Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator that includes a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is inserted into a gap between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The second separator is inserted between the two sheets at said another end of the two-ply sheet that is opposite to the one end of the two-ply sheet and moves in a width direction of the two-ply sheet after the first separator is inserted into the gap and relatively moves from the one end to said another end.

Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a sheet lamination device, a heater, and circuitry. The sheet lamination device performs a sheet laminating operation on an object by application of heat and pressure. The heater heats the sheet lamination device. The circuitry changes between a first mode in which the heater constantly heats the sheet lamination device while the sheet lamination device is turned on and a second mode in which the heater starts heating the sheet lamination device in response to a request of the sheet laminating operation and stops heating the sheet lamination device after a given time has elapsed from completion of the sheet laminating operation. The circuitry adjusts the given time in the second mode.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to print an image on a sheet; a first exit path from which the sheet with the image printed thereon by the printing unit is discharged while being reversed; a second exit path from which the sheet with the image printed thereon by the printing unit is discharged without being reversed; and a switch member configured to be pivotably arranged so as to switch the first exit path and the second exit path. The first exit path passes above a pivot center of the switch member, and the second exit path passes below the pivot center.

Abstract: There is provided an air conditioner capable of displaying sufficient cooling ability in each indoor unit by allowing a sufficient amount of refrigerant to flow into indoor units where cooling ability cannot be displayed. By executing refrigerant amount balance control, since degrees of opening of indoor expansion valves are narrowed in indoor units whose refrigerant superheating degrees are smaller than an average refrigerant superheating degree, amounts of refrigerant flowing into the indoor expansion valves are decreased. In the indoor unit where the refrigerant superheating degree is higher than the average refrigerant superheating degree, since refrigerant pressure on a downstream side of the indoor expansion valve is also decreased due to the degrees of opening of the indoor expansion valves being narrowed, the difference in pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the indoor expansion valve increases and an amount of refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit is increased.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a discharge port configured to discharge liquid and a discharge port surface provided with the discharge port. A head cleaning member including a contact portion contacts the discharge port surface, and is configured to cause the contact portion to contact the discharge port surface and to move relative to the discharge port surface in order to clean adherents attached to the discharge port surface. The discharge port includes a plurality of protrusion portions extending toward a discharge port inner side. The contact portion includes a fiber, and the fiber in the contact portion includes a portion having a size greater than a minimum protrusion distance among protrusion distances between the protrusion portions.

Abstract: If the refrigerant amount balance control is executed, since degrees of opening of indoor expansion valves are narrowed in indoor units whose refrigerant superheating degrees are smaller than an average refrigerant superheating degree, amounts of refrigerant flowing into the indoor expansion valves are decreased. On the other hand, in the indoor unit where the refrigerant superheating degree is higher than the average refrigerant superheating degree, since refrigerant pressure on a downstream side of the indoor expansion valve is also decreased due to the degrees of opening of the indoor expansion valves being narrowed, the difference in pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the indoor expansion valve increases and an amount of refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit is increased. Accordingly, cooling ability of the indoor unit increases.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a reading unit, having a detection surface, that reads an image on a print medium, and a fixing unit that fixes a relative position between the detection surface and the print medium in one of a first state, in which the detection surface is in contact with the print medium, and a second state, in which the detection surface is not in contact with the print medium. A control unit stops conveyance and fixes the relative position between the detection surface and the print medium to the first state, using the fixing unit, in a case in which the reading unit reads the image, and changes the relative position between the detection surface and the print medium from the first state to the second state, using the fixing unit, and resumes conveyance after image reading by the reading unit is complete.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a discharge port configured to discharge liquid and a discharge port surface provided with the discharge port. A head cleaning member including a contact portion contacts the discharge port surface, and is configured to cause the contact portion to contact the discharge port surface and to move relative to the discharge port surface in order to clean adherents attached to the discharge port surface. The discharge port includes a plurality of protrusion portions extending toward a discharge port inner side. The contact portion includes a fiber, and the fiber in the contact portion includes a portion having a size greater than a minimum protrusion distance among protrusion distances between the protrusion portions.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of ejection heads for ejecting liquid and a plurality of mist collection units configured to collect mist generated by the ejection heads that are disposed along a medium conveyance direction. The plurality of mist collection units include a first mist collection unit. The first mist collection unit is provided to be inclined to the upstream side of a medium conveyance direction with regard to a perpendicular line perpendicular to a floor. The first mist collection unit has a liquid retention part disposed at the upstream side than an ink mist suction hole.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to inspect an image of a printed product where an image is printed accurately without scratching a print medium as the printed product. In the printing apparatus, first, a reading unit reads the image on the print medium conveyed by a conveyance unit, and a fixing unit fixes the print medium to a reading area by the reading unit. Then, control is performed so as to stop conveyance by the conveyance unit and fix the print medium by the fixing unit at the time of image reading, and release fixing of the print medium by the fixing unit and resume conveyance by the conveyance unit if the image reading is complete.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of ejection heads for ejecting liquid and a plurality of mist collection units configured to collect mist generated by the ejection heads that are disposed along a medium conveyance direction. The plurality of mist collection units include a first mist collection unit. The first mist collection unit is provided to be inclined to the upstream side of a medium conveyance direction with regard to a perpendicular line perpendicular to a floor. The first mist collection unit has a liquid retention part disposed at the upstream side than an ink mist suction hole.

