Abstract: A method and an apparatus for driving a fan wheel of a web-fed printing press is disclosed. The fan wheel is driven, at least in a predetermined time period (tv-tD) in the production cycle, at a fan wheel speed, which in addition to a rotary drive speed component is comprised of an oscillating speed component.

Abstract: In a recording sheet feeder, a recording sheet tray moving mechanism moves a recording sheet tray between an upper position, at which an uppermost recording sheet of a plurality of recording sheets loaded on the recording sheet tray contacts a feed roller, and a lower position, at which the uppermost recording sheet separates from the feed roller. A first eccentric cam and a second eccentric cam rotate to press down the recording sheet tray. A driving force switch member drives the recording sheet tray moving mechanism when a driver rotates in a first direction, and rotates a feed roller driving shaft mounted with the feed roller when the driver rotates in a second direction.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device includes a tray for holding sheet media of various widths and a shaft extending across the tray. A plurality of pick assemblies is mounted to the shaft. The pick assemblies are spaced along the shaft so that one or more of the pick assemblies contact sheet media in the tray depending on the width of the sheet media. Furthermore, the spacing of the pick assemblies is such that the pick assemblies in contact with the sheet media define a total offset relative to the centerline of the sheet media that is sufficiently small enough to avoid skewing of sheet media for a variety of different media widths.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus has a take-in device which takes in notes set in a setting unit, a judgment device which judges the quality and condition of a note taken in by the take-in device, a stacking box which stacks the note judged the quality and condition by the judgment device, a backup which is provided movably up and down in the stacking box and stacks notes, and a control device which variably controls the position of the backup based on the result of judgment by the judgment device.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder (ADF), which is capable of feeding a document for double-sided reading, includes an input tray, an output tray, which are vertically arranged, a U-shaped document feed path, which is made up of an upper portion, a curved portion, and a lower portion, feeding rollers disposed in the document feed path, a bidirectional feed path connected to a connection position, a bidirectional feed roller provided in the bidirectional feed path, a bypass connecting a branch position and the connection position, and an ADF cover, which is rotatable with respect to an ADF frame. A paper jam is readily cleared with a simple structure and reasonable cost.

Abstract: A tray comprises a main body to support a sheet, an extension member rotatably mounted to the main body and extending from the main body in the discharging direction of the sheet to support a part of the sheet discharged from the main body, first and second shafts provided at the end of the extension member and inserted in first and second holes formed on the main body, and a projection provided on the second shaft inserted in the second hole.

Abstract: A media sheet deformer provides an adjustable amount of media sheet deformation. The media sheet deformer nonpermanently deforms a media sheet in a printer to increase the beam strength of the media sheet temporarily. The device includes a deformer, a support member, and a positioning member. The deformer is positioned in a media path within a printer. The deformer is configured to deform a media sheet temporarily with an amount of media sheet deformation. The amount of media sheet deformation causes the media sheet to exhibit an arched profile that increases the beam strength of the media sheet. The support member is coupled to the deformer. The support member is movably coupled to a printer frame. The positioning member is coupled to the support member. The positioning member is configured to assert a force on the support member and alter the amount of media sheet deformation.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for transporting flat, rectangular sheet material, in particular sheet-shaped value documents such as bank notes, comprises a distributing element reciprocating between at least two positions, or at least two distributing elements reciprocating between two positions, the distributing element or elements moving delivered sheets of the sheet material alternatively or alternatingly into at least two removal positions, and at least one removal device for carrying off the sheets out of the removal positions in removal directions associated with the removal positions.

Abstract: A transporting path configuration includes: a separating mechanism that separates from one of transporting members the other transporting member; an opening/closing transporting path member that is rotatably attached above the transporting members and has one surface that configures a first transporting path of the recording medium discharged from the transporting members; a transporting path member that forms a second transporting path between the transporting path member and the other surface of the opening/closing transporting path member in a state of covering the opening/closing transporting path member; a handle that is attached to the opening/closing transporting path member so as to be extended above the second transporting path and is further extended above a cover that covers a discharge member; and a moving mechanism that moves the handle in the direction away from the cover when the other transporting member is separated from the one transporting member by the separating mechanism.

Abstract: A document processing system includes a document track composed of a pair of opposing rigid track walls. The documents are moved along the document track in a series to allow operations to be performed on the documents. An apparatus for detecting a document with an attachment includes a strike plate formed by a separate section of a wall of the document track. A magnet is arranged to attract material toward the strike plate. An accelerometer is mounted to the strike plate. The accelerometer detects an impact of an attachment to the strike plate when a document with an attachment passes the strike plate.

