Abstract: There is provided a sheet inverting and conveying mechanism for conveying a sheet in a first direction, inverting obverse and reverse sides of the sheet, and then conveying the inverted sheet in a second direction. The mechanism includes: a first conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the first direction; a sheet inverting section for receiving, at its bent inner peripheral face, one side of the sheet, and for inverting the sheet while bending the sheet along the bent inner peripheral face; and a second conveyance section for receiving, at its conveyance face, one side of the inverted sheet, and for conveying the sheet in the second direction, wherein the first conveyance section and the second conveyance section are formed so that the sheet is conveyed while being attracted to the conveyance faces.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance control method in an apparatus including a first conveying path for leading a sheet from a feeing port to a discharge port, a second sheet conveying path for leading the sheet to another conveyance destination, and a decoloring processing section configured to decolor an image formed on the sheet includes: detecting the length of the sheet further on a downstream side than the feeding port and further on an upstream side than a branching point of the first and second sheet conveying paths in a sheet conveying direction of the first sheet conveying path; and changing, if the trailing end of the sheet is not detected in a period after the leading end of the sheet is detected and before the leading end of the sheet reaches the branching point, a first flapper to a state in which the sheet is conveyed to the discharge port.

Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a sheet-like medium accommodation unit; a supply member that carries a sheet-like medium; a pair of separation members that separate the sheet-like medium one by one; an image formation unit; a carrying path; a re-carrying unit to move inversely the sheet-like medium whose top face has been subjected to printing; a moving mechanism to move the supply member close to or away from the sheet-like medium and to move the pair of separation members close to or away from each other so that a path for the inversely carried sheet-like medium is formed; and a control unit to control the moving mechanism such that, when back-face printing is performed, the supply member is in a state of being moved away from the sheet-like medium and the pair of separation members are in a state of being moved away from each other.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bidirectional media sheet transport apparatus. The transport apparatus includes one or more belt driven bidirectional nip assemblies aligned to transport one or more media sheets along a bidirectional path. In addition, disclosed are belt tensioning devices to apply multiple tension forces to a belt operatively engaging the one or more bidirectional nip assemblies. Also disclosed is a bidirectional baffle apparatus to enable bidirectional travel of a media sheet from one module to another module.

Abstract: A conveying device conveys a sheet of non-blank recording medium recorded with an image formed in an image forming unit, and includes a container that is detachable and contains a sheet of blank recording medium, a feeding unit that feeds the blank recording medium from the container, and a recirculating path that leads the non-blank recording medium to the feeding unit. The recirculating path is disposed lateral to the image forming unit. A part of the recirculating path is integrated into the container and forms a reversing path that leads to the feeding unit. At least one of surfaces of the reversing path can be exposed.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion which conveys a sheet, a lever which is pushed by the sheet conveyed by the conveying portion, and moves from a standby position, a detecting portion which generates a signal corresponding to a position of the lever, and generates a first signal when the lever moves in a first moving area from the standby position to a predetermined position and generates a second signal when the lever moves in a second moving area beyond the predetermined position, and a biasing portion which does not apply to the lever a biasing force when the lever is in the first moving area, and applies to the lever a biasing force opposite in a direction in which the lever is pushed by the sheet and moves when the lever is in the second moving area.

Abstract: A conveying and dividing mechanism in which a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path facing each other can bidirectionally convey banknotes between each other and that can divide into multiple-direction banknotes conveyed from both the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path. A first dividing member is rockably provided at the intersection of the first conveyance path, the second conveyance path, a third conveyance path, and a fourth conveyance path. The first dividing member enables banknotes to be bidirectionally conveyed between the first and second conveyance paths. Further, the first dividing member enables bank notes conveyed from the first and second conveyance paths to be divided into the third and fourth conveyance paths.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets, a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking unit, an airflow supply unit that supplies an airflow to a side surface of the stack of sheets from an opening, a shield member that is disposed between the opening and the stack of sheets and a mechanism that changes the airflow from the airflow supply unit with respect to a stacking direction of the sheets by changing a relative position between the opening and the shield member in a direction other than the stacking direction of the sheets.

Abstract: In a color printer in which a drive force of a fixed gear that rotates not in both a forward direction and a reverse direction but in either one direction only is transmitted to a discharging unit, a swing gear is attached to a branch guide via a switching link and a transmission link as a link mechanism. When a solenoid mechanism starts driving, the transmission link rotates. In accordance with the rotation of the transmission link, the switching link rotates, so that a switching among a discharge conveying path, a duplex-printing conveying path, and a switchback conveying path by the branch guide and a switching of a rotating direction of a transmission gear can be simultaneously performed.

