Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation engine configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-conveyer configured to convey the sheet having an image formed on one surface thereof by the image formation engine to the image formation engine again along a re-conveying path. The re-conveyer includes a conveying roller configured to convey the sheet in a re-conveying direction toward the image formation engine, a first guide member configured to be swingable between a first position at which the first guide member defines a portion of the re-conveying path upstream of the conveying roller in the re-conveying direction and guides the sheet to the conveying roller and a second position for exposing the potion of the re-conveying path, and a support member configured to swingably support the first guide member and rotatably support the conveying roller.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a support housing (2-4) having first and second openings (3a, 3b) intended to be positioned during use facing an area (A) for the introduction of one or more documents (BC) to be processed, first and second rotatable gripping members (5, 6) for respectively performing aligning and forwarding, mounted in the housing (2-4) and designed to extend through the first and second openings (3a, 3b), respectively, these gripping members (5, 6) being rotatable about respective axes (V-V, U-U) oriented in different directions, and driving and control devices (10-17) designed to cause rotation of the gripping members (5, 6) about the respective axes (V-V, U-U) and their displacement through said openings (3a, 3b) between a retracted position and an extracted position with respect to the housing (2-4).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding mechanism configured to re-feed the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-feeding mechanism includes a fixed guide configured to guide the sheet fed in a sheet feed direction and having a guide surface partially defining re-feeding path through which the sheet passes, a base guide disposed downstream of the fixed guide, and a movable guide having a guide surface and configured to guide the sheet guided by the fixed guide and to move toward and away from the base guide. The fixed guide includes an engaging portion and the movable guide includes an engaging portion. The guide surface of the movable guide is positioned relative to the guide surface of the fixed guide when the engaging portion of the movable guide engages the engaging portion of the fixed guide.

Abstract: In a medium transport device, when a unit body is inserted into an installation unit and an opening and closing body is closed with respect to the device main body, the unit body is positioned in a position that configures a portion of a transport pathway as a result of the opening and closing body pressing first target pressing units that are provided in the unit body.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a shift unit. The shift unit includes a gate member configured to align a recording medium being conveyed thereto by causing a leading end of the recording medium to abut against the gate member so that part of the recording medium bends to form a curved portion; a pair of registration rollers configured to convey the recording medium aligned by the gate member at a predetermined timing, the pair of registration rollers including a driving roller and a driven roller, the driving roller having a rotating shaft coaxial with a rotational central shaft of the gate member; and a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit rotational drive from a drive unit to the driving roller, the drive transmitting unit being disposed on an end side of the rotating shaft of the driving roller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for aligning a bill supplied to a transfer path with a center line of the transfer path. The apparatus includes a fixed support unit which moves a bill in a transfer direction of the transfer path, a movable support unit which is disposed in succession to the fixed support unit and is provided so as to be movable in a lateral direction of the transfer path, a bill position sensor which senses the position of the bill that moves on the fixed support unit and the movable support unit, and a controller which is controls a lateral displacement of the movable support unit in response to information about the position of the bill, thus aligning the bill with the center line.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording unit and a transporting mechanism to transport a recording medium. The transporting mechanism includes, a guide surface to guide an end portion, of the recording medium, in a direction intersecting with a transporting direction of the recording medium, and a pair of rollers arranged, in a direction orthogonal to the guide surface, at a position between the guide surface and a central portion of the transporting path. The pair of rollers includes, a driving roller to transport the recording medium, and a driven roller having a rotary portion facing a recording surface, of the recording medium, on which the image is recorded, and configured to rotate about a rotation axis thereof following movement of the recording medium, and a first shaft to support the rotary portion rotatably. The rotary portion is supported rockably with respect to the first shaft.

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

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for properly orienting and aligning flat sheets or strip material, such as in the form of folding carton blanks, on a conveying system such as used in carton folders/gluers is disclosed. A moving sheet is engaged on at least one surface by plural non-driven movable casters oriented at an angle relative to the sheet's intended direction of travel, or target direction. The casters apply a lateral force to the sheet so that a linear lateral edge of the sheet is brought into contact with an adjacent guide member aligned with the target direction, with the sheet assuming a predetermined orientation relative to the target direction. Each caster is resiliently biased such as by a spring at a predetermined angle relative to the target direction. With the sheet's lateral edge in intimate contact with the guide member, the moving sheet is in the aforementioned predetermined orientation relative to, and is displaced in, the target direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for the vertical adjustment of combined front/top lays in a sheet processing machine includes a front/top lay carrier shaft carrying the front/top lays jointly in such a way that it can be pivoted with respect to a front/top lay drive shaft, or thrust joints disposed in carriers or coupling links for the front/top lays in such a way that they effect a lengthening of the carriers or coupling links in order to adjust the front/top lays. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus, is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of an aspect of the present invention includes stack trays provided with alignment members for applying an alignment process to sheets. At the time of discharging sheets, in a case where a sheet is already stacked on a first stack tray that has been decided on as a discharge destination for a sheet to be discharged, the sheet processing apparatus determines whether or not the width of the sheet to be discharged matches the width of the already-stacked sheet. In a case where the widths of the sheets do not match, a discharge destination for the sheet to be discharged is changed to a second stack tray.

