Abstract: A method of processing print jobs includes receiving two or more print jobs and organizing the two or more print jobs into one or more job groups that have modifiable group attributes. The method also includes organizing the one or more job groups into one or more group packages that have modifiable package attributes. The method further includes printing at least one of the group packages. A graphical user interface and a printing system are operative to perform the method.

Abstract: This is a marking system, either electrostatic or non-electrostatic marking system that directs both single and sets of media to a common stacker. This invention provides a way or path 1 to send media sheets directly to the stacker without going through the compiler. Compiling stations do not stack unfinished sheets well. An additional media path 2 is added to send sheets directly to the compiler for making into sets, and then to the stacker to be stacked with the single media sheets of path 1.

Abstract: An image reading unit which is capable of optimally reading images from both reflective originals and transparent originals. A first rod lens array 15 collects reflected light from a reflective original that reflects light. A first photoelectric conversion element array 14 reads an image of the reflective original based on the reflected light collected by the first rod lens array 15. A second rod lens array 202 collects light transmitted through a transparent original that transmits light. A second photoelectric conversion element array 201 reads an image of the transparent original based on the transmitted light collected by the second rod lens array 202. The first photoelectric conversion element array 14 is mounted on a first substrate 16. The second photoelectric conversion element array 201 is mounted on a second substrate 203.

Abstract: This is a baffle used in a transfer station of an electrophotographic marking system. The baffle has a series of air passages that, when these passages are opened, they apply pressure to a sheet of paper and push it upward against a belt or drum surface of a photoreceptor or photoconductor. The toner imaged photoreceptor then transfers the image to the paper that is in contact with it. From the transfer station, the paper with the transferred image is then moved to the fuser station where the image is fused to the paper. The baffle with air passages does not scratch the photoconductor surface as do the prior art systems. Also, the baffle has a much longer useful life than the more costly lift finger transfer blades previously used. A controller senses when a sheet enters the transfer station, senses the paper size, then activates a number of air passages to match the paper size.

Abstract: A document reader includes an exterior panel covering a region of a document feed path including a second image read position from outside. The document reader also includes a first open/close member forming a region of the exterior panel including a portion opposed to the image read position. The document reader further includes a second open/close member positioned inwardly of the first open/close member to define a region of the document feed path including the image read position. The first and second open/close members are supported at respective different fulcrums for opening/closing movement about respective shafts extending perpendicularly to the document feed direction, thereby shielding the second image read position from extraneous light.

Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus, having a simple structure, in which variation in a load imposed on paper is reduced to suppress printing irregularities, and also a printer are provided. A pair of rollers of a second conveying apparatus, arranged at a predetermined interval away from a first conveying apparatus, are composed of a rotationally-driven driving roller and a driven roller which is trailingly rotated, with paper being gripped between the driving roller and the driven roller. The pairs of rollers of the second conveying apparatus are arranged in different positions along the paper conveying direction. The paper gripping pressure of the pair of driving rollers arranged on the upstream side along the paper conveying direction is set to be lower than that of the other pairs of driving rollers.

