Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: An efficient collator. The collator includes a first mechanism for selectively separating physical output from a device. A second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism and facilitates angling and/or rotating the first mechanism based on the physical output. In a specific embodiment, the second mechanism includes a controller that generates control signals to control the second mechanism to facilitate automatic positioning of the first mechanism about a curved track.

Abstract: An improved multi-function office machine having a paper-discharging space cover at an opening of a paper-discharging space, to prevent inflow of foreign substances into the multi-function office machine though the paper-discharging space. The multi-function office machine comprises a main body, a flat bed disposed at an upper portion of the main body to set a document, a flat bed cover with one end hinged to the main body to open and close the upper surface of the flat bed, a paper-discharging space disposed at a rear side of the main body to receive a printed paper, and having an opening at a top, and a paper-discharging space cover hinged to the rear side of the main body to open and close the opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printer body having a developing portion and a fixing portion therein, a plurality of sheet feeding rollers provided along a sheet discharge path successively and driven to discharge a sheet passing through the fixing portion to an upper portion of the printer body, and a rear cover provided on a side of the printer body to open and close, and having guide ribs to guide the sheet passed through the fixing portion. The image forming apparatus also includes an idle roller provided movably on the rear cover, to contact and rotate with one of the sheet feeding rollers to feed the sheet, and a supplementary guide member provided rotatably on the rear cover and positioned below the idle roller. The supplementary guide member changes a position thereof when the rear cover is open so that the sheet being discharged directly to the guide ribs is prevented from running into the idle roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second image carrying members, ejection trays, and a sheet transferring mechanism. The first image carrying member carries images in increasing order of corresponding sheet numbers. The second image carrying member carries an image transferred from the first image carrying member. The ejection trays include a first ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a straight or forward orientation, and a second ejection tray, which stacks output sheets in a reversed orientation. The sheet transferring mechanism transfers a recording sheet to the first and second image carrying members. The first and second image carrying members transfer images onto both first and second surfaces of the recording sheet, at the same time, in response to a selection between the first and second ejection trays in a double-sided recording mode so that the first and second ejection trays stack the recording sheets in increasing order of page numbers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image generating engine for forming a toner image and transferring the toner image onto a recording material in a transfer region; an upper supply tray disposed above the image generating engine and accommodating the recording material; and a fixing unit for thermally fixing the toner image transferred on the recording material in the transfer region of the image generating engine. The fixing unit is disposed between the image generating engine and the upper supply tray and includes a thermal fusing unit positioned at a location closer to a center of a case body of the image forming apparatus than sidewalls of the case body.

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: An optical reading apparatus and a multifunction-type image forming apparatus, with a minimized thickness in a cabinet height direction and a housing shaped along an upper shape of discharge tray of the image forming apparatus provided thereunder. The optical reading apparatus comprises: platen glass defined with one end and the other end, on an upper surface of which an original document is placed; an optical reading unit that translates between the both ends on a lower surface of the platen glass, for obtaining image data by irradiating an original document surface with light through the platen glass; a control circuit board connected to the optical reading unit, for processing an electric signal; and a housing wherein a side on the side of the other end is thicker than a side on the side of the one end.

