Abstract: A sheet guiding device has an electromagnetic shield plate disposed between a re-transportation path for a sheet material and a video controller board, with the bottom surface of the electromagnetic shield plate being used as a sheet guiding surface and a portion of the sheet guiding surface protruding towards the re-transportation path to form a guiding section made of metal and integrally formed with the electromagnetic shield plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for turning sheets. A sheet to be turned is guided into a gap between two transport elements moving in opposite directions and is pressed against the reverse-moving transport element or the forward-moving transport element depending on whether or not said sheet should be turned. The following transport elements then guide the turned or unturned sheet to the output of the device. The device preferably is configured such that the same transport time is required for turned and unturned sheets so that the order of the sheets and the interval between the sheets upstream and downstream of the turning device remain the same.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotor to which torque in a fixed direction is transmitted and a transmitting unit for transmitting torque to the rotor. The transmitting unit is replaceable by a driving unit capable of freely rotating the rotor in both forward and backward directions.

Abstract: A sheet flow direction changing mechanism having a roller system comprised of three rollers and a sheet stopping device and so adapted and arranged that a sheet passing through said mechanism is (1) driven in a first direction by passing between a center roller and a top roller, (2) stopped and then (3) directed into a nip between the center roller and a bottom roller and thereby driving the sheet in a second direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.

Abstract: A paper discharge device for a printer has a housing having a circular inside guide wall, a paper inlet, a paper taking out opening, a paper discharge opening, and a paper discharge space. A paper winding roll is rotatably provided in a space inside the circular inside guide wall. A paper introducing roller is provided for introducing a paper sheet into the paper winding roll, and a paper discharge roller is provided for discharging the paper sheet in the paper discharge space. A first sensor is provided for detecting a rear end of the paper sheet when the paper sheet is fed to the paper discharge opening, and a second sensor is provided for detecting a forward end of the paper sheet when the paper sheet is fed to the paper taking out opening. In response to output signals of the first and second sensors, the rotation of the paper winding roll is controlled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for end-to-end advancement of sheet media in an automatic document feeder suitable for use with a scanner are disclosed. The method involves driving a drive roller in a forward direction to advance a sheet medium section-by-section at a substantially uniform speed across a scan zone of the scanner. Such driving involves accelerating the sheet medium to reach the uniform speed, maintaining the speed while a section is scanned, decelerating the sheet medium to a stop after the section is scanned and reversing the sheet medium by a predetermined distance to allow it to be subsequently accelerated. To prevent an overlap of sheet media during such back and forth advancement of a sheet medium, a pick roller is prevented from reversing when the drive roller is reversed. When the drive roller is driven in the forward direction, the pick roller is only driven after a predetermined delay.

Abstract: A document creating apparatus comprises an image transfer system and a sheet stacker for stacking sheets of material. The sheet stacker is coupled to the image transfer system and is adapted to transport the sheets of material from the image transfer system along a paper path. The sheet stacker has a rotatable disk located along the paper path. The rotatable disk receives at least two of the sheets of material. A controller is connected to the rotatable disk and controls a position of the rotatable disk. The controller rotates the rotatable disk to or past a sheet stacking position after the rotatable disk receives at least two of the sheets of material adjacent each other.

Abstract: An image scanning machine includes a document feeder for feeding sheets into a first paper path from a stack one sheet at a time if a one-side scanning mode is selected. If a both-side scanning mode is selected, a sheet is introduced into a second paper path which is an inverting path that turns a sheet, which is fed from the document feeder, upside down prior to scanning. Rollers located at a downstream end of the inverting path reverse a transportation direction of the sheet and feed the sheet to a scanner through a return path. The transportation direction of the sheet is reversed after the scanner scans one side of the sheet, and the sheet is then fed to the scanner again to scan the other side of the sheet. This transportation direction reversal results in turning the sheet upside down. A guide member is located a bifurcation of the return path and the inverting path for opening one of the return and inverting paths and closing the other of the return and inverting paths.