Abstract: A safe and space-saving image formation device that reduces, with a simpler configuration, generation of abnormal images by blockage, skewing, etc. by the document image reading device, that has an interior of the internal paper ejection unit with a larger space, has satisfactory operability for removing the recording medium, has improved maintenance characteristics, for example, unit replacement and adjustment, and/or that has improved external product quality.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of normally performing second side printing on a transfer material, even if the transfer material put on standby after completion of first side printing is pulled out by a user. A transfer material having image formed on its first side is fed until it is partly exposed to the outside of a printer, and is then fed to a refeeding path in the printer and further fed to a standby position prior to image formation on the second side of the transfer material. When it is detected that the transfer material caused to stop at the standby position is pulled out by a user, a warning to stop pulling out the transfer material is given to the user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer body having a developing portion and a fixing portion therein; a plurality of sheet feeding rollers successively disposed along a sheet discharge path of the printer body and driven to discharge a sheet from fixing portion to an upper portion of the printer body; and a rear cover portion having a rear cover provided on a side of the printer body to open and close, a guide rib member to guide the sheet from the fixing portion, an idle roller to rotate in contact with one of the sheet feeding rollers to feed the sheet, and a supplementary guide member to change a position thereof when the rear cover is open to prevent the sheet being discharged to the guide rib member from running into the idle roller.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a first path extending from a feeding tray to a scanning module, a second path extending from the scanning module to a reversing roller unit, and a third path extending from the reversing roller unit to an intermediate portion of the first path. A document is moved from the feeding tray onto the reversing roller unit via the first and second paths for a first scanning. Just before the document is moved through the second path, the reversing roller unit is driven to allow the document to move therethrough. Subsequently, the document is reversed on the reversing roller unit to move through a looped passage defined by the third path, a portion of the first path downstream of the intermediate portion, and the second path for a second scanning. The reversing roller unit is operable to allow two opposite edges of the document to move thereon in different directions.

Abstract: A registration and measurement system for a printing machine includes two drive rollers and two opposing idler rollers. Each drive roller and idle roller combination respectively form a drive nip. A single servo or stepper motor is operably connected to the drive rollers through a gear train, allowing the motor to drive the sheet feeding nips. A rotary encoder is attached to each idler roller. Optical sensors are provided above a desired sheet path. The optical sensors and the rotary encoders are connected to a controller and are operable to deliver output signals to the controller. The controller is operable to determine the length of a sheet passing through the nips based upon the signals received from the optical sensors and the rotary encoders.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which not only judges the occurrence of multiple feeding with a high accuracy, but also can identify later the location of occurrence of the multiple feeding even if the document reading operation is continued after detecting the occurrence of a multiple feeding. The detection device (the detecting and reading section 53) detects the information storage media attached to the documents which are being fed one sheet at a time by the automatic document feeder 20 and from which the images are being read out. The determining section 56 detects based on the result of this detection the occurrence of multiple feeding in which a plural number of sheets of the document are conveyed in an overlapping state. The information recording section 54 writes the multiple feeding information, indicating that a multiple feeding has occurred, in the information recording medium of the document that was judged to have been fed in an overlapping state.

Abstract: Time information indicates time required for reflecting a speed control indicating value actually on the rotation speed of the motor, the speed control indicating value being read by a motor driving part and then, being reflected on the rotation speed of the motor by the motor driving part. the speed control indicating value is generated based on the time information and the rotation speed information. The speed control indicating value is read at a period which is based on the time information for actually driving the motor.

Abstract: To provide a printer capable of minimizing the effect of a wrapping member, which is used for wrapping a recording form around a photoconductor, on image quality and realizing high image quality printing, a conveying roller 6, wrapping roller 8, and transfer units 36a and 36b are arranged so that a line La connecting a center Ca of a roller 38a and a transfer point Ta and a line Lb connecting a center Cb of a roller 38b and a transfer point Tb are inclined to a central line A-A and are almost symmetric to the central line A-A. When the wrapping width W of the form around belt photoconductors 32a and 32b is specified to 5 mm?W?25 mm, even when a wrapping roller is not arranged between printing units 30a and 30b, a fixed wrapping width of the form S around the belt photoconductors 32a and 32b is reserved.

Abstract: A print system capable of printing more quickly, printing and observing images more in the order of completion of transfer of the image data, and also reducing the generation of waste of recording sheets even in a case that printing of the image is canceled in the middle of the image printing, compared with the conventional method. In the system including at least two image data outputting apparatuses and one printer for printing images based on the image data transferred from the at least two image data outputting apparatuses, when the image data is transferred from each image data outputting apparatuses, the printing preparation of the recording sheet is started at a timing so that it is completed upon completion of the image data transfer, based on the time required for transfer of the image data and printing preparation time required for the printing preparation of the recording sheet.

Abstract: The system and method facilitate the control and management of information and actions related to the computerized scanning, categorization, processing, storage, and retrieval of paper documents and electronic document images for the purposes of creating electronic data; data entry; data capture; data classification and categorization; and document-, file-, and records-management. The systems and methods facilitate the conversion of paper documents into electronic images and into more useful forms.

Abstract: A belt driving mechanism related to the present invention includes: a toothed drive pulley configure to rotate actively; a toothed driven pulley configured to rotate passively; a toothed belt configured to engage with the toothed drive pulley and the toothed driven pulley by tooth on an inner circumference thereof; and an elastic member configured to move the toothed belt in a returning direction by an elastic force accumulated while the toothed drive pulley moves the toothed belt in a going direction, wherein at least one of the toothed belt, the toothed drive pulley, and the toothed driven pulley is formed such that at least one of tooth bottoms is shallower than at least other one of the tooth bottoms.

Abstract: A recording medium feeding device includes: a delivery roller provided so as to abut on a surface of recording media and for delivering the recording media to a downstream side in a direction of conveyance of the recording media in accordance with the rotation of the delivery roller; a separation member provided on the downstream side with respect of the delivery roller; and a feed roller provided opposite to the separation member to sandwich the recording media delivered by the delivery roller with the separation member, the feed roller rotating for separating and conveying the recording media one by one, wherein a diameter of the feed roller is larger than a diameter of the delivery roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image forming part configured to form an image on a recording medium, a feed part for feeding the recording medium, a manual feed part for manually feeding the recording medium, and a shutter member configured to open and close a manual feed opening from the manual feed part. The shutter member is provided so as to be swingable.

Abstract: A disk having one or more indentations is configured at one end of a driving shaft and has interaction with an extension arm configured at a corresponding end of a switch shaft for switching the medium conveying route in an image system. When the driving shaft drives the disk to rotate along different directions, the indentation on the disk provides the extension arm room for the disk to guide the extension arm to switch its position between a first position and a second position. A plurality of switch gates on the switch shaft also switch to different positions corresponding to the extension arm such that the conveying route of a medium can be switched between a first route and a second route.

Abstract: An improved system and method for tracking and managing documents in a high throughput document printing line comprising a printing means, a sensor means and a processing means. The printing means prints a desired invisible symbology and visible text on a document fed to it. The clear printing toner is fused with an invisible marker. The invisible symbology is printed on the document using the invisible marker. The sensor means is capable of reading the invisible symbology printed on the document. The sensor means communicates the sensor readings to a processing means. The processing means receives the sensor readings from the sensor means and correlates the sensor readings with data identifying a plurality of projects thereby determining the appropriate project to which the printed document belongs.

Abstract: A processing unit performs a predetermined processing on a sheet in a process of carrying the sheet. A home-position detecting unit detects a home position of a moving member of the processing unit by detecting a part of the moving member using a detecting unit. The home-position detecting unit sets in advance a detection range for recognizing the home position, and when a part to detect the home position is detected in a state in which the moving member is stopped, sets a detection position as the home position by assuming that the detection position is in the detection range without moving the moving member once out of a detection range of the detecting unit.

Abstract: The extensible document system is a system for making documents, which can be increased in size by adding new sheets within the body of the document, comprising: a plurality of sheets, each sheet with at one or more coated edges, and one or more temporary fastening means to affix the sheets together to form a single larger sheet. The coating provided on the surface makes the surface resistant to deterioration when an adhesively attached object is detached.

