Abstract: The present invention includes a sheet transmission system, comprising: a sheet stacking unit, a sheet position adjusting unit, a sheet processing unit, and a sheet collection unit, arranged in series along a transmission path of a sheet; and one or more independent transmission units, each transmission unit provided between two adjacent units among above units; wherein the sheet stacking unit is configured to store the sheet to be processed; the sheet position adjusting unit is configured to adjust the position of the sheet; the sheet processing unit is configured to conduct a predetermined process to the sheet transmitted therein; the sheet collection unit is configured to collect the processed sheet; wherein when a sheet is transmitted along the transmission path, the sheet is subjected to at least one transition between the first-direction transmission state and the second-direction transition state; and wherein the sheet will not deflect in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A paper guide mechanism that facilitates operation without easily allowing deviation of a wide guide unit. In a paper guide mechanism (10), a position-holding member (13) holds the widthwise position of a widthwise moving member (12) by bringing a first fixing-side locking section (11e) and a first moving-side locking section (13d) into contact with each other on a surface perpendicular to a direction of movement of the widthwise moving member (12) even in a case in which the widthwise moving member (12) is about to move in any direction along the width direction. The position-holding member (13) has a movement-restricting section (13e).

Abstract: A vacuum belt moves between a print head and a manifold. The manifold has manifold chambers, and each of the manifold chambers has manifold openings. Vacuum lines are connected to the manifold chambers. The vacuum lines exert vacuum force upon the manifold chambers, and the manifold openings exert the vacuum force through belt perforations. A cylindrical valve structure is connected to the vacuum lines. The cylindrical valve structure includes a cylindrical sleeve (having sleeve openings connected to the vacuum lines) and an internal valve cylinder positioned within the cylindrical sleeve. The internal valve cylinder has groups of vacuum slots. The internal valve cylinder moves linearly within the cylindrical sleeve (in directions parallel to cylindrical walls of the cylindrical sleeve) to align only one of the groups of vacuum slots with the sleeve openings at a time, so as to control which of the manifold chambers receive the vacuum draw.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet, the feeding apparatus including: a placement unit on which the sheet is placed, the placement unit being movable in an intersecting direction intersecting with a sheet feeding direction; a feeding unit configured to feed the sheet placed on the placement unit in the sheet feeding direction; and a first guide unit and a second guide unit configured to guide the placement unit in the intersecting direction, wherein the first guide unit is disposed below the feeding unit and the second guide unit and downstream of the second guide unit in the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: There is provided a feed apparatus including a support unit, a feed roller, a swingable arm to support the feed roller, a guide unit, a movable member movable to a retracted position and a protruding position at which the movable member can abut against the sheet supported by the support unit, a driving source, driving transmission units; and a contact-separating mechanism to move the feed roller to a separated position and an abutment position at which the feed roller abuts against the sheet supported by the support unit. In a state in which the movable member is the protruding position and the feed roller is the separated position, a time required to start feeding of the sheet by the feed roller moved from the separated position to the abutment position is longer than a time required to shift the movable member from the protruding position to the retracted position.

Abstract: Provided are a microparticle sorting device, and a method and a program for sorting microparticles capable of stabilizing sorting performance over a prolonged period of time. The microparticle sorting device includes an imaging element and a controller. The imaging element obtains an image of fluid and fluid droplets at a position where the fluid discharged from an orifice which generates a fluid stream is converted into the fluid droplets. The controller controls driving voltage of an oscillation element which gives oscillation to the orifice and/or controls a position of the imaging element based on a state of the fluid in the image and/or a state of a satellite fluid droplet. The satellite fluid droplet does not include microparticles and exists between the position, where the fluid is converted into the fluid droplets, and a fluid droplet, among fluid droplets including the microparticles, which is closest to the position where the fluid is converted into the fluid droplets.

Abstract: A layboy conveyor includes a first end and a second end and an upper conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end and a lower conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end. The lower conveyor top is disposed adjacent to the upper conveyor bottom and defines with the upper conveyor bottom a transport path configured to transport a sheet of material in a direction from the first end of the layboy conveyor to the second end of the layboy conveyor. A drive is operably connected to the upper conveyor and to the lower conveyor, and the drive is configured to drive the upper conveyor bottom and the lower conveyor top in the direction. A length of the lower conveyor top is adjustable.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes: a first casing having a first bottom portion and formed with a conveyance path in which a sheet is conveyed; a first tray provided for the first casing and supported by the first bottom portion; a first feeding section arranged above the first tray in the first casing and configured to feed a sheet supported by the first tray in a feeding direction toward the conveyance path; a second casing being detachably attached to the first casing and located below the first bottom portion in a state that the second casing is attached to the first cashing; a second tray provided for the second casing; and a second feeding section arranged above the second tray in the second casing and configured to feed a sheet supported by the second tray in the feeding direction toward the conveyance path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for holding down a sheet on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine include a lowerable smoothing bar which can be driven according to a speed profile in time with the sheet-processing machine, which results in a targeted deflection of the smoothing bar. The deflection is preserved for the purpose of smoothing the sheet from the middle to the side.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a first tray, a second tray, a first member, and a second member. The first member presses a first portion of a sheet toward the second tray when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray located below the first tray. The second member is interlocked with the first member, and when the sheet is moved from the first tray to the second tray, presses a second portion of the sheet toward the second tray, the second portion being located downstream of the first portion in a transport direction of the sheet to the first tray.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for a peripheral device and an operating method including the same are provided. The transport mechanism includes a tray, at least a transport roller, a detector, a trigger component and a processor. The tray includes an opening extending through the tray. The transport roller is rotatably installed in the opening and protruded from the tray to transport a flexible object to move along a transport path. The detector near the tray has a detecting area. The trigger component is located in the opening and spaced apart from the flexible object on the transport path. The flexible object deviated from the transport path presses the trigger component to enter or leave the detecting area and triggers the detector to transmit an abnormal detecting signal. The processor receives the abnormal detecting signal to stop the transport roller.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that, even when a paper feeding cassette is open, positively performs paper feeding from a manual feed tray, and yet shortens the printing interrupt time. Image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette, guide member, paper feeding changeover determining part, and system control part. Paper feeding cassette is detachably loaded in an apparatus main body. Guide member is temporarily fixed in apparatus main body above paper feeding cassette, constituting a carrying passage for a paper sheet from manual feed tray. If paper feeding cassette is drawn out from apparatus main body, paper feeding changeover determining part determines whether or not paper feeding can be changed over to that from manual feed tray. If the result of determination by paper feeding changeover determining part shows that changeover is possible, system control part causes paper feeding from manual feed tray to be performed.

