Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism is provided. In a sheet feed mechanism, a first sheet feeding device includes a first sheet feed roller and a first pressure contact roller that can be in pressure contact with the first sheet feed roller. The sheet feed mechanism further includes a recording sheet, which can be conveyed downstream by the rotation of the first sheet feed roller while being held in pressure contact between the first sheet feed roller and the first pressure contact roller. The first pressure contact roller is connected to a pressure contact release mechanism that can release the pressure contact of the first pressure contact roller with the first sheet feed roller. The pressure contact release mechanism is provided near the center in an axial direction of the first pressure contact roller.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus has one or more camshafts, one or more cams connected to the camshaft, one or more followers contacting the cam, one or more biasing members connected to the follower, and one or more tracks connected to the follower. With embodiments herein the track limits movement of the follower to a constrained path intersecting the axis about which the camshaft rotates. Alternatively, the biasing member itself can limit the movement of the follower to this linear path. The biasing member can comprise any force member such as a spring, a piston, a flexible member, a compressible member, etc. that has the ability to bias the follower toward the axis of the camshaft. The embodiments herein store and transfer potential energy to reduce the total reflected torque on the motor.

Abstract: A transport apparatus includes: a transport roller unit that includes a drive transport roller and a driven transport roller to transport a transported medium to a downstream side of a transport direction; a driven roller holder that rotatably holds the driven transport roller; a support member that supports the driven roller holder and allows it to swing; a load applying resilient member that applies a load to the driven transport roller by being resiliently deformed in a direction along which the driven transport roller approaches the drive transport roller; and an engaging member that is provided separately from the support member to bear the load by engaging with the load applying resilient member.

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 present invention relates to an ejecting roller assembly for use in an automatic document feeder to adaptively adjust the nip force between the follower roller and the driving roller in response to input and output of the paper sheet, there effectively preventing the paper sheet from getting jammed. The ejecting roller assembly includes a swing lever, a follower roller, a friction-generating element and a driving roller. The swing lever is coupled to the follower roller for adaptively adjusting the nip force. The friction-generating element is arranged between the swing lever and the follower roller for facilitating increasing the friction force between the swing lever and the follower roller. The driving roller is used for controlling input and output of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A printing medium feeding device includes: a driving roller having a roller circumferential surface coming in contact with a printing medium to apply a feeding force to the printing medium around a core line of a rotation shaft and rotating to feeding the printing medium downstream; a driven roller in contact with the driving roller and following the rotation thereof; a shaft supporting member supporting the rotation shaft at least at two supporting positions; and a regulation unit regulating a core position of the rotation shaft between the two supporting positions at which the rotation shaft is supported by the shaft supporting member, wherein the regulation unit has a pressing surface coming in contact with the rotation shaft from the upstream side or the downstream side of the rotation shaft, and wherein the core position of the rotation shaft at the position of the regulation unit is located by the pressing surface to be more downstream than a straight line passing through the core positions of the rotat

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a first roller and a second roller pressurized to the first roller to hold and convey a sheet, wherein when the sheet is held between the first roller and the second roller, the first roller and second roller are separated at a space equivalent to a thickness of the sheet. The sheet conveyor has a pressurizing delay mechanism configured to bring controllably the first roller and the second roller into contact with each other after the sheet is conveyed from the first roller and the second roller.

Abstract: A recording medium transport device has: a transport roller unit that nips a recording medium and transports it to a recording area, the transport roller unit including a transport roller and plural pinch rollers for nipping and transporting the recording medium; a pinch roller holder body that pivotally supports the plural pinch rollers to be pressed to the transport roller, the pinch roller holder body including a base part to be attached to a frame and plural support parts for supporting the pinch rollers respectively, the base part and the support parts being integrally formed and integrally connected to each other through thin coupling parts long in a width direction of the recording medium; and plural urging units provided on the support parts respectively for elastically urging a tip side of each of the support parts toward the transport roller.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises an acquiring device, a driving roller, driven rollers, a driven roller supporter, a driver, and a controller. The acquiring device acquires thickness information on a sheet of paper. The driving roller rotates by being supplied with torque. The driven rollers rotate with the driving roller when in compressive contact with the driving roller. The driven roller supporter so supports the driven rollers that each of them can rotate under a different rotational load. The driver changes the position of the driven roller supporter relative to the driving roller. The controller selects one of the driven rollers on the basis of the thickness information and so activates the driver as to bring the selected roller into compressive contact with the driving roller.

