Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a pair of upstream rollers and a pair of downstream rollers each including a drive roller and a driven roller, a calculating unit, and a control unit. The upstream rollers include a measuring unit that obtains speed information of the upstream rollers. The calculating unit calculates a target value based on the speed information. The control unit controls the speed of the drive roller of the downstream rollers based on the target value.

Abstract: In an image scanning apparatus, documents on a document tray are transferred one by one, and an upper surface height of the documents is lowered to turn off a height detection sensor. Different kinds of control modes are performed according to a document scanning mode. In an image-quality-priority scanning mode, a transfer unit suspends transfer of the document, the document tray is elevated until the upper surface height reaches a target height that is higher by a predetermined distance after the height detection sensor is turned on, and the transfer unit resumes the transfer of the document. In a speed-priority scanning mode, while the transfer of the document is continued by the transfer unit, the document tray is elevated until the document tray reaches the target height.

Abstract: A drive unit for changing the driving rate of paper ejection rollers for ejecting sheets of paper after fixing is installed, and an image forming apparatus has an option, and when ejecting the sheets of paper to an intra-body paper ejection unit, after the sheets of paper pass a fixing device, the paper ejection rate of paper ejection rollers 24 is increased, and the ejection force of the sheets of paper P is increased, and paper jamming at the time of paper ejection to the intra-body paper ejection unit is prevented.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention can include a conveying device capable of conveying a recording medium, a support shaft which capable of being movably supported between a medium sensing position near a conveyance path along which the conveying device conveys the recording medium and a retracting position kept away from the medium sensing position, wherein the support shaft is biased to the medium sensing position, a medium sensing member connected to the support shaft and is capable of rotating between a standby position wherein a portion of the support shaft is inside the conveyance path and a detection position wherein a portion of the support shaft is removed from the conveyance path by the recording medium passing along the conveyance path when the support shaft is in the medium sensing position, and a rotation detection device capable of detecting a rotary displacement of the medium sensing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes first and second conveying mechanisms disposed at a predetermined distance, a feeding roller for feeding an output medium for supporting a developer image to a predetermined position capable of holding the developer image, a separation roller, or a conveying roller, a cassette for housing the output medium, and a plurality of sensors capable of detecting a time for conveying the output medium between the cassette and the feeding roller and the separation roller or the conveying roller, and is capable of setting its regulating a mount of an applied pressure regulating mechanism based on the detected results of the respective sensors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, an image forming assembly arranged in the apparatus main body, a sheet tray on which a sheet is to be placed, a conveyance unit detachably insertable into the apparatus main body, provided between the sheet tray and the image forming assembly and adapted to convey the sheet on the sheet tray toward the image forming assembly, an openable and closable cover member provided on a wall of the apparatus main body facing a downstream end of the conveyance unit in a sheet conveying direction, a vertical conveyance path defined at an inner side of the cover member by closing the cover member for further conveying the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit upward, and a locking mechanism for preventing the conveyance unit from being pulled out from the apparatus main body with the cover member closed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of increasing the speed of successively discharging printed printing media in order to increase the overall print speed and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a first discharge roller to feed printed printing medium rearward from a print unit disposed at an inner front portion of a main body, a reverse roller to reverse a moving direction of the printed printing medium fed from the first discharge roller from a rear to a front of the main body, a second discharge roller to discharge the printed printing medium whose moving direction is reversed outside, and an intermediate discharge roller unit which is provided between the first discharge roller and the reverse roller, the intermediate discharge roller unit including a main roller, a sub discharge roller and a sub supply roller which are in contact with the main roller.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a printing engine installed in the image forming apparatus body to print an image on a printing medium supplied to the printing engine, a printing medium supply device coupled to the image forming apparatus body to load the printing medium therein for supplying the printing medium to the printing engine, a pickup device to pick up the printing medium loaded in the printing medium supply device, a conveyance roller to convey the picked-up printing medium to the printing engine via rotation thereof, and a plurality of pressure rollers installed around the conveyance roller to press the printing medium in a normal direction of a surface of the conveyance roller during conveyance of the printing medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a conveyor unit, a printing unit, a data acquiring unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit forms an image based on image data. The conveyor unit conveys a transfer medium onto which the image is to be transferred. The printing unit prints the image onto the transfer medium. The data acquiring unit acquires the image data. The control unit controls the conveyor unit, the printing unit, and the data acquiring unit. The control unit controls the conveyor unit not to feed a transfer medium from a feed tray to the printing unit when a command for printing a second side by double-sided printing is not detected within a predetermined time after detecting a command for printing a first side by double-sided printing.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: image forming unit that controls illumination of light sources based on image data and forms electrostatic latent image, develops the electrostatic latent image to form an image, and transfers the image to a recording medium; a case that houses the image forming units; and a conveying section that conveys the recording medium while guiding the medium in a space between the case and the image forming unit.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes: a conveyance member that conveys images formed by plural image forming parts or a recording medium on which the images formed by the plural image forming parts are transferred; and a driving unit that drives the conveyance member via a frictional force in at least two positions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device comprises generally, an image transfer station configured to transfer a toned image to a substrate, a fuser assembly configured to fuse the toned image to the substrate and a transport device configured to transfer the substrate from the image transfer station to the fuser assembly. The device further includes a controller for controlling a first process rate of the image transfer device and a second process rate of the transport device. The controller has a mode of operation wherein the first process rate is different from the second process rate when a hand off is performed to pass the substrate from the image transfer station to the transport device.

