Abstract: A front end conveyor has an upstream end and a downstream end, a lower deck including a plurality of primary sheet supports and an upper deck including a plurality of sheet guides. Upper portions of the primary sheet supports lie in a first plane and the sheet supports and sheet guides define a sheet transport path for moving sheets in a sheet transport direction. A pivotable sheet support extends from an upstream end of the lower deck and has at least one surface lying in a second plane. The pivotable sheet support is pivotable from a first position in which the second plane forms a first angle with the first plane and a second position in which the second plane forms a second angle with the first plane, the second angle being different than the first angle.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding roller including a core portion to rotatably support the feeding roller on a feeding roller shaft and a roller portion provided on an outer periphery of the core portion, with the core portion including an engaging mechanism to engage with the feeding roller shaft to restrict movement of the feeding roller in an axial direction of the feeding roller shaft. The core portion also includes a protrusion extending in the axial direction and located on an opposite side of the feeding roller shaft from the engaging mechanism. An end portion of the protrusion is positioned at downstream side of a tip portion of the feeding roller shaft in a removing direction of the feeding roller from the feeding roller shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body, a conveyance unit, an image carrier, a transfer unit, and a pre-transfer guide. The body has a sheet passage for conveying sheets along inner and outer conveyance surfaces mutually facing. The conveyance unit includes the outer conveyance surface and is supported pivotably between an open position and a closed position relative to the inner conveyance surface. The transfer unit rotatably supports a transfer roller. The pre-transfer guide includes a first guide on the outer conveyance surface and a second guide on the inner conveyance surface. The first guide has a contact segment protruding toward the second guide. The first guide and the transfer unit are supported independently swingably relative to the transfer unit. The first guide is urged toward the second, and the distance between the two guide surfaces is restricted by the contact segment touching a contacted portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet printer including: a support structure including two side walls; a transfer apparatus slidable for advancing the substrate in a direction x, the transfer apparatus comprising a conveyor belt and a stationary support plane; a print device including a print head operating along a direction y, perpendicular to the direction x; retaining means for maintaining the substrate adhering to the conveyor belt; and adjusting means of the transfer apparatus. The support plane includes two side ends which rest on the side walls. The adjusting means of the transfer apparatus include at least one side adjusting assembly positioned between a side wall and the respective side end of the support plane.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a holding body that holds a toner image and to which a first tension and a second tension, which is smaller than the first tension, are applied, a transfer body that transfers the toner image to a recording medium while transporting the recording medium between the transfer body and the holding body, and a setting portion that sets tension applied to the holding body to the second tension when a mass of a toner of an uppermost toner layer constituting the toner image and disposed on the holding body is equal to or exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to propose a novel device and a novel method to allow the transportation of printable substrates precisely, suited to substrates of various types, sizes and thicknesses. Furthermore, the invention is suited to printing machines that involve no contact with the substrate, such as inkjet printing machines.

Abstract: A sheet-transport drum includes at least two sheet-supporting surfaces with suction openings. Each respective sheet-supporting surface is formed of first and second comb segments with segment teeth. Suction grooves are provided in the segment teeth and a trailing-edge suction groove is provided in the sheet-supporting surface of each respective second comb segment. A rotary valve is provided for a timed supply of suction air. A plurality of vacuum sources is provided and a trailing-edge suction groove is assigned to each respective vacuum source by the rotary valve. This ensures that the vacuum provided by a respective trailing-edge suction groove at the trailing edge of a respective sheet is reliably maintained even if a previous or following sheet is missing. A sheet-fed printing machine with the sheet-transport drum is also provided.

Abstract: There are provided a roll sheet conveying apparatus and a sheet conveying control method wherein it is possible to control motor driving for conveying a roll sheet at appropriate timing to keep constant the tension of the sheet to be conveyed without performing a special identifying operation. For this feature, a relationship between friction load torque on the roll sheet and the mass of the roll sheet is previously stored in a storing unit, whereby the moment of inertia of the roll sheet can be detected at appropriate timing during printing. As a result, the optimum tension of the sheet to be conveyed can be maintained by appropriately adjusting the driving control of a sheet feeding motor and a conveying motor without performing a special identifying operation.

