Abstract: A method of controlling medium feeding in an image forming apparatus includes an image forming step of forming an image on a medium in response to an image forming request, and a feed control step of selecting one of a plurality of first medium feed units that feeds a medium corresponding to attribute information that matches medium attribute information included in the image forming request, and of selecting a second medium feed unit upon finding matching between attribute information indicative of a medium fed by the second medium feed unit and the medium attribute information included in the image forming request if none of the first medium feed units feeds a medium corresponding to the attribute information that matches the medium attribute information included in the image forming request.

Abstract: Printing processing is performed on a sheet having a characteristic value within a range of a characteristic value of a sheet which is defined usable in the printing processing in accordance with a specific print job. Specifically, in a case where a test page print job is input, a CPU selects a sheet feeding tray on which sheets having a characteristic value within a range of a characteristic value represented by characteristic value range information. The CPU performs a control operation so that a sheet is fed from the selected sheet feeding tray to a printer unit and the printer unit executes the test page print job.

Abstract: A burden on a user when changing sheets such as with an ink jet printer and the like is reduced, and the necessary stack space is secured without considering the step difference up to the mounting surface of an ejected paper tray worth of the amount of curls for sheets that easily curls such as post cards and the like. Thus, enlargement of the apparatus and increase in the manufacturing cost are suppressed, and is easily adopted for low cost type for mass consumption.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an input unit for input of setting information, an image forming unit, a conveying unit, a control unit, and a jam detecting unit, wherein a set of a plurality of different kinds of special sheets disposed in a predetermined order is used. When occurrence of a jam is detected by the jam detecting unit, the control unit recognizes whether a special sheet having been fed is present in the image forming system, and if it is recognized that a special sheet is present in the image forming system, the control unit controls the conveying unit, after the jam being released, to eject a special sheet or sheets as unnecessary up to one that is disposed preceding a special sheet that is of the same kind as a most front one that was present in the image forming system at the time of the occurrence of the jam.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a sheet feeding tray to store a sheet; an image forming section to form an image on the sheet; a fusing section to fuse the image; a controlling section to perform cleaning of the fusing section when a sheet has been nipped in the fusing section at an occurrence of a jam by passing a sheet through the fusing section after the jam is relieved; an operating section to set an allowed condition of a sheet; and a memory section to store an allowed condition, wherein the controlling section determines whether the sheet feeding tray stores a sheet which satisfies the allowed condition, and when the sheet feeding tray stores the sheet which satisfies the allowed condition, selects the sheet feeding tray and controls the sheet feeding tray to feed the sheet and controls the fusing section to pass the sheet.

Abstract: A medium feeding device is adapted to be attached to a recording apparatus to feed a recording medium thereto or adapted to be attached to a liquid ejecting apparatus to feed a target medium thereto A first tray is provided with a hopper adapted to support the recording medium or the target medium which is to be automatically fed to the recording apparatus or the liquid ejecting apparatus by a feeding roller. A second tray is arranged above the first tray and adapted to support the recording medium or the target medium which is to be manually fed to the recording apparatus or the liquid ejecting apparatus. The second tray includes a tray body and an extensible member which is retractably extended from the tray body toward the feeding roller.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus that includes plural paper feed trays, and when there occurs out-of-paper in a paper feed tray during printing, changes over from the paper feed tray to another to continue the printing, which includes a detection section that detects that paper is added in the paper feed tray, a memory that stores paper feed trays for which the detection section detects that paper is added therein in the sequence of paper being added; and a paper feed tray changing section that, when there occurs out-of-paper in a paper feed tray in operation during printing, selects a paper feed tray in which paper is added in the earliest time among the paper feed trays which are stored in the memory, and changes over the paper feed tray.

Abstract: A system and method for supplying media to a device. The novel system includes a first tray for holding a first supply of media, a first mechanism including a shaft adapted to feed media from the first tray to the device when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and a second mechanism for moving the first tray from a first position to a second position when the shaft is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed units setting index sheets. A storage section stores size information and index number information indicating the number of index sheets per set of paper sheet set in each paper feed unit, and a control section automatically changes the paper feed unit to be used from a first paper feed unit to a second paper feed unit and does not automatically change the paper feed unit to a third paper feed unit when the index sheets in the first paper feed unit are exhausted, the size information and the index number information of the first paper feed unit coinciding with those of the second paper feed unit and at least one of the size information and the index number information of the first paper feed unit not coinciding with those of the third paper feed unit.

Abstract: A high performance printing system includes a paper tray for holding the blank paper prior to printing. The printer engine demands that the paper size be selected from a limited set of allowable paper sizes. A paper guide mechanism installed in the paper tray has a configuration that operates to guide a paper size having a reduced width relative to a particular allowed paper size. The paper guide mechanism allows reduced width paper to be used in the paper tray, essentially without otherwise adjusting the printing system, such that the printer engine sees the paper size as a particular allowed paper size when a reduced width paper is being used for printing.

