Abstract: A device (2, 3) for charging and/or discharging of printing media (7) in printing presses and copiers, with at least one corona wire (5, 5′), as well as a guiding device (1) for printing media (7) with bridging members (11, 12, 13), which bridge the interior of the discharging device and/or charging device (2, 3) in the transport direction (10), whereby the guiding device (1) has, below the bridging members (11, 12, 13) on the side turned toward at least one corona wire (5, 5′), slim guide fingers (18, 18′), which extend into the border areas (14, 14′) of the device (1) parallel to at least one corona wire (5, 5′) and from the side outside the surfaces covered by the printing media suppress the thickest ion flow, which is directed to the printing media (7) for discharging of the printing media (7).

Abstract: A printer in which the speed at which the recording medium is loaded into the printer prior to printing, at which the recording medium is moved through the printer during printing, and at which the recording medium is ejected from the printer after printing, are automatically selected based upon existing print modes and printing-related conditions, and which provides for concurrent pre-printing processes and tasks to occur during the loading of the recording medium.

Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus is mountable in a space portion of an image forming apparatus including an image-forming portion for forming an image on a sheet and an image-reading portion for reading an image of an original. The image-reading portion is disposed above the image-forming portion. The sheet is delivered in the space portion formed between the image-forming portion and the image-reading portion. The sheet treating apparatus includes a connection path unit to be connected with a sheet delivery path for delivering the sheet from the image-forming portion, which connection path unit is mounted in the space portion from the outside of a side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a sheet-treating unit for performing a treatment of the sheet transported from the connection path unit, which sheet-treating unit is mounted in the space portion from the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In a fusing apparatus, such as used in xerography, two rolls form a nip therebetween. A guide member is positionable to direct a sheet approaching the nip to enter the nip at an angle so that an arc or buckle is crated in the sheet between a marking station and the nip. The arc or buckle is helpful in avoiding the transfer of mechanical energy from the fusing apparatus to the marking station. As the trail edge of the sheet exits the marking station, the guide member is positioned to straighten the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image formation apparatus to which a postprocess unit requiring a discharge condition that a transfer member of which image formation face is being turned downward is discharged and a binding position at a time of binding the member at its trailing edge is being at the left of the image formation face can be installed. On a platen glass, an original is carried in such a state as its read face is opposite to an upper face of the glass, and an image on the read face of the original is read by a scanner supported at a running read position when the original passes the running read position. Then, through a mirror image process, it is formed on an image formation face (upper face) of a sheet the read image of whcih direction is the same as that of the set original. When the image-formed sheet is discharged externally by the reverse sheet discharge control, the sheet is discharged in such a state as its face is being turned downward.

Abstract: An image fusing unit of a liquid electrophotographic unit for fusing an image developed by a developer which is a mixture of toner particles and liquid solvent and transferred onto a sheet of paper includes a charging portion installed on a transfer path of the paper for applying electric potential in a direction in which the toner is in close contact with the paper, a drying portion for drying the image by directly contacting and heating the paper, and a fusing portion for fixing the image to the paper by heating and pressing the paper. Thus, the efficiency of heat can be improved by drying in the direct contact method. Also, by closely pressing the toner against the paper prior to drying, the disadvantage according to the contact type drying method, that is, the toner adheres to a contact member, can be solved.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body. A transferring portion transfers an unfixed image in the image bearing body onto a recording material, while conveying the recording material. A fixing portion fixes the unfixed image onto the recording material, while conveying the recording material having the unfixed image is transferred in the transferring portion. A flexure detecting device detects flexure of the recording material between the transferring portion and the fixing portion. A recording material detecting device detects the presence/absence of the recording material at a downstream side of the fixing portion with respect to a conveying direction of the recording material. A control device controls a convey velocity of the recording material in the fixing portion on the basis of a time from the detection of the recording material detected by the recording material detecting device to the detection of the flexure of the recording material detected by the flexure detecting device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of paper separation are provided which permit a secure and reliable auto-loading operation of paper separation with a less complex mechanism of the apparatus. The paper separation apparatus has a paper separation body for separating a paper from a transfer body, a paper feeding supporter for holding the paper firmly and supporting the feed of the paper, and a link mechanism for moving the paper separation body toward a circumferential surface of the transfer body. The arrangement separates the paper from the transfer body in an auto-loading step and moves at least a portion of the paper feeding supporter to hold the separated paper firmly, so that the movement of the paper separation body is co-acted in synchronism with the movement of the paper feeding supporter.

