Abstract: The present invention discloses a duplex document feeder for installed in scanning devices such as facsimile machine, printer, scanner or multi function peripheral (MFP). The duplex document feeder can control the motion accuracy of the sheet and avoid the happening of jam. The duplex document feeder comprises a pick-up module, a sheet-controlling roller module and a feeding/ejecting module. The pick-up module is used for feeding the sheet into a first feed channel; the sheet-controlling roller module provides a first nip force to feed the sheet outside the duplex document feeder and provides a second nip force to feed the sheet into the interior of the duplex document feeder again; the feeding/ejecting module provides a third nip force to feed/eject the sheet into/from the duplex document feeder.

Abstract: A card reorienting mechanism and an input hopper of plastic card processing equipment, for example a desktop plastic card printer. The card reorienting mechanism is a modular unit that permits the entire mechanism to be inserted or removed as a single unit from the printer. In addition, the input hopper is designed as an interchangeable system that permits alteration in the card capacity of the hopper.

Abstract: A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A variable reflectance cover for a scanning system. The cover comprises a backing moveable through a plurality of positions. Moving the backing through the plurality of positions varies the reflectance of the cover. In one embodiment, the backing is an endless rotatable belt. In a second embodiment, the backing is a removable panel having a first side with a first reflectance and a second side with a second reflectance. In yet a third embodiment, the backing includes polarizers placed adjacent to a reflective panel. Rotating one polarizer relative to another varies the reflectance of the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of normally performing second side printing on a transfer material, even if the transfer material put on standby after completion of first side printing is pulled out by a user. A transfer material having image formed on its first side is fed until it is partly exposed to the outside of a printer, and is then fed to a refeeding path in the printer and further fed to a standby position prior to image formation on the second side of the transfer material. When it is detected that the transfer material caused to stop at the standby position is pulled out by a user, a warning to stop pulling out the transfer material is given to the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for facing documents during high speed processing. The present invention employs at least one sensor to scan the documents individually as they are fed sequentially through a processing machine. The sensor determines the direction the documents are facing. Depending on the direction the documents are facing, a path selector directs the documents to one of two equal length paths within the processing machine. If a document is facing up, the path selector directs the document along a first path that leads directly to a collection point. If a document is facing down, the path selector directs the document along a second path that includes a twisted conveyor belt which turns the document about the longitudinal axis to face up. The second path meets with the first path, wherein the conveyor belt reinserts the faced documents back into the same sequential position that the document was in relative to the other documents before being diverted by the path selector.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that uses a stackless ADU and executes image formation on both sides of a paper sheet in a facedown mode, a CPU confirms, when double-side image formation is to be executed with two paper sheets, image formation on reverse surfaces of which is finished, being stayed in the ADU, whether monochromatic image formation or color image formation is to be executed on an obverse surface of a first paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU and has a reverse surface on which image formation is finished. When the color image formation is to be executed, the CPU controls the image formation on the obverse surface of the first paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU and has the reverse surface on which image formation is finished. When the monochromatic image formation is to be executed, the CPU controls the image formation on a reverse surface of a second paper sheet that is stayed in the ADU.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus that helps to achieve a reduction in size and cost. The recording apparatus has a U-turn sheet feeding mechanism for reversing and feeding a recording medium and a duplex transport mechanism for reversing the recording medium and performing printing on both sides thereof, in which the same transport path serves as a transport path for transporting the recording medium from a U-turn sheet feeding roller to a main transport roller for transporting the recording medium to a printing portion and as a transport path for reversal in duplex transport. Further, a transport roller provided in the transport path from the U-turn sheet feeding roller to the main transport roller for transporting the recording medium to the printing portion is the same as a transport roller for duplex transport. A single transport roller serves both as the U-turn transport roller and as the duplex transport roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a recording head forming an image on paper by jetting ink, a conveying part conveying the paper to a position opposite to said recording head, and a reversing ejection part provided downstream in a paper conveyance direction with respect to the position opposite to the recording head, and said reversing ejection part reversing the paper so that a recorded side thereof on which an image has been recorded may face downward and ejecting the paper on an ejecting table.

Abstract: In a standby state wherein a document is set in a document tray and can be supplied when needed, when a start signal is not inputted (S21: NO), a controller determines whether a document regulating plate has been operated or not based on a detection output of a document size detector for detecting a position of the document regulating plate (S31), and when the document regulating plate was operated (S31: YES), the controller lowers the document tray by a predetermined amount and stops it (S32). A lowered amount of the document tray can be arbitrarily set by a user through an operator control panel. With a sheet feeding apparatus, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus constituted as described above, even in a state in which the document is set in the document tray, the set state can be easily canceled by operating the document regulating plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning over piles of items, comprising a forming station (1), adapted for defining the above mentioned piles of items (20), each consisting of one or more items (10), and for pulling the piles towards a relevant outlet section according to a feeding direction (A); conveying means (2), adapted for receiving the above piles of items (20) from said outlet section and, in the order, conveying the piles according to a direction substantially equal to the above mentioned feeding direction (A), turning them over relative to a median axis perpendicular to the feeding direction and finally, conveying the piles according to a forwarding direction (B), substantially opposed to the feeding direction (A), into a receiving station (3), adapted for inserting the pile of items into corresponding envelopes (11).

Abstract: A driving apparatus for an office machine includes a driving motor rotating in first and second directions, a power transfer part transferring a power of the driving motor to a convey unit, a document discharge unit and a document supply unit, and a controller controlling the driving motor. A driving method for the office machine includes driving the driving motor in the first direction to operate the document supply unit and the convey unit in opposite directions with respect to a document-conveying direction till a front end of a document is arranged by the convey unit after the document is supplied by the document supply unit, determining whether the front end of the document is arranged, and driving the driving motor in the second direction to convey and discharge the document through the convey unit and the document discharge unit if the front end of the document is arranged.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes first, second, third, and fourth paths for guiding movement of a document. The document is fed through the first path and a scanning module so as to allow for scanning of a first side surface of the document. Thereafter, a switching gate is pivoted to a first position so as to allow the document to be moved from a front section of the second path onto a roller unit via the fourth path and a rear section of the third path. The rotational direction of the middle roller is changed in response to movement of the document onto the roller unit so as to allow the document to be moved onto the first path via the third path, thereby allowing for a subsequent scanning operation on a second side surface of the document. The automatic document feeder further includes a document-inverting path such that documents are automatically arranged according to paper number.

Abstract: An apparatus for inverting the spatial orientation of sheet material from a desired input to a desired output orientation. The apparatus includes a cage assembly, a torque drive mechanism operative to rotate the cage assembly about a rotational axis and a sheet conveyance mechanism mounting to the cage assembly for conveying sheet material along the rotational axis of the cage assembly. The torque drive mechanism is adapted to assume input and output positions about the rotational axis wherein each position corresponds to the desired input and output orientations of the sheet material. The sheet conveyance mechanism is, further, adapted to: (i) receive sheet material when the cage assembly is in the input position, (ii) eject sheet material when the cage assembly is in the output position and (iii) retard the movement of the sheet material in response to rotation of the cage assembly by the torque drive mechanism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for aligning at least the front edge of several sheets arranged in a stack, one above the other, whilst maintaining the order of the sheets. Said device comprises a stacking table, one side of which is provided with a front edge stop for aligning the front edge of the sheets. A supporting platform, upon which a stack of sheets can be placed with non-aligned front edges, is arranged upstream of the stacking table. The device is provided with a sheet feeder, which removes the sheets from the supporting platform by placing them in an overlapping stream with the front edges placed under the preceding sheets. A turning device is provided downstream of the sheet feeder, said device turning the overlapping stream in such a way that the front edge area of each sheet is freely accessible.

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: An image forming apparatus is provided that prevents paper from being scratched by a peeling claw and reducing the curl amount of the paper to be re-fed to a lower level. The rotational speed of a fixing and discharging roller is adequately kept higher than the rotational speed of a heating roller so as not to allow image stain to be produced in a paper due to scratching by a peeling claw in a fixing unit. Simultaneously, the rotational speed of reverse feeding rollers is set slightly higher than the rotational speed of the heating roller at the time when an automatic duplex unit performs paper re-feeding. As a result, “swelling” of the paper occurring in a reverse gate is eliminated by the reverse feeding roller which is rotated at a speed higher than the heating roller, thereby greatly reducing “curl amount” remaining in the paper due to the “swelling”.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus includes a sheet feeding device for feeding a document from a sheet feeding tray; a transport device for receiving the document from the sheet feeding device and transporting the document to a predetermined position on a platen of an image reading apparatus; a sheet discharging device for discharging the document to a sheet discharging tray; a switch back path for turning the document upside down and reversing a front end and a rear end thereof, and for subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device; and sheet discharging path for turning the document upside down, and subsequently guiding the document to the sheet discharging device. A control device controls such that the document is transported to the switch back path and returned from the switch back path to the platen via the sheet discharging path.

