Abstract: A lift and interlock actuator mechanism for installing a CRU in a printing machine. There is provided a lift and interlock actuator mechanism which has a sliding planar member which is moved from a first position to a second position to remove and/or install a feed head CRU in a printing machine. The planar member creates an interlock which prevents the CRU from being removed or installed when the corresponding drive components are in the wrong position. Sliding of the planar member disengages a drive coupling from the CRU and also causes a lift mechanism to pivot the CRU about the drive shaft causing the CRU to be moved to a position for easy removal. To install the CRU the planar member is slid to the second position the CRU is placed into position and rotated down, allowing the planar member to slide back to the first position. This sliding allows the drive coupling to mesh and allows the CRU to rrotate into the home position.

Abstract: A sorting compartment arrangement for flat items includes a conveying section for conveying the flat items successively in a vertical position. Switches are disposed along the conveying section. A plurality of individual stacking compartments are arranged one behind the other along the conveying section and associated with a respective one of the switches. The items are supplied by the switches to the individual stacking compartments. Each stacking compartment includes a stack wall up to which the items are transported, a stack roller and a guide plate for transporting and guiding, respectively, the items from the switch into the stacking compartment up to the stack wall to form a stack of items in the stacking compartment, and a mechanism for pressing the stack of items together until shortly before an arrival of a next item to be stacked.

Abstract: A hard copy apparatus with a print media telescoping tray system is disclosed. The telescoping tray system consists of an output tray, a paper tray, and an output tray position detector. The trays are constrained to translate in one line of motion, a substantially planar path into and out of the front of the apparatus, by nesting the paper tray within the output tray and guiding the trays along the line of motion. The trays telescope in a relatively small vertical opening below the paper feed drive mechanism of the apparatus. The telescoping tray system enables two modes of printing operation by providing a paper output path when in the output tray closed mode and by providing a full tray where printed sheets can be stacked during a multi-sheet or batch print job in an output tray open mode.

Abstract: A paper stacking apparatus for an image reading apparatus and an image reading apparatus with a paper stacking apparatus wherein paper sheets can be stacked appropriately to allow a large amount of paper sheets to be read rapidly at a time are disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention comprises a collector bin (2) for fed sheets (5) that is made up of a sheet support (4) and a sheet stop (12). A retaining apparatus (8) for the fed sheets (5) is provided facing the sheet support (4), and a stop finger (10) can be pivoted into the paper path. A jogger wheel (6), with which the fed sheets (5) can be transported toward the sheet stop (6), is installed above the sheet support (4) rotatably about a shaft (A). A holding element (14) for the stop finger (10) can be moved on the shaft (A) independently of the rotary movement of the jogger wheel (6), and a stopgap closure element (16) is also arranged on the holding element (14) in such a way that the stop finger (10) or the stopgap closure element (16) can be introduced into the paper path.

Abstract: A common printer platen for conveying printed media and documents to a printer exit includes an exit mechanism having a series of floating spaced guide ribs to accommodate printed media or documents of a first range of thickness and printed media or documents of a second range of greater thickness. An exit chassis includes a longitudinal first edge, a series of spaced guide ribs including an integral beam forming a star wheel carrier is pivotably mounted transversely to the chassis first edge, and spring members extend between the chassis and the beams for accommodating printed media or documents of a greater thickness conveyed through a nip formed by the star wheels and a printer roller.