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: A front access type image forming apparatus includes an image scanning section located at an upper part of a housing of the apparatus for obtaining image information from an original, a sheet feeding section located at a lower part of the housing, and an image forming section disposed between the image scanning section and the sheet feeding section at one side of the housing. The image scanning section, the image forming section and the sheet feeding section together form a generally U shape in frontal cross section, a sheet delivery portion being formed between the image scanning section and the sheet feeding section. The length of a sheet delivery tray as measured along a sheet transport direction is made smaller than the length of a maximum printable sheet size so that large-sized printed sheets discharged onto the sheet delivery tray stick out from one side of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a depth of field adjustment device and method for an automatic document feeder. The automatic document feeder has a guiding groove for placing an object to be scanned. The guiding groove has a scanning window for providing image picking-up for an optical chassis. An adjustable suppressing mechanism located at the guiding groove in corresponding to the scanning window may drive the object to be scanned to pass through an optimal depth of field height of the scanning window. First, at least a part of the pre-scanned object is fed in to be located between the adjustable suppressing mechanism and the scanning window. The depth of field height is then adjusted and changed by the adjustable suppressing mechanism. And, the image of the pre-scanned object is compared with a pre-stored image. After the pre-scanned objected has been judged to be located at the optimal depth of field height, the adjustable suppressing mechanism is fixed and the pre-scanned object is sent out.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image forming section and an image reader section disposed above the image forming section. A main casing that houses the image forming section is formed with a sheet discharge opening formed in either its front or rear surface. A sheet discharge tray is provided to the outside of the main casing at a position under the discharge opening. The sheet discharge tray holds sheets discharged through the discharge opening.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an upper body, an image reading device that is mounted in the upper body, a lower body that is placed under the upper body, an image forming device that is mounted in the lower body, a hinge member that connects the upper body and the lower body, at least one groove that is formed on the lower body, at least one link member that is connected to the upper body at one end and connected to the groove at the other end, and at least one elastic member that is connected to the lower body at one end and the link member at the other end. The groove has a first range where a moment to pivot the upper body to the close position is generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer material conveying apparatus for conveying a transfer material to which an image is fixed, comprising, an image surface roller located on an imaging surface side of the transfer material and disposed on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the transfer material of a heating member and a pressing member for fixing an image to the transfer material and a facing roller located in facing to the image surface roller and disposed on a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the transfer material of a heating member and a pressing member for fixing an image to the transfer material. The image surface roller has a length equal to or longer than an image area on the transfer material in a direction perpendicular to the transfer material conveyance direction, and wherein the facing roller is spaced from the image surface roller with a prescribed distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body having a document table portion on which a document is placed, a scanning unit provided inside the apparatus body to optically scan an image of the document placed on the document table portion, an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information scanned by the scanning unit, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming unit on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the developer image transferred by the transfer charger on the sheet, an ejecting roller for ejecting the sheet on which the developer image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside, a sheet receiving unit provided below the scanning unit inside the apparatus body to receive the sheet ejected from the ejecting roller, and a blowing unit for blowing cool air to the sheet receiving unit along a lower surface part of the scanning unit.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a double side printing function, paper on which printing has been completed is prevented from being caught between paper ejection rollers.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an ejection apparatus and methods are provided. In one representative embodiment an ejection apparatus includes a bar movable along a first axis and a carriage movable along a second axis which is distinct from the first axis. The bar which has an edge oriented along an angular position between the first axis and the second axis, is in physical communication with the carriage such that movement of the bar along the first axis causes movement of the carriage along the second axis.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet to be discharged, and an offset mounting member for offsetting a plurality of sheet bundles on sides in a sheet bundle takeout direction and in a direction opposite thereto, and mounting the offset bundles onto the sheet stacking member. The offset mounting member mounts the first sheet bundle on the side in the sheet bundle takeout direction. When there is a sheet bundle on the sheet stacking member, the first sheet bundle is mounted by offsetting the first sheet bundle in a direction opposite to that of the last sheet bundle mounted.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that: a demanded printing-job is accepted at a printing-job accepting unit, and a printing executing unit executes printing according to the accepted printing-job so as to produce an output sheet onto a discharge tray; an output-sheet detecting unit detects the presence of a printed output-sheet on the discharge tray; if the removal of discharged sheets from the discharge tray is detected, a printed-sheet mixture determining unit determines the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of demands are mixed among the removed output-sheets; and if it is determined the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of the demands are mixed among the output-sheets, warning information is produced by a warning voice producing unit.

Abstract: A printer has a main body, a back delivery unit, and a media turnover guide that is detachably or tiltably mounted on the main body. When mounted in an operable position, the media turnover guide delivers printed media face-down onto the top cover of the main body, where they can be easily retrieved. When the media turnover guide is mounted in an inoperable position or is detached, the printed media are delivered face-up to the back delivery unit. The media turnover guide may have a simple structure with a curved surface formed by a back wall and roof. The printer may also have a stacker for stacking the printed media delivered face-down.

Abstract: An aligning device movable to a first position constituting a first sheet stacking portion for supporting a delivered sheet and a second position in which the sheet is not supported is provided downstream of a pair of delivery rollers, and the pair of delivery rollers are designed to be capable of assuming a first state in which they are capable of delivering the sheet, and a second state in which rollers constituting the pair of delivery rollers are spaced apart from each other. When the pair of delivery rollers are in the first state and the aligning device is in the first position, a sheet aligning and stacking portion for making the alignment of the sheet by the aligning device possible is defined by the first stacking portion and the sheet transport path between a reference wall and the pair of delivery rollers.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of setting up a tab sheet mode-operating and configuring environment in which an effective tab sheet mode output can be obtained by simple selecting and designating operations, A designating device designates a type of sequence of tabs of each of tab sheet bundles set in the sheet feed devices such as cassettes 21a-21d and multi manual feed tray 27 etc. A determining device is responsive to a user's instruction for feeding tab sheets and selection of a combination of one of the sheet feed devices and one of the sheet discharge devices such as face-up discharge tray 2 and face-down discharge tray 3, for determining whether a combination of the selected sheet feed device, the selected sheet discharge device, and the type of sequence of tabs of the tab sheet bundle set in the selected sheet feed device is valid or not.

