Abstract: An image recording device comprises a recording unit configured to eject ink onto a sheet of recording medium, a platen disposed opposite to the recording unit and configured to support the sheet, a pair of upstream rollers disposed upstream of the recording unit and the platen in a sheet conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveying direction when rotating in a forward direction, and a controller. When the sheet is supported on the platen and pinched between the pair of upstream rollers, the controller causes the recording unit to eject the ink onto a particular portion of the sheet.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes first to fifth transport paths. The first path transports a sheet from a sheet feeding section to a sheet output section through a first confluence, an image recording section, a first bifurcation, and a second confluence in that order. The second path transports a sheet from the first bifurcation down to a switchback section through a second bifurcation and a third bifurcation in that order. The third path transports a sheet from the third bifurcation to the first confluence through a third confluence, and vice versa. The third path is positioned between the switchback section and a portion of the first transport path located in the image recording section. The fourth path transports a sheet from the second bifurcation to the third confluence, and vice versa. The fifth path transports a sheet from the second bifurcation to the second confluence.

Abstract: Provided is a media deposit apparatus including: a deposit transfer portion providing a deposit circulation path of media deposited via a media deposit portion; a temporary transfer portion providing a temporary circulation path that contacts with the deposit circulation path to transfer the media to a temporary stack portion, and including a temporary stack gate, provided between the deposit circulation path and the temporary circulation path, to selectively convert a path of media to the temporary circulation path; and a media transfer portion providing a media transfer path that contacts with the temporary circulation path to transfer the media to a media storage portion, and including a media storage gate, provided between the temporary circulation path and the media transfer path, to selectively convert the path of media to the media transfer path. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify a media transfer structure and to enhance a media transfer efficiency.

Abstract: A sheet registration system for a sheet handling device has a plurality of driven belts. Each belt is entrained about a driven roller and an idler roller. The driven rollers are fixedly mounted on a common drive shaft that is connected to a motor. The idler rollers each have a shaft and the idler shafts are coaxially aligned and parallel to the common drive shaft. Adjacent idler shafts are interconnected. The idler rollers are cantilevered about the common drive shaft and may be pivoted thereabout. The gravitational force on the cantilevered idler rollers provide the normal pressure on the belts to produce the frictional force necessary to acquire and register incoming sheets. Selective pivoting of the idler rollers in response to sheet media parameters inputted to a control panel by an end user automatically varies the normal pressure of the idler rollers and adjusts the frictional force of the belts.

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: A media path crossover for a printing system includes a first crossover pathway on which sheets of print media are conveyed across a crossover junction without interruption and a second crossover pathway on which sheets of print media are conveyed across the crossover junction without interruption. The second crossover pathway intersects the first crossover pathway at a crossover junction. The first crossover pathway comprises a first input path and a first output path and the second crossover pathway comprises a second input path and a second output path. At least the first input path includes a first access panel, whereby a sheet can be cleared therefrom while continuing conveyance of media along the second crossover pathway.

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: An automatic document feeder includes a first path extending from a feeding tray to a scanning module, a second path extending from the scanning module to a reversing roller unit, and a third path extending from the reversing roller unit to an intermediate portion of the first path. A document is moved from the feeding tray onto the reversing roller unit via the first and second paths for a first scanning. Just before the document is moved through the second path, the reversing roller unit is driven to allow the document to move therethrough. Subsequently, the document is reversed on the reversing roller unit to move through a looped passage defined by the third path, a portion of the first path downstream of the intermediate portion, and the second path for a second scanning. The reversing roller unit is operable to allow two opposite edges of the document to move thereon in different directions.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus includes a first unit upstream of a first path to transfer a sheet; a second unit upstream of a second path to transfer another sheet from opposite side of the first path; a third unit on a combined path of the first and second paths to transfer the sheets downstream; and a first member provided where the first and second paths meet to guide the sheets to the combined path. The third unit is a nip unit including elements forming a nip. One of the elements on the second path side is a belt unit. The first member has a downstream edge extending in a sheet width direction. The downstream edge has a first part facing the nip part and a second part not facing the nip part. The second part is located downstream of the first part in the sheet transfer direction.