Abstract: A device for adjusting guide yokes in rotary printing machines which are placed on a crossbeam crosswise to the direction in which the sheets travel, and which guide the sheets that are transported by a cylinder; each of the guide yokes are mounted, movable and lockable, on the crossbeam, and the crossbeam is at both ends fastened to the machine side racks.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combining printed products of a plurality of types to form sets having products of each type. The first type of products are arranged in an imbricated formation in which they overlap one another in a first conveying direction and the edges run obliquely with respect to the first conveying direction. Products of another type are then deposited on the first products successively with the same alignment. Subsequent types of products may be similarly assembled to form the set of products. The formed sets having one of each type of products are then separated and conveyed in a further conveying direction which is angularly displaced from the first conveying direction.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a sheet feeder used with an image scanner for transmitting a sheet object to be scanned through the image scanner which has a sloping plane detachably mounting thereon the image scanner and allowing the sheet object to be transmitted between the image scanner and the sheet feeder along the sloping plane for assisting in monitoring a transmission situation of the sheet object. The present invention utilizes an improvement on a sheet feeder structure to make the sheet feeder more pragmatic.

Abstract: An apparatus for sheet feed-out control is provided on an automatic sheet feeder used in conjunction with scanners, fax machines, printers, copiers, and the like. The apparatus comprises a feed-in roller set for feeding the sheet into a scanning position where a scanning process is performed and a feed-out roller set for pulling the sheet away from the scanning position and delivering the sheet onto a receiving tray. A pivotal pressing member is pivotally affixed proximate to the feed-out rollers. The pivotal pressing member is pivotally turned by the sheet as the sheet is being fed out of the feed-out rollers. As the sheet is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, the pivotal pressing member presses down against the tail edge of the sheet, thus flipping the sheet off the feed-out roller set. Since the sheet can be placed flat on the receiving tray right after it is entirely fed out of the feed-out roller set, a stack of sheets after being scanned can be piled up neatly on the receiving tray.

Abstract: Sheet collation apparatus and method operate on a random array of seriatim sheets to effect ordered stack collation. An edge guide surface is located along a sheet support surface extending from a sheet ingress to egress. A plurality of conical rollers are configured and relatively overdriven to effect edge alignment and sheet end separations between the sheet ingress and egress.

Abstract: A vacuum-type transport device, used in cardboard printing units, comprising: a support structure; a suction hood; a vacuum fan; a plurality of plates on the lower surface of the suction hood; a first and a second plurality of belt-type conveyor means, with a pressure cylinder between them, that protrude from windows obtained in the lower surface of the suction hood; and motoring means for the device. The pressure cylinder is located next to the printing cylinder and the sheets of material to be printed pass between these cylinders and are dragged away by the belt-type conveyor means.

Abstract: There is provided a paper feed roller capable of being used for delivering and feeding paper, which is high in coefficient of friction, has sufficient hardwearing properties with the coefficient of friction not affected by the change in environment of temperature and humidity, is low in ink transferability and is small in change in passage of year of the coefficient of friction of the surface.A coating layer 5 formed of an elastic material such as rubber is formed on an surface of a core material 4 molded of a foamed material such as sponge, and a bonding agent 6 having an elasticity such as denatured silicon is coated on the surface of the coating layer 5 so that ceramic particles 7 are fixed without clearance to provide a paper feed roller 1. Alternatively, the bonding agent 6 is directly coated on the surface of the core material 4 molded of a pliable material such as soft rubber and sponge so that the ceramic particles 7 are fixed without clearance to provide the paper feed roller 9.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a box shaped case (10) having first and second openings (12) provided on arbitrary side surfaces thereof, a drawer (11) provided within the first opening (11), capable of opening and closing with respect to the box shaped case (10) and having a hopper part (1) on which a sheet (6) is placed, and a transport means (2) for transporting the sheet placed on the hopper part (1) within the box shaped case (10) to a stacker part (5) which is provided within the box shaped case (10) and communicates to the second opening (12).

Abstract: A bill receiver has a casing 11 having a guide groove 16 on and along which a bill is put on. A cover handle 31 is operated into a totally closed state to transfer the bill through a speed increasing gear unit 40 and a carrying roller unit 50, thereby piling up the bills on a base 21 fixed on the casing 11.

Abstract: A document feed array comprising a pinch-roll mounted to rotate about its center to engage documents, being mounted on a cantilever-arm pivoted at a point distal from said roll-center and including an elastomeric sleeve which, alone, couples the arm to its pivot point (in operation), the sleeve comprising high-damping, durable elastomeric material adapted to accommodate thickness anomalies in said documents, yet to maximize driving contact therewith.

Abstract: A conveying belt is deflected around a stationary deflection roller and loops around the bottom of a deflection wheel. The deflection wheel is freely rotatably mounted on a lever and is prestressed in the direction towards the deflection roller by a spring element. The conveying belt, driven by a stepping motor, and the deflection wheel form a conveying gap for the products, which are arranged in an imbricated formation. In this formation each product, as seen in the feed direction, bears on the preceding product, with almost complete overlapping. The products form a stack-like supply and are conveyed to the discharge location, with the result that a product is always available there for discharge.

Abstract: A sheet feeding arrangement has a main body and a width direction. A sheet passage extends in a main body of the arrangement like a letter "U" in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the arrangement. The "U" of the passage has a predetermined width in the width direction of the arrangement. A sheet feeding shaft is supported inside the "U" of the sheet passage and extends in the width direction of the arrangement. The sheet feeding shaft has a drive roller fixedly mounted thereon. The drive roller partly extends into the sheet passage to be able to contact a sheet in the sheet passage. A motor is connected with the sheet feeding shaft for driving the shaft to feed the sheet by the drive roller. A speed reduction mechanism is provided between the motor and the sheet feeding shaft to transmit drive power from the motor to the shaft with a reduced speed.

Abstract: A feed roll assembly which includes an axle installed in for example a fax machine and having a noncircular extension rod at one end, a roll fixedly mounted around the axle in the middle and turned by it to delivery inserted sheet of paper, a coupling wheel coupled to the non-circular extension rod of the axle and turned with it, the coupling wheel having an outward flange at one end and a plurality of wedge-like grooves spaced around the periphery adjacent to the outward flange, a transmission gear revolvably mounted around the non-circular extension rod of the axle, and a spring movably mounted around the coupling wheel and stopped between the transmission gear and the outward flange of the coupling wheel and having a rear end moved in an arched groove in the transmission gear and a front end moved relative to the radially spaced wedge-like grooves of the coupling wheel, wherein the spring is compressed and coupled to the coupling wheel when the transmission gear is rotated forwards, thereby causing the cou

Abstract: A feed roller for feeding a document is disposed between a control panel and an original table on the top of a copier body. A document stocker provided rotatably relative to an original cover on the original table is rotated so as to cover the control panel, whereby the original cover is raised from the original table to create some clearance. In this situation, a document is inserted through the document stocker from a document inserting port. The document thus inserted is detected by the operation of a detecting lever, which activates the feed roller to convey the inserted document to the original table. As the rear part of the document thus conveyed is detected by the operation of the detecting lever, the feed roller is deactivated. In this condition, copying operation is carried out so that an image of the document conveyed onto the original table is formed.

Abstract: An operation/display panel is attached to an outer surface in front of a printer body, and a duplex unit is detachably attached between the operation panel and the outer surface of the printer body. The duplex unit functions to return the copy paper ejected from an ejecting outlet and having an image on one side thereof toward a paper feeding inlet of the printer body to provide two-sided copying/printing. The operation panel includes operating switches and/or a display, and is slidably mounted such that a space is provided between the operation panel and the printer body, and the duplex unit can then be inserted into the space when two-sided printing/copy is desired.

Abstract: In the field of transport paths used typically in postage meters, it is sometimes desired to prevent withdrawal of items in the opposite direction to forward travel along the transport path. The disclosure relates to a one way gate (10) for such a transport path including a transport surface (11). The gate includes a rotatable roller (17) disposed opposite the surface such that an item traveling forwardly along the transport path engages and rotates the roller (17); and a device preventing rotation of the roller (17) in a direction corresponding to withdrawal of an item (22) in a reverse direction along the transport path.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including at least a pair of variable outer diameter rollers and having a compact, simple and long life construction. The variable outer diameter roller includes a generally cylindrical pipe having four equally spaced penetrating holes radially disposed in its cylindrical wall, a sealing means having a diaphragm positioned adjacent each of the penetrating holes and fitted to the pipe support, and sliders forming a roller peripheral face fitted into each penetrating hole to be able to slide smoothly. Each slider is moved by diaphragms in a direction so the roller outer diameter expands by compressed air supplied through a fluid supply passage in a rotary axle which supports the roller. Exhausting the compressed air causes the roller outer diameter to decrease and restores the roller to its original size.

Abstract: A pressure roller assembly for use in a transport system. The transport system including a drive system in operative engagement with the pressure roller assembly for feeding an article in a path of travel. The pressure roller assembly including: a shaft; a roller having an inner diameter; a pair of first hubs each having a bearing surface and fixably mounted to the shaft in spaced apart relationship so that the first hub bearing surfaces are facing each other; a pair of second hubs each including an through hole having a diameter greater that the shaft diameter and a bearing surface corresponding to the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively, the second hubs spaced along the shaft between the first hubs and slideably mounted to and in bearing engagement with the roller inner diameter so that the second hub bearing surfaces are facing the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively; and means for biasing the second hub bearing surfaces into bearing engagement with the first hub bearing surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: A document feeder for broad-width originals having a document path in which a moving document is scanned by a stationary scanner. The document feeder is typically mounted to a copier. The document path is either a recycling path or a reciprocating path; the recycling path having a closed loop path and the reciprocating path having an open loop path. A selector is mounted in the document path and selects one of the recycling path and the reciprocating path. A sensor is mounted in the document path for detecting a length of the document. When the length of the document detected by the sensor is not longer than a predetermined length, the recycling path is selected by the selector. When the length of the document detected by the sensor is longer than the predetermined length, the reciprocating path is selected by the selector.

Abstract: A paper feed roller for delivering and feeding paper, which has a high coefficient of friction that is not affected by changes in temperature or humidity, good hardwearing properties, and is low in ink transferability. The paper feed roller includes a coating layer formed of an elastic material such as rubber which is formed on a surface of a core material molded of a foamed material such as sponge. A bonding agent having an elasticity such as denatured silicon is coated on the surface of the coating layer. Ceramic particles are embedded and fixed in the bonding agent In an alternative embodiment the bonding agent is directly coated on the surface of core material which is molded from a pliable material such as soft rubber and sponge.

Abstract: A printing machine having a sheet path for moving sheets, a buffer tray assembly for receiving and holding sheets of various sizes and orientation without skewing such sheets. The buffer tray assembly includes a sheet feeding unit, mounted adjacent to and upstream of a sheet holding unit thereof, relative to sheet movement, for feeding, seriatim and without skewing, sheets of various sizes and orientations from the path into the sheet holding unit. The sheet feeding unit includes a sheet driving roller. The sheet driving roller has a plurality of operative positions that are spaced laterally along the sheet cross-path dimension of the sheet path, and that correspond respectively to the midpoints of cross-path dimensions of the various size sheets being fed into the sheet holding unit for feeding and stacking sheets without sheet skew.

Abstract: A document imaging system for the imaging at a selected first or second imaging station of document sheets to be reproduced, including a pivotably mounted liftable automatic document handler with an integral input tray for the documents sheets, and a normally closely underlying output stacking tray into which the document sheets are ejected by the automatic document handler after imaging at the first imaging station for controlled stacking and retrieval, the second imaging station having a large imaging platen for the manual placement thereon of document sheets to be scanned, and a large manual platen cover normally overlying the large imaging platen, and pivotably mounted to be liftable for the manual placement of document sheets on the large imaging platen; wherein the output stacking tray of the automatic document handler is integrally formed in the upper surfaces of the large manual platen cover and not mounted to the automatic document handler, and the automatic document handler is liftable independently

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying, accommodating and paying out bank notes, includes shaft-mounted guide rollers for feeding bank notes from a stacking space to a pay-out tray, shaft-mounted vane wheels with eccentric ends mounted between adjacent guide rollers, a spring-biased shutter at an inlet/outlet of the pay-out tray, a lid covering a stacking space and including a finger application notch, the lid being opened and closed by one touch operation when a spring is brought to a dead point, a conveying path communicating with a bank note insertion opening and including a pair of bank note guide bars having a substantially S-shaped sectional profile, large and small monetary amount stacking spaces provided above and below the guide bars, respectively, such that bank notes are fed to either stacking space with forward or reverse rotation of the guide bars, a stationary roller provided with an adjacent ratchet wheel, and step rotated by an operating member with an end pawl thereof engaged with a ratchet wheel tooth to d

Abstract: A sheet media handling system is provided which includes an input tray, an output tray, and an alignment mechanism capable of aligning sheet media which is to be input and supplementing support of sheet media once it has been expelled. The alignment mechanism thus employs an upstanding member which defines the length (or width) of the input tray, and which extends upwardly to supplement support of sheets within the output tray.

Abstract: A system for transporting mixed documents having a loading conveyor for transporting documents to a document prefeeder. The document prefeeder transports documents from the loading conveyor on an angled conveyor to a stack feeder that accumulates a shallow stack of documents. A single document feed removes single documents from a shallow stack on the stack feeder and transports the single documents to a main conveyor. A camera on the main conveyor reads each document such as mail, and prints information concerning the document, such as a bar code, on each document. The documents are moved by the main conveyor to an output conveyor for sorting and accumulation.

Abstract: An improved transmission system for a document feeder, in which a constant one-way-rotating gear train is mounted in an output zone so as to cause a transmission shaft in the output zone to rotate in one direction only to send out a sheet of document no matter the driving gear rotates clockwise or counter-clockwise; therefore, as soon as a first sheet of document moves out of the scanning line without moving out of the output zone, the driving gear will change its rotation clockwise so as to have a next sheet of document fed into the scanning zone; therefore, the feeding distance between two sheets of document will be reduced, and consequently the whole feeding time for a document will be reduced, too.

Abstract: A catch type sheet tray for accommodating sheets sequentially driven out of an image forming apparatus by catching the leading edges of the sheets. The tray has a transport unit for transporting the sheet driven out through the outlet downward. A holder receives the sheet conveyed by the transport unit by catching the leading edge of the sheet while causing the trailing edge of the sheet to hand down to the outside. A mounting section mounts the transport unit on a portion of the apparatus from which the horizontal tray has been removed. The catch type tray is mounted on the apparatus in place of the horizontal tray.

Abstract: A device for collating sheets, in which the sheets are offered at an input of the device, which comprises conveyor member which convey the sheets in a circuit arranged between the input and an output of the device, the conveyor member comprising at least a first pair of helical ramps with a predetermined winding direction and each comprising a free end. The ramps are arranged on rotating member which rotate them about their helix axis in the opposite direction to the winding direction. The device also comprises guide and placement member, the rotation of the ramps having the effect of conveying the sheet positioned, by the guide and placement member, on a predetermined portion of each of the two ramps, along a portion at least of the circuit and toward the free end of the ramps, a first of the two ramps of the pair having an opposite winding direction in relation to the second.

Abstract: The device includes an introduction channel (51) into which the sheets are stacked on a support (52). During the selection of the top sheet (53a), urging members (66) urge the sheets (53) against driving rollers (11) which convey the top sheet until its front edge comes in contact with a fixed alignment stop (67). After the alignment of the sheet, deflector elements (68) bring the front edge to the driving rollers (11) in such a manner that the sheet comes in contact with the periphery of these rollers (11) to be driven until it faces the printing head. A selection and a conveying of the sheets are thus achieved which are reliable, as well as an accurate alignment, while reducing the space needed for the device.

