A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an oblique-feed unit configured to nip and convey a sheet by imparting to the nipped sheet a force in a direction inclined relative to a sheet conveyance direction so that the sheet approaches an abutment surface in the width direction as the sheet proceeds downstream in the sheet conveyance direction; a drive unit configured to drive the oblique-feed unit; a change unit configured to change the force of the oblique-feed unit; and a control unit configured to control the drive unit and the change unit so that, after causing the sheet to abut against the abutment surface in a first state in which the oblique-feed unit is driven at a first speed, the oblique-feed unit is put into a second state in which the oblique-feed unit is driven at a second speed higher than the first speed and the force is weaker than in the first state.

A gravity-assisted registration system suited to use in a printing device includes a transport member with a surface on which an associated sheet is translated in a process direction. The surface defines an angle with respect to horizontal in a cross-process direction. A registration wall, adjacent a lower end of the surface, defines a registration edge for registering the sheet. A drive mechanism drives at least one rotation mechanism, for translating sheet in the process direction, each rotation mechanism including at least one drive member with an axis of rotation parallel to the surface in the cross-process direction, Each drive member includes a sliding mechanism, at a periphery of the drive member, enabling the sheet to slide, under gravity, on the surface, toward the registration wall into an alignment position, in contact with the registration wall.

A gravity-assisted registration system suited to use in a printing device includes a transport member with a surface on which an associated sheet is translated in a process direction. The surface defines an angle with respect to horizontal in a cross-process direction. A registration wall, adjacent a lower end of the surface, defines a registration edge for registering the sheet. A drive mechanism drives at least one rotation mechanism, for translating sheet in the process direction, each rotation mechanism including at least one drive member with an axis of rotation parallel to the surface in the cross-process direction, Each drive member includes a sliding mechanism, at a periphery of the drive member, enabling the sheet to slide, under gravity, on the surface, toward the registration wall into an alignment position, in contact with the registration wall.

An object of the present invention is to correct the deviation of a sheet in the width direction occurring on a conveyance path from a sheet correction mechanism (4) to a discharge tray. A sheet shift portion (41, 43, 44) moves a sheet in the width direction. A conveying position detecting portion (45, 46, 47) detects the position of the sheet in the width direction. A discharge position detecting portion (54, 8a) detects a discharge position of the sheet, in the width direction, discharged onto a discharge tray (33) in a sheet discharge portion (31). A control portion (8b) derives an amount of deviation between the discharge position and a discharge reference position based on a detection result of the discharge position detecting portion (54, 8a). Furthermore, the control portion (8b) corrects a conveying position of the sheet in a sheet conveying portion according to the amount of deviation.

An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer section that transfers an image to a sheet; a sheet conveyance member that is provided on an upstream of the transfer section in a sheet conveyance direction and that conveys the sheet; and a hardware processor that controls the sheet conveyance member to displace the sheet, wherein a preset value defining a displacement condition of the sheