Abstract: A vacuum control assembly for use in an image production device is provided. The assembly has a plenum having a vacuum inlet; a perforated plate fluidly connected to the plenum, the perforated plate having a plurality of perforations; a baffle plate connected to an inside of the plenum such that the baffle plate can slide relative to the perforated plate and can pivot relative to the perforated plate; and a protrusion on the inside of the plenum. The baffle plate is capable of sliding relative to the perforated plate between a closed position and an open position, the closed position being where the baffle plate causes the vacuum inlet to be fluidly connected to a first plurality of the perforations, and the open position being where the baffle plate is pivoted away from the perforated plate, causing the vacuum inlet to be fluidly connected to a maximum number of the perforations.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a first sheet cassette having an accommodating portion accommodating a first plurality of sheets and a second sheet cassette, disposed on the first sheet cassette, accommodating a second plurality of sheets. The sheet feed device also includes a sheet feeder configured to selectively feed the first plurality of sheets and the second plurality of sheets toward a sheet feed path, and a sheet separator configured to separate, one by one, the sheets fed by the sheet feeder. Specifically, the second sheet cassette is configured to move above the accommodating portion and with respect to the sheet feeder between a sheet feed position in which the sheet feeder contacts sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette to a non-sheet feed position in which the second sheet feed cassette prevents the sheet feeder from contacting sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for picking print media are disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus conveying a recording medium through a sheet conveying path may include a recording medium conveying device, and includes an edge position detector to detect a position of a side edge of a recording medium along a width direction perpendicular to a sheet travel direction of the recording medium in the sheet conveying path, and an edge position recognizer to recognize, based on detection results obtained by the edge position detector, the position of the side edge at multiple detection positions of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction of the recording medium. The multiple detection positions includes a detection position located within a dog ear region in the vicinity of either a leading edge or a trailing edge of the recording medium in the sheet travel direction.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a paper cassette in which sheets are loaded and a cassette feeding roller that feeds the sheets. The paper cassette is configured to be inserted into the main body of the recording apparatus rearward from the front of the main body. The paper cassette can move between a first fixing position where the paper cassette is fully retracted within the main body and a second fixing position where the sheets positioned at the end of the paper cassette in the inserting direction into the main body can be fed by the cassette feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.

Abstract: A measurement module for a printer generally includes a page diverter mechanism configured to selectively divert a sheet of media from a main media path to a module media path; a rotating drum configured to receive the media from the module media path and to affix the media on an outer surface of the drum; a measuring device spaced adjacent to the drum and configured to measure as aspect of the media affixed to the surface of the drum; and a sheet transport configured to remove the media from the drum. According to one embodiment, the module may include a drum with an electrostatic hold-down mechanism that captures a sheet and an axially translating measuring device that is configured to read the entire surface as the drum rotates. The measurement module also allows the printed media to cool to eliminate problems with color measurements due to thermo chromaticity.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a first sheet stacking device including a rack, provided downstream of an image forming apparatus in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet and connected with the image forming apparatus, for stacking the recording sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus; a second sheet stacking device, which is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking device and connected with the first sheet stacking device; and a controller for controlling the image forming apparatus and the first and second sheet stacking devices. At least one of the first and second sheet stacking devices has a job stop button for stopping a printing job, and when the job stop button is turned on while the printing job execution is in progress, the controller controls the sheet stacking device to stop a stack of a recording sheet to the rack.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes pairs of rollers, each including a driving roller and a driven roller. The pairs of rollers are arranged along the rotation axis direction of the driving roller and constitute a first roller group and a second roller group for conveying a first medium and a second medium thicker than the first medium, respectively. The center of the first roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a first conveying area where the first medium is conveyed. The center of the second roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a second conveying area where the second medium is conveyed. At least one pair of rollers in the second roller group is arranged outside the first roller group within the first conveying area.

Abstract: An elutriation column is installed in a separation tank. The elutriation column includes a vertical separation column having a first side feed arm and a second side overflow arm spaced above the first side feed arm. Water is forced upwardly through the vertical separation column at a controllable velocity. A solid feed mixture is fed through the first side feed arm to the vertical separation column. Water from the tank rising in the vertical separation column at the controlled velocity causes targeted floater materials to move upwardly in the vertical separation column and heavier sinker materials to continue to sink. The floater materials flow from an outlet in the side of the separation tank into the recovery tank. At a discharge, lower end of the vertical separation column, the heavier sinker materials are removed from the separation tank. A mechanism is provided for purging undesirable materials that can cause plugging from the feed arm.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a crosslaid fiber web including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, which are oriented in two different directions, wherein the second conveyor belt adjoins a side of the first conveyor belt. During operation of the device, the first conveyor belt transports longitudinal fiber web segments, which are conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a conveyance region. During transportation by the first conveyor belt, a conveyance area of the longitudinal fiber web segments projects with respect to the side of the first conveyor belt. The device comprises a guiding belt for supporting a portion of this conveyance area, in order to guarantee that, in the conveyance region, the longitudinal fiber web segments may be conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a completely outstretched fashion.

Abstract: A recording medium transporting device includes a transporting unit that transports a recording medium; a guide member that supports and guides the recording medium in a downstream direction, the guide member being disposed downstream of the transporting unit; and a restraining unit that includes a restraining member having a restraining section, the restraining section being movable relative to the guide member. The restraining section imposes a restraint on the recording medium to prevent the recording medium from rising above the guide member at a position downstream of the transporting unit. A restriction state of the restraining member is switchable between at least two states, and the restriction state is switched so that a degree of the restraint is reduced or the restraint is removed before a trailing edge of the recording medium passes the restraining section.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder, included in an image reading system that can be included in an image forming apparatus, is configured to transfer an original document to an image reader included in the image reading system, and includes a first drive unit configured to include a first motor to drive the document separation and feed unit, a second drive unit configured to include a second motor to drive the document conveyance unit, a third drive unit configured to include a third motor to drive the document discharging unit, where at least two motors of the first, second, and third motors disposed in a substantially in-line arrangement, and a cooling member configured to supply a coolant to the at least two motors disposed in a substantially in-line arrangement, to the first, second, and third motors, in that order.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed roller that includes a feed roller shaft, the feed roller being capable of feeding a sheet, a frame that supports the feed roller shaft, a helical gear attached to the feed roller shaft, a motor that drives the feed roller shaft via the helical gear, a disc attached to the feed roller shaft, a sensor body that detects a rotation of the disc, and a pressing member that presses the feed roller shaft from a side of the feed roller shaft in a thrust direction toward another side of the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling reception of various kinds of paper media includes a reception unit to allow the various kinds of paper media to be received, a pick-up unit to pick up the paper media from the reception unit one sheet by one sheet, a transport unit to transport the picked up paper media, a separation control sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense whether the paper media is passing through a predetermined transport path, a skew sensing unit mounted on the transport unit to sense skew of the paper media, and a control unit to operate the pick-up unit when the separation control sensing unit senses the paper media passing, and to suspend a forward operation of the transport unit and operate the transport unit backwards when the skew sensing unit senses the skew of the paper media.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single feed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.

Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge sheets, a wall member provided below the discharge portion, a tray configured to receive the discharged sheets from the discharge portion, and a holding member provided on the wall member to approach relatively the tray, holding the sheets between itself and the tray, and moving linearly by holding the sheets.

Abstract: A guide is proposed for devices for processing sheet material, particularly bank notes and checks, that is equipped with a guide body (1), with several guide wings (2) on the guide body (1), with at least three edges (15, 16, 17) on the guide wings (2) running parallel to each another and tapering to a point and with a guide drive (3, 4, 5) connected to the guide body (1) that sets the guide body (1) in motion in at least two different directions, wherein at least one of the two motions is a translational motion.

Abstract: A film handling system is described, including: a supply container for supporting a plurality of sheets of film; a film receiver; and a transport mechanism for retrieving a sheet of film from the supply container and transporting the sheet of film to the receiving mechanism, said transport mechanism comprising a vacuum head for adhering the sheet of film to the vacuum head; wherein the film receiver comprises a feed mechanism for conveying the sheet of film received by the film receiver, said feed mechanism including a sprocket for mating with at least one of a plurality of sprocket holes in the sheet of film transported by the transport mechanism.

Abstract: A paper pick-up mechanism for a feeder includes a pick-up roller, a pick-up roller shaft, a separation roller, a transmission shaft, a gear set and a transmission gear shaft. Two one-way clutches are respectively coupled to the transmission shaft and the transmission gear shaft in parallel. When the transmission shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to a sheet-feeding direction, the gear set, through the cooperation of the two one-way clutches are used as a planetary gear set to lift up the pick-up roller.