Abstract: A printer having an interference-free receiver sheet feed path and method of assembling the printer. The printer, which is a thermal dye printer, comprises a print head for forming an image on a movable receiver sheet belonging to a stack of receiver sheets having a front edge portion. The stack of receiver sheets reside in a receiver sheet supply tray. A roller feeds the top-most receiver sheet along a receiver sheet feed path, leading edge first, from the supply tray and to the print head for printing by means of thermal activation of a first one of a plurality of dye donor patches belonging to a dye donor ribbon. After the first dye donor patch prints, the receiver sheet returns, trailing edge first, to the supply tray before printing by the next dye donor patch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inverting sheets traveling through a machine with an inverter having a reversing chute and a reversing nip in the reversing chute. An incoming sheet is receiving into the reversing chute. The reversing nip reverses the direction of travel of the sheet and drives sheet out of the reversing chute. A gap is opened in said reversing nip, while the outgoing sheet still extends through the reversing nip. A subsequent incoming sheet is received into the reversing chute and through the gap in the reversing nip, while the outgoing sheet still extends through the gap. The gap is closed after the outgoing sheet has exited the reversing nip, such the reversing nip reverses the direction of travel of the subsequent incoming sheet and drives the sheet out of the reversing chute. The machine may be a printing or copying machine.

Abstract: An automatic document feeding device is capable of one-side process and double-side process, and includes a paper supply stacker, a paper supply path for transferring a document fed from the paper supply stacker to a sheet processing section, a switchback path for switching back the document processed at the sheet processing section, a paper ejection path for ejecting the document switched back in the switchback path in a reversed condition, and a paper ejection stacker for receiving the document ejected from the paper ejection path. In the double-side process, in accordance with a sheet size of the document to be processed, the device is controlled to switch between a mode wherein only one document is transferred in and ejected from the switchback path and another mode wherein a second document is transferred into the switchback path in the condition that a first document is still in the switchback path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to media handling devices and media handling methods. One aspect of the invention provides a media handling method including providing a media handling device having an initial media path; selectively moving a guide member using a motor intermediate a first position where the guide member is spaced from media within the initial media path and a second position where the guide member contacts the media within the initial media path; applying a control signal to the motor to control the moving; and modulating the control signal.

Abstract: A hardcopy apparatus including a main roller and a loading mechanism to load a medium into the hardcopy apparatus, said loading mechanism including a vacuum holddown input unit to hold media down onto a surface of said holddown unit. In addition, a method of loading a medium into a hardcopy apparatus including a vacuum holddown unit, a driving roller and a secondary roller, comprises the steps of: manually positioning the medium onto a surface of the holddown unit; by rotating the secondary roller, advancing the medium towards the main roller; and engaging the medium to the main roller.

Abstract: A switchback device has an inverting tray for temporarily holding a sheet guided inside the switchback device thereon; a guide unit for guiding the sheet in pressing contact with the inverting tray when the sheet exits the switchback device in an exiting direction on the inverting tray, the exiting direction opposite to an entering direction of the sheet on the inverting tray; a guide switching unit for selectively changing the guide unit to a sheet guide allow state to allow the sheet to enter in the entering direction on the inverting tray and a sheet pressing state to make the sheet in pressing contact with the inverting; and a sheet transporting unit for transporting the sheet out of the switchback device in the exiting direction on the inverting tray.

Abstract: In a printer with a print engine having simplex and duplex sheet printing functions, and simplex and duplex sheet feeding paths, and at least one sheet output path, a plural function module is mounted on top of the print engine. This plural function module provides a document handling unit for feeding original documents to be imaged, and also provides a reversible sheet feeding path operatively communicating with the duplex sheet feeding path of the print engine to provide a space savings printed sheet reversing chute which is outside of the print engine for the duplex printing function. This reversible sheet feeding path in the module is alternately operable unidirectionally to provide an arcuate, inverting, sheet output path to a sheet output stacking tray which may be located on top of the plural function module.

Abstract: In order to provide a reversing section for reversing the recording paper for recording on both sides, in such a manner as to avoid increase in size of the device, reversing rollers 14 are provided over the rear part of the paper cassette 3, and a reversing path 15 is formed at the back of the paper cassette 3. The recording paper 2 having passed the reversing rollers 14 enters the reversing path 15. Additional reversing path 16 is provided under the paper cassette 3, and the recording paper 2 moves from the reversing path 15 into the reversing path 16.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet feeding unit, for an image forming apparatus, provided with a sheet stacking means for stacking the sheets for image formation, an external cover surrounding the perimeter of the sheet stacking means, and a substantially vertical reversal path provided at a side of the sheet stacking means and serving for sheet reversing, the unit comprises a slit-shaped aperture provided in the external cover substantially horizontally and an inclined path connecting the slit-shaped aperture and the lower end of the reversal path, whereby the sheet dropping into the reversal path for example by the jammed sheet disposal in the image forming unit is smoothly discharged to the exterior of the unit and is prevented from remaining in the reversal path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of processing sheet media such as document sheets to be duplex scanned or media sheets on which two sided printing is to take place includes automatic positioning of an active sheet guide gate and drag clutch by the rotation of a transport roller with which the active gate and drag clutch is frictionally engaged. The transport roller may comprise one or more coaxial rollers in an assembly positioned in the media path and is rotatable in different directions such that the leading edge of a moving media sheet is moved through one or the other of two nips defined between the transport roller assembly and associated upper and lower pinch rollers. The direction of rotation of the transport roller assembly can be reversed before the sheet leaves the nip to thus re-position the sheet guide gate and re-route the sheet back in a desired path to a scanner or printer for further sheet processing.

