Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.

Abstract: In a method for intermediately storing documents being supplied in a supply cycle by an upstream system to an intermediate storage device, the documents supplied by the upstream system to a downstream system are transferred in a transfer cycle that is independent of the supply cycle. The intermediate storage device for performing the method has an input side and an output side and a transport device for transporting the documents from the input side to the output side in a transport direction through the intermediate storage device. The transport device has a first transport unit and a second transport unit. The first transport unit is arranged at the input side and is configured to be continuously driven. The second transport unit is arranged at the output side and is driven in a cycled operation.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided, which is capable of achieving high quality processing and maintaining high productivity without giving rise to problems such as sheet jam or damage of sheets even when various sheets having different attributes are conveyed. A buffer roller 505 is inhibited from carrying out a sheet staying operation in accordance with the type of sheets conveyed from an upstream side of the apparatus, to be conveyed to a downstream side of the apparatus via the buffer roller 505.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the maximum torque to rollers mounted on a drive shaft of a drive roller assembly. By using a plurality of slip clutches, each for engaging an individual roller to the drive shaft and setting a maximum torque for the individual rollers, each roller is coupled to the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller does not exceed the maximum torque, and each roller is mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller exceeds the maximum torque. Because each roller has a separate slip clutch, each roller can be mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft without affecting the other rollers coupled to the drive shaft.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus stop device that prevents actuation of a gear and feed shaft when a tray is not substantially inserted in an apparatus. The electrophotographic apparatus stop device includes a mechanism slidably positionable between a first position and a second position to mechanically prevent a member of a solenoid from releasing a protrusion of a gear extension.

Abstract: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i

Abstract: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i

Abstract: A pair of grip rollers forming a slack in a transfer sheet by impinging the transfer sheet against a pair of registration rollers that are at a standstill, includes a one-way rotating clutch. A coil spring biases the one-way rotating clutch such that projections on a flange of the one-way rotating clutch engage with holes on a rear sideboard. When a transfer sheet caught by the pair of grip rollers is pulled out with a predetermined or greater torque in an opposite direction to that in which the transfer sheet is conveyed, the projections are disengaged with the holes, against the coil spring bias. Thereby the one-way clutch is set free and can be rotated in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A solenoid stop assembly that prevents actuation of a gear and feed shaft when a tray is not substantially inserted in an apparatus. The solenoid stop assembly includes a mechanism slidably positionable between a first position and a second position to mechanically prevent a member of a solenoid from releasing a protrusion of a gear extension. A tray is adjustably positionable and functionally interacts with the mechanism in a region of the apparatus and, upon contact, causes the mechanism to move and interrupt motion of the member. A resilient member, such as a spring, biases the mechanism to a position which prevents actuation of a gear and feed shaft when the paper tray is not substantially closed.

Abstract: In the in-line processing of flat objects (S1-S7), the flat objects (S1-S7) are fed from a device (4) and serially transferred to a downstream system (5). In the system (5) the objects (S1-S7) are transported and, if necessary, temporarily collected. The temporary collection of specimens of the objects (S1-S7) occurs in a configuration with a pitch in the direction of transport which is smaller than the dimensions in the direction of transport of the objects (S1-S7) in question. Then collected objects (S1-S7) are moved away from each other, from that configuration, and further transported with mutual interspaces. Because the flat objects (S1-S7) are stored with a pitch less than the size in the direction of transport, a large number of objects (S1-S7) can be collected in a buffer portion (34, 35; 134; 234) of a small length. Because the objects (S1-S7) are stored with a pitch in the direction of transport, however, they can be readily moved away from each other.

Abstract: Random components for each characteristic amount of a paper type to be examined are extracted on the basis of characteristic amounts of the paper type which are read from a plurality of portions on the paper type and reference data previously found with respect to the plurality of portions. Dirt components for each of the plurality of portions on the paper type to be examined are presumed on the basis of the extracted random components for each characteristic amount and a predetermined forecast model of the dirt components. The truth of the paper type to be examined is judged on the basis of the presumed dirt components and the extracted random components.