Abstract: A color laser printer includes a belt conveying device having a conveyor belt for conveying a recording medium, an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium and a test pattern in a test-pattern area on a conveying surface of the conveyor belt, and a pressing member having a pressing surface that grows wider toward a downstream side with respect to a conveying direction in which the recording medium is conveyed and that presses the recording medium toward the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The pressing member is disposed so that a prescribed gap is formed between the pressing surface of the pressing member and the test-pattern area on the conveying surface of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A pair of registration rollers align a leading edge of a recording medium having a transparent section and a non-transparent section. A boundary sensor detects a boundary between the transparent section and the non-transparent section. The boundary sensor is provided on a downstream side of a direction of conveying the recording medium by the registration rollers.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image carrying unit on which a toner image is carried; a transfer unit that transfers a toner image carried by the image carrying unit onto a sheet at a transferring position; a sheet conveyor unit that conveys the sheet having the toner image transferred thereto by the transfer unit; a suction device that sucks the sheet to the sheet conveyor unit; and a controller that stops or reduces a sucking operation of the suction device where the toner image carried by the image carrying unit passes the transferring position without being transferred onto the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet guide sheet guide for guiding a recording sheet includes an outermost surface layer brought into contact with a recording sheet, which is formed of a material having a water contact angle of approximately 50° or less and one of a pencil hardness of 9H or more and a Mohs hardness of 4 or more.

Abstract: A printing device (10) such as a laser printer includes a radio frequency controller (38) which permits the detection and redirection of media having one or more defective radio frequency device tags, such as an RFID tag, to a specific one of two or more output options (50, 52). The radio frequency controller (38) may include radio frequency control logic (500) that communicates with the base printer (10) and the output options (50, 52) over a down port (506) and up port (508) to intercept commands from the printer (10) to the options (50, 52) and to also respond to such commands. A defective tag can be detected by attempting to program a tag using an RF reader/programmer (504).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has transfer rollers for transferring an unfixed image, fixing rollers with a changeable conveying speed, discharging rollers with a changeable conveying speed thereof and for discharging the recording material on which the image has been fixed by the pair of fixing rollers, a loop detecting sensor for detecting the loop of the recording material between the transfer rollers and of fixing rollers, and a control for changing the conveying speed of the fixing rollers on the basis of the detection of the loop detecting sensor so that the loop of the recording material is maintained with a predetermined range, wherein the control board controls the conveying speed of the discharging rollers so as to become equal to the conveying speed of the fixing rollers after the recording material has passed the transfer rollers.