Abstract: A sheet detecting device includes a follow roller, an urging member, first and second support members, and a detecting unit. The second support member rotatably supports the follow roller and supports the urging member. The second support member is supported on the first support member, allowing the second support member to move to a first position when the drive roller and the follow roller nippingly convey the recording medium, and allowing the second support member to move to a second position upstream of the first position in the conveying direction when the recording medium is separated from the drive roller and the follow roller. The second support member is provided with a detection member that moves with the second support member when the second support member moves between the first position and the second position. The detecting unit detects the detection member, thereby detecting the position of the recording medium.

Abstract: An item printing system for printing imprints on moving items, comprising: an item transport path through which items are in use transported in a transport direction; an item transport unit for transporting items through the item transport path; a printing unit (11) for printing imprints on items transported through the item transport path; a free roller (27) driven by respective items transported through the item transport path; and a speed measurement unit for measuring speed of rotation of the free roller, wherein the measured speed of rotation of the free roller is utilised to provide relative control of printing by the printing unit and speed of transport of items by the item transport unit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including a printing unit that contacts or separates a thermal head with or from a platen using the driving force of a UD motor, one or more sheet feed units that include sheet feed rollers which are rotated forward or backward by the driving force of an LF motor transmitted through a transport gear group and pressure rollers which are supported between a pair of roller supporting members and are urged by elastic members to come into pressure contact with the sheet feed rollers, and are provided on an upstream side and a downstream side of the printing unit in a transport path of a recording sheet, a pressure release mechanism including a cam shaft that is rotatably provided so as to tilt the pair of roller supporting members of the sheet feed units against the urging force of the elastic members and separates the pressure rollers from the sheet feed rollers, and a pressure release gear group that transmits the driving force of the LF motor to the cam shaft of the pressure release mechan

Abstract: A paper output mechanism includes a supporting frame supporting a rotational shaft on which output rollers are fixed. Pressing rollers are fixed at an intermediate position between the output rollers. A guide cover is mounted on the supporting frame. Supporting frame portions are mounted on a side edge of the guide cover opposing to the output rollers, and support the press rollers. The supporting frame portions are fit and held in slits formed on the guide cover. Accordingly, a position adjustment can be performed by moving the supporting frame portions in a paper output direction.

Abstract: A coin separating unit of a compact configuration for separating coins of different thicknesses from a bulk supply includes a coin transporting unit such as a rotating belt having a support surface of a predetermined flexibility and friction characteristic. A separating roller unit is positioned above a support surface and rotates in a direction opposite to the movement of the belt. A supporter unit is operatively located upstream of the separating roller unit and can displace coins that are overlaid with each other. The belt has sufficient flexibility so that a gap between the surface of the belt and a separating roller unit can be increased to accommodate a particular thickness of coin as it passes beneath the separating roller unit.

Abstract: A paper-discharging apparatus used with an image-forming device provided with one or more paper-discharging rollers and one or more idle rollers includes a supporting plate installed in the paper-discharging port side of the body of the image-forming device, a supporting bracket rotatably supporting the one or more idle rollers, and a spacing adjustment unit allowing a spacing distance between the supporting bracket and the supporting plate to be variable in response to the shape deformation of the supporting plate. The spacing adjustment unit is provided with an elastic member to restrain a magnitude of a contact pressure generated between the paper-discharging roller and the idler roller from being changed even if a shape of the supporting plate is deformed.

