Abstract: An apparatus for transporting individual sheets past an exposure station for exposing the individual sheets, including a roller that has parallel spaced annular grooves and has plurality of parallel endless belts on each side of the exposure station, which belts respectively overlie the grooves for pressing the individual sheets against the roller. Guiding fingers extend into the roller parallel annular grooves for lifting the individual sheets from the roller.

Abstract: A device for conveying sheet-like material between a driven roller and a counter-pressure roller is disclosed. The device also includes opposing guide plates that form a channel for feeding the sheet-like material to the nip between the two rollers. At least one of the rollers includes a channel-like recess into which its associated guide plate extends.

Abstract: An extension guide unit 30 is provided on a side portion of a recording medium conveying passage. An extension guide 36 is held in a wound state in an extension guide holder 31 of the extension guide unit 30. In order to convey a recording medium, the extension guide 36 is drawn out, by which the recording medium is guided. This enables the recording medium to be smoothly conveyed.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet diverter for directing signatures moving in serial fashion along a path to one of a plurality of collation paths. The sheet diverter includes a non-uniform angular velocity drive mechanism, the function of which is to improve the collation process such that the quality of signatures is improved as the signatures move along one of the plurality of collation paths and to increase the speed of the folder.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting sheets in a longitudinal direction includes an improvement for reducing the imparting to the sheet material of friction, static charge, and foreign deleterious material while substantially minimizing the burnishing of the surface of the sheets. To this end, a plurality of elongated sheet supporting rib members project outwardly from a guide surface, extend diagonally relative to the longitudinal direction, are all of uniform height above the sheet guide surface, and are of uniform cross section. The sheet supporting rib members are so dimensioned and positioned that any random element of a sheet being fed in the longitudinal direction through the apparatus crosses only one of the sheet supporting rib members. Actually, a plurality of first sheet supporting rib members extend diagonally in a first direction and another plurality of elongated second sheet supporting rib members extend diagonally in a second direction which is transverse of the first direction.

Abstract: A print media deskew apparatus includes a print media support having a first surface defining a plane for a print media transport path and a second surface parallel to the print media transport path and two apertures in the first surface aligned in the print media transport path. A first set of selectively driven spheres in the print media transport path and a second set of selectively driven spheres in the print media transport path downstream from the first impart a paper path force and a lateral driving force on a media sheet such that the sheet is driven laterally to the print media transport path until edge contact with the second surface removes any skew from the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator and method are disclosed. The accumulator is easily adjustable for handling sheets of different widths and for either under or over accumulating. The adjustability is provided by allowing accumulator ramps to be added or removed without having to deconstruct the accumulator and without the need for special skill.

Abstract: The apparatus has an intermediate conveyor (18) with conveying elements (26) distributed in the circumferential direction on bearing plates (36). Each conveying element (26) has a roller segment (54), which is driven counter to the direction of circulation (U), and a belt conveyor (56) which is assigned to said roller segment. A control device (48) keeps the conveying elements (26) in a mutually parallel position during circulation in the direction of circulation (U). During movement past the receiving location (16), a rear section (82) of the roller segment (54) and the belt conveyor (56) form an introduction gap (24) for a product (14) fed by a feed conveyor (12) in each case. During further rotation, said product (14) is moved through the conveying element (26), in the conveying gap (90) now formed by the roller segment (54) and belt conveyor (56), and is deflected by means of the guide element (92).

Abstract: A gear wheel assembly is provided in a sheet material feed mechanism. The gear wheel assembly includes an annular cylindrical gear wheel having an interior surface defining an interior diameter, with a plurality of gear teeth extending from the interior surface. A pinion is mounted for rotation within the gear wheel. The pinion includes an exterior surface defining an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the pinion being less than the inner diameter of the gear wheel. A plurality of gear teeth extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the pinion. The pinion gear teeth have arcuate contact edges adapted to drivingly engage with gear teeth of the gear wheel. The contact edges of the pinion gear teeth can be provided with tapering radii of curvature, preferably tapering outwardly from the respective centers of the gear teeth. In an embodiment, the contact edges of the pinion gear teeth taper from 45 mm at the center to 25 mm at each edge.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a diverter mechanism for use in a web fed rotary printing press, that is simple, low in mass, provides positive control of signatures passing through it, and can be located close to elements or mechanisms within the printing press for receiving signatures that have passed through the diverter mechanism. The diverter mechanism includes a nip formed using two cylinders. The nip can be rotated around an axis formed by the center of the nip, or can be rotated around a rotational axis of one of the two cylinders, to selectively aim a signature exiting from the nip at one of two or more receiving devices.