Abstract: An image-forming method and an image-forming transparent film are provided which can form a high-grade transparent recorded image such that any unwanted opaque matter other than images formed is not present on the transparent film on which the images have been formed. The transparent film is provided on its surface with an opaque sensing mark layer capable of turning transparent upon heating with a fixing roller and an opaque mark layer capable of turning transparent upon that heating. The opaque mark layer is capable of more readily turning transparent upon heating than the opaque sensing mark layer and is formed on the side upstream in the film transport direction from the position coming after substantially one rotation of the fixing roller, measured from an end of the transparent film in its transport direction, and the opaque sensing mark layer is formed on the downstream side of the opaque mark layer.

Abstract: A pre-fuser sheet transport assembly includes (a) an endless belt having vacuum apertures therethrough and being trained about a plurality of rollers including a drive roller; (b) a first plate located under the endless belt and including first holes formed therethrough having a first pattern, and a first size each; (c) a vacuum device for sucking air through the apertures in the endless belt and through the first pattern of the first holes in the first plate; (d) a second plate assembly including a second plate located under the first plate and including second holes having a second pattern and a second size each, the second plate being moveable laterally relative to the first plate; and (e) control apparatus for detecting and adjusting a position of the second plate relative to the first plate, and responsive to a change in a measured parameter of the copy sheet, the control apparatus including a mechanism for controllably adjusting a degree of overlap between the first holes and the second holes, thereby a

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 paper separating apparatus of a printer includes a separating member installed to be adjacent to an exit side of the transfer roller and under a path along which the paper is discharged and fixedly coupled to a pair of bearing guides which rotatably support opposite ends of the transfer roller to be capable of pivoting by a predetermined angle together with the bearing guides, a guide roller installed at an upper surface of the separating member for guiding discharge of the paper, a pivot restricting mechanism for restricting the pivot angles of the separating member and the bearing guides, and an elastic force applying mechanism for applying an elastic force in one direction so that the separating member and the bearing guides can maintain regular positions.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a transfer charger, a separation charger, a fixing device, a cleaning blade, and a fan. The developing roller contacting the outer peripheral surface of the drum is rotated to supply toner onto a latent image formed on the same surface of the drum, thereby developing the latent image. The toner image is transferred onto a transfer material that is being fed in a vertical direction. At this time, air is sucked by a fan arranged at the back side of the two chargers to form airflow advancing from the drum to the two chargers. Thus, the transfer material is adsorbed on the two chargers to stabilize feed pose of the transfer material. At this time, the airflow formed in the apparatus is partially regulated, particularly near both ends of the developing roller, to decrease the amount of the toner scattered inside the apparatus and reduce the amount of the toner discharged out of the apparatus.

Abstract: In order to provide an electrophotographic image forming system characterized by a mechanism of stabilizing the behavior of the tip of the form when the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon is fed to the fusing device, the present invention has a form posture correcting protrusion provided on the non-printing area of the surface of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon inside the feed path of the form with unfused colored particles (toner) deposited thereon, so that form behavior can be controlled when the form is fed to the fusing device. Furthermore, the present invention has a form guide provided on the form ejection side of the fusing device to control the behavior of the form moving in the direction of being wound on the fusing roller.

Abstract: An image transferring device for an image forming apparatus and of the type using a belt formed of a dielectric material includes a guide member for guiding a recording medium, which carries a toner image transferred thereto from an image carrier. The guide member is formed with holes spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the recording medium. A discharging member is received in the holes and has discharge needles. The discharging member is positioned such that the tips of the discharge needles do not contact the recording medium. The guide member includes a center guide portion, opposite end guide portions, and recess portions each connecting the center guide portion and one of the end guide portions. Ribs are formed at stepped portions existing between the center guide portion and the recess portions and between the recess portions and the end guide portions, preventing the holes from catching the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and techniques for reducing the electrostatic sticking of a transfer member to the image carrying body of an image forming apparatus. The visible image on the image carrying body is formed by charged participles. A collective transfer unit collectively transfers the visible image from the image carrying body to a transfer member. A transfer member judging unit judges whether a transfer member exists downstream of and in the vicinity of a transfer position of the collective transfer unit. A pre-stop processing unit for preventing, if the transfer member presence judging unit judges that a transfer monitor exists when the stopping unit stops the device, the transfer member from electrostatically sticking to the image carrying body.