Abstract: When fixing is not necessary in a printing apparatus including a fixing unit, a sheet to be conveyed is allowed to avoid the fixing unit. Specifically, a fixing unit-bypass path is provided on a conveying path corresponding to the fixing unit. Further, when a surface treatment material is not applied to a sheet from a surface treatment material applying head, that is, when fixing processing is not performed by the fixing unit, a sheet is conveyed along a fixing unit-bypass path. Since a sheet is conveyed along an bypass path when fixing processing is not performed as described above, it is possible to prevent a sheet from being affected by heat or the like while the sheet passes through the fixing unit.

Abstract: When fixing is not necessary in a printing apparatus including a fixing unit, a sheet to be conveyed is allowed to avoid the fixing unit. Specifically, a fixing unit-bypass path is provided on a conveying path corresponding to the fixing unit. Further, when a surface treatment material is not applied to a sheet from a surface treatment material applying head, that is, when fixing processing is not performed by the fixing unit, a sheet is conveyed along a fixing unit-bypass path. Since a sheet is conveyed along an bypass path when fixing processing is not performed as described above, it is possible to prevent a sheet from being affected by heat or the like while the sheet passes through the fixing unit.

Abstract: A sheet is conveyed with no slack between a first conveying path and a second conveying path, thus allowing a high-quality image to be printed on the sheet and suppressing a possible sheet jam. A conveying path with a changeable conveying path length is provided between a first conveying path including a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a second conveying path including a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a pair of downstream side conveying rollers.

Abstract: A sheet is conveyed with no slack between a first conveying path and a second conveying path, thus allowing a high-quality image to be printed on the sheet and suppressing a possible sheet jam. A conveying path with a changeable conveying path length is provided between a first conveying path including a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a second conveying path including a pair of downstream side conveying rollers and a pair of downstream side conveying rollers.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, in which a time required for printing is shortened, includes a first printing unit that performs printing on a first surface of a sheet by an ink jet system, and a second printing unit that performs printing on a second surface of the sheet by the ink jet system, the second printing unit being disposed on a downstream side of the first printing unit. Moreover, the printing apparatus includes a sheet discharge sensor that detects the sheet to be discharged from the second printing unit. The sheet discharge sensor includes an arm having a rotating member supported thereon, the rotating member being brought into contact with the sheet being conveyed while being rotated.

Abstract: In a printing system capable of selectively performing duplex printing and simplex printing, a switching unit switches a sheet travel path between a first path and a second path parallel to each other, and reverses the sides of a sheet that passes along the first path. In the duplex printing, a sheet is printed on a first side by a first printing apparatus, reversed by the switching unit, and printed on a second side reverse of the first side by a second printing apparatus. In the simplex printing, only one side of a sheet is printed by the first printing apparatus and/or second printing apparatus. First and second input units introduce sheets into the first and second paths, respectively; and first and second output units receive printed sheets that have traveled along the first and/or second paths.

Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is directed to a printing apparatus capable of providing an output result without a printing density difference between two surfaces in two-sided printing. In the printing apparatus, one subtank is provided for each type of ink. The nozzles of printheads that receive inks supplied from the subtank and are used for printing of the front surface of a printing sheet and printing of the back surface, respectively, are aligned to almost the same level in the vertical direction, thereby making the water head pressures match.

Abstract: In a printing system capable of selectively performing duplex printing and simplex printing, a first input unit and a second input unit are adjacent to each other. A first output unit and a second output unit are adjacent to each other. In duplex printing, a sheet supplied from the first input unit is printed on a first side thereof in a first printing apparatus and the traveling direction thereof is changed at a changing unit while the sheet is reversed, and then the sheet is printed on a second side thereof in a second printing apparatus and output to the second output unit. In simplex printing, a sheet supplied from the first or second input unit is printed on one side thereof and the traveling direction thereof is changed at the changing unit, and then the sheet is output to the first or second output unit.

Abstract: An inkjet apparatus having a liquid container configured to contain liquid, a conduit configured to discharge gas in a first space where an inkjet head is placed into the liquid contained in the liquid container, and a pump configured to discharge the gas from a second space over the surface of the liquid in the liquid container is provided. If the pump is operated, the second space is placed in a reduced pressure condition as compared to the first space, and the gas in the first space is discharged into the liquid through the conduit, thereby becomes bubbles, and floats up.