Abstract: A flexible media integration system (10) includes a multifunction flexible media interface system (12). The interface system includes a plurality of flexible media input areas (22, 24, 26) for receiving flexible media (14), such as sheets of paper, from a plurality of associated input processors (16, 18, 20), such as printers or paper feeders. A plurality of flexible media output areas (32, 34) provide outputs to different associated flexible media output processors (36, 38), such as printers or finishers. The interface system also includes a sheet position sensing system (52) and a sheet transporting system (42). The transporting system provides selectable flexible media translation for selectably transporting flexible media from selected ones of the plurality of flexible media input areas to selected ones of the plurality of flexible media output areas so as to provide selectable flexible media feeding from selected flexible media input processors to selected flexible media output processors.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus which has multiple paper feed units and performs plural types of processing including at least facsimile processing, comprising a paper feeding subject setting unit which sets availability of paper feeding of each of the paper feed units when at least the facsimile processing is performed; and a warning unit which issues a warning when all the paper feed units are excluded from paper feeding at the time of the facsimile processing as a result of setting by the paper feeding subject setting unit.

Abstract: A first sheet feeding device and a second sheet feeding device for feeding sheets stacked on a first stacking portion and a second stacking portion, respectively, are driven by a driving force generated by a drive source. A controller controls the drive source so that the magnitude of the driving force may differ between a case where the first sheet feeding device is driven and a case where the second sheet feeding device is driven.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image former for forming an image on a sheet at a predetermined image-forming speed; a plurality of feeders; a carrier for carrying the sheet fed from either of the feeders to the image former; and a controller for controlling the carrier to suspend the sheet fed from either of the feeders at a first position upstream of the image former. The controller determines whether a subsequent sheet is suspended at a second position upstream of the first position and/or controls a speed at which the carrier carries the sheet, based on a feeder that feeds the sheet among the plurality of feeders and/or on the image-forming speed of the image former.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier system including a printhead carrier configured for movement along a scan path, a first sheet picking mechanism, a second sheet picking mechanism, and a selector device. The selector device is configured to select one of the first sheet picking mechanism and the second sheet picking mechanism for picking a sheet of print media based on a position of the printhead carrier.

Abstract: A paper detecting device to detect paper presence on a paper plate in a paper feeding cassette, and comprising a light-emitting device and a light-receiving sensor. In the paper feeding cassette, an end-fence is movably mounted, and at least one of the light-emitting device and the light-receiving sensor is mounted on a base of the end-fence to be covered by the stacked paper. Accordingly, before developing a new image, the complete consumption of the paper supply can be detected, and therefore, the toner can be saved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying paper cassettes. The apparatus for identifying paper cassettes includes first through N-th paper cassettes, wherein each of N-1 output ports (where N is a positive integer greater than 1) is connected to N-1 input ports, which have one of N input ports and one of N output ports, a paper cassette identification unit to generate a synchronizing signal in response to an identification symbol which is transmitted from the first through N-th paper cassettes and indicates one of the first through N-th paper cassettes, and to transmit the generated synchronizing signal to paper cassettes in which an “undefined symbol” that indicates that the identification symbol has not been assigned, among the first through N-th paper cassettes is given, and a serial bus which connects the first through N-th paper cassettes to the paper cassette identification unit.

Abstract: There is provided a reading/recording apparatus which is capable of properly conveying originals during original reading operation, even if there exists a state where a recording medium conveying device shares the same space with an original conveying path. A shared conveying path has at least part thereof used as both a conveying path for an original and a conveying path for a recording medium. The original is conveyed on the shared conveying path, where an image of the original is read. The read image is recorded on the recording medium at a recording position on the shared conveying path. A recording medium conveying device is movable between a sharing state where the recording medium conveying device shares a space with the conveying path for the original and a non-sharing state where the recording medium conveying device does not share the space with the conveying path for the original, and conveys the recording medium on the shared conveying path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming images on recording materials of various types and sizes. The image forming apparatus includes a storing member for storing recording materials having an arbitrary size, a size-information input device for inputting size information corresponding to the arbitrary size of the recording materials, and a controller for controlling an image forming operation according to the size information inputted by the size-information input device. The size information input by the size-information input device includes each of arbitrary values corresponding to longitudinal and lateral lengths of the recording materials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a media handling device for handling sheets of media contained in a conglomerate stack.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming images on recording materials of various types and sizes. The image forming apparatus includes a storing member for storing recording materials having an arbitrary size, a size-information input device for inputting size information corresponding to the arbitrary size of the recording materials, and a controller for controlling an image forming operation according to the size information inputted by the size-information input device. The size information input by the size-information input device includes each of arbitrary values corresponding to longitudinal and lateral lengths of the recording materials.

Abstract: A laser-beam printer includes a main unit and a plurality of tray units that can be stacked one upon the other under the main unit. Each of the tray units has a resist roller. The resist roller has a function of adjusting a deviation of a recording sheet fed from stacked sheets on a sheet supporting plate by a sheet feed roller and a function of feeding the recording sheet fed from a tray unit provided immediately below the main unit toward the main unit. A resist roller for adjusting a deviation of the recording medium is also provided upstream from an image forming unit in the main unit.

