An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.

For a printing apparatus, a first conveyance speed for a first printing medium is determined according to first print data to be printed on the first printing medium and a second conveyance speed for a second printing medium is determined according to second print data to be printed on the second printing medium that follows the first printing medium along a conveying path. In a case where the second conveyance speed is equal to the first conveyance speed, a conveyance operation of the second printing medium is started before the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path. In a case where the second conveyance speed is different from the first conveyance speed, the conveyance operation of the second printing medium is started after the first printing medium is discharged from the conveying path.

An inkjet recording apparatus includes, among a plurality of branch conveyance passages, ones with different conveyance distances for a recording medium. Based on the timing of the sensing of the recording medium by a recording medium sensor, a controller controls a switching portion to make it switch the destination of the conveyance of the recording medium to one of the branch conveyance passages.

A medium feeding mechanism includes: a feeder that feeds a medium; a transport path that is coupled to the feeder; a transporter that transports the medium through the transport path; a transport drive that drives the transporter; an entry detection sensor that detects when the medium fed from the feeder has entered the transport path; a take-in transporter that takes in the medium transported by the transporter; and a transport controller that controls the feeder and the take-in transporter, wherein when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a first range set in advance, the controller controls the take-in transporter so as to take in the medium, and when the entry detection sensor detects entry of the medium at a time that falls within a second range following the first range.

Disclosed is a film discharging device including a supply unit configured to supply a film product, a branch unit including a branch conveyer configured to transfer a film product supplied from the supply unit, and a conveyer rotating member configured to selectively guide the branch conveyer passing through the branch conveyer to any one of a predetermined first branch path and a predetermined second branch path by rotating the branch conveyer in a predetermined forward direction or a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction to change an alignment angle of the branch conveyer, a first discharging unit configured to discharge the film product guided to the first branch path, and a second discharging unit configured to discharge the film product guided to the second branch path.

Disclosed is a film discharging device including a supply unit configured to supply a film product, a branch unit including a branch conveyer configured to transfer a film product supplied from the supply unit, and a conveyer rotating member configured to selectively guide the branch conveyer passing through the branch conveyer to any one of a predetermined first branch path and a predetermined second branch path by rotating the branch conveyer in a predetermined forward direction or a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction to change an alignment angle of the branch conveyer, a first discharging unit configured to discharge the film product guided to the first branch path, and a second discharging unit configured to discharge the film product guided to the second branch path.

A banknote handling device is provided with which it is possible to constantly demonstrate sufficient device processing performance, and which prevents collisions between a transportation direction switching means and a banknote even when the operation speed of the transportation direction switching means changes. Accordingly, a paper sheet handling device for handling a plurality of paper sheets and switching the transportation direction includes: a transportation path for transporting at least one paper sheet and a transportation direction switching means for switching the direction of transportation of the paper sheet; and a paper sheet handling control means for controlling, in accordance with the constantly-changing operation speed of the transportation direction switching means, at least one of the operation timing of the transportation direction switching means, the speed of transportation of a paper sheet, and the distance between a paper sheet and a preceding paper sheet.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet feed tray. The sheet feed tray includes a first guide and a second guide. The first guide has a first end portion. The first end portion has a first area located in a central portion in a width direction, and a second area located closer to one end in the width direction than the first area. The first end portion is inclined such that the first area is downstream of the second area in the sheet conveying direction. The second guide has an upper end portion located downstream of the first end portion of the first guide in the sheet conveying direction and above the first end portion. The upper end portion has a third area located in a central portion in the width direction and a fourth area located closer to an end in the width direction than the third area.

The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.

The invention provides a paper path structure that is able to perform the following four functions: pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with is original orientation maintained; pass a sheet of paper through the paper path structure with its original orientation reversed; stack a sheet of paper in a stack repository with its original orientation maintained; and stack a sheet of paper in the stack repository with its original orientation reversed. The invention also provides a method to operate said paper path structure as well as a stacker and a printer comprising said paper path structure.