Abstract: A paper-discharging guide unit for guiding a printing paper to be discharged outside a wet electrophotographic image forming apparatus and for absorbing volatile organic compound gases soaked in the printing paper comprises a guide frame forming a discharge passage for the printing paper, a plurality of guide ribs formed in pairs of slanted lines symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the discharge direction of the printing paper of the guide frame inside the guide frame and guiding the printing paper, and an air-absorbing portion disposed below the guide frame and absorbing air from a plurality of spaces between the guide frame and the plurality of guide ribs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation without transfer deviations or rumples, including a loop amount sensor which includes a light emitting device irradiating a sheet material P passing between conveyance guide members with a light beam at a predetermined angle (?) with respect to an optical base level, a light receiving device is provided with a light receiving surface receiving the reflected light beam of the light emitting device having been reflected from the sheet material P and a loop amount calculating portion calculating a loop amount of the sheet material by a triangulation method based on an arrival point Q3 of the reflected light beam received by the light receiving device on the light receiving surface, and the sensor detects the loop amount of the sheet material P based on a calculation result of the loop amount calculating portion

Abstract: In a recording medium output apparatus that is assembled to an image forming apparatus and outputs a sheet-like recording medium being transported onto a stack tray on which recording media are stacked, the recording medium output apparatus includes an output unit and a drive unit. The output unit is free to move in a recording medium width direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium being transported and outputs the recording medium toward the stack tray at a position higher than that of the stack tray, and the drive unit moves the output unit in the recording medium width direction before and after the trail edge of the recording medium to be output from the output unit leaves the output unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section for transferring a toner image onto a sheet; a fixing section for fixing the toner image on the sheet; and a reversing section for reversing the sheet front and back. A first pair of rollers conveys a sheet to which a fix processing is applied to the reversing section; a second pair of rollers feeds the sheet from the reversing section by reverse rotation; and a third pair of rollers transfers the sheet back to the image forming section so that an image forming is performed with respect to the back side of the sheet. One roller of the second pair of rollers has on its outer peripheral surface an arc-shaped surface and a non-arc-shaped surface receding inwardly from a circle drawn continuously from the arc-shaped surface.

Abstract: An image arranging device arranging an image in a predetermined region, includes: a regulation obtaining section that obtains an arrangement regulation of the image in the region; and a data obtaining section that obtains print image data which represents a print image to be printed on a print medium and in which a finish size of a printed matter is designated. The device further includes: a protrusion removal section that, regarding the print image represented by the print image data obtained by the data obtaining section, obtains an image portion protruding from the finish size designated by the print image data and removes the obtained image portion; and an image arranging section that, regarding the print image represented by the print image data, arranges an image portion remaining after the removal by the protrusion removal section in the region according to the arrangement regulation obtained by the regulation obtaining section.

Abstract: An intergrated printing system is provided that includes at least two substantially horizontially aligned printing modules including an entrance media path and an exit media path; and at least one interface media transport including at least two substantially horizontal media transport paths, wherein the horizontal media transport paths are positioned vertically relative to each other to provide upper and lower horizontal media transport paths and the horizontal media transport paths transport paths are positioned vertically relative to each other to provide upper and lower horizontal media transport paths and the horizontal media transport paths transport media to the horizontally aligned printing module. The integrated printing system also provides for a horizontal media transport path to transport media to the horizontally aligned printing module in a direction that passes the exit path of one of the horizontally aligned printing modules before passing the entrance media path of the other printing module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing sheets in a machine that preferably processes sheets by graphic means, in particular for a printing machine, preferably for an electrophotographically operating machine, comprising at least one deposit tray for depositing and preferably also for stacking processed sheets. Furthermore, the invention relates to a deposit tray for a device of the aforementioned type. The object of the invention is to provide a device or a deposit tray of the aforementioned type, which permits a controlled depositing and stacking of sheets, in particular, at greater sheet-processing speeds, and, preferably, in a cost-effective manner. In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in that a deposit surface of the deposit tray is arranged, or can be arranged, at an angle that deviates from the horizontal.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a base coupled to a copying device and a printing device. A feed mechanism is provided which is operable to couple to the base in one of either a first position or a second position, whereby the feed mechanism is operable to feed a document to the copying device in the first position and the feed mechanism is operable to manipulate a printing medium to allow the printing device to print to a plurality of sides of the printing medium in the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part, a sheet discharge part, and a sheet stack part. The image reading part has a front surface located on a downstream side in a discharge direction of a sheet relative to a front of the sheet stack part. The sheet stack part includes a first stacker surface provided on an upstream side in the discharge direction and including a surface having a slope extending upward in the discharge direction and a second stacker surface formed adjacent to the first stacker surface and sloping less steeply upward in the discharge direction than the slope of the first stacker surface with a boundary between the first stacker surface and the second stacker surface located at a rear of the front surface of the image reading part.

