Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a scanner for reading image information from a document. The image forming apparatus includes a scanner section, an image forming section, a sheet discharging section, a sheet stacking section, a sheet finishing section, and a relaying section. The scanner section is configured to read image information of a document that can then be formed into an image in the image forming section. Exemplary options include an image forming apparatus with a scanner mounted on the apparatus body above the image forming section.

Abstract: A sheet handling unit including a processing station having a stapling mechanism for stapling a plurality of sheets; a plurality of mail trays for receiving sheets transported from the processing station; and a bulk tray for receiving sheets transported from the processing station. The processing station is fixedly provided in a sheet handling unit body. The sheets transported from the processing station are delivered switchably to any of the mail trays or to the bulk tray.

Abstract: A discharge mechanism capable of discharging a sheet facedown is advantageous to miniaturization of a duplex printing apparatus. The discharge mechanism includes a discharge roller gear engaged with a driving gear; a pair of discharge rollers rotatable by the discharge roller gear, keeping in contact with each other; a disklike support member having a shaft fixed on a same line of a shaft of the driving gear, intervening between the driving gear and the discharge rollers; a friction disk attached to the discharge roller gear, for transferring a driving force of the driving gear to the disklike support member; a compression coil spring interposed between the friction disk and the disklike support member, a shaft of a selected one of the discharge rollers passing through the compressing coil spring; and a solenoid for restricting rotation of the disklike support member when unactuated and for allowing rotation of the disklike support member when supplied with a current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink thereon and has a discharging section for receiving a recording medium discharged after an image has been formed thereon, and a deformation preventing member for preventing the recording medium discharged onto the discharging section from being deformed.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a garment piece at a first workstation and moving the garment piece to a second workstation where the garment piece is seamed together. The apparatus includes a garment piece transfer system located adjacent to the first workstation for engaging the garment piece at the first workstation and for moving the garment piece to the second workstation. A vision and control system is located adjacent to the first workstation for determining the position of the garment piece at the first workstation and sending a control signal to the garment piece transfer system to engage the garment piece at the first workstation and move the garment piece to the second workstation. A sewing machine is located at the second workstation for seaming the garment piece together. The vision and control system also determines a parameter value for a selected parameter of the garment and places the garment into a reject or a non-reject class based on a comparison of the parameter value and a reference value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for transferring laminated sheets from a printer to a separate processor therefor in a manner whereby the sheets are not crumpled, delaminated or otherwise damaged and whereby the printer and apparatus are easily aligned for facilitating such transfer. The apparatus includes an arrangement for inducing bending of the laminate and an arrangement for controlling the bending.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sheet transporting path which is arranged by a pair of guide members openable each other. The image forming apparatus is separated into a first unit including a photosensitive member and a second unit by the sheet transporting path. A force exerting member is provided on either one of the guide members and exerts a force on a sheet present in the sheet transporting path to remain the sheet on the guide member which is disposed on the second unit side.

Abstract: A multifunction printer having scanning and printing functions includes: a first cover located at one side surface of the deice body of the printer; a second cover located in the device body, inside of the first cover; a first paper transfer path connected to an image reading unit having the scanning function, the first paper transfer path being defined between the first and second covers; a second paper transfer path connected to a printing unit, the second paper transfer path defined in the device body inside of the second cover; and diverging means for selectively diverging the paper into one of the first and second paper transfer paths. Whereby, if jamming occurs in the first paper transfer path, jamming paper can be easily removed by opening the first cover, whereas if jamming occurs in the second paper transfer path, jamming paper can be easily removed by opening the second cover after opening the first cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a recording material carrying member for carrying a recording material, wherein an image is transferred from the image bearing member to the recording material carried on the recording material carrying member; a conveyor means for conveying the recording material to the recording material carrying member; and a releasing device for for releasing the recording material from the a conveyor after a leading edge of the recording material is supported on the recording material carrying member.

Abstract: A recording medium holddown apparatus for holding down a recording medium traversing along a path on a platen in a post-printing area of a printer. The recording medium holddown apparatus includes a first and second holddown member located above the platen to force a recording medium having any curl flat against the platen to thereby prevent problems associated with curl such as contamination of the printhead nozzles, ink smear, paper misregistration, and carriage hangup. In addition to the holddown members, a first and second runner are disposed on a carriage carrying the printhead across the recording medium for printing. The first and second runners have upturned ends to intercept any curl of the recording medium to further avoid problems associated with recording medium curl.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a vibration member having an upper surface, a bottom surface, an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion, and further having a first portion in press contact with the sheet being fed and a second portion substantially out of contact with the sheet while the sheet is being fed. An electromechanical energy conversion element is provided on the bottom surface of the vibration member and generates a vibration wave in the first portion of the vibration member in response to an applied electrical signal, the vibration wave creating a driving force for moving the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a bill from being pulled out. The apparatus includes a hang preventing mechanism which has a tongue for preventing a bill from hanging from a bill accumulating box into a bill passage. The bill is conveyed through the bill passage to the bill accumulating box. The hang preventing mechanism is pivotally supported and is spring biased by a biasing mechanism for holding the tongue to prevent a bill, received in the bill accumulating box, from hanging from the bill accumulating box while the tongue is allowed to turn by a bill which passes through the bill passage for entering the bill accumulating box.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet feeding device is constructed in a manner such that members such as piezo-electric elements for generating feeding forces to feed a sheet in the feeding direction are respectively provided for a rectilinear portion in the sheet feeding direction of an elastic member and a rectilinear portion perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and the end of the sheet can be fed until a front edge in the feeding direction of the elastic member and ejected out.

Abstract: A sheet handling mechanism adapted to receive processed documents (e.g., from a printer) in a holding receptacle secured within a machine which can either "dump" them or be shifted to present them to a user automatically when the user manipulates the access door of the machine (e.g., bin coupled to be pivoted when user raises door).

Abstract: Sheet transport apparatus together with reproducing apparatus employing the sheet transport apparatus are provided, wherein a portion of the sheet transport comprises a first sheet guide member and a second sheet guide member in opposed spaced guiding relationship to the first sheet guide member, and defining therebetween a portion of a sheet transport path. The second sheet guide member is pivotally mounted at its upstream end and has attached at its downstream end a U-shaped member which extends from said second sheet guide member through the defined sheet transport path and into the plane of said first sheet guide member defining an aperture therein enclosing a cross sectional slice of said transport path. With this apparatus, when a sheet is transported through a portion of the sheet transport path, it passes within the aperture formed by the U-shaped member and the second sheet guide member.

Abstract: A ticket exit drive module for a ticket handling system includes a modular housing unit that is detachably mountable on a base or support plate adjacent to for mechanical interfacing with a transport unit or module of the system for receiving a ticket and passing the ticket along a ticket passage from its inlet to an outlet wherein the ticket is grasped between frictional fingers and held in position to be received by patron. Sensing means within the unit senses the presence and passage of a ticket therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for segregating articles, such as envelopes (14a, b, or c) bearing address labels (15) into separate groups, with all the articles in each group having the same unique mark (such as a zip-code-area mark). The apparatus includes a right angle conveyor (12) positioned perpendicular to a discharge conveyor (10), an article deflector plate (20), and two or more freely rotatable balls (38, 40) supported in contact with the right angle conveyor (12) and spaced laterally across the face thereof. At least one freely rotatable ball (38) is selectively removable from contact with the right angle conveyor (12) by a solenoid (18) acting through a beam (32) and a control arm (26). The solenoid (18) is activated by a signal from a detector (16) which detects a change in unique markings on address labels of articles just prior to their engagement with the selectively-removable, freely-rotatable ball and the right angle conveyor.

Abstract: The printing plate processing machine includes a first conveyor for receiving printing plates and a second conveyor for receiving plate-separating sheets, and a feed mechanism for selectively transporting the plates and sheets from a loading station in which the plates and sheets are alternately disposed in a stack, toward the first and second conveyors. A plate and sheet diverting mechanism is located between the first and second conveyors for alternately delivering the plates to the first conveyor and the sheets to the second conveyor. The plates are processed after disposition on the first conveyor. A collecting station received the plates and sheets from the first and second conveyors alternately in a stack after processing of the plates. The feed-mechanism includes a fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A sheet flattener for a sheet-fed printing press or the like in which sheets having a tendency to curl are conveyed edgewise from a source to a receiver along a path of flow. A pair of cylindrical members, or rollers, define between them a receiving space which extends cross-wise with respect to the direction of sheet movement. A vacuum is applied in the receiving space so that a conveyed sheet is drawn against the rollers in a cusped profile, undergoing an abrupt bend at the point of the cusp in a direction opposite to the direction of curling tendency so that the curl is neutralized. At least the downstream one of the roller is mounted for rotational movement at the speed of the sheet thereby to reduce the frictional drag of the sheet. In the preferred embodiment both rollers are mounted for rotation and the surfaces thereof are roughened with a two-dimensional pattern of shallow projections to minimize contact with the surface of the sheet and to prevent relative slippage.