Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can prevent decrease in useful lives of components for air sheet feeding without bringing about throughput degradation when performing an image forming operation using a plurality of sheet supply units. When a sheet is fed from a first sheet supply unit having a fan that is driven so as to supply sheets, then a sheet is supplied from a second sheet supply unit, and then a sheet is supplied form the first sheet supply unit again, and in a case where a suspension time period over which no sheet is supplied from the first sheet supply unit is longer than a preparation time period from when driving of the fan is started to when the fan is brought into a driving state required to supply a sheet, driving of the fan is temporarily stopped.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including first and second bodies that are removably connected to each other. The first body includes (i-a) a pair of first box portions (i-b) a connector interconnecting the first box portions, (i-c) at least one first foot portion provided on a bottom surface of each of the first box portions so as to be in contact with an installed surface, and (i-d) at least one first support portion extending upwardly from the at least one first foot portion. The second body includes (ii-a) a pair of second box portions, (ii-b) a connector interconnecting second box portions, and (ii-c) at least one second foot portion provided on a bottom surface of each of the second box portions. The second foot portion is located in a position aligned with the first support portion, so as to be in contact with a distal end of the first support portion. A sheet conveying device is held by a frame member which bridges between the second box portions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing device includes a first stacker to stack sheets to be decolorized images on the sheets, a second stacker arranged adjacent to the first stacker, wherein the sheets stacked on the first stacker is kept waiting on the second stacker in order to be decolorized the images, a pressing unit to urge the sheets stacked on the second stacker downward and keep the sheets stacked on the second stacker flat, an image decolorizing unit to decolorize the images on the sheets, and a sheet feed unit positioned on an upper surface of the pressing unit to convey the sheets pressed on the pressing unit from the second stacker to the image decolorizing unit.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a body having a sheet placement surface on which a sheet that is to be fed is placed; a cover rotatably provided at the body and supporting a back edge portion in a feeding direction of the sheet placed on the sheet placement surface when the cover is open; a moving member provided at the sheet placement surface so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the feeding direction; a linking member extending in a movement direction of the moving member from the moving member, one end portion thereof being rotatably linked to the moving member using a rotary shaft that is parallel to a rotary shaft of the cover; and a sheet back-edge regulating member provided at the linking member so as to be movable in the movement direction, and regulating a back edge in the feeding direction of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. Sheets, a plurality of which form a set, are contained in each of containers, and sheets are fed from the corresponding containers. If a first sheet to be fed is in the same layer as a second sheet that was fed from the containers last time, the first sheet is fed from a set that included the second sheet in the containers is fed. If the layer of the first sheet is higher than the layer of the second sheet that was fed from the containers last time, all remaining sheets in the set that included the second sheet are discharged from the containers.

Abstract: A paper sheet handling apparatus includes: a transport path including a pair of a first transport surface and a second transport surface; at least one storage module configured to store the paper sheets transported through the transport path; and a body including the transport path and the storage module. The storage module is attachable and detachable to and from the body by moving the storage module in a predetermined direction, a part of an outer surface of the storage module attached to the body forms the first transport surface, and the second transport surface is exposed when the storage module is detached from the body so that the second transport surface is visible from the predetermined direction.

Abstract: When image formation processing is in progress using sheets stacked on a given stacking unit and sheets are supplied to another stacking unit, image formation processing continues using the sheets stacked on the other stacking unit. To accomplish this, at the timing when the closing of a feeding source is detected, a control unit (205) determines in step S1001 whether a printer (1000) is executing print processing. In step S1002, the control unit (205) displays a display screen (611) serving as a feeding source selection screen on an operation unit (204). In step S1005, the control unit (205) executes switching processing to the feeding source selected via the display screen (611).

