Abstract: The present invention aims to shift a printing apparatus to a job processable state by releasing a manual stapling mode in response to an execution instruction of a predetermined job requested by a user. To achieve this, a control method of the printing apparatus comprises: printing an image on a sheet by executing a job; transporting the sheet on which the image was printed, to a post-processing apparatus; causing the post-processing apparatus to perform a post-process; shifting the printing apparatus to a mode of permitting to perform the post-process to the sheet inserted by a user; and controlling, in a case where an execution request of the job is newly accepted, to release the mode according to a kind of the job.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus that includes an image reading portion, a tray, a first regulation member movable in a width direction on the tray, a second regulation member movable in association with the first regulation member, a first rotating portion and a second rotating portion that are each capable of being rotated by a sheet on the tray, and a sensor portion configured to generate a signal based on rotations of the first and second rotating portions. The first rotating portion is located between the first regulation member and the second regulation member that regulate both edges of a sheet having a minimum width, and the second rotating portion is located between the other edge of a sheet having a smaller width and the first regulation member, when sheets having different widths are supported on the tray with each having one edge aligned with the first regulation member.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit that folds a sheet, a sheet storing unit that stores the sheet folded by the folding unit, a post-processing unit that performs a non-fold process on the sheet transported from the folding unit, a path select unit that switches the sheet destination to the sheet storing unit or the post-processing unit, and a control unit that detects whether there is a fold process command and/or a non-fold process command, and controls the path select unit according to the detecting result. The control unit controls the path select unit to switch the sheet destination to the post-processing unit when there is a non-fold process command, regardless of a fold process command.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for forming first folding and second folding in a sheet enables the sheet to be folded in an accurate fold position in second folding, when the front end of the sheet which is first folded in a nip position of a first folding roller pair and transported strikes a stopper member, a guide member guides a fold to undergo second folding of the first-folded sheet to a nip position of a second folding roller pair, and second folding is formed.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a sheet-bundle forming unit that stacks plural sheets and forms a sheet bundle; a binding unit that forms a cut in the sheet bundle, forms a tongue in the sheet bundle by cutting part of the sheet bundle into a predetermined shape so that a first end remains uncut and continues to the sheet bundle, and binds the sheet bundle by folding the tongue and inserting a second end of the tongue into the cut; a transport unit that transports the sheet bundle; a stack unit that stacks the sheet bundle; and a position change unit that changes a position of binding processing performed on the sheet bundle so that the tongue formed in the sheet bundle stacked on the stack unit does not contact another tongue formed in another sheet bundle stacked on the stack unit.

Abstract: A sheet placement unit on which a plurality of sheet bundles having been produced by folding a plurality of sheets are stacked while being overlapped. The sheet placement unit includes a sheet placement section on which the folded sheet bundle having been provided with a folding process is loaded, the sheet placement section being inclined so that a downstream side of the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction is higher than another side, a sheet conveyance device to convey the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction while the plurality of sheet bundles are overlapped, and a sheet holding device provided swingably above the sheet placement section, the sheet holding device comprising a sheet contacting section which comes in contact an upper surface of the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glossing device with a cooling and separating belt which has a high wear resistance and is allowed to maintain the initial surface property over a long period of time. In the glossing device, the cooling and separating belt has a front surface formed of a cured resin containing a structural unit derived from urethane(meth)acrylate (A) having three or more (meth)acryloyloxy groups per molecule, a structural unit derived from a polyfunctional monomer (B) having three or more (meth)acryloyloxy groups per molecule and no urethane bond, and a structural unit derived from fluorine-modified acrylate (C). The cured resin contains 18 to 63% by mass of the structural unit derived from the urethane(meth)acrylate (A), 18 to 63% by mass of the structural unit derived from the polyfunctional monomer (B), and 10 to 40% by mass of the structural unit derived from the fluorine-modified acrylate (C).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that prints a plurality of manuscript data onto sheets and folds the printed sheets into N (2?N) equally sized divisions is equipped with: a manuscript size obtaining section that obtains sizes of the manuscript data; a reference size obtaining section that obtains a first reference size, set based on a unit size equal to the size of the sheets divided into N divisions, and M reference sizes, set based on the unit size multiplied by M (2?M?N); and an arrangement setting section that arranges manuscript data of the reference size or less at single surfaces from among a plurality of printing surfaces of the sheets formed by the sheets being folded, and arranges manuscript data of an (M?1)th reference size or greater and an Mth reference size or less at M continuous surfaces from among the plurality of surfaces.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a receiving unit configured to receive a job, an acquisition unit configured to acquire print setting information from the received job, a detection unit configured to detect, when there is a tab sheet print command included in the acquired print setting information, an image orientation and a binding position, a determination unit configured to determine an alignment order of tab sheets based on a relationship between the detected image orientation and binding position, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet from a tab sheet bundle of the alignment order determined by the determination unit, and a printing unit configured to perform printing on the fed sheet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image to be printed on a sheet; an apparatus main body including the image forming unit therein; a recessed section provided on the outer side of the apparatus main body; and a clip unit configured to clip, when the sheet is inserted into the recessed section, an end of the sheet with a paper clip.