Abstract: A sheet transportation device includes a transportation roller driven during operation, a guiding element and an actuation device that is used to switchably affect the interspacing between the transportation roller and the guiding element. In a closed state during operation, a sheet is guided against the driven roller by the guiding element. The sheet transportation device also includes a freely rotatably arranged roller that is positioned in the vicinity of and arranged concentrically relative to the transportation roller. The freely rotatably arranged roller extends in a radial direction beyond a circumferential edge of the transportation roller. A reversing station and a printer can also include a sheet transportation device of this kind.

Abstract: A paper delivering device to deliver printing paper, including: a lower frame; an upper frame rotatably coupling with the lower frame by a hinge part and rotating between a driving position in which the upper frame is disposed to parallel with respect to the lower frame with putting a delivery pathway of the printing paper between there and an opened position where the upper frame is spaced from the driving position; an upper delivery roller disposed on a lateral surface facing to the lower frame in the upper frame; a plate, interposed between the lower frame and the upper frame, to be detachable from the lower frame in a surface direction of the printing paper; and a lower delivery roller disposed on a lateral surface facing the upper frame of the plate and delivering the printing paper by oppositely rotating with the upper delivery roller when the plate is disposed at the lower frame.

Abstract: A spring is bridged between a pair of press levers, and a pair of driven rollers is pressurized uniformly, so that clamping and conveying force of the sheet of paper P on the front side and rear side by conveying rollers and the driven rollers is made equal such as Pf=Pr, the sheet of paper P are prevented from being skewed, while the sheet of paper P are clamped and conveyed by a conveying device, and the good conveying of the sheet of paper P is improved, thus the image quality is improved.

Abstract: A conveying device of an image recording apparatus includes a drive roller, a follow roller, an urging member, a bearing member, a pivoting support member, and a driving unit. The urging member applies pressure to the follow roller for pressing the follow roller against the drive roller. The bearing member supports the urging member and rotatably supports the follow roller. The pivoting support member supports the bearing member such that the bearing member is pivotally movable about either one of a rotational axis of the drive roller and another axis different from the rotational axis. The driving unit pivotally moves the pivoting support member and the bearing member between a first position at which the follow roller is located on a conveying path for conveying a recording medium and a second position at which the follow roller is retracted from the conveying path.

Abstract: An adjustable force driving nip assembly for use in a sheet transport system of a document creating apparatus has a plurality of adjustable force driving nips aligned and spaced transversely across the sheet travelling path of the sheet transport system. Each driving nip has a spring biased idler roller mounted on a cam follower and mated with a driven roller. The spring bias produces a normal force for the idler roller that urges the idler roller against the driven roller. A stepper motor is adapted to interact concurrently with the cam followers and, upon actuation, vary the force of the spring thus adjusting the normal force of the idler rollers. A controller actuates the stepper motor in response to sheet media data entered into a control panel of the document creating apparatus by an end user, thereby automatically adjusting the normal force of the idler rollers to prevent sheet marking.

Abstract: In embodiments herein one or more cams are operatively connected to corresponding ones of idler rollers within nip drive assemblies. As the cams rotate, the cams move the idler rollers between a first position biased against the drive rollers and a second position out of contact with the drive rollers. A camshaft is operatively connected to the cams, and the camshaft is operatively connected to a clutch driven by the drive motor/axle of the nip drive assembly. One feature of embodiments herein is that the camshaft (and consequently the cams themselves) is rotated by the clutch only when the drive axle rotates in a reverse direction opposite the forward direction. Thus, the forward movement of the drive axle moves media through the drive nips and reverse movement of the drive axle rotates the cams, thereby controlling the position of the idler rollers.