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding a single sheet of sheet material is disclosed. The sheet feeder can utilize a specially designed cutout and a suction cup to feed difficult, thin, or flimsy material one sheet at the time. The cutout can be located on a shuttle table, endless belt, or carousel, for example, and can be used in conjunction with one or more suctions cups. The cutout can be angled with respect to the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheet is substantially supported. A slot in the cutout can enable the suction cup to pull down the corner of the sheet. The slot can then continue to slice, or peel, the sheet of the bottom of a stack of sheets. The ability to pull only the corner of the sheet down initially prevents stiction from a variety of sources and enables a single sheet to be pulled from the stack.

Abstract: A system for utilizing tab attributes includes a communications component, a user interface component, a ticket generation component, and a job submissions component. The communications component operatively communicates at least one print document. The user interface component operatively communicates user data including tab data. The ticket generation component generates a ticket including at least one tab attribute. The ticket generation component communicates with the communications component and the user interface. The ticket generation component receives the user data from the user interface component and the ticket generation component receives the at least one print document from the communications component. The ticket is associated with the at least one print document. The ticket includes at least one tab attribute generated as a function of the received tab data. The job submission component submits a job to a printer and the job includes the ticket and the at least one print document.

Abstract: An image forming system executes image forming with pages kept continuous by controlling supplying of sheets corresponding to pages for which sheets have not fed in consideration of pages for which sheets have already been fed, even if image forming processing is temporally suspended.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supplying trays; an image forming unit; and a cover. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the cover; a paper supplying tray opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the paper supplying tray; a paper jam detecting unit that detects a paper jam in at least one place in a paper transporting path; a paper jam release deciding unit that decides whether the paper jam in the detecting place is released or not after the confirmation of a detection; and a completion control unit that controls to complete a paper jam processing based on the decision that the paper jam in all of the places in the paper transporting path is released through the paper jam release deciding unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus with a plurality of paper feeders includes a job generation unit which generates a print job containing current print settings as a target print job, a history obtaining unit which obtains, among print settings contained in a print job output before the target print job, a paper setting associated with a paper feeder as history information, a history determination unit which determines whether a paper setting which is contained in the history information and corresponds to a paper setting contained in the target print job is associated with a paper feeder different from a paper feeder designated by print settings contained in the target print job, and a job control unit which stops or continues a print process in accordance with a user instruction when the history determination unit determines that the paper setting is associated with the different paper feeder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body provided with an image formation unit and plural paper feeding apparatuses. Paper conveyance paths of the plural paper feeding apparatuses are daisy-chained with respect to the image forming apparatus body. An output unit outputs an instruction signal which instructs a specified paper feeding apparatus to start feeding a paper. A paper feed unit feeds the paper upon receipt of the instruction signal. A recognition unit recognizes a delay time until an analysis that the instruction signal is a paper feed instruction. A correction unit corrects an output timing of the instruction signal based on the delay time.

Abstract: The printer as an image forming apparatus supplies a plurality of types of tab sheet, and distinguishably discharges the tab sheets that became no longer necessary according to the type of tab sheets.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism is provided. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, a transfer channel, a plurality of transfer rollers, an ejecting tray, an ejecting roller assembly, a business card input tray, and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card input tray includes a business card support plate, a spring, a separation slice and a position-limiting glide slot. The business card pick-up roller assembly includes a business card pick-up roller, a business card separation roller and a shaft rod. The shaft rod is sheathed by the business card separation roller. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is adapted for scanning images of multiple ordinary documents or multiple business cards.

Abstract: The sheet feeding device includes a straight sheet feeding passage, and plural sheet feeding sections. Each sheet feeding section includes a container containing a stack of sheets; a driving rotor; a first driven rotor contacting the driving rotor to form a first nip; a feeding member feeding the sheet from the container toward the first nip; and a second driven rotor contacting the driving rotor or the first driven rotor to form a second nip at the junction of the sheet feeding section and the sheet feeding passage. Only the sheet feeding section on the extreme upstream side has a curved guide instead of the second driven rotor to directly feed the sheet to the second nip of the adjacent sheet feeding section so that the sheet at the curved guide has greater curvature radius than the sheet fed from the other sheet feeding sections toward the second nip thereof.