Abstract: Disposed are support means for mounting at least a part of a sheet between a sheet discharge outlet and a stack tray disposed with a height difference formed vertically, sheet end regulation means for striking the end edge of the sheet supported by the support means to regulate, and aligning transport means for carrying the sheet toward the regulation means. Then, the transport means is comprised of a friction transport body that engages in the sheet top surface on the support means, and transport body travel means for shifting the transport body by a predetermined amount in the crossing direction inclined a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet discharge direction. The friction transport body is configured so that friction drag of the sheet surface is smaller in the travel orthogonal direction than in the travel direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, including an ejection section; a sheet stacking section; an abutting unit; a driving section; a control section; and a rotating member which has a rotating shaft in parallel with a width direction of the sheet bundle and is held so as to rotate from above the base end portion of the sheet stacking section through a gap of a predetermined width in the abutting unit. The control section starts rotation of the rotating member after lowering of the sheet stacking section is stopped, and when the rotation is started, the rotating member operates so as to abut a rear portion of a surface of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking section and pass through the gap in the abutting unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes first and second conveyance roller pairs, a width-direction shifting unit, first and second drive units, and a control unit. The second conveyance roller pair is arranged downstream of the first conveyance roller pair to nip and convey the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller pair, and to bend the sheet. The width-direction shifting unit shifts the sheet nipped by the second conveyance roller pair in a width direction by shifting the second conveyance roller pair in the width direction. The control unit controls the first and second drive units so that a circumferential speed of the first conveyance roller pair is made higher than that of the second conveyance roller pair between when the second conveyance roller pair starts conveying the sheet and when the width-direction shifting unit completes shifting the second conveyance roller pair in the width direction.

Abstract: To provide a sheet storage apparatus for enabling a sheet to be aligned so that the length-direction position and width-direction position of the sheet coincide with correct reference positions in positioning and storing the sheet in a predetermined position on a tray, it is configured that a paper feed rotating member in a center portion of a sheet that is carried out onto the tray and a paper-pressing guide in the side portion are disposed swingably up and down in the sheet load direction, and that the paper-pressing guide moves upward integrally with the paper feed rotating member floating a predetermined amount or more from the sheet top surface on the tray corresponding to a curl of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet skew feed correcting apparatus is provided which includes: a driving rotation member that is driven to rotate; a first driven rotation member that is pressure contacted against the driving rotation member; a first holder rotatably holding the first driven rotation member; a second driven rotation member that is pressure contacted against the driving rotation member; a second holder rotatably holding the second driven rotation member; and a shutter portion with which a leading end of a sheet comes into contact for skew feed correction, the shutter portion moving pivotally with one end portion thereof supported by the first holder and another end portion thereof supported by the second holder; wherein the shutter portion has abutting portions with which the leading end comes into contact, and a coupling portion extending so as to couple the abutting portions together between the first and the second driven rotation members.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a sheet accumulating feed path that is arranged on a downstream side of the sheet conveying unit in a sheet conveying direction and being capable of accumulating therein a plurality of sheets; a stopping member that stops a leading edge of a sheet conveyed into the sheet accumulating feed path; a width aligning unit that aligns a width of the sheet stopped by the stopping member and accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path; and a control unit that performs control to cause: the sheet conveying unit to convey a sheet into the sheet accumulating feed path; the stopping member to stop the leading edge of the sheet; and the width aligning unit to align the width of a sheet every time a sheet is accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path.

Abstract: An edge alignment control apparatus for correcting vertical alignment of sheet members is disclosed to include two base units each having multiple first power drives controllable to reciprocate a respective horizontal reciprocating member, and adjustment units arranged between the base units, each adjustment unit having two holder blocks connected to the horizontal reciprocating members of the base units at one same elevation and movable by the respective horizontal reciprocating members horizontally, sheet-transfer rollers pivotally connected between the holder blocks, a bearing board connected between the holder blocks for receiving a sheet member from the sheet-transfer rollers and a suction hood suspending above the bearing board and defining with the bearing board a passage for the passing of a sheet member and controllable to suck up a sheet member from the bearing board for allowing adjustment of the position of the sheet member horizontally subject to the operation of the first power drive.