Abstract: An image scanner and image scanning method to reliably image scanned media in an image scanning apparatus with consistent quality. The image scanning apparatus may be included within a printer 10 for printing to the medium. The image scanning apparatus comprises a transportation mechanism for transporting a card C along a transportation path 41 from an insertion opening 41 and an image sensor 44 to image the card on the transportation path 41. Guide walls 54 guide the card C into alignment with the transportation path 41. The transportation mechanism conveys the card C in a forward direction toward the image sensor 44 to a specified indexing position, and then in reverse toward the insertion opening 41a. The image sensor 44 images the card C as the card C is transported in reverse from the indexing position. The card C is then discharged from the card insertion opening 41a.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting sheet material, in particular bank notes (BN), comprises a diverting plate (4) with a first diverting edge (7) disposed on a slant and preferably a second diverting edge (8) disposed on a slant. The sheet material is guided from the rear side (6) of the diverting plate (4) around the first diverting edge (7) to the front side (5) and further around the second diverting edge (8) back to the rear side (6). If the diverting edges (7, 8) are aligned relative to the transport direction (1, 2, 3) of the sheet material e.g. in each case at a slant angle of 45°, this apparatus permits the sheet-material transport direction to be diverted by 180°, whereby the transport path is shifted parallel. Thus, a continuous bank-note stream can be diverted uninterruptedly while retaining the sheet-material orientation relative to the transport direction. By means of a gate (12) the sheet material can be guided to a downstream diverting edge (13) instead of to the second diverting edge (8).

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 sheet transporting apparatus that can realize a jam disposal mechanism with simple structure and that can achieve size reduction has a manual operation unit that is fitted coaxially with a roller shaft of an upstream-side transport roller or with a roller shaft of a downstream-side transport roller and that, when rotated in a state where drive motors are stationary, makes the upstream-side transport roller shaft and the downstream-side transport roller shaft rotate.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention has as an object to reduce the occurrence of jamming of sheet within a sheet handling device. [Solution] The sheet handling device comprises an input/output section having the function of stacking sheets and configured to accept and dispense sheets from the sheet handling device; a storing unit configured to store sheets; a transport path allocated between the storing unit and the input/output section and configured to transport sheets; a determination section allocated on the transport path and configured to determine transport condition of sheets being transported; and a controller that, in the event that the determination section determines improper transport condition of a sheet being transported from the storing unit to the input/output section by the transport path, controls the transport path so as to store the sheet in the storing unit.

Abstract: A sheet position detecting portion which detects a position of the sheet in which the image is formed by the image forming portion, a control portion which controls a motion of the inverting portion, and a sheet post-processing apparatus which is connected to the image forming portion and receives the sheet discharged from the discharging portion so as to apply an post-processing, and the control portion can change the motion of the inverting portion based on a detected information of the sheet position detecting portion, in such a manner that an interval time of the continuous sheets becomes equal to or more than a sheet interval time which the sheet post-processing apparatus can receive the sheet.