Abstract: A belt assembly includes a belt formed into an endless loop, a plurality of support rollers with a rotary shaft, a shaft-end retainer, a movable supporting member, and a drive transmission device. The plurality of support rollers includes a first support roller and a second support roller. The shaft-end retainer is disposed at each end of the rotary shaft of the plurality of support rollers. The movable supporting member supports the first support roller and is movably disposed relative to the shaft-end retainer. The drive transmission device transmits a driving force to one of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device and the movable supporting member are disposed on a same side as the shaft-end retainer in an axial direction of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device is disposed between the shaft-end retainer and the movable supporting member in the axial direction.

Abstract: A card media processing system for treating individual cards includes a treatment assembly including a treatment device configured for sequentially treating individual cards. A car is configured to hold an individual card and to move the card to the treatment device. An endless loop track assembly is configured to support the car. The car includes a driven roller configured to engage the endless loop track assembly to move the car therealong, and the driven roller is operatively connected with a motor for causing rotation of the driven roller.

Abstract: A machine for processing plate elements is fitted with a station for processing the elements (4), and a feed table (3), positioned upstream of the station (4) and provided with a conveyor and a frame (13); the conveyor includes at least a removable conveyor cassette (23, 24) with an endless conveyor belt (14, 16) in the cassette, and the cassette is inserted , attached to and able to be removed (O) from the frame (13).

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a contact pressure device for flat articles on a continuously moving transport belt, in particular letters in a franking and/or addressing machine. In order to increase the usable region and/or of the throughput of the printer apparatus, flat articles of different thicknesses are processed with predetermined speed, without slippage, in succession with arbitrarily small gaps between successive articles. An elastic, bellows-shaped, resiliently supported air bag has a low-friction, wear-resistant cover surface that is in non-positive contact with the transport belt. With its associated retention and air supply devices the bellows serves as a mobile contact pressure module.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.

Abstract: A valuable file identification device, comprising a housing; a hollow transparent drum; an annular clamping belt supported by at least two tension rollers and pressing against the transparent drum, the outer surface of the annular clamping belt and the outer surface of the transparent drum forming a clamping and conveying channel for the valuable file, and the length of the clamping and conveying channel being greater than that of the valuable file in the conveying direction; at least one information acquisition device, the information acquisition element of the information acquisition device being adjacent to the inner surface of the transparent drum, facing at least a part of the outer surface of the annular clamping belt, and being fixed relative to the side wall of the housing; and a power-driven device respectively driving the transparent drum and the annular clamping belt to move synchronously in opposite directions.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a rotatable endless belt for receiving a toner image thereon or for conveying a transfer material, wherein the endless belt has a smooth-shaped inner peripheral surface, a first reinforcing member, provided on an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at one end portion with respect to a belt widthwise direction, for reinforcing the endless belt, and a second reinforcing member, provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at the other end portion. In addition, a driving roller rotationally drives the endless belt while supporting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt.

Abstract: To suppress the bending of sheets, a sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a sheet conveying portion including an abutting portion for abutting against an end portion of the sheet supported by a supporting portion and which conveys the sheet being abutted against the abutting portion by moving in a predetermined moving direction; and a pressing portion which is provided on the sheet conveying portion such that the pressing portion is movable in a thickness direction of the sheet and which presses the sheet toward the supporting portion, wherein the pressing portion includes: an inclined portion arranged to be closer to the supporting portion at an upstream side than a downstream side; and a contacting portion configured to contact a surface of the sheet being abutted against the abutting portion to press the sheet to the supporting portion at a position distant from the abutting portion.