Abstract: Embodiments herein comprise a printing/copying media output device or terminal that includes a single media output tray that can be used as a flat tray or a basket tray. The media output tray has a first portion that connects to a media output device, a second portion at the opposite (distal) end of the first portion from the media output device, and a hinge between the first portion and the second portion connecting the first portion to the second portion. In some embodiments herein, the hinge is positioned at an approximate midpoint of the output tray and the first portion is approximately the same size as the second portion. By folding the tray at the hinge, the tray can be converted from a flat tray to a basket tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a main body having a copy function of printing an image read from a document on a paper sheet, a printer function of printing an externally input image on a paper sheet, and a paper ejection port to eject a printed paper sheet. The apparatus also includes a paper ejection unit which has a first tray and a second tray for receiving a paper sheet ejected form the paper ejection port, and moves the trays selectively to the positions corresponding to the paper ejection port. The apparatus also includes a control panel for setting an operating condition of the apparatus, and a state key provided on the control panel and configured to operate when holding the trays at current positions.

Abstract: A waiting tray comprises a waiting tray roller which ejects a transported sheet to a storage tray, a waiting tray roller drive source which drives the waiting tray roller so as to come into contact with the sheet or so as to be spaced from the sheet, and a waiting tray roller drive motor which rotates the waiting tray roller in a direction in which the sheet is to be ejected. In the case where the sheet is ejected from the waiting tray directly to the storage tray without intervening a processing tray, the waiting tray roller is driven by the waiting tray roller drive source and the waiting tray roller drive motor. In this manner, the sheet held on the waiting tray is directly held on a storage tray without being held on a processing tray.

Abstract: A waiting tray comprises left and right lower face support members for supporting a sheet. These support members are formed so that a width of an opening portion formed therebetween is wide at a distal end side as compared with a proximal end side in a transport direction of a sheet to be transported to the waiting tray. When the sheet which is not required to be retained in a waiting mode is transported to the waiting tray, at a time point when the sheet distal end reaches the waiting tray, both of the support members are opened to an extent such that the width of the opening portion of the left and right lower face support members is narrower than a sheet width at the proximal end side in the transport direction of the sheet, and is wider than the sheet width at the distal end side of the sheet. In this manner the sheet is dropped from the sheet distal end to the processing tray immediately without being retained in a waiting mode.

Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with discharge rollers for discharging a sheet, a fixed stacking portion for supporting a portion of the discharged sheet, a storage tray established below the fixed stacking portion with a larger surface area, and a stapler for applying a finishing process to the sheet in a state of straddling the fixed stacking portion and the storage tray. A pushing member moves the sheet finished by the stapler in a direction different from a discharge direction by the discharge rollers to discharge the sheet to the storage tray, thereby providing the sheet post-processing apparatus that can securely discharge the stapled sheet bundle to a storage tray after a post-processing such as stapling.

Abstract: The invention concerns a digital printing machine for sheet printing with a digital printing mechanism with free format in the peripheral direction, an intermediate cylinder which is connected downstream of the digital printing mechanism and is at least partially coated with an elastic material, and a counterpressure cylinder which is connected downstream of the intermediate cylinder, wherein the counterpressure cylinder has grippers holding the sheet and the intermediate cylinder periphery is provided with recesses for receiving the grippers.

Abstract: To provide a medicine-bag printing apparatus provided with a conveying mechanism that can smoothly convey medicine bags and align them. A medicine bag (2 ) is printed by any one of a plurality of printers (11, 12 ) to be collected in a collecting portion (5 ) via a conveying route (6, 13, 14). The printing apparatus is provided with medicine-bag direction converting device (6, 14 ) which convert the direction of medicine bags printed by the respective printers so the printing surface and the printing direction become same.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems and methods incorporate inverter assemblies for not only inverting media during transport through the system but also to register the media or provide a velocity buffer transports with different drive velocities. The inverter assemblies can include the capability to optionally deskew the media and provide lateral registration corrections. The inverter assembly nip rollers are sufficiently spaced from process drive nip rollers to decouple a document in the inverter assembly from the highway paths. The method comprises combining the inverting function selectively with either the registering or the velocity buffering functions.