Abstract: There is equipped with a forward and reverse winder (31), a forwardly winding liner body (51), a reversely winding liner body (61) and a reciprocating body (71). The forwardly winding linear body (51) and the reversely winding linear body (61) are connected to the reciprocating body (71). The amounts of winding and rewinding the forwardly and reversely winding linear bodies (51) (61) by the winding drum (37) of the forward and reverse winder are equal to each other. The winding drum (37) of the forward and reverse winder (51) when the forwardly winding linear body (51) is forwardly wound axially moves corresponding to the winding and rewinding pitches of the linear bodies whereby a high precision based on a quiet stabilization of an operation state, durability and miniaturization of construction and a high precision based on proper winding and rewinding of the linear bodies and durability can be improved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section, provided in an apparatus body, for forming an image on a sheet; a sheet transport path for transporting the sheet to the image forming section; a closing member, openably and closably mounted to the apparatus body, for exposing the sheet transport path in an opened state thereof; a first guide unit and a second guide unit, disposed along the sheet transport path, for guiding the sheet, the first and the second guide units being operable to shift between a proximate position where the first and the second guide units are close to each other, and an away position where the first and the second guide units are away from each other; and a position shifting mechanism for shifting the position of the second guide unit in association with a shifting operation of the first guide unit.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus including: an insertion slot into which a paper sheet is inserted, a paper sheet conveyance mechanism for conveying the paper sheet inserted into the insertion slot, a paper sheet traveling route through which the paper sheet is conveyed, a sensor for detecting the paper sheet existence in the paper sheet traveling route, a pair of contact members for holding the paper sheet, a driving source for moving one of the pair of contact members toward the other, and a control device for controlling driving of the driving source. Either of the pair of contact members is driven to convey the paper sheet. The control device controls the driving force to move either of the pair of contact members such that the pair of contact members are kept apart before the paper sheet is inserted and that the pair of contact members become closer to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for successively conveying a series of sheets are disclosed. The apparatus has a first conveyer for conveying a sheet in a sheet conveying direction at a first speed and a second conveyer disposed spaced vertically away from the first conveyer for conveying the sheet in the same direction at a second speed. The second conveyer has a region overlapping with the first conveyer at least for a distance corresponding to a dimension of the sheet, e.g. the width of veneer sheet, as measured in the sheet conveying direction. A suction mechanism is disposed in said overlapping region for transferring by suction the sheet in the entirety of its dimension from the first conveyer to the second conveyer and holding by suction the sheet against the second conveyer. The sheet is further moved by the second conveyer, e.g. to a sheet stacking station.

Abstract: In a double-sided document transport device having a document reverse mechanism for suppressing the occurrence of jam and deterioration of read image, after a document is transported to a reading position, it is transported to the reading position again to read a rear side thereof through a reverse path. The device has discharge rollers disposed on an upper side and pinch rollers disposed on a lower side. The discharge rollers discharge a document as well as guides it to the reverse path by reversing it while claming the rear end thereof. The pinch rollers are fixed, and the discharge rollers are separated therefrom approximately upward about a rotation shaft of a transport unit. For this purpose, the discharge rollers are pressed against the pinch rollers and separated therefrom by a cancel lever. A drive system has two transmission routes one of which is reversed through a torque limiter and the other is reversed through an electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: A device for effecting the positionally accurate conveyance of flat articles to be sorted to an input device for a sorting conveyor has a draw-off unit and a feed unit. The draw-off unit periodically separates the flat articles to be sorted, and feeds them in separated form onto a conveyor line. The feed unit transfers the separated articles with a defined advance to the input device after these articles have reached a predetermined conveyance location of the conveyor line. A section of the conveyor line immediately preceding the predetermined conveyance point is arranged substantially vertical and includes a pair of belts for guiding the article to be sorted, with one belt of the pair running around two rollers and the other belt of the pair configured to be raised for a predetermined time.

Abstract: By means of a feed conveyor (10), planar objects (12) accruing in an overlapping formation (S), in particular printed products, are fed to a deflecting device having at least one deflection member pair (24). This deflection member pair (24) has a deflection member (26) and a further deflection member (26?) disposed below it. These form, synchronously with the cycle of the supplied objects (12) and starting from a passage gap, a transport gap (72), and then, again, the passage gap. Downstream of the passage gap and transport gap (72), viewed in the feed direction (Z), a stop (20) is present, against which the respective object (12) is brought to bear with its leading edge (16) through the passage gap. The transport gap (72) acts in the evacuation direction of an evacuating conveyor, to which the deflection member pair (24) feeds the objects (12) in a timed manner.