Abstract: A spring is bridged between a pair of press levers, and a pair of driven rollers is pressurized uniformly, so that clamping and conveying force of the sheet of paper P on the front side and rear side by conveying rollers and the driven rollers is made equal such as Pf=Pr, the sheet of paper P are prevented from being skewed, while the sheet of paper P are clamped and conveyed by a conveying device, and the good conveying of the sheet of paper P is improved, thus the image quality is improved.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a cover hinged to the casing of the apparatus and supporting a roller shaft on which a drive roller is mounted. A driven roller and a positioning section for positioning the drive roller are mounted on the casing. The cover is movable between a closed position where the drive roller is pressed against the driven roller and an open position where the former is released from the latter. A first drive gear is affixed to the end of the roller shaft while a second drive gear, meshing with the first drive gear, is mounted on the cover and receives the output torque of a drive source. The roller shaft is mounted on the cover such that the pitch circle of the first drive gear moves on the pitch circle of the second drive gear while touching it externally.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, a feed roller pair including a drive roller and a pinch roller is disposed on an upstream side of a sheet feed direction from an image recording unit. The pinch roller is rotatably supported in a pinch roller holder so as to press in contact with drive roller with a specified pressure. A holder support member is integrally formed with an inside frame constituting a housing of the apparatus. Rolling bearings are interposed between the pinch roller holder and the holder support member. The pinch roller holder is supported in the holder support member so as to roll in a direction where a recording sheet is fed.

Abstract: Embodiments of example apparatuses and methods for changing nip pressure are described.

Abstract: A device and method for moving media sheets within an image forming apparatus. The device includes a motor; a pick mechanism operatively connected to the motor, a first gear set having a first ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the pick mechanism, a feed nip operatively connected to the motor to receive the media sheet and forward the media sheet along a media path, and a second gear set having a second gear ratio and operatively connecting the motor to the feed nip. The motor may operate at a constant speed and drive the pick mechanism at a first speed and the feed nip at a second speed. The first and second speeds may be the same, or the speeds may be different.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism for an image forming apparatus includes a drive roller rotated by a first shaft driven by a motor. A press roller is supported by a second shaft which is parallel to and spaced apart from the first shaft. The press roller is pressed against the drive roller, and is driven by the drive roller. A cam pushes the second shaft (and therefore the press roller) away from the drive roller to prevent unnecessary external forces from being exerted on paper being fed through the rollers. The cam is actuated by clutching means for transferring rotating force of the first shaft to the cam to rotate the cam when it is necessary to move the press roller away from the drive roller.

Abstract: Provided is a paper feeding device. The paper feeding device includes an image forming unit, a paper feeding unit to provide a transfer force to a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The paper feeding unit has a roller portion to transfers the paper to the image forming unit and a paper-feeding controlling unit to operate the roller portion so as to interrupt the transfer force applied to the paper when a rear end of the paper passes through the roller portion.

Abstract: The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller which controls a moving unit. The moving unit moves a sheet conveyance unit for conveying a sheet toward a direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction. The controller performs the control such that a moving speed of a shift moving unit is reduced when a shift amount of the sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus main body is small. Therefore, generation of a noise and vibration can be suppressed to save electric power consumption. When the shift amount of the sheet is large, the moving speed of the shift moving unit can be increased to shorten an operation time necessary to the movement.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus has: a conveying roller shaft arranged so as to be movable vertically; a pressing member which presses the conveying roller shaft in plural positions; and an urging member which urges the pressing member toward a conveying path of a medium. The whole pressing member is pushed up when the medium is inserted and a part of the pressing member is pushed up. Since the pressing member presses the conveying roller shaft in the medium width direction with a uniform pressing force, the uniform pressing force is applied to the medium in the width direction. The occurrence of a variation in the conveying forces and the occurrence of the oblique movement of the medium can be avoided. The medium can be stabilized and conveyed with the sufficient conveying force.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a substrate or sheet through a printing machine comprises a drive roller and a baffle assembly forming a path for the substrate past the drive roller. The baffle assembly includes an idler roller having an axle rotatably supported within the baffle assembly to cooperate with the drive roller to exert a nip force on the substrate. A nip spring connected to the baffle assembly bears against a bushing carrying the idler roller axle to exert a nip force on the idler roller. A nip force adjustment apparatus is mounted within the baffle assembly and is operable to apply an adjustment force on the bushing of the idler roller to augment the nip force generated by the nip spring.