Abstract: A sheet of paper is set on a paper-supplying portion of a back surface gloss processing apparatus while its top surface is faced upward. A gloss level sensor measures a gloss level of a back surface of the sheet of paper. Data of this measurement is compared with a previously set threshold value. When this measurement result does not exceed the threshold value, it is determined that the gloss processing has not been performed on the back surface thereof. It is then determined whether or not the presently set operation mode is a top surface gloss processing mode. When determining that the present operation mode is not the top surface gloss processing mode, the operation mode is automatically changed from a presently set back surface gloss processing mode to the top surface gloss processing mode.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a document conveyance path, a transparent member, a guide member, a transparent sheet member and a first pressing member. The second housing is openable and closable with respect to the first housing. The document conveyance path is arranged in the second housing and conveys a document passing through a first position. The guide member is arranged on the transparent member at a side downstream of the first position. The transparent sheet member is arranged on the transparent member to cover the first position. The first pressing member is arranged to cover a part of the transparent sheet member upstream of the first position from above and presses the transparent sheet member. An end portion of the first pressing member is arranged inwardly of an end portion of the transparent sheet member in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image elimination apparatus includes a first reader configured to read a status of a sheet, a first judgment portion configured to judge whether the read sheet is reusable or not, an image eliminator configured to eliminate an image formed on the sheet, a second reader configured to read the sheet passing through the image eliminator, a second judgment portion configured to judge whether the image formed on the sheet is eliminated or not, and a controller configured to control the first reader and the second reader so as to read with different reading precision.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sheet path, an creasing member positioned on a first side of the sheet path, and a base positioned on a second side of the sheet path opposite the creasing member. The base is positioned relative to the creasing member so that a sheet of print media passes along a processing plane between the creasing member and the base when traveling in a processing direction along the media path. The processing plane is parallel to flat sides of the sheet of print media as the sheet of print media passes between the creasing member and the base. The base comprises a surface positioned parallel to the processing plane. The surface of the base has a recess having a shape corresponding to the creasing member. The surface of the base rotates in the processing plane.