Abstract: To prevent banding occurring by a change in the speed of the photoreceptor medium generated when the leading edge and trailing edge of a sheet of paper pass through a transfer nip formed between a transfer roller and a fusing roller, an image banding reduction method of a photoreceptor medium of an indirect transfer type image forming apparatus is achieved by (A) separating the transfer roller and the fusing roller a predetermined distance from each other before the leading edge of paper enters the transfer nip, (B) approximating the transfer roller and the fusing roller after the leading edge of paper has entered the transfer nip, and maintaining the gap of the transfer nip in a normal state, and (C) separating again the transfer roller and the fusing roller a predetermined distance from each other before the trailing edge of paper is exhausted from the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operable in a duplex image transfer mode of the present invention stores image data to be transferred and transfers the image data to a recording medium at an image forming section. In the duplex image transfer mode, a reversing section reverses a paper sheet or similar recording medium passed the image forming section and again delivers it to the image forming section. When image data does not have to be transferred to the rear side of the last paper sheet, the last paper sheet carrying an image on its front side is driven out of the apparatus from the halfway point of a reversal path via an outlet path without the intermediary of the image forming section. The apparatus successfully reduces the conveying time.

Abstract: A paper separating apparatus of a printer includes a separating member installed to be adjacent to an exit side of the transfer roller and under a path along which the paper is discharged and fixedly coupled to a pair of bearing guides which rotatably support opposite ends of the transfer roller to be capable of pivoting by a predetermined angle together with the bearing guides, a guide roller installed at an upper surface of the separating member for guiding discharge of the paper, a pivot restricting mechanism for restricting the pivot angles of the separating member and the bearing guides, and an elastic force applying mechanism for applying an elastic force in one direction so that the separating member and the bearing guides can maintain regular positions.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic printing apparatus, when the conveying speed of the timing roller (1a, 1b) is Vt, the conveying speed of the register roller (2a, 2b) is Vr, the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor drum (3) is V0, and the conveying speed of the conveying apparatus (5) is Vf, each speed is set to satisfy the relationship of Vf>V0≧Vr>Vt, and when a sheet deflection amount formed when the sheet comes into contact with the register roller, is &dgr;r, the sheet deflection amount at the photoreceptor drum entry section is &dgr;0, and the sheet length is Lp, each value is regulated so that the relationships of &dgr;r≧Lp ((Vr−Vt)/Vt) and &dgr;0≧Lp ((Vf−V0)/V0) are satisfied.

Abstract: A main printer that prints the cut papers fed from the paper feeding part and a support printer that prints and ejects the fed cut papers. The transporting part of the support printer has a cut paper transporting mechanism and a transporting control device. The cut paper transporting mechanism has a transporting route that transports the cut papers from the main printer to the inlet of the paper exit of the support printer or to the support printer and another transporting route that transports the cut papers exiting the support printer. It also has a transporting device that transports cut papers along the transporting routes. The transporting control device establishes the transporting route based on the given transporting destination specifying information and drives the transporting device.

Abstract: A fuser baffle which helps to minimize or eliminate sheet wrinkle by a fuser. A small “saddle” is added to the center section of the inlet to the fuser on the baffle surface which last contacts and controls the sheet before entry into the fuser nip. The saddle removes most of the corrugation along approximately 90 to 95% of the centermost portion of the sheet. Any remaining corrugation at the inboard and outboard ends is removed by the fuser flare. The baffle is applicable to any fusing device which uses localized pressure to fix an image to a sheet.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an improved exit device are provided for guiding a substrate bearing an at least partly deformable image upon exit of the substrate from an image impression region on an image impression surface of an imaging system. The exit device includes an exit roller urged against the image impression surface.