Abstract: Random components for each characteristic amount of a paper type to be examined are extracted on the basis of characteristic amounts of the paper type which are read from a plurality of portions on the paper type and reference data previously found with respect to the plurality of portions. Dirt components for each of the plurality of portions on the paper type to be examined are presumed on the basis of the extracted random components for each characteristic amount and a predetermined forecast model of the dirt components. The truth of the paper type to be examined is judged on the basis of the presumed dirt components and the extracted random components.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a printing drum which is rotated bearing thereon a stencil master, and a press roller which is pressed against the printing drum. A paper supply system supplies a printing paper to between the printing drum and the press roller so that the printing paper is conveyed pinched between the printing drum and the press roller. A paper supply controller controls the paper supply system so that the paper supply system supplies the printing paper to between the printing drum and the press roller at a first predetermined angular position of the printing drum for each rotation of the printing drum. The paper supply controller controls the paper supply system so that the printing paper supplied next by the paper supply system does not collide with the printing paper under printing when the printing paper is overlong.

Abstract: Random components for each characteristic amount of a paper type to be examined are extracted on the basis of characteristic amounts of the paper type which are read from a plurality of portions on the paper type and reference data previously found with respect to the plurality of portions. Dirt components for each of the plurality of portions on the paper type to be examined are presumed on the basis of the extracted random components for each characteristic amount and a predetermined forecast model of the dirt components. The truth of the paper type to be examined is judged on the basis of the presumed dirt components and the extracted random components.

Abstract: Overlapped paper feed can be detected easily and promptly. Along a paper feeding path, a light emitting element 1 and a light receiving sensor 2 are placed face to face and a detection signal corresponding to the light transmissivity of paper is output. The detection signal is not amplified by one system and amplified at a predetermined amplification ratio via an amplifying circuit 3 in the other system. An A/D converter 5a or 5b is set in each system and outputs the detection signal to a CPU 6 after sampling the detection signal. The CPU 6 detects overlapped feed by selecting the system whose detection signal value is within the effective range which is not effected by noise and not at a saturation level.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for merging sheet streams conveyed in side-by-side streams in a conveying direction into a single stream. An infeed conveyor conveys at least two sheet streams side-by side in a direction toward a merger. The merger separates and separately conveys the sheet streams to a merge location. The sheet streams are transported at different accelerations or speeds, such that each article of one of the sheet streams is directed into a gap between the articles of the other sheet stream in order to produce a single, merged sheet stream traveling at an accelerated outfeed speed for further processing.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus includes a sheet receiver for receiving a plurality of sheets, and a transfer mechanism for successively transferring each of the sheets from the sheet receiver along a predetermined transfer path. The sheet receiver has an openable member which is movable between an open position and a closed position. The sheet transfer apparatus further includes a detecting device provided at a predetermined position in the transfer path for detecting a transfer state of each transferred sheet and for detecting an open/closed state of the openable member, and a controller for determining whether the detecting device is detecting the transfer state of each transferred sheet or the open/closed state of the openable member.

Abstract: A finisher includes moving devices, which are movably mounted relative to a conveying path for applying additional-workings to a sheet having an image formed surface, such as a folding stopper which adjusts the position for folding the sheet, an aligning device which aligns the edge of sheet being temporarily stacked, and a head unit of a stapler which staples the sheet at a proper position. The finisher retracts or returns the moving devices to their relevant home positions, which are separated by prescribed distances from the conveying path when a jam of a sheet occurs. Accordingly, the finisher forms a space which accepts a user's hand in the neighborhood of the stuck sheet, improves the operational efficiency of removing the sheet, and prevents the user from touching the moving devices and inevitably moving them to abnormal positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus with a supply device for supplying a sheet, a drive motor for driving the supply device, a power transmission switching mechanism for permitting or inhibiting transmission of power from the drive motor to the supply device, and control means for controlling an operation of the power transmission switching mechanism. The power transmission switching mechanism is controlled in such a manner that the transmission of power from the drive motor to the supply device is inhibited when a supplying operation is stopped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a multiple motor drive arranged to drive printing cylinders of a printing machine sychronously decelerates each of the drives upon a failure or defect occurring in one or more of the components of the drive system such that the individual printing cylinders are decelerated in a manner synchronized with one another with respect to rotation angle. The apparatus includes a main control device which detects a failure in one of the drive system components and controls the drive units to decelerate the drive units to a standstill in accordance with a time function. The time function is determined by the rotation of the drive unit which contains the component that failed.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of detecting that a paper jam has occurred in a paper path thereof during a priming operation of the device, and when the paper jam has occurred, sets a time period for the user to manually eliminate the paper jam or eliminate the paper jam through an automatic process. Once the time period has elapsed and the paper jam has not been removed, an engine part of the device is automatically driven to rotate various rollers therein in an attempt to automatically deliver the jammed paper to an exterior of the device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper transport apparatus having a paper supply path, a paper supply tray, and an invert-transport path for alternately transporting blank copy paper sheets and single-face copy paper sheets. The invert-transport path includes an inversion path, a double-face-copy invertor apparatus, and a double-face-copy transport path member. The invert-transport path is connected via the double-face-copy transport path member to the paper supply path, and the paper supply tray is coupled to the double-face-copy transport path member. The single-face copy paper sheets are fed from the paper supply tray via the double-face-copy transport path member to the paper supply path. The paper transport apparatus further includes a control unit for performing a first operation and a second operation.

Abstract: A print quality control device for the analysis of the quality of printing on both sides of a sheet printed on a perfecting rotary printing press utilizes video cameras and flash sources on opposing sides of a sheet transport path. The cameras and flash sources are caused to operate to obtain an image of the forward and reverse sides of printed sheets. These images can be compared with set values to determine if the printed sheet's printed forward and reverse surfaces have acceptable printing quality.

Abstract: A paper conveying device overruns a document from a stop position and then, switches the document back so that the end of the document collies with a document abutting member provided in the stop position. At this time, the amount of overrun and the amount of switchback of the document are respectively set to the minimum ones required, to reduce the stress applied to the document, and the most suitable control is carried out even in a special mode (SDF mode) in which the document conveying speed is low. More specifically, at the time of the SDF mode, even if a stop instruction is given at timing T2, timing at which a conveying motor is turned off is delayed by a short time .increment.T. A distance A' from the timing T2 to the time when the conveying motor is completely stopped is detected, and the conveying motor is rotated in the reverse direction by a distance B' equal to the distance A'. The conveying motor is rotated in the reverse direction by position control.

Abstract: A document transport apparatus provides continuous transport of documents input with a prescribed spacing between the documents, and can rapidly detect when documents close up or overlap. Detection of close up or overlap is made by measuring a length of each document by a transported document length measuring device and comparing the measured length with a predetermined length for that document measured by an input document length measuring device positioned upstream of the transported document length measuring device. If a measured length exceeds the predetermined length, a condition of close up or overlap is deemed to exist. The document transport apparatus is described in the context of its use in an image capture apparatus or scanner.

Abstract: In order to avoid disruption of a stack of signatures, particularly when a cyclically operable signature feeding apparatus is temporarily disabled, the utilization of a unique disabling arrangement is contemplated. The signature feeding apparatus will generally include a driven rotary drum having a plurality of signature grippers disposed about the periphery thereof. The signature grippers are adapted to grip signatures seriatim from a signature supply hopper. A vacuum assembly is driven by a cam for shifting signatures seriatim from the signature supply hopper to the rotary drum for gripping by the signature grippers. The vacuum assembly includes a source of vacuum operatively associated with oscillating vacuum grippers. The signature feeding apparatus further includes a cam follower operatively associated with the vacuum assembly to control operation of the vacuum assembly responsive to engagement with a surface of the cam.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an image based document processing and information management system and apparatus. It provides a more efficient method and apparatus for handling large volumes of form based business transactions using a digital image-based system for the capture, identification and processing of images, statistics and business data. The system converts documents, such as forms and supporting pages, into digital data which can be used to update computer records and to manage and support the adjudicative processing of business transactions by human operators at computer terminals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an automatic document feeding apparatus which is mounted on a platen glass or document table of an electronic copying apparatus having an interruption copy mode function. A document transportation belt of the automatic document feeding apparatus is stretched facing the platen glass. When an interruption key is depressed, the document transportation belt and transportation rollers of a document discharge device are driven so that an uncopied document on the platen glass is moved to be temporarily evacuated from an exposure region. The evacuated document is held between the transportation rollers and pinch rollers. In this state, the automatic document feeding apparatus is opened, and an interruption document is manually set on the platen glass. Subsequently, after closing the document feeding apparatus, interruption copying operation is performed.

Abstract: A copying machine is equipped with an automatic document feeder, which separates documents in a document storing section and feeds them one by one onto a platen glass. The documents are stopped at an exposure position by a document conveyance stopper, where they are exposed and scanned by an exposure scanning device, and then delivered to a document delivery tray. A sensor is provided in a feeding path of the document feeder, for detecting a leading edge or a trailing edge of the document. A delaying device for delaying a drive source stopping signal of the document conveyance stopper is outputted after a predetermined period of time has passed, or after a predetermined number of pulses have been counted after the document leading or trailing edge signal outputted from the sensor has been received. A detection device detects the documents actual stopping position and a signal is output after the drive source stopping signal of the document conveyance stopper has been generated.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying apparatus having a jam detecting means, there are provided an accommodating portion for jam treatment and a conveyance controlling means to accommodate sheets on a conveyance path into said portion, enabling all the sheets on the path to be gathered in one place and rendering the removal treatment easier. In another aspect of this invention, in case of jam occurrence, the sheets being conveyed are temporarily accommodated in the standby accommodating portion for discharge and then rejected outside the apparatus after jam return, while an image forming portion carrying out the image formation onto the sheets to be accommodated so that they can be discharged as regular output sheets, and image formation being prohibited when the sheets are discharged, resulting in that the image previously formed on the sheets is not to be disturbed.

Abstract: A sheet delivery mechanism includes a pair of delivery rollers which deliver a sheet along a sheet delivery passage of a sheet treatment apparatus for predeterminately treating the sheet, a sheet halting member for halting the sheet, and a pinching force adjusting member. The pinching force adjusting member adjusts the delivery rollers to place them into a first state where the sheet pinching force of the delivery rollers is relatively small so that the delivery rollers can slip on the halted sheet and into a second state where the sheet pinching force is relatively great so that the sheet can be delivered in the case where a sheet halt is released for delivery.

Abstract: A sheet path velocity profile signature analysis apparatus which utilizes output from various idler rolls throughout the machine paper path to detect abnormalities. The constantly monitored and instantaneous velocity readings are compared with a base line velocity signature established at the factory. If the constantly monitored velocity profile is not within the pre-established operating parameters as set at the factory, automatic machine adjustment procedures are initiated and/or automatic service alerts are issued. The ability to constantly monitor the velocity profile throughout the machine enables preventative maintenance to occur and worn drive rolls, idler rolls and other transport devices can be replaced before catastrophic failure.

Abstract: An electronic filing system includes a conveying section to convey an original put on an original setting plate to a reading position, a reading section to read an image of the original at the reading position, a manual feed mode control means device for executing a manual feed mode to convey and read the original each time it is detected that the original has been set onto the original setting plate, a continuous feed mode control means device for executing a continuous feed mode to continuously convey and continuously read a plurality of originals which were piled on the original setting plate, a mode selecting circuit to select either one of the manual feed mode and the continuous feed mode and a memory section to store the image which was read by the reading section together with index information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotation controlling apparatus for controlling the rotation generated in a rotation drive source and transmitting the rotation to an output portion, comprising a first rotation transmitting member which is connected to the rotation drive source and to which the rotation is transmitted from the rotation drive source; a second rotation transmitting member for transmitting the rotation from the rotation drive source to the output portion when it is engaged by the first rotation transmitting member; a support means adapted to support one of the first and second rotation transmitting members and movable to cause it to be engaged by or disengaged from the other rotation transmitting member; a trigger means for shifting the support means to engage one of the rotation transmitting members by the other; and a rotation transmission controlling means operated by a rotational force from the second rotation transmitting means to shift the support means, thereby disengaging the first rotati

