Abstract: A gloss-imparting method that includes (a) applying heat and pressure to one side of a recording material having an image of toner formed on both sides, and fixing the image to the one side of the recording material; (b) cooling the one side of the recording material; (c) applying heat and pressure to the other side of the recording material, and fixing the image to the other side of the recording material; and (d) cooling the other side of the recording material, in the step (a), the fixing being performed such that a value of exp(?T·tan ?0) will be approximately 0.85 or less, where tan ?0 is a loss tangent of the toner when measured by dynamic viscoelastic measurement at a frequency of approximately 1 rad/sec at approximately the same temperature as a fixing temperature of the step (a), and T is a fixing time in the step (a).

Abstract: A method for printing media includes accumulating post processing instructions for printed media during printing operations, recording the post processing instructions on an information device, and playing back the post processing instructions for controlling offline post processing of the printed media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that executes print jobs in which images are printed on sheets; a sheet discharge tray that receives the printed sheets and partition sheets that partition the printed sheets; a transport unit that discharges the printed sheets and the partition sheets to the sheet discharge tray; a clock that measures the time; and a partition unit that controls the transport unit to discharge the partition sheet during the first interval between print jobs after a predetermined period of time based on the measurement results of the clock.

Abstract: An image recording system is configured in which a plurality of image recording apparatuses provided with a recording medium storage portion are disposed in a line, and a recording medium storage means shared by these image recording apparatuses is provided, and a recording medium that has been recorded by the plurality of image recording apparatuses is transported toward the recording medium storage means and stored in the recording medium storage means.

Abstract: Disclosed an image forming apparatus including: an image forming section to form an image on a sheet based on an input image data; an additional information position instruction section to instruct a position of an additional image indicating additional information to be formed with the image data; a sheet-cutting position instruction section to instruct a sheet-cutting position on the sheet; and a control section to calculate an image formable region where the additional image can be formed based on the sheet-cutting position instructed by the sheet-cutting position instruction section, to set the position instructed by the additional information position instruction section within the image formable region as a position where the additional image is formed, to combine the additional image with the image data at the set position, and to control the image forming section to form the combined image data on the sheet.

Abstract: In the printing and finishing of sheet-like objects, printing instructions are outputted to a printer. In accordance therewith, sheet-like objects are printed by the printer and are subsequently delivered by the printer directly to the finishing apparatus and then finished by the finishing apparatus. Output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer which are at least indicative of the printer capacity required for the printer to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer are registered. Sheet-like objects displaced by the printer are detected and signaled by the detector. At least periodically, production data in accordance with the signals received from the detector are generated. These data are at least indicative of a production quantity realized by the printer in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer. Depending on the production data, the output of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer is dosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a sheet discharging device and method of controlling the sheet discharging device are disclosed. They require no instructions from users and no recording materials for initial setting of a staple when the users exchange a staple cartridge.

Abstract: A control method for controlling a printing apparatus includes printing an image on a sheet by a printing unit, changing a sheet discharge position of the sheet printed by the printing unit, controlling the printing unit to execute a printing operation to continuously print an image of each page contained in image data of a plurality of pages on sheets in turn by a specified number of copies, changing the sheet discharge position after the printing operation is executed, and controlling the printing unit to execute the printing operation after the sheet discharge position is changed and then to discharge the sheets printed by the printing operation to the changed sheet discharge position.

Abstract: In replenishing a glue container with hot-melt glue, to enable stable supply of the glue in solid form without it clogging the resupply path from the hopper, provided are: a sheet retaining unit for retaining a sheaf in a glue application position; a glue applier in a hot-melt-glue-receiving container, disposed in the glue application position, for applying glue to an endface of a sheaf there; a heater, disposed in the glue container, for heating/melting the glue inside; a heater temperature controller; a resupply hopper above the glue container for replenishing it with solid glue; a vacuum ducting unit above the container and adjoining the resupply hopper, for suctioning up glue evaporation derivatives; and a control unit configured to run the vacuum ducting unit when the glue container is being replenished with glue, to prevent or mitigate invasion of evaporation derivatives into the resupply hopper.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus including, a sheet receiving section to receive sheets, a punching device to punch sheets; an accumulating section to accumulate sheets; a stitching device to stitch the sheets accumulated in the accumulating section; a sheet discharging section to which the sheets stitched by the stitching device are discharged; and a conveyance path to connect the sheet receiving section, the punching device, the accumulating section, and the sheet discharging section, wherein the conveyance path comprises an upper loop and a lower loop and has an S-shaped conveyance path to convey a sheet from the sheet receiving section to the accumulating section; and the punching device is arranged in the upper loop.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and the method thereof are provided. An image forming apparatus including: a main body configured to have an image forming unit which forms an image on a printing medium; an after-treatment unit connected to the main body, the after-treatment unit being configured to perform a predetermined after-treatment on a printing medium outputted from the main body; at least one main body output tray coupled to the main body; and a controller configured to detect whether or not the after-treatment unit is in a possible state to perform the after-treatment on the printing medium when the printing medium is predetermined to be outputted from the main body to the after-treatment unit, and to selectively output the printing medium to one of the after-treatment unit and the main body output tray according to the detected result.

