Abstract: A reversing apparatus within a media path comprises an input nip moving sheets of media in a first direction, and a reversing nip positioned to receive the sheets of media from the input nip. The reversing nip stops the sheets and moves the sheets in a second direction opposite the first direction. Also included is an output nip positioned to receive the sheets of media from the reversing nip, and an actuator connected to the reversing nip. The actuator moves the reversing nip relative to a position of the input nip and the output nip, based on a characteristic of the sheets of media.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral having an automatic document feeding device (ADF) suited for being configured in a body of an apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a first and second power sources to drive the ADF to transmit a paper in or out of the body. The ADF includes a limiting structure, a swinging member and a blocking member. The first and second power sources drive the limiting structure and the swinging member to swing respectively. The blocking member has a first end connected to the swinging member and a second end extending toward the limiting structure. When the limiting structure is at a second position and the swinging member swings toward a third position, the second end is trapped into the limiting space. When the limiting structure moves toward a first position and the swinging member swings toward the third position, the second end escapes from the limiting space.

Abstract: A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area.

Abstract: To simplify control of a sheet feeing/conveying system while preventing a step-out phenomenon, saving power, and reducing cost, provided is an image forming apparatus which detects a load angle of a motor (M4) associated with conveying of an n-th sheet (P) (where n is a natural number equal to or larger than 1). In accordance with the detected load angle, current values for motors (M5 and M6) associated with conveying of the n-th sheet (P), a current value for a motor (M1) associated with feeding of sheets (P) following the n-th sheet, and a current value for a motor (M2) associated with conveying of the sheets (P) following the n-th sheet are set. Such control is executed when power is turned ON or the like.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus which conveys a sheet, including: a first conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed; a second conveying path along which the sheet is reconveyed to the first conveying path; a reverse conveyance roller pair, which performs forward rotation to convey the sheet from the first conveying path and reverse rotation to convey the sheet to the second conveying path; a reconveying roller pair disposed in the second conveying path; and a control portion which causes the reconveying roller pair to nip a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet in an overlaid manner, and thereafter rotates a first roller that is in contact with the preceding sheet while stopping rotation of a second roller that is in contact with the succeeding sheet so that the preceding sheet is conveyed to the first conveying path and the succeeding sheet stays in the second conveying path.

Abstract: An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.

Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus includes a first transporting section and first guide. The first transporting section transports a medium. The first guide guides the medium transported by the transporting section, and is disposed downstream of the first transporting section with respect to a first direction in which the medium is transported. The first guide includes a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The first guide portion extends in the first direction. The second guide portion extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a sheet conveying path; a reconveying path, which is branched from the sheet conveying path; a sheet conveying portion which conveys a sheet, which is conveyed through the sheet conveying path, selectively between in a forward direction and in a reverse direction toward the reconveying path; and a control portion which controls the sheet conveying portion to temporarily convey, in the middle that the sheet conveying portion conveys a preceding sheet in the reverse direction toward the reconveying path, the preceding sheet in the forward direction together with a succeeding sheet, and thereafter convey the preceding sheet in the reverse direction toward the reconvening path and the succeeding sheet in the forward direction respectively.

Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus including: a right angle reversing conveyance section which reverses front/back sides of a sheet while changing a conveyance direction of the sheet, being conveyed in a first conveyance direction, to a second conveyance direction perpendicular to the first conveyance direction; a sheet skew sensor which detects a sheet skew of the sheet being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section; and a sheet skew correction mechanism which corrects the sheet skew of the sheet while the sheet is being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section.