Abstract: The sheet paper conveying device comprises: paper supply rollers at least part of which rotate to convey the sheet paper in a prescribed direction; separation rollers that rotate in the direction reverse to the sheet paper conveying direction or rotates jointly with the paper supply roller; auxiliary rollers that clamp the sheet paper jointly with the paper supply rollers and freely rotate; a first pressurizing member to press the separation rollers against the paper supply roller side; and a second pressurizing member to press the auxiliary roller against the paper supply roller side.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding mechanism of a printer conveys a recording sheet nipped between a first sheet-feeding roller and a first pressing roller towards a thermal head. At the start of a printing operation, a second pressing roller is disposed distant from a second sheet-feeding roller. When a front end of the recording sheet being printed is conveyed to a space between the second sheet-feeding roller and the second pressing roller disposed distant from each other, the second pressing roller gradually comes into press-contact with the recording sheet such that the recording sheet being printed is conveyed downstream by at least a second sheet-feeding unit. The first pressing roller is gradually shifted away from the recording sheet before a rear end of the recording sheet being printed is released from the nip between the first sheet-feeding roller and the first pressing roller.

Abstract: A recording medium conveying device that conveys a recording medium to a recording area, includes a pair of first conveyor rollers that are provided upstream of the recording area and convey a recording medium by nipping the recording medium therebetween, a detector that detects a position of the recording medium, a nipping force changing unit that changes the nipping force of the pair of first conveyor rollers, and a controller that controls an operation of the nipping force changing unit in accordance with the position of the recording medium detected by the detector.

Abstract: An actuator system for use with a sheet transport system having a first roller and a second roller. The actuator system includes an idler assembly and a drive assembly. The idler assembly is coupled to the first roller and is biased to hold the first roller in a closed position engaging the second roller for transporting a sheet. The drive assembly is configured to engage the idler assembly to move the first roller between an open position spaced from the second roller and the closed position and to disengage the idler assembly when the first roller is in the closed position so that the first roller is held in the closed position solely by the idler assembly.

Abstract: Scanning errors and document feed errors are prevented by pressing originals, including thin originals and thick originals of greatly different thicknesses, to the scanning surface (1a) of an image sensor (1) with pressure appropriate for the respective original. A pressure-generating mechanism (50) is used to press the original against the scanning surface (1a) by selecting different elastic bodies with different spring forces to produce a different elastic force in accordance with the thickness of the original document.

Abstract: An adjustable force driving nip assembly for use in a sheet transport system of a document creating apparatus has a plurality of adjustable force driving nips aligned and spaced transversely across the sheet travelling path of the sheet transport system. Each driving nip has a spring biased idler roller mounted on a cam follower and mated with a driven roller. The spring bias produces a normal force for the idler roller that urges the idler roller against the driven roller. A stepper motor is adapted to interact concurrently with the cam followers and, upon actuation, vary the force of the spring thus adjusting the normal force of the idler rollers. A controller actuates the stepper motor in response to sheet media data entered into a control panel of the document creating apparatus by an end user, thereby automatically adjusting the normal force of the idler rollers to prevent sheet marking.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a base, a driven roller, an active roller, a shaft, and a plurality of torsion elements. The shaft is disposed on the base, and the torsion elements are coaxially connected to the shaft with a first and a second force arm pressing against the rotational axial position of the driven roller and the base respectively. The torsion elements provide a normal force to the driven roller, so that the driven roller may press against the active roller constantly.

