Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a plurality of driving devices; a plurality of malfunction detectors for detecting a malfunction of the driving devices; a plurality of electric current setting devices for setting electric currents through the driving devices; a controller for controlling the plurality of driving devices, malfunction detectors and the electric current setting devices, wherein the controller is effective to set standard electric currents, maximum tolerable electric currents, standard speeds, minimum rotatable speeds and maximum tolerable speeds of the plurality of driving devices, and a total current applied to the plurality of driving devices, wherein the driving devices are given priorities depending on influential ranges of functions of the driving devices, wherein when the malfunction detector detects a malfunction of the driving devices, the electric current setting device raises the setting of the electric current of the driving device at which the malfunction is detected within the maximum

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that is capable of preventing input errors and eliminating the necessity of complicated input operations in making settings for a sheet mixing operation in which color image output sheets and black-and-white image output sheets are mixed into one group. A stacker tray stores sheets with color images formed thereon by a color MFP and is equipped with a storage device, into and from which information relating to the sheets can be written and read. A black-and-white MFP operates in response to attachment of the stacker tray to an inserter attached to the black-and-white MFP, to execute an image formation job by providing control such that the sheets with color images formed thereon stored in the stacker tray and sheets with black-and-white images formed thereon by the black-and-white MFP are mixed according to the information stored in the storage device of the stacker tray.

Abstract: An overcharge protection circuit includes an overcharge detection section for detecting whether or not a secondary battery is put into an overcharge condition, and for producing an overcharge detected signal on detection of the overcharge condition. An overcharge blind time setting circuit produces, in response to the overcharge detected signal, an OFF control signal for turning a charge control switch off after a lapse of a predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval defined by a capacitance value of a capacitor. An excessive current detection resistor detects whether or not the charging current is an excessive current.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is capable of preventing generation of a streaked image or the like while maintaining the requisite precision level for the original reading position. The image reading apparatus includes a lead roller for supplying an original, a platen glass plate receiving the original supplied from the lead roller, a CCD for reading an image formed on the original supplied onto the platen glass plate, and a lead delivery roller for delivering the original after the reading of the image, in which there are provided between the lead roller and the lead delivery roller a plurality of platen rollers adapted to guide the original so as to keep it at a predetermined distance from the platen glass plate.

Abstract: A protecting circuit against short-circuit of an output terminal of an AC adapter, includes a current output switching transistor in which a power source is connected to an emitter thereof and an output terminal is connected to a collector thereof, a first switching transistor which is turned on when a controlled constant-voltage is over an available range of a voltage difference between a voltage of said power source and an output voltage, a second switching transistor which is connected to be turned on when the first switching transistor is turned on, a switch control amplifier which controls a switching operation so that the current output switching transistor is turned off when a voltage of the power source is a predetermined voltage or less, and a constant-current control amplifier which controls a constant current when the second switching transistor is turned on and enters a protecting operation state.

Abstract: In an overcharge protection circuit comprising an overcharge detection section for detecting whether or not said second battery is put into an overcharge condition to produce an overcharge detected signal on detection of the overcharge condition and an overcharge blind time setting circuit for producing, in response to the overcharge detected signal, an OFF control signal for turning a charge control switch off after a lapse of a predetermined overcharge detection blind time interval defined by a capacitance value of a capacitor, an excessive current detection resistor detects whether or not the charging current is an excessive current.

Abstract: In a sheet folding apparatus for nipping and conveying a sheet by a pair of folding rollers and folding the sheet, at least one roller of the pair of folding rollers has large- and small-diameter portions along the axis. The contact area between the sheet and each folding roller can be reduced. As a result, a relief for the pressure from the two ends of the roller shaft in folding a sheet can be ensured at a portion where the sheet creases, and any crease can be prevented.

Abstract: A sheet punching device includes a punch and a die which cut a hole in a sheet, a punch debris conveying device for conveying punch debris produced when the punch and the die cut a hole in the sheet, and a punch debris box for receiving the punch debris which has been conveyed by the punch debris conveying device.

