Abstract: A paper sheet conveying device is equipped with a conveying path (2) formed of conveying roller pairs and a controlling section conveying rollers. The conveying path (2) is composed of a first-half conveying path (2A) and a last-half conveying path (2B). The first-half conveying path (2A) has a first-half driving mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of the lower conveying rollers and a first-half vertically moving mechanism for vertically moving the upper conveying rollers. The last-half conveying path (2B) has a last-half driving mechanism for controlling the rotational speed of the lower conveying rollers and a last-half vertically moving mechanism for vertically moving the upper conveying rollers. The controlling section is configured so as to control the first-half driving mechanism, the first-half vertically moving mechanism, the last-half driving mechanism and the last-half vertically moving mechanism depending on the position of the paper sheet being conveyed.

Abstract: In one embodiment of an image processing apparatus, when multi-feeding during transport of originals is detected, except for the multi-fed originals, which are all of the originals simultaneously multi-fed by the multi-feeding, the images written on only the other remaining originals are recorded on recording paper; and a shifted discharge position in the discharge tray of only pre-multi-feeding original recording paper is different from a standard discharge position of other recorded recording paper, the pre-multi-feeding original recording paper being recording paper on which is recorded the image written on the original transported immediately before the original initially transported among the multi-fed originals.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a first paper discharge roller unit 411 and a second paper discharge roller unit 412 which are configured to transport a print sheet to a discharge port; a upper transportation roller unit 401 configured to transport the print sheet to the first paper discharge roller unit 411; a drive control unit 302 configured to determine a transportation speed; an upper side paper discharge drive unit 270 configured to drive both the paper discharge roller units at the determined transportation speed after starting transportation of the print sheet until the print sheet leaves the upper transportation roller unit 401, and drive both the paper discharge roller units at a discharge speed which is determined independently from the transportation speed until the print sheet leaves the second paper discharge roller unit 412.

Abstract: A sheet ejecting device has a pair of ejection rollers, a strengthener arranged in the sheet ejection device, for strengthening a sheet, a driver for moving the strengthener to advance into and retreat from a sheet ejection route, a sheet sensor, and a tray for receiving sheets ejected via the pair of ejection rollers and holding the sheets in a stack. Based on a detection signal from the sheet sensor, the strengthener is moved to advance into and retreat from the sheet ejection route so that only a necessary part of a sheet can be strengthened.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device which has a reduced size and is capable of detecting the amount of lateral sheet registration deviation and correcting the deviation at high speed. The sheet conveying device includes shift roller pairs for conveying sheets, and a shift unit for shifting a conveyed sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. After the sheet has reached a position where it is to be detected by a lateral registration deviation-detecting sensor unit, a CPU causes the sensor unit and the sheet to be shifted in respective opposite directions, detect a sheet lateral edge, and thereby measure the position of the sheet lateral edge. Further, the CPU causes the sheet to be shifted based on a result of the measurement, such that the sheet lateral edge is aligned with a predetermined position.

Abstract: A banknote stacking apparatus includes a banknote stacking plate 1 on which banknotes are to be stacked, a first banknote press member 11 fixed to a support shaft 10 so as to be swingably together with the support shaft 10, a second banknote press member 15 which is formed of a synthetic resin sheet having flexibility, whose upstream end portion is fixed to the banknote stacking apparatus and whose downstream end portion is fixed to the first banknote press member 11 and a solenoid 27 for driving the first banknote press member 11 and the banknote stacking apparatus is constituted so that when a banknote is fed into the banknote stacking apparatus and the first banknote press member 11 is driven by the solenoid 27, the first banknote press member 11 is swung and presses a portion of a banknote close to the front end portion thereof and the second banknote press member 15 is swung together with the first banknote press member 11 and deformed so as to form a convex portion 15c projecting toward the banknote, wh

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes first rollers that convey a sheet, a waiting tray that includes a pair of sheet supporting units movable in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet and on which the sheet conveyed via the first rollers is stacked, second rollers that are provided downstream the waiting tray along the conveying direction of the sheet and are suspended, when projection of a leading end of the sheet from the waiting tray reaches a predetermined projection amount according to the conveyance of the sheet, simultaneously with the first rollers disposed upstream the waiting tray, and an aligning unit that stacks the sheet and continuously-conveyed plural sheets dropped after a trailing end of the sheet is discharged onto the waiting tray by the first rollers and the second rollers and aligns a bundle of the plural sheets.

