Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.

Abstract: A sheet adsorption device includes a sheet adsorbing surface, a suction hole disposed on the sheet adsorbing surface, and a flow path shifting unit that shifts between a first state and a second state of a communication flow path that is communicated with the suction hole in accordance with existence of a sheet that covers the suction hole. The cross-section area of a flow path in the second state is smaller than that in the first state and the communication flow path is not closed in the second state.

Abstract: A sheet supplying unit that supplies sheets includes a sheet accommodation tray that accommodates the sheets in a stacked state, the sheets including a first sheet which is an uppermost sheet in the stack of the sheets and a second sheet which is immediately below the first sheet; a pick-up roller that conveys the sheets in a sheet conveying direction; a detection sensor that detects passage of the sheets and is disposed downstream of the pick-up roller in the sheet conveying direction; and a control unit that controls operations of the pick-up roller in accordance with outputs from the detection sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and aligning sheets which are fed to a processing machine, e.g. a printing machine, includes at least two parallel transporting belts which, on a side directed toward the sheet, subject the sheet to different retaining forces, in such a way that the retaining force in outer peripheral regions is greater than in an inner region located therebetween. The transporting belts can be activated individually in dependence on the position of the sheet, and they can therefore align the sheet in its transporting direction and obliquely thereto.

Abstract: In the state that a preceding sheet awaits at an awaiting position, a pair of conveying rollers are separated from each other, and the front end of a subsequent sheet sent out from a main conveying path passes the gap between the pair of conveying rollers. Based on a configuration that the distance from the trailing end of the subsequent sheet in the conveying direction to the pair of conveying rollers becomes equal to that from the front end of the preceding sheet to the pair of conveying rollers, the preceding sheet and subsequent sheet are sandwiched by the pair of conveying rollers so as to be conveyed in a first direction, thereby making the sheets into a state that the sheets are put on each other. Thereafter, the sheets are conveyed in a second direction by the pair of conveying rollers, so as to be discharged into discharging unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the height of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include setting the height of the media stack using a default multiplier, determining if printing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing has started, measuring the thickness of media sheets in the media stack, counting the number of media sheets fed to an image production section of the image production device, determining if the media stack height is below a predetermined threshold using the one or more media stack height sensors, wherein the one or more media stack height sensors determine that the media stack height is below the predetermined threshold, calculating a next multiplier using the measured paper thickness and counted number of sheets fed, and setting the next media stack height using the calculated next multiplier.

Abstract: Gloves and dispensers for gloves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to disposable gloves packaged in a disposable dispenser configured to engage with a carrier. Aspects of the glove assemblies provided herein include a dispenser case having a flange having locking tab for sliding engagement with a channel on the carrier. The dispenser case may be removed from the carrier and a new dispenser case engaged to the carrier.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus and an automatic sheet feeding method are provided. The sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, a first sheet input tray, a first sheet pick-up roller assembly, a sheet ejecting tray, a sheet transfer channel, a plurality of transfer roller assemblies, a sheet ejecting roller assembly, a sheet-feeding sensor and a clutch module. Once a first sheet article of multiple sheet articles placed on the first sheet input tray are fed into the internal portion of the sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus to trigger the sheet-feeding sensor, the clutch module is disabled. At this moment, a second sheet article placed on the first sheet input tray fails to be fed by the first sheet pick-up roller assembly. Therefore, the double feeding problem is solved.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed and a transparent member disposed on the conveying path and including a surface facing the sheet being conveyed. The transparent member including a reference line extending across the transparent member in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The sheet conveyor further includes a guide member comprising a guide edge that includes a first guide edge and a second guide edge, the guide edge having a shape, such that a distance from the guide edge to the reference line varies in the direction in which the reference line extends. The guide edge further may include a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The guide member is disposed upstream of the transparent member in a conveying direction of the sheet, and the guide member is configured to guide the sheet to the transparent member. The first guide portion may include a first guide edge disposed separate from a reference line by a first distance.