Abstract: An automatic original document conveying apparatus conveys a placed original document to a prescribed position and delivers the original document. The automatic original document conveying apparatus includes a resin frame, an original document feeding unit for sequentially feeding an original placed document, an original document delivering unit for delivering the fed original document and a metal support plate thereof. The metal support plate securely connects in a united body the resin frame, the original document feeding unit and the original document delivering unit so as to maintain respective relative assembled positions of the units.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet convey path through which a sheet is conveyed, a punch and a die for perforating the sheet being conveyed through the sheet convey path, a cylindrical die cover having an opening at its one end and integrally formed with the die and formed from antistatic material, and a dust dropping hole through which punched pieces discharged from the opening of the die cover are dropped.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tape heating apparatus in which both side portions of a bind tape can positively be adhered to front and rear surfaces of a sheet bundle without creating any swollen portions. When a thickness of the sheet bundle is smaller than a predetermined value, side heaters perform a first heating/pressurizing operation at a position in the vicinity of a bound edge of the sheet bundle and then performs a second heating/pressurizing operation at a position spaced apart from the bound edge of the sheet bundle by a predetermined distance. In the first heating/pressurizing operation, portions of a thick hot melt adhesive layer existing on the front and rear surfaces of the sheet bundle are melted to be flattened, to thereby eliminate swollen portions. In the second heating/pressurizing operation, thin hot melt adhesive layers are melted, to thereby positively adhere both width-wise side portions of the bind tape to the front and rear surfaces of the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet-bundle conveying apparatus includes a shift tray on which a sheet-bundle is rested and which is shifted laterally, a container for containing the sheet-bundle shifted by the shift tray, and a shift means for changing a relative position between the shift tray and the sheet-bundle rested on the shift tray so that the sheet-bundle is shifted toward the container. The shift tray is shifted toward the containing means while shifting the sheet-bundle in this way, thereby causing the sheet-bundle to reach the containing means.

Abstract: A sheet-bundle conveying device receives a plurality of sheets and conveys a bundle of the sheets. The device includes a first tray having a contact portion where the leading edges of the sheets contact, and being swingable between a first position, inclined so that the contact portion is lowered, for receiving the sheets and a second position for transferring the received sheet bundle, and a second tray for receiving the sheet bundle from the first tray moved to the second position and for rectilinearly moving in a state of conveying the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus for feeding sheets or sheet bundles of differing thickness and a sheet sorting apparatus using the same includes a rotatable belt convey member, and a sponge roller arranged in an opposed relation to the rotatable belt convey member. Preferably, the sheet feeding apparatus further includes a shaft-to-shaft spacer for ensuring a minimum shaft-to-shaft distance between the rotatable belt convey member and the sponge roller, and a pressurizing device for urging the sponge roller and the rotatable belt convey member against each other.

Abstract: A bind tape abutted against a bound edge of a sheet bundle for book-binding the sheet bundle includes a tape substrate and an adhesive layer coated on one surface of the tape substrate to bond the sheet bundle. The bind tape is provided at both longitudinal end portions thereof with areas on which the adhesive layer is not coated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet containing apparatus comprising a sheet introduction inlet portion, containers disposed in a line, and a convey member disposed between the sheet introduction inlet and the containers and movable along the containers and adapted to stack a plurality of sheets discharged from the sheet introduction inlet, to be shifted, after stacking of the sheets, to a position where the convey member is opposed to a selected container and to discharge the stacked sheets thereinto.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes pasting means for pasting a bookbinding spine cover sheet on a sheet set; printing means for printing an image on the bookbinding spine sheet; and inputting means for inputting data to be used for printing the image by the printing means; wherein when the data are inputted through the inputting means, the sizes of the image to be printed on the bookbinding spine cover sheet by the printing means can be optionally selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet sorting and containing apparatus for conveying thin sheets or thick sheets to a plurality of containing portions and for sorting such sheets into the containing portions. The apparatus includes a first path for distributing the thin sheet to the containing portion, and a second path for distributing the thick sheet to the containing portion. The first path or second path is selected in accordance with a thickness of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet containing and stacking apparatus includes sheet bundle discharge device and stacking device for stacking the discharged sheet bundles. It further includes auxiliary containing device reciprocally shiftable between an entrance position where the auxiliary containing device receives the sheet bundle discharged from the sheet bundle discharge device and a retard position where the received sheet bundle is shifted to the stacking device, and control device for reciprocally shifting the auxiliary containing device whenever the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking device. Wherein a plurality of sheet bundles are successively stacked on the stacking device in an overlapped condition.

Abstract: A book binding apparatus comprises a sheet entrance portion for receiving a sheet, a sheet convey path for conveying the sheet from the first sheet entrance portion, a first discharge opening disposed downstream of the sheet convey path for discharging the sheet out of the apparatus, sheet storing means for temporarily storing the sheet branched from the sheet convey path by branching means, binding means for binding the stored sheets, transfer means for conveying the bound sheet bundle, and a second discharge opening for discharging the conveyed sheet bundle out of the apparatus.