Abstract: A sheet transport array for advancing sheets along a track at a desired speed past a process station. A sheet speed measuring device is coupled to the process station. A drive roller assembly includes at least a drive roller and a drive idler, with the drive roller driving the advancing sheet at the desired speed toward the process station. A second roller assembly includes at least a second roller and a second idler, with the second idler moving at the speed of the advancing sheet. A floating roller assembly includes at least a floating roller and a floating idler. The floating idler is coupled to the second idler to move at the same speed as the second idler and the advancing sheet. The floating roller and the floating idler define a pinch point with a pinch force such that the floating roller and the floating idler move at the same speed.

Abstract: An adjustable control roller apparatus for use in a belt-type conveyor assembly comprises a upright support arm having a pivot pin and a first attachment member, and a pivot member engaging the pivot pin. The pivot member has a second attachment member and a pair of rollers rotatably mounted thereon. A biasing member engages the first and second attachment members for biasing the rollers of the pivot member toward the lower conveyor belt of a second section of the conveyor assembly. A support bracket is also included for adjustably supporting the upright support arm so that the rollers can be positioned between the exit pulleys of a first conveyor section and the entrance pulleys of the second conveyor section of the conveyor assembly.

Abstract: A plurality of sheets are fed along a plurality of rows of conveying paths in a state in which leading edges of the respective sheets in the conveying direction are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and fed from an outlet of the conveying paths by a high-speed feeding means at a speed which is greater than or equal to a conveying speed of the conveying path. In the feeding section, the plurality of sheets are received by a moving endless belt, arranged, and then fed out. As a result, the present invention can provide a sheet conveying apparatus which has a simple structure and a simple control system and in which a plurality of the sheets which are conveyed along the plurality of rows of the conveying paths are fed while being arranged in a single row in the feeding section.

Abstract: In the device for automatically controlling the position of a pair of pinch rollers for pressing opposite side edge portions of a sheet delivered from a printing portion of a printer at a surface thereof bearing a print image according to a detection of the spacing between a pair of side fences for aligning opposite sides edges of a stack of sheets charged on a sheet supply tray, a detection error of the sheet width due to a disturbance of stack condition of the sheets or an incorrect contact of the side fence to the side edge of the stack of sheets is automatically corrected by the spacing between the pair of side fences being compared with the width of sheets of regular sizes, while the pinch rollers being positioned by assuming that the sheets are of one of the regular sizes when the difference of the comparison is within a predetermined numerical range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus aims at eliminating a possibility of causing deterioration in conveying and scratching off toners on a recording medium by smoothly rotating a driven roller corresponding to rotations of a driving roller. Rubber rings spaced away in an axial direction from the driving roller are fitted to a shaft of a driven roller brought into contact with the driving roller. A record sheet conveyed with rotations of the driving roller rotates the rubber rings, whereby the driven roller can be surely rotated.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes first and second registration rollers for abutting the leading end of an original conveyed along a conveying path against their contact positions. The first registration roller is included in a plurality of reversing rollers arranged apart from each other along an axis of a supporting shaft of each of the reversing rollers. The reversing roller turn over the original along a reversing path that bypasses a part of the conveying path. There is provided a reversal guiding member arranged so as to cover a region between the adjacent reversing rollers. The reversal guiding member has guide surfaces curved along the peripheral surfaces of the reversing rollers as viewed along the axis of the supporting shaft. The reversal of the original is guided along the reversing path by the guide surfaces.