Abstract: To ensure stable feed of transfer material when a paper back vacuuming feed mechanism is employed in the path from a transfer section to a fixing section in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is such that the transfer section is arranged on the upper surface of the intermediate transfer unit; a transfer material feed apparatus is provided for vacuum feeding transfer material from the transfer section to the fixing apparatus; a guide tilted by a predetermined angle downward of the transfer material feed surface is provided at the outlet of the fixing apparatus of the transfer material feed apparatus; the nip portion of a fixing roller pair of the fixing apparatus is positioned downward of the extension line of the guide; and the tangent with respect to the nip portion of the fixing roller is tilted by a predetermined angle downward of the transfer material feed surface.

Abstract: A quad roll sheet curl control apparatus uses elastomer first and second rolls forming first and second nips with third and fourth rolls. The first and second rolls have compressible surfaces, while the third and fourth roll surfaces are formed of a substantially uncompressible material. A pivotable gate member in operating relationship with the first and second nips directs sheets to either the first or the second nip whereby the desired decurling orientation is achieved for the sheet by either the elastomer first roll or the elastomer second roll. Switching nips and curl to be induced does not require drive reversal as previous decurler arrangements do. The degree of decurling can be adjusted with at least one cam in communication with at least one of the first and second rolls.

Abstract: A belt rotates and carries a plurality of images. A scale is provided along at least one side of entire of the belt. A sensor reads the scale on the belt to obtain scale information. An actual speed calculating unit calculates a speed of the belt from the scale information. A control unit provides a control to correct speed of the belt according to the speed calculated. The control unit includes a frequency-correcting unit that performs correction of only a frequency component that is fluctuating of low frequency that is smaller than a predetermined frequency that is developed due to a change in a speed of the belt, from among speed fluctuations of the belt to adjust the speed of the belt to a predetermined target speed.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus including an image reading device that reads an image recorded on a document, an image forming apparatus in which the image can be formed on a recording medium, based on image information read by the image reading device, and an ejecting portion which is arranged between the image forming apparatus and the image reading device and which ejects the recording medium on which the image has been formed, wherein the ejecting portion includes side walls that are adjacent to each other and sandwich the ejected recording medium and a concave portion that is formed so as to be depressed toward an upstream side in a recording medium ejecting direction and located downstream in the recording medium ejecting direction of at least one of the side walls.

Abstract: Parallel printing systems include first and second adjacent electronic printers and at least one sheet bypass section extending around the second electronic printer to provide a sheet transporting path overlying the second electronic printer and bypassing the second electronic printer. The sheet bypass section includes an output for merging printed sheets from the first electronic printer with printed sheets printed by the second electronic printer. The output preferably comprises a intermediate transport section having a first input aligned with the output of the bypass section and a second input aligned with the output of the second electronic printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing unit for bearing a toner image, a transfer device for transferring the toner image on the image bearing unit onto a sheet, fixing unit for fixing to the sheet toner image, and first and second sheet transport guides disposed along a transport path. A sheet transport speed in the fixing unit is set lower than a sheet transport speed in the transfer device. The first and second sheet transport guides are each disposed with a tilt with respect to a horizontal or vertical direction. A gap is provided to form a spacing sufficient to permit curves of the sheet to be formed between a downstream-side end portion of the first sheet transport guide and an upstream-side end portion of the second sheet transport guide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member. A visual image forming device forms the visual images on the at least one image bearing member. A two-side transfer device transfers the visual images on the at least one image bearing member onto both sides of the recording medium held on a recording medium holding member. A fixing device fixes the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium. A recording medium conveying device including at least one recording medium supporting member supports the recording medium. The recording medium conveying device is positioned between the two-side transfer device and the fixing device, and conveys the recording medium from the two-side transfer device to the fixing device while supporting a non-image portion of the recording medium by the at least one recording medium supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit having a first printing section for forming a first image on the paper; a second image forming unit having a second printing section for forming a second image on the paper; and a paper conveying unit for conveying the paper from the first image forming unit to the second image forming unit. Accordingly, two kinds of image can be formed employing one image forming apparatus. The first image and the second image may be formed using the same recording material (toner) or different recording materials (toners).

Abstract: A system for adding a post-collation operation to an imaging job is disclosed. The system includes a computing device with executable instructions. The executable instructions are executable on the computing device and are configured to implement a method for adding a post-collation operation to the imaging job. The imaging job is received downstream from an origination point of the imaging job and upstream from a job interpreter/rasterization process in an imaging device. New commands are inserted into the imaging job that relate to a post-collation operation. Another use of the method for multi-job interleaving is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit transferring a toner image on a first face of a sheet, a fixing unit fixing the toner image onto the first face of the sheet, and a sheet detecting unit detecting the sheet in a sheet transporting path. The sheet detecting unit includes a rotator which rotates by a slide contact on a second face which is backside of the first face of the sheet, and a supporting member which supports the rotator rotatably. The rotator is comprised of a material which is charged by the slide contact on the sheet with a first polarity, the first polarity being opposed to a second polarity with which a toner of the toner image is charged. The supporting member is comprised of a material charged by the slide contact on the sheet with the second polarity.

Abstract: A fuser entrance guide in an electrophotographic apparatus, which supports a sheet of copy medium as it enters the fuser section. The guide has a curved base plate that has vacuum ports both at the edges and across the central area thereof. The ports in the central area are arranged in rows with the exits of all ports in a respective row being fluidly connected by a groove formed in the lower surface of the base plate. The recessed area of the grooves reduce the total contact area of the sheet thereby reducing the drag forces on the sheet but, at the same time, increasing the holding force of the vacuum on the sheet.

Abstract: A manual paper feeding apparatus comprises a tray for manual paper feeding, a paper feed roller to feed the paper fed manually from the tray, a separation roller which is pressed to contact the paper feed roller, rotated at the pressed contact position in the direction reverse to the paper feed roller, and separates the sheets of paper one by one, a power transmission device to transmit power to the paper feed roller and separation roller, and a reversing device which is provided in the power transmission device, and rotates the paper feed roller in the direction reverse to the paper feeding direction, based on that the paper fed between the paper feed roller and separation roller is pulled in the direction reverse to the manual feeding direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a vacuum-assisted, fuser entrance guide in a marking engine by varying the vacuum on the guide as a sheet of marking medium moves thereacross wherein a low vacuum is applied on the guide while the sheet of marking medium is being transported across the guide solely by the vacuum transport and is then increased once the lead edge of the sheet enters the nip between the fuser rollers and the sheet becomes driven by the more powerful force of the fuser rollers. The higher vacuum provides a greater attraction force on the sheet, which, in turn, prevents the trail edge of the sheet from sagging or drooping from the guide's surface.

Abstract: Provided is a small-sized electrophotographic apparatus having a double face printing function, which can print at a high speed even during double face printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, in which there occurs no pulling of a recording medium at different portions, and also, vibration of a trailing end of the recording medium during the time when the trailing end of the recording medium is passed through the transferring portion is suppressed. Thus, no deterioration occurs in image quality such as disturbance of a toner image.

Abstract: A sheet transport system with improved sheet contacting thermal uniformity for transporting thermally sensitive imaged print media sheets in a sheet path of a printer, in which multiple sheet feeding rollers are spaced along sheet feeding path, with each said sheet feeding roller having a substantially uniform diameter extending transversely fully across the sheet feeding path for uniform sheet contact, with uniform baffles between the rollers also extending transversely fully across the sheet feeding path, for uniform sheet contact, and with vacuum sheet holddown provided by airflow slots on oppose sides of each sheet feeding roller extending transversely across the sheet feeding path.

Abstract: Split-stream re-uniting of document pages where such pages have followed divided flow paths toward a collator. Control over proper, successive-page feeding from divided feed sources to the collator is provided by PDL-carried page-feed instructions which are “embedded” in the related, document-job PDL information—executed by a PDL interpreter. “Ghost” pages are created and “fed” with appropriate timing to accommodate proper successive page insertion from another feed source, thus to accomplish smoothly flowing, properly sequenced document assembly.

Abstract: A printing device for use with a peripheral media-handling device defining a peripheral media path with a first sensor therealong including a print engine coupled with the peripheral media-handling device to accommodate conveyance of media therebetween, the print engine defining an engine media path between an inlet and an outlet thereof, and including a second sensor therealong, and a processor configured to calculate a greatest distance collectively along the media paths that media can travel without reaching one of the sensors, the processor being further configured to command substantially simultaneous flushing of the peripheral media-handling device and the print engine to advance media the calculated greatest distance.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has, in the upper portion of an apparatus main body, a main body discharge section and a main body stack section in which a sheet discharged from the main body discharge section is placed. The sheet processing apparatus includes a transport section disposed on the upper portion of the main body stack section and transports the sheet discharged from the main body discharge section in a sheet eject direction, an eject section which is disposed on the upper portion of the main body discharge section and from which the sheet with an image formed thereon is ejected through a eject passage different from the eject passage of the main body discharge section, and a transport placement portion which is disposed on the transport section and in which the sheet ejected from the eject section is placed.

Abstract: A guide system for xerographic printing apparatus introduces paper bearing an unfixed image and having a broad range of basis weights into a fuser nip from a prefuser transport without causing image smear. An entrance baffle is positioned in the path of the paper advancing toward the fuser nip for engagement by the paper's leading edge. The entrance baffle is hinged at its mounting end for swinging movement between a maximal and minimal positions as defined by stop members and is biased into engagement with the minimal stop member. The magnitude of the bias is chosen such that as the lightest basis weight paper engages the entrance baffle, it bends around its free end and is guided into the fuser nip, and such that as the heaviest paper engages the entrance baffle, it forces the entrance baffle toward engagement with the second stop member and itself is guided into the fuser nip.

Abstract: A manual paper feeding apparatus comprises a tray for manual paper feeding, a paper feed roller to feed the paper fed manually from the tray, a separation roller which is pressed to contact the paper feed roller, rotated at the pressed contact position in the direction reverse to the paper feed roller, and separates the sheets of paper one by one, a power transmission device to transmit power to the paper feed roller and separation roller, and a reversing device which is provided in the power transmission device, and rotates the paper feed roller in the direction reverse to the paper feeding direction, based on that the paper fed between the paper feed roller and separation roller is pulled in the direction reverse to the manual feeding direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member. A visual image forming device forms the visual images on the at least one image bearing member. A two-side transfer device transfers the visual images on the at least one image bearing member onto both sides of the recording medium held on a recording medium holding member. A fixing device fixes the visual images transferred onto the both sides of the recording medium. A recording medium conveying device including at least one recording medium supporting member supports the recording medium. The recording medium conveying device is positioned between the two-side transfer device and the fixing device, and conveys the recording medium from the two-side transfer device to the fixing device while supporting a non-image portion of the recording medium by the at least one recording medium supporting member.

Abstract: A print medium transport path for a printing device transports a sheet of print medium that is charged to facilitate receipt of charged toner forming an image to be printed. The transport path includes a transfer roller for transferring said image to said print medium, a pressing roller for pressing said print medium after receipt of said image and a number of ribs running between said transfer roller and said pressing roller. The ribs are substantially parallel and spaced from each other to define the transport path.