Abstract: A bill position adjustment method and system for bill acceptor is disclosed to include a body with an insertion slot and a bill passage, a transmission mechanism for transferring an inserted bill, a recognition device for recognizing the authenticity and value of an inserted bill, an entrance sensor and a stoppage sensor mounted in the bill passage for controlling the transmission mechanism to transfer the inserted bill into position for recognition, a bill passage adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width of the bill passage to correct the direction of an inserted bill into accurate alignment with the recognition device, and a bill sensor mounted in a sensor zone in the insertion slot for detecting the width of an inserted bill and controlling the bill passage adjustment mechanism to adjust the width of the bill passage subject to the detection result.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet support, a restricting portion, a displacement section, and a link section. The restricting portion slides along a line passing through restricting points. The restricting portion restricts the position of the sheet when the restricting portion is positioned at each of the restricting points. The link section interlinks the restricting portion and the displacement section. The position of the displacement section is detected. The link section, which interlinks the restricting section and the displacement section, is configured to change a ratio of a distance that the displacement section travels as the restricting section travels a fixed distance, wherein the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively large spacing therebetween becomes longer than the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively small spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A paper supply apparatus for conveying paper to an image forming apparatus has a paper accommodating unit to accommodate paper and to be drawn out from an accommodating space in a main body of the image forming apparatus. The apparatus also has a handle to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the paper in the paper accommodating unit. The handle includes a first edge that moves toward the paper accommodating unit upon rotation of the handle and a second edge that opposes the first edge. A link on the first edge of the handle releases engagement with the main body when the first edge moves toward the paper accommodating unit. A flapper is disposed on the second edge of the handle and forms a point where a force acts to move the first edge toward the paper accommodating unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the lateral position of a moving sheet in a sheet registration system. A side edge sensor is moved from a known location until the side edge of the moving sheet is detected. A signal is generated indicative of the position of the side edge when it is detected. The position of the side edge as indicated by the signal is used along with skew of the sheet to determine the lateral position of the sheet.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed which is particularly well adapted for counting documents of value, such as banknotes. The document handling apparatus comprises an input module for receiving a stack of documents and feeding them one by one into the apparatus, a detector box which houses a series of detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents, a transport system for conveying documents within the apparatus, a doubles detector for sensing the passage of each document therethrough and a stacker module for stacking the output documents and presenting them to the user. The apparatus is based on a metal framework in a plastics housing.

Abstract: When a sheet of paper is inverted and the direction is changed, members such as a roller do not come into contact with the printed surface of the sheet and it is possible to prevent smudges by eliminating an ink stain on a surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A turn guide is disposed between a first transport surface and a second transport surface on which a sheet is transported while being sucked. The turn guide has a plurality of guide ribs. The plurality of guide ribs have curved inverting transfer surfaces from an inversion start point corresponding to a first transport surface to an inversion end point corresponding to a second transport surface.

Abstract: A sheet stopping mechanism includes a guiding element, a sheet stopping element and a guiding slot. The guiding element includes a sheathing part and an extension arm. The sheathing part is sheathed around an axle of the sheet pick-up roller. The sheet stopping element includes a stopping part, a protrusion part and a contact part. The extension arm of the guiding element is upwardly sustained against at the contact part of the sheet stopping element. The protrusion part of the sheet stopping element is accommodated within the guiding slot. When the sheet pick-up roller is moved toward a sheet input tray, the guiding element is uplifted. As a result, the protrusion part of the sheet stopping element is shifted and rotated in the guiding slot, and a front edge of the paper sheet is no longer hindered by the stopping part of the sheet stopping element.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a holding section connected to a downstream end of a main transfer path for consecutively transferring paper sheets and formed of a curved transfer path, which consecutively transfers the paper sheets led out from the main transfer path in a curved state and holds them in an overlaid state.

Abstract: Provided is a feed device including: a loading unit in which a plurality of sheet members is loaded in a stacked state; a delivery member which performs a feed operation in a state in which a contact surface thereof is in contact with an uppermost sheet member of the sheet members loaded on the loading unit and delivers the sheet member in a feed direction using the frictional force with the uppermost sheet member as the feeding force; a gate member which is configured to move in a direction to and or from the contact surface of the delivery member and has an inclined surface with which a front end of the sheet member delivered by the delivery member collides with; and a gate energizing member which energizes the gate member in a direction approaching to the contact surface of the delivery member.

Abstract: A sheet pressing apparatus assembled to a file processing equipment which has an input tray for stacking sheets and a pickup roller for feeding sheets. The sheet pressing apparatus includes a sheet pressing assembly movably mounted to the file processing equipment, a driving device including a connecting member and a stepping motor, a sensor unit and a control system. The sheet pressing assembly is driven by the stepping motor to be descending through the connecting member. When the sheet pressing assembly descends, the sensor unit touches the sheets and sends a signal to the control system, the control system figures out the thickness of the sheets by calculating steps the stepping motor having passed, then the control system makes the stepping motor further move with certain steps to drive the sheet pressing assembly further descend to apply a suitable pressure on the sheets.