Abstract: In a paper sheet conveying and arranging apparatus, a low-friction paper sheet guide member (18) is located in a parallel relationship to a paper sheet advancing direction, and a rotating spiral contact (19) having an axis inclined with respect to a horizontal plane toward an upstream side from the line perpendicular to the paper sheet advancing direction and passing on the upstream side of the paper sheet guide member (18), is rotated with a distal end (19a) frictionally contacting the surface of the paper sheet guide member (18) so as to move the paper sheet downwardly away from the one end of a conveyer. The paper sheet is thereby turned from a horizontal posture to a vertical posture by a minimal turning operation.

Abstract: An improved mailing machine has a modifiable deck for accommodating a mailpiece feeder. The mailing machine is modified by providing a plate which may be incorporated into the deck. The plate carries a positive drive mechanism for the feeding of mailpieces at the desired speed which comprises a positive drive roller and pulley which are aligned to use the drive mechanism of the mailing machine for belt driven power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a horizontally set recording apparatus provided with a sheet inserting and discharging holes at the upper surface, wherein substantially linear recording sheet transporting route passing through the recording section is formed, and an automatic sheet feeding apparatus can be removably attached thereon. The recording sheet is delivered into an inlet opening of said transporting route.

Abstract: A roll member, typically for use in a sheet transport system, including a body portion that is susceptible to wear, wherein a visually distinguishable wear indicator is provided for indicating a predetermined amount of wear in the body of the roll member.

Abstract: A cut sheet stacking system receives and stacks cut sheets in registry against intersecting registration surfaces. The system comprises a sheet support surface, and first and second planar registration surfaces which extend upwardly from the sheet support surface and intersect to form a 90.degree. angle of intersection therebetween. A roller having a flexible tab is rotatably mounted above the sheet support surface and is positioned to frictionally engage a topmost sheet of a stack on the sheet support surface. The roller/tab exerts a force on the topmost sheet in a direction that intersects the first and second planar registration surfaces at their point of intersection and, when rotated, imparts forces on the topmost sheet which directs it towards the intersecting first and second planar registration surfaces.

Abstract: A sheet passage is formed so as to extend from a sheet feed position via a printing position to a sheet delivery position, delivery rollers driven by a driving unit are disposed between the printing position and the sheet delivery position on the sheet passage, pressure rollers are disposed on one side of the sheet passage so as to be in contact respectively with the delivery rollers disposed on the other side of the sheet passage, a back sheet guide is disposed between the delivery rollers and the sheet delivery position, and a printed sheet delivered by the delivery rollers and guided by the back sheet guide is transferred to a printed sheet storage unit by sheet transfer arms.

Abstract: A stacker has a feed unit for feeding separate sheets in a direction, a stacking unit for stacking the separate sheets in a normal position, and a sheet classifying mechanism for shifting a sheet into a position different from the normal position, upstream of the stacking unit with respect to the direction. Sheets to be used to classify respective batches of sheets stacked by the stacking unit can selectively be shifted into the position different from the normal position by the sheet classifying mechanism. Since those shifted sheets can easily and clearly be recognized by the operator, the batches of stacked sheet can be sorted out with ease. The sheets remain sightly in appearance as no classifying ink mark is applied to those sheets used to classify the batches of stacked sheets.