Abstract: A transport roll 1 consists of a metal roll 3 of 40 mm in diameter covered with a conductive PFA tube 2 of 10.sup.10 .OMEGA.cm in volume resistivity and 200 .mu.m in thickness. A DC voltage source 4 is connected to the metal roll. A sheet of paper 5 bearing toner images 6 and 7 on both sides thereof receives a drive force from a paper drive roll, and turns with the movement of the paper. The DC voltage source produces voltage VB1 of the same polarity as the charging polarity (positive) of the toner image 6 being in contact with the transport roll. The voltage VB1 is optimumly controlled so as to prevent the transport roll from being soiled with toner.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming part which forms an image on a recording medium; a recording medium switchback portion which receives the recording medium on a first run, one side of which has been printed when passing the image forming part, and sends the recording medium for a second run; a recording medium path which communicates with the recording medium switchback portion so as to send the recording medium to and from the recording medium switchback portion; an inverted recording medium transfer path through which the recording medium is sent to the image forming part again with an upper surface and a lower surface of the recording medium reversed; and a recording medium transfer part which transfers the recording medium along the inverted recording medium transfer path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method in which a transfer device is provided in a position separated from an image carrier. A transfer sheet is conveyed along and contacting a part of a circumferential surface of the image carrier facing the transfer device when transferring a toner image from the image carrier to the transfer sheet. A conveying guide is included to guide and covey the transfer sheet separated from the image carrier to a fixing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing device to form a developer image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by developing using a developer, a transfer device to transfer a developer image formed on an image carrier, a fixing device to fix a developer image transferred on an image receiving medium, and a conveyor guide 7 arranged so that the image receiving medium with a developer image transferred thereon to guide from the transfer device toward the fixing device. The conveyor guide has contact portions made of a material that is charged to the same polarity as the developer on the image receiving medium as a result of the friction with the image receiving medium.

Abstract: A delivery member has a substrate material, a first coating film containing a filler and formed by electrodeposition on a substrate material, and a second coating film composed of an organic coating film formed on the first coating film.

Abstract: A guide member is disposed between a transferring section and a fixing section. The guide member has an upstream end and a downstream end with respect to the direction of travel of the recording medium. First and second guide members define a path therebetween in which the recording medium passes to the fixing section. The first guide member is formed with a plurality of ribs formed at intervals and aligned in a direction either transverse or parallel to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The ribs extend substantially from the upstream end to the downstream end and increase in height from the surface of each guide as the downstream end is approached and guide a leading end of the recording medium. The ribs may extent progressively outwardly as the downstream end is approached. The first guide member is supported so that it is pivotal on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first guide member can be moved between an operative and a non-operative position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier for carrying a toner image formed thereon; a second image carrier for carrying the toner image transferred from the first image carrier and for conveying a recording sheet; a first transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the first image carrier onto the second image carrier or an obverse side of the recording sheet; a second transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the second image carrier onto a reverse side of the recording sheet and a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the recording sheet. The second image carrier is provided with a curved portion at an end on a side of the fixing device, at which the recording sheet conveyed by the second image carrier is bent toward the reverse side of the recording sheet so as to separate the recording sheet from the second image carrier.

Abstract: A printing medium discharge apparatus used for discharging a printing medium from a rotary drum in an ink jet printer for printing a desired image onto the printing medium by an ink jet while holding the printing medium on the rotary drum, includes a printing medium carry and discharge device and a printing medium press device. The printing medium carry and discharge device carries thereon the printing medium from the rotary drum, on the printing medium an image having been printed, to make a non-image formation surface of the printing medium including no image formation region contact the printing medium carry and discharge device, and discharges the printing medium carried thereon to be moved apart from the rotary drum.

Abstract: A sheet guiding member made of a conductive resin and having a surface resistance value of 1.times.10.sub.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm to 1.times.10.sub.13 .OMEGA..multidot.cm. The material of which the guiding member is made includes a resin, a conductive material, and a bromine-containing organic compound. An image forming apparatus containing the aforementioned sheet guiding member is also described.

Abstract: A system is described for transporting sheet-like material. The sheet has a powder, such as electrographic toner particles, loosely attached to it at one or both sides. The particles may be laid down in an image-wise manner by an electrophotographic or direct electrographic system, such as a printer or a copier. The sheet is transported by an endless belt or by a drum. In order to preserve the location of toner particles on the sheet, and to establish correct transportation of the sheet, electrostatic charges are applied either to the sheet or the transporting member or both. As such, the sheet suitably adheres to the transport system and electrostatically loaded toner particles may even adhere better to the sheet.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with a first image carrying member; a belt-shaped second image carrying member onto which a toner image is transferred from the first image carrying member; a pair of rotatable fixing members forming a nip region for fixing the toner images transferred on the both sides of the sheet; a conveying device for guiding the sheet separated from an end of the belt-shaped second image carrying member to the pair of rotatable fixing members, when the sheet is nipped and conveyed through the nip region of the pair of rotatable fixing members, the belt-shaped second image carrying member and the pair of rotatable fixing members are arranged such that the sheet is conveyed so as to form a loop protruding from a line connecting the entrance of the nip region and the end of the belt-shaped second image carrying member.

Abstract: A system capable of suppressing the variation of a conveyance speed of a medium occurring when the rear end of the medium gets away from between a pair of rollers to surely and stably conduct the processing (transfer of a visible image) for the medium in a processing section (a transfer position). Accordingly, this system includes a position detecting section for detecting a position of the medium conveyed, and a control section for, when the position detecting section detects the fact that the rear end of the medium exists at a position immediately before getting away from between resist rollers, executing control so that a medium conveyance speed by the resist rollers becomes equal or substantially equal to a medium conveyance speed by conveyance rollers. This system is applicable to printers including an electrophotographic system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a first image bearer for bearing a toner image formed by a toner image forming device; a second image bearer for bearing the toner image which is transferred from the first image bearer; a first transferring device for transferring the toner image borne on the first image bearer onto the second image bearer or a front side of a transfer material; a second transferring device for transferring the toner image borne on the second image bearer onto a back side of the transfer material; a fixing device for fixing toner images transferred on both sides of the transfer material which is conveyed on the second image bearer and separated therefrom; and a separating claw for separating the transfer material from the second image bearer.

Abstract: A media sheet handling system and a method of duplex printing are disclosed wherein a media sheet is imaged with a phase change ink on both sides of the media sheet without smudging or remelting the images and the media sheet is partially exited from the printer into a media output tray and then is drawn back into the printer along a duplex path of travel that automatically reverses the media sheet so that the trailing edge becomes the leading edge during the imaging of the second side of the media sheet. The stiffness of the media sheet facilitates the media sheet moving above and beyond a stationary media path diverter prior to reversing its direction of travel along and passing along the duplex path of travel back to the imaging station.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming body for carrying thereon a toner image, and a belt-shaped intermediate transfer body for carrying thereon the toner image transferred from the image forming body. A first transfer device is provided for transferring another toner image carried by the image forming body onto an obverse side of a recording sheet conveyed by the intermediate transfer body, and a second transfer device is provided for transferring the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer body onto a reverse side of the recording sheet. In addition, a fixing device is provided for fixing the toner images transferred on both sides of the recording sheet which is separated from the intermediate transfer body, and a conveyor portion having spurred wheels is provided between the intermediate transfer body and the fixing device for conveying the transfer member to the fixing device. The apparatus has a structure including two frames which can be opened.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus and a method of using the image recording apparatus. The image recording apparatus has a sheet sending path connecting a sheet supply section, an image forming section, and a sheet discharge section. A pull-in path branches from the sheet sending path, and a return path branches from the pull-in path to define a branch point. A first pair and a second pair of conveying rollers are provided on the pull-in path on respective sides of the branch point.The first pair and the second pair of conveying rollers are independently drivable in a forward direction and a reverse direction.

Abstract: An image forming device with an image scanning capability includes an internal accessible space formed between an image scanning unit and an image forming unit. The internal space is for accommodating a recording medium transported through a vertical paper transportation path and ejected to the internal space by an ejection mechanism. The scanning unit is supported by a support assembly such that the scanning unit overhangs the internal space. The support assembly includes two support sides that connect a main body of the device, but leaves two contiguous sides of the internal space open and unblocked so that a user may easily access the recording medium contained in the internal space.

Abstract: Structure is provided to efficiently discharge sheets outputted from an image forming apparatus to a plurality of bins. In a copier, for an original supplied from a document feeder, an image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet supplied from a sheet feeder, and the sheet is discharged through a sheet discharging port. A sheet outputting apparatus receives discharged sheets through a sheet receiving port. In accordance with information of a job relating to the sheets copied supplied through an operation panel, a control unit causes the sheets to be distributed to be discharged to a plurality of bins. The number of acceptable sheets to each bin is detected by a detecting device. A control unit controls discharge of sheets to that the number of bins is a minimum, so that discharge to bins is easily conducted in a subsequent copying job.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, wherein a visible image retained on an intermediate transfer belt is collectively transferred to recording material by means of a collective transfer device including a transfer roller and a back-up roller. The recording material that has passed through a transfer nipping region is guided by means of a recording material guide member. In such an image forming apparatus, the intermediate transfer belt is set at an angle of 50.degree. or less relative to the reference line passing through the exit of the transfer nipping region between the transfer roller and the back-up roller among normals orthogonal to a line passing through the center shafts of the transfer roller and the back-up roller, in the area downstream from the transfer nipping region, and the recording material guide member is provided downward at an angle of 5.degree. to 20.degree. relative to the reference line L.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a transfer device is provided in a position separated from an image carrier. A transfer sheet is conveyed along and contacting a part of a circumferential surface of the image carrier facing the transfer device when transferring a toner image from the image carrier to the transfer sheet. A conveying guide is included to guide and covey the transfer sheet separated from the image carrier to a fixing unit. The conveying guide includes a guiding member to direct the conveying direction of the transfer sheet upward when the leading edge of the transfer sheet contacts the guiding member and to convey the transfer sheet at a part of the conveying guide or the guiding member in a position higher than the position of the leading edge of the transfer sheet contacting the conveying guide or the guiding member, so that the contact area between the transfer sheet and the image carrier increases.