Abstract: A method for controlling a printing system includes stacking a sheet printed by executing a job on a stacking unit provided inside a stacker, the stacker including a door that can be opened and closed, opening the door in a case where a predetermined instruction is input by a user, and in a case where the predetermined instruction is input while a job for stacking the sheet on the stacking unit, control to output the sheet discharged by executing the currently executed job on an output destination different from the stacking unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that can reduce the burden placed on the user by avoiding input errors and a complicated input operation when making settings for a color/black-and-white mixing operation and can perform a proper recovery even when a sheet determined to be abnormal is included in other sheets. Images are formed on sheets by an MFP 104 in accordance with an image forming job. The sheets on which the images have been formed are conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to the MFP 104. Information relating to the image forming job for the sheets conveyed to the stacker tray 1207 is written into a storage device 1202 provided in the stacker tray 1207.

Abstract: A discharged sheet monitoring mechanism for a printer includes: a paper receiving tray configured to receive and stack discharged printed sheets thereon; a stack amount detector configured to detect a stack amount of discharged sheets stacked on the paper receiving tray; a remaining amount calculator configured to calculate a remaining amount based on the stack amount detected by the stack amount detector, the remaining amount being a difference in amount between the stack amount and a maximum stacking amount of the paper receiving tray; a sheet type acquisition unit configured to acquire a type of a sheet to be printed; a dischargeable sheet amount calculator configured to calculate a dischargeable number of sheets further stackable on the paper receiving tray until the paper receiving tray is full therewith based on the remaining amount calculated by the remaining amount calculator and the sheet type acquired by the sheet type acquisition unit; and a notification unit configured to notify the dischargeable

Abstract: Techniques include sensing electric signals from an actuator during a document stacking operation and determining whether an abnormal event has occurred based on the sensed signals. The techniques may find particular applicability, for example, to document acceptors that include piston-type stackers driven by a direct current motor.

Abstract: A system, method, and resulting resilient belt type sheet compiler with a mixed sheet length mode is provided. The device includes a resilient belt transport for sequentially feeding sheets from a sheet inlet to a compiler tray, the compiler tray having a lead edge stop and a trail edge wall. A monitoring means is positioned proximate to the trail edge wall for detecting a lead end and a trail end of sequentially fed sheets from the sheet inlet to the compiler tray. A sheet brake, responsive to the monitoring means detecting a short sheet, selectively stalls the detected short sheet until a lead end of a subsequent sheet is detected by the sensor or subsequent sheets are absent.

Abstract: A print interface system including a printer integrated in combination with a sheet handling system such as a mailpiece inserter. The print interface system facilitates the handling of sheet material in various operating modes, including conventional printing, duplex printing, and mailpiece creation modes. The system includes a printer having multiple feed paths for printing on opposing face surfaces of a sheet material. One of the feed paths directs sheet material to a staging tray and another feed path directs sheet material to a downstream module of the sheet handling system. The system further includes a positionable diverter for directing sheet material to one of the feed paths and a sheet sensor for determining when a sheet of material has been directed along the feed path leading to the output tray. A controller is operative to alternately reposition the diverter from one of two positions.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from a sheet feeding unit to obtain an image with photographic quality, at least a part of the recording medium has a transparent portion. When an image obtained by reversing an original image is transferred onto the transparent part, sheet-delivery rollers are operable in a direction in which a pressure onto the recording medium is reduced immediately after fixing of the image.

Abstract: Timing information for use to determine the timing to discharge a sheet from an image forming apparatus is transmitted. The timing information is relayed, by being edited repeatedly, from a first sheet processing apparatus connected directly with the image forming apparatus to a second sheet processing apparatus which actually processes the sheet. The timing information is edited on each sheet processing apparatus by considering, for example, transit time of the sheet, processing time of the sheet, preparation time for the sheet to get ready to be processed, and the like. The second sheet processing apparatus transmits the timing information to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus determines the discharge timing of the sheet based on the received timing information and discharges the sheet with the determined discharge timing.