Abstract: A document copier having an automatic document handler is able to process jobs whose number of document sheets exceed the capacity of the document feeder by including control to stop feeding sheets whenever there is less than a predetermined minimum number greater, than one, of unfed sheets remaining, so that an operator can add more sheets of the same job. Feeding can be reinitiating after the automatic document handler has been stopped, and the stopping feature can be selectively disabled so that all received sheets are fed by the automatic document handler without stopping. Generally, the document feeder will be used with a job processor which treats the last sheet in a received stack, and all preceding sheets, as a job.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents from a stack of documents, in single file, into a document track, with the apparatus employing an endless belt. The endless belt is mounted on a drive roller and an idler roller to provide a linear portion of the belt which is parallel to the first document to be fed from the stack. The apparatus also includes a retard mechanism which includes a first portion to engage the documents in the stack and also includes a second portion which is parallel to the linear portion of the endless belt and is biased towards the linear portion by a tension spring. The endless belt is made of a material which is designed to wear instead of "glazing" which provides for a positive feed. The endless belt and the retard member are designed to be replaced by an operator of the terminal in which the apparatus is located so as to avoid a service call by a maintenance person.

Abstract: A sheet proofing mechanism for a printing, duplicating and like machine wherein sheets are delivered seriatim by a conveyor in a path over a receiving tray whereat the sheets drop onto a stack of sheets in the tray. Releasable gripping fingers are provided on the conveyor, and stripping fingers strip each released sheet from the conveyor and direct the sheet into the tray. A sheet proofing mechanism includes deflecting fingers spaced along the path from the stripping fingers for deflecting a released sheet from the conveyor to a proofing station. A tripping cam is provided along the path for selectively releasing the gripping fingers at a first point to allow the stripping fingers to strip the released sheet from the conveyor and at a second point to allow the deflecting fingers to deflect the released sheet to the proofing station. The machine also includes a numbering head for sequentially numbering the sheets, with an indexing lever for indexing the numbering head.

Abstract: An automatic document conveying apparatus and method for use with an image forming device such as a photocopying machine. The apparatus comprises a document feeder for feeding documents into the apparatus, a document conveyor for conveying documents to a copying position on the photocopying machine, and a document reconveyor section for re-conveying documents back to the copying position and also for conveying documents out of the apparatus. The apparatus further comprises a controller for controlling operation of the feeder, conveyor and reconveyor. The controller controls the feeding motor which drives the document feeder and the conveying motor which drives the document conveyor such that the feeding motor is driven during operation while the conveying motor is turned OFF and ON.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying sheets of paper along a paper path comprises an outer frame having an inlet end for connection to an upstream conveying device and an outlet end for connection to a downstream conveying device. The outer frame has a hollow interior and an opening in each of the inlet and outlet ends for conveying sheets through. There is a drawer frame slidably mounted to the outer frame. The drawer frame is slidable through an open side of the outer frame between a closed position within the outer frame to an open position outside the outer frame. There is structure mounted in the drawer frame for conveying along a paper path sheets of paper received from the upstream conveying device to the downstream conveying device. The conveying structure includes structure for driving the conveying structure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units and a sheet transporting unit for transporting sheets discharged from an arbitrary one of the image forming units to a discharge portion of its own or to that of other image forming unit. When one of the image forming units is incapable of continuous operation during the execution of an operation thereof, another image forming unit is operated in place thereof which feeds recording sheets of the same size as those of the former image forming unit and forms images with toner of the same color as that of the former image forming unit, and the image bearing sheets discharged from the latter image forming unit are discharged onto the same discharge portion as that of the former image forming unit.

Abstract: In order to avoid striking and compacting signatures in a signature stack during a period of selective operational disablement of a gathering machine on a binding line, a system for selectively disabling and enabling operation of a sucker arm is provided. The system includes a cam operatively associated with a main drum for driven movement therewith and a cam follower arm operatively associated with the cam for driven movement thereby. The cam follower arm is interconnected to the sucker arm for imparting reciprocating movement to the sucker arm. The reciprocating movement normally traverses a path from the signature stack to the main drum and back again to feed signatures from the signature stack to the main drum for delivery to the binding line when the system enables operation of the sucker arm. The cam follower arm is interconnected to the sucker arm through a pushrod which extends to a crank mounted on a pivotal sucker tube for pivotal movement thereabout.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying one or more sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a supporting housing; a first, upstream pulley and a second, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing; a lower, endless, elastic belt mounted on the first and second pulleys, the belt having an upper and a lower reach, the reaches being substantially horizontal; a third, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt; a fourth, upstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt, the fourth pulley biased toward the lower belt; and an upper, endless, elastic belt mounted on the third and fourth pulleys, whereby the fourth pulley can move away from the lower belt when the thickness of the sheets being conveyed requires a larger gap to engage the upper belt.