Abstract: In order to process inexpensive printing materials in connection with the processing of an extremely wide range of coating media, such as solvent-containing printing inks, and, moreover, in connection with variable format configuration and extremely flexible processing processes, provision is made to couple a web-fed rotary press and a sheet-fed rotary press to each other. For this purpose, a transfer assembly 7 in the form of a roll-sheet feeder is arranged between the presses.

Abstract: The disclosed device includes a feed conveyor (2), on which printed products (6) are transported within certain distances from one another, a turning section (1) with a path guide arranged tangentially downstream of the feed conveyor and a delivery conveyor (4) for the turned printed products (6) that extends underneath the feed conveyor (2) in the opposite transport direction. Lateral guides (12) are assigned to the path guides (13) and can be adjusted to the format width of the printed products (6). The delivery conveyor (4) is a suction conveyor belt with at least one suction segment (19) in the region of the delivery point of the turning section (1) in order to decelerate the printed products (6) to the transport speed of the delivery conveyor (4).

Abstract: A sheet-fed offset rotary printing press with a convertible press mechanism includes a chucking cylinder, convertible cylinder, grippers, and air nozzles and blowing ports. The chucking cylinder conveys a sheet by holding its leading edge. The convertible cylinder is arranged downstream of the chucking cylinder in a sheet convey direction and holds a trailing edge of the sheet being conveyed by the chucking cylinder. The grippers cause the convertible cylinder to hold the sheet in a turned state when the sheet is to be transferred from the chucking cylinder to the convertible cylinder. The air nozzles and blowing ports are arranged at different heights on outer sides of two ends in a widthwise direction of the sheet, and blow air toward a center in the widthwise direction of the sheet which is turned over by the grippers, so as to separate the sheet from the chucking cylinder.

Abstract: A switchback mechanism for reversing a mail item conveying direction has a switchback roller which holds the mail item in a nip and rotates in both forward and backward directions. When there is a remaining mail item deviated from the nip of the switchback roller and remaining in the switchback unit, a pressure roller is pressed to an output roller always rotating in the direction of R1, the remaining mail item is held and fed out to the nip. At this time, a control unit takes out the remaining mail item at timing not to interfere with other mail items.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems and methods incorporate inverter assemblies for not only inverting media during transport through the system but also to register the media and to provide a velocity buffer transport with different drive velocities. The inverter assemblies can include the capability to optionally deskew the media while providing lateral (cross-process) registration corrections. The method comprises simultaneously combining the inverting function selectively with deskewing, side registering, and/or velocity buffering functions.

Abstract: The recording paper is transported to a paper inversion unit in such a manner that, when recording of a first surface of a recording paper is performed, the recording paper is transported to a position where a rear end of the recording paper is released from a pair of sheet transport rollers, the sheet transport roller and a pinch roller are released at the position, the recording paper is transported in a direction opposite to the direction in the first surface recording to the pair of sheet transport rollers by a pair of sheet discharge rollers, the sheet transport roller is pressed against the pinch roller again, and the transport of the recording paper in the reverse direction is further continued.

Abstract: An automatic document feed device having reading means for stopping a conveyed document to a reading position on a platen and sequentially reading images of two sides of the document one side by one, includes an adjusting unit, provided upstream of the reading position on the platen, for adjusting an edge of the document, wherein the adjusting unit have a function for adjusting the edge of the document which is fed to read one side, and for reversing the document through the platen and adjusting the edge of the document which is fed again to read the other side of the document. A feed unit includes one of feed guide members and a feed roller in the feed path. The feed path unit is rotatably supported, thereby enabling the feed path to open.

Abstract: A sheet direction inverting apparatus has a switchback portion for inverting the conveying direction of mails and the switchback portion has a drive roller and a driven roller. The length of mails sent to nips of the two rollers in the conveying direction is detected by a sensor, and after switching back, the length of the mails sent from the switchback portion in the conveying direction is detected by a sensor, and an overlapped sheets detector compares detection results. When the detection results are different, the overlapped sheets detector detects overlapping of the mails.