Abstract: Reprographic device provides collated and uncollated subset finishing selections at the local Graphical User Interface to allow the user to program different types of finishing within a single job to construct mixed subset finished output. Subset finishing provides a user with the ability to select different finishing options, stapling/folding/offset/hole-punching to a portion of a larger job. Print jobs can make use of software based solutions to create custom print subset finishing. Methods allow different finishing options to be applied to portions of a larger collated or uncollated job from the local GUI. A new group of subset programming attributes can be made available on the local UI. A user can then construct a mixed subset job of both print and scanned images and apply custom finishing operations on each subset.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which an original reading portion is disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus main body, a feed portion is disposed in a lower portion of the apparatus main body, and a printing portion is disposed between the original reading portion and the feed portion as an image forming system, is configured as follows. A paper post-processing portion that can perform a plurality of types of paper post-processing for recording paper transported from the apparatus main body after printing by the printing portion is finished, and a discharge portion to which recording paper is discharged after paper post-processing by the paper post-processing portion is finished, are disposed in a space of the apparatus main body formed by the original reading portion, the printing portion, and the feed portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a discharge device, an air blow device and a detection device, wherein an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the height of the recording materials detected by the detection device is higher than a preset first detection position is smaller than an amount of blown air by the air blow device when the detected height of the recording materials is lower than the first detection position. Thereby, there is provided an image forming apparatus which is improved in the alignment of the recording materials on the stacking portion.

Abstract: A conveying device that conveys a sheet bundle with a flattened back-face portion includes a first conveying unit, a driving unit, and a second conveying unit. The first conveying unit retracts to a position where no driving force is exerted on the sheet bundle before a leading end of the sheet bundle formed in a flat spine shape enters, and abuts on the sheet bundle to exert conveying force after the leading end of the sheet bundle passes a conveying position. The driving unit moves the first conveying unit to retract to the position and to abut on the sheet bundle. The second conveying unit is positioned on an upstream side of the first conveying unit in a sheet bundle conveying direction and conveys the sheet bundle towards the first conveying unit.

Abstract: An image forming system which is capable of causing a clear coating apparatus to discharge processed sheets in proper page order, and improving usability and operability of the system by users. An image forming apparatus is set to perform single-sided image formation or double-sided image formation. A clear coating apparatus is set to perform single-sided clearing coating or double-sided clear coating. Whether to perform inverted discharge of sheets is controlled according to the settings of the image forming apparatus and the clear coating apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises a selection unit for selecting a post-processing apparatus that executes post-processing to a recording medium on which an image is formed from among a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, and a selection limitation unit for determining an insertion apparatus whose supply of the insertion medium to be limited for a selected post-processing apparatus and limiting selection of the insertion apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a holding portion that nips and holds a booklet, which includes folded sheets, by a pair of holding members opposite to each other; and a pressing portion that enters a gap between the pair of holding members, wherein the pressing portion presses the spine of the held booklet so as to deform the spine of the booklet; wherein the pressing portion has plurality of pressing members, each having a different thickness in the thickness direction of the booklet, and the pressing member capable of entering the gap between the pair of holding members, and having the thickness closest to the thickness of the booklet which is nipped and held by the pair of holding members is selected among the plurality of pressing members so as to perform the deforming process.

