A buffer unit receives a sheet and temporarily holds a predetermined number of sheets so as to be overlaid on one another. A stacking unit stacks the predetermined number of sheets conveyed toward a first direction. A moving unit comes into contact with an uppermost sheet among the predetermined number of sheets stacked on the stacking unit and moves the uppermost sheet further toward the first direction. A regulating unit comes into contact with an end portion of the stack of sheets on the stacking unit to regulate the position of the stack of sheets. A control unit controls the predetermined number of sheets.

A buffer unit receives a sheet and temporarily holds a predetermined number of sheets so as to be overlaid on one another. A stacking unit stacks the predetermined number of sheets conveyed toward a first direction. A moving unit comes into contact with an uppermost sheet among the predetermined number of sheets stacked on the stacking unit and moves the uppermost sheet further toward the first direction. A regulating unit comes into contact with an end portion of the stack of sheets on the stacking unit to regulate the position of the stack of sheets. A control unit controls the predetermined number of sheets.

A media path assembly in an imaging device includes a media guide positioned adjacent and transverse to a media path between a first and a second nip, and having a surface forming a bubble chamber across the media path. A bubble sensor and a narrow media sensor are positioned adjacent to the bubble chamber transverse to the media path and aligned with each other. The bubble sensor is operative to indicate formation in the bubble chamber of a bubble in a media sheet exiting the first nip. The narrow media sensor is operative to indicate media size of the media sheet and, when the media sheet is wide media, provide a balancing force to the media sheet relative to a force applied by the bubble sensor to the media sheet so that a leading edge of the media sheet substantially aligns with the second nip when entering the second nip.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a discharge port through which sheets are discharged, a stacking tray on which the sheets discharged from the discharge port are stacked, a sheet sorting member provided on a stacking surface on which the sheets of the stacking tray are stacked, and an operation mechanism for operating the sheet sorting member. The sheet sorting member is provided to be able to rise from the stacking surface by employing one end of the sheet sorting member as a pivot point, at a position at which the sheets fall from the discharge port. The sheet sorting member rises from the stacking surface by the operation mechanism, thereby forming an inclined surface, guiding the sheets placed on the inclined surface along the inclined surface, and shifting the sheets stacked on the stacking tray to a discharge direction of the sheets and a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction.

A sheet sorting apparatus includes a discharge port through which sheets are discharged, a stacking tray on which the sheets discharged from the discharge port are stacked, a sheet sorting member provided on a stacking surface on which the sheets of the stacking tray are stacked, and an operation mechanism for operating the sheet sorting member. The sheet sorting member is provided to be able to rise from the stacking surface by employing one end of the sheet sorting member as a pivot point, at a position at which the sheets fall from the discharge port. The sheet sorting member rises from the stacking surface by the operation mechanism, thereby forming an inclined surface, guiding the sheets placed on the inclined surface along the inclined surface, and shifting the sheets stacked on the stacking tray to a discharge direction of the sheets and a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction.

A sheet conveying device, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a pair of sheet holding rollers and a regulator. The pair of sheet holding rollers disposed along a sheet conveying path rotates and conveys the recording medium while holding a recording medium in a nip region thereof. The pair of sheet holding rollers includes a stopper that rotates with the pair of sheet holding rollers between a closing position at which the sheet conveying path is closed and an opening position at which the sheet conveying path is open. The regulator is movably disposed between a contact position and a retracted position with respect to the pair of sheet holding rollers. The pair of sheet holding rollers corrects a positional shift of the recording medium in the sheet conveying direction with the stopper at the closing position, and further conveys the recording medium after correction.

A sheet conveying device, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a pair of sheet holding rollers and a regulator. The pair of sheet holding rollers disposed along a sheet conveying path rotates and conveys the recording medium while holding a recording medium in a nip region thereof. The pair of sheet holding rollers includes a stopper that rotates with the pair of sheet holding rollers between a closing position at which the sheet conveying path is closed and an opening position at which the sheet conveying path is open. The regulator is movably disposed between a contact position and a retracted position with respect to the pair of sheet holding rollers. The pair of sheet holding rollers corrects a positional shift of the recording medium in the sheet conveying direction with the stopper at the closing position, and further conveys the recording medium after correction.

An apparatus for conveying a sheet-formed item from a digital printing unit, the apparatus including an inlet side and an outlet side, and including a set of conveying devices for moving items in a conveying direction and a method for regulating such an apparatus. The apparatus includes a device for aligning an article from one position to another position in relation to one or more reference points, and a device for fixing an item at a given position in relation to a stop. The method includes the steps: detecting an item; receiving and conveying the item; regulating a possible skew position of the item as the item is moved against a stop on the conveying device, where the item is acted on by one speed of the conveyor belt and moved into abutment on the conveying means at a lower speed; and fixing the item in the aligned position.

An apparatus for conveying a sheet-formed item from a digital printing unit, the apparatus including an inlet side and an outlet side, and including a set of conveying devices for moving items in a conveying direction and a method for regulating such an apparatus. The apparatus includes a device for aligning an article from one position to another position in relation to one or more reference points, and a device for fixing an item at a given position in relation to a stop. The method includes the steps: detecting an item; receiving and conveying the item; regulating a possible skew position of the item as the item is moved against a stop on the conveying device, where the item is acted on by one speed of the conveyor belt and moved into abutment on the conveying means at a lower speed; and fixing the item in the aligned position.

The invention discloses a sheet processing machine with an alignment plate at the input. The sheets are piled against the plate, and during each machine cycle, the bottommost sheet is extracted and delivered to a gripper bar of the machine. The alignment plate can move precisely longitudinally and diagonally to adjust the position and the skew of the sheet for correct positioning in the gripper bar. The alignment plate is guaranteed to be kept vertical by using a pair of synchronized linear actuators on each side of the plate. The machine can adapt to varying sheet thickness by adjusting the gap below that plate thanks to a motorized gauge. To even better position the sheets, a set of abutments is provided after the plate, and at a fixed distance to the plate. The abutments are pivoting to get out of the way of the gripper bar when needed.