Abstract: A credential substrate rotator includes a substrate support, a substrate feeder and a substrate sensor. The substrate support is configured to support a substrate in a substrate support plane and rotate about a central axis. The substrate feeder is configured to feed a substrate along the substrate support plane. The substrate sensor includes a substrate position indicator that is aligned with the central axis and has first and second positions. The first position indicates an absence of a substrate from a predetermined location of the substrate support. The second position indicates a presence of a substrate in the predetermined location of the substrate support. Also disclosed, is a credential substrate processing module that includes a credential substrate rotator, a first data encoder and a module controller. The credential substrate rotator includes a substrate support configured to support a substrate in a substrate support plane and rotate about a central axis, and a substrate feeder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former for performing an image formation by transferring a toner image onto a sheet; a fixing unit for performing a fixing operation with respect to the sheet having the transferred toner image by heating; a discharge tray for successively stacking the sheet to be discharged after the fixing operation; and a curl correcting mechanism for correcting a curl of the sheet to be discharged onto the discharge tray after the fixing operation.

Abstract: In a sheet delivery/guide apparatus, a sheet released from a convey device and falling piles on a first pile device. A first blowing device is arranged above the first pile device and blows toward the first pile device. An air controller selectively performs switching between an air supply state and an air supply stop state of the first blowing device for the sheet. A guide member is supported movably and guides the sheet that passes the first pile device while being held by the convey device. A guide member switching unit switches the guide member between a guide position to enter a sheet falling path, extending from the convey device to the first pile device, to guide the sheet, and a retreat position to retreat from the sheet falling path. A controller controls the air controller and the guide member switching unit on the basis of a convey speed of the convey device.

Abstract: An abnormal sheet delivery detection device includes a convey device, first pile device, noncontact-type detection unit, and first releasing unit. The convey device includes a sheet holding unit for holding a sheet, and conveys the sheet held by the sheet holding unit. The sheet released from the sheet holding unit is piled on the first pile device at a predetermined sheet release position. The noncontact-type detection unit arranged downstream of the sheet release position in a sheet convey direction detects a presence/absence of the sheet. The first releasing unit selectively switches between a first state wherein the sheet held by the sheet holding unit is released and piled on the first pile device, and a second state wherein the sheet held by the sheet holding unit is conveyed downstream in the sheet convey direction by the first convey device without releasing the sheet.

Abstract: A print interface system includes a printer integrated in combination with a sheet handling system such as a mailpiece inserter. The print interface system facilitates the handling of sheet material in various operating modes, including conventional printing, duplex printing, and mailpiece creation modes. The system includes an interface module having upper and lower housing segments defining first and second feed paths. A first feed path directs sheet material to a stacking surface of the upper housing segment and a second feed path directs sheet material to a downstream module of the sheet handling device. A repositionable diverter bifurcates the path exiting the printer to direct sheet material to one of the two feed paths. Furthermore, the upper housing segment is pivotally mounted to the lower housing segment to provide internal access to one of the first and second feed paths.

Abstract: A method of scanning documents obtains the document that is to be scanned from an input tray, transports the document at a transport velocity past a scanner to obtain image data therefrom, and stacks each scanned document aligned with trailing-edge registration in a sloped output tray, in the order of scanning, by a sequence that detects the trailing edge of the scanned document, feeds the leading edge of the scanned document from an exit nip in a forward direction and above the sloped output tray at a transport velocity, then changes the speed at the exit nip to an exit velocity, different from the transport velocity, according to the timing of the trailing edge detection. The trailing edge of the scanned document is ejected at the exit velocity. The exit nip speed is restored to the transport velocity for feeding the leading edge of a subsequent document.

Abstract: In order to maintain stackability while taking printing conditions into consideration, a control method for controlling a printing system for a stacking unit stacking a sheet printed by a printing unit, includes: determining whether or not a predetermined number of sheets on which the same printed data is printed by the printing unit are stacked continuously by the stacking unit; and controlling, in a case where a predetermined number of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed are determined by the determining unit to be continuously stacked by the stacking unit, the stacking unit so as to not continuously stack more of the sheets on which the same printed data is printed than the predetermined number of sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 has an intermediate transfer belt 17 that rotates in synchronization with the operation of a photoconductive section 11 where a toner image is formed, and a secondary transfer section S at which paper P temporarily adhering to a surface of this intermediate transfer belt 17 can be separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a distance detecting unit 66 that detects a distance “L” to the paper P sent out from this secondary transfer section S, and a control section 74 that judges whether or not the paper P is normally separated from the secondary transfer section S based on distance data fed from this distance detecting unit 66.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected to a conveying-speed-changeable sheet post processing device includes a discharging unit which discharges a sheet in a reverse discharge mode with front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and a non-reverse discharge mode without front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and discharges the sheet at a first speed or a second speed lower than the first speed; and a control unit which controls the discharging unit to discharge the sheet at the first speed in the reverse discharge mode and at the second speed in the non-reverse discharge mode. When the sheet is discharged at the second speed, the control unit controls the discharging unit to discharge a subsequent sheet at the second speed even if the subsequent sheet is to be discharged in the reverse discharge mode.