Abstract: A device whereby a pile of rectangular items is placed on an inclined surface and pushed towards the straight front edge thereof by a push unit. The surface presents two pairs of conveyor belts parallel to each other and coplanar with the surface; and the pile is arrested upon a bottom portion of the first item in the pile activating a first or second limit stop sensor, which activates a respective pair of belts so as to move the bottom left or right portion of the item and so orient the item in relation to a gripping plane. A gripping unit with two suction cups movable along a three-dimensional trajectory grips the oriented item and feeds it to a follow-up conveyor belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with an automatic document feeding apparatus which is mounted on a platen glass or document table of an electronic copying apparatus having an interruption copy mode function. A document transportation belt of the automatic document feeding apparatus is stretched facing the platen glass. When an interruption key is depressed, the document transportation belt and transportation rollers of a document discharge device are driven so that an uncopied document on the platen glass is moved to be temporarily evacuated from an exposure region. The evacuated document is held between the transportation rollers and pinch rollers. In this state, the automatic document feeding apparatus is opened, and an interruption document is manually set on the platen glass. Subsequently, after closing the document feeding apparatus, interruption copying operation is performed.

Abstract: A central paper discharge roller is disposed on a shaft so as to come in contact with the center of the paper to be discharged. An outer paper discharge roller is disposed on either side of the central paper discharge roller at a predetermined interval. The diameter of the central paper discharge roller is greater than that of the outer paper discharge rollers. A plurality of ribs which press the paper against the paper discharge rollers are disposed on a rib panel. With this structure, the paper discharge device can discharge the paper without generating crinkles in the paper.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for stacking flat workpieces, which are conveyed on a transport cylinder provided with holding tongs, on a stacking table put against the transport cylinder. The apparatus is provided with a control for opening the holding tongs before reaching the stacking table, and with a braking arrangement for decelerating the workpieces such that the workpieces are set down on the stacking table at a lower speed than the peripheral speed of the transport cylinder. In accordance with the invention the braking arrangement consists of a row of suction nozzles or a suction belt circulating at a lower speed that the transport cylinder.

Abstract: A finisher connectable to an image forming apparatus for surely discharging sheets to bin trays thereof without regard to the sheet size while preventing the sheets from dropping from the bin rays or from being inaccurately positioned on the bin trays. The finisher has a discharge roller for sequentially discharging sheets driven out of the image forming apparatus to the bin trays. The rotation speed of the discharge roller is controlled on the basis of size information representative of the size of sheets to be transferred from the image forming apparatus to the finisher.

Abstract: At the free end of an arm (1) which is pivotable about a shaft (12), a driven coupling portion (3) with a claw coupling (3a) is rotatably mounted, such coupling being held in positive engagement with a sleeve (5) shiftable on a shaft (2). Sleeve (5) is provided with a circumferential cam groove (5b) which has an advancing and returning pitch and is engaged by a stationary projection (11). Sleeve (5) is provided with a concentrical collar (5d) on which a second wheel (4), having a smooth circumferential surface, is shiftably mounted and held in positive engagement. On an eccentric collar (5a) of sleeve (5), a first wheel (6) designed as a radial ball bearing is mounted whose circumferential surface has high static friction. When sleeve (5) is set in motion, it moves to and fro, the second wheel (4) being urged via an inclined surface (4b4c) into contact with the first wheel (6) and entraining said wheel by frictional engagement.

Abstract: Sheet transport apparatus has a pair of driven transport rolls and a pair of associated idler nip rolls forming sheet transport nips therebetween and defining a sheet transport path, one of the pair of transport rolls and pair of idler rolls being fixedly supported in a sheet feed table, the other of the pair of transport rolls and pair of idler rolls being mounted on a shaft which is pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the shaft and parallel to the sheet feeding path, the shaft being pivotally mounted at the midpoint between the pair of rolls in a pivot housing extending across the sheet feeding path, one end of the pivot housing fixedly engaging the sheet feed table and including a spring to bias the other end of the pivot housing toward the sheet feed table to enable the shaft to pivot about the axis to provide the same nip force between each of the driven transport roll and its associated idler nip roll.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus including sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveying apparatus, sheet delivering apparatus, structure for supporting the sheet conveying apparatus and sheet delivering apparatus and having an opening side, sheet storing apparatus, and structure for guiding the sheet storing apparatus such that the sheet forming apparatus is detachable from the sheet feeding apparatus at the same opening side.