Abstract: A sheet support bridging a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced guides has a stack of substantially identical and transversely extending support elements having transversely opposite ends slidable along the guides and a flexible connecting strand engaging all of the elements such that when stressed longitudinally the elements separate longitudinally from one another at a generally uniform spacing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image forming device is provided that includes a media path configured to carry print media through the image forming device, an alignment mechanism including a plurality of alignment walls, and an image forming mechanism configured to form an image on the aligned print media received from the alignment mechanism. The alignment mechanism can be dynamically configurable to align the print media against a selected alignment wall from the plurality of alignment walls as the print media is carried along the media path.

Abstract: In a device for conveying stacks of sheets of paper, each stack is caused to advance along a pre-set path inside a pocket, which has a resting surface for supporting the stack and is provided with at least one pressure member designed to grip the stack on the resting surface during at least part of the displacement of the pocket along the path.

Abstract: A recording plate or film loading device for use with an image recording scanner. The device comprises a platen (6) arranged at an angle to the horizontal and onto which a plate or film is manually placed. A loading mechanism includes one or more first pusher members (12) cooperating with the platen to push a plate or film to an output position. A centering mechanism includes a pair of second pusher members (13) movable laterally with respect to the platen (6) to centre a plate or film on the platen.

Abstract: An image recorder is provided. For mounting two plates on a drum, two side-to-side adjustment sections are used. Each of the side-to-side adjustment sections includes an outer nut portion and an inner nut portion movable by respective ball screws in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the plates are fed. When a plate is fed with reference to the center of the drum as seen in the first direction, the inner nut portion is pivoted about the corresponding ball screw aside to a location such as not to hinder the movement of the plate. Thus, when a plurality of side-to-side adjustment sections are provided for side-to-side adjustment of plates, at least one of the side-to-side adjustment sections which is not in use is prevented from interfering with the plates.

Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. A substrate registration system is provided upstream of the imaging engine. The substrate registration system includes (1) a substrate transfer system for supporting and conveying substrates and (2) at least one engaging member for pushing the substrates on the substrate transfer system to a desired position. Preferably, two sets of engaging members are used, one on either side of the plates. This allows angular as well as positional registration. The substrate transfer system includes a frame and a series of rollers for supporting the substrates.

Abstract: In an external drum imaging system, a plate locating mechanism and method for operation of same are provided for automatically locating printing plates of various sizes in a staging position so as to be mounted on a predetermined position on external drum of the imaging system. The predetermined position in a particular embodiment is substantially center-justified on the external drum to help prevent artifacts in the recorded image.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. The documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output device (50) of the machine. Sheets are oriented in the central transport by a deskewing/centering device (84). The deskewing/centering device includes a shuttle (204). The shuttle includes transversely disposed pinch wheels (212, 214) and sensors (216, 218, 220). The rotation of the pinch wheels is selectively controlled to orient the leading edges of sheets to extend transversely relative to the sheet path.

Abstract: An aligning device in accordance with the present invention is arranged in such a manner that a feed section for feeding a sheet and a release section for releasing a pinching force exerted to the sheet by the feed section are driven by a single motor. With this arrangement, it is possible to obtain an aligning device for a sheet on which an image is formed, which is low-cost and has a simple structure.

Abstract: Before stopper members (25) of a skew correcting mechanism (10) are evacuated from a sheet conveyor path, sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) rotate a set angle in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction such that a sheet is separated from the stopper members (25). The sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) are arranged so that at least one of the rollers of each pair is independently pressed against the other with a force corresponding to the type of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheets has a conveyor for delivering a succession of the sheets in a longitudinal transport direction on a conveyor plane to an upstream side of a stacking station with longitudinal edges of the sheets extending parallel to the direction. A vertically displaceable platform in the station below the plane receives the sheets in a stack. A row of upper feed belts extending in the direction immediately above the conveyor and the stacking station has lower reaches engageable down against the sheets on the conveyor at the upstream side of the station. A feed-belt adjuster moves the upper feed belts transversely of the direction and sets the upper feed belts in any of a plurality of different transversely offset positions.

Abstract: A document transporter apparatus for use on an envelope inserter comprises a first track, for moving a first type of document, mounted to the envelope inserter, a second track, for moving a second type of document, mounted above the first track, and a mechanism for independently adjusting the width of each of the tracks to accommodate various document sizes.

Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus including a sheet tray, a pair of jogging fences, and a case. The sheet tray stacks a plurality of sheets that have been sent from an image forming apparatus. The pair of jogging fences hold the sheets stacked in the sheet tray and jog the sheets in a transverse direction relative to a sheet transferring direction. The jogging fences are moved toward and away from each other. The case encloses the apparatus and includes a plate covering the sheet tray from an operator accessible side. The plate has an opening. When the pair of jogging fences is expanded to outward limits, one of the pair of jogging fences at the operator accessible side is passed by the plate through the opening and located at an outside position relative to the plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aligning device for a feeder of a mailing machine, comprising a first rear aligning guide mobile in one direction of advance of the mailpieces and a second lateral aligning guide mobile in a direction perpendicular to this direction of advance, each aligning guide being adapted to be displaced in a respective groove. The groove associated with the rear aligning guide is inclined by a determined angle &agr; with respect to the direction of advance of the mailpieces, with the result that the rear aligning guide remains substantially centered on the small dimension of the mailpiece whatever the format of this piece. The rear aligning guide preferably presents the shape of a wedge having at least two successive slopes, a first slope of slight inclination and a second slope of steep inclination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging apparatus for wrapping flat articles, such as books, in a cardboard-made flat package blank, including first flaps remaining on the inside and second flaps remaining on the outside. The packaging apparatus comprises a supply station for package blanks, including alignment and centering elements for a bundle of package blanks and feed means for delivering the blanks from the bundle one by one onto a packaging line, an opening mechanism for the inner flaps of package blanks, a supply station for feeding one or more articles, or a consignment, onto each package blank, means for folding and bending the inner flaps around the consignment means for turning the package blank through 90° relative to its advancing direction, and means for folding and bending the outer flaps around the consignment on top of the inner flaps. The packaging apparatus is provided with first measuring elements capable of measuring the package blank for its width lateral to the travel direction.

Abstract: Device (1) for the longitudinal alignment of plate elements (2) within an infeed station of a machine working them. The aforementioned device is secured by two lateral brackets (9, 10) between which is settled a conveyor track for the said plate elements, comprising two plates (5, 6) folded downwise according to a line (7) non-perpendicular in the meaning of the shifting (3) of the said plate elements (2). The latter are moved downstream by means of at least two conveyor belts running around at least two pulleys (15, 16) secured between unmovable bearings (11-14) at the input of the said device. The device (1) has on its leading edge a protection plate (39) over which are flaps (30-32) movable and interdependent of a transverse shaft (24) connecting the leading edges of the two lateral brackets (9, 10). This shaft is moved by an alternate rotation between 0 and 45 degrees, synchronized with the production speed of the machine in order to allow the successive alignment of the said plate elements (2).

Abstract: An article jogging apparatus for the lateral straightening of sheet material located on a conveyor includes a pair of vertically opposed timing belts. One belt being adjustable per product width as well as stream throat. The other belt oscillating between a reference and a thrown position to realign those articles of the stream that are out of alignment. The apparatus utilizes a uniquely assembled drive pulley and position system.

Abstract: A device for laterally aligning a sheet on a feeding table of a sheet-processing machine, wherein a sheet is moved transversely to the sheet-transporting direction by a pulling device, and a multiple-sheet monitoring device activatable during the pulling operation is assigned to the pulling device, includes another pulling device disposed opposite the first-mentioned pulling device, and a pressure-exerting roller with multiple-sheet monitoring assigned to each of the pulling devices, respectively, for sheet stabilization.

Abstract: Roller pairs comprise respective upper rollers and respective lower rollers. The lower rollers are associated with respective displacement members connected thereto. The displacement members have oblong holes defined therein, and eccentric shafts fixed to respective ends of a rotatable shaft connected to a motor are supported in the respective oblong holes. A transversely shifting mechanism has a pair of transversely shifting fingers for transversely pressing a recording sheet toward a center thereof, and a displacing mechanism for displacing the transversely shifting fingers. The displacing mechanism comprises a pair of racks disposed on transverse shifters movable back and forth in the transverse direction of the recording sheet, an a pinion held in mesh with the racks and rotatable by a motor. The transverse shifters have integral transversely shifting fingers, respectively, for pressing the recording sheet.