Abstract: An image-forming machine includes a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed; a charger for electrically charging the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to a predetermined polarity; a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image; a transfer device for transferring the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum onto a transfer paper; a fixing roller for heat-fixing the toner image transferred onto the transfer paper by the transfer device; and a cooling fan for blowing cooling air to the surrounding area of the fixing roller. A guide plate having a plurality of openings formed along its length, guides the transfer paper onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer device, to the fixing roller.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the feeding of an insert by a first drive mechanism with a sheet feed by a second feed mechanism and the first feed mechanism is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing the sheet in operable contact with the second feed mechanism at a first position, traversing the sheet sequentially with the second feed mechanism and the first feed mechanism, advancing the sheet toward a second position in cooperation with a first sensor adjacent one of the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism, placing the insert in operable contact with the first feed mechanism at a third position subsequent to the first sheet being in cooperation with the sensor, and advancing the insert into a fourth position within the first feed mechanism positioned closely behind the sheet positioned at a fifth position within the first feed mechanism.

Abstract: A photocopier having a duplex copy unit unable to stack a plurality of recording media thereon, wherein an image scanner is controlled such that the scanner reads the first document, then reads the first document and the second document alternately, and finally reads the second document. A medium feed device and the duplex copy unit are controlled such that one recording medium is fed from the medium feed device, then recording media are alternately fed from the medium feed device and duplex copy unit one at a time, and finally one recording media is fed from the duplex copy unit, thereby reducing the period of time necessary for reproducing the images of a document or documents on both sides of recording media and enhancing the productivity of the copier.

Abstract: In a conveyance path made up of guide plates which guide a copy sheet to a transfer region between a photoreceptor and an opposing transfer device and a second guide plate for conveying the copy sheet to a fixing rollers, the guide plates and the fixing rollers including a pre-fixing guide, which all will be in contact with copy sheets, are grounded via a common resistor having a high resistance. An adjuster resistor is interposed in series between the common resistor and the guide plates positioned before transfer which are closer from the transfer region compared to the fixing rollers. When a copy sheet resides across the transfer region with both sides in contact with the guide plates and fixing rollers or with one side in contact, the total current that flows during a transfer operation is practically determined by the common resistor which has a high resistance.

Abstract: There is provided a document reader system for reading images of a large number of document papers while continuously feeding the document papers from an auto-feeder to a scanner so that image data read by the scanner can be supplied to a computer, which can easily meet various requirements of different users, easily satisfy a user having only a scanner and planning to purchase a microfilm camera additionally, reduce space needed for installing the whole system without providing double auto-feeders and stackers for the scanner and the microfilm camera, and which allows makers to easily provide various types of systems to meet user's requirements. The system includes a turn unit removably attached to the scanner so that the document papers passing through and ejected from the scanner can be returned to a stacker provided in the scanner. Each device portion of the system is formed as a unit so that various types of document reader systems can be obtained by combining necessary units.

Abstract: A substrate transport assembly having an air mover that moves air through an air housing such that a substrate is biased against a drive member. The substrate assembly further includes an air plenum that receives moving air and directs that air along a predetermined path. The air plenum expands when air is moving but is otherwise collapsed.

Abstract: An electrographic printer device is designed for printing web-shaped recording media (10) having different web widths in different operating modes, such as single-colored and multi-colored simplex printing, single-colored and multi-colored duplex printing and for simultaneously printing two recording medium webs in parallel operation. To this end, the units of the printer device such as intermediate carrier (11), transfer printing station (15) and fixing station (18) comprise a usable width of at least twice the web width of a narrow recording medium. The printer device further contains a deflection means (28) following the fixing station (18) and engageable as needed and having an allocated return channel to the transfer printing station (15) via which the recording medium (10) is turned and resupplied to the transfer printing station (15) in single-color or multi-color duplex mode.