Abstract: The rear edge support rollers which protrude in the U-shaped sheet paths on the upstream side of the sheet feeding direction prevent the rear edge of the sheet from sliding in contact with the path walls and restrain back tensions from working on the main sheet feed roller while the sub-sheet feed rollers which are disposed inside the U-shaped path are imparted with the revolutionary resistances that correspond to the curvatures of the paths so as to reduce the loads which are given to the main sheet feed roller to work in the direction of forwarding the sheet by the rear edge of the sheet thrusting against the outer lateral wall due to the stiffness of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device that is driven by a driving device through an interval device. The interval device can transfer the driving force only when a coil in the interval device is not electrified. Accordingly, when the feeding device is in active condition, the coil and the interval device do not become hotter and sheet feeding becomes more reliable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved paper discharge apparatus of a printer having a star wheel over a paper discharge roller, separated from a paper discharge part in order to perform an amicable paper discharge function, thereby preventing the blur of ink on paper. The apparatus comprises a paper discharge roller for imparting the discharge force to a sheet of paper printed, a star wheel for imparting the force of press required for the paper discharge at the upper portion of the paper discharge roller, a spring line whose both ends are fixed at a base frame by a fixing means, the spring line supporting the star wheel and functioning as a shaft which is able to make the star wheel rotate, and a wheel frame having a wheel location guide, the wheel location guide being fixed at the base frame for supporting the spring line at its regular location, and preventing the location movement of the star wheel.

Abstract: A shaft portion of a retard roller is supported by a pair of supporting members so that the retard roller can be assuredly supported and easily detached. One of the pair of supporting members is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the shaft portion. By moving the movable supporting member in a direction of separating from the shaft portion, the retard roller can be detached. A regulation device regulates movement of the movable supporting member in the direction of separating from the shaft portion at a position where the pair of supporting members engage with the shaft portion and is provided on a guide cover for blocking an opening for mounting/detaching the retard roller.

Abstract: A guide plate is arranged in spaced parallel relation with a recording head. A pinch roller and a paper conveyer roller are arranged upstream of the guide plate with respect to a paper feeding direction. The pinch roller takes an entrance position to provide a state wherein the rollers most easily catch paper sheet. After the rollers have caught the paper sheet, the pinch roller is displaced to take an exit position to provide a state wherein the roller deflect the paper sheet towards the guide plate.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus capable of applying a predetermined force for transporting any kind of paper, including a sheet of thin paper, without forming transport wrinkles in the paper caused by a nipping pressure. The apparatus includes a hard roller 114 and a soft roller 112 for nipping a sheet of paper 10 therebetween. The soft roller is driven to transport the sheet using a frictional force generated from the nipping pressure applied by the soft and hard rollers. The hard roller is in a barrel-shape having a predetermined radial curvature "R", such that the nipping pressure decreases gradually along its axis from the center toward the periphery of a nipping face between two rollers. This causes a compressive stress against the sheet to shift smoothly from a portion of the sheet nipped by the soft and hard rollers to a portion free from the nipping pressure. Thus, the formation of transport wrinkles in the sheet can be prevented.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device for the cyclic feeding of separated sheets from a sheet stack of a sheet feeder to a sheet processing machine or an onward conveying device is provided. The sheet-feeding device includes one or more first conveying rollers of relatively small diameter which are rotatably arranged close to the leading edge of the sheet stack of the sheet feeder and around which one or more endless drive tapes are guided, the latter starting from the first conveying roller, extending approximately in the conveying direction and wrapping around a second conveying roll that is arranged at a distance from the first conveying roller. The device also includes an upper conveying roller mounted above the first conveying roller for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the first conveying roller.

Abstract: A self adjusting jam prevention guide and jam clearance baffle for a printing machine. A moveable guide is attached to a machine subsystem module and is moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position the guide bridges a gap between the machine subsystem module and a preceding subsystem module. In the second position, the guide is retracted from the gap to allow easy removal of one of the subsystem modules. The moveable guide is preferably self actuated by the use of a biasing device and a ramped section so that the movement of one of the adjacent subsystem modules causes extension and retraction of the guide. A jam clearance aid is further attached to the exit of the machine subsystem module. The clearance aid uses a J-shaped channel to cause a sheet fed into a jammed sheet to buckle and cause both the first jammed sheet and subsequent sheets to be partially ejected from the paper path for easy removal therefrom.

Abstract: A transport roller unit, which has a plurality of rollers arranged next to one another on a bearing shaft, rests against the transport rollers of a transport roller pair. The rollers are mounted independently rotatably on bearing bushings that are joined positively to the bearing shaft. The rollers are associated with a first and a second roller group, of which the first roller group is mounted, offset by an amount (x), eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pressure roller unit. The second roller group is mounted offset, by the same amount (x) in the opposite direction to the rollers of the first roller group, eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pressure roller unit. The rollers are arranged in such a way that of each two rollers arranged next to one another, one is associated with the first roller group and one with the second roller group.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stacking conveyor including slow-down wheels to reduce the exit speed of individual sheets of material. In one preferred embodiment, a non-driven friction drag belt is positioned above the slow-down wheels so as to assist in reducing the discharge velocity of the sheets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a roller unit comprising a roller rotatable about a shaft, a bearing for supporting the shaft, and a mechanism for imparting a pre-load to the bearing, characterized in that the mechanism has structure capable of varying the pre-load. This roller unit is mounted on the frame of an imaging apparatus or the like, and is designed such that during the mounting thereof, the pre-load becomes great to thereby eliminate the play (backlash) of the bearing.