Abstract: This invention relates to a duplexer, comprising; a media input nip, an auxiliary roller nip located downstream of the media input nip such that the auxiliary roller nip comprises an auxiliary drive roller that exhibits slippage so that the auxiliary roller nip maintains constant contact with a sheet of media to be duplexed, a backstop located downstream from the auxiliary roller nip, and a media output nip located adjacent to the auxiliary roller nip.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for receiving and manipulating the travel of a sheet material, such as paper, from a device such as an imaging device. One embodiment of a system can be implemented as a system for handling a sheet material including a flipper device that has a shaft for accelerating a sheet material, such as paper. The flipper device also has a drive system for causing the shaft to rotate. A drive system is also provided that has a direct current motor configured to drive the shaft.

Abstract: A depth of field control device is provided. The depth of field control device is installed on an automatic document feeder having a scan glass surface. The depth of field control device comprises a plate member having at least one protrusion on its front side and a hook structure at its backside, wherein the hook structure at the backside of the plate member hooks the automatic document feeder and the protrusion is in contact with the scan glass surface; a reflection sheet attached to the plate member and fixed on the automatic document feeder; and a flexible device biasing the plate member at the backside of the plate member.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus including an inversion unit for inverting a recording sheet recorded on a side in a recording unit by conveying along a predetermined path and returning the recording sheet to the recording unit, the possibility of peeling of recording material from the recorded surface or re-deposition of the recording material onto the recording sheet can be reduced. The recording sheet subjected to recording on a side in the recording unit having a recording head is conveyed to the inversion unit, which includes, at a recorded side of the recording sheet, two both-side rollers which are driven and are formed of an elastic material, and, at a non-recorded side, two both-side pinch rollers which are formed of a non-elastic material. The inversion unit conveys the recording sheet along a turnaround path with the recorded side inside, thereby inverting and returning the recording sheet to the recording unit.

Abstract: A flexible media transport system includes a director element having articulating tips that provide access to selected media paths. The director element(s) can be incorporated into a director module. Multiple director modules can then be combined into a highly flexible and reconfigurable media transport system. By implementing the joints between the articulating tips and the body of the director element such that a continuous surface is provided in the path of the flexible media, stubbing of the moving media can be avoided. The continuous-surface joint interface can be provided via flexible skins, monolithic articulating tip-director element structures, and preconfigured resilient plate structures, among others.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus that helps to achieve a reduction in size and cost. The recording apparatus has a U-turn sheet feeding mechanism for reversing and feeding a recording medium and a duplex transport mechanism for reversing the recording medium and performing printing on both sides thereof, in which the same transport path serves as a transport path for transporting the recording medium from a U-turn sheet feeding roller to a main transport roller for transporting the recording medium to a printing portion and as a transport path for reversal in duplex transport. Further, a transport roller provided in the transport path from the U-turn sheet feeding roller to the main transport roller for transporting the recording medium to the printing portion is the same as a transport roller for duplex transport. A single transport roller serves both as the U-turn transport roller and as the duplex transport roller.

Abstract: A sheet reversing controller has a first conveying path for conveying sheets in the first direction, sensors to detect lengths of sheets in the conveying direction; a reversing portion comprising a reversing roller that is capable of normal/reverse rotations for taking and reversing sheets supplied from the first conveying path and a pinch roller, and a second conveying path for taking and conveying sheets supplied in the second direction that is the reverse direction to the conveying direction of the first conveying path from the reversing portion, and a controller to control the conveyance of sheets. The controller controls a conveying gap between a sheet and a succeeding sheet on the second conveying path regardless of the length of the sheets in the conveying direction.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of setting up a tab sheet mode-operating and configuring environment in which an effective tab sheet mode output can be obtained by a simple operation of selecting feeding of tab sheets and a destination of discharge of the tab sheets. A controller is responsive to instruction of feeding of the tab sheets, for providing control to automatically select the cassettes or the multi manual feed tray or the deck that can feed tab sheets that enable a valid image transfer result to be obtained, according to a sheet discharge destination selected by a user for the face-up discharge tray or the face-down discharge tray and a page order designated for the cassettes or the multi manual feed tray or the deck, which is indicated by sheet management information.

Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of preventing a recording medium from contacting a recording unit and causing a jam thereof on conveying is provided. The recording apparatus of the present invention has a paper feed roller placed further upstream in a conveying direction in a normal conveying direction of the recording medium than a record head for recording on recording paper and a sheet inverting portion for inverting the recording paper like a loop and feeding it to the paper feed roller. The recording apparatus is constituted to stand by, for a predetermined time, for the conveying of the recording paper in a state in which a leading end of a backside of the recording paper in the normal conveying direction is in the sheet inverting portion in the process of inverting the recording paper in the sheet inverting portion.

