Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a plurality of conveyors and an image reader. The plurality of conveyors conveys a recording material. The image reader reads a pattern image on the recording material being conveyed. The conveyance apparatus further includes circuitry to control the image reader. The circuitry controls the image reader to read the pattern image on the recording material in a period including a timing at which a trailing edge of the recording material being conveyed by at least two of the plurality of conveyors exits an upstream conveyor among the at least two of the plurality of conveyors in a direction of conveyance of the recording material.

Abstract: An image reader includes a reading device to read an image on a recording medium, a first conveying roller pair upstream of the reading device in a conveyance direction of the recording medium, a second conveying roller pair downstream of the reading device in the conveyance direction, to hold the recording medium together with the first conveying roller pair to convey the recording medium, and a driver to drive the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair so that a relative relation between a reading position of the reading device and the recording medium held by the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair is constant. The reading device determines that the image read from the recording medium is effective in a period in which the relative relation is constant.

Abstract: A card substrate rotator comprises a substrate support, a rotator mechanism and a lift mechanism. The substrate support is configured to receive a card substrate and comprises a feed roller. The rotator mechanism is configured to rotate the substrate support about an axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the substrate support and the axis in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit to be inserted between a printer main unit and a sorting unit having a plurality of discharge trays. The sheet feeding unit includes a casing in which a sheet is housed and through which a feed path and a discharge conveyance path extend horizontally. The casing has on a face thereof adjacent to the printer main unit an exit of the feed path and an entrance of the discharge conveyance path, and on a face thereof adjacent to the sorting unit an entrance of the feed path and an exit of the discharge conveyance path. The positions of the exit and entrance of the feed path coincide with each other when seen in a conveyance direction, and the positions of the entrance and exit of the discharge conveyance path coincide with each other when seen in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a feeding path and a plurality of feed roller sets. Through the feeding path, an original document is fed in one direction from a paper supply port to a paper discharge port. The plurality of the feed roller sets are arranged along the feeding path to be spaced apart from each other. When one side of an original document is scanned and when both sides of an original document are scanned, the plurality of the feed roller sets nip the original document to feed the original document along the feeding path. In this case, the plurality of the feed roller sets are all involved in feeding the original document.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet guide element for use in an apparatus for transporting sheets by means of a gripper system having at least two grippers spaced apart from each other and a sheet guide surface defined by the sheet guide element. Here, the sheet guide element is provided with depressions in the sheet guide surface, running parallel to the transport direction, at least in some sections, in order at least partially to accommodate the grippers, so that the sheet guide surface described by the sheet guide element in the transport direction runs, at least in some sections, at the same height as the movement path of the sheet leading edge fixed in the gripper system.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises a first feeding unit coupled to a second feeding unit via a sheet feeding path and is configured to feed a sheet toward the second feeding unit in a sheet feeding direction via the sheet feeding path. The first feeding unit comprises a first shaft configured to rotate in the sheet feeding direction, and the second feeding unit comprises a second shaft configured to rotate in the feeding direction. The first feeding unit and the second feeding unit are configured to feed and hold the sheet simultaneously. The image processing device further comprises a first supporting member which rotatably supports the first shaft, a second supporting member which rotatably supports the second shaft, and a third supporting member which rotatably supports the first shaft and/or the second shaft at a location different than the first supporting member and/or the second supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for feeding sheets to a processing machine, in particular a printing press, provision is made for the sheet to be accelerated to processing speed by use of at least two acceleration stations arranged one after the other. One of the acceleration stations is arranged such that the acceleration station can be displaced in order to align the sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a paper discharge apparatus of optimizing the moving path of a stapler provided at the rear of the paper discharge apparatus by effectively constructing the structure of the paper discharge apparatus that discharges paper onto a stacker tray. The paper discharge apparatus includes a pair of guide side plates including first rail grooves and curved cams adjacent to the first rail grooves, a pair of paper gripping units to grip the paper on the paper stacking plate in the contact with the curved cams, a first driving unit to drive the paper gripping units, an aligning stopper provided between the guide side plates to straightly move by a predetermined distance in the paper transfer direction from front end portions of the guide side plates, and a second driving unit to previously move the aligning stopper in the paper transfer direction just before the paper gripping units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet aligning mechanism that aligns a sheet of medium stacked by causing the sheet of medium to move in a shift direction orthogonal to a feed direction. The sheet aligning mechanism includes: a pair of alignment members having a pair of alignment surfaces; a rotational waiting position detector that detects whether the alignment members have moved to a rotational waiting position at which the alignment members wait; a rectilinear waiting position detector that detects whether the alignment members have moved to a rectilinear waiting position; and a post-processing controller that performs correction of a rotational angle and amount of movement of the alignment members performed by a rotational movement drive mechanism, based on signals output from the rotational waiting position detector and the rectilinear waiting position detector.