Abstract: A device for aligning sheets laterally on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine, having a side stop, includes a suction pull nozzle movable transversely to a sheet transport direction and being formed with a plurality of suction openings, the suction openings being distributed so that the number of suction openings arranged in the sheet transport direction becomes greater in a transverse direction towards the side stop.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus has a fixed-side paper guide 5 and a movable-side paper guide 6. A tubular portion 7 of the movable-side paper guide 6 is slidably attached to a guide shaft 4. The guide shaft 4 is rotated by the power for feeding the paper to a paper processing section. The guide shaft 4 is provided with a helical groove 42, and a movable piece 71 having a pawl for engagement with the helical groove 42 is provided on the movable-side paper guide 6. When the guide shaft 4 rotates the movable-side paper guide 6 pushes and moves the paper to a proper position. When the paper is set in the proper position, the pawl is pushed up by a helical projection forming the helical groove 42, and is disengaged from the helical groove 42.

Abstract: A sheet material feeder and an image forming apparatus in which, even when a sheet of thick paper is transported through a sharply curved sheet material guide, the sheet can be adjusted to a lateral registry position. A base plate, a movable lower guide and a movable upper guide can slide in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sheet transport in union with each other. Where a sheet material stopped at a lateral registry adjustment position is a sheet of thick paper, it is brought into a tightly stretching condition supported at three points, i.e., a crotch point of the movable upper guide, a top of the movable lower guide, and a guide surface of a regulation-side lateral register plate. The sheet material supported from both sides at the three points is moved together with the movable lower guide and the movable upper guide toward a reference-side lateral register plate for abutment against the same, whereby the lateral registry position adjustment of the sheet material is completed.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printer component for image recording to a thermosensitive recording sheet. There is a loading opening through which the thermal printer component is supplied with the recording sheet. Plural guiding projections position the recording sheet in the loading opening. A recording sheet package includes a packaging case for containing a loose stack of plural recording sheets. The loading opening is loadable with the packaging case. A package outlet is formed in the packaging case for passage of each recording sheet, and set directed toward the thermal printer component. Plural cutouts are formed in a periphery of the packaging case, and receive the guiding projections. Blocking portions of a blocking frame are disposed inside the packaging case, and close the cutouts. The blocking portions are shiftable inwards from the cutouts by the guiding projections.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for guiding a paper for printing, which includes guide arms for guiding the paper carried between a transferring device and a fixing device. In the apparatus for guiding the paper for printing, the guide arms are mounted and spaced at a width of the paper from each other between the transferring device and the fixing device so as to guide the paper with being in contact with non-image portions of which a surface of the paper has an image formed thereon.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a rectangular sheet includes conveying device for conveying the sheet while contacting a bottom surface of the sheet on a conveyance surface and a pair of elastic members disposed on two sides of the conveying device, the elastic members guiding the sheet while contacting respective side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed by the conveying device so that a center line of the sheet coincides with a center line for conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet guide device to guide a sheet being conveyed in a sheet conveying path of the device includes a device to adjust widthwise sheet positioning by regulating side edges of the sheet. The adjusting device is provided in a curved part of the sheet conveying path. The sheet guide device further includes a sheet conveying roller to convey the sheet. The adjusting device is positioned on a shaft of the sheet conveying roller and is slidable along the shaft. The sheet conveying roller reverses a conveying direction of the sheet. The adjusting device unitarily includes a guide member to guide the side edges of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet material guide (1) for guiding banknotes as a sheet material to a banknote processor used for service machines such as an automatic vending machine, an exchanging machine, pachinko ball dispensing machine and a medal dispensing machine, wherein a banknote conveying path width changing device (21) comprises and arm (22) disposed in the banknote conveying direction and having both ends thereof rotatable supported on the side of an upper chute (8) and a guide rotor (27) rotatably supported at an intermediate portion (22c) of the arm (22) in the banknote conveying direction of the arm (22) and having a plurality of sheet plates (23) having mutually different widths and radially disposed in the banknote conveying direction, and when one of the sheet plates (23) of the guide rotor (27) is disposed between the upper and lower chutes (8, 2), the side (23b) of the sheet plate (23) defines the side surface of a banknote conveying path (12), thereby changing the width of the banknote conveying path in multiple s