Abstract: An offsetting device for use in a mail stacking system receiving a plurality of mailpieces at a receiving end for stacking the mailpieces along a line. The offsetting device has a nip to engage with the mailpieces, and a plurality of rollers to change the moving speed of the mailpiece so as to cause the aligning edge of the mailpiece to misalign with line so as to provide a break in a stack. Alternatively, the rollers can be used to align a mailpiece in relation to the line so as to true stacking.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first sheet conveying passage that conveys a sheet through an image forming section. A sheet-discharging roller is on an outlet side of the first sheet conveying passage and can rotate in opposite directions. A second sheet conveying passage has an inlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage downstream from the image forming section and an outlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage upstream from the image forming section. A controller controls double-sided printing by causing the sheet-discharging roller to rotate forward to advance the sheet outside the sheet-discharging roller, and then to rotate in reverse to execute a switchback for transporting the sheet to the inlet side of the second sheet conveying passage and then to return the sheet to the upstream of the image forming section. An assisting mechanism adjusts a posture of the sheet to assist the switchback.

Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for directing media sheets moving along a media path within an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, a gate is positioned in proximity to the media path. The gate may include an elongated shape that extends across at least a section of the media path. A fluid damper may be operatively connected to the gate and may include a shaft and a chamber that holds fluid. The shaft is rotationally positioned with a first section within the chamber and a second section extending outward from the chamber. Rotation of the shaft in a first direction may force the fluid within the chamber to move relative to the body and cause the gate to move to a first position in the media path to direct the media sheets towards a first part of the media path.

Abstract: A paper-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a paper-transferring section (10) containing a transfer path (11) for transferring a sheet of paper (3) to a prescribed position and a transfer path (12) to which the transfer route is switchable from the transfer path (11), a punch-processing section (20) for punching two or more holes for binding in one end of the sheet of paper (3) transferred thereto, and a control section (50) for controlling the paper-transferring section (10) and the punch-processing section (20) wherein the control section (50) controls the paper-transferring section (10) to decelerate and stop the transfer of the sheet of paper (3) at the prescribed position of the transfer path (11), to switch the transfer route for the sheet of paper (3) from the transfer path (11) to the transfer path (12), and to deliver the sheet of paper (3) in a reverse direction thereof.

Abstract: Folded inserts (B) are added to folded or bound printed products (P) which, held individually by transfer grippers (6), are conveyed in an essentially continuous fashion, in that the inserts are placed on the folded or rear edges of the printed products in a manner whereby their fold (8) is aligned with the folded or rear edge of the latter. If necessary, the inserts (B) are attached by gluing or stapling to the folded or rear edges of the printed products (P). For adding small inserts the printed products (P) can be conveyed with their folded or rear edges held by the transfer grippers (6) of a printed product conveyor (1) and the insert (B) can be placed next to the gripper (6). If the inserts are larger (B), an auxiliary conveyor takes over the printed products for the placement of the inserts. Such placement of inserts (B) into printed products (P) is simple and can, in particular, be implemented with conventional device components and easily integrated into existing equipment.

Abstract: A modular flexible media handling apparatus includes an input module (28) through which flexible media enters the apparatus, at least one main path module (28, 30, 32, 34) through which flexible media passes along a main path (24), at least one lookaside module (36, 38) through which flexible media selectively passes along a lookaside path, and an output module (34) in which flexible media from the lookaside path and main path are merged.

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: An object of the present invention is to improve the process sequence in a printing machine. Another object of the present invention is to increase the operational life of the printing machine. A method has been provided for transporting printing material (9) through a printing machine in which, in case of an occurrence of paper jam in the transport path (2), a flap (5) in the transport path (2) is actuated and a sheet of printing material (9) is transported along the flap (5) out of the transport path (2). Furthermore, a transport arrangement (1) for transporting printing material (9) along a transport path (2) in a printing machine is provided, comprising at least one transport path flap (5) actuated by a control arrangement (20) for opening and closing, and comprising an associated container (8) for receiving waste printing material when said flap (5) is open.