Abstract: A device for radially deflecting consignments in transport plants permits consignments to be conveyed, in linear sections, clamped between an upper belt and a lower belt, where the upper belt urges the inner side of the curvature of the consignments to be conveyed against a surface profile of the deflection device. The deflection device on which the inner side of the curvature of the consignment rests has a surface profile with depressions on the side facing the consignment. The tangential length of the surface profile is at least as long as the outside of the respective consignment.

Abstract: In a device for transporting sheets between a pair of transport rollers of a delivery of a printing machine, each of the rollers feature, along its respective length, several roller sections having greater diameters and roller sections having smaller diameters, with roller sections of one roller having greater diameters facing roller sections of the other roller having smaller diameters in order to provide the sheets, in longitudinal direction, with a transversely extending corrugated profile for the purpose of stiffening the sheets. Due to the fact that either roller sections of roller having greater diameters or roller sections with smaller diameters are mounted so as to be freely rotatable and that, when rotating the respective other roller, the roller sections are entrained by driven opposite roller sections of the respective other roller, all roller surfaces have the same speed so that the surfaces of the sheets are not damaged when being transported onto a delivery pile.

Abstract: A document feeder includes: a document detecting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for detecting a document inserted from the outside; a feed roller arranged adjacent to the document detecting device, on the top of the copier body, for feeding an inserted document into a space between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device; and an original cover lifting device arranged on the top of the copier body, for lifting the original cover to create a gap between the original table and the original cover, in response to the detection of a document by the document detecting device. Alternatively, the feed roller further has a rotary cam on its shaft, so that the cam rotates to lift the original cover up as the feed roller rotates in the document feeding direction.

Abstract: A modular paper mover is disclosed which is adapted for use with existing printers and other paper processing devices. The invention included a wedge shaped opening which is located at the exit port of the paper processing device such that paper dispelled from the device will automatically enter the paper mover. A sensor, such as an optical sensor, detects the presence of the paper and is coupled with a motor which drives a platen. The platen acts like a pinch roller to grasp and pull the paper through a track and direct the paper to an outlet location typically opposite the wedge-shaped opening. The motor is designed to operate for a predetermined time interval to insure that the paper is completely clear of the platen even after the sensor is no longer activated. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is sized to sit inside a designated paper well of a paper processing device, providing a modular, removable paper mover which can be used with a variety of paper processing devices.

Abstract: An image reader includes guide plates for defining an original convey path, a conveying mechanism for conveying an original along the original convey path, an optical reading section for illuminating the original fed by the conveying mechanism and for reading image information on the basis of reflection light from the original, and a mounting member for mounting the conveying mechanism and the optical reading section on the guide plate. In particular, the guide plate has a plurality of openings arranged in a direction of original conveyance, the conveying mechanism has a plurality of rollers protruding into the original convey path through the openings, for rotating to convey the original, and the mounting member has a plurality of supporting portions disposed beside the openings, for rotatably supporting the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus including a supporting unit for supporting a convey unit conveying a sheet for draw-out movement in a direction intersecting with a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveying apparatus also includes a guide unit disposed upstream or a downstream of the convey unit to guide the sheet drawn out together with the draw-out convey unit so as not to be caught by any part of the apparatus.