Abstract: A sheet folding device has a releasable clutch between a roll driving device and a pair of folding rolls for folding a sheet bunch so that when a folding blade inserts the sheet bunch to a nip position on the pair of folding rolls, the first and second folding rolls rotate following the inserted sheets. The sheet folding device includes a guide for holding the sheet bunch at a predetermined fold position. The first and second folding rolls arranged at the fold position are in pressure contact with each other. The folding blade inserts the sheet bunch supported on the guide to the nip position on the first and second folding rolls. The roll driving device rotationally drives the first and second folding rolls. The first and second folding rolls and the roll driving device are coupled together via the releasable clutch.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance unit that conveys plural single cut-sheet recording media arrayed along a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction; and an image forming unit that forms an image on the plural single cut-sheet recording media conveyed by the conveyance unit.

Abstract: Hard imaging devices and hard imaging methods are described. According to one embodiment, a hard imaging device includes an image engine configured to provide a marking agent upon media to form hard images, and a media sensing system configured to sense the media and to provide at least one signal comprising information indicative of a direction of grain of the media responsive to the sensing of the media, and processing circuitry configured to receive the at least one signal provided by the media sensing system and to control an operation of the hard imaging device using the information indicative of the direction of the grain of the media of the at least one signal.

Abstract: A waiting tray comprises left and right lower face support members for supporting both sides of a sheet and a distal end lower face support member for supporting a distal end lower face, wherein, even if a sheet is easily bent, the sheet is reliably retained on the waiting tray, and when a standby state of the sheet is released, release of the support of the left and right lower face support members and release of the support of the distal end lower face support member are carried out.

Abstract: The present invention holds the source document feeding direction downstream edge of a printed sheet ejected above a source document feed tray by means of a top ejection platform functioning as a printed sheet holding section in an area apart from source document feed rollers functioning as a source document feeding section. As a result, a printed sheet ejected onto top ejection platform is not fed automatically by source document feed rollers. Therefore, a printed sheet that has undergone image formation can be ejected without obstruction above source document feed tray of an automatic document feeder, checking and removal of a printed sheet are facilitated, and convenience is improved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating media indexing errors in a printing device are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding a calibration media through a printing device, sensing the position of the media as it moves through the printing device, sensing positions of a media indexing component as the media moves through the printing device, determining media indexing position errors based upon the sensed positions, and calculating a compensation factor to be applied based upon the errors. In some embodiments, parameters of a line and/or other function are determined from the error data and the parameters are utilized to calculate a compensation factor. Moreover, in some embodiments, it is determined what range the data fits within, and a predetermined compensation factor is determined based upon the range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bidirectional media sheet transport apparatus. The transport apparatus comprises one or more belt driven bidirectional nip assemblies aligned to transport one or more media sheets along a bidirectional path. In addition, disclosed are belt tensioning devices to apply multiple tension forces to a belt operatively engaging the one or more bidirectional nip assemblies. Also disclosed is a bidirectional baffle apparatus to enable bidirectional travel of a media sheet from one module to another module.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet storing portion configured to store a conveyed sheet, a folding portion configured to fold a sheet, and a controller configured to control the folding portion. The controller controls a folding operation of the folding portion according to information on a sheet fiber orientation relative to a sheet folding direction.