Abstract: Guide ribs have curved inversion/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: A sheet feeding mechanism having a pickup roller, a switch device, and a gear set is disclosed. The pickup roller drives a recording material to a first path, and the recording material proceeds from the first path to a second path or from a third path to a fourth path when the switch device is switched to a first position, and proceeds from the first path to the third path when the switch device is switched to a second position. The gear set drives the recording material from the first path to the third path when the switch device is switched to the second position and drives the recording material from the first path to the second path, from the third path to the fourth path, and from the fourth path to the first path when the switch device is switched to the first position.

Abstract: There is provided a connection apparatus for connecting an image forming apparatus and a plurality of sheet post-processing apparatuses. This connection apparatus has a flapper portion for switching a plurality of conveying paths going toward the plurality of sheet post-processing apparatuses. Sensors are provided near inlet rollers and near output rollers, respectively. Outputs of the sensors are inputted to a wired OR circuit, so that an output of the wired OR circuit is supplied to a CPU of one of the connected sheet post-processing apparatuses.

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 (the direction of an arrow S); 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 (the direction of an arrow T), 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 turnaround assembly including a drive shaft positioned laterally across a transport path from a processing system, a plurality of drive wheels axially coupled to and positioned in a spaced fashion along the drive shaft, and a plurality of continuous belts, one belt corresponding to each drive wheel. Each belt is positioned so that its outside surface is tensioned against and forms a desired wrap angle about the corresponding drive wheel to create an arcuate turnaround path there between extending between input and output nips formed by initial and final points of contact between the belt and the drive wheel. The sheet turnaround is configured to receive a thermally developed sheet of photothermographic imaging media from a thermal processor at the input nip via the transport path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for receiving and distributing currency. In particular, the present invention provides a novel apparatus for the inflow and outflow of a variety of currency. The systems of the present invention are capable of recycling a variety of currency from multiple countries and multiple denominations. The systems of the present invention have the added advantage of compact size.

Abstract: A system for registering print media includes a media tray configured to hold a plurality of sheets of print media, a pick assembly configured to pick a sheet of the print media from the media tray and route the sheet to a media path, and a registration assembly positioned in the media path after the pick assembly. The registration assembly is configured to sense the sheet in the media path and operate for a predetermined time based on an amount of the print media in the media tray to register the sheet in the media path such that the predetermined time increases as the amount of the print media in the media tray decreases.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling documents of value comprises at least a first device, which has a transport path portion, along which a document of value is transported to and/or from the first device and/or into the first device, at least a second device, which has a transport path portion, along which a document of value is transported to and/or from the second device and/or into the second device, wherein the devices are arranged such that a document of value can be transported from the transport path portion of the first device into the one of the second device and/or from the transport path portion of the second device into the one of the first device, and at one coupling end of the respective transport path portion in a fixed position in relation to the respective transport path portion a pair of rolls mounted to be rotatable around a rotation axis, between the rolls of which a document of value is clamped when transported and the rolls of which in a section through the rotation axis have a comblike structure

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

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for decelerating sheets, especially paper or cardboard sheets, which are to be placed on a stack. The apparatus comprises rotatably driven clamping elements, which are disposed across the width of the apparatus on at least one side of the conveying plane of the sheets and are provided with clamping zones that intermittently reach all the way to the feeding plane of the sheet when revolving. The apparatus further comprises a mating element which is rotationally disposed on the opposite side of the conveying plane of the sheets such that a sheet can be clamped between the clamping zones and the mating element. The clamping elements are connected to an asymmetrical rotary drive unit while being equipped with ring segment-shaped clamping zones on a section of the circumference thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for clearing paper jams in a module along a print path of a printer, the module having nip baffles and a rotatable and removable core element defining a print path therethrough. The apparatus comprises at least one cam, a rotatable handle mechanism and a ramp drive mechanism to facilitate the paper jam clearing and removal of the core element from the module.