Abstract: A print control program comprising: a first step of waiting until one or more of post-treatment functions is selected, or until a start instruction is entered; a second step of determining whether a specified post-treatment function of the post-treatment functions is selected, when the start instruction is detected; and a third step of enabling one or more of resource saving functions to be selected only if the specified post-treatment function is not selected, and of starting printing if another start instruction is detected after enabling the resource saving function/s to be selected.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus configured to cut a sheet or a sheet bundle includes a cutting blade whose blade surface has a plurality of grooves. In the cutting apparatus, a scraping member enters the grooves provided on the blade surface to scrape off cutting scraps remaining after a cutting operation. Accordingly, the cutting apparatus can scrape off cutting scraps from the cutting blade even if the adhesive force of the cutting scraps is great.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a feed-in path through which a sheet is fed, a first transport path through which a sheet fed from the feed-in path is transported, and a second transport path through which a sheet fed from the feed-in path is transported. The sheet processing apparatus also includes the following elements. A first processor sequentially stacks sheets output from the first transport path and performs first processing on a bundle of stacked sheets. A second processor sequentially stacks sheets output from the second transport path and performs second processing, which is different from the first processing, on a bundle of stacked sheets. A common retention path causes a sheet fed through the feed-in path to temporarily remain on the common retention path and causes the sheet temporarily remaining on the common retention path to be output to one of the first and second transport paths.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus controls an order of processing executed by a printing apparatus for print jobs included in a first print job group and print jobs included in a second print job group. A detection unit detects a first and second print job included in the first print job group, wherein the second print job has common paper information with the first print job. A control unit arranges processing orders of the detected first and second print jobs to be successive to each other, and arranges a processing order, within the second print job group, of a third print job, which is included in the second print job group and is grouped by a predetermined category together with the first print job, to be equivalent to the processing order of the first print job within the first print job group.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first unit having a guide device for guiding a sheet, a second unit having a first post-processing device for performing post-processing on the sheet, and a third unit having a second post-processing device for loading sheets and performing post-processing on the sheets in bunch form placed on the processing tray. A first coupling device is provided for coupling the first unit and at least one of the second and third units. A second coupling device is provided for coupling the second unit and the third unit. The second unit and the third unit are capable of being pulled out in the sheet carrying-out direction with respect to the first unit by releasing the first coupling device. The entire or front side of the second unit is shiftable to the first unit side with respect to the third unit by releasing the second coupling device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus connected to a conveying-speed-changeable sheet post processing device includes a discharging unit which discharges a sheet in a reverse discharge mode with front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and a non-reverse discharge mode without front and back surfaces of the image-formed sheet reversed, and discharges the sheet at a first speed or a second speed lower than the first speed; and a control unit which controls the discharging unit to discharge the sheet at the first speed in the reverse discharge mode and at the second speed in the non-reverse discharge mode. When the sheet is discharged at the second speed, the control unit controls the discharging unit to discharge a subsequent sheet at the second speed even if the subsequent sheet is to be discharged in the reverse discharge mode.

Abstract: A printing system includes, for example, a printing apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, and a plurality of dollies which are assigned different dolly identification information and used to stack the sheet discharged from the discharging port of the printing apparatus. The printing system also includes a designation unit which designates a dolly to be used for a print job, and an output unit which outputs alert information when the dolly designated by the designation unit is not allocated at the discharging port.

Abstract: The recording material post-processing device includes a post-processing mechanism, and additional post-processing mechanism and a transport control unit. The post-processing mechanism performs a post-process for a recording material transported from one branched transport path of an image forming device. The additional post-processing mechanism performs an additional post-process other than the post-process performed by the post-processing mechanism for the recording material transported from the other branched transport path of the image forming device. The transport control unit controls transport of the recording material such that the post-process using the post-processing mechanism is performed after the post-process using the additional post-processing mechanism is performed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a folding processing unit that folds a sheet by reversely rotating a second conveying member in a condition in which the sheet is held by a first and the second conveying members; a calculating unit that calculates an amount of deflection of the sheet held by the first and second conveying members from timings at which the sheet is detected by first and second detecting units disposed upstream of the first conveying member and downstream of the second conveying member and a distance between disposed positions of the first and second detecting units; and a control unit that sets, from the calculated amount of deflection of the sheet, an amount of conveyance for the first conveying member in a direction opposite to a sheet conveying direction in a condition in which the sheet is held by the first and second conveying members.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which prevents evaporation of moisture applied to a sheet by virtue of an aqueous solution containing a deliquescent material, and maintains a state in which curling or wavelike distortions are reduced. The structure of the image forming apparatus is characterized by including an image forming parts that forms toner images on paper sheets, and a fixing device which thermally fixes a toner image onto a sheet, and an aqueous solution applying portion which applies an aqueous solution to the sheet, the aqueous solution applying portion applies the aqueous solution containing a deliquescent material which prevents moisture evaporation to a sheet having a toner image thermally fixed thereonto by a fixing device.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes a transport section transporting a sheet; a load section loading the sheet thereon; a first aligner moving the sheet while being in contact with a surface thereof to align the sheet; a second aligner moving the sheet while being in contact with an edge thereof to align the sheet; an alignment controller controlling the aligners to align the sheet based on a first mode in which they simultaneously align the sheet, and based on a second mode, for every predetermined number of sheets, in which one aligner aligns the sheet after the other aligner completes the alignment process; and a transport controller causing the transport section to transport the sheet at a reduced speed for every predetermined number of sheets so that the sheet reaches the load section after completion of the second-mode alignment process performed after a previous sheet is loaded on the load section.