Abstract: An information detection apparatus and information detection method for processing recording media to ascertain validity of checks and other negotiable instruments and print as necessary on the recording media. The information detection apparatus for processing recording media comprises in sequence along transportation path 1009 from the insertion opening 1006 a recording medium transportation mechanism 1003, printing mechanism 1004, and reading mechanism 1005. When a recording medium 1008 is transported by transportation mechanism 1003 along transportation path 1009 to a predetermined position, the check is positioned between presser roller 1051 and a detector 1052 of reading mechanism 1005. Presser roller 1051 then presses recording medium 1008 against detector 1052 while transportation mechanism 1003 pulls the recording medium and particular information recorded to the recording medium is detected. This operation straightens wrinkles and removes slack from recording medium 1008 to reduce reading errors.

Abstract: A medium handling apparatus for conveying a continuous elongated ticket sheet formed of a plurality of tickets extending along a length of the ticket sheet. Each of the tickets has a given width extending transverse to the length of the ticket sheet and is connected to a contiguous ticket by a line of perforations. The apparatus includes a hopper accommodating the ticket sheet folded along the lines of perforations separating the tickets, feed rollers for conveying the ticket sheet, a feed guide interposed between the hopper and the feed rollers, and a load member attached to the feed guide facing a surface of the ticket sheet. The load member introduces a frictional resistance between the ticket sheet and the load member as the ticket sheet is conveyed to the feed rollers.

Abstract: A collating device for sheet material comprises a collating station (1) having a pair of guide members (8, 10) for receiving sheets to be collated through an opening (9) therebetween, first conveyor means (3) for conveying sheets consecutively into the collating station and second conveyor means (5) for conveying a collated stack of sheets out of the collating station, support means (12) biased towards a position for supporting sheets in the collating station away from the second conveyor means, and an actuator member (14) movable to urge a collated stack of sheets towards the second conveyor means against the bias of the support means.

Abstract: A shunt is described for reversing the direction of conveyance of a document or the like. The document is accepted by a front-end roller and supplied to a reversing roller. As soon as the trailing rear edge of the document has left the front-end roller, the direction of rotation of the reversing roller is reversed and this guides the document, with the rear edge leading, to an output roller which is disposed offset in height relative to the front-end roller and outputs the document in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A sheet transport device is provided with a sheet inverting mechanism for retracting a sheet transported along a main transport route into a switchback route to invert the sheet transport direction and returning the sheet into the main transport route to turn the side of the sheet. The sheet transport device has a pair of sheet guides adapted in contact with respective opposite ends of the sheet set on a sheet setting portion to prevent a skew transport of the sheet. The sheet temporarily brought onto the sheet setting portion during a switchback operation from the switchback route is guided between of the sheet guides on the sheet setting portion. During the temporal appearance on the sheet setting portion, the opposite ends of the sheet are aligned by the respective sheet guides. Thereby, securely prevented is an occurrence of a skew transport state of the sheet during the switchback operation.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which discharged sheets can be easily distinguished, and which has a reduced number of parts and can be economically produced. The apparatus has: a discharge tray unit which receives a sheet on which an image is formed; a fifth conveying path which guides a sheet from an image forming section to the discharge tray unit so as to place the sheet on the discharge tray unit with downward directing the image forming face; a first conveying path which guides the sheet from the image forming section to the discharge tray unit so as to place the sheet on the discharge tray unit with reversing the sheet to a direction opposite to the direction of the image forming face; and switching means for switching over the fifth conveying path and the first conveying path.