Abstract: An accessory for recycling paper receives paper, such as from a copy machine, marks that paper, and stores the marked paper for re-use and/or recycling.

Abstract: A printer prints on two sides of a sheet of paper having continuous pages, and discharges the paper to a postprocessor for disconnecting the paper in page units and storing the disconnected sheets of paper in a stack. Depending on whether the postprocessor has an inversion mechanism that inverts front and back sides of the paper, sides of the paper on which data for the front side of the paper and data for the back side of the paper are printed are switched. With this arrangement, even when the postprocessor does not have the inversion mechanism, the front side data is printed on the back side, and the back side data is printed on the front side thereby enabling the postprocessor to stack the disconnected sheets of paper in page units in the order of page numbers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a media reject device of a media dispenser including a media reject box being positioned in a receiving space of a main body and having a reject hole for inserting defective media, a door unit for opening/closing the reject hole, and a locking unit for unlocking the door unit when the media reject box is inserted into the receiving space, and locking the door unit when the media reject box is separated from the main body. The media reject device of the media dispenser consults user's convenience and prevents the media from being stolen.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a print media output device includes a frame, a rail integral to each side of the frame, an output receptacle extending between and mounted to the rails for movement thereon, and a quick release fastener connected to the frame. In another embodiment of the invention, a print media output device includes a rectangular frame, a horizontally oriented output receptacle extending between sides of the frame, and quick release fasteners connected to the top and bottom of the frame. In one embodiment, the quick release fasteners include key hole plugs and a quarter turn fastener.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that: a demanded printing-job is accepted at a printing-job accepting unit, and a printing executing unit executes printing according to the accepted printing-job so as to produce an output sheet onto a discharge tray; an output-sheet detecting unit detects the presence of a printed output-sheet on the discharge tray; if the removal of discharged sheets from the discharge tray is detected, a printed-sheet mixture determining unit determines the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of demands are mixed among the removed output-sheets; and if it is determined the possibility that sheets printed corresponding to a plurality of the demands are mixed among the output-sheets, warning information is produced by a warning voice producing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an apparatus body having a document table portion on which a document is placed, a scanning unit provided inside the apparatus body to optically scan an image of the document placed on the document table portion, an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information scanned by the scanning unit, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming unit on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the developer image transferred by the transfer charger on the sheet, an ejecting roller for ejecting the sheet on which the developer image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside, a sheet receiving unit provided below the scanning unit inside the apparatus body to receive the sheet ejected from the ejecting roller, and a blowing unit for blowing cool air to the sheet receiving unit along a lower surface part of the scanning unit.

Abstract: A representative embodiment provides for a sheet media level detection system, including a first level detector configured to provide a first signal corresponding to a first predetermined level of a first sheet media from a first source within an output tray, and a second level detector configured to provide a second signal corresponding to a second predetermined level of a second sheet media from a second source within the output tray. Another embodiment provides for a method including routing a first sheet media and a second sheet media from respective sources into a common output tray, and issuing a first signal in response to detecting a first predetermined level of the first sheet media using a first level detector, and issuing a second signal in response to detecting a second predetermined level of the second sheet media in the output tray using a second level detector.

Abstract: A rail support for a print media output receptacle, such as a paper tray, and a drive system for moving a print media output receptacle. In one embodiment, a frame for supporting a print media output receptacle includes a top, a bottom opposite the top and parallel side rails extending between the top and the bottom. The rails are configured to guide movement of the media output receptacle. In another embodiment, a print media output device includes a frame, a pair of vertically oriented rails disposed parallel to and opposite one another, each rail defining one side of the frame, a reversing motor supported by the frame, and a horizontally oriented output receptacle operatively coupled to the motor. The receptacle extends between and is mounted to the rails for movement thereon up and down at the urging of the motor.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a sheet conveyor and sheet processing unit for performing a predetermined process to the sheet conveyed by that sheet conveyor. A sheet discharger discharges the processed sheet to a stacking unit, the unit having a cover which may be opened or closed and which includes a detector for detecting whether or not the cover is opened and closed, and a controller will immediately stop, in a case where the discharge process to the sheet that is performed by the discharge unit, driving of the sheet discharge unit and sheet conveyor when it is detected that the cover is opened and for continuing, in a case where the discharge process to the sheet is not performed by the sheet discharge unit, the driving of the sheet conveyor in spite of the detection that the cover is open.