Abstract: A first sheet passing path from an automatic sheet supplying section to a recording section and a second sheet passing path leading to an automatic reversing section from the recording section and leading to the recording section from the automatic reversing section share a part of them with each other, and the shared sheet passing path is provided with a guide member movable from a first position for the first sheet passing path to a second position for the second sheet passing path in synchronism with separation of a pinch roller from a sheet feeding roller.

Abstract: Driving sources of a reversing section roller and a sheet feeding roller are made common, a drive transmission mechanism to the reversing section roller is provided with clutch means for starting and stopping synchronous rotation after a predetermined rotation, and a degree of freedom in control is enhanced by properly bringing the reversing section roller into a halted state as necessary, thereby realizing reduction in load on the driving source, reduction in noises, and reduction in the size of the apparatus and cost.

Abstract: A document delivery device for delivering a document such as a receipt or transaction record to a user at a kiosk or other automated device significantly reduces “pushing” of documents, increasing reliability and robustness. The document delivery device includes input and output roller assemblies that alternately engage and disengage a shared roller. Upon contacting the shared roller, the input roller assembly creates a first nip point to draw a document into a retention location. Likewise, an output roller creates a second nip point to draw a document out of the retention location for presentation to a user. The input and output roller assemblies are coupled together such that the rotation of one produces an opposite rotation of the other. A drive gear may be operably connected to the roller assemblies to drive the rotation thereof and to provide the translational force to engage or disengage the shared roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing a sheet, such as a banknote, from a front face to a rear face. In the reversing apparatus a first end of a common path communicates with an exit of a first conveyance path, a second end of common path communicates with an exit of a second conveyance path, and the first end of common path communicates with a merging path. Since the merging path is immediately after the common path, no delay is caused in the timing of feeding a banknote into the next processing step, improving reversing process performance. A first reversing roller rotates based on the on or off condition of a first electromagnetic clutch and a second reversing roller rotates based on on or off condition of a second electromagnetic clutch. A banknote can be quickly and surely conveyed in the common path.

Abstract: A variable reflectance cover for a scanning system. The cover comprises a backing moveable through a plurality of positions. Moving the backing through the plurality of positions varies the reflectance of the cover. In one embodiment, the backing is an endless rotatable belt. In a second embodiment, the backing is a removable panel having a first side with a first reflectance and a second side with a second reflectance. In yet a third embodiment, the backing includes polarizers placed adjacent to a reflective panel. Rotating one polarizer relative to another varies the reflectance of the cover. In another embodiment, magnetic louvers are provided for changing the reflectivity of the cover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a depth of field adjustment device and method for an automatic document feeder. The automatic document feeder has a guiding groove for placing an object to be scanned. The guiding groove has a scanning window for providing image picking-up for an optical chassis. An adjustable suppressing mechanism located at the guiding groove in corresponding to the scanning window may drive the object to be scanned to pass through an optimal depth of field height of the scanning window. First, at least a part of the pre-scanned object is fed in to be located between the adjustable suppressing mechanism and the scanning window. The depth of field height is then adjusted and changed by the adjustable suppressing mechanism. And, the image of the pre-scanned object is compared with a pre-stored image. After the pre-scanned objected has been judged to be located at the optimal depth of field height, the adjustable suppressing mechanism is fixed and the pre-scanned object is sent out.

Abstract: To enable selective use of a sheet path for sheet inversion and a substantially linear sheet path for a recording medium of a high rigidity, thereby enabling to pass a recording medium of a large thickness or a high rigidity in a simple configuration without an increase in the dimension of the apparatus and in an attached state of a sheet inversion unit. A first sheet path extending from a 21 sheet conveying roller through a sheet inversion unit 2 and returning to the sheet conveying roller, and a second sheet path 131 extending substantially linearly at an upstream side of the sheet conveying roller are provided, a part of the first sheet path and the second sheet path is formed by a common sheet path, and a movable flap 104 for switching the sheet paths is provided in the shared sheet path.

Abstract: An image forming method for stacking sheets in an apparatus that operates in a first mode or a second mode and includes discharging bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked. Sheets are discharged face-up in the first mode and face-down in the second mode. The method has the step of selecting the fisrt or second mode and then making different an amount of sheets stacked in the discharging bin depending on the selected mode.