Abstract: A low cost inverter apparatus of includes a dual positionable, multi-function gate and a stationary baffle that guides sheets toward catch or output trays or work in conjunction with reversible rolls to direct the sheets into a duplex path. The dual positionable gate and stationary baffle have points thereon that are positioned to use the beam strength of the sheets to align the sheets with a duplex nip that feeds the sheet into the duplex path.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device including a pair of rollers to convey a sheet impinged against a nip portion of the pair of rollers. Also included is a driving device which drives the pair of rollers to rotate in either a forward direction or a reverse direction, a sheet detecting device which detects the sheet inserted into the nip portion, and a controller which controls the pair of rollers to rotate in the forward direction after rotating the pair of rollers in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount of rotation, when the sheet is inserted into the nip portion of the pair of rollers.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) in which documents which are deposited are oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98) when a user subsequently requests a dispense of documents. Documents are selectively picked from the storage areas and delivered to the customer. Media gates (116, 118, 120, 122) are used to selectively direct documents between remote transport segments (108, 110, 112, 114) and canister delivery transports (124, 126, 128, 130). The media gates operate by selectively directing documents through an intersection (421) in engagement with transversely offset belt flights (396, 422).

Abstract: A sheet transport device is provided with a sheet inverting mechanism for performing a switchback operation in which a sheet transported along a main transport route enters a switchback route, and the sheet transport direction is inverted in the switchback route to return the sheet to the main transport route so as to turn the side of the sheet. A registration roller pair is disposed near the junction between the main transport route and the switchback route. The sheet inverting mechanism is operated in such a manner that the sheet transport is temporarily suspended until a skew correctable portion that enables correction of a skew transport state of the sheet is formed at a lead end of the sheet in the exiting direction from the switchback route after the lead end of the sheet comes into contact with the registration roller pair. Thus, the skew transport state of the sheet which is liable to occur during the switchback operation is corrected.

Abstract: A sheet convey apparatus comprises first convey means for conveying a sheet, second convey means for pinching and conveying the sheet conveyed by the first convey means, and a drive rotary member shiftable between a first position where the first convey means is driven by the drive rotary member and a second position where the second convey means is driven by the drive rotary member. After a tip end of the sheet conveyed by the first convey means is abutted against a nip of the second convey means to correct skew-feed of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed by the second convey means.

Abstract: A printer having a facility for manually directing a printing medium along a printing medium path. The printer includes an external housing, a drive roller arranged about an axis of rotation for feeding a printing medium through a processing zone of the printer, a control member arranged about an axis of rotation, and movable between a first axial position in which the control member protrudes from said external housing so as to be manually actuable, and a second axial position in which the control member is retracted relative to the first axial position, and a coupling mechanism selectively coupling the control member and the feed roller to translate rotational movement of the control member into rotational movement of the feed roller, said coupling mechanism being engaged when the control member is in the first axial position and disengaged when the control member is in the second axial position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism including a pick apparatus for selectively moving a sheet of media from a stack. A kicker is disclosed in several embodiments and serves to retain media on the stack. In a first embodiment, a cam is coupled to the pick apparatus for deflecting the kicker from the first position at which it retains media on the stack to a second position at which paper is allowed to move through the mechanism. In a particular implementation of the first illustrative embodiment, the mechanism includes a frame and a shaft mounted on the frame for rotational movement relative thereto. The pick apparatus includes a pick tire mounted on the shaft and adapted to rotate therewith. The kicker is mounted on the frame for retaining media on the stack in a first position. The cam is adapted to deflect the kicker during a first portion of a rotational cycle and to release the kicker when the cam is in a second rotational position.

Abstract: Selectable inverting or folding of various sizes of sheets in various fold positions is provided with an integral dual mode inverting or folding apparatus including a sheet inverting chute for receiving and guiding a sheet therein and having both an input and an intermediate aperture; and a reversible servo driven sheet drive in the chute downstream of the intermediate aperture. A sheet fed into the chute for inversion is reverse driven back to the chute input. A sheet fed into the chute for folding is instead stopped at the desired folding position by the servo drive and reverse driven out of the intermediate aperture into a sheet folding nip, preferably with the assistance of a blade member moved through the intermediate aperture to buckle and push that portion of the sheet adjacent to the intermediate aperture into the sheet folding nip.

Abstract: An active switching mechanism is used for diverting paper sheets from a first area (A) to either possible paths (ab or ac). The sheets along the first path (ab) can be directly conveyed to a second area (B), and the sheets along the second path (ac) can be directed through a passive switching mechanism (4) to a third area (C), the direction of the moving sheets being reversed through a reversing mechanism, thereby enabling said sheets to be conveyed in the reverse direction from the third area (C) along a third path (cb) to the second area (B), using a passive switching device (4).