Abstract: A device for applying labels to a label carrier including a movable rack, which defines a plurality of magazine sites, each of the magazine sites being configured for accommodating a label magazine that is suitable for accommodating a large number of labels. The magazine rack further includes docking means with the aid of which the rack can be docked to a labeling unit prepared for applying the individual labels from a selected label magazine to the label carrier. The device further includes a supply unit through which a selected label magazine can be transferred from the magazine site within the rack to an operating position at which the labels are taken hold of by the labeling unit and applied individually to one of the label carriers.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus and an automatic sheet feeding method are provided. The sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, a first sheet input tray, a first sheet pick-up roller assembly, a sheet ejecting tray, a sheet transfer channel, a plurality of transfer roller assemblies, a sheet ejecting roller assembly, a sheet-feeding sensor and a clutch module. Once a first sheet article of multiple sheet articles placed on the first sheet input tray are fed into the internal portion of the sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus to trigger the sheet-feeding sensor, the clutch module is disabled. At this moment, a second sheet article placed on the first sheet input tray fails to be fed by the first sheet pick-up roller assembly. Therefore, the double feeding problem is solved.

Abstract: The sheet containing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body; a drawer that is capable of being pulled out from the apparatus main body; a sheet container that is movable relative to the drawer and that contains a sheet; a feeder that feeds a sheet contained in the sheet container; and a moving unit that moves the sheet container in a direction intersecting with a feed direction in which the feeder feeds a sheet.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a composite feeding mechanism configured to process one or more jobs using a stack of feeder trays. The composite feeding mechanism can include the stack of feeder trays, a base unit, and a feeder unit. The feeder trays can hold substrate media to satisfy jobs and the base unit can support the stack of feeder trays. The feeder unit can remove the substrate media from a feeder tray located at the top of the stack to satisfy a job requirement.

Abstract: An image reading and recording apparatus includes a trigger arm configured to start transmission of a drive to a paper feed unit in accordance with the position of a carriage. The trigger arm includes a first lever portion for feeding a recording sheet in a state in which a cap is separated from a recording head and a second lever portion for feeding a document in a state in which the cap is in contact with the recording head.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supplying trays; an image forming unit; and a cover. The image forming apparatus further includes a cover opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the cover; a paper supplying tray opening/closing detecting unit that detects an operation for opening/closing the paper supplying tray; a paper jam detecting unit that detects a paper jam in at least one place in a paper transporting path; a paper jam release deciding unit that decides whether the paper jam in the detecting place is released or not after the confirmation of a detection; and a completion control unit that controls to complete a paper jam processing based on the decision that the paper jam in all of the places in the paper transporting path is released through the paper jam release deciding unit.

Abstract: Described is an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to create a vacant tray. The apparatus includes a paper sheet managing section to conduct consecutive operations including: acquiring the residual amount of the paper sheets accommodated in each of plurality paper sheet trays; calculating a total sum of residual amounts of paper sheets having the same attributes; comparing the above-calculated total sum with the maximum accommodating capacity of each of the paper sheet trays currently accommodating the paper sheets concerned; and notifying the operator of the fact that a vacant tray can be made by collecting the paper sheets concerned into a specific paper sheet tray, if there exists such paper sheets and a combination of paper sheet trays that make the total sum of the residual amounts of the paper sheets equal to or smaller than the maximum accommodating capacity of the specific paper sheet tray.