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 driving apparatus for a double-side printable office machine includes a first driving part driving a pickup/transport unit, developing unit, and a second reverse-transport roller of a double-side printing unit, and a second driving part driving a fixing unit, a first reverse-transport roller of the double-side printing unit, and a paper discharge unit, and a controller controlling the first and second driving parts. A driving method in the double-side printable office machine includes stopping a first driving motor of the first driving part as a rear end of a sheet passes through the developing unit and reaches a certain position of a paper transport path, and driving the first driving motor of the first driving part in a paper transport direction again as the sheet enters the paper return path and reaches a certain position of the paper return path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supply sections having a paper size sensor to detect a size of a print paper; an image forming section forming an image on the fed print paper; a paper discharge section stocking the print paper formed of the image and discharged; an auto fence located on the paper discharge section, and displacing the position of a width direction of the print paper stocked on the paper discharge section according to the paper size of the print paper fed from the paper supply sections; a storage section storing the image forming processing as the printing job in the image for one page unit; and a control section determining a sequence of each printing job stored in the storage section so that printing processing is executed in order from a printing job with the smallest paper size in the width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an abnormality detecting device for detecting the abnormality of the sheet, an abnormal sheet containing portion for containing therein the sheet of which the abnormality has been detected, a normal sheet containing portion for temporarily containing therein a normal sheet of which the abnormality has not been detected, and a controlling portion for controlling the image forming portion so that the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and that an image formed on the abnormal sheet may be formed on a predetermined subsequent sheet subsequent to the abnormal sheet. The normal sheet between the abnormal sheet and the predetermined subsequent sheet is contained in the normal sheet containing portion after the abnormal sheet is contained in the abnormal sheet containing portion, and the normal sheet contained in the normal sheet containing portion is delivered after the predetermined subsequent sheet has been delivered.

Abstract: A method and device for discharging paper, the paper discharging device having a rotary shaft rotating by a driving source, a hollow shaft into which the rotary shaft is slidably inserted, the hollow shaft rotating with the rotary shaft and reciprocating on the rotary shaft, a driving shaft disposed at a predetermined distance from and parallel to the rotary shaft to rotate with the rotary shaft, a driven gear rotatably disposed at the driving shaft and engaging a driving gear on an end of the rotary shaft, an electrical clutch selectively transmitting rotation power of the driven gear to the driving shaft, and a reciprocating portion reciprocating the hollow shaft according to rotation of the driving shaft. The paper is discharged in an oblique, rightward, or leftward direction with respect to a discharging direction due to the reciprocal movement of the hollow shaft, thereby stacking the paper on a stacker in a zigzag fashion.

Abstract: A front access type image forming apparatus includes an image scanning section located at an upper part of a housing of the apparatus for obtaining image information from an original, a sheet feeding section located at a lower part of the housing, and an image forming section disposed between the image scanning section and the sheet feeding section at one side of the housing. The image scanning section, the image forming section and the sheet feeding section together form a generally U shape in frontal cross section, a sheet delivery portion being formed between the image scanning section and the sheet feeding section. The length of a sheet delivery tray as measured along a sheet transport direction is made smaller than the length of a maximum printable sheet size so that large-sized printed sheets discharged onto the sheet delivery tray stick out from one side of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a latent image forming unit for forming a latent image on an image carrying body and a developing unit for visualizing the latent image formed on the image carrying body by using a developer. In the image forming apparatus, for the developing unit, a developer replenishment box is communicatively connected to a developing housing in which a developer is contained, and the developer replenishment box is disposed in an upstream of a latent image writing position P on the image carrying body. The developer replenishment box is contained in a process cartridge.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of performing post-processing so as to ensure that sheets on which images are formed and inserted sheets are aligned in orientation when performing sheet insertion processing and post-processing in combination. The image forming apparatus is capable of having attached thereto a finisher that performs post-processing on sheets with images formed thereon. An insertion sheet is placed on one of sheet supply trays and a manual feed tray. An operating/display section controller inputs a post-processing instruction for causing the finisher to perform post-processing. A placing direction in which the insertion sheet is to be placed on one of the sheet supply trays and the manual feed tray is instructed according to the post-processing instruction input by the operating/display section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a sheet transport path having an output part and an image forming part for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet discharging device located in the vicinity of the output part, and a sheet receiving part. The sheet discharging device discharges the sheet having an image formed thereon by the image forming part. The sheet receiving part receives the sheet discharged by the sheet discharging device. The sheet discharging device includes a discharging member, disposed in the vicinity of the output part, for transporting the sheet in a nipping manner, a drive force transmitting mechanism for driving the discharging member to rotate, and a discharge control unit for controlling the drive force transmitting mechanism when the sheet passes the discharging member so as to temporarily delay a time taken for sheet discharging by the discharging member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an apparatus body having a document table portion on which a document is placed, a scanning unit provided inside the apparatus body to optically scan an image of the document placed on the document table portion, an image forming unit for forming a developer image on a photosensitive drum in accordance with the image information scanned by the scanning unit, a transfer charger for transferring the developer image formed by the image forming unit on a sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the developer image transferred by the transfer charger on the sheet, an ejecting roller for ejecting the sheet on which the developer image is fixed by the fixing unit to the outside, a sheet receiving unit provided below the scanning unit inside the apparatus body to receive the sheet ejected from the ejecting roller, and a blowing unit for blowing cool air to the sheet receiving unit along a lower surface part of the scanning unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing stacks of printed sheets from falling apart which can occur when continuously printing stacks of sheets of different sheet sizes. A printing press is controlled to suspend printing for removal of printed sheets, to change the storage destination of the printed sheets or to change printing order, based on a result of sequential or simultaneous comparisons between print sizes of a plurality of print data and a previously determined permissible limit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a media reject device of a media dispenser including a media reject box being positioned in a receiving space of a main body and having a reject hole for inserting defective media, a door unit for opening/closing the reject hole, and a locking unit for unlocking the door unit when the media reject box is inserted into the receiving space, and locking the door unit when the media reject box is separated from the main body. The media reject device of the media dispenser consults user's convenience and prevents the media from being stolen.