Abstract: A post-processing device includes: a casing having an opening; a processing mechanism performing a process on a recording medium; an outputting unit including a contacting member contacting the recording medium and a moving member moving between a contact position to contact the recording medium and a non-contact position not to contact the recording medium and coming close to the contacting member when moving to the contact position, the outputting unit outputting the recording medium via the opening when the moving member is in the contact position; and a covering member moving between a covering position to cover the opening and an un-covering position to uncover the opening to pass the recording medium. When the processing mechanism performs the process, the covering member moves to the covering position, and after the process is performed, the covering member moves to the un-covering position while the moving member moves to the contact position.

Abstract: A method of a sheet alignment includes carrying a sheet from a sheet discharging port; transferring the sheet on a tray device toward a sheet end regulating device; moving the sheet on the tray device in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction for widthwise alignment; and abutting again the sheet on the tray device against the sheet end regulating device while the sheet is in the widthwise alignment. When the sheet on the tray device is transferred toward the sheet end regulating device, the sheet is transferred at a predetermined speed. Before the sheet abuts against the sheet end regulating device, the speed is reduced to provide a conveying force to the sheet without stopping. While the conveying force is continuously applied to the sheet, the sheet is aligned in the width direction to thereby prevent skewing of the sheet relative to the sheet end regulating device.

Abstract: The recording material post-processing device includes a post-processing mechanism, and additional post-processing mechanism and a transport control unit. The post-processing mechanism performs a post-process for a recording material transported from one branched transport path of an image forming device. The additional post-processing mechanism performs an additional post-process other than the post-process performed by the post-processing mechanism for the recording material transported from the other branched transport path of the image forming device. The transport control unit controls transport of the recording material such that the post-process using the post-processing mechanism is performed after the post-process using the additional post-processing mechanism is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bookbinding unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The bookbinding unit includes a bookbinding unit main body, a pair of stack trays disposed in the bookbinding unit main body so as to support print media on the upper surfaces of the stack trays and a folding knife movable in the space between the pair of the stack trays to fold the print media on the stack trays and to move the folded print media into the space between the pair of the stack trays. The pair of the stack trays is rotatable in conformity with the movement of the print media into the space between the stack trays to provide a surface contact guiding of the folded print media.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus capable of realizing a trial printing function that minimizes unnecessary consumption of time and supplies. Images that are inputted are accumulated in a memory. An output mode is set and a setting is made as to whether trial printing is to be carried out in the output mode or not. A CPU provides control to read out a corresponding image from the memory according to the set output mode and form the readout image on a sheet. When it is determined that the trial printing is to be carried out during image formation according to the set output mode, the CPU provides control to set the number of trial print pages according to predetermined conditions and carry out the trial printing for the set number of trial print pages.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a punching apparatus that has: a punching blade; an orthogonal direction movement portion that moves the punching blade in an orthogonal direction; a converting mechanism that converts rotational movement of a rotation member in a first rotation direction to reciprocating movement; a rotation driving portion that drives rotation of the rotation member; a rotation driving control portion; and an orthogonal direction movement control portion. The rotation driving control portion controls the rotation driving portion so as to move the punching blade toward a punching reference position when a reference position detection portion determines that the punching blade has moved beyond the punching reference position toward a through hole punching position, in a case where the punching blade is controlled so as to stop at the punching reference position.

