In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

An image recording apparatus includes a recording section which is provided over a transport passage for transporting a sheet in a transport direction and which has nozzles for discharging an ink onto the sheet; a platen which is provided under the recording section with the transport passage intervening therebetween and which has a plurality of ribs provided to support the sheet while being separated from each other in a widthwise direction of the transport passage perpendicular to the transport direction, the respective ribs protruding upwardly and extending in the transport direction; and a plurality of holding members which are provided to be positioned between the plurality of ribs in the widthwise direction of the transport passage over the platen on an upstream side in the transport direction from the nozzles and which abut against an upper surface of the sheet and press the sheet toward the platen.

An image recording apparatus includes a recording section which is provided over a transport passage for transporting a sheet in a transport direction and which has nozzles for discharging an ink onto the sheet; a platen which is provided under the recording section with the transport passage intervening therebetween and which has a plurality of ribs provided to support the sheet while being separated from each other in a widthwise direction of the transport passage perpendicular to the transport direction, the respective ribs protruding upwardly and extending in the transport direction; and a plurality of holding members which are provided to be positioned between the plurality of ribs in the widthwise direction of the transport passage over the platen on an upstream side in the transport direction from the nozzles and which abut against an upper surface of the sheet and press the sheet toward the platen.

A paper feed apparatus for a multifunction image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding portion that sends-out a paper placed in a paper placing tray. The paper feed apparatus comprises a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion arranged in the vicinity of a downstream side of a paper feeding position by the paper feeding portion. The first regulating portion is arranged outside a second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a first width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. The second regulating portion is arranged inside the second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a second width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. By this arrangement, the second width paper such as a name card can be fed in addition to the first width paper such as A4 paper.

A paper feed apparatus for a multifunction image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding portion that sends-out a paper placed in a paper placing tray. The paper feed apparatus comprises a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion arranged in the vicinity of a downstream side of a paper feeding position by the paper feeding portion. The first regulating portion is arranged outside a second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a first width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. The second regulating portion is arranged inside the second width paper passage area to regulate a movement of a second width paper placed in the paper placing tray toward a feeding direction. By this arrangement, the second width paper such as a name card can be fed in addition to the first width paper such as A4 paper.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying portion; a conveying path for sheets conveyed by the conveying portion; a stack portion where sheets discharged from the conveying path are stacked; a first binding portion moving in a crossing direction crossing the conveying direction; a first regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle stacked on the stack portion; a first guide member guiding the first regulating portion; a second regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle on the stack portion in the crossing direction; a second guide member guiding the second regulating portion; a third regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle on the stack portion in the conveying direction; and a second binding portion binding a corner portion of a sheet bundle without a staple. The first binding portion binds a corner portion of a sheet bundle by a staple.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying portion; a conveying path for sheets conveyed by the conveying portion; a stack portion where sheets discharged from the conveying path are stacked; a first binding portion moving in a crossing direction crossing the conveying direction; a first regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle stacked on the stack portion; a first guide member guiding the first regulating portion; a second regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle on the stack portion in the crossing direction; a second guide member guiding the second regulating portion; a third regulating portion regulating a position of a sheet bundle on the stack portion in the conveying direction; and a second binding portion binding a corner portion of a sheet bundle without a staple. The first binding portion binds a corner portion of a sheet bundle by a staple.