Abstract: In the state that a preceding sheet awaits at an awaiting position, a pair of conveying rollers are separated from each other, and the front end of a subsequent sheet sent out from a main conveying path passes the gap between the pair of conveying rollers. Based on a configuration that the distance from the trailing end of the subsequent sheet in the conveying direction to the pair of conveying rollers becomes equal to that from the front end of the preceding sheet to the pair of conveying rollers, the preceding sheet and subsequent sheet are sandwiched by the pair of conveying rollers so as to be conveyed in a first direction, thereby making the sheets into a state that the sheets are put on each other. Thereafter, the sheets are conveyed in a second direction by the pair of conveying rollers, so as to be discharged into discharging unit.

Abstract: A 3-way letterbox media diverter directs and controls media in 2 forward directions and 1 reverse direction within a printer's paper path. The letterbox design enables actuation of the diverter from a first position to a second position just as the trail edge of a sheet passes a post fuser nip. Once the diverter reaches the second position, an invert nip now controlling the sheet is reversed to thereby invert the sheet. Thus, inversion of the sheet is accomplished in a small space envelope, time to reverse direction is reduced, process speed can be reduced and additional paper guides are eliminated.

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: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: (a) a medium supporter; (b) an inkjet head; and (c) a medium feeder including a first roller and a second roller for cooperating with each other to nip the recording medium, for thereby feeding a recording medium outwardly of the medium supporter. The first roller is displaceable between a projecting position and a non-projecting position, such that the first roller projects out from the medium supporter when being placed in the projecting position.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of performing a stable reading operation and matching a sub-scanning magnification with which an original image is scanned, between the front side of an original and the reverse side of the same. A CCD line sensor reads the front side of an original, and a CIS line sensor reads the reverse side of the same. A lead roller is disposed upstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a first conveying speed. A discharge roller is disposed downstream of the CCD line sensor and conveys the original at a second conveying speed which is higher than the first conveying speed. A CPU controls one main scanning time period of the CCD line sensor after the original is held by the discharge roller, such that the one main scanning time period becomes shorter than before the original is held by the discharge roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a paper feeding roller, a separating roller, a double-feed detection section, a double-feed determining section, a torque limiter, a driving section, and a driving force-input control section. The paper feeding roller conveys a sheet. The separating roller separates sheets doubly fed to a nip between the separating roller and the paper feeding roller. The double-feed detection section detects conveyance state of the sheets to the nip and outputs a detection signal. The double-feed determining section determines, on the basis of the detection signal, whether sheets conveyed to the nip are doubly fed. If only one sheet is conveyed to the nip, the torque limiter allows the separating roller to be driven to rotate following the paper feeding roller. The driving section inputs driving force to the separating roller via the torque limiter.

Abstract: A turn guide is disposed between a first transport surface and a second transport surface on which a sheet is transported while being sucked. The turn guide has a plurality of guide ribs. The plurality of guide ribs have curved inverting transfer surfaces from an inversion start point corresponding to a first transport surface to an inversion end point corresponding to a second transport surface.

Abstract: When a sheet of paper is inverted and the direction is changed, members such as a roller do not come into contact with the printed surface of the sheet and it is possible to prevent smudges by eliminating an ink stain on a surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance relay unit, including: a convergence unit, including: a convergence section, in which a plurality of sheet receiving sections are respectively connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses, to receive recording sheets, wherein the convergence section makes the recording sheets, conveyed from the plurality of the sheet receiving sections, to merge into a single sheet conveyance path; and a first common sheet-conveyance section, which conveys the recording sheets from the convergence section to a sheet feeding outlet, and a divergence unit, including: a second common sheet-conveyance section, which conveys the recording sheets, conveyed from the convergence unit; a plurality of sheet feed-out sections, which are combined to a plurality of post-finishing apparatuses; and a divergence section, which sorts the recording sheets, conveyed by the second common sheet-conveyance section, onto the plurality of the sheet feed-out sections.