Abstract: After a sheet has once passed through a punching position, a conveyance roller pair conveys the sheet backward to the punching position. A lateral registration detection sensor detects a side edge position of the sheet in a width direction. When a sheet processing apparatus corrects the side edge position of the sheet by controlling a shift unit for moving the sheet in the width direction so as to correct the side edge position of the sheet, the sheet processing apparatus sets a shifting amount of the sheet to a value that is a predetermined amount greater than a shifting amount required to correct the side edge position of the sheet according to the side edge position of the sheet detected by the lateral registration detection sensor. After the sheet has passed through the die hole the sheet processing apparatus sets the shifting amount to the required value.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming system including a feed tray, a printer unit, a first post-processing unit that performs first post-processing accompanying at least a change in a sheet size, a second post-processing unit that performs second post-processing other than the first post-processing, and a control unit that controls setting and performing feeding, outputting, and the post-processing of the sheet. In a case where the first post-processing and the second post-processing are set, the control unit acquires a feeding sheet size of a sheet fed from the feed tray, calculates a sheet size after the first post-processing based on the acquired feeding sheet size, and determines whether the set post-processings can be performed based on the calculated sheet size and a sheet size that can be processed by the second post-processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fusing a heat curable toner to a carrier sheet having said toner thereon. In the method, the toner is sandwiched between said carrier sheet and a movable fuser belt and heated to a first temperature by a first means, which first temperature is above a first glass transformation temperature of the toner. The toner is kept at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time by a second means, which elevated temperature is above the first glass transformation temperature, thereby raising the glass transformation temperature of the toner to a second glass transformation temperature. The apparatus has at least a first endless fuser belt, first heating means for heating the toner to a first temperature, second heating means located downstream of said first heating means for keeping the toner at an elevated temperature for a predetermined time and control means for controlling the first and second heating means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has a post-processing apparatus connected thereto and is capable of achieving the same level of improvement of sheet output productivity without buffering as that achieved with buffering, and an image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes sheet feeders containing sheets and a printer which forms an image on a sheet. The post-processing apparatus performs post processing on the sheets on which image formation has been performed. When double-sided printing for forming images on both sides of a sheet is performed for a plurality of sheets, a sheet circulation method in double-sided printing is selected between “alternate circulation” and “block circulation” according to information of post processing to be performed on the sheets, which is designated in a print job.

Abstract: In response to a predetermined user's instruction, predetermined post-processing is separated from a job adapted to cause a predetermined post-processor to perform the predetermined post-processing together with performance of print-processing.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises: an image forming apparatus and a post processing apparatus that performs a post process on sheets each carrying thereon an image printed by the image forming apparatus. In the image forming system, a sheet feeder feeds sheets of a job to be post-processed to a post processing position; a timing judger judges which is before/after, the first timing to finish feeding the last sheet of the job to the post processing position, or the second timing to finish making preparation for a post process; a delaying time calculator calculates a post process execution delaying time that is a time difference between the first timing and the second timing; and a sheet feed controller controls sheet feed timing of the top sheet of a following job by using the calculated post process execution delaying time, if the second timing is after the first timing.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus is connectable to a post processing apparatus for performing a post process to a sheet. The image formation apparatus includes: a power source for outputting a voltage to a first load and a second load, the first load being provided in the image formation apparatus and being involved in image formation, the second load being provided in the post processing apparatus and being involved in the post process; a power source controller for increasing the output voltage of the power source during an operation of the second load; and a load controller for controlling an operation of the first load such that an output of the first load falls within a predetermined range during the operation of the second load.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus that can process a folded sheet bundle, comprising: deforming processing means configured to perform deforming processing by deforming a folded spinal portion of the folded sheet bundle to form a substantially flat portion along the folded spinal portion; and cutting means configured to cut an edge portion, opposite to the folded spinal portion, of the folded sheet bundle, wherein the distance from the folded spinal portion of a folded sheet bundle to a position to be cut by the cutting means is shorter for a folded sheet bundle A having a particular thickness and having been subjected to the deforming processing than the distance from the folded spinal portion of the folded sheet bundle to a position to be cut by the cutting means for a folded sheet bundle B not subjected to the deforming processing but having the same thickness as folded sheet bundle A.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and a pair of second sheet ejecting rollers that eject a sheet on which an image is formed; a guide member that guides the sheet to the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers or the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers; a controller that performs control so that, while a sheet that is to be ejected by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers onto an ejected-sheet tray is being held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers in a stopped state, the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers is in a stopped state and hold an immediately subsequent sheet above the ejected-sheet tray; and a fan that moves air toward the sheet held by the pair of first sheet ejecting rollers and the immediately subsequent sheet held by the pair of second sheet ejecting rollers.

Abstract: There is a disclosure of a system which controls a folding unit performing folding processing to one set of sheets supplied by a print unit. The one set of sheets includes sheets of a first size and/or a second size which is smaller than the first size. The system includes a first controller and second controller. When the one set of sheets includes a sheet of the first size, the first controller inhibits the folding processing to a sheet of the second size. When the one set of sheets does not include a sheet of the first size but includes a sheet of the second size, the second controller permits the folding processing to a sheet of the second size.