Abstract: Provided herein is a document processing system with improved paper path alignment and superior media hold-down capability, which minimizes undesirable electrostatic fields in the print zone. The document processing system includes a first belt module including a first roller and a second roller with a tack belt in surrounding engagement with the first roller and the second roller. The processing system further includes a second belt module, which includes a third roller and a fourth roller with a media transport belt in surrounding engagement with the third roller and the fourth roller. A mounting support for the first belt module is also included herein, the mounting support is designed to allow the first module to self-align relative to the second transport.

Abstract: A belt moving unit includes an endless belt member and plural support rolls supporting the belt member movably and rotating, wherein the support rolls include one or more follower rolls rotating to follow the movement of the belt member and at least one of the follower rolls is used as an inertial roll to which inertia is applied, wherein the inertial roll includes a rotation shaft, a rotational inertial member rotating with the rotation shaft and applying inertia, and a roll body disposed along a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft and including plural roll-divided members, and wherein the plural roll-divided members include a fixed divided member fixed to the rotation shaft and rotating along with the rotation shaft to follow the movement of the belt member and a rotating divided member rotating independently of the rotation of the rotation shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotary members, a conveyance belt, an image forming device, and a switchback device. The conveyance belt is looped around the plurality of rotary members so as to circulate to intermittently feed a sheet in a sheet transport direction. The image forming device is disposed opposing the conveyance belt to form an image on the sheet fed by the conveyance belt. The switchback device is disposed downstream from the image forming device in the sheet transport direction to feed the sheet having passed the image forming device to a position downstream from the conveyance belt in the sheet transport direction and switch back the sheet. When the sheet is fed by the conveyance belt and the switchback device, a drive start timing of the switchback device is delayed from a drive start timing of the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling a printer including a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to provide an electrostatic holding force for transporting a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is controlled to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an initial electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem positioned downstream of the charging subsystem is controlled to deposit a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A level of charge on the receiver medium is sensed using a charge sensing device positioned downstream of the inking subsystem. A recharging subsystem is controlled responsive to the sensed level of charge on the receiver medium to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an endless belt; a driving roller to move the endless belt in circulation; a driven roller to rotate along with circulation of the endless belt; a first bearing arranged on a first-side end of the driven roller along an axial direction to movable and to support the driven roller rotatably; a resilient member to apply a resilient force to the driven roller; and a frame having a first guide to the first bearing to move in an inclined direction, which inclines with respect to a virtual line extending through a rotation axis of the driving roller and the rotation axis of the driven roller, is provided. The first guide is formed to incline with respect to the virtual line to be closer to a virtual plane containing the strained plane of the endless belt as the first guide extends farther from the driving roller.

Abstract: A printer includes a transport belt having an electrically non-conducting surface adapted to transport a receiver medium along a transport path from an upstream position to a downstream position. A charging subsystem is configured to add charge to the transport belt or the receiver medium, thereby providing an electrostatic holding force. An inking subsystem is positioned downstream of the charging subsystem and deposits a pattern of ink on the receiver medium. A dryer positioned downstream of the inking subsystem is adapted to dry the inked receiver medium. A recharging subsystem positioned downstream of the dryer is configured to restore at least some charge dissipated while the receiver medium is transported between the charging subsystem and the recharging subsystem.

Abstract: A stacking system for stacking paper from a linear feed.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus has sheet tray, sheet conveyance path, sheet feed roller, lift plate, and guide wall. Sheet feed roller is disposed, downstream of sheet tray in sheet conveyance direction, above central portion of sheet tray in sheet width direction perpendicular to sheet conveyance direction, so as to face central portion. Lift plate is movable upward and downward to allow sheet to contact with sheet feed roller. Guide wall is disposed downstream of lift plate in sheet conveyance direction and spaced from lift plate with predetermined gap, to guide the conveyed sheet in diagonally upward direction intersecting placing surface of sheet tray. Both end portions in sheet width direction in front edge portion, of lift plate, facing guide wall are provided with end guide surfaces, respectively, which are inclined upward relative to central portion in sheet width direction.