Abstract: A card processing unit may include a card processing part for performing predetermined processing to a card, a card stack part in which a plurality of cards are stacked and stored, and a card feeding part for carrying a card between the card processing part and the card stack part. The card stack part may be structured such that the card stack part is capable of being separated from the card feeding part as a module and mounted on a main body base as a module. A plurality of card stack parts and a plurality of card processing parts may be mounted on the main body base as modules.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body which includes an attachment portion, a standby tray which is provided adjacent to the attachment portion of the apparatus body and stacks a paper thereon, a paper feeding tray stacks the paper thereon, a movement mechanism which moves the paper from the paper feeding tray located at the mounted position onto the standby tray along the paper conveying path, a holder member which moves to a first position so as to hold the paper at a predetermined position on the paper feeding tray and moves to a second position so as to recede from the paper conveying path, and a lock mechanism which engages with the holder member so as to hold the holder member at the first position when the paper feeding tray is located at the withdrawn position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first sheet feeding unit; a second sheet feeding unit provided adjacent to the first sheet feeding unit; one or plural first shutter(s) provided in the first sheet feeding unit; a driving unit that drives the first shutter(s); and one or plural second shutter(s) provided in the second sheet feeding unit, the second shutter(s) opening and closing in association with the opening and closing of the first shutter(s) driven by the driving unit. According to the present invention, when plural shutters for designating a stacking range of sheets are provided, an operation of any one of the shutters can be suitably associated with operations of the other shutters.

Abstract: The invention describes an image recording device having a sheet supplying device that supplies sheets. The sheet supplying device has a first tray and a second tray that hold sheets, and a first and second shaft positioned over the first and second trays. A first rotating member contacts a sheet in the first tray, and a second rotating member contacts a sheet in the second tray. A first arm extends from the first shaft to the first rotating member, and a second arm extends from the second shaft to the second rotating member. A transmission device is coupled to the first arm member and the second arm member, and transmits selectively a rotational drive force from the first shaft to either the first or second rotating members. A recording unit records an image on the sheet supplied by the sheet supplying device.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism is provided. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, an ejecting tray, a transfer channel, a plurality of transfer rollers, a business card input tray, and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card input tray has a business card support plate. In a case that a jam event occurs, the business card support plate may be swung for facilitating removing the jammed business card.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a first sheet cassette having an accommodating portion accommodating a first plurality of sheets and a second sheet cassette, disposed on the first sheet cassette, accommodating a second plurality of sheets. The sheet feed device also includes a sheet feeder configured to selectively feed the first plurality of sheets and the second plurality of sheets toward a sheet feed path, and a sheet separator configured to separate, one by one, the sheets fed by the sheet feeder. Specifically, the second sheet cassette is configured to move above the accommodating portion and with respect to the sheet feeder between a sheet feed position in which the sheet feeder contacts sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette to a non-sheet feed position in which the second sheet feed cassette prevents the sheet feeder from contacting sheets accommodated in the second sheet feed cassette.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a switchable transmission mechanism disposed between a pickup roller and a driving source, and switches the driving source between a first state for rotating in the forward direction to rotate the pickup roller, and a second state for not rotating the pickup roller, the forward direction is opposite to a direction in which the driving source is rotated to rotate a feeder roller in a sheet feed direction. The sheet feeding apparatus also includes a control portion rotating the driving source in the forward direction to rotate the pickup roller in a sheet supply direction, and switches the switchable transmission mechanism between the first state, when a sheet is supplied from a sheet holding portion, and the second state, when the sheet is fed by the feeder roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes pairs of rollers, each including a driving roller and a driven roller. The pairs of rollers are arranged along the rotation axis direction of the driving roller and constitute a first roller group and a second roller group for conveying a first medium and a second medium thicker than the first medium, respectively. The center of the first roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a first conveying area where the first medium is conveyed. The center of the second roller group is identical in the rotation axis direction to that of a second conveying area where the second medium is conveyed. At least one pair of rollers in the second roller group is arranged outside the first roller group within the first conveying area.