Abstract: A paper advance mechanism which minimizes the size of a printer includes a printer head and a platen disposed below the printer head and separated from the printer head by a gap. A first channel defined by the platen and a chassis is in the form of an arc for guiding a sheet from a paper cassette to advance along the chassis and towards the printer head while the platen is rotating in a first direction. A pair of driving rollers is disposed close to the gap for controlling the moving direction of the sheet. A second channel in communication with the first channel guides the sheet from the first channel, and a third channel in communication with and horizontally aligned with the second channel guides the sheet from the second channel to a paper exit opening. The printer had prints on the sheet when the sheet is advancing from the second channel to the third channel. After printing is finished, the sheet is fed back to the second channel for retrieval.

Abstract: The sheet feeding device comprises a frame with a fixed receptacle for the sheets and pick-up rollers mounted on a first shaft which is pivotingly fitted on the frame by means of a rocking support device. A second shaft is linked to a motor and bears, by means of two pivotingly mounted support members, the first shaft and the rollers. Two pinions integral with the shafts and an intermediate pinion provided with a braking member allow the rollersto be brought into rotation starting from the shaft. Accordingly, the latter commands rotation of the entire support device and presses the rollers against the uppermost sheet with a surface force which increases when the resistance to movement of the uppermost sheet increases. Extremely reliable paper feeding operation is achieved as a result, with a simple construction method and at low cost.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism for a digitizing scanner particularly adapted to feed transparent and translucent film sheets provides two pairs of feed rollers each located on an opposing side of the scanner camera's image line. A tray for supporting a feed stack is provided. The tray pivots into and out of engagement with a pick roll at predetermined times during the feed cycle. The pick roll rotates to feed the top sheet of the stack into the feed rollers. The top sheet must climb a curved stripper that resists downstream movement of the next sheets in the stack. A pair of edge sensors are located upstream of the upstream feed rollers and downstream of the downstream feed rollers. The sensors sense, respectively, the trail edge and the lead edge of the sheet, respectively and enable a central processing unit to automatically determine the length of the sheet. The sheet can, thereby, be reversed and scanned fully over its entire length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet original conveying apparatus having an original reverse apparatus and in which originals stacked on a tray are separated one by one by a separation means and a separated original is supplied to a reading portion for reading an image. It comprises a first convey path provided at a downstream side of the separation means in a supplying direction to direct the supplied original to the reading portion, a second convey path branched from the first convey path to direct the supplied original to the reading portion after a travelling direction of the original is reversed in a travel reverse portion, and a switching means disposed at a branched area between the first and second convey paths to switch the first and second convey paths from one to the other.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism including a pick apparatus for selectively moving a sheet of media from a stack. The invention is a counter rotating roll design that uses staggered and nested rolls to achieve separation. The invention includes a separator roll mounted on a first shaft between first and second `D` shaped pick tires mounted on a second shaft. A kicker is mounted on the first shaft along with the separation roll. The kicker flexes as it engages the stack when the shaft is rotated and, after it has rotated around, pushes media remaining on the separation roll back onto the stack.

Abstract: A both-face automatic original feeding apparatus wherein a plurality of originals having images on their first and second surfaces are successively supplied from an original stacking portion to a predetermined position for reading an original, and each original is reversely rotated through a switch-back path after the first surface of the original passes through the predetermined position, thereby supplying the original to the predetermined position again to direct the second surface of the original to the predetermined position.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes first and second registration rollers for abutting the leading end of an original conveyed along a conveying path against their contact positions. The first registration roller is included in a plurality of reversing rollers arranged apart from each other along an axis of a supporting shaft of each of the reversing rollers. The reversing roller turn over the original along a reversing path that bypasses a part of the conveying path. There is provided a reversal guiding member arranged so as to cover a region between the adjacent reversing rollers. The reversal guiding member has guide surfaces curved along the peripheral surfaces of the reversing rollers as viewed along the axis of the supporting shaft. The reversal of the original is guided along the reversing path by the guide surfaces.

Abstract: Provide a composite processing device and its control method capable of reliably bringing the recording medium in contact with the information detector using a simple configuration and separately configuring the insertion member and exit member for the recording medium. MICR head 33 which comes in contact with check paper P and detects the information recorded thereon, and presser roller 34 for pressing check paper P against MICR head 33 are provided. Presser roller 34 can release the pressure against MICR head 33. Insertion rollers 23, 24, slip center rollers 21, 22 and ejection rollers 19, 20 are provided for moving check paper P back and forth. Slip center rollers 21, 22 are disposed near the entry side of reader unit 32. After check paper P is inserted and form fed by transporting in the direction of arrow F, presser roller 34 presses check paper P against MICR head 33 and transports it in the direction of arrow B to perform reading.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a photographic image forming device which has a print part, such as an inkjet. A non-stationary sheet pick device pushes the separated sheet out of the paper tray in an upward angle. Then the separated sheet is pushed towards a sheet feeding roller which in turn forces the sheet through a radius, so that the trailing edge never touches the roller. Then the roller reverses the rotation direction and pushes the sheet backwards. A sheet path control device forces the sheet into a new paper path direction, onto the print table and towards the final sheet advance roller. Forcing the sheet through a radius and providing a paper path which wraps around the print mechanism enables miniaturization of the entire device.