Abstract: A vacuum control assembly for use in an image production device is provided. The assembly has a plenum, a perforated plate, a plurality of valve assemblies, and a controller. Each valve assembly has a rotating valve having a vacuum passage, and a chamber body having a plurality of chambers. Each valve is rotatable between a first position that fluidly connects the vacuum passage with at least one of the chambers to complete a fluid path between the plenum and the perforated plate, and a second position at which the vacuum passage connects the plenum with none of the chambers. The controller controls the plurality of valve assemblies to provide vacuum to a first predetermined portion of the perforated plate while also providing no vacuum to a second predetermined portion of the perforated plate.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette capable of inhibiting a paper from being warped in a direction substantially perpendicular to a paper feed direction while minimizing increase in the number of component and inhibiting the paper from being plastically deformed into a curved shape is obtained. The paper feed cassette includes a cassette body storing the paper, a first lift member for lifting up the paper so as to bring the paper into contact with a paper feed roller in printing, and a second lift member for lifting up the paper so as to produce bending caused by droop of the rear in the paper feed direction of the paper due to the paper's own weight in printing.

Abstract: A multiple media feed system includes an adjustable media singulator feeder that is adjustable to feed from a stack of media items a selectable number of media items to form a group of overlapped media items. A thickness sensor is positioned to measure the thickness of media items fed from the stack of media items. A controllable media feeder is positioned to engage and feed media items fed from said stack of media items by the adjustable media singulator feeder. The controllable media feeder is controlled to feed media items when the thickness sensor has determined that the thickness of the selected number of media items is at the controllable media feeder.

Abstract: A printing media supply device for use in an image forming apparatus includes a printing media supply cassette adapted to receive a stack of printing media. A pick-up roller picks up the printing media stacked in the printing media supply cassette. The pick-up roller has a pick-up member for picking up the printing media, and a rotation member for supporting the pick-up member. The rotation member has a buffer surface formed by cutting a portion of a leading edge portion thereof away. The buffer surface may be formed so as to expose side surfaces of the pick-up member. The pick-up roller applies a substantially uniform pressure to the printing media even when there is a large quantity of printing media stacked in the printing media supply cassette, and thereby minimizes multifeeding of the printing media. Accordingly, the supply of printing media is stable, improving the printing media supply efficiency.

Abstract: A medium feeding unit having an improved structure for sensing that the number of print media loaded onto a loading plate is equal to or exceeds a predetermined remaining number, and an image forming apparatus having the same. The medium feeding unit includes a sensor that outputs sensing signals having different voltages according to quantities of received light. The medium feeding unit also includes a plurality of actuators that sense the number of print media on a loading plate, differentially intercept the sensing area of the sensor thus changing the voltage level of the sensing signal, and therefore signal the medium feeding unit when the number of print media on the loading plate falls below the predetermined remaining number.

Abstract: A sheet accumulation apparatus includes a tray moving device elevatably provided at an apparatus frame and having a fork member; a tray device detachably attached to the fork member; a driving device for elevating the tray moving device; and a carrier device having a hand truck frame with a fork member. An operation handle is connected to the hand truck frame for accommodating the tray device separated from the tray moving device to transport the tray device from the tray moving device. The tray moving device and the carrier device are structured so that the tray device is transferred between the tray moving device and the carrier device at an attachment/detachment position at which the tray moving device is lowered.

Abstract: A media sheet inverter apparatus and method is disclosed. The media sheet inverter, according to one embodiment of the disclosure, comprises an input nip configured to receive a media sheet and a reversing roll nip configured to receive a media sheet from the input nip. The media sheet is subsequently held within the inverter for a predetermined time before being ejected to an output nip configured to receive the media sheet from the reversing roll nip. The inverter apparatus and method is especially suited to inverting alternating media sheets.

Abstract: A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet cassette loads and houses therein a plurality of sheets. A separating unit separates the sheets loaded in the sheet cassette one by one. The separating unit is arranged in the sheet cassette in opposite to a feeding roller that conveys the sheets from the sheet cassette. A rib is formed on a rear surface of a bottom plate of the sheet cassette. The rib is pressed by a pressing member.

Abstract: An method for determining the denomination of a coin with a disk-type coin processing system comprises moving a coin along a coin path with a rotatable disk, generating an encoder pulse for each incremental movement of the rotatable disk, directing a light beam transverse the coin path, detecting the light beam with a light detector, developing a signal at the light detector indicating the presence of a coin in the coin path, counting a number of encoder pulses occurring while developing the signal at the light detector, and comparing the counted number of encoder pulses to a plurality of stored numbers of encoder pulses corresponding to the particular coin denominations.