Abstract: If a jam detecting portion detects a sheet jam, a rear end position of the jammed sheet is computed based on information, when a rear end of the jammed sheet is located within an area A1 and a length Ls of the jammed sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet is equal to or shorter than a distance L between the area A1 and an area A2, driving operations of a pre-registration roller and a registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed to a downstream until a rear end of the sheet passes through a downstream end of the area A1. When Ls is longer than L, the pre-registration roller and the registration roller are controlled so that the jammed sheet is conveyed toward the upstream until the rear end of the sheet passes through an upstream end of the area A1.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating device including: a tray configured to accommodate a sheet; and a pressing member configured to press the sheet accommodated in the tray, wherein the pressing member includes a guide portion configured to guide, where the sheet accommodated in the tray is transferred, the transferred sheet toward a downstream side in a sheet transferring direction in which the sheet is transferred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit that stacks and stores the sheet before printing, a first conveying path that conveys the sheet from this sheet stacking unit, a second conveying path that conveys the sheet from this first conveying path to a space between the recording head and a sheet guide member while reversing the sheet, a third conveying path that conveys the sheet from the first conveying path to a temporary storing unit in a state in which a front-to-rear direction of the sheet is maintained, a fourth conveying path that conveys the sheet from the temporary storing unit to the space in a state in which the front-to-rear direction of the sheet is maintained, a first switching mechanism that switches a conveying direction of the sheet, and a second switching mechanism that guides the sheet.

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: A sheet conveyance relay unit, including: a convergence unit, including: a convergence section to converge sheet conveyance paths of plural sheet receiving sections; and a first common sheet-conveyance section, which conveys the recording sheets from the convergence section to a sheet feeding outlet; a divergence unit, including: a second common sheet-conveyance section, which conveys the recording sheets conveyed from the convergence unit; plural sheet feed-out sections, which are combined to plural post-finishing apparatuses; and a divergence section, which sorts the recording sheets conveyed by the second common sheet-conveyance section, onto the plural sheet feed-out sections; and a control section which receives job information having been set, and selects an image forming apparatus to be used for a job among the image forming apparatuses and a post-finishing apparatus to be used for the job among the plural post-finishing apparatuses, whereby the control section conducts the job having been set.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking a sheet, a sheet feeding roller for feeding the sheet stacked on said sheet stacking portion, a supporting member, rotatably supported by a base member, for rotatably supporting said sheet feeding roller, and a spring stretched between the base member and an acting portion of the supporting member. The acting portion of the supporting member is located downward with respect to a rotation center of the supporting member when a sheet stacking amount is small, and the acting portion of the supporting member is located upward with respect to a rotation center of the supporting member when a sheet stacking amount is large.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an input module for feeding documents one-by-one into the machine, a note handling assembly including a note transport system, secure document analysis assembly, diverter and stacker module. The secure document analysis assembly includes one or more detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents. The diverter directs documents along one of plural transport paths. Documents pass from the diverter into a safe via a through-safe transport and transport safe module to a series of roll storage modules, in which documents can be stored and later dispensed.

Abstract: A media-loaded device includes a main body and a guide unit. The main body, in which media are stackable, has a first engaging member. The guide unit is movable relative to the main body and has a disengaging member. The disengaging member has a second engaging member that engages with the first engaging member. The second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging member by an external force applied to the disengaging member in a stacking direction of the media.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a pair of rollers that rotate, that selectively carries out forward direction transport and switchback transport, including a guide member provided at a downstream side from the rollers in the forward direction transport that moves to either a first position or a second position, and a control portion causing the guide member to move to the first position during the forward direction transport and causing the guide member to move to the second position during the switchback transport. The first position is a position in which the guide member is retracted from a path of the recording paper on a downstream side from the rollers in the forward direction transport. The second position is a position in which the recording paper sandwiched between the rollers can be received on the guide member.

Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus with a sheet diverter function, a production system with a printer and a folding machine for printed products, in which such a sheet guiding apparatus is used, and a method for producing printed products with the production system, permit productivity to be raised without increasing the operating speed of the folding machine.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, a printmaking device, a method, and a system for reducing process direction errors of a sheet in a registration device is provided herein. The printmaking device includes a feed path, a printing module, and a sheet registration system. The sheet registration system is along the feed path and includes at least one trail edge sensor, a registration controller, and at least one pair of registration nips. The feed path moves a first side of the sheet in a process direction. The registration controller registers the first side of the sheet by: measuring and correcting a first skew error of the sheet; measuring and correcting a first arrival time of the trail edge of the sheet to determine a first process direction position of the sheet; and delivering the first side of the adjusted sheet at a first predefined delivery time.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a sheet folding mechanism including: a folding unit; a shaft; a pair of discharge rollers provided on the shaft; a pair of pinch rollers; a pair of clutches configured to transmit a rotational force only in the reverse direction; a pair of corrugation rollers, each of the corrugation rollers having a cam surface including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and an eccentric bearing to be fixed to each of the pair of clutches; a lock member configured to prevent the pair of corrugation rollers from idling; a drive unit configured to rotate the shaft; and a controller configured to cause the corrugation rollers to apply corrugation on the sheet bundle using any one of the first diameter portions and the second diameter portions according to the number of sheets in the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet discharge roller has a contact portion in contact with a feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The sheet discharge roller includes a kick-out unit having a projected portion and a recess portion on one end of the noncontact portion in the circumferential direction. A reverse roller also has a contact portion in contact with the feed roller and a noncontact portion not in contact with the feed roller. The reverse roller includes a large-diameter portion on its one end in a direction opposite to a direction of the kick-out unit. The large-diameter portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion.