Abstract: A bill handling machine includes a bill placement base on which bills to be handled are placed, a bill transaction section through which the bills are received and fed out and a drum provided adjacent to the bill placement base, the drum including a pair of endless drive belts and a pair of movable endless driven belts which are disposed so as to face the endless drive belts and are adapted to hold the bills between the endless drive belts and themselves, a bill transportation passage being formed in the drum by the endless drive belts and the endless driven belts, the length of the bill transport passage being determined to be slightly greater than a length of a bill in a transporting direction whose length in the transporting direction is greatest among the bills to be handled, the bill handling machine further including a shutter which can project into and be retracted from the bill transportation passage, a length between an end portion of the bill placement base on a side opposite from the drum and the s

Abstract: A sheet guidance channel includes a pair of opposite surfaces (2a, 2b) in which are formed elongated raised beads (12) extending in the transport direction (A--A). The elongated raised beads (12) are arranged on the two surfaces (2a, 2b) such that they are arranged in pairs opposite to one another, restricting the height of the sheet guidance channel. Relative to the central axis (M) of the surfaces (2a, 2b), the elongated raised beads (12) are inclined by an angle .alpha. in the transport direction and the elongated raised beads (12) extend in the transport direction (A--A) only over partial areas of the surfaces (2a, 2b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel extension apparatus and method for providing a selectively adjustable conveying path for sheet articles between sheet processing apparatuses. The extension apparatus includes a base bracket with a pair of rotatably movable spring-loaded bracket arms attached to a shaft extending therethrough. A pair of bracket arm rollers are attached to each of the bracket arms. An extension plate is positioned above and slidably movable on the base bracket, and a pair of rotatable extension rollers are rotatably attached to a shaft extending through the extension plate such that slidable movement of the extension plate simultaneously and identically moves the extension rollers. A pair of rear rollers are utilized and are operatively aligned with an extension roller and a pair of the bracket arm rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and processing documents and maintaining a preset nominal inter-document gap, g.sub.nom therebetween, this apparatus including transport stage for picking each document from an input stack and advancing it toward a destination at a controlled rate; a sensor unit for sensing the distance g between the so-moved document and the following document; and a control stage for determining the variance .gradient.g, between g.sub.nom and g, while driving each successive document along a feed path from the input stack at adjustable times; with the sensor unit inputting the control means which is adapted to responsively determine the variance-distance .gradient.g, and to thereupon control the transport stage to adjust the acceleration or deceleration of a following document and so tend to reduce this variance-distance .gradient.g.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet separator for separating and feeding sheets one by one. The separator is formed of a plurality of separation portions each including a sheet supply roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction and a sheet return roller rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction, each disposed along a width-wise direction of the sheet. A sheet supplying force of a central separation portion disposed substantially at a center of the sheet in the width-wise direction is selected to be greater than that of the other separation portions.

Abstract: A data-bearing card is transported past a reading, writing or other communication head by at least one drive element connected to an electric motor through a preselected gear train. The mechanism moves the card at speeds corresponding to a preferred range of rates at which data borne by the card is intended to pass the communication head, and does so with a minimum of "jitter". In one particular embodiment, the gear train includes a worm screw driving a worm wheel for rotation with the drive element. In another embodiment, the electric motor is supported on a base oriented substantially parallel to the card being transported, and a shaft carrying the drive element and a first gear of the gear train is supported for rotation by at least one side plate detachably mounted to the base.

Abstract: A currency counting and discrimination machine for rapidly counting and discriminating currency bills is set forth having a jam detection and clearing mechanism. The machine has a transport mechanism which engages and transports the currency bills, one at a time, along a transport path from an input receptacle to an output receptacle. A sensing device for scanning and counting the currency bills is adjacent a segment of the transport path. Several sensors along the transport path detect when a currency bill becomes jammed. Once a jammed currency bill is detected, the operation of the transport mechanism is interrupted. A portion of the transport mechanism is then adjusted to relieve pressure exerted on the jammed currency bill by the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism is then reactivated to remove the jammed currency bill from the transport path.

Abstract: A passbook transport and handling apparatus (10) for transporting a passbook between a customer using an automated banking machine and a printer (12) located inside the banking machine includes first belt flights (32) movable on first pulleys (22). The transport further includes second belt flights (34) movable on second pulleys (28). The second belt flights are disposed traversely intermediate of the first belt flights so that a passbook carried therein between is engaged firmly but with limited slippage. The passbook is guided through the transport by a first fixed edge guide (44). A second edge guide (46) is mounted on a spring (48) so as to bias the passbook into alignment as it passes through the transport. A gate member (72) is movable between positions blocking or admitting a passbook to the transport. Movement of the gate member as well as the belt flights is under control of a processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus in which a belt is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a convey rotary member for conveying a sheet and an outer peripheral surface of a drive pulley for transmitting a rotational force to the convey rotary member or an outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft of the drive pulley, so that a rotational force of the drive pulley is transmitted to the convey rotary member by way of the belt.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder to be incorporated in a scanner document forwarding mechanism which comprises a reduction gear assembly driven by a motor and having at least one gear and a pair of mated rollers through which a document to be fed by the document feeder travels is disclosed. The document feeder includes a gear train having an input gear mechanically coupled to the gear of the reduction gear assembly of the scanner document forwarding mechanism via two idle gears to be driven thereby and an output gear mechanically coupled to the input gear via a pinion co-axially fixed to the input gear and engaging the output gear. A document driving roller is provided and co-axially fixed to the output gear to be driven thereby for engaging and driving the document to be fed into the scanner document forwarding mechanism. A document guide is provided close to the document driving roller for guiding the document therethrough toward the scanner document forwarding mechanism.

Abstract: An accumulator apparatus and method are provided for accumulating sheet articles. The accumulator apparatus includes an upper belt system and lower belt system operative for advancing sheet articles in seriatim manner therebetween. Guide rollers are provided at the entrance of the sheet articles between the upper and lower belt systems for guiding the sheet articles therebetween without pinching. Nip rollers are provided downstream from the entry guide rollers for pulling sheet articles into the accumulator apparatus between the guide rollers and the nip rollers. A ramp system operative for deflecting advancing sheet articles is provided downstream from the nip rollers. Sheet articles deflected by the ramp assembly can then be accumulated in an accumulation location where the lower belt system is maintained in a spaced-apart position below the accumulation location such that the lower belt system cannot contact or mark sheet articles accumulated therein.

Abstract: A sheet member conveying mechanism, including a conveying guide for guiding a sheet member from a paper feed port to a paper discharge tray, a forwarding roller disposed on the most upstream side of the conveying guide, and a paper feed roller disposed on the downstream side of the forwarding roller to convey sheet members, forwarded by the forwarding roller, downstream one by one. An upper part of the outer peripheral surfaces of each of the forwarding roller and the paper feed roller is exposed above the upper surface of the conveying guide. The uppermost site of the paper feed roller is located at a lower position than the uppermost site of the forwarding roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus removably connected to an under side of an image forming apparatus to supply a sheet to the image forming apparatus. The apparatus has a main body connected to the under side of the image forming apparatus, a sheet supporting plate provided within the main body of sheet supplying apparatus to support a sheet, sheet supply rotary member for feeding out the sheet from the sheet supporting plate, a convey unit rotatably supported within the main body of sheet supplying apparatus to supply the sheet fed out by the sheet supply rotary member to a sheet receiving opening provided at a side surface of the image forming apparatus, and a positioning unit for positioning the convey unit in the vicinity of the sheet receiving opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feed mechanism capable of accurately feeding a sheet and of preventing a skew of a sheet, and a printer provided with the same sheet feed mechanism. The sheet feed mechanism comprises a drive shaft, a plurality of driving rollers rotatably mounted on the drive shaft for feeding a sheet, such as a slip, and a single driven roller rotatably disposed so as to press the sheet against the driving rollers. The driven roller has a working surface for pressing the sheet against the driving rollers, corresponding to the plurality of driving rollers.

Abstract: Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a printer is provided for consistently printing on a sheet of recording media regardless of any curl in the recording media. The printer includes a feed roller for feeding a sheet of recording medium through the printer. At least one pinch roller is provided for pressing the sheet against the feed roller. At least one guide is provided with an end which contacts the feed roller in the vicinity of the contact point so as to guide the sheet toward the contact point. A biasing member is provided for biasing the end of the guide against the feed roller, and at least one control roller is rotatably attached to the guide to control the contact force exerted by the end of the guide against the feed roller.

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 present invention provides a sheet supplying and conveying apparatus comprising a sheet supporting means for supporting sheets, a convey roller contacted with the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means with predetermined sheet supplying pressure and adapted to feed out the sheet and convey the sheet around the convey roller by rotation of the convey roller, a separation rotary member urged against the convey roller with predetermined separation pressure and adapted to separate the sheets fed out by the convey roller one by one, a torque limiter for permitting rotation of the separation rotary member in a sheet conveying direction when rotational torque directing toward the sheet conveying direction and having a value greater than a predetermined value acts on the separation rotary member and for preventing the rotation of the separation rotary member in the sheet conveying direction when the rotational torque having a value smaller than the predetermined value acts on the separation rotary member,