Abstract: To provide a folding mechanism for folding a sheet with a simplified structure having no fear of causing a deviation from the fold position, wrinkle and the like, provided are a transport path 33 for transporting a sheet, and folding processing means 48 disposed in the transport path to fold the sheet. Then, the folding processing means is comprised of folding roll pairs (41b, 49, 50) coming into press-contact with one another to rotate in the opposite directions, and folding deflecting members (53, 54) for guiding the fold of the sheet to the nip portions (Np1, Np2) of the folding roll pairs. Then, the folding deflecting members are provided with driven rollers (53a, 54a) in contact press-contact with the roll periphery of one of the folding roll pair, and curved guides (53a, 54a) along the roll periphery of the other one.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, by which a failure in control does not occur even if cutting wastes are conveyed by a conveying unit and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus are provided. The sheet processing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a sheet, a dust box for accommodating the cutting wastes, a conveying belt pair which conveys the cut sheet, sensors for detecting the sheet conveyed by the conveying belt pair, and a controller for controlling conveyance of the sheet based on the signals detected by the sensors, wherein when the length of the sheet detected by the sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the controller does not determine the sheet as a sheet.

Abstract: A first folding portion includes: a first folding roller pair consisting of a common roller and a first roller; and a blade member that feeds a sheet to a first nip, thereby forming a first fold on the sheet in the first nip. A second folding portion includes a second folding roller pair consisting of the common roller and a second roller, thereby forming a second fold on the sheet in a second nip. The common roller and the first roller are parallel in a conveying direction in a case where the sheet is guided toward the first folding portion. A feeding portion evacuates the sheet to the evacuation guiding portion for evacuating the sheet that on which the first fold is formed, switches back the sheet, and then feeds the sheet into the second nip.

Abstract: A printing control device includes a data acquiring unit configured to acquire gloss-control plane data that indicates a plurality of types of surface effects to be applied to one page of a recording medium and areas to which the respective types of surface effects are to be applied in the one page of the recording medium. The types of surface effects correspond respectively to a plurality of types of post-processing that are incapable of being simultaneously performed on the one page of the recording medium by a post-processing device that performs post-processing for a clear toner transferred onto the recording medium. The printing control device also includes a determining unit configured to determine one of the types of post-processing to be preferentially performed on the one page of the recording medium, based on priority information that indicates which type of post-processing is to be preferentially performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (50) at least includes a paper output tray (80), an actuator (16) and a photo sensor (15). The actuator (16) is supported in such a manner as to be swingable above a paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80). The actuator (16) includes a fullness detection section (164) and a rear edge curling detection section (162). The fullness detection section (164) is disposed at a tip portion of the actuator (16), being configured so as to contact the uppermost paper on the paper output tray (80). The rear edge curling detection section (162) is formed so as to extend from the fullness detection section (164) toward a direction that gets further away from the paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80) toward a direction generally parallel to the paper loading surface of the paper output tray (80) and opposite to a paper conveying direction.

Abstract: An adhesive applicator is disclosed for the application of a hot melt adhesive to the spine of a book block so as to adhesively bind the book block to its respective cover so as to form a perfect bound book. The applicator has a heated head in which a small quantity of a hot melt adhesive sufficient to bind at least one book block to its cover is quickly heated to a temperature such that it may be applied to the spine. The head is brought into operative engagement with the spine and is moved with respect to the spine so that the melted adhesive forced (dispensed) out of the head onto the spine. This applicator is particularly well suited for use with print on demand book printing and binding apparatus. A method of applying the adhesive to the spine of a book block is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500.

Abstract: An image elimination apparatus includes a first reader configured to read a status of a sheet, a first judgment portion configured to judge whether the read sheet is reusable or not, an image eliminator configured to eliminate an image formed on the sheet, a second reader configured to read the sheet passing through the image eliminator, a second judgment portion configured to judge whether the image formed on the sheet is eliminated or not, and a controller configured to control the first reader and the second reader so as to read with different reading precision.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to provide a modification of the paper path in an image forming system including a plurality of printing modules, and having a simplex mode that an image is formed on a front surface of a continuous medium, and a duplex mode that an image is also formed on a rear surface of a continuous medium, the image forming system further comprises a bidirectional urge unit added in the middle of the paper path tunnel. Placement of a bidirectional urge unit allows the continuous medium to be transported in two directions.