Abstract: A medium reversing apparatus, an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus that respectively have the medium reversing apparatus are supplied capable of avoiding medium damage and medium load abnormality. In the medium reversing apparatus that conveys a sheet-like medium back and reverses obverse side and reverse side of the medium, a medium ejection opening is used for ejecting at least a part of the medium; an ejecting member at least ejects the part of the medium from the medium ejection opening and conveys the medium back; and a bend forming section is set at the outside edge portion of the ejecting member and bends the medium from a clamp face of the medium clamped by the ejecting member.

Abstract: A combined sheet inverting and buffering system and method including a sheet drive for transporting sheets into a sheet collecting area. The sheet drive is selectively operable to transport the sheets in a first and second direction along a processing path. A holding device can hold a plurality of sheets. The sheet drive and holding device cooperate to compile the plurality of sheets into a stack wherein the sheets overlie each other in a shingled manner. A take away drive is in operative communication with the sheets for individually unloading the sheets from the sheet collecting area.

Abstract: A feeder device for printed products is provided including at least one first drum rotatable about a first axis; at least one second drum rotatable about a second axis; and an actuator coupled to the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum for reciprocating the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum axially. A printed product conveying device and a method of transporting printed products are also provided.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus for OCR/VSC integrated systems, which selectively delivers postal items to upper- and lower-side stackers, includes at least one pair of conveyor belts bifurcating from a bifurcation gate to the down-side stackers, and at least one pair of conveyor belts bifurcating from the bifurcation gate to the upper-side stackers. The conveyor belts include a first twisted section, an S-shaped ascending portion, and a second twisted portion. Each postal item is tilted by the first twisted portion, then raised by the S-shaped ascending portion with its tilted attitude maintained, and returned to upright by the second twisted portion.

Abstract: A technique in an image forming apparatus in which the front and back sides of a sheet are reversed by using a reversal conveyance path is provided for causing the sheet to wait such that the sheet is not damaged when a unit for conveying the sheet to the reversal conveyance path is pulled out for the purpose of clearing a jam or the like. A roller for conveying the sheet is controlled such that the sheet to be turned back and directed into the reversal conveyance path is caused to wait until the sheet can be conveyed into the reversal conveyance path. As a standby position of the sheet while the sheet is caused to wait, a position is set such that an upstream end portion in the second conveying direction of the sheet to be directed into the reversal conveyance path does not extend for a predetermined length or longer into another conveyance unit adjacent to the intermediate conveyance unit upstream from the intermediate conveyance unit in the second conveying direction.

Abstract: Conveying mechanism includes first conveying element including upstream end on which feeding assembly for supplying sheet; and second conveying element for defining conveying path to guide sheet with the first conveying element, wherein the second conveying element has turning element including pivotal first and second ends, and displacement element coupled to turning element, pivotal first end is held near first conveying element, pivotal second end is coupled to the displacement element, displacement element along first conveying element defines conveying path when turning element is in a first position where turning element extends along first conveying element, and displacement element translates away from first conveying element while forming corner with turning element when turning element turns from first position to move away from first conveying element.

Abstract: A mail paper sealing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an input part, a compression roller part, a driving unit, and a convey accelerator. The input part supplies a mail paper. The compression roller part seals the folded mail paper conveyed from the input part. The driving unit generates a rotary force. The convey accelerator is provided between the input part and the compression roller part and adds a rotation frictional force to a top surface of one side of the mail paper in a convey direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharging roller pair that discharges the sheet, on which the image is formed, onto a stacking portion with a rotation in a first direction, and conveys the sheet to a re-conveying path for conveying the sheet to the image forming unit again with a rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a skew feed correction member that is provided in the re-conveying path, and contacts against a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotation in the second direction to correct skew feed of the sheet. The sheet conveying force when contacting the leading edge of the sheet against the skew feed correction member is smaller than sheet conveying force of the discharging roller pair when discharging the sheet onto the stacking portion.

