to convey a sheet placed on the supplying section to the first storing section through the processing section, and a second conveying section configured to convey a sheet passing through the processing section to the second storing section and convey a sheet stored in the second storing section to a position at which the sheet from the supplying section enters the processing section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet bundle housing unit that houses recording sheets piled as a sheet bundle; a swing member having a sheet contact portion on one end side, and swinging between a projection position at which the sheet contact portion projects above a sheet placement surface of the housing unit and a non-projection position at which the sheet contact portion does not project above the sheet placement surface, the swing member moving from the projection position to the non-projection position by the sheet bundle; a sheet detection unit that detects the sheet bundle in the housing unit using the swing member; and an interlocking mechanism that moves the swing member to the non-projection position, regardless of presence or absence of the sheet bundle in the housing unit, by interlocking with the housing unit being pulled out from an apparatus body.

Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a transport roller having a first supported portion and a second supported portion at positions separated in a first direction, and configured to abut against a sheet, rotate in a second direction about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and transport the sheet; a first support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the first support member having a first receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the first supported portion; and a second support member configured to rotatably support the transport roller, the second support member having a second receiving portion which is in the form of a circular arc and configured to abut against a portion in a circumferential direction of an outer periphery of the second supported portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism is configured to feed a sheet, which has an actuator having a contact member configured to contact a sheet being fed, and a shaft configured to support the contact member, the shaft having a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction, a first supporting part configured to support a first end portion of the shaft, a second supporting part configured to support a second end portion of the shaft, a detection unit configured to detect a position of the contact member, and an elastic supporting member configured to holds the first end portion of the shaft such that the shaft is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output unit, a pair of output rotary bodies, and a controller. A sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged to the output unit. When plural sheets are sequentially discharged to the output unit, the controller controls overlapping output operation to, with a trailing end portion of a preceding sheet of the plural sheets being held by the pair of output rotary bodies, feed a subsequent sheet of the sheets to between the pair of output rotary bodies to overlap a leading end portion of the subsequent sheet with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet. With the leading end portion of the subsequent sheet overlapped with the trailing end portion of the preceding sheet, the controller controls the pair of output rotary bodies to rotate to discharge the preceding sheet to the output unit.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, registration of a particular type of sheet in a particular sheet storage unit can prevent reduction in convenience. A printing apparatus configured to feed a sheet from any one of a plurality of sheet storage units includes a setting unit configured to set a sheet storage unit included in the plurality of sheet storage units as a particular sheet storage unit to be used when a sheet storage unit to be used for a job has not been specified, a specifying unit configured to specify a type of sheet to be stored in a sheet storage unit included in the plurality of sheet storage units, and a control unit configured to perform control so that the specifying unit does not specify a particular type in the sheet storage unit set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A printing machine includes: a paper feed unit configured to feed a sheet of paper; a suction transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet of paper fed by the paper feed unit in a transfer direction, with the sheet of paper being attached by suction onto a transfer surface; a transfer and paper discharge unit configured to receive the sheet of paper from the suction transfer unit to transfer and discharge the sheet of paper; and a controller configured to control a suction force of the suction transfer unit in accordance with a paper type. When the controller changes the suction force of the suction transfer unit between successive sheets of paper, the controller is configured prior to a discharge of a precedent sheet of paper to change the suction force of the suction transfer unit and drive the paper feed unit to feed a subsequent sheet of paper.

Abstract: A method of determining a media weight using a media stiffness sensor in an imaging device. A media sheet is staged having a cantilevered portion which is deflected by a contact member translated into the cantilevered portion. Based on the energy used to move the contact member through a travel distance, a media weight can be determined. An operating parameter of the imaging device may be adjusted based on the media weight that was determined.

Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A mechanism for installing a media separation roller 16 includes a roller holder unit 90 and a unit installation part 70 on the conveyance path side. The roller holder unit 90 includes a first holder 100 that supports the retard roller 16, a second holder 110 connected to the first holder 100 pivotably on an axis of holder rotation, and an urging member 130 that urges the first holder 100 to the second holder 110 around the axis of holder rotation. The retard roller 16 and tension spring 130 are removably installable to the unit installation part 70 as a unit. Replacing the retard roller 16 is therefore simple.

Abstract: An image reading device, including: a casing having a document placement surface on which a document is to be placed; a cover provided on the casing and configured to be pivotable relative to the casing about an axis between a covering position at which the cover covers the document support surface and an exposure position at which the document support surface is exposed; two hinges provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in an axis direction in which the axis extends, one end portion of each of the two hinges being inserted into the casing movably in a movement direction perpendicular to the document placement surface while the other end portion is connected to the cover; and a contact member configured to be capable of coming into contact with one of the two hinges in the axis direction.

Abstract: A powder-classification method includes a mixing step in which a powder and a liquid additive are mixed together, a drying step in which the powder mixed in the mixing step is dried, a loading step in which the powder dried in the drying step is loaded into a fluid classifier, a heating step in which a gas is heated, a supplying step in which the gas heated in the heating step is supplied to the fluid classifier, and a classifying step in which the powder is classified in the fluid classifier based on a grain size of the powder.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium that can suppress erroneous detection of an occurrence of a jam by sound due to the sound generated along with conveyance of a paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first sound signal generator for generating a first sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance, at least a part of the first sound signal generator is provided at one end of a conveyance path of the paper, a second sound signal generator for generating a second sound signal corresponding to the sound, at least a part of the second sound signal generator is provided at the other end of the conveyance path, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a difference of the first sound signal and the second sound signal.