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a conveyance member, an elastic plate member, a first conveyance path, and a second conveyance path. The conveyance member conveys a sheet of recording media with the sheet attached thereon and has a circumferential portion to separate the sheet from the conveyance member by a curvature of the conveyance member. The first conveyance path is formed by the conveyance member. The second conveyance path is disposed downstream from the first conveyance path and includes a reversal conveyance path to reverse the sheet. A face continuous to a front edge of the elastic plate member, except for the front edge, is positioned in an attachment weakened area of the circumferential portion of the conveyance member in which an attachment force of the sheet on the circumferential portion is weakened by separation of the sheet from the conveyance member by the curvature.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a motor for driving a first rotary body and a second rotary body that rotates according to an image processing operation; a switching unit that switches a connection/disconnection of the motor and the second rotary body; and a control unit that performs: a constant-speed rotation process of rotating the motor at a first speed in the connection state; a disconnecting process of performing switching to the disconnection state during the constant-speed rotation process; a decelerating process of decelerating the motor to a second speed after the disconnecting process; and a connecting process of performing, before completion of the decelerating process, switching to the connection state when the rotating speed of the second rotary body at a timing when the decelerating process is performed is slower than that at a timing when the switching to the disconnection state is performed in the disconnecting process.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a cover unit rotatably attached to one side of a main body of an image forming apparatus to cover a part of a sheet conveyance path, a first feeding member located in a main body of the apparatus, a second feeding member located in the cover unit in a displaceable manner and facing the first feeding member when the cover unit is closed and sandwiching and conveying a recording medium along the sheet conveyance path with the first feeding member, and a guide member disposed in the main body to guide the second feeding member. The guide member guides the second feeding member to move in a first direction that approaches the first feeding member when closing the cover unit and in a second direction that separates from the first feeding member when opening the cover unit.

Abstract: A device for switching a transport direction of a recording material includes a switching unit and a movement unit. The switching unit switches a transport direction of a recording material by being selectively moved to a first position or a second position. The movement unit moves the switching unit between the first position and the second position by increasing or reducing a force exerted on the switching unit. The movement unit changes, on the basis of a temperature of the movement unit, timing at which the force exerted on the switching unit is increased or reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a rockable member which is configured to rotate about an axis defined at a first end portion among: a first position at which a second end portion at a downstream side in the forward feed direction with respect to the first end portion is supported by the guide member having the first orientation; a second position at which the second end portion is located at a higher position that the second end portion when located at the first position; and a third position at which the second end portion is located at a lower position that the second end portion when located at the first position; and a signal generating unit configured to output a signal corresponding to the position of the rockable member. A photo sensor is provided to generate a signal in accordance with an orientation of the rockable member.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a registration section, a first sheet transport path and a second sheet transport path the two transport directions of which are substantially perpendicular to the sheet transport direction of the registration section, a confluence transport path, and a first guide member. The confluence transport path merges the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path. The first guide member may rotate toward the first sheet transport path when the sheet is fed from the first sheet transport path to the confluence transport path. The first guide member may rotate toward the second sheet transport path when the sheet is fed from the second sheet transport path to the confluence transport path.

Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport section that transports paper on a first transport path, and reverses a transport direction to transport the paper onto a second transport path, and a detecting section that detects that the paper has arrived at the reversal position, wherein the detecting section includes a first member that is arranged on the first transport path, and changes posture thereof among a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture, a second member that changes posture thereof between a fourth posture and a fifth posture, a detector that detects whether the second member is in the fourth posture or in the fifth posture, and a joint member that couples the first member and the second member together, allows the second member to be in the fourth posture, rotates the second member to the fifth posture, and keeps the second member in the fourth posture.

Abstract: A sheet guide is rotationally supported by a shaft member to rotate freely on the shaft member. The sheet guide includes a support part that supports the sheet guide on the shaft member, a guide part that contacts sheets and guides sheets in a predetermined direction, and a weight, which has a predetermined weight, is arranged on an opposite side of the support part from the guide part, wherein the weight causes the guide part to rotate to a predetermined position when an external force applied to the guide part is released.

Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a gear train and a movable gear locking device. The gear train transmits rotational drive to a drive target, and includes a first gear train forming a first transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target, a second gear train forming a second transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target as drive opposite in rotation direction to the drive transmitted by the first gear train, and a movable gear movable between a first drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the first gear train to transmit the drive to the target and a second drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the second gear train to transmit the drive to the target. The movable gear locking device locks the movable gear at an idle position.