Abstract: A sheet transport device is provided with a sheet inverting mechanism for retracting a sheet transported along a main transport route into a switchback route to invert the sheet transport direction and returning the sheet into the main transport route to turn the side of the sheet. The sheet transport device has a pair of sheet guides adapted in contact with respective opposite ends of the sheet set on a sheet setting portion to prevent a skew transport of the sheet. The sheet temporarily brought onto the sheet setting portion during a switchback operation from the switchback route is guided between of the sheet guides on the sheet setting portion. During the temporal appearance on the sheet setting portion, the opposite ends of the sheet are aligned by the respective sheet guides. Thereby, securely prevented is an occurrence of a skew transport state of the sheet during the switchback operation.

Abstract: A conveyor which includes one or more pocket assemblies which are adapted to be transported in a closed path. The assembly includes a pocket having two walls which are hinged to each other. In the closed position, the walls retain the product (newspaper) between them and, in their open position, they are spaced apart and can receive the product inserted therein. There is a pair of aligners mounted on the pocket which move from a retracted position to a forward position. If the product is misaligned in either direction transverse to the path of the pocket, one of the other of the aligners will contact the nearest edge of the product and push it into a central position in the pocket.

Abstract: A banknote centering device uses a clutch arrangement to limit inward movement of side engaging plates used to center a banknote. The clutch also allows a fixed cycle motor to be used for both inward and outward movement of the side engaging numbers. The resistance of the banknote to buckling in the slot is sufficient to cause the clutch to slip. The device is rugged, easy to produce, and has proven very reliable.

Abstract: A sheet transport device is provided with a sheet inverting mechanism for performing a switchback operation in which a sheet transported along a main transport route enters a switchback route, and the sheet transport direction is inverted in the switchback route to return the sheet to the main transport route so as to turn the side of the sheet. A registration roller pair is disposed near the junction between the main transport route and the switchback route. The sheet inverting mechanism is operated in such a manner that the sheet transport is temporarily suspended until a skew correctable portion that enables correction of a skew transport state of the sheet is formed at a lead end of the sheet in the exiting direction from the switchback route after the lead end of the sheet comes into contact with the registration roller pair. Thus, the skew transport state of the sheet which is liable to occur during the switchback operation is corrected.

Abstract: A banknote centering device uses a drive arrangement to accelerate two opposed side plates and the inertia of the side plates causes the banknote to be centered. The resistance of the banknote to buckling stops the side plates. A separate drive for the side plates accelerates the side plates and stalls when a banknote is centered. Preferably, the current for the drive of the side plates is variable to adjust for changing conditions.

Abstract: Sheet joggler system with an inlet roller pair (70, 70'), an outlet roller pair (71, 71'), sheet guides (48, 49) determining a curved sheet path between these roller pairs, a sheet supporting plate (65) between the inlet roller pair and the sheet guides, a sheet stop (72) at the lower end of said plate, and lateral sheet aligning members (66, 67).

Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a medium feed path in a main body of an medium processing apparatus, a medium positioning mechanism provided in the main body of the medium processing apparatus adjacent to the medium feed path for causing a centering of the medium in the medium feed path, and a medium processing unit provided in the main body of the medium processing apparatus adjacent to the medium feed path, wherein the medium positioning mechanism forms a unit independent from the main body of the medium processing apparatus, and wherein the medium positioning mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the medium positioning mechanism with respect to the main body of the medium processing apparatus.

Abstract: An input apparatus of the invention can selectively receive at least one sheet medium or an envelope containing a sheet medium therein. The apparatus includes a transfer path for transferring at least one medium and an envelope, a width guide disposed in the transfer path to restrict a width of the transfer path according to one selection among media input and envelope input, and a separation device situated adjacent to the transfer path. The width guide sets a media transfer width in the transfer path when the media input is selected, and the width guide leaves the transfer path when the envelope input is selected. The separation device transfers the at least one medium and the envelope, and moves in a direction to increase the thickness of the transfer path to allow the envelope to pass through the transfer path when the envelope input is selected.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, in an image forming apparatus, two document reading sections, a document conveying unit and a fixing unit are efficiently laid out so as to occupy a minimum of space available in the apparatus. Also, the document reading device is capable of reading even a relatively thick or a relatively long document conveyed by a turn-over type sheet-through document conveying device and not feasible for a turn-over path.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming part which forms an image on a recording medium; a stacker which stores the recording mediums one on another; a recording medium switchback portion which receives the recording medium on a first run, one side of which has been printed when passing the image forming part, and sends the recording medium for a second run; an inverted recording medium transfer path through which the recording medium is sent to the image forming part with an upper surface and a lower surface of the recording medium reversed; a recording medium transfer part which transfers the recording medium along the inverted recording medium transfer path; a recording medium position correcting part, located at the inverted recording medium transfer path, which corrects a position in a width direction of the recording medium, and a control means for controlling the recording medium position correcting part with a particular operation timing so that the recording medium position correcting part