Abstract: A control method based on a single-power caching mechanism. The single-power caching mechanism comprises an active coiling block, a driving motor, passive coiling blocks, and a tape coiling. The active coiling block is disposed on the driving motor. The active roiling block and the passive coiling blocks are connected through the tape coiling. The control method comprises the following steps: 1) when the driving motor needs to be shut down, detecting a rotational inertia of the active coiling block, a semidiameter of the active coiling block, a semidiameter of the passive coiling blocks, and a rotational inertia of the passive coiling blocks; and 2) controlling a breaking torque of the driving motor to be M1?I1×r×M2/(I2×R), M2 being a torsional moment of the passive coiling blocks. Also disclosed is a control system based on a single-power caching mechanism.

Abstract: A roll-type charging device contacts an image receptor serving as a body to be charged and is capable of rotating due to rotation of the image receptor. The apparatus includes a hollow roll having a cylindrical shape and formed of a hollow elastic member and flanges having rotation axes and formed of elastic members, the flanges inserted into two ends of the hollow roll to increase an inner diameter of the hollow roll.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure between a pair of rollers is disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine comprises a plurality of modules which are passed through one after the other by the sheets to be processed. The modules each have a sheet input interface and/or a sheet output interface, wherein, in at least one of the modules, the sheet input interface and/or the sheet output interface can optionally be coupled to sheet output interfaces and sheet input interfaces, respectively, of at least two other modules.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a cylindrical body and branching guides. The cylindrical body is rotatable. The cylindrical body and the branching guides convey paper to a processing unit that processes the paper and to an ejection tray. A paper reversing mechanism is composed mainly of the cylindrical body and the branching guide, in which a first face of the paper is directed to a peripheral surface of the cylindrical body and the paper is wound therearound by rotating the cylindrical body. The paper reversing mechanism then rotates the cylindrical body in a reverse direction and switches the posture of the branching guide, to thereby separate the paper from the peripheral surface and eject.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a belt unit are provided. The image forming apparatus or the belt unit includes: an endless belt; a driving roller; a driven roller; a tension generating member which generates a tension at the belt; a displacement member which is provided to be displaced in a displacement direction parallel to the axial direction of the driven roller together with the belt when the belt is moved in a moving direction along the displacement direction; and an axial force converting unit which converts a force of displacing the displacement member into a force which is directed in a direction intersecting the displacement direction and causes the tension generated at the belt to change such that a ratio of a tension generated on a trailing side in the moving direction of the belt to a tension generated on a leading side in the moving direction is decreased.

Abstract: The control unit 60 controls driving units 45b, 45c and 45d in such a manner that, when the detecting unit 36b detects at least the one paper sheet P2, the detected paper sheet P2 and the bundled of paper sheet P1 escrowed in the loop portion are merged to each other, and that the merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are escrowed in the loop portion. At this time, the control unit 60 controls the drive units 45b, 45c and 45d such that, after the detected paper sheet P2 and the escrowed bundle of paper sheet P1 have been merged or partly merged to each other, the merged or partly-merged paper sheets P1 and P2 are accelerated in at least the loop portion.

Abstract: A substrate sheet transporting device is provided. The device includes a first transfer cylinder defining a first axis, a circumferential direction and a transverse direction and a transfer belt (74) extending around the first transfer cylinder. The first transfer cylinder includes first openings for the passage of a gas and the transfer belt includes second openings for the passage of a gas. The transfer belt and the first transfer cylinder define an alignment position in which the second passage openings are aligned with the first passage openings. The transfer device includes a device for adjusting the position of the transfer belt relative to the first transfer cylinder by bringing the transfer belt toward the alignment position. The invention is applicable to cutting devices of rotary printing presses.