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: A paper ejection unit included in a print apparatus for stacking printed paper to provide a print apparatus for making it possible to provide compatibility between large-capacity stacking of short-size paper frequently used and easiness of handling printed paper of large size. Attention is focused on the fact that the weight of paper that can be handled safely is determined by the paper stack height for each paper size, and it is made possible to change the paper stackable amount for each paper size by a paper stack table moved down gradually with an increase in the stack amount of printed paper and a paper stack table height detector for detecting the position of the paper stack table.

Abstract: A printer has a main body, a back delivery unit, and a media turnover guide that is detachably or tiltably mounted on the main body. When mounted in an operable position, the media turnover guide delivers printed media face-down onto the top cover of the main body, where they can be easily retrieved. When the media turnover guide is mounted in an inoperable position or is detached, the printed media are delivered face-up to the back delivery unit. The media turnover guide may have a simple structure with a curved surface formed by a back wall and roof. The printer may also have a stacker for stacking the printed media delivered face-down.

Abstract: An interlocked type paper collection support board of printer includes a paper-out board, an extension board, and a half stroke mechanism. The paper-out board is retractably installed on a main body of a printer. The extension board is also retractably installed on the paper-out board. The half stroke mechanism is installed between the main body of the printer, the paper-out board, and the extension board. Through interlocked motion of the half stroke mechanism, the paper-out board is simultaneously driven when a user draws the extension board. The paper-out board can thus be simultaneously positioned with the extension board with half the speed and displacement of the extension board.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having an image reading portion for reading an image, an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet delivery portion provided above the image reading portion, the image reading portion is provided with an original transporting portion for transporting an original, an original tray portion as an original pressing portion openable and closable upwardly relative to the original transporting portion and for pressing the original, and a delivery tray portion.

Abstract: A sheet sorting apparatus which easily sorts sheets into groups, and makes these groups readily distinguishable on a single output tray. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a sheet sorting apparatus located at the sheet outlet location of an image processing device, the sheet sorting apparatus including a marker attaching mechanism for attaching markers at a certain position on the output sheets. The marker attaching mechanism includes a tape feeding device in which the tape has an adhesive surface along one side edge, a cutter for making a marker by cutting the tape at a preset length, guides for positioning the marker in the proper location on the output sheet, a marker attaching roller, and a feeder for feeding the sheet and marker together. The feeder presses the marker against the sheet to attach it. The advantages of the invention include the markers for separating the groups being attached to the sheets, so they will not fall out if the sheets are removed from the output tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a sheet ejection section, provided in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, for ejecting a recording sheet onto an upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus; a sheet post-processing apparatus for receiving the recording sheet, ejected from the sheet ejection section, so as to perform a post-processing operation upon the recording sheet; and a coupler for coupling the sheet post-processing apparatus with the image forming apparatus so that at least a part of the post-processing apparatus is located on the upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus.