Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer body; a secondary transfer section; a conveyance section; a first detection section; a second detection section that is arranged downstream of the first detection section in a conveyance direction of a medium; and a control section that performs control for changing a conveyance speed of the medium by the conveyance section to a first speed based on timing of detection of the medium by the first detection section and a position of the image on the intermediate transfer body at that time point and changing the conveyance speed of the medium by the conveyance section to a second speed equal to the traveling speed of the intermediate transfer body based on timing of detection of the medium by the second detection section and the position of the image on the intermediate transfer body at that time point.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation part; a conveyance part that conveys the medium; a detector that detects a leading end of the medium and a position detection mark on the medium; and a conveyance controller that controls the conveyance part under one of a first print mode based on one of the leading end of the medium and the position detection mark and a second print mode based on the other. The conveyance controller is configured, when switching from the first print mode to the second print mode when the medium stands by at a first standby position downstream of the detector, to retract the medium from the first standby position to a position upstream of the detector and then to resume to convey the medium.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus according to an embodiment may include: an image formation part; a conveyance part that conveys the medium; a detector that detects a leading end of the medium and a position detection mark on the medium; and a conveyance controller that controls the conveyance part under one of a first print mode based on one of the leading end of the medium and the position detection mark and a second print mode based on the other. The conveyance controller is configured, when switching from the first print mode to the second print mode when the medium stands by at a first standby position downstream of the detector, to retract the medium from the first standby position to a position upstream of the detector and then to resume to convey the medium.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including an intermediate transfer body; a secondary transfer section; a conveyance section; a first detection section; a second detection section that is arranged downstream of the first detection section in a conveyance direction of a medium; and a control section that performs control for changing a conveyance speed of the medium by the conveyance section to a first speed based on timing of detection of the medium by the first detection section and a position of the image on the intermediate transfer body at that time point and changing the conveyance speed of the medium by the conveyance section to a second speed equal to the traveling speed of the intermediate transfer body based on timing of detection of the medium by the second detection section and the position of the image on the intermediate transfer body at that time point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrying part that carries media, a supply part that forwards the media to the carrying part piece by piece, wherein when a preceding medium is detected to have been fed to the carrying part, a succeeding medium is next fed to the carrying part, and a carrying controller that stops the preceding medium at a stop position of the media before the preceding medium is carried to the image forming process. The carrying controller obtains a medium length of the preceding medium in the carrying path, and changes the stop position of the preceding medium based on the medium length such that the trailing edge of the preceding medium is maintained distant from the leading edge of the succeeding medium while the preceding medium stops at the stop position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt, a medium conveyer, a controller, a transfer unit, and a first detector. The medium conveyer conveys a recording medium at a medium conveying speed. The controller sets the medium conveying speed to a first speed corresponding to a belt conveying speed in a first period, to a second speed lower than the first speed in a second period, to a third speed higher than the second speed and different from the first speed in a third period, and to the first speed in a fourth period. The transfer unit transfers the conveyed developer image onto the conveyed recording medium. The first detector performs detection of the recording medium in the first or second period. The controller sets a length of the third period on the basis of a result of the detection performed by the first detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carrying part that carries media, a supply part that forwards the media to the carrying part piece by piece, wherein when a preceding medium is detected to have been fed to the carrying part, a succeeding medium is next fed to the carrying part, and a carrying controller that stops the preceding medium at a stop position of the media before the preceding medium is carried to the image forming process. The carrying controller obtains a medium length of the preceding medium in the carrying path, and changes the stop position of the preceding medium based on the medium length such that the trailing edge of the preceding medium is maintained distant from the leading edge of the succeeding medium while the preceding medium stops at the stop position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium container that contains media, a sheet feeding controller that feeds the media one sheet by one sheet, which is contained in the medium container, a detection part that detects a remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container, and a searching part that searches for another medium container that contains media that is the same as the media contained in the medium container. The sheet feeding controller, when the detection part detects that the remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container has reached a predetermined amount, feeds one of the media, which is contained in the another medium container that is found by the searching part, to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a medium container that contains media, a sheet feeding controller that feeds the media one sheet by one sheet, which is contained in the medium container, a detection part that detects a remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container, and a searching part that searches for another medium container that contains media that is the same as the media contained in the medium container. The sheet feeding controller, when the detection part detects that the remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container has reached a predetermined amount, feeds one of the media, which is contained in the another medium container that is found by the searching part, to a predetermined position.

Abstract: A stack sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet stacking unit, a supply roller for supplying a sheet by contacting with an uppermost sheet in a sheet stack resting on the sheet stacking unit, a lift/lower device for controlling lifting and lower of the supply roller, a drive for driving the lift/lower device, a detector for detecting the fact that the supply roller reaches a supply position after the supply roller is lowered, and a control for turning OFF the drive on the basis of a detected result of the detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet original conveying apparatus having an original reverse apparatus and in which originals stacked on a tray are separated one by one by a separation means and a separated original is supplied to a reading portion for reading an image. It comprises a first convey path provided at a downstream side of the separation means in a supplying direction to direct the supplied original to the reading portion, a second convey path branched from the first convey path to direct the supplied original to the reading portion after a travelling direction of the original is reversed in a travel reverse portion, and a switching means disposed at a branched area between the first and second convey paths to switch the first and second convey paths from one to the other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an original conveying apparatus in which originals stacked on an original tray are separated one by one by a separation unit to be conveyed to a reading portion for reading an image, and then the read original is discharged.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic original supplying apparatus in which originals are stacked on an original tray as an original bundle and the originals in the original bundle are separated one by one from an uppermost one or from a lowermost one by a separation portion disposed at one side of the original tray. The apparatus comprises a guide passage for directing the original bundle to the separation portion, and a guide member provided at a tip end of the guide passage for upward and downward pivotal movement so that, when the originals are separated from the uppermost one, the guide member is rocked upwardly to protrude upwardly from the guide passage in an inclined fashion to thereby push a tip end of the original bundle to be directed to said separation portion, and, when the originals are separated from the lowermost one, the guide member is rocked downwardly to be retarded from the guide passage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an original feeding apparatus comprising first original feeding means for directing an original to an original reading station from one side thereof in an original-stationary scanning mode in which the original is read while fixing the original at the original reading station, and second original feeding means for directing then original to the original reading station from the other side thereof in an original-through scanning mode in which the original is read while shifting the original along the original reading station.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic original supplying apparatus which includes an original stacking plate on which originals can be rested, and an original conveyor for separating and supplying the original, one by one, and for conveying the separated original to a reading position. It operates in a flow reading mode in which a reader is fixed and the original is shifted with respect to the reader, a fix reading scan mode in which the original is fixed at the reading position and the reader is shifted with respect to the fixed original, and a count mode in which the number of originals is counted. The original conveying speed in the fix reading scan mode is faster than the original conveying speed in the flow reading mode, and, in the count mode, the original is conveyed under the flow reading mode.

Abstract: A reading apparatus includes an image reader for reading a sheet original positioned at a reading position and an automatic original conveyor for supplying the sheet original onto the reading position, wherein the sheet original can be read through an image flow reading mode while the sheet original is being conveyed by the automatic original conveyor by fixing the image reader at any position. The apparatus also has a convey path for directing the sheet original to the reading position, and a controller for initiating conveyance of the sheet original waiting at a predetermined position in the convey path in response to a flow reading mode start signal during the image flow reading mode and for initiating the image flow reading mode by outputting an image tip signal when a tip end of the sheet original reaches a flow reading image tip position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a separation device including a rotational feeding member rotatable in the direction of sheet feeding and a counter-rotational member rotatable in the direction counter to the sheet feeding direction, and an elastic member disposed in resilient contact with the rotational feeding member in a region near a nip formed between the rotational feeding member and the counter-rotational member, so as to perform sheet separation in cooperation with the rotational feeding member. The leading ends of the sheets delivered from a sheet tray by a delivery roller are staggered in the nip between the rotational feeding member and the elastic member, and the staggered sheets are separated one-by-one in the nip between the rotational feeding member and the counter-rotational member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet original supply apparatus including a conveyor for conveying a sheet original at a reading portion, and a supply device arranged upstream of the conveyor and adapted to send the sheet original to the conveyor, wherein after the sheet original starts to be conveyed by the conveyor and before the sheet original is read at the reading portion, the restraint of the sheet original by the supply device is released.

Abstract: An original pressing device for use in a reading apparatus. There is a hinge together with a pressing unit supported pivotably by the hinge and pivoting between a closing position where an original on a platen is pressed and an opening position where the original is released. A coil spring is compressed with the closing operation of the pressing unit and is released from the compression along with the opening operation of the pressing unit, and a fluid damper is arranged within a hollow portion of the coil spring to provide a resistance force when the pressing unit performs the closing operation.

Abstract: A sheet stapling apparatus including a stapling device for stapling a set of sheets, a load detecting device for detecting a level of a load of the stapling device during a stapling operation, and a signal generating device for generating a signal when the load detected by the load detecting device is outside a predetermined range.