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: A sheet conveyance release mechanism has a movable guide unit and a fixed guide unit adjacent to the movable guide unit. The mechanism has a horizontal conveyance guide unit for conveying a sheet in a substantially horizontal direction, and a vertical conveyance guide unit for conveying a sheet in a substantially vertical direction. A jam release lever moves the movable guide unit from a first position adjacent to the fixed guide unit in the horizontal direction to a second position below the fixed guide unit, and moves the vertical conveyance guide unit so as to separate from a guide surface.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus according to the invention includes a first conveying path; a sheet reverse conveying portion; a second conveying path; a third conveying path; and a movable guide portion configured to guide the conveyed sheet. The guide portion is moved to a position where the sheet can pass when the sheet is guided from the first conveying path to the second conveying path, and the guide portion is moved to a position where the guide portion guides the sheet to the third conveying path while blocking between the first and second conveying paths such that the sheet can not intrude from the second conveying path into the first conveying path when the sheet conveyed by the sheet reverse conveying portion is conveyed in the second direction.

Abstract: A mailpiece fabrication system including a source for providing sheet material having mailpiece data printed thereon. The mailpiece fabrication system further includes at least one spatial positioning device adapted to direct the sheet material along one of two fabrication paths. Each fabrication path includes a fabrication assembly for producing one of at least two mailpiece configurations. In one embodiment, the spatial positioning device includes an orbiting nip roller for changing the elevation of the sheet material while, furthermore, providing an accurate and controlled mechanism for stacking and aligning sheet material to produce a flats mailpiece. In another embodiment, the spatial positioning device includes a routing roller in combination with the orbit nip roller to change the orientation of the sheet material. The routing roller is employed to change the direction of the sheet material relative to the feed path.

Abstract: An apparatus for deflecting sheet material from a first transport direction to a second transport direction while maintaining the orientation of the sheet material comprises a deflecting area (5) with a sheet-material supply zone (5a) and a sheet-material removal zone (5b), as well as at least one slider (11) with slider elements (12), which engages on the trailing edge of the sheet material to be deflected. By moving the slider from the sheet-material supply zone to the sheet-material removal zone around a rotation axis (13) the sheet material is deflected by the desired deflection angle. The sheet-material transport path preferably has two steps and the rotation axis (13) of the sliders (11) is preferably arranged in such a fashion that the slider elements (12) substantially only engage with the sheet-material transport path in the deflecting area (5) and emerge from the sheet-material transport path both upstream of the sheet-material supply zone (5a) and downstream of the sheet-material removal zone (5b).

Abstract: Equipment for transferring sheets with change of direction for sheets entering along a first direction comprising output rollers to move the sheets along a second direction, right-angled with respect to the first direction, and members of engagement and movement, actuatable for engaging and moving the sheets entering along the first direction along the second direction up to the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement provide a condition of reception which define a space of reception for the entering sheets and a condition of engagement and movement which engage and move the sheets for the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement return to the condition of reception upon the engagement of the entered sheet with the output rollers for enabling a following sheet to enter and to be moved along the first direction jointly with the movement of the previously entered sheet along the second direction.

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: An image forming apparatus that can perform stable sheet conveying for a medium that has low tear-resistance, easily sticks to something and is difficult to convey. Therefore, sheet conveying means is controlled, so that during a sheet conveying operation for each path, after a sheet has been conveyed, reverse feeding is performed to release sticking, and sheet feeding is thereafter completed.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and an apparatus for gathering flat printed products by selecting a single printed product from each of a multitude of collections of identical printed products and conveying the selected printed products towards a collecting conveyor (10), which runs along a generally straight line in a first direction (11).