Abstract: A method of interrupting a printing operation in a continuous transport process in which a first roller and a second roller transports plural printing mediums including a first medium on a tray in a transport direction to a printing area at which the printing operation is performed to each printing medium, the second roller is arranged at a downstream side of the first roller in the transport direction, and a third roller comes in contact with the first roller at a contact point to transport the printing mediums together with the first roller and is separated from the first roller not to transport the printing mediums, the method includes: separating the third roller from the first roller, when a trailing end edge of the first medium at least apart of which is disposed in the printing area is located at an upstream side of a predetermined point in the transport direction, and driving the second roller to transport the first medium after the third roller is separated from the first roller.

Abstract: An image output device includes a marking engine and a media path adjacent the marking engine. The media path has a media transportation direction and a media transport element (e.g., a nip drive, a belt drive, a suction drive, an air pressure drive, etc.) within the media path that moves the media along the media path in the media transportation direction. A drive motor is operatively connected to the media transport element. The drive motor provides drive force in a forward direction that causes the media transport element to move media along the media path in the media transportation direction. The drive motor can also provide the drive force in a reverse direction opposite the forward direction. A one-way drive transfer device (e.g., a one-way clutch, a one-way swing arm mechanism, etc.) is operatively connected to the drive motor. The one-way drive transfer device only transfers drive force from the drive motor when the drive motor operates in the reverse direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a guide part guiding transportation of a recording medium after recording by a liquid droplet ejection head at a recording position, the guide part carrying plural spurs for holding the medium on which recording has been made at the recording position, the guide part being movable between a guide position in which the spurs are engaged with the recording medium and a release position in which the spurs are disengaged from the recording medium, wherein there is provided a protective member to the guide part such that the protective member is movable between a protective position protecting the spurs and a retracted position retracted from the spurs.

Abstract: A method for feeding a recording medium includes the steps of: feeding the recording medium along a sheet-feeding path by a unit feeding amount, detecting an entrance of a rear end of the recording medium into a jumping alarm area, dividing the unit feeding amount into minute divisional feeding amounts such that the recording medium is fed by each minute divisional feeding amount when the rear end of the recording medium enters the jumping alarm area, detecting a jumping amount of the recording medium corresponding to a rotation of a driving roller when a jumping phenomenon occurs in the recording medium, and adjusting the minute divisional feeding amount to cancel the jumping amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can perform stable sheet conveyance, regardless of whether a sheet processing apparatus is connected thereto. The image forming apparatus can be connected to a sheet processing apparatus that performs post processing on each conveyed sheet. The image forming apparatus includes: a pair of discharge rollers that are located at the discharge outlet of the image forming main body for sheet conveyance, and have rotational members arranged so as to alternately face both sides of each sheet in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction; and an upper discharge roller holding member that changes the center distance between the discharge rollers from a first center distance observed when the sheet processing apparatus is not connected to the image forming main body to a second center distance observed when the sheet processing apparatus is connected to the image forming main body to convey a sheet to the sheet processing apparatus.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a housing, a control lever and a sheet pick-up module. The housing includes a feeding path defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The control lever is mounted on the first sidewall, and includes a pivotal part, a collar and a handle part. The collar is arranged between the pivotal portion and the handle part. The sheet pick-up module includes a driving shaft mounted on the collar and the second sidewall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a print member for forming an image on a recording sheet while reciprocating in a predetermined direction includes a pair of conveyance rollers and a separating member for separating the of conveyance rollers from one another. A control lever for controlling the separating member is provided as is a changeover element for permitting the control lever to rotate when said print member moves in a predetermined direction and is not located at an interference area in which the print member would collide with the conveyance rollers if they were separated, and for prohibiting the control lever from rotating when the print member is located at the interference area.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a passage along which a recording medium with magnetic information recorded thereon can travel and an information read head disposed along the passage for reading the magnetic information. The apparatus also includes a first print head disposed on the first side of the passage and a second print head disposed on the second side of the passage. The first print head prints information on a first surface of the recording media based on data obtained by the information read head and the second print head prints information on a second surface of the recording media based on the data obtained by the information read head. Methods of processing a recording medium with magnetic information recorded thereon also are disclosed.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for plotting on sheets of different widths, such as by cutting and/or printing, a tool support holding a plotting tool, such as a pen or knife blade, is spaced apart from a laterally-extending sheet-supporting surface and movable in the y-coordinate direction over the sheet-supporting surface for plotting on the sheet. A first drive roller defining an abrasive surface is rotatably mounted adjacent to the sheet-supporting surface for engaging a first marginal portion of the sheet and driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction. A second rotatably-mounted drive roller is spaced laterally relative to the first drive roller, and defines an abrasive surface for engaging a second marginal portion of the sheet and further driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction.

Abstract: A cam 37 is rotated in an arrow F direction. This causes sheet conveyance rollers 10a, 10b and guide elements 33, 34 to rotate on a lower conveyance shaft 27 and an upper conveyance shaft 30, respectively, so that they are separated from a drive roller 12. Thus, a spur plate 21 faces the upward stream end with respect to the recording sheet conveyance direction and opens in synchronism with the sheet conveyance rollers 10a and 10b, etc. Accordingly, it is possible to readily remove a recording sheet subjected to the jam.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a printing drum which is rotated bearing thereon a stencil master, and a press roller which is pressed against the printing drum. A paper supply system supplies a printing paper to between the printing drum and the press roller so that the printing paper is conveyed pinched between the printing drum and the press roller. A paper supply controller controls the paper supply system so that the paper supply system supplies the printing paper to between the printing drum and the press roller at a first predetermined angular position of the printing drum for each rotation of the printing drum. The paper supply controller controls the paper supply system so that the printing paper supplied next by the paper supply system does not collide with the printing paper under printing when the printing paper is overlong.