Abstract: A system and method for rotating sheets receiving cut sheets from a source and providing them to a utilization device. The rotator continually engages sheets with at least one drive component throughout the transport and rotation process. The rotator includes a transport mechanism having a plurality of nip roller pairs along the length of a feed table. The nip rollers (nips) can be selectively engaged with, and disengaged from, the driven rollers using discrete actuators. This allows for feed velocity differentials when entering and exiting the rotator feed table, and also for clearance during sheet rotation. A rotator disk assembly is centered on the table between, and comprises a driven rotator disk and an overriding, freely rotating pressure disk. When sheets enter or pass through the rotator section, the pressure disk is raised to provide a clearance for sheets to pass.

Abstract: A recording paper conveying device includes a registration roller pair and a conveyor roller pair adjacent to the registration roller pair. By rotating the conveyor roller pair, a sheet of recording paper is fed until leading edge of the sheet abuts the registration roller pair in stationary state so that the sheet is deflected by a prescribed amount. Then, conveyor roller pair is rotated at the constant velocity, and while the sheet is kept deflected, rotation of the registration roller pair is started, to start feeding of the sheet by the registration roller pair. While the registration roller pair is kept rotating, rotation of the conveyor roller pair is suspended, and then, the conveyor roller pair is returned to the state of rotation before suspension. Thus, unnecessary deflection of the sheet just in front of the registration roller pair can be prevented.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a first roller portion on the first transportation path to feed an original to a scanning position to scan a first face of the original, a second roller portion on a second transportation path to transport the scanned original, a third roller portion on the second transportation path to feed the original to the scanning position to scan a second face of the original, a fourth roller portion on the first transportation path to transport the scanned original, and a transporting speed adjusting unit gaining a circumferential velocity of the second roller portion than the one of the first roller portion and gaining a circumferential velocity of the fourth roller portion than the one of third roller portion, when the original is transported from the first transportation path to the second transportation path and from the second transportation path to the first transportation path, respectively.

Abstract: An image recording device includes a first arm configured to pivot between a first position and a second position in response to mounting and removal of a tray to and from the image recording device, a first driving roller attached to an end of the first arm and configured to convey a sheet from the tray toward a first conveying path, a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet conveyed along the first conveying path, a second arm configured to pivot between a third position and a fourth position, and a second driving roller attached to an end of the second arm and configured to convey the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof, along a second conveying path toward the first conveying path. The second arm pivots from the third position to the fourth position when the first arm pivots from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet placing part; a conveying part; an apparatus wall; and a judging unit. The sheet placing part is configured to receive a sheet placed thereon. The conveying part is configured to convey the sheet from the sheet placing part. The apparatus wall defines a first conveyance opening. The judging unit is configured to judge whether the sheet is able to pass the first conveyance opening. The conveying part conveys the sheet to the first conveyance opening if the judging unit determines that the sheet is able to pass through the first conveyance opening. The conveying part does not convey the sheet to the first conveyance opening if the judging unit determines that the sheet is unable to pass through the first conveyance opening.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a feeding unit configured to feed a sheet through a feeding path and a guide portion that is bent in a shape of a relaxation curve and configured to feed the sheet thereon and turn a feeding direction of the sheet.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet transport apparatus and a sheet transport method preventing false detection of multiple feeding when feeding sheets of different thicknesses. The sheet transport apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver disposed opposite each other across a sheet transport path, a type detector for discriminating between a first sheet and a second sheet thicker than the first sheet while one or the other of the sheets is being fed along the transport path, and a multiple feed detector for detecting the presence or absence of multiple feeding of sheets along the transport path, based on an output produced by the ultrasonic sensor and on a detection result supplied from the type detector.

Abstract: When a first elapse time ?t3 from time point t1 of stop of a transport motor reaches a first specified time S1, a registration roller electromagnetic clutch is engaged. At time point t2 at which the first elapse time ?t3 reaches 50 ms, normal rotation of the transport motor is started. At time point t3 at which a second elapse time ?t4 from the time point t2 reaches a second specified time S2 (a given length of time), a reverse roller electromagnetic clutch is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state, rendering reverse rollers and sheet discharge rollers freely rotatable. At subsequent time point t4, a coil of a solenoid is de-energized, to separate the reverse rollers from each other.

Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first reverse path and the second reverse path are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first reverse path and the second reverse path and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read so as to eject further to the right side than the read position. Further, the lead path includes a lead curve path which protrudes to the left side and is arranged more to the left side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which the lead curve path protrudes the most.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of medium trays to stack a print medium having an image formed thereon by an image forming unit; a driving source to momentarily apply a direction switching signal; a selector to select a carrying path of the print medium having the image formed thereon, the carrying path directing the print medium to one of the plurality of medium trays; and a switch unit connected to the driving source to set a position of the selector in order to direct the print medium along the carrying path according to the direction switching signal. Accordingly, power is only used momentarily to direct the print medium to a medium tray from among a plurality of medium trays.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotary members, a conveyance belt, an image forming device, and a switchback device. The conveyance belt is looped around the plurality of rotary members so as to circulate to intermittently feed a sheet in a sheet transport direction. The image forming device is disposed opposing the conveyance belt to form an image on the sheet fed by the conveyance belt. The switchback device is disposed downstream from the image forming device in the sheet transport direction to feed the sheet having passed the image forming device to a position downstream from the conveyance belt in the sheet transport direction and switch back the sheet. When the sheet is fed by the conveyance belt and the switchback device, a drive start timing of the switchback device is delayed from a drive start timing of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a guide member positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a first plate having a media contact surface, a biasing member for biasing the first plate, and a second plate having a media guiding surface. First plate and second plate are movable in a slot through the guide member and are biased in first positions where media contact surface extends into the duplex path and media guiding surface extends into the simplex path while second plate remains movable from its first position to a second position. A media sheet fed into the duplex path moves first plate to its second position blocking movement of second plate from its first position allowing a following media sheet in the simplex path to the exit of the imaging device.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus has first and second conveying roller pairs pair; a first conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed downstream of the second conveying roller pair; and a second conveying path through which the sheet is conveyed in such a manner that the first conveying roller pair is placed upstream of the second conveying roller path. |Va|>|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the first conveying path and |Va|?|Vb| when the sheet is conveyed through the second conveying path, where |Va| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the first conveying roller pair, and |Vb| is an absolute value of the circumferential velocity of the second conveying roller pair.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path including a curved portion, and a roller pair that is located along the conveyance path and conveys a sheet. At least one of rollers of the roller pair moves such that the orientation of conveying force exerted onto the sheet by the roller pair at its nip point is changed after the roller pair pinches the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires sheet information indicating paper weight or the like of a transported sheet of paper. The apparatus also has a control portion and shifts a reference position which has been previously set to a direction orthogonal to a transporting direction of the sheet of paper based on the paper weight or the like of the transported sheet of paper. A deviation sensor detects a deviation of the sheet of paper with regard to the shifted reference position along the direction orthogonal to the transporting direction of the sheet of paper. A sheet shift portion shifts the sheet of paper to the shifted reference position based on the deviation detected by the deviation sensor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a turn-around mechanism, and a re-feeding unit that includes a first feeding unit having a guide curved to bulge in such a direction as to be farther from an image forming unit, the guide defining an outer side of a curved first feeding route for feeding a sheet received from the turn-around mechanism, and a second feeding unit defining a second feeding route for feeding the sheet fed via the first feeding route, the guide including a first section on a first side thereof in the width direction of the sheet, and a second section around a second side opposite to the first side thereof in the width direction, the second section being curved to bulge more than the first section in such a direction as to be farther from the image forming unit.