Abstract: An image on a fed document is read, and recording paper on which an output image is formed based on the read image is discharged onto a first tray. When overlapped feeding is detected at the time of feeding a document, page numbers of the overlapped documents are recorded, and an image on a document fed after the overlapped documents is read, an output image is formed on recording paper based on the read image, and the recording paper is discharged onto a second tray to notify the occurrence of overlapped feeding. When the documents are set again by the user and fed, an image on a document of a page number matching a recorded page number is read, an output image is formed on recording paper based on the read image, and the recording paper is discharged onto the first tray.

Abstract: A design support apparatus that can easily verify the conveyance design for a flexible medium based on input design information. A transit time is calculated when a flexible medium passes a characteristic point on a conveying path based a conveying conditions that are set.

Abstract: In a transport method, a leading object is diverted from an initial direction to a target direction and transported and stopped by a guiding facility. If the following object has reached a specific position during transport in the initial direction, the guiding facility triggers continuation of the transport of the leading object, diverts the following object to the target direction, and transports the following object in the target direction. If a determined sum of the thicknesses of the objects is less than or equal to a predetermined thickness limit, continuation of the transport of the leading object is triggered such that the following object moves onto the leading object when diverted and overlaps the leading object when transported in the target direction. If the thickness sum is greater than the thickness limit, continuation of the transport of the leading object is triggered such that a gap exists between the objects.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling machine has a taking-in unit that takes in paper sheets one by one, a transport state detection unit that detects a transport state of each of the paper sheets taken in by the taking-in unit, a transport unit that transports the paper sheets taken in by the taking-in unit, a recognition unit that recognizes kinds of the paper sheets transported by the transport unit, first and second stacking units that have stackers to stack the paper sheets transported by the transport unit, respectively, and a control unit that judges abnormally transported paper sheets according to a detection result of the transport state detection unit, judges specific normal paper sheets, specific abnormal paper sheets or non-specific paper sheets according to a recognition result of the recognition unit, and controls the transport unit to transport the paper sheets judged as the specific abnormal paper sheets or the non-specific paper sheets to the first stacking unit and transport the paper sheets judged as the

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first conveying path configured to pass a sheet of a recording medium (e.g., paper) therethrough to a sheet processing device, a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path and configured to temporarily store the paper sheet conveyed therein, a sheet conveying mechanism configured to selectably convey the paper sheet in one of forward and backward directions to the sheet processing device, a guide member mounted at a branch point of the first and second conveying paths and configured to guide the paper sheet when the paper sheet is conveyed in the backward direction by the sheet conveying mechanism to the second conveying path, and a control unit configured to control the sheet conveying mechanism to change a distance between the branch point and the sheet conveying mechanism according to a length of the paper sheet in a forward sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus, including: a stacking unit that is capable of stacking discharged sheets; a drive mechanism that is capable of moving the stacking unit; a storage device that holds data on a moving time of the stacking unit in a rewritable manner; an arithmetic unit that is calculates an estimated value of the moving time of the stacking unit based on the data; and a correcting unit that corrects the data held in the storage device by using an actual measurement value of the moving time of the stacking unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, a feeding apparatus, and a feeding control method supply an object accurately to a target position by servo control even though the load abruptly changes. In this printing apparatus, the conveyance position and conveyance speed of a printing medium are detected by using an encoder. The conveyance target position of the printing medium is generated at a predetermined period, and corrected. A PWM signal is generated on the basis of the generated or corrected conveyance target position, and the conveyance position and conveyance speed of the printing medium which are detected and fed back. A DC motor is servo-controlled by the PWM signal. At this time, the generated or corrected conveyance target position is compared with the detected conveyance position of the printing medium. Control is made to perform correction in accordance with the comparison result.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an input unit for input of setting information, an image forming unit, a conveying unit, a control unit, and a jam detecting unit, wherein a set of a plurality of different kinds of special sheets disposed in a predetermined order is used. When occurrence of a jam is detected by the jam detecting unit, the control unit recognizes whether a special sheet having been fed is present in the image forming system, and if it is recognized that a special sheet is present in the image forming system, the control unit controls the conveying unit, after the jam being released, to eject a special sheet or sheets as unnecessary up to one that is disposed preceding a special sheet that is of the same kind as a most front one that was present in the image forming system at the time of the occurrence of the jam.