Abstract: A pickup arm for print media arranged to engage a roller.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a record head which forms an image on a recording medium; a conveyance mechanism which has an outer circumferential surface opposing the record head and conveys the recording medium placed on the outer circumferential surface; and a media attracting unit which causes the recording medium to be attracted onto the outer circumferential surface and includes a first electrode which is provided to oppose an inner circumferential surface of the conveyance belt which surface is opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the conveyance belt, a second electrode which opposes the outer circumferential surface of the conveyance belt and is detached from the outer circumferential surface, and a voltage supply unit which applies a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum includes securing a first portion of the printing form to a first means for receiving that is coupled to a surface of the drum, and securing a second portion of the printing form to a second means for receiving that is disposed on a rotatable member that extends over a portion of the drum. The rotatable member is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first receiving means and the second receiving means is about the same as a length of the printing form. A rotary torque means is coupled to the rotatable member to apply a substantially constant torque on the member and tension the printing form about the surface of the drum. The rotary torque means adjusts torque on the member which adjusts tension on the printing form.

Abstract: A paper floating detection apparatus is arranged at a conveyance path of a conveyance device which holds paper on a conveyance surface and conveys the paper in a conveyance direction while causing a surface of the paper to face a droplet ejection head. The detection apparatus includes: a light emission unit and a light reception unit arranged to face each other across the conveyance path, such that an optical path of detection light emitted from the light emission unit and received by the light reception unit is substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction, floating up of the paper from the conveyance surface being detected by detecting that the conveyed paper has shielded the detection light; and an air flow diverting guide member which is arranged in a periphery of the optical path and configured to prevent inflow of air having a temperature differential sufficient to affect the optical path.

Abstract: A plus power unit and a minus power unit apply a positive voltage and a negative voltage, respectively, to respective charging rollers. A positively charged area and a negatively charged area each of which is equivalent to the width of a short roller in length in a direction vertical to a conveying direction are alternately formed on a surface of a conveying belt. It is ensured to adsorb a leading end and a trailing end of printing paper with a charge pitch width (the width of the positively charged area and the negatively charged area).

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes an upstream rotary member and a downstream rotary member, an endless rotatable conveyance belt, stretched over the upstream rotary member and the downstream rotary member, to convey a sheet of recording media thereon in a predetermined conveyance direction, a conveyance guide disposed downstream of the conveyance belt in the predetermined conveyance direction, disposed across a gap from the conveyance belt, to guide the sheet to a predetermined conveyance position, and a guide member to introduce the sheet into a gap between the conveyance belt and the conveyance guide and onto the conveyance belt, so that the sheet is conveyed from the downstream rotary member to the upstream rotary member.

Abstract: A transporting roller is formed of a metal plate formed into a cylindrical shape so that a pair of end surfaces oppose each other and having a joint line extending in the axial direction formed by the pair of the end surfaces including: a high friction layer formed on a surface of the roller and configured to come into contact with a transported medium; an opening provided out of the high friction layer; and a gear member disposed so that an inner peripheral surface is located on the opening.

Abstract: Document guide systems and methods employing a document platen are provided. According to an illustrative embodiment, a document guide system employing a document platen includes a document platen having a first, document-faceable side and a second, opposing side, and a document support sub-system adjacent the first side of the document platen. The document support sub-system and the first side of the document platen are adapted to receive a document therebetween, and the document platen forms an aperture adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressing flat materials onto a transport module with a transport belt includes a holding carrier for pressing elements being disposed under a feed table. At least one of the pressing elements is mounted on the holding carrier with a multiplicity of individual resilient or sprung constituent parts, or a multiplicity of pressing elements are disposed on the holding carrier below the transport belt in a transport direction. The pressing elements can protrude through an opening in the feed table, in order to provide suitable pressure from below on the transport belt of the transport module.

Abstract: A folder includes a cylinder having a first gripping device receiving a folded edge of a signature and rotating the signature at a first surface speed. A conveyor presses the signature against the outer surface and the conveyor contacts the signatures at a second surface speed slower than the first surface speed. The present invention also provides a method for removing signatures from a cylinder.