Abstract: A banknote size adjustment device includes a pair of assemblies cooperating with each other to form a space for accommodating banknotes, the size of the space being adjustable; and front and rear support frames. Each assembly includes a position-limiting plate, a reinforcing plate, a pair of latch plates and a pair of compression springs, the reinforcing plate is fixed to a bottom of the position-limiting plate, and the latch plate is arranged at one end of the position-limiting plate and the reinforcing plate and is sandwiched between the position-limiting plate and the reinforcing plate, the compression spring has one end fixed to the reinforcing plate or the position-limiting plate and another end connected to one end of the latch plate, and applies an elastic force to the latch plate, to allow another end of the latch plate to always maintain a tendency of being inserted into the positioning holes.

Abstract: A sheet detecting apparatus including: a detection unit including a lever member having an abutment surface abutting a conveying sheet and a holding member configured to hold the lever member, the detection unit moved by the lever member pushed by the sheet; a first urging portion configured to urge the holding member to a waiting position after the sheet is separated from the abutment surface; a support portion configured to support the lever member movable with respect to the holding member to move the lever member to a retracted position for allowing the sheet to pass the lever member contacting a surface of the sheet when the holding member is in the waiting position; and a second urging portion configured to urge the lever member so that the lever member is moved from the retracted position to a position in which the abutment surface abuts a succeeding sheet.

Abstract: A sheet-transporting drum includes sheet-supporting areas each being formed of a first comb segment and a second comb segment having segment teeth. At least one of the comb segments is rotatable for adaptation to a sheet format. A mechanical leading-edge gripper is provided on the first comb segment and a pneumatic trailing-edge gripper is provided on the second comb segment. A mechanical trailing-edge gripper is additionally disposed on the second comb segment and is deactivatable in particular by format adjustments. This advantageously allows either the trailing edge of a sheet to be securely held down mechanically or a full-bleed print to be applied to the sheet when the trailing edge of the sheet is held down pneumatically. A sheet-fed printing machine is also provided.

Abstract: A conveyance unit includes a cassette removably attached to an apparatus body and a conveyance interlocked part provided in the apparatus body. The cassette includes a sheet storage part for storing a sheet, a lift plate liftably provided between a lowered position and a raised position and a biasing member for biasing the sheet to contact with a pickup roller. The conveyance interlocked part includes a lever for engaging with the lift plate when the cassette is attached to the apparatus body and being liftable together with the lift plate, a pressing mechanism for pressing the lever downward, and a support member provided between the apparatus body and the lever so as to suppress a drop of the lever disengaged from the lift plate when the cassette is detached from the apparatus body.

Abstract: A sheet supply device detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a sheet supply roller; an external output gear; a clutch mechanism; and first and second transmission mechanisms. The main body is provided with a sheet supply tray on which a sheet is mountable. The sheet supply roller is in contact with a sheet mounted on the sheet supply tray and configured to rotate to supply the sheet toward the image forming apparatus. The external output gear is configured to output a driving force to an outside. The clutch mechanism is configured to transmit and interrupt a driving force from the image forming apparatus. The first transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force received through the clutch mechanism to the sheet supply roller. The second transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force received through the clutch mechanism to the external output gear.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a stacking portion on which a medium having an image recorded thereon is stacked; an aligning portion that is disposed on the stacking portion and that aligns a position of an edge of the medium; a drawing member that draws the medium stacked on the stacking portion toward the aligning portion; and a guiding member that is disposed above the drawing member and that guides the medium that is transported toward the stacking portion, the guiding member including a vicinity portion that is in a vicinity of the drawing member and that is recessed so as to receive the drawing member.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in a sheet conveyor and/or an image forming apparatus includes multiple first rollers aligned in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, multiple second rollers facing the respective first rollers, a first roller shaft supporting two first rollers, at least one second roller shaft supporting rollers other than the two first rollers, at least one third roller shaft to support at least three second rollers, a first roller shaft holder supporting the first roller shaft to move from the at least one third roller shaft in a contact/separation direction, a biasing member biasing the first roller shaft toward at least one third roller shaft, and a displacement amount detector detecting an amount of displacement of the first roller shaft. A thickness of a sheet between the first and second rollers is detected based on a detection result by the displacement amount detector.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus includes a storage apparatus body, a sheet stacking portion, a rear end regulation member, and a rear end regulation attachment. The sheet stacking portion has an opening opened in an upward and downward direction, and is movable upward and downward with respect to a bottom portion of the storage apparatus body. The rear end regulation attachment is detachably attached to the rear end regulation member, which regulates an upstream end position in the sheet feed direction of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion. The rear end regulation attachment includes a regulating portion that extends toward the bottom portion through the opening. The rear end regulation attachment regulates the upstream end of the sheet on a position downstream, in the sheet feed direction, of a regulating position of the rear end regulation member.