Abstract: There are provided a sheet processing apparatus which can perform a punching process while suppressing decrease in productivity, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus. In a third carry-in route R3 branching from a first carry-in route, a discharge roller and a buffer roller convey a sheet for which the punching process has been performed by a punching unit, so that an upstream end in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet for which the punching process has been performed precedes an upstream end in the sheet conveyance direction of a succeeding sheet following the sheet for which the punching process has been performed.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a holding portion that nips and holds a booklet, which includes folded sheets, by a pair of holding members opposite to each other, and a pressing portion that enters a gap between the pair of holding members to press a spine of the booklet held by the holding portion while moving along the spine of the booklet so as to deform the spine of the booklet, wherein the pressing portion changes its moving direction along the spine of the booklet and changes the pressing position thereof in the thickness direction of the booklet held between the pair of holding members, when the pressing portion deforms the spine of the booklet.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus includes a collecting device, a bookbinding path, a bundle conveying device for transferring the sheet bundle to a paste applying position and then to a cover binding position, a paste applying device for applying an adhesive to a spine part of the sheet bundle, and a cover feeding path. A cover binding device binds the sheet bundle with the adhesive to the cover sheet, and a cover binding control device controls the cover binding device. The cover binding device includes a back folding press member and a back abutting plate member. The cover sheet is sandwiched between the back abutting plate member and the spine part of the sheet bundle with a small gap between the back abutting plate member and the spine part. The cover binding control device adjusts a size of the gap depending on a thickness of the cover sheet when folded back.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first toner image forming portion which forms a toner image at a recording material and heats the recording material at which the toner image is formed, a second toner image forming portion which forms a toner image at the recording material heated at the first toner image forming portion and heats the recording material to which the toner image is formed, and a preliminary heating member which heats the toner image on an image bearing member of the second image forming portion before the toner image is transferred to the recording material.

Abstract: An image-heating device has a detector for detecting the state of a recording medium at a position between a first fixing unit and a second fixing unit along a conveying path of the recording medium and a controller for controlling a fixing condition of the second fixing unit on the basis of the information obtained by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixer including a heating member and a pressure member, a reverse transport part to forward a recording medium transported from the fixer to the image forming part, a toner image sensor to detect presence of a toner image on the recording medium, and a controller. When a glossy image formation mode is selected and no toner image is detected on the recording medium, the image forming part does not form a toner image on the recording medium, the fixer performs a first heating and pressing process and transports the recording medium to the reverse transport part, the reverse transport part transports the recording medium to the image forming part, the image forming part forms a toner image on the recording medium transported from the reverse transport part, and the fixer performs a second heating and pressing process and fixes the toner image thereon.

Abstract: An image forming system has an image forming apparatus which has a printing unit which can perform a printing process of data of a storage unit which can store data of a plurality of jobs and which has a conveying unit which can convey a sheet from the print unit to a sheet processing device which can perform sheet processing, including at least a gluing process, for sheets from the printing unit, the system comprising: a controller adapted to permit a predetermined process related to the gluing process when the job to be processed is a job which meets a predetermined condition, and to inhibit the predetermined process related to the gluing process when the job to be processed is not a job which meets the predetermined condition, thereby overcoming obstacles to realization of an image forming system capable of a gluing process.

Abstract: A sheet folding path for performing folding processing on a sequentially fed sheet to carry to the downstream side is made small and compact. An apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet from a carry-in entrance 2 to guide to a carrying-out exit is provided with a first transport path 4 for guiding a sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit without performing folding processing, a second transport path 5 for performing folding processing on a sheet from the carry-in entrance 2 to guide to the carrying-out exit, folding processing means 8 disposed in the second transport path 5 to fold the sheet from the carry-in entrance 2, and control means for controlling driving of sheet transport means disposed in the first transport path 4 and the second transport path 5.

Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet; an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet; a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet; a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member. An exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print-medium post-treatment apparatus, in which a converting guide to guide a print medium to any one of a first delivery path and a second delivery path is operated upon receiving rotational force from a delivery motor for delivery of the print medium. This enables omission of a drive device to operate the converting guide.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an LEP print engine includes a post image transfer finishing unit configured to alter a surface texture of the toner image on a print medium to a more uniform surface texture. In one embodiment, an LEP print engine includes a post image transfer finishing unit configured to simultaneously apply heat and pressure to the toner image on the print medium.

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

Abstract: An electrophotographic device is provided for transferring a copy of an image from at least one first media sheet to at least one second media sheet. The device has a height, a width, and a depth defining a device external dimension, and also a width and depth defining a horizontal footprint of the device. The device includes a body adapted to receive therein at least one interchangeable media output module, which module when placed at a predetermined operating position is integrated into the path of travel of a media sheet passing through the device. A variety of interchangeable media output modules may be provided, including without limitation a multi-bin mailbox module, an automated media fastener module, an offset media stacker module, and combinations thereof. Advantageously, inclusion of one or more of the interchangeable media output modules does not alter the electrophotographic device external dimension and/or footprint.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that facilitate permitting a high-speed marking system or printer to run at maximum speed without being impeded by a relatively slow, low-speed finisher. A plurality of low-speed finishers are coupled to the high-speed marking system in a tandem, and optionally parallel-tandem, arrangement, where the number of finishers is equal to or greater than the ration of the maximum operating speed of the marking system to individual finisher maximum operating speed. In this manner, a low-cost solution is provided to overcome bottleneck problems associated with low-speed finishers.

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

Abstract: A punching apparatus having a punching member which effects punching on a sheet, and a driving mechanism which moves the punching member in a sheet width direction intersecting with a sheet conveying direction. On the basis of the difference between the position of a current sheet and the position of a next sheet succeeding thereto detected by a detecting sensor which detects the position of each conveyed sheet in the sheet width direction, at a position upstream of the punching member, the punching member is moved by the driving mechanism along the sheet width direction from a punching position for the current sheet to a punching position for the next sheet.

Abstract: When a sheet is brought into a sheet storage section (12), a fan 126 creates an air current towards the sheet storage part (12), and when the sheet is discharged from the sheet storage section (12), the fan stops air blow. Whereby, the conveyance of the sheet to the sheet storage section (12) is guided, and discharging of the sheet from the sheet storage section is smoothly carried out.

Abstract: A document is made which consists of a large number of recording sheets whose originality can be certified with reliability. Different specific images are respectively formed on a plurality of recording sheets of recording sheets outputted in constant order. Confirmation holes are formed on recording sheets at higher levels than the recording sheets with the specific images formed thereon, in positions in conformity with the positions of the specific images. When a document made by stacking those recording sheets is seen from the top, and the specific images are visible through the confirmation holes, the originality of the document can be certified. When the specific image is invisible through the confirmation hole, it is found that the document has been changed due to missing of part of the recording sheets, a change in order of the recording sheets, or the like, and hence the originality of the document cannot be certified.

Abstract: A sheet humidifier which executes a humidifying process to a sheet, the sheet humidifier including: a pair of humidifying rollers each of which has a first surface layer formed of rubber containing plasticizer, the pair of humidifying rollers nipping and conveying the sheet; and two water supply rollers each of which has a second surface layer formed of rubber containing the same kind of plasticizer as the plasticizer of the first surface layer, the two water supply rollers contacting each of the pair of humidifying rollers and supplying water to the each of the pair of humidifying rollers, wherein a hardness of the first surface layer is higher than the second surface layer.

Abstract: An image forming system comprises a selection unit for selecting a post-processing apparatus that executes post-processing to a recording medium on which an image is formed from among a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, and a selection limitation unit for determining an insertion apparatus whose supply of the insertion medium to be limited for a selected post-processing apparatus and limiting selection of the insertion apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, a sheet finisher and an image forming system; each of them including: a display for displaying a work item for a maintenance in the form of a guidance display; a detection section for detecting whether the work item is executed or not; an energization controller for supplying/blocking power supply to electric components to be maintained; a connection judging section for judging whether the electric components are electrically connected with the power supply or not; and a controller for controlling the display to switch displays of the work item and for controlling the energization controller, in accordance with a detection result of the detection section; wherein the controller causes the display to display an alarm and a guidance display of a corresponding work, according to a judgment of the connection judging section.

Abstract: A system for printing a multi-layer document includes no less than two continuous feed simplex printing devices that each print on no more than one of a plurality of media webs. An in-line post-processing device merges the media webs into a multi-layer document. The system also may have a controller that controls the printing devices and the post-processing device from a single synchronized dataflow. A method prints a multi-layer document, including the steps of simultaneously printing on no less than two media webs by a plurality of roll fed printers that each print on only one of the media webs; and merging the media webs from the plurality of roll fed printers in an inline post-processing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus which includes a punch portion punching a hole at an end part of a sheet, and a push-out member discharging the sheet by pushing the end part of the sheet where the punch process is performed by the punch portion; and the push-out member discharges the sheet at a sheet discharging speed lower than a predetermined speed from the intermediate process tray in accordance with punch process information (i.e., combination of a size and a type of the sheet and number, a shape and a size of holes) that strength of a sheet end part is decreased by the punch process, and is lower than predetermined sheet strength capable of being discharged at the predetermined speed.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus including an adhesive coating section which coats an adhesive onto a spine of a sheet bundle that a plurality of sheets are bundled, by relatively moving the adhesive coating section and the sheet bundle, adheres a cover sheet onto the spine of the sheet bundle onto which the adhesive has been coated by the adhesive coating section. The adhesive coating section includes: a coating member which coats the adhesive storing in ah adhesive tank onto the spine of the sheet bundle; a scraping member which scrapes the adhesive coated onto the spine of the sheet bundle; and a reservoir which stores the adhesive scraped by the scraping member.

Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus comprising: a supplier which supplies solid adhesive to an adhesive tank; a melting section which melts the solid adhesive supplied to the adhesive tank; a coating member which coats the adhesive melted in the adhesive tank to an end face of a booklet; and a separating section which separates between a place in which the solid adhesive is supplied by the supplier and the coating member in the adhesive tank.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming device having an image forming section that forms image on a recording medium based on image information and ejects the recording medium; a post-processing device that performs post-processing on a recording medium, the post-processing device having a sheet feeding section to load the recording medium; a power switching device to turn on power to the image forming system; a post-processing operation setting device for setting post-processing dedicated mode to execute post-processing on the recording medium loaded on the sheet feeding section; and a controller that executes startup operation for setting only the post-processing device into an operable state and prohibits startup operation of the image forming section of the image forming device when power has been turned on via the power switching device and the controller has detected that the post-processing dedicated mode has been set via the post-processing operation setting device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming apparatus; finishing apparatuses; and a conveyance unit apparatus; wherein the image forming apparatus include: a control section to judge which of the finishing apparatuses performs finishing to transmit a judgment result to the conveyance unit apparatus, and the conveyance unit apparatus includes: placement sections, a conveyance path, discharging sections, discharging-section switching sections among which a discharging-section switching section corresponding to a discharging section discharging the sheet is switched, and a control section to judges the discharging section which discharges the sheet on the basis of the judgment result to switch the discharging-section switching section so that the sheet is discharged to the judged discharging section.

Abstract: The presence/absence of a printing failure on a printed product is accurately detected to prevent a defective product from mixing in printed products to be delivered to a customer. In order to achieve this object, a printing processing method according to this invention includes steps of inputting first image data, executing the printing process for a printing medium based on the first image data, reading the printing medium on which the first image data is printed to obtain second image data, specifying a determination area to be used to determine the presence/absence of a printing failure in the second image data based on a processing content after the printing process for the printing medium, and determining the presence/absence of the printing failure by comparing the first image data and the second image data corresponding to the determination area.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying motor for conveying a sheet along a conveying path, a skew detecting unit configured to detect a quantity of skew of the conveyed sheet, a hole punching section arranged downstream from the skew detecting unit, an attitude control unit configured to carry out skew correction by changing tilt angle of the hole punching section in accordance with the quantity of skew, a detecting unit configured to detect the forward edge and the rear edge of the sheet conveyed into the hole punching section, and a control unit configured to control the conveying motor to control the conveying speed of the sheet. During a period from when the detecting unit detects the forward edge of the sheet until the detecting unit detects the rear edge, the sheet is decelerated from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is controlled such that the amount of heat supplied to an outer surface recording sheet to be placed onto an outer surface of a book document for fixing a toner image thereon is greater than an amount of heat supplied to each of the other recording sheets to be placed onto an inner side of the book document for fixing a toner image thereon.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a conveying unit, which conveys a sheet; a stacking unit on which the conveyed sheet is stacked; a processing unit, which processes the stacked sheet; a buffering unit, which allows the sheet conveyed to the stacking unit by the conveying unit to pass, and buffers a predetermined number of sheets to be passed during an operation of the processing unit; a transferring unit, which receives the buffer sheets and transfers the predetermined number of buffer sheets from the buffering unit to the stacking unit; and a controlling unit, which controls a sheet conveying speed to make a speed when the transferring unit transfers the buffer sheet lower than a speed when the transferring unit receives the buffer sheets to prevent the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit from interfering the transferring unit during an operation of transferring the sheet.

Abstract: A configuration of an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and at least one of a paper feed apparatus and a post-process apparatus is defined based on system configuration information including a combination of identification information for the apparatuses and setting information for the order of arrangement of the apparatuses corresponding to the identification information without using a dedicated line connection.