Abstract: Provided is a unit for preventing abnormal conveyance when unreeling a banknote from a drum. A device for storing and discharging paper/paper-like sheets is provided with first and second reels for winding first and second tapes onto, a drum for winding the first and second tapes onto with a banknote sandwiched between respective conveying surfaces of the first and second tapes, and first and second deflecting rollers disposed facing a banknote inlet-outlet and respectively deflecting the first and second tapes toward the drum. The device takes up, or unwinds, the first and second tapes entrained between the drum and the first and second reels via the first and second deflecting rollers so as to store or discharge the banknote. The device is also provided with a guide having a projection projecting toward the drum.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body having a metal main frame, first and second resin frames attached to the main frame, a conveying section attached to the first resin frame and made of third resin, an input section provided to the conveying section, and an output section supported to the second resin frame and liked to the input section. The conveying section conveys a recording medium upon receiving driving force through the input section and the output section. Both the first and second resin frames have a higher liner expansion coefficient than the main frame, and a linear expansion coefficient of the third resin is higher than that of the main frame and lower than that of the first and second resin frames.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for temporarily storing at least one item of media. The apparatus includes a rotatable item support member arranged to rotate about a support member axis of rotation and comprising an outer support surface. The apparatus also includes a pair of drive tape members, each arranged along a respective tape pathway, each tape pathway comprising a pathway portion in which the tape members extend in a co-operating relationship supported by said outer support surface. The outer support surface includes at least one support region that supports the tape members and an item located therebetween in a flat orientation.

Abstract: An image reader may include a shaft, a roller, a guide, and a first side plate comprising a frame portion having a first frame portion, a pair of second frame portions, and a third frame portion connecting with the pair of second frame portions and a first hole surrounded by the frame portion. A first bearing member may be fitted in the first hole and include a bearing portion contacting the first frame portion. The first bearing member may be configured such that an end of the shaft is rotatably held. An engaged portion may extend from the bearing portion and include an engagement portion engaged with the first side plate. The image reader may further include a second side plate, a second bearing member disposed at the second side plate and configured such that the opposite side of the shaft is rotatably held, and a reading unit.

Abstract: A paper feeding device and a multi-function printer using the same are provided. The paper feeding device includes a frame, a top cover, a set of gear chains, a power unit and a set of driving gears. The set of gear chains and the power unit are disposed on a side of the frame. The set of driving gears is disposed on the top cover. When the top cover is closed relatively to the frame, the set of driving gears interferes with the power unit, and the power unit provides a power to enable the set of driving gears to rotate, so as to drive the set of gear chains. When the top cover is opened relatively to the frame, the set of driving gears releases interference with the power unit and the set of gear chains, and the set of gear chains is at a free rotation status.

Abstract: A banknote store includes a banknote storage roller, two banknote conveyor belts and two collection sprockets of said belts, each belt being wound on one side to the storage roller and on the other to one of the collection sprockets, the two belts being arranged to come into contact with the banknotes respectively on opposite faces, a handling device being present to move the roller, the sprockets and the belts so as to alternatively realize the storage of the banknotes on the roller or their release from the store. The collection sprockets are mounted on a same shaft.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for flat materials which are to be printed has a number of spacer pieces which lie axially parallel with respect to one another and are disposed at two ends of a bearing plate of a roller carrier between a first and a second shaped part plate. The bearing plate is equipped with a pull rod for the defined deflection of the roller carrier with corresponding loading of the bearing plate by a mechanical tensile stress which is exerted by the pull rod, and is also equipped with a stressing and setting device, by way of which the tensile stress can be set, which is transmitted through stressing device to the two ends of the bearing plate.

Abstract: A transfer roller lies opposite to a supporting roller across an image carrying belt and abuts against the outer surface of the image carrying belt to form a transfer nip. A driving force transmission unit transmits driving force from a driving source to a driving roller. A drive control unit performs drive control of the driving source. A feedforward control unit performs feedforward control on the driving source via the drive control unit. An entry detecting unit detects entry of a sheet in the transfer nip. The feedforward control unit considers an entry detection signal output by the entry sensor as a trigger for performing feedforward control after a predetermined time.