Abstract: A system for automatically detecting the presence of staples within a set of original document sheets loaded into a document handling tray and automatically inhibiting the operation of the document feeder to prevent damage to the document feeder or the original sheets in response to detecting a staple, particularly a staple in a preselected area of the document tray in which it is most likely that a staple would be present as documents are normally loaded into the document tray by the operator, including preventing inadvertent actuation or output of the staple detector by metal objects other than a staple, such as an operator's ring temporarily present in the document tray during initial loading the documents, preferably by coordinated confirmation of the completion of document loading into the document tray.

Abstract: An electronic printing system having a scanner for scanning documents and converting the document images to image signals, a printer for making prints from image signals, and a programmer for programming job selections including a job supplement selection, programming job supplement enabling plural smaller jobs to be combined for a print job and preventing the scanner from scanning a new job until the job supplement program is completed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting double-feed of sheets of paper with a light-transmission sensor. The light-transmission sensor is composed of a light emitting source, such as an LED, and a light receiving sensor located on both sides of a paper transport path. Before the first sheet is fed, the gain of a variable gain amplifier, which amplifies an output of the light receiving sensor, is present at a predetermined value so that an output level of the amplifier may be appropriate. When the first sheet passes the light transmission sensor, an output level of the variable gain amplifier is measured and the level for a sheet is stored. Each time a sheet is fed in the sequential paper feeding operation, the output level of the amplifier is measured and compared with the stored data to detect double-feed of sheets. If the level is not appropriate, the intensity of the light emitting source is controlled in order to correct the level.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device for supplying an uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in a sheet cassette used in an image forming apparatus includes suction cups movable into and out of contact with the uppermost sheet in the sheet cassette, an evacuator for developing a vacuum in the suction cups to enable the suction cups to attract the uppermost sheet, a moving member for upwardly and downwardly moving the suction cups to pick up the sheet from the sheet cassette, a sheet feeding member for feeding the sheet from the moving member along a sheet feed path, and a control system for judging on the basis of a detection signal from each sensor for detecting an image forming error provided in the image forming apparatus whether the error occurs during the sheet supplying operation, and when judging that the image forming error occurs during a sheet supplying operation, the control unit ceasing the sheet supplying operation and controlling the driving of at least one of the suction cups, the evacuator, moving member an

Abstract: A copy apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder having a function for sequentially feeding a pair of documents and serially placing them onto a platen in the document feeding direction. In the copying apparatus, the image forming operation is inhibited when the sizes of a pair of documents are different, the size of a first document is larger than the half of the platen, either of document is a size where the longer side thereof in parallel to the longer side of the platen, either of document size is a larger than the half of the platen, the value calculated by adding the size of a first document and the minimum size of document transportable is larger than the size of the platen, or the value calculated by adding the size of a first and second documents is larger than the size of the platen. In the above conditions, the copying apparatus is capable of discharging the documents from the platen.

Abstract: A device for halting sheet products transported by a conveyor belt, comprising an abutment having a conveyor belt passing through it and an adjustable braking device placed ahead of the abutment. By this arrangement it is possible to ensure a high degree of convenience of operation and of reliability if the impact of the products on the abutment is able to be sensed by means of a sensing device and the position of the braking device is able to be corrected in accordance with an output value produced by the sensing device.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder comprising a document deck table for loading a plurality of documents in a stack, a first feeder for subsequently feeding two documents loaded on the document deck table, a second feeder for transporting a fed document onto the platen, a stopper, provided with the one end of the platen, for stopping a transported document by interfering with the end of the document, a detector for detecting a fed document, a measuring device for measuring a distance between two documents subsequently fed, based on the signal output from the detector, and a controller for putting the second feeder out of action, based on the value measured by the measuring device. In a dual feeding mode, two documents are subsequently fed one by one, the second feeder continues its action after the leading edge of the first document has interfered and stopped with the stopper.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for quickly and accurately advancing paper between the platen and printing mechanism on a line-by-line basis in a high speed printer for printing lines of text including a platen and a printing mechanism disposed adjacent the platen.