Abstract: A conveying unit receives a sheet from an upstream unit and conveys the sheet on a conveying path. A stacking unit stacks the sheet conveyed from the conveying unit. An aligning unit sets the sheet back in a direction opposite to a sheet conveying direction and aligns the sheet by bumping the sheet against a reference wall. A sheet discharging unit discharges the sheet aligned on the stacking unit. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, a control unit sets a timing for discharging the sheet by the sheet discharging unit earlier than a normal sheet discharge timing.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an input unit for input of setting information, an image forming unit, a conveying unit, a control unit, and a jam detecting unit, wherein a set of a plurality of different kinds of special sheets disposed in a predetermined order is used. When occurrence of a jam is detected by the jam detecting unit, the control unit recognizes whether a special sheet having been fed is present in the image forming system, and if it is recognized that a special sheet is present in the image forming system, the control unit controls the conveying unit, after the jam being released, to eject a special sheet or sheets as unnecessary up to one that is disposed preceding a special sheet that is of the same kind as a most front one that was present in the image forming system at the time of the occurrence of the jam.

Abstract: This is a paper-handling system using a motor driven frictional drive element to push a paper sheet into a compiling tray. The tray has a registration wall where a paper sheet is abutted to align a paper stack. The system uses a sensor to convey relevant information to the motor and drive element as to the location of the top paper sheet vis-à-vis the registration wall. By instructing the motor and drive element on the top sheets location, better and more consistent paper-stacking alignment is accomplished.

Abstract: A paper thickness measuring device for use in a rotary paper feeding device having a rotating cylindrical drum. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gripper is mounted on the cylindrical drum for gripping a sheet; and a target is mounted on the cylindrical drum and mechanically linked to the gripper such that a position of the target corresponds to displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet. The target is arranged and configured for detection of the target position a predetermined time or at a downstream location after the gripper grips a sheet.

Abstract: A conveyor system for assembling and stacking sliced food products is provided. The conveyor system includes an assembly area, wherein groups of a predetermined quantity of sliced food products travel from a slicer on a conveyor and are deposited on discrete carrier sheets on a downstream conveyor. The assembly area is configured to delay advancement of the carrier sheets on the downstream conveyor until a group of the predetermined quantity is formed. The slicer is configured to calculate the number of slices in each group and determine whether a group is complete. A stacking area of the conveyor system includes a nose conveyor that extends and retracts to deposit each carrier sheet onto a pair of initial supports. The initial supports reciprocate away from each other in opposing directions to drop the carrier sheet onto a subsequent level, with the initial supports reciprocating each time a carrier sheet is deposited thereon.

Abstract: In a recording medium output apparatus that is assembled to an image forming apparatus and outputs a sheet-like recording medium being transported onto a stack tray on which recording media are stacked, the recording medium output apparatus includes an output unit and a drive unit. The output unit is free to move in a recording medium width direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium being transported and outputs the recording medium toward the stack tray at a position higher than that of the stack tray, and the drive unit moves the output unit in the recording medium width direction before and after the trail edge of the recording medium to be output from the output unit leaves the output unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a multi-sheet mailpiece including a compiler, and axial and radial deformation binding mechanisms. The compiler includes a sheet feeding apparatus and registration device for accepting multiple individual sheets. The sheet feeding apparatus lays the sheets onto a compiler tray to form a multi-sheet stack having face sheets and content sheets disposed therebetween. The registration device includes first and second registration gates for aligning the edges of the sheets, such that at least one edge of the content sheets is disposed inboard of the face sheets to define a peripheral edge. A controller positions the first and second registration gates from a registration position to a release position as the sheet material is laid upon the compiler tray. Finally, the multi-sheet stack is fed to the axial and radial deformation binding mechanisms to secure the peripheral edge of the multi-sheet stack to form mailpiece enclosure.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a discharging member configured to discharge recording media. A tray is configured to receive the discharged recording media. A rotatable moving member is configured to contact the discharged recording media such that an angular position of the rotatable member changes in response to a number of the recording media on the tray. A detecting member is configured to detect a movement of the moving member. A controller is configured to control an output of the recording media to the tray based on an output of the detecting member.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.