Abstract: An improved media rotator/translator apparatus includes a cylinder on sphere nip. A series of beveled/spur gears are included, one of which rotates co-axially but independent to the drive roll shafts. This enables the drive rolls to be driven about their own axis while simultaneously allowing for rotation about the roll shaft axis. A ball idler is positioned above each drive roll providing media normal force. Thus, sheet translation, jogging, and rotation is obtained, but with no relative motion, thereby eliminating marking of certain media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of skew feeding when correcting sheet lateral deviation. A pair of lateral-shift correcting rollers 305 to correct positional deviation in the sheet width direction based on positional deviation quantity detected by a lateral-registration detection sensor 204c is controlled after controlling a skew feeding correcting roller 203 so as to correct sheet skew feeding based on skew-feeding quantity at a sheet leading edge detected by skew-feeding detection sensors 204a and 204b. Then, skew-feeding quantity of the sheet leading edge to be detected by the skew-feeding detection sensors 204a and 204b for correcting skew feeding of the next sheet is adjusted with skew-feeding quantity at the sheet trailing edge detected by the lateral-registration detection sensor 204c after positional deviation in the sheet width direction is corrected.

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

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

Abstract: An assembly includes two nip assemblies spaced apart along a first axis. Each nip assembly includes a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis. The idler cooperates with the driven wheel to engage a sheet. The idler rotatably supported about a second axis. The second axis being selectively moveable relative to the first axis. The selective movement between a first and second orientation occurs while the sheet is moved along the transport path. In the first orientation the second axis extends parallel to the first axis. In the second orientation the second axis extends at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement pivots about a third axis extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler. The selective movement of one of the two nip assemblies being independent from the selective movement of the other.

Abstract: An improved rotator/translator apparatus includes a set of drive rolls driven by a pair of rotator discs. Idler rolls are positioned above each drive roll and spring loaded to provide the required normal force to drive sheets in any direction required. A pair of magnetic couplings couple the drive rolls with the idler rolls. The magnetic couplings are spaced with about a 5 mm gap to allow sheets to pass therethrough. The couplings allow the idlers and the drive rolls to stay aligned. Thus, driving media, registering media and rotating media in a transport is obtained, but with no relative motion or slip between the drive rolls/idler rolls and the media and a larger nip surface area, thereby eliminating marking of certain media.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for compressing media in a media stack. In various embodiments, a paddle moves between various positions. During the move, the paddle is configured to compress the media stack.

Abstract: A multi-position letterbox media diverter that maximizes productivity includes a gate configured like a tomahawk to allow sufficient space for the diverter to operate immediately after the trail edge of a sheet passes the front edge of the gate and thereby increase gate actuation time. Reversible drives of an inverter are used to direct the sheet to a duplex path while another sheet is simultaneously directed by a lower integrated baffle portion of the gate to an output tray as needed. Thus, reducing the time required for the sheet to be in the inverter path before reversing sheet direction, thereby facilitating a reduction in required transport speed.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a first pair of rollers which nip and convey a sheet; a second pair of rollers provided on a downstream side of the first pair of rollers in a conveying direction of the sheet, which nip and convey a sheet; and a position detecting sensor which detects a position of a sheet in a width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction. When the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers nip and convey the sheet, the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers are simultaneously moved according to a position detected by the position detecting sensor in the same direction of the width direction which is perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a post-processing unit that post-processes a sheet carried from an image forming apparatus, a sheet discharge unit that discharges the post-processed sheet to an outlet, a storage tray that stacks the sheet discharged from the outlet and can move in the vertical direction, and a first transverse alignment portion that is provided at the storage tray and aligns the sheet discharged from the outlet from the width direction.

Abstract: An assembly including nip assemblies spaced apart from one another along a first axis extending in the lateral direction. Each nip assembly including a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis and the idler roller cooperating with the driven wheel to engage the sheet there between. The idler roller rotatably supported about a second axis. The first or second axis being selectively moveable relative to the other of the first or second axis between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation, the second axis extending parallel to the first axis, and in the second orientation the second axis extending at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement of the second axis pivoting about a third axis substantially extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler roller of each nip assembly.

Abstract: An upper conveyance guide is provided at an apparatus main body. A guide surface of a lower conveyance guide is provided facing a guide surface of the upper conveyance guide, and can be drawn out in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit is provided on the back side in the drawing-out direction of the lower conveyance guide, moves together with the lower conveyance guide when the lower conveyance guide is drawn out from the apparatus main body, and cleans the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet and a pair of roller units, provided on a downstream of the conveyance unit in the conveyance direction, wherein the pair of roller units forms a plurality of nipping portions, arranged along a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, a downstream end of the sheet to be conveyed is caused to abut against abutting positions of the plurality of nipping portion, and wherein the abutting position of the nipping portion nearer to a center in the width direction is positioned on a more downstream in the conveyance direction than the abutting position of the nipping portion at end side in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet adjusting device, applicable to a sheet holding receptacle and an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet setting plate to place a sheet thereon, first and second regulating member to slidably move in a given direction, and a drive transmission unit to transmit a driving power generated by a driving power source to at least the first regulating member and move the first regulating member in the given direction and to include a torque limiting unit to stop the first regulating member moving on the sheet setting plate by cutting off transmission of the driving power between a driven side transmission roller unit of the torque limiting unit and a driving side transmission roller unit of the torque limiting unit when a torque exceeding a given threshold is applied to the driven side transmission roller unit.

Abstract: A media picking mechanism includes a pair of transmission shafts rotating in opposite directions. A housing is mounted around the pair of transmission shafts such that the first transmission shaft and the second transmission shaft are positioned substantially equidistant from a centerline of the housing. During a media picking operation, the rotation of the first transmission shaft of the pair of transmission shafts provides a first moment to the housing and rotation of a second transmission shaft of the pair of transmission shafts provides a second moment to the housing, which is equal and opposite to the first moment such that a net moment on the housing is near zero minimizing twisting of the housing. The two transmission shafts rotating in opposite directions, also results in substantially equal normal force to be applied by the first and second pick tires on the media.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a stacker that accommodates multiple sheets of recording media, an elevation unit disposed in a downstream portion of the stacker in a sheet feeding direction and which ascends to lift a leading edge portion of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction, a rotary feeding member disposed facing the elevating unit and forming a nip in which the leading edge portion of the sheet is clamped together with the elevation unit when the elevation unit ascends, and a guide unit disposed adjacent to an outer circumference of the feeding member, facing an upper side of the leading edge portion of the sheet. The guide unit guides the leading edge portion of the sheet toward the nip between the feeding member and the elevation unit.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus allowing easy insertion of a paper sheet such as a bill into an insertion slot is provided although it is difficult to push the paper sheet for insertion because it is easily bent. The bill processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: an open/close member (2B) to be opened and closed with respect to a frame (2A); a bill insertion slot (5) formed such that a bill is capable of being inserted therebetween when the open/close member (2B) is closed with respect to the frame (2A); a frame member (70) mounted to the bill insertion opening (5) and having a vertical frame piece (71) along a thickness direction of the bill insertion slot and a horizontal frame piece (72) along a lateral direction formed integrally with each other.

Abstract: A method and system feeds a sheet through a media path in a process direction. When the sheet is within a sheet registration carriage of the media path, the method and system align the sheet to a predetermined lateral position within the media path. The aligning process comprises unevenly activating nips within the sheet registration carriage and moving the sheet registration carriage in a lateral direction perpendicular to the process direction. When the sheet is within the sheet registration carriage, the method and system determine a lateral movement distance the sheet registration carriage will move in the lateral direction during the aligning of the sheet. If the lateral movement distance exceeds a predetermined distance, the method and system move the sheet registration carriage toward the starting position after the nips have released the sheet, but before the sheet has passed by the nips.

Abstract: A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a registration system for sheet fed processing machines that reduces or eliminates the need to calibrate the register and/or timing dials of such a machine. The system uses known measurements and the elapsed time between electrically generated pulses to determine the relative position of processing cylinders in the machine relative the timing of a feed mechanism. The relative positions are displayed in real-time and can be adjusted by an operator. The machine need not be ‘in time’ to properly register the machine.

Abstract: A guide is proposed for devices for processing sheet material, particularly bank notes and checks, that is equipped with a guide body (1), with several guide wings (2) on the guide body (1), with at least three edges (15, 16, 17) on the guide wings (2) running parallel to each another and tapering to a point and with a guide drive (3, 4, 5) connected to the guide body (1) that sets the guide body (1) in motion in at least two different directions, wherein at least one of the two motions is a translational motion.

Abstract: A skew correction device which performs positional correction of a sheet while a tip end of the sheet transported in accordance with rotation of a transport roller comes into contact with a gate member so as to deform the sheet to be bent, includes: a lower guide member including an inclination section which is disposed between the transport roller and the gate member in a transport direction of the sheet such that a side of the inclination section facing the gate member is disposed higher than the other side thereof facing the transport roller. Here, the inclination section is configured to move in at least one direction of the transport direction and a vertical direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the original feeding device of the present invention, an original feeding device causes a drawing roller to contact an original, and draws the original for forwarding by rotating the drawing roller, and is provided with an original pressing member that generates frictional force on the original surface at a position on the side further upstream in a forwarding direction of the original than the drawing roller.

Abstract: A retractable scuffer includes an arm with foldaway drive wheels connected thereto that are independently pivotable to ensure even drive force on a sheet. The drive wheels flips down in a counter clockwise direction as the scuffer arm is driven to an extended position by a lead screw mechanism. This provides a shallow angle of contact with the sheet and allows the sheet to be pulled against a registration gate by the drive wheels versus being pushed, thereby eliminating unwanted reaction forces inherent in existing systems that push a sheet against a registration gate.

Abstract: A conveying device for a gathering section used for processing of printed products includes a plurality of saddle-shaped segments which respectively form a saddle-shaped roof for supporting the printed products during a conveying operation along a conveying path. Pusher segments are respectively arranged with the saddle-shaped segments to form a rear end stop for the conveying the printed product. Alignment segments are respectively arranged with the saddle-shaped segments to form a front end stop for a front edge of the printed products.

Abstract: A medium feeding apparatus includes: a pivot unit, supporting a medium and pivoting to cause the medium to come in contact with and to separate from a feeding unit; a first guide unit, guiding one side end of the medium supported on the pivot unit; a second guide unit, guiding the other side end of the medium; a first moving unit, moving the first guide unit to come in contact with and to separate from the one side end of the medium in conjunction with the pivoting motion of the pivot unit; and a second moving unit, moving the second guide unit to come in contact with and to separate from the other side end of the fed medium in conjunction with the movement of the first guide unit.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a feeding device which feeds a recording medium based on a target feed amount, a recording device which records an image on the recording medium that is fed by the feeding device, a feed-amount correcting portion which corrects the target feed amount, and a recording-position adjusting portion which adjusts a first position in which an image recording is initiated on the recording medium, corresponding to a correction of the target feed amount by the feed-amount correcting portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes: a first conveyance member configured to convey a sheet in a first direction; a second conveyance member configured to convey the sheet in a second direction; a guide disposed between the first conveyance member and the second conveyance member, the guide having a curved face configured to guide the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance member to the second conveyance member; and an adjustment member disposed at an inner position of the curvature of the curved face of the guide, the adjustment member being configured to swing to contact with a curved inner face of the sheet guided by the guide in accordance with a contact force applied by the sheet.

Abstract: A laterally repositionable side guide assembly for use with a friction sheet feeding machine. The side guide assembly includes (i) a support member, (ii) a carriage, (iii) a side guide, and (iv) a worm screw. The support member is configured and arranged for attachment to a friction sheet feeding machine. The carriage is repositionably mounted on the support member for selective lateral repositioning relative to the support member. The side guide is configured and arranged for laterally guiding sheets through a friction sheet feeding machine. The side guide is attached to the carriage for lateral repositioning with the carriage. The worm screw is in threaded communication with the carriage for effecting linear movement of the carriage along the length of the worm screw upon rotation of the worm screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which conveys a sheet to a nip portion between an intermediate transfer belt and a secondary transfer out-roller to record an image includes a sheet conveying device which conveys the sheet to the nip portion, a CCD line sensor which detects a sheet size in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet, and a transfer-side regulating device which is arranged near the nip portion and regulates the width direction of the conveyed sheet. The transfer-side regulating device can move the nip portion to a position where the width direction of the conveyed sheet is regulated based on a detection result obtained by the CCD line sensor.

Abstract: A feeding device according to the present invention includes a box, paper holders, and a shifting mechanism. The box is open at Its top. The paper holders are open at their tops and positioned in the box. Each of the paper holders holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. The shifting mechanism so shifts at least one of the paper holders that the top sheet in one of the paper holders is positioned in a single freed position in the box according to selection data output from the apparatus with which the feeding device is used.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for orienting flat items of mail towards a narrow edge in a U-shaped conveying channel in which they are conveyed in an upright position and without being jammed. Before the items pass the conveying channel for the purpose of alignment, their thickness is measured. The distances of the lateral limit stops or limiting sections are changed by means of adjusting mechanisms for every item of mail in such a manner that at the end of the conveying channel, the item is oriented towards its lower narrow edge by virtue of its own gravity and the distance of the lateral limit stops of the conveying channel from every item of mail during transport through the conveying channel is only wide enough for the item not to collapse at all nor to collapse partially even if its intrinsic stiffness is poor.