Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus adapted for use with a recording apparatus such as a printer. The sheet supply apparatus comprises a frame having a sheet conveying surface, a shaft rotatably arranged above the sheet conveying surface, and a plurality of protrusions arranged on the shaft in the axially spaced relationship and at circumferentially different angles. The sheet is conveyed toward a horizontal member (such as conveying rollers in a printer) extending in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction along the sheet conveying surface by the protrusions so as to cause the sheet to abut against the transverse member. Oblique feeding of a sheet is thus corrected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of storing units for storing respective recording materials of various sizes; a plurality of feeding members for feeding out the recording materials from each of the storing units; a conveyance path along which the recording materials being fed out by each of the feeding members are conveyed; a plurality of conveying members for conveying the recording materials along the conveyance path; an image forming section for forming an image on the recording materials conveyed along the conveyance path; and a plurality of first regulators provided at respective predetermined positions with respect to corresponding ones of each of the storing units for regulating at least a maximum size of the various sizes of the recording materials while at least at a part of each of the recording materials is fed out from the respective corresponding storing units.

Abstract: A sheet feeder in a printer has a sheet loader, a pickup roller for feeding a cut sheet from the sheet loader, and a sheet feed roller for feeding the cut sheet supplied from the pickup roller for printing thereon data by a printing head. The pickup roller first feeds the cut sheet toward the sheet feed roller which rotates in a reverse direction, whereby the leading edge of the cut sheet is abut to the sheet feed roller. The pickup roller is then stopped and released from the cut sheet whereby a skew of the cut sheet is corrected. Subsequently, the sheet feed roller rotates in the forward direction to feed the cut sheet.

Abstract: A sheet convey apparatus comprises first convey means for conveying a sheet, second convey means for pinching and conveying the sheet conveyed by the first convey means, and a drive rotary member shiftable between a first position where the first convey means is driven by the drive rotary member and a second position where the second convey means is driven by the drive rotary member. After a tip end of the sheet conveyed by the first convey means is abutted against a nip of the second convey means to correct skew-feed of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed by the second convey means.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aligning device (10) for individual sheet (12) alignment. The alignment device (10) comprises a sensor device (22, 24, 26, 28), a delivery device (18), and a transport device (14) located downstream from the delivery device in the direction of conveyance of the sheet (12). In order to align the sheet (12) the sensor device (22, 24, 26, 28) detects the side end of the sheet so that its position can be determined in relation to a desired printing position. The transport device (14) holding the sheet (12) is shifted in relation to the direction (16) in which the sheet (12) is conveyed so that the sheet (12) can be moved into the desired printing position. Before the sheet (12) is aligned the delivery device (18), which feeds the sheet (12) to the transport device (14), is opened.

Abstract: The impact sound when a sheet member forms a loop is reduced so as to make the apparatus less noisy. A speed control device is provided for making the transport speed when the sheet member is made to hit a first transport device by a second transport device relatively slower than that of the first transport device. By changing the amount of transport of the first transport device along the width of the sheet member at right angles to the transport direction of the sheet member, the loop is formed successively along the width of the sheet member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for an image forming device such as a facsimile machine, image scanner, copier, etc. Paper sheets are picked up from a stack of paper sheets and are fed individually to a pair of feeding rollers. In contact with the feeding rollers is an elastic film as a skew correction device. If the paper sheet picked up and fed to the feeding rollers is crumpled or askew such that a leading edge of the picked up paper sheet is not parallel to the feeding roller, the skewed paper sheet contacts the elastic film and the skew in the paper sheet is corrected by the elastic film. As a result, when the paper sheet is fed by the feeding roller, the leading edge of the paper sheet is parallel to the feeding roller and is thereby fed without any skew.

Abstract: A pinch roller acts in combination with a drive roller to provide a nip through which sheets are passed in a sheet handling system. To reduce hand-off errors in the line feed accuracy of the sheet handling system, the pinch roller includes a compliant outer surface and soft undersurface volume. The flexibility of the outer surface allows the pinch roller to shift its holding force from the media to the pinch roller as the media leaves the nip between the rollers. This reduces the force seen by the media in the direction of the media travel, thus reducing the localized push on the back edge of the media. The soft undersurface volume is formed by a foam core.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying device, sheets having of various width sizes can be adjusted to sheet conveyance reference of a regulating device without moving the regulating device in the lateral direction of a sheet. An image forming apparatus uses two kinds or sheets of different width sizes (the LTR-size and the A4-size). The regulating device is fixed to a position where an LTR-size sheet can be regulated. When performing switchback conveyance of an A4-size sheet, switchback conveying devices convey the sheet while moving it toward the sheet conveyance reference of the regulating device by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder conveys an original along a conveying path to an original reading section in an image processor. First and second registration rollers for abutting the conveyed original against their contact portions, and a guide plate for guiding the conveyance of the original to the registration rollers are arranged in the conveying path. The first registration roller includes a plurality of reversing rollers made of rubber for reversing the original along a reversing path, and the reversing rollers are arranged a predetermined distance away from each other along an axis of their supporting shaft. A side edge in the direction of conveyance of the guide plate is in such a comb shape that projections and non-projections are alternatively formed. Each of the projections is opposite to a region between the adjacent reversing rollers, and extends toward the downstream side of the contact portions in the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: An enlarged buckle chamber is positioned within an easily accessible, copy sheet transport path and used to compile sheets during fault cycle down in copiers/printers whenever sheets are prevented from reaching the output in sequence by jammed sheets. The user can then clear most jams by accessing the jam area plus the "easy to reach" area where internally purged sheet are gathered, thereby avoiding having paper distributed all over the paper path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus comprising a separating mechanism and a conveying mechanism. The separating mechanism separates a plurality of sheets to convey it one by one. The separating mechanism applies a friction force to the sheet to be conveyed in a direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction. The separating mechanism has a plurality of separating members disposed in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The conveying mechanism receives and conveys the sheet separated by the separating mechanism. The conveying mechanism has a plurality of conveying rollers disposed in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. An outermost profile width of the conveying rollers in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction is smaller than that of the separating rollers.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer includes a feed roller, a pressure roller, a first guide and a second guide. The guides define a traveling passage between them for a sheet of paper to be sent to the nip between the rollers. The guides are positioned in such a manner that the passage narrows toward the nip. Even if a sheet of paper is wavy widthwise, it is flattened when sent to the nip. At least a front end portion of the second guide is made of material which can elastically deform toward the nip. The front end portion extends to a position very near to the nip. Even if the direction in which a sheet of paper is conveyed changes at a sharp angle just before the sheet reaches the nip, the elastic portion makes the sheet turn or bend gently, preventing it from turning or bending sharply.

Abstract: A printer constituted to drive a pair of feed rollers FR3 and a pair of resist rollers RR so that the leading end of paper P may one stop at a position of a paper sensor S1 at the upstream side when reaching the resist rollers RR and then the entire paper P may be conveyed at a second conveying speed, when conveying a sheet of paper P at a relatively fast first conveying speed by the feed rollers FR3, and conveying at a second conveying speed lower than the first conveying speed by aligning the leading end by the resist rollers RR. It solves the problems of error in printing starting position due to slipping-out of the leading end of the paper from the resist rollers, failure in control to a desired deflection amount when deflecting the paper by colliding with the resist rollers, impact noise when the paper collides with the resist rollers, especially impact noise in thick paper, and possibility of oblique running after passing through the resist rollers.

Abstract: A paper feeding unit driving device for an electrophotographic processor having a feed roller gear and a convey roller gear, a paper feed roller, and a convey roller, includes: a latch having first and second latch lugs and a first elastic member, a first shaft, a first clutch-spring, a first collar, a first stop, and a first hub, a second shaft, a second clutch-spring, a second collar, a second stop, and a cam, and a solenoid having a plunger and a second elastic member.

Abstract: A sheet-supply device for supplying a sheet from a stack of sheets to a print mechanism, the sheet supply device including: a sheet-feed roller for feeding the sheet in a sheet-feed direction; a rotatable transport roller disposed downstream from the sheet-feed roller in the sheet-feed direction; a drive source for generating a drive force by rotating in a forward rotational direction to rotate the transport roller in a sheet-transport rotational direction for transporting the sheet away from the sheet-feed roller and a reverse rotational direction to rotate the transport roller in a reverse sheet-transport rotational direction opposite the sheet-transport rotational direction; a drive force transmission mechanism for transmitting drive force from the drive source to the sheet-feed roller to rotate the sheet-feed roller in the sheet-feed rotational direction, the drive force transmission mechanism interrupting transmission of drive force from the drive source to the sheet-feed roller for a short period when t

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a recording medium is conveyed and held to a recording medium holding member by a plurality of conveying roller pairs, the recording medium held is conveyed to a transfer position which faces an image carrying member by a rotation of the recording medium holding member, and a visible image formed on the image carrying member is transferred onto the recording medium is disclosed. The conveying roller pair located at most downstream in the recording medium conveying direction among the plurality of conveying roller pairs are constructed so as to selectively perform rotation/stop of rollers and contact/separation of a nip. At least one of the other conveying roller pairs are constructed so as to selectively perform rotation/stop of the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for image producing systems such a stencil duplicating machine, a printer, and a copying machine. The sheet feeding apparatus comprises a sheet feed roller, a sheet feeding pressure regulator, a pair of register rollers, a sheet feeding time detector, and a control unit. The control unit compares a sheet feeding time detected by the sheet feeding time detector with a predetermined reference sheet feeding time, and controls a sheet feeding pressure on the basis of a compared result during a sheet feeding operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically feeding sheets to an image forming device such as a copying machine is provided with a sheet register means formed of one or more outside rollers movable into and out of contact with one or more feed rollers in rotation and one or more inside rollers located side by side with the feed rollers, so that the outside rollers rotate when being in touch with the feed rollers to forward the sheet. The outside and inside rollers are rockingly moved by shifting means, so that, when the sheet is given from a sheet supply unit, the outside rollers is separated from the feed rollers to rest the outside and inside rollers so as to bring the sheet into collision with the resting outside and inside rollers to slightly bend the leading portion of the sheet, consequently fulfilling a registering function of correcting the orientation of the sheet with relation to a feeding direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deskewing a sheet of media traveling through a paper path in a printer is provided. A buckle is formed in the sheet of media by over-driving the sheet into stationary deskew rollers that form a deskew nip downstream. A deskewing bias element includes a plurality of articulated segmented surfaces that contact the buckle and urge the leading edge of the sheet into the deskew nip. The buckle force combined with the biasing force from the deskewing bias element aligns the leading edge of the sheet with the deskew nip across the full width of the sheet, thereby removing any skew.

Abstract: A paper feeder feeds a sheet of paper while interposing the sheet of paper between a pressure roller and a feed roller. The pressure roller is rotatably supported at its both ends by a pair of arms which are independently swingable about a fixed shaft. A plurality sets of such pressure rollers and arms are disposed along an axial direction of the feed roller. The respective arms independently make swinging movement, and the pressure rollers press the sheet of paper while making inclination respectively even when the feed roller and the sheet of paper have irregularities. Thus, the frictional force is generated over the entire sheet of paper, and the sheet of paper is fed without any inclination.

Abstract: A paper handling device adapted to allow for the size of an accumulator region to be varied is disclosed. Apparatus 1 includes a feed section 2, and an accumulation region 3. Paper is fed into accumulation region 3 by roller 16, and out of accumulation region 3 via rollers 26. Thus, there are no belts extending across the accumulation region, and its size can be readily altered by mutual movement of track parts 19, 20. This allows for different sized paper to be easily accommodated.

Abstract: A sheet aligning and registration device for a printing machine. In a stalled roll registration device there is provided a drive mechanism preceding the stalled roll and a sensor to determine the size of a buckle formed in a sheet as it is fed into the registration nip formed by the stalled roll pair. When the buckle reaches a predetermined size the sensor generates a signal which causes the drive controller to briefly pulse the registration roll pair. This brief pulse of the registration roll pair captures the sheet in the nip in a deskewed and registered position for subsequent feeding in a timed relationship to a machine subsystem. A baffle located between the drive nip and registration nip directs the sheet buckle formation in a controlled manner so that proper deskewing and registration forces are obtained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus improved so that the leading end of a sheet can be exactly stopped in a nip position of registration rollers, and an image transferred to the sheet is not shifted. A locking device is provided in relation to the registration rollers provided in a conveying path. When the leading end of a cut sheet is inserted into the conveying path and is fed to the registration rollers, the registration rollers are brought into a state where it cannot be rotated by the locking device. Therefore, the leading end of the cut sheet fed is reliably stopped in the nip position of the registration rollers, and cannot enter the conveying path beyond this position. The conveyance of the cut sheet is thereafter resumed by the registration rollers and reaches a downstream pair of conveying rollers where the sheet is subjected to so-called secondary sheet feeding to an image forming section.

Abstract: A device for conveying sheet members, the device includes a pair of feed rollers, a pair of resist rollers disposed on the downstream side of the pair of feed rollers, and a drive control unite. The drive control unite starts driving the pair of feed rollers when the pair of resist rollers are not rotating in the primary conveyance interval and stops driving the pair of feed rollers after the front end of the sheet member conveyed by the action of the pair of feed rollers has come into contact with the nip of the pair of resist rollers and a loop has been formed in the sheet member between the pair of feed rollers and the pair of resist rollers.

Abstract: A paper feeder capable of preventing a sheet of paper from breaking when a paper jam is developed within an image forming apparatus over the boundary between a paper conveying unit and the image forming apparatus and simply removing the jammed paper outside from the paper feeder. An entrance roller pair for feeding the paper is provided in the neighborhood of an entrance of a paper conveying path. A lower fixed guide member and a rotatable guide member opposed to each other so as to interpose the paper conveying path therebetween, are provided on the downstream side as seen in a paper feeding direction. Further, a jump portion which projects in convex form at a position opposed to the rotatable guide member and a paper sensor for detecting a rear end of the paper in the neighborhood of the entrance roller pair are provided.

Abstract: The paper supply device of the present invention comprises a paper containing section for containing paper, a pickup roller for picking up paper contained in the paper containing section, a base movably provided in said paper containing section in a direction perpendicular to a direction where the paper is picked up, a lever, provided on the base, for locking the base to a predetermined position, and a guide body, provided on the base, placed at a first position separating from the base to resist against urging force of a tension spring when the guide body is urged to a direction close to the base by the tension spring and the the locking of the base by the lever is released, and placed at a second position separating from a side surface portion of the paper by urging force of the tension spring and being close to the base to guide the paper when the base is locked by the lever after contacting the side surface portion of the paper by movement of the base.

Abstract: A paper feeder is suitable for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer or the like and is capable of suitably correcting the direction of a sheet of paper conveyed from a registration device to a transfer unit. A paper conveying path is provided in curve form between a resist roller pair and a conveying roller pair provided on the upstream side of the resist roller pair as seen in a paper feeding direction. A fixed guide member is provided on the concave side of the paper conveying path. A movable guide member rotatably supported by a rotatable shaft with the rotatable shaft taken as the center, is provided on the convex side of the paper conveying path. The movable guide member is urged toward the fixed guide member by a torsion spring. A film-shaped elastic member which extends toward the downstream side as seen in the paper conveying direction, is mounted on a leading end portion of the movable guide member.

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 printing method of playing out piled sheets of paper one by one, feeding the played-out sheet of paper to the position of a platen, and printing the sheet of paper, the printing method includes the steps of: (a) feeding the sheet of paper played out from the piled position thereof at a first speed until the sheet of paper approaches a platen which is stopping; (b) feeding the sheet of paper at a second speed lower than the first speed until a required short time passes from a time when the sheet of paper is engaged with the stopping platen, for performing a sheet flexing and a sheet skew removing; and (c) driving the platen at the second speed to feed the sheet of paper to a printing position. And the printing apparatus performs the printing method.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism is provided with a guide path along which a sheet-like member is guided and which is defined between one and the other guide surfaces. A stationary guide member has a first surface defining the one guide surface, and a movable guide member having a second surface defines the other guide surface, which is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member. Protrusions are formed on one of the first and second surfaces, protruding toward the other of the first and second surfaces by a predetermined distance. A shiftable member is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member between a guide position and a remote position. A spring is provided between the shiftable member and the movable guide member allowing the elastic contact between the protrusions and the other of the first and second surfaces, when the shiftable member is located in the guide position.

Abstract: A copying machine that is capable of copying a large-size document original on a transfer sheet is provided in which the transfer sheet is prevented from being skewed from the desired transport path. In one embodiment, this bypass transportation path for a cut-sheet extends to a photoreceptor drum and is provided with a resist roller and a downstream transportation roller. A cut-sheet inserted from a manual sheet feeding section is stopped with its leading edge abutting against the resist roller, so that the leading edge of the cut-sheet is aligned with a line perpendicular to a transportation direction of the sheet. The cut-sheet is then transported by the resist roller and the transportation roller. At this time, the circumferential speed of the resist roller is slower by a predetermined degree than the circumferential speed of the transportation roller.

Abstract: A stalled roll registration device that minimizes or prevents creasing of a sheet as it is fed through the device. The rolls that register the sheet are not perfectly cylindrical and have a larger radius toward the outside edges of the sheetpath. After the sheet is stalled and then started through the registration pair, the velocity difference caused by the noncylindrical rolls causes the edges of the sheet to be urged toward the edges of the sheetpath thereby minimizing the risk of wrinkling the sheet.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for feeding and discharging a document or documents to and from a document handling device such as a copying machine includes a document supply unit having a separation roller and register rollers, positioning unit and discharge unit, which are driven by a drive unit having a single reversible driving motor. The separation roller is operated to forward the document to a document reading portion when driving the driving motor in a first direction, and stopped when driving the driving motor in a second direction. The register rollers are operated only when driving the driving motor in a second direction. By slowing down the separation roller just before the document collides with the register rollers, the document can be transferred at high speed without being damaged.

Abstract: A sheet aligning and registration device for a printing machine. In a stalled roll registration device there is provided a drive mechanism preceding the stalled roll which allows a sheet to move while within the drive nip. The drive mechanism uses a drive roll and an eccentric idler roll in contact therewith. The idler is biased against the drive roll by a compression spring such that as the eccentric idler roll rotates, the spring is alternately compressed and relaxed. When a sheet is driven through the drive mechanism and into the stalled nip, a buckle is formed which causes a force to be exerted on the drive nip which causes the eccentric roll to stall in the horizontal position in which little normal force is exerted on the sheet. The sheet is then free to deskew and align in the stalled nip. Once the sheet is aligned and deskewed, the stalled nip is actuated and the sheet is forwarded to a process station.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus with a convey roller for conveying a sheet; a plurality of pinch rollers arranged along the convey roller and adapted to urge the sheet against the convey roller; a pinch roller holder formed as one piece for supporting the plurality of pinch rollers, the rigidity of the pinch roller holder in a sheet conveying direction being greater than the rigidity of the pinch roller holder in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction; and a biasing device for acting on the pinch roller holder to urge the pinch rollers against the convey roller.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder is formed of a transfer device having a transfer belt situated above a platen to transfer a sheet on the platen, and a belt motor for actuating the transfer belt, a sheet detecting device situated near the transfer belt for detecting the sheet, and a feeding device located near the transfer belt at a side of the sheet detecting device. The feeding device feeds the sheet between the transfer belt and the platen. A controlling device is electrically connected to the sheet detecting device and the belt motor. The controlling device, while the belt motor for transferring the sheet on the platen is actuating, outputs a stop signal to stop the belt motor when a predetermined time has passed after the sheet detecting device detects the sheet so that the sheet is placed on a predetermined position on the platen. The feeder further includes a compensating device connected to the controlling device.