Abstract: A conveying device, comprising: a linear conveyance route on which a sheet-like medium is linearly conveyable; a bent conveyance route that is branched from the linear conveyance route and on which the medium is conveyable in a bent manner; a switching member provided at the branched portion and movable into a bent conveyance position for guiding the medium to the bent conveyance route and into a linear conveyance position for guiding the medium to the linear conveyance route, according to a force acting from the medium at a time of coming in contact with the medium; and a variable pressurizing unit configured to make a force acting on the medium from the switching member in the linear conveyance position smaller than a force acting on the medium from the switching member in the bent conveyance position.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus is capable of changing the forward motion direction (V1) of sheet articles (10) by means of a first rotating diverting member (4) situated above a lower active run (2h) of a second conveyor (2). The second conveyor is disposed at an angle (H1) with respect to the first conveyor (1) and the first rotating diverting member (4) is shaped like a cam with an active portion (4h) for moving the sheet article to the second conveyor without changing orientation of the sheet article. A third conveyor (3) can be added, at an angle (H2) with respect to the second conveyor, with a second rotating diverting member (5) for moving the sheet articles from the second conveyor to the third conveyor (3) without changing orientation of the sheet articles.

Abstract: A conveying direction-switching device is formed by direction-changing drums each having the same hollow cylindrical shape having a length corresponding to a lateral width of paper money bills to be conveyed. The direction-changing drum has first to fourth openings arranged in the outer periphery thereof, in a manner spaced from each other by a rotational angle of 90 degrees, and the rotational angle position thereof is controlled to be a predetermined phase angle. Inside the direction-changing drum, the first opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a first curved passage, the second opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a straight passage, and the third opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a second curved passage.

Abstract: A retard roller of an automatic document feeder provides a frictional force to separate plural documents from each other. The retard roller can provide a first damping torque and a second damping torque with different directions. The second damping torque is smaller than the first damping torque. As such, the frictional force exerted on the document is reduced for returning the document out of the automatic document feeder. A retard roller module having such a retard roller is also provided.

Abstract: In an image transferring apparatus of the invention, a relay unit, which is provided in a main body frame and includes a conveyance switching mechanism to eject a sheet on which an image is fixed by a fixing section to a sheet ejection section or to switch back the sheet in the middle of ejection, can be pulled out, and a automatic duplex unit to guide the switched back sheet to an image forming section is mounted to the main body frame to be capable of being detached. An intermediate unit to guide the sheet switched back by the relay unit, together with the fixing section, is fixed and placed in the main body frame. The intermediate unit is provided with a guide member to be capable of being opened and closed between a guide position for the switched back sheet and an open position opposite to the guide position.

Abstract: A guiding system for diverting media from an input media path to an output media path in an imaging system eliminates marking and curling of media. The system employs a drive roll, an idling belt carried on one or more idler rolls, and a release roll. The idling belt presses media onto the drive roll, eliminating the relative motion between media and the drive roll and hence avoiding marking. The penetration of the release roll into the drive roll controls curling of media.

Abstract: A medium conveying device includes a first guide member, a second guide member, a conveying member, and a support member. The first guide member guides one face of a medium to be conveyed and opposed to the one face when the medium is conveyed. The second guide member guides the other face of the medium and is opposed to the other face when the medium is conveyed, the second guide member being movable between a close position and an open position. The conveying member is provided in a conveying passage formed by the first guide member and the second guide member being at the close position in order to convey the medium in the conveying passage. The support member keeps the second guide member at the open position and is provided at a position outer than the second guide member in a direction that the medium is conveyed. When the second guide member is at the open position, the medium in the conveying passage is removable from the conveying passage.

Abstract: A conveying device includes a switching gate, a handle, and a link mechanism. The switching gate switches the direction in which a sheet of paper is conveyed along a conveying path. Normally, the weight of the switching gate keeps a front end portion of the gate engaging with a recess. A user grips the handle when he/she opens the conveying device from an apparatus. The user's grip on the handle makes the link mechanism disengage the gate portion from the recess. The link mechanism includes a protrusion protruding toward the apparatus and having a slope, which tapers off. When the conveying device closes into the apparatus, compressive contact of the protrusion slope with a wall of the apparatus disengages the gate portion from the recess.