Abstract: A clear-cut high-quality printing result is obtained in a both-side recording apparatus. The both-side recording apparatus has first unevenness imparting means for imparting an uneven shape to a recording medium in a plane orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium. The first unevenness imparting means comprises sheet expelling rollers, having a plurality of roller portions in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium in the plane of the recording medium, conveying spurs for nipping the recording medium between them and each roller portion, and a plurality of push-in spurs disposed between the conveying spurs.

Abstract: A mail processing device includes a reorientation arrangement that, when the mail processing device is in a first position, is configured to sequentially receive mail items from an upstream process and reorient each item such that the top side of a particular item from the upstream process becomes the bottom side of the item when placed in a downstream process. The device also includes a receiving arrangement configured to receive mail items from the upstream process and guide the mail items into the reorientation arrangement. The device also includes a controller that is programmed to cause the reorientation arrangement to reorient a mail item in response to the detection of the mail item by a sensor. The controller is further programmed to cause the mail item to be moved toward the downstream process after each mail item is reoriented.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a sheet feeding stacker for storing the sheet; a sheet discharging stacker arranged in parallel to the sheet feeding stacker in a vertical direction for storing the sheet; a U-shape conveying path disposed between the sheet feeding stacker to the sheet discharging stacker for guiding the sheet from the sheet feeding stacker to the sheet discharging stacker; a processing platen disposed in the conveying path for processing the sheet; a separating device for separating the sheet on the sheet feeding stacker; a register device for temporarily stopping the sheet and conveying the sheet; a sheet feeding device for conveying the sheet; and a sheet conveying device for conveying the sheet. A sheet discharging device discharges the sheet to the sheet discharging stacker, and an idle roller is disposed in the U-shape conveying path for contacting the sheet to rotate.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a conveyor for conveying a sheet to a prescribed position, a pair of reverse-discharge rotating members capable of rotating forward and reverse for feeding the sheet to the conveyor by switchback and an electricity removal unit for removing electricity from the conveyed sheet. The switchback serves to feed a sheet having a maximum conveyable length from the pair of reverse-discharge rotating members to the conveyor and the electricity removal unit is arranged downstream in a sheet discharging direction from a cross over position fro a front edge of the sheet and a back edge of the sheet during discharge of the sheet, and at a downstream side to the sheet discharging direction the pair of reverse-discharge rotating members again.

Abstract: A method of registering a sheet in a duplex copier to alleviate the misalignment between the images copied on the front and back of the same sheet and to compensate for paper cut tolerances. The error angle of skew between a target angle, e.g. 90°, and the trailing edge of the sheet is measured and stored during a first pass. When the same sheet is fed through a second pass, the error angle is retrieved and the target angle is adjusted to compensate for the skew error of the first pass so that any misalignment between front and back images is substantially improved over systems that register images to the sheet without any knowledge of the location of the opposite side image.

Abstract: A system and method for flipping a media sheet. The novel system (10) includes a first mechanism (20) for inputting a media sheet (12) with a leading edge (22) and a trailing edge (24), a second mechanism (14) for receiving and holding the media sheet (12), a third mechanism (15) for translating the second mechanism (14) from an input position (16) to an output position (18), and a fourth mechanism (26) for outputting the media sheet (12) leading with the former trailing edge (24). In an illustrative embodiment, the second mechanism (14) includes a series of slots, each slot adapted to receive and hold a media sheet. One sheet can be input into a slot at the input position (16) while another sheet is output from a slot at the output position (18). Several slots (14) may be incorporated into the mechanism (10), such that slots index from the input position (16) to the output position (18) with one or more intermediate stops in between.

Abstract: A supply stream (1) of flat articles (8), in particular of printed products that are conveyed hanging and held by grippers, is transformed into an imbricated stream (2, 3, 4, 5) or into sections of an imbricated stream, in which the articles are arranged in one of two or advantageously four possible ways. For the stream transformation, the articles (8) are selectively deposited on a conveying surface at a first or at a second depositing point (I, II). The articles (8) deposited at the first depositing point (I) or to be deposited at the first depositing point (I) are additionally rotated by 180° (after or before deposition) and the held article edges are, advantageously selectively, leading or trailing on deposition. The selective stream transformation and switching between transformation modes (A, B/B?, C or D/D?) are very simple.