Abstract: Postal items are assembled using a system with delivery stations and a folding station. Documents are delivered by the delivery stations. The documents are gathered into a stack having on one side substantially aligned document edges. The stack is supplied to the folding station in a direction transverse to these edges. According to the invention the documents, after being delivered, are displaced relative to each other in an area downstream of the delivery stations and upstream of the folding station until these document edges are substantially aligned on one side of the documents. By virtue of the invention, it is possible, inter alia, to use delivery stations and transport means of simple construction. There is also proposed a system with an aligning station for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: A stalled roll registration method and apparatus used as the sole timing adjustment in a paper path includes a clutch or motor driven registration nip, a buckle chamber and two sensors. After a sheet reaches a sensor upstream of the registration nip, the sheet lead edge advances a fixed distance into the stalled registration nip in order to buckle a known amount. Afterwards, the registration nip advances the deskewed sheet until a second sensor downstream of the registration nip is reached. The registration nip then stops, allowing the sheet to form an upstream buckle. This second buckle can be large since the lead edge is constrained by the registration nip. Therefore, large timing variations between sheet locations and image locations can be accommodated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device avoiding diagonal feeding of a sheet for use in an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet cassette and a sheet supply roller unit positioned deviatedly with respect to a widthwise center of the cassette. The deviated position of the sheet supply roller provides rotational force to the sheet for causing diagonal feeding thereof. The sheet feeding device includes a plurality of feed rollers arrayed side by side in the widthwise direction of the sheet. One feed roller positioned close to the sheet supply roller unit provides the sheet feeding force greater than that of the remaining sheet feed roller positioned far away from the sheet supply roller for providing a linear relationship between a resultant sheet feeding force and a resultant resistive force in a direction parallel with the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sorter with a plurality of sheet containing bins. The sorter has a first roller and a second roller for transporting a sheet received from a copying machine, and a punching mechanism for punching a sheet is provided immediately after the first roller. Power transmission to the second roller can be connected and disconnected. Immediately before the trailing edge of a sheet passes through the first roller, rotation of the second roller is stopped. Thereby, the trailing portion of the sheet makes a curve, the curve in the sheet caused by buckling of the sheet as the first roller holds the sheet against any further downstream movement, and the trailing edge is regulated by the first roller. In this moment, the punching mechanism is driven to punch the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeder incorporated in an image forming apparatus and allowing the distance between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet to be reduced to a minimum necessary one. A pair of control rollers whose transport speed is controllable are located upstream of an image forming section with respect to an intended direction of sheet transport. An image transfer and paper separation unit is located at the image forming section. The transport speed of the control rollers is made higher than an image forming speed for any desired period of time after the leading edge of a sheet has been gripped by said control rollers and before the leading edge reaches the image forming section. As a result the distance between the preceding and succeeding sheets is reduced to increase the number of images which can be formed for a unit time without the transport speed at the image forming section being increased.

Abstract: A paper feeding device is usable in an image forming apparatus, and is provided with a paper supplier for supplying a copy paper sheet and a paper inverting portion for inverting the supplied copy paper sheet. The inverting portion has an inner guide surface curved substantially in C-shape. This paper feeding device is simple in construction and assure smooth paper inverting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulating two different size documents to form a collation, comprises a first accumulator pocket having first structure for individually transporting, stacking and registering at least one smaller one and one larger one of the documents to form a first collation of the smaller and larger documents. A second accumulator pocket is superposed over the first accumulator pocket, the second accumulator pocket having second structure for individually transporting, stacking and registering at least one smaller one and one larger one of the documents to form a second collation of the smaller and larger documents. Diverting structure is situated upstream of the first and second pockets for diverting the smaller and larger documents to one of the first and second accumulator pockets.

Abstract: A roller pair assembly for a pair of registration rollers which accelerates a sheet along an image receiving path. A compression spring positioned between a clip and a retainer provides a force at each end of the rollers urging them together. The retainer includes a nest for receiving the compression spring and a bearing surface for engaging a bearing housing for one of the rollers. The clip includes a projection for engaging the compression spring and a pair of resilient arms with detents engaging detents in an outside surface of a housing for the other roller.

Abstract: In a time period from the time point where the forward end of a paper sheet fed from a pair of paper separation rollers reaches a registration roller to the time point where the registration roller is driven, when the load torque exerted on a forward roller is not less than second regulated torque, the transmission of power to the forward roller is released by a torque limiter provided for the forward roller. In this case, therefore, the force of paper feeding produced by the pair of paper separation rollers is regulated. Consequently, a suitable force of paper feeding can be applied to the paper sheet, thereby to make it possible to regulate the paper sheet straight in the direction of paper feeding as well as to prevent the paper sheet from continuing to be fed even if the amount of deflection of the paper sheet is saturated between the pair of paper separation rollers and the registration roller to prevent the paper sheet from being wrinkled.

Abstract: A method of straightening a skew in a cut sheet according to the present invention including the steps of feeding the cut sheet toward a sheet forward roller which is rotating forwardly in a sheet forward direction by a sheet feed roller, rotating the sheet forward roller backwardly immediately after a front end of the cut sheet is nipped by the sheet forward roller, adjusting a position of the front end of the cut sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet forward direction by a difference between widthwise sheet nipping amounts on right and left ends of the cut sheet, and feeding the cut sheet by rotating the sheet forward roller forwardly again. An apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a sheet feed device for image forming equipment, a sheet feed section and a register section are each provided an exclusive drive arrangement. The sheet feed section starts feeding a sheet toward the register section in response to a feed start signal generated in an image forming section. The time for causing the sheet feed section to stop feeding a sheet or the time for causing the register section to start driving the sheet is delayed in matching relation to a print speed. As a result, the sheet feed section provides a sheet with a sufficient slack while the register section brings the sheet into accurate register with an image and can change the position of an image on the sheet in the top-and-bottom direction.

Abstract: A paper feeder for use in copiers has a feed roller, a conveying roller and a registration roller. The apparatus further includes a feeding-conveying drive section for driving the conveying roller in synchronization with the rotation of the feed roller, and a conveying-registration drive section for driving the conveying roller in synchronization with the rotation of the registration roller. By this structure, the peripheral velocity of the rollers when the feed roller and conveying roller rotate can be set up higher than the peripheral velocity of the rollers when the registration roller and conveying roller rotate.

Abstract: A paper transport system includes an apparatus for controlling movement of the sheets along the predetermined course to provide sheet buffering. The apparatus includes first and second friction surfaces mounted for movement in orbital paths on opposite sides of the predetermined course in opposed relationship to define a nip through which the paper sheets pass. A selectively operable drive is provided for independently controlling the movement of the first and second friction surfaces, and the first friction surface has a coefficient of friction with the paper sheets which is greater than the coefficient of friction of the second surface with the paper sheets which is in turn greater than the coefficient of friction between the paper sheets.