Abstract: An image forming system has a sheet deck assembly, an image forming apparatus, and a feeding buffering apparatus with plural feeding buffer trays for temporarily storing sheets of printing paper fed from plural printing paper decks of the sheet deck assembly. The feeding buffering apparatus feeds the temporarily stored sheets to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a separating pad, a feed motor, a conveying roller pair, and a deformation prevention member. The sheet tray loads sheets including first and second sheets. The feed roller picks up and feeds the first and second sheets. The separating pad separates the first sheet from the second sheet together with the feed roller. The feed motor drives the feed roller. The conveying roller pair is provided downstream from the feed roller in a sheet conveyance direction, and feeds the first sheet fed by the feed roller. The deformation prevention member prevents deformation of a head of the second sheet caused by the feed roller and the separating pad nipping the second sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of normally performing second side printing on a transfer material, even if the transfer material put on standby after completion of first side printing is pulled out by a user. A transfer material having image formed on its first side is fed until it is partly exposed to the outside of a printer, and is then fed to a refeeding path in the printer and further fed to a standby position prior to image formation on the second side of the transfer material. When it is detected that the transfer material caused to stop at the standby position is pulled out by a user, a warning to stop pulling out the transfer material is given to the user.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus according to the invention includes a first stator in which plural belt-like electrodes are arranged in a surface of an insulator at predetermined intervals in a sheet conveying direction; a second stator in which plural belt-like electrodes are arranged in a surface of an insulator at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction; a power supply which applies at least two types of voltages to the electrodes of each of the stators; and control unit which controls the at least two types of the voltages while switching the voltages applied to the electrodes of each of the stator from the power supply, wherein the first stator and the second stator are caused to face each other to form a sheet conveying path such that the electrodes of the stators are orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a print media rotary transport apparatus and method of operation. The print media transport apparatus comprises a print media rotary path and a print media rotary bypass path, wherein the print media rotary path rotates a print media sheet about an axis orthogonal to the print media sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus according to the invention includes a stator in which many electrode groups are provided in parallel in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, plural belt-like electrodes being provided in parallel at predetermined intervals in the sheet conveying direction; a power supply which applies at least two types of voltages to the electrode groups of the stator; and control unit which controls the voltages while switching the voltages applied to the electrode groups of the stator from the power supply, wherein the control unit controls the voltages while switching the voltages such that the sheet is conveyed in a direction in which the electrodes of the stator are provided in parallel, and the control unit controls a switching period of the voltages such that the switching period is changed in each electrode group to rotate the sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet transport device having: a registration roller to transport a sheet after correcting a skew of the sheet; a drive source to drive the registration roller; a frame body; and a rotation resisting body which is connected to the registration roller on one side and is connected to the frame body on the other side, to create a resisting force against a rotation of the registration roller in a sheet transport direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes first and second conveying units configured to hold and convey a sheet, a first sheet conveying path between the first and second conveying units, and a registration unit to change a positional condition of the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit. In at least one embodiment, the second conveying unit includes a moving and guiding unit and a rotary conveyance unit facing each other and forming a sheet holding section therebetween to hold and convey the sheet, and the moving and guiding unit and the rotary conveyance unit are disposed in the vicinity of the first conveying unit so that a distance between the second conveying unit and the registration unit is relatively increased.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a sheet support is described. Using one or more configurations, the number of parts for the sheet support may be reduced.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a stacking plate for stacking sheets. The stacking plate is movable vertically within a range from a lower limit position to a pick-up position. The stacking plate has a first surface facing the lower limit position and a second surface facing the pick-up position. The paper feeding device also includes a driving device for driving the stacking plate. The paper feeding device has a locking member for locking the staking plate in the lower limit position. The locking member has a deformable section for contact with the second surface of the stacking plate. The deformable section becomes deformed by a driving force applied through the stacking plate as locked in the lower limit position by the driving device, to unlock the stacking plate.