Abstract: A sheet to be fed by a sheet feed roller is loaded on a sheet feed tray, and a side regulating member is disposed so as to be movable in accordance with the sheet size in order to regulate the position of the loaded sheet in the direction of the sheet width. The side regulating member extends downstream from the sheet feed roller in the sheet feeding direction in order to regulate the position of the sheet in the direction of the sheet width, thereby preventing oblique movement of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet jamming-proof mechanism for a paper-feeding system provided outside of a left and a right paper boundaries delimited along a predetermined paper-feeding pathway to supervise the paper-feeding direction for preventing sheet jamming. The sheet jamming-proof mechanism includes: a plurality of touch plates, each touch plate being closely contiguous to the outside of the left or right boundary of paper-feeding pathway and being elastically hold by the paper-feeding system so that the touch plate is forced to shift when the contact plate is pressed by a deviated paper; a plurality of detectors, each detector locates in the vicinity of the touch plate to sense the shift of the touch plate; and a controller which controls the driving device of the paper-feeding system to alter the ordinary paper-feeding operation for preventing sheet jamming when shift of any touch plate is sensed by the detectors.

Abstract: A collecting station (1) has a first (3) and a second lateral side guide (4) which are movable transversely to the direction of transport (A). The first side guide (3) has a rigid alignment surface (3a) with a convex, arcuate surface and, for the alignment of a deposited sheet, is moved at a first, high speed to an intermediate position and from there at a second, lower speed to the alignment end position. The second side guide (4) is provided with flexible bristles (5) which compensate for sheet tolerances and which are inclined downwards at an angle of 45.degree.. When the first side guide (3) comes to a standstill, the second side guide (4) is moved at a high speed to the alignment end position, then at a high speed back to an intermediate position in which contact with the sheets is no longer established, and thereafter at a lower speed back again to the alignment end position. For the return of the side guides (3 or 4), firstly the second side guide (4) and then the first side guide (3) are moved.

Abstract: A baffleless, easily accessible, copy sheet transport apparatus without sheet baffles that enables viewing and accessing jammed sheets without opening any baffles. The transport includes a pulley driven narrow timing belt with biased idler rolls providing normal force on belt driven copy sheets. Unobstructive copy sheet side guides are included to enhance viewing and removal of copy sheets from the copy sheet transport.

Abstract: Apparatus for sheet singling and alignment on a top side of a sheet pile of a rotary printing press includes a suction device extending transversely to sheet transport direction in the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet pile, the suction device being intermittently activatable with suction air, a scanning device for controlling a lifting motion of the sheet pile, the scanning device extending across the entire width of the pile and having a member movable towards and away from the top side of the pile for scanning the height thereof, swivelable levers adjacent the pile-height scanning member, an element for laterally aligning single sheets of the sheet pile axially displaceably mounted on the swivelable levers, and a device for directing an air stream onto the leading edge of the sheet pile so as to lift off a leading-edge region of the respective single sheets from the pile.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a sheet feeder used with an image scanner for transmitting a sheet object to be scanned through the image scanner which has a sloping plane detachably mounting thereon the image scanner and allowing the sheet object to be transmitted between the image scanner and the sheet feeder along the sloping plane for assisting in monitoring a transmission situation of the sheet object. The present invention utilizes an improvement on a sheet feeder structure to make the sheet feeder more pragmatic.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device can perform registration of a sheet with high precision even if the sheet is fed at high speed. The device includes a pair of active registration rollers, disposed at a side upstream from a reading unit in the sheet feeding direction, for correcting skew of the sheet, skew-amount detection sensors, disposed at a side downstream from the pair of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, respective pairs of feeding rollers, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, and sheet detection sensors, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of feeding rollers in the sheet feeding direction. Each of the pairs of feeding rollers includes a roller having a semispherical cross section at the driving side.