Abstract: A paper reversing assembly includes a paper roller, a driving member, and a plurality of balls. The paper roller includes a recess defined in an end portion thereof and a plurality of concave portions formed on the internal circumferential sidewall of the recess. The driving member is received in the recess and includes a plurality of lobes, which interact with the balls to allow the free rotation of the paper roller when the paper is being pulled out.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance device to convey a sheet, an image forming device disposed opposing the conveyance device, a switchback device downstream from the conveyance device to switch hack the sheet after image formation a first face of the sheet on an opposing surface of the conveyance device, a refeeding device to refeed the sheet switched back, a reverse path to guide the sheet to a non-opposing, surface of the conveyance device, reverse the sheet, and guide the sheet to the opposing surface again, a single driving source to drive the conveyance device and the switchback device, a driving assembly to transmit driving force of the driving source to the conveyance device, a clutch assembly disposed at a position other than the driving assembly to switch rotation of the switchback device between forward rotation and reverse rotation, and an activation device to activate the clutch assembly.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, a recording medium is allowed to be conveyed on a conveying path. An inversion guide portion connects a first portion of the conveying path positioned downstream of a recording unit to a second portion of the conveying path positioned upstream of the recording unit. A path changeover unit is disposed at the first portion of the conveying path and swingable between a recording medium discharge position and a recording medium inversion position. When the path changeover unit is positioned at the recording medium discharge position, the forward rotation of the roller pair allows the recording medium to be sent to a discharge portion. When the path changeover unit is positioned at the recording medium inversion position, the rearward rotation of the roller pair allows the recording medium to be sent to the inversion guide portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a sheet ejection portion, an in-housing ejection space, and a sheet push mechanism. The sheet push mechanism is composed of a sheet push member whose lower end portion touches a sheet ejection surface of the in-housing ejection space and which is movable to a downstream side in the sheet ejection direction, and a holder portion which supports movably an upper end portion of the sheet push member, and the holder portion is disposed on the lower surface to be movable between a reference position where the sheet push member pushes the sheet ejected on the sheet ejection surface and an evacuation position away from the reference position in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a conveyance member, an elastic plate member, a first conveyance path, and a second conveyance path. The conveyance member conveys a sheet of recording media with the sheet attached thereon and has a circumferential portion to separate the sheet from the conveyance member by a curvature of the conveyance member. The first conveyance path is formed by the conveyance member. The second conveyance path is disposed downstream from the first conveyance path and includes a reversal conveyance path to reverse the sheet. A face continuous to a front edge of the elastic plate member, except for the front edge, is positioned in an attachment weakened area of the circumferential portion of the conveyance member in which an attachment force of the sheet on the circumferential portion is weakened by separation of the sheet from the conveyance member by the curvature.

Abstract: A paper-feeding apparatus includes a double paper feed prevention mechanism including a conveyance roller rotating forward in a paper feeding direction, and a handling roller rotating rearward in an opposite direction to the paper feeding direction through a torque limiter and being driven by the conveyance roller when the number of fed sheets of paper is one, a double paper feed detection sensor disposed at a downstream side of the double paper feed prevention mechanism to detect a physical quantity corresponding to the number of fed sheets of paper, and a control unit that determines a frequency of double paper feed events at the downstream side of the double paper feed prevention mechanism based on an output signal of the double paper feed detection sensor, and controls a speed of rearward rotation of the handling roller depending on the frequency of the double paper feed events.

Abstract: In general, in a sheet feeding device of embodiments, a shaft connects through an one-way clutch structure to a conveying roller, rotates in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, transmits the torque to the conveying roller to cause the conveying roller to rotate in the first direction if the shaft rotates in the first direction. The shaft does not transmit the torque to the conveying roller if the shaft rotates in the second direction. The shaft limits the rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction while the shaft is in a rotation-stop state. A controller has a second mode in which the shaft is rotated in a second direction to allow rotation of the conveying roller in the second direction.

Abstract: A paper discharge device includes a waiting path having one side connected to an input port and another side connected to a discharge port, and a collection path having one side connected to the waiting path through a merged portion and another side connected to a collection chamber. Conveyance mechanisms convey a paper which was conveyed through the input port to the discharge port in a forward direction, and convey, after lapse of a given period of time after the conveyance of the paper, the paper in a reverse direction through the merged portion to feed into the collection path. An input mechanism provided in the collection path conveys the paper fed from the waiting path through the collection path into the collection chamber while sandwiching the paper between rollers to form folds across a total length of the paper along the paper conveying direction.