Abstract: A suction-air control device for controlling suction air applied to suction openings of a printing-press cylinder, having controllable valves by which the suction openings are connectable to a suction-air source, and a first pneumatic control device for timed or cyclically feeding the suction air, includes a second pneumatic control device for controlling the suction air in a manner dependent upon the format of the printing substrate, the valves being pneumatically controllable and being disposed on the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for unstacking and opening envelopes from a stack of envelopes is provided. The device includes a frame having a receptacle area for receiving the stack. At least one, but preferably two, endless belts are located at the bottom of the receptacle area for extracting an envelope from the bottom of the stack, the flap of the envelope folded and oriented upwardly and in a forward direction. At least one set, but preferably two sets, of cooperating drive rollers rotating in opposite directions are arranged such that the extracted envelope can pass therebetween. The drive rollers move the extracted envelope in a feed direction dependent on the direction of drive roller rotation. A fixed wedge-shaped deflector is located downstream from the drive rollers and is arranged at an angle relative to the forward feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus has a conveying path for directing sheet materials supported on a supporting portion one by one to an image processing position and also directing them to a discharging portion after the completion of image processing, and a reversing path for containing a predetermined number of sheet materials therein, and reversing the sheet materials and directing them to the image processing position. When the interval between the predetermined number of sheet materials to be directed into the reversing path widens to such an extent that the sheet materials cannot be contained in the reversing path, preceding one of the sheet materials is decelerated or stopped in conformity with the widening to enable the predetermined number of sheets to be contained in the reversing path.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying device, sheets having of various width sizes can be adjusted to sheet conveyance reference of a regulating device without moving the regulating device in the lateral direction of a sheet. An image forming apparatus uses two kinds or sheets of different width sizes (the LTR-size and the A4-size). The regulating device is fixed to a position where an LTR-size sheet can be regulated. When performing switchback conveyance of an A4-size sheet, switchback conveying devices convey the sheet while moving it toward the sheet conveyance reference of the regulating device by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Documents to be imaged which lie one upon another in a prescribed order of page on an automatic document feeding device are automatically fed one by one to a scanning reference position defined in an image scanning position of an image processing device and discharged, after being imaged, to a discharge tray in the same order of page as those initially stacked. The document sent out from the image scanning position to a delivery passage after being imaged is sent back to the document scanning position through a return passage to be turned over. When the document being sent back is introduced into the image scanning position by the longitudinal size of the document, document transporting means is reversed to discharge the document, thereby to shorten the time required to discharge the document from the image scanning position to the discharge tray through a document discharge passage.

Abstract: A paper feed unit of a printer which includes a hopper on which a large number of sheets of recording paper can be stacked. A paper feed roller comes into contact with a portion of the uppermost sheet of paper on the hopper. A separating pad is opposed to the paper feed roller wherein the sheet of paper passes between the paper feed roller and the separating pad when the paper feed roller is normally rotated and the second and after sheets of paper are restricted by the separating pad. A mechanism is provided for rotating the paper feed roller forwardly and reversely. The printer determines completion of a printing operation and controls the mechanism for rotating based on a printing command. The reverse rotating is controlled to rotate the paper feed roller by a predetermined number of revolutions when the printing command is not given to the successive sheet of paper after a predetermined period of time has passed from completion of the printing operation conducted on an arbitrary sheet of paper.

Abstract: A compact printer has a sheet feeder positioned at its front wall and electrophotographic components arranged along a sheet moving path for receiving a sheet from the sheet feeder and for exposing, developing, then transferring a toner image onto the sheet. At its rear side, the printer has an image fixing unit and a discharge portion for discharging the sheet to a side output tray or onto the top wall of the printer. The discharge portion is provided with a detachably hinged, sheet turning apparatus when it is desired to discharge sheets onto the top wall, or with a detachably hinged cover with a rear opening to discharge sheets onto a rear side output tray.