Abstract: A pin conveyor for printed sheet material has a chain, a plurality of pins extending from the chain to push printed sheet material, and a receipt area for the printed sheet material, the chain and pins passing through the receipt area. The receipt area has at least one of the following a non-linear cross-section with the chain and pins passing through the receipt area, an inclined transport section of the chain, or a belt contacting the printed sheet material and running at or slower than a speed of the chain. A transfer unit with an overhead conveying unit and a method for delivering printed sheet material is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus or a connection apparatus has a flexible paper guide provided in a position of the inlet rollers, having a length ranging from an upstream side of the sensor to a downstream side of the sensor with respect to the conveying path, having a cut off in a portion corresponding to the sensor.

Abstract: A sheet carrying device includes: a sheet carrying unit having a first sheet carrying unit and a second sheet carrying unit, at least one of which has a sheet carrying force changing along a direction orthogonal to a traveling direction of a sheet, the first sheet carrying unit carrying the sheet in the traveling direction, the second sheet carrying unit carrying the sheet in the traveling direction together with the first sheet carrying unit; and a control unit which controls the carrying by the first sheet carrying unit and the carrying by the second sheet carrying unit on the basis of a result of detection from a detection unit which detects an inclination of the sheet that is traveling.

Abstract: A device is provided for transferring printed sheet material products including a gripper conveyor having a plurality of grippers for gripping a plurality of printed sheet material products, a sheet conveyor for receiving the plurality of products from the plurality of grippers in a lapped stream, and a plurality of fingers, each finger assigned to one of the plurality of grippers, each finger contacting a first side of one of the plurality of products when a second side of the plurality of products is in contact with the sheet conveyor. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A pair of conveyor rollers arranged in an image forming apparatus to convey a recording sheet which has been subjected to a fixing process toward outside of a body of the apparatus is configured to be shiftable relative to the body between a first position and a second position. A first holding member is configured to support one of the conveyor rollers in such a manner that a conveyor roller supported by the first holding member is swingable around a pivot located adjacent to a sheet conveyance path upstream of the supported conveyor roller to allow the pair of conveyor rollers to be shifted between the first position and the second position. The first holding member comprises a sheet guide portion which provides a variable-position guideway extending from a position located upstream along the sheet conveyance path toward a peripheral surface of the supported conveyor roller.

Abstract: A discharge device comprises a discharge roller unit including a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, and deforming a sheet on which an image is formed, the sheet being deformed such that the sheet is recessed toward one of the rollers when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.

Abstract: A transfer drum for conveying a sheet has an outer contour which can be set within a turning apparatus as a function of a setting of a turning operation. A flexible plate forms an outer contour of the drum which acts for sheet guidance. The plate is connected to a drum body through at least one joint, and an apparatus for adjusting a relative position acts at ends of the plate. The ends lie in such a way that they face a gripper system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus by means of which sheet like products which follow one after the other along a feed section are transferred to a conveying arrangement with individually controllable grippers which can be moved in the conveying direction, are arranged one behind the other and are designed for gripping the products at their leading edge, the feed section having, in its end region which is directed toward the conveying arrangement, a conveying nip, in which the sheet-like products are retained, at least in part, on both sides, in the case of which apparatus, in the product-receiving region of the grippers, a positive stop, which is active during each product transfer, is provided for the leading edges of the products, the spacing between the positive stop and conveying nip being selected such that the trailing edges of the products are still located in the conveying nip when the leading edges strike against the positive stop.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member and a belt conveying device. The image forming member is configured to form an image on a sheet. The belt conveying device is configured to convey the sheet. The belt conveying device includes first and second rollers, a conveying belt, a platen guide, a support, and an adjuster. The conveying belt has an endless belt-like shape and is looped over at least the first and second rollers. The platen guide is provided between the first and second rollers in a sheet conveyance direction and is configured to guide the conveying belt in a manner that the conveying belt forms a flat plane surface. The support is configured to support at least one end of the second roller in an axial direction of the second roller. The adjuster is configured to adjust a position of the support.

Abstract: An abnormal sheet delivery detection device includes a convey device, first pile device, noncontact-type detection unit, and first releasing unit. The convey device includes a sheet holding unit for holding a sheet, and conveys the sheet held by the sheet holding unit. The sheet released from the sheet holding unit is piled on the first pile device at a predetermined sheet release position. The noncontact-type detection unit arranged downstream of the sheet release position in a sheet convey direction detects a presence/absence of the sheet. The first releasing unit selectively switches between a first state wherein the sheet held by the sheet holding unit is released and piled on the first pile device, and a second state wherein the sheet held by the sheet holding unit is conveyed downstream in the sheet convey direction by the first convey device without releasing the sheet.