Abstract: When a new paper sheet is supplied onto a compiling tray, a sub-paddle holds down paper sheets having already been stacked on the compiling tray until a leading edge of the new paper sheet S touches the stacked paper sheets. Thereafter, the sub-paddle gets apart from the sheets stacked on the compiling tray with timing, with which the rear edge of the new paper sheet falls on the compiling tray.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor for conveying sheets; a first loader for loading a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyor; a lateral aligner for aligning opposite side edges of the sheet bundle loaded on the first loader in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; a stapler for performing a stapling treatment with respect to a sheet bundle aligned by the lateral aligner; a sheet bundle conveyor for conveying a sheet bundle stapled by the stapler; a second loader for loading sheet bundles conveyed by the sheet bundle conveyor; and loading position controller for loading sheet bundles to be loaded onto the second loader so that the loading positions thereof are displaced from each other along the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet material stacking apparatus comprises a shift sensor configured to detect the sheet conveyed by a branching path, a drop-down checking sensor configured to detect that sheet which reaches a scraping-out plate through the rotation of a rotatable blade-type runner, and a transport controller configured to, after a passage of a predetermined time following the detection of the sheet by the shift sensor, start detecting the sheet by using a drop-down checking sensor, and to stop stacking the sheet when the drop-down checking sensor detects no sheet.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a post-processing unit that applies post-processing to sheets supplied from an image forming apparatus, a conveying tool that guides the sheets subjected to the post-processing to a discharge port, a sheet discharge tray that receives the sheets discharged from the discharge port, and a control unit that controls an operation of the conveying tool and stops a discharge operation for new sheets, when a quantity of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray reaches a full state set in advance. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a pressing unit that temporarily prevents movement of the sheet on the conveying tool, when a sheet is present on the conveying tool in the full state.

Abstract: A detection sensor detects a position of a level detection lever that touches an uppermost sheet of sheets stacked on a holding tray, and a computing device counts the number of sheets that have been discharged to the holding tray. A judging device judges the amount of sheets stacked based on a sheet surface level detection signal from the detection sensor and a count value of the computing device. The apparatus accurately judges that the maximum amount of sheets have been stacked in the holding tray according to the position of the level detection lever and a count value for a number of sheets. Also, the apparatus selects one of a plurality of values for an offset sheet count, which corresponds to the operating conditions, namely the transporting speed of sheets, the intervals between sheets, and the length of the transport direction of the sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing printed documents. The method includes receiving a print request, assigning an identifier to a print job associated with the print request, and sending the print job to a printer for printing. Once the printer completes printing the print job, the identifier is added to an unretrieved print job queue. When a printed document associated with the print job is retrieved, the identifier associated with the printed document is scanned, such as with a bar code reader. Once the identifier is scanned, a retrieval confirmation is sent to indicate that the printed document has been retrieved. The identifier is then removed from the unretrieved print queue. Notification messages are sent to a notification recipient while the identifier is in the unretrieved print queue. The notification message includes an email message, a pop-up window, a pager message, and the like.

Abstract: A movable sheet stacking device including: a sheet receiving section which is provided with respect to a sheet exit section of an image forming apparatus and is for receiving ejected sheets being ejected from the sheet exit seciton in an ejecting direction and moving the sheets in a direction opposite to the ejecting direction; an end-portion restriction plate which comes into contact with a front end of the sheets moving in the opposite direction to stop the movement of the sheets; and a restriction-plate driving section which sets a position of the end-portion restriction plate according to a sheet type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to reverse a sheet, includes a branched conveyance path branched from a connection point between an entry and conveyance path and a reversal and conveyance path provided downstream of the entry and conveyance path. When a sheet conveyor feeds the sheet from the entry and conveyance path into the reversal and conveyance path, a controller controls a gate member to be opened on the basis of a detection result of a sensor to detect the sheet until a leading edge of the sheet passes the gate member, switches the gate member to be closed before a trailing edge of the sheet reaches the gate member, subsequently switches a sheet reversing and conveying member to rotate reversely after the trailing edge of the sheet passes the gate member, thereby feeding the sheet into the branched conveyance path.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from a sheet feeding unit to obtain an image with photographic quality, at least a part of the recording medium has a transparent portion. When an image obtained by reversing an original image is transferred onto the transparent part, sheet-delivery rollers are operable in a direction in which a pressure onto the recording medium is reduced immediately after fixing of the image.