Abstract: A mechanism (120) which can be used in a printer (110), for example, for selectively moving sheets from first and second sheet stacks, including a rotating shaft (123), a mechanism for causing the rotating shaft (123) to rotate in first and second directions, and first and second media picks (121, 122). Rotation of the rotating shaft (123) in the first direction causes the first media pick (121) to move a sheet from the first sheet stack (51) and rotation of the rotating shaft (123) in the second direction causes the second media pick (122) to move a sheet from the second sheet stack (52).

Abstract: An article dispensing mechanism in which a plurality of stacks are mounted on a platform. Each has a plurality of articles such as paper sheets. The platform is moved from an article feeding position to a non-feeding position. An article feeding mechanism is mounted above a stack at the article feeding position. The article feeding mechanism feeds an article from the top of a stack at said article feeding position. When a stack at the article feeding position is devoid of articles, the platform is moved from the feeding position to the non-feeding position to present another stack to the feeding position.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including a paper feeding unit for selectively feeding color papers, each of which is assigned by an operation unit, and a controlling device, for controlling storing an assigned color paper data and an image data into a storage device, and for controlling selecting the same color paper when the image data is again output from the storage device. Therefore, the same image data can be automatically output to the same color paper.

Abstract: An article dispensing mechanism in which a plurality of stacks are mounted on a platform. Each has a plurality of articles such as paper sheets. The platform is moved from an article feeding position to a non-feeding position. An article feeding mechanism is mounted above a stack at the article feeding position. The article feeding mechanism feeds an article from the top of a stack at said article feeding position. When a stack at the article feeding position is devoid of articles, the platform is moved from the feeding position to the non-feeding position to present another stack to the feeding position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering signatures to a binding line, the apparatus and method preferably comprising a printer feeder apparatus and method for providing personalized information in a variety of locations upon a selected one of a plurality of signatures types before the signatures are fed to the binding line.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a paper feeding unit for selectively feeding color papers, each of which is assigned by an operation unit; and a controlling device, for controlling storing an assigned color paper data and an image data into a storage device, and for controlling selecting the same color paper when the image data is again output from the storage device. Therefore, the same image data can be automatically output to the same color paper.

Abstract: A card printer has a card feed hopper assembly that will support stacks of two different size cards in hopper sections. The card feed hopper assembly is movable transversely of the printer to position the respective hopper sections to be aligned with a card feed path on the printer, and then positioned so that cards in the hopper section aligned with the card feed path will be driven into the printer. The hopper is lifted when it is moved transversely, and then lowered down to provide the card drive for cards in the hopper section that is aligned with the card feed path.

Abstract: A mechanism (120) which can be used in a printer (110), for example, for selectively moving sheets from first and second sheet stacks, including a rotating shaft (123), a mechanism for causing the rotating shaft (123) to rotate in first and second directions, and first and second media picks (121, 122). Rotation of the rotating shaft (123) in the first direction causes the first media pick (121) to move a sheet from the first sheet stack (51) and rotation of the rotating shaft (123) in the second direction causes the second media pick (122) to move a sheet from the second sheet stack (52).

Abstract: Every time the paper size setting key is operated, the count value in the counter is increased by one. It is judged whether the count value in the counter after increment is greater than the maximum value Cm. If the count value of the counter is greater than the maximum value Cm, the count value is set at ‘1’. Then the CPU highlights the feeder position corresponding to the count value of the counter, among several feeder positions in the paper size setting frame. If new paper is loaded during the waiting period for the operation of the paper size setting key, the CPU detects count value Cs corresponding to the feeder position to which new paper has been loaded and sets the counter at a count value of Cs−1.

Abstract: A printer includes a plurality of cassettes and a cassette is selected from the cassettes. The printer comprises a print information memory, paper information memory, cassette information memory, cassette selector, and data editor. The print information memory stores print information contained in print data therein. The print information includes a size of the print paper and an orientation of the print paper with respect to a direction of travel of the print paper. If a size of print paper specified by the print information is different from a size of print paper accommodated in a paper cassette selected last time, a first paper cassette is selected which accommodates print paper of a size specified by the print information. If the print information specifies print paper of a same size as the print paper accommodated in a paper cassette selected last time, a second paper cassette is selected which accommodates print paper oriented in a way different from the cassette selected last time.

Abstract: An apparatus has a paper cassette capable of accommodating a recording medium such as large-size recording sheets or OHP film, and an accommodating unit capable of accommodating recording sheets such as plain paper. The types of recording sheets that are accommodated in the paper cassette and accommodating unit are sensed by paper sensors. If the recording sheets accommodated in the paper cassette are large in size or consist of resin film, then one of these recording sheets is attracted by suction using a suction cup and is thus fed from the paper cassette. If the recording sheets accommodated in the accommodating unit are plain paper, one of these recording sheets is extracted from the accommodating unit by a rotating separation roller. The paper cassette and the accommodating unit are respectively provided with a feed unit relying upon the suction cup and a feed unit relying upon the separation roller.