Abstract: A printer as an image forming apparatus controls to discharge the tab sheets that became no longer necessary when the type of tab sheets supplied is changed. Thus, the printer controls to discharge the tab sheets that became no longer necessary while printing a unit number of copies for a printing job.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a decolorizing device includes a first stacker to stack sheets to be decolorized images on the sheets, a second stacker arranged adjacent to the first stacker, wherein the sheets stacked on the first stacker is kept waiting on the second stacker in order to be decolorized the images, a pressing unit to urge the sheets stacked on the second stacker downward and keep the sheets stacked on the second stacker flat, an image decolorizing unit to decolorize the images on the sheets, and a sheet feed unit positioned on an upper surface of the pressing unit to convey the sheets pressed on the pressing unit from the second stacker to the image decolorizing unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes first and second sheet feeding stocker provided in a main body and placed side by side in a horizontal direction, in which sheets are taken out from the first sheet feeding stocker and conveyed through a horizontal conveyance unit provided above the second sheet feeding stocker. The respective first and second sheet feeding stockers can independently be pulled out forward from the main body in a direction intersecting with a sheet conveying direction in the horizontal conveyance unit. The sheet feeding device includes an engaging mechanism for engaging the horizontal conveyance unit and the first sheet feeding stocker so that the first sheet feeding stocker is pulled out integrally with the horizontal conveyance unit when the horizontal conveyance unit is pulled out forward from the main body.

Abstract: A solenoid valve and an automatic document feeder using the solenoid valve are provided. The solenoid valve includes a valve body, a valve spindle, a spring, a ring-shaped groove and muffling ring. The ring-shaped groove is sheathed around the valve spindle. The muffling ring is disposed within the ring-shaped groove. When the valve body is magnetized to magnetically attract the valve spindle, the valve spindle is moved within the valve body, and the muffling ring collides with the recess inner wall, thereby reducing collision noise.

Abstract: Degrees of wear of sheet-feed rollers corresponding to sheet-feed cassettes are managed by considering types of sheets set at feeding units. A control method for controlling a managing apparatus for managing a feeding device that feeds sheets, set in the feeding units, by driving the sheet-feed rollers corresponding to the feeding units includes storing sheet information in a storage unit, the sheet information indicating types of the sheets that are set in the respective feeding units; and managing degrees of wear of the sheet-feed rollers for the respective feeding units in accordance with the numbers of fed sheets and the sheet information stored in the storage unit, the degrees of wear resulting from the sheets fed from the feeding units.

Abstract: A feeding roller is operable to pick up a stacked first medium and to feed the picked up first medium. A medium guide is adapted to guide the fed first medium. A pair of transporting rollers is operable to transport the glided first medium. The feeding roller is disposed at one side deviated from the center of the medium guiding section in a main scanning direction which is a widthwise direction of the fed first medium. The medium guiding section has a first guide section and a second guide section having path for guiding the fed first medium different from that of the first guide section, the first guide section and the second guide section arranged in the main scanning direction. The first guide section is disposed at the one side where the feeding roller is deviated in the main scanning direction. The second guide section is disposed at the other side in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A system (100) includes a first end feeder device (103-1), and a second end feeder device (103-2) upstream in a media transport path from the first end feeder device (103-1). Each of the feeder devices (103-1, 103-2, 105-1, 105-2) is configured to feed a piece of a print medium (205) to a neighboring device (103-2, 105-1, 105-2) downstream in the media transport path only after receiving a logical token from the neighboring downstream device (103-2, 105-1, 105-2) corresponding to the piece of print media (205).

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a motor that rotates in a first and second direction, a first transmitting mechanism having an upstream and a downstream portion, that transmits a rotational force in a first transmitting direction, a second transmitting mechanism having an upstream and downstream portion, that transmits the rotational force in a second transmitting direction, a first idling mechanism, and a second idling mechanism. When the motor transitions between rotating in the first direction and rotating in the second direction, the first idling mechanism allows the upstream portion of the first transmitting mechanism to perform an idle rotation with respect to the downstream portion of the first transmitting mechanism, and the second idling mechanism is configured to allow the upstream portion of the second transmitting mechanism to perform an idle rotation with respect to the downstream portion of the second transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: When the image forming device receives a print job including a print condition in its header, an operation control section extracts the print condition from the header, and makes an inquiry to a server. The server extracts an order table, indicative of a priority based on the extracted print condition, from a setting table in which a priority of sheets has been set in advance in accordance with the extracted print condition, and sends the order table by return to the image forming device. In the image forming device, a tray selection section generates a tray selection signal in accordance with the received order table and a detection signal, outputted from a tray detection section, which functions as sheet storage information of a sheet feeding tray section, so as to send the tray selection signal by return to the sheet feeding tray section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first feeding unit and a second feeding unit. In the first feeding unit, a hand-feeding unit having a hand-feeding accommodating portion is mounted. The first feeding unit includes a first mounting portion into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And a connection unit for consecutive installation is mounted to the first mounting portion in a state where the hand-feeding unit is removed from the first mounting portion. The connection unit includes an added conveyance path for consecutive installation. The second feeding unit includes a second mounting portion in which the hand-feeding unit is mounted and into which a medium is conveyed from the hand-feeding accommodating portion. And the second feeding unit is connected to the added conveyance path.

Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.

Abstract: When image formation processing is in progress using sheets stacked on a given stacking unit and sheets are supplied to another stacking unit, image formation processing continues using the sheets stacked on the other stacking unit. To accomplish this, at the timing when the closing of a feeding source is detected, a control unit (205) determines in step S1001 whether a printer (1000) is executing print processing. In step S1002, the control unit (205) displays a display screen (611) serving as a feeding source selection screen on an operation unit (204). In step S1005, the control unit (205) executes switching processing to the feeding source selected via the display screen (611).

Abstract: A printing system includes a first sheet media source dispensing a length of sheet media and a second sheet media source dispensing pre-cut sheets of media. A merging unit is operative to receive the length of sheet media and position pre-cut sheets of media along the same. A marking unit receives and marks images on the length of sheet media as well as the pre-cut sheets positioned thereon. A separating unit is adapted to separate the pre-cut sheets from the length of sheet media. A cutting unit is adapted to divide the length of sheet media into marked and unmarked sheets of media. A sheet receiving unit is operative to receive the marked sheets of media and the pre-cut sheets of media. A method of printing on continuous feed and pre-cut sheet media is also included.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a common conveyance path through which a sheet fed from a sheet feed tray is conveyed from a registration roller to a transfer section; a direct conveyance path through which the sheet is directly fed from the sheet feed tray to the common conveyance path; a delay conveyance path in which the sheet after being branched from the direct conveyance path is joined to the common conveyance path, and is caused to delay in being fed from the sheet feed tray to the common sheet conveyance path; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray to the transfer section; and a controller which controls the conveyance section to convey once the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray from the direct conveyance path to the delay conveyance path, and thereafter to convey to the common conveyance path.

Abstract: An integrated printing system is provided and includes a plurality of image marking engines, at least two media feeder modules, and a first forward substantially horizontal interface media transport integrated with the plurality of image marking engines and the at least two feeder modules for selectively transporting media from the at least one media feeder module to at least one image marking engine. The system further comprises a footprint, and at least one of the feeder modules having a first and a second paper feed tray, wherein the first and the second feed trays are canted upward at an angle from horizontal thereby reducing the footprint of the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet-feeding scanning apparatus having a business card feeding mechanism. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus is adapted for scanning an image of an ordinary document or a business card. The sheet-feeding scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, an ordinary document input tray, an ordinary document pick-up roller assembly, an ejecting tray, a first channel, a second channel, a transfer roller assembly, a business card input tray and a business card pick-up roller assembly. The business card feeding mechanism can provide a relatively flat feeding and scanning channel for the business card such that the bending degree of the business card during transportation is reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus include an image forming unit; a housing including a sheet feed opening for feeding a recording sheet to the image forming unit; a tray which accommodates a recording sheet; a feed member which rotates while pressing a recording sheet fed through the sheet feed opening to apply a transport force to the recording sheet; a friction member provided to oppose the feed member, and contact the recording sheet from a side opposite to the feed member to apply a transport resistance to the recording sheet; a resin support frame which supports the friction member; and a metal transport chute which includes a guide part provided to contact the recording sheet fed from the tray to guide the recording sheet toward the image forming unit, the transport chute being formed integrally with the support frame.