Abstract: An electro photo multi functional peripheral apparatus comprises a main body which is provided with an optional device such as a duplex module, a sorter, a power stacker and a large scale paper feeding unit at one side thereof. A feeding unit for feeding a recording paper is mounted at the other side of the main body. A feeding cassette is mounted at a lower portion of the main body. A multipurpose feeding unit assembly is removably mounted at a center portion of the main body and horizontally transports the recording paper fed from the feeding unit. The main body is formed with a first, a second and a third paper transport paths for discharging the recording paper fed from the multipurpose feeding unit assembly, the feeding cassette and the duplex module, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a sheet-like recording material is provided. The conveying apparatus includes a recording material feeding device for feeding the sheet-like recording material to a rotating drum from a feeding guide disposed in a direction tangential to the drum; and a recording material ejecting device for ejecting the recording material from the drum to an ejecting guide disposed in a direction tangential to the rotating drum. The feeding guide and the ejecting guide of the conveying apparatus are disposed near to each other in a thickness direction thereof, and the drum is in the same rotational position at the commencement of feeding the recording material to the drum and when the ejection of the recording material from the drum is completed.

Abstract: A printer of the present invention includes a chain-delivery type of sheet conveying device arranged in an image transfer region that adjoins image transfer drums. The sheet conveying device includes a pair of drive pulleys, a pair of driven pulleys, a pair of chains each being passed over one drive pulley and one driven pulley, and a clamper affixed to the chains at opposite ends thereof. Each chain has a circumferential length that is an integral multiple of the circumference of an image transfer drum, and a number of teeth that is an integral multiple of the number of teeth of the drive pulley. A stabilizing mechanism is positioned in the image transfer region for preventing the chains from shaking.

Abstract: Flat rectangular objects, such as printed products, arrive in an overlapping formation and have a specific first extent A1 and a variable second extent A2, A2′ running at right angles thereto. The objects 10 are conveyed in an overlapping stream S at a constant predetermined overlap distance B and with a first extent A1 running in the conveying direction F. As viewed in the conveying direction F, the edges running in the conveying direction F are mutually aligned on one side and are at the same location. A specific number of the objects 10 is in each case gripped by a single transport clamp 18 to transport them onward.

Abstract: An apparatus and method designed to eliminate dog-earring of the comers of the open edges of a folded signature or book without the need for the use of electrostatic adherence. A guide mechanism is provided between a tape drive, a divert cylinder and/or a deceleration drum. The guide mechanism is preferably located at the position of the open edges of the signature which is being transferred. The guide mechanism is preferably of a width which accommodates variations in the folded width of the folded signature or books. The guide mechanism includes a series of narrow slots, or micro-slots, across its width. The gripping devices which are located in the area of the guide mechanism include a series of narrow fingers, or micro-fingers, across their width. The micro-fingers of the gripping mechanisms are designed to pass through the micro-slots of the guide mechanism.

Abstract: An individualization and transport device for blanks has a vacuum feeder with an endless belt circulating in a timed drive cycle in a transport direction. The endless belt of the vacuum feeder has an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion. An individualizer is arranged upstream of the vacuum feeder and feeds individual blanks from a stack of blanks onto the lower belt portion of the vacuum feeder at a first transport speed. A continuously moving carrier is arranged downstream of the vacuum feeder and has a second transport speed that is greater than the first transport speed. The endless belt moves at a third transport speed that is synchronized with the second transport speed of the carrier at the moment of transfer of the blank onto the continuously moving carrier.

Abstract: Both limbs of the clamp (2, 3), which are pivotally arranged on the axis of a bearing, are rotated from a closing position into an open position and vice versa by an actuating device (12). The actuating device (12) can be displaced from a top end position (13) to a lower end position (14). The actuating device (12) exerts a closing or clamping force on the outer side (22, 23) of the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) in said lower end position (14). When the actuating device (12) is displaced to the top end position (13), an expanding element (15) arranged between the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) comes into contact with the inner side (24, 25) of the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) and exerts an opening force on the limbs of the clamp (2, 3) so that said limbs (2, 3) are swung at a large angle (&agr;) in their open position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method designed to eliminate dog-earring of the comers of the open edges of a folded signature or book without the need for the use of electrostatic adherence. A guide mechanism is provided between a tape drive, a divert cylinder and/or a deceleration drum. The guide mechanism is preferably located at the position of the open edges of the signature which is being transferred. The guide mechanism is preferably of a width which accommodates variations in the folded width of the folded signature or books. The guide mechanism includes a series of narrow slots, or micro-slots, across its width. The gripping devices which are located in the area of the guide mechanism include a series of narrow fingers, or micro-fingers, across their width. The micro-fingers of the gripping mechanisms are designed to pass through the micro-slots of the guide mechanism.