Abstract: A sheet media handling system is provided for use in a sheet processor (e.g., a printer). Such system incorporates an input tray for storing one or more sheet media prior to input through the printer's input port with the input tray vertically stacked with the printer's output support structure or tray. The system also has a single sheet medium guide mechanism adjacent the printer's output support structure, where the medium guide mechanism routes a single medium to the input port when the single medium is inserted therein. The single sheet medium guide mechanism includes a skew-abatement substructure and a deflection mechanism. The skew-abatement substructure is designed to facilitate alignment of and routing of a single medium towards the input port by contacting a first edge of the single medium and an opposite second edge of the single medium.

Abstract: A paper delivery apparatus of a printing machine includes a holding device having at least a pair of rotating members fitted, in the vicinity of both side edges of printed sheets, with a paper receiving section for holding the side edges of the printed sheets ejected from the printing machine, a driving device for rotating the rotating member to move downward in succession the printed sheets held on the paper receiving section. A paper stacking section disposed beneath the rotating body for holding the printed sheets which have been released from the paper receiving section; and a space between the paper receiving section for holding one side edge of the printed sheet and the paper receiving section for holding the other side edge of the printed sheet is set narrower at the lower part of the rotating member for discharging the printed sheet than at the upper part of the rotating member for receiving the printed sheet.

Abstract: A note acceptor for validating a paper currency note introduced therein. The acceptor includes a note validator unit and plural, interchangeable nose-pieces for releasable mounting on the validator unit. The validator unit includes a housing having a path extending through it, a conveyor for moving a paper currency note along the path, and plural optical and magnetic sensors to sense features of the note conveyed along the path. The path is of a width sufficient to accommodate the widest of any paper currency note to be validated. Each nose-piece forms a respective entrance port and note-guide to the path in the validator by defining a channel of a predetermined width corresponding to the width of an associated sized paper currency note. By mounting a nose-piece designed for a particular sized paper currency onto the validator housing, the resulting acceptor is configured to handle that size paper currency. When the nose piece is removed the validator is arranged to accept the largest size currency note.

Abstract: A sheet supply/conveyance mechanism for sheets includes a hopper for accommodating a stack of plural sheets, a conveyer for picking up the sheets from the hopper and conveying the sheets in an advancing direction along a path, two detectors for optically detecting a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed, a correcting device for correcting the horizontal alignment of the sheet in accordance with the detection results of said detectors, and right and left guide plates provided in the hopper for aligning the respective, opposite sides of the stacked sheets. The guide plates are slidable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the sheet advancing direction. The guide plates are respectively connected with the two detectors, so that the detectors are also slidable in the horizontal direction, together with the respective guide plates.

Abstract: A recording medium holddown apparatus for holding down a recording medium traversing along a path on a platen in a post-printing area of a printer. The recording medium holddown apparatus includes a first and second holddown member located above the platen to force a recording medium having any curl flat against the platen to thereby prevent problems associated with curl such as contamination of the printhead nozzles, ink smear, paper misregistration, and carriage hangup. In addition to the holddown members, a first and second runner are disposed on a carriage carrying the printhead across the recording medium for printing. The first and second runners have upturned ends to intercept any curl of the recording medium to further avoid problems associated with recording medium curl.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for centering and aligning sheets. The apparatus includes a D-roller assembly for cyclically engaging and transporting sheets and a centering and aligning mechanism for centering the lining sheets which is synchronized with the operation of the D-roller assembly so that the centering and aligning mechanism acts upon the sheets before the sheets are engaged by the D-roller assembly. The centering and aligning mechanism includes a pair of elements extending parallel to, and symmetrically from the center-line of, the path followed by the sheets and the elements cycle from first positions inward to second positions separated by approximately the width of the sheets so that sheets positioned between the elements are centered a aligned. Movement of the elements is synchronized with the D-roller assembly by a pair of complementary oppositely faced barrel cams mounted on a common shaft with the D-roller assembly.