Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and an inspection method which can reduce a position deviation of an inspection pattern upon reading the inspection pattern to perform an accurate inspection. A sheet conveyance misalignment in a continuous sheet is corrected in a corrective unit. The inspection pattern is printed on the corrected sheet by a print head of an inkjet type, and the sheet on which the inspection pattern is printed is dried. A sheet conveyance misalignment in the dried sheet is again corrected in the corrective unit, and the inspection pattern of the corrected sheet is read to perform a color shading inspection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a supply unit configured to supply a sheet, a recording unit configured to perform recording by discharging a plurality of colors of inks onto the sheet, a reading unit configured to read out an image of the sheet, a drying unit configured to dry the sheet on which recording is provided by the recording unit, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to record an inspection pattern onto the sheet by the recording unit and so as to read out the inspection pattern of the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet on which the inspection pattern is recorded passes through the drying unit in order to acquire inspection data of the inspection pattern of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a supply unit configured to supply a sheet, a recording unit configured to perform recording by discharging a plurality of colors of inks onto the sheet, a reading unit configured to read out an image of the sheet, a drying unit configured to dry the sheet on which recording is provided by the recording unit, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to record an inspection pattern onto the sheet by the recording unit and so as to readout the inspection pattern of the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet on which the inspection pattern is recorded passes through the drying unit in order to acquire inspection data of the inspection pattern of the sheet.

Abstract: There are provided a printing apparatus and an inspection method which can reduce a position deviation of an inspection pattern upon reading the inspection pattern to perform an accurate inspection. A sheet conveyance misalignment in a continuous sheet is corrected in a corrective unit. The inspection pattern is printed on the corrected sheet by a print head of an inkjet type, and the sheet on which the inspection pattern is printed is dried. A sheet conveyance misalignment in the dried sheet is again corrected in the corrective unit, and the inspection pattern of the corrected sheet is read to perform a color shading inspection.

Abstract: There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus including a supply unit configured to supply a sheet, a recording unit configured to perform recording by discharging a plurality of colors of inks onto the sheet, a reading unit configured to read out an image of the sheet, a drying unit configured to dry the sheet on which recording is provided by the recording unit, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to record an inspection pattern onto the sheet by the recording unit and so as to readout the inspection pattern of the sheet by the reading unit after the sheet on which the inspection pattern is recorded passes through the drying unit in order to acquire inspection data of the inspection pattern of the sheet.

Abstract: There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.

Abstract: A shaft portion of a retard roller is supported by a pair of supporting members so that the retard roller can be assuredly supported and easily detached. One of the pair of supporting members is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the shaft portion. By moving the movable supporting member in a direction of separating from the shaft portion, the retard roller can be detached. A regulation device regulates movement of the movable supporting member in the direction of separating from the shaft portion at a position where the pair of supporting members engage with the shaft portion and is provided on a guide cover for blocking an opening for mounting/detaching the retard roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating stacked sheets one by one and feeding the sheets includes a rotative feeder rotating in a feeding direction for feeding the sheets; a retard roller disposed so as to be capable of contacting the rotative feeder rotating in reverse direction for separating the sheets one by one; a driver for driving the rotative feeder and the retard roller; a clutch for transmitting drive power from the driver to the rotative feeder when in a powered-on state, and for rendering the rotative feeder in a rotation free state without transmitting the drive power of the driver to the rotative feeder when in a powered-off state. The apparatus further includes a controller for, before the start of feeding of the sheets, rendering the rotative feeder in the rotation free state while the controller renders the clutch in the powered-off state and controlling the driver to rotate the retard roller in the reverse direction to the feeding direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating stacked sheets one by one and feeding the sheets which includes a feed roller for feeding sheets, a retard roller for separating the sheets one by one between the retard roller and the feed roller, and a torque limiter for transmitting a predetermined torque to the retard roller. The sheet feeding apparatus also includes a roller shaft for movably supporting the retard roller, a gear for transmitting a drive force to the roller shaft of the retard roller, a coupling member for coupling the retard roller and the gear, and universal joints connecting the gear with the coupling member, and the coupling member with the roller shaft, respectively. The torque limiter is disposed on the coupling member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method includes a sheet accommodating device, a feeder, an image former, a sheet conveying path, and a controller. The sheet accommodating device accommodates a stack of sheets. The sheet accommodating device is movable in a direction crossing with the feeding direction for the sheets. The feeder feeds one-by-one the sheets from the sheet accommodating device. The image former forms an image on a sheet sent from the sheet accommodating device by the feeder. The sheet conveying path has a sufficient length to retain the sheet from the sheet accommodating device between the feeder and the image former so that a trailing edge of the sheet is downstream of the feeder. The controller pre-feeds the sheet to the sheet conveying path from the sheet accommodating device prior to the generation of a sheet feeding signal.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member which frictionally contacts magnetic particles on a magnet roller with an image bearing member in order to remove foreign matter adhered to the image bearing member, thereby preventing the deteriorating of the image quality. The magnet roller rotates slowly so that a portion thereof opposed to the image bearing member is moved in the same direction as a moving direction of the image bearing member. This prevents the toner from overflowing and scattering out of the cleaning member. Further, when non-magnetic toner is used, by providing a toner cavity on the magnet roller, the scattering of the non-magnetic toner can be prevented, whereby parts inside the apparatus are prevented from being contaminated by the toner.

Abstract: A sheet stacking tray apparatus for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a printer or copying machine. The sheets are correctly stacked, that is, without inclination or deviation. The tray apparatus according to the present invention is such that the speed at which the sheet is discharged to the tray apparatus is reduced when the tray apparatus receives the sheet material. And, the sheet is laterally shifted so as to correct the lateral deviation thereof. The tray is lowered in accordance with the amount of the sheets so as to keep a proper height thereof with respect to the discharging outlet from which it receives the sheet. An auxiliary sheet stacking plate is provided operable in association with the lowering of the tray so as to raise the sheet receiving side thereof so as to keep the sheet material on the tray horizontal.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet receiving device includes a first unit having at least one stacking tray for stacking sheets; a first feeder for feeding the sheet from the stacking tray of the first unit; a first guiding member for guiding the sheet from the first feeder to the receiving device; a second guiding member for guiding a side of the sheet opposite from a side guided by the first guiding member to constitute together with the first guiding member a sheet passage; a second unit having at least one stacking tray for stacking sheets; second feeder for feeding the sheet from the stacking tray of the second unit; a third guiding member for guiding the sheet from the second feeder to the receiving device; and a supporting device for supporting the first unit to the second unit for movement between a first position wherein the first guiding member guides the sheet from the first feeder and a second position wherein at least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding me

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus. It includes a first post-processing device for effecting a processing to the sheet material and a second post-processing device for effecting to the sheet a processing different from the aformationed processing. The apparatus is capable of selectively discharging or processing the sheet material discharged from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A tray apparatus for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine and other recording machines. The tray apparatus has a sheet aligning member in the form of an endless web which is contactable to the top surface of the sheet which has been discharged onto a tray or bin tray so as to displace the sheet in the opposite direction until the trailing edge of the sheet abuts a stopper member which is disposed adjacent that end of the tray which is near the discharging outlet. By doing so, the sheets discharged are aligned against the stopper member.

Abstract: A stapler apparatus which is provided with a needle feeding mechanism for feeding needles continuously formed in a band-like shape in succession to a driving-in station and which can prevent the band-like needles from moving backward and reliably feed the needles forwardly even if a backwardly moving force acts on the band-like needles in a state in which the leading needle is not bent.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus including a plurality of sheet processing units each having a couple of folding rollers, a deflector and a folding position controlling passage. One set of the apparatus is sufficient to effect two-folding, z-folding and reversed z-folding of the sheet. A guiding member is disposed closely adjacent to the nip of the folding roller couple for conveying the sheet out of the folding positions controlling passage and for forming a new fold. When the sheet is three-folded, an undesirable double fold is prevented, which may otherwise be produced by an undesirable fold formed adjacent to the already formed fold when the sheet is folded second time.