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

Abstract: A recording method, for example, which allows a recording medium to be carried with high carrying precision is to be achieved. A recording method includes a step of changing a carry command value, when carrying a recording medium, according to a state of bending of the recording medium that is carried, a step of carrying the recording medium based on the carry command value that has been changed, and a step of recording on the recording medium that has been carried.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a recording medium in a feed direction, including: a drive roller having an annular recess; and a driven roller rotatably held and positioned such that a radially outer end portion of the driven roller is positioned within the annular recess of the drive roller. The driven roller is displaceable away from the drive roller, so that the recording medium is fed to pass between the drive and driven rollers, with the recording medium being gripped by the radially outer end portion of the driven roller and the radially outer end portion of the drive roller.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a housing, a control lever and a sheet pick-up module. The housing includes a feeding path defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The control lever is mounted on the first sidewall, and includes a pivotal part, a collar and a handle part. The collar is arranged between the pivotal portion and the handle part. The sheet pick-up module includes a driving shaft mounted on the collar and the second sidewall.

Abstract: An auxiliary scanning feed mechanism has a pair of curved feed guides for guiding a stimulable phosphor sheet along a curved feed path, and first and second roller pairs rotatable in synchronism with each other for gripping and feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet along the curved feed path. The first and second roller pairs have respective first and second drive rollers disposed inwardly of respective curved sections of the curved feed guides and respective first and second driven rollers.

Abstract: The recording paper is transported to a paper inversion unit in such a manner that, when recording of a first surface of a recording paper is performed, the recording paper is transported to a position where a rear end of the recording paper is released from a pair of sheet transport rollers, the sheet transport roller and a pinch roller are released at the position, the recording paper is transported in a direction opposite to the direction in the first surface recording to the pair of sheet transport rollers by a pair of sheet discharge rollers, the sheet transport roller is pressed against the pinch roller again, and the transport of the recording paper in the reverse direction is further continued.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying apparatus. When a sheet is jammed in a first conveying path, a first unit is pulled out in a direction substantially parallel to a first conveying path. In this way, a driven roller and a driving roller are separated from each other, and a work space is created. The jammed sheet is thus exposed to the first conveying path. It is therefore easy to put a hand into the work space and remove the sheet. This allows for easy maintenance, and easy operation for removing a sheet retained in the apparatus.

Abstract: A discharge roller device includes at least one roller pair, at least one first free roller and at least one second free roller. The roller pair includes a driving roller and a pressure roller pushed against the driving roller. The first free roller is disposed at a side where the driving roller is disposed with respect to a plane including a nip part of the roller pair and a part of the first free roller is located in the pressure roller side rather than the plane. The second free roller is disposed at a side where the pressure roller is disposed with respect to the plane and a part of the second free roller is located in the driving roller side rather than the plane.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a stack means for stacking sheets to be fed; a feeding path comprising guide members for feeding the sheets to the stack means, disposed facing with each other; a discharging means for discharging the sheets to the stack means; and a sheet processing means capable of moving in the sheet width direction for processing the sheets stacked on the stack means at a predetermined position. One of the guide members disposed facing with each other is divided into a plurality of parts in the sheet width direction such that the feeding path can be selectively opened per each part in a space for moving the sheet processing means in a space where the sheet processing means moves.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A feeder is provided inside an exposure section of a photographic printer. First and second feed-roller pairs are respectively disposed at an upstream side and a downstream side of an exposing position of the feeder. A first nip roller of the first feed-roller pair and a second nip roller of the second feed-roller pair are movable between a nip position for nipping paper sheets, and a release position for releasing the nip thereof. The second nip roller is moved to the nip position after an anterior end of the paper sheet situated at the most upstream side has passed the second nip roller. The first nip roller is moved to the release position before a posterior end of the paper sheet situated at the most downstream side leaves the first nip roller.

Abstract: A mailing machine including a postage meter for printing evidence of postage payment on a media includes a registration surface, a print head, an envelope transport having at least two nips for keeping the media from skewing and contacting the print head, a media ski ending upstream of the registration surface for pushing the media into contact with the registration surface, and at least one star wheel disposed in an opening of the registration surface for holding the media down as it is fed through the mailing machine.