Abstract: A paper ejector unit includes a paper path having a first path, a second path provided in a lower position than the first path, and a guide provided between the first and second paths and including an inclined face to restrict an upward deflection of the paper in transporting the paper forward to the exit slot. An opening is formed downward at a forward back end of the second, and a reversible transportation roller assembly is in the middle of the second path, configured to be rotated forward to transport the paper forward to the exit slot, to stop rotating to stop transporting the paper, and to be reversely rotated to withdraw the paper having been transported to the exit slot. A third path branches downward from the second path and is provided near a forward upstream side of the reversible transportation roller assembly in order to recover the paper.

Abstract: An image scanning method of an image scanning device, the method including: feeding multiply fed documents in a first path and scanning, by a scanning unit of the image scanning device, a first document of the multiply fed documents; outputting the first document through an exit unit; reversely driving the exit unit after the first document is output to reversely feed a second document of the multiply fed documents in a second path, and scanning the second document; and forming images of the first document and the second document, wherein the second path is used to reversely feed the second document to an upstream side of the scanning unit, in view of a feeding direction of the multiply fed documents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first and a second image forming sections, a paper feeding section, and a paper output section. The image forming sections form an image on paper independently. The apparatus is laterally dividable into a first and a second portions where the first and second image forming sections are respectively positioned. The feeding section is arranged below the first image forming section in the first portion. The output section is arranged above the second image forming section in the second portion. The apparatus has two simple transport paths that run vertically through the image forming sections, respectively, without intersecting each other and detouring around the second or first image forming section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can include an image forming member that forms an image on a sheet, an ejecting transport member that can transport the sheet in first and second directions, and a switching unit. The guide member can move to a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. At the first predetermined position, the guide member can apply a pushing force to the sheet. At the second predetermined position, the guide member can one of apply a smaller pushing force to the sheet than at the first predetermined position, or provide a clearance between the guide member and the sheet. The switching unit can switch the guide member into the first and second predetermined positions based on the sheet transporting direction of the ejecting transport member.

Abstract: A conveying roller conveys a sheet. A sheet holding portion receives a sheet from below and holds the received sheet with keeping its forward end upward and its rear end downward. The sheet holding portion has: a storing guide provided in a vertical state and having a guide surface configured to guide the received sheet upward; a conveying guide provided to face the guide surface and having a curved surface portion whose distance from the guide surface increases in the upward direction; and a holding member provided between the guide surface and the curved surface portion and configured to roll on the curved surface portion toward the guide surface to nip the received sheet with the guide surface. An inclination angle of the curved surface portion with respect to the guide surface decreases with distance from the guide surface.

Abstract: A roll-sheet feeding device having a roll sheet wound in a roll to feed a portion of the roll sheet to an image forming unit, includes a progressive mechanism to transmit a drive force from a drive source to transfer the portion of the roll sheet from the roll in a progressive direction, a roll-sheet drive mechanism to receive the drive force transmitted via the portion of the roll sheet transferred in the progressive direction, a rewinding mechanism to transfer the portion of the roll sheet in a direction opposite to the progressive direction via the roll-sheet drive mechanism to rewind the roll sheet, and a regenerating mechanism to obtain the drive force from the roll-sheet drive mechanism and transmit the obtained drive force to the progressive mechanism to regenerate the transmitted drive force as another drive force in addition to the drive force from the drive source.

Abstract: When the sheet (100) is mounted onto the conveyance surface (20), the alignment guide (3) is located at the retraction position by the alignment guide moving mechanism, and after the sheet (100) is mounted onto the conveyance surface (20), the alignment guide (3) is located at the guide position by the alignment guide moving mechanism.

Abstract: A right angle turn module having a first transport that transports side-by-side sheets in a first direction. Downstream of the first sheet transport a barrier is positioned to stop the sheets. A sensor device detects an arrival of the side-by-side sheets at the stop arrangement. Then, an actuated second sheet transport, triggered by the sensor device, is activated to transport the sheets serially in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. In a preferred embodiment, a horizontal guide plate is positioned at a downstream end of the first sheet transport. With the guide plate thus positioned, a sheet traveling in the first direction and a sheet traveling in the second direction can temporarily be overlapped and a collision can be avoided. In a further preferred embodiment, the first transport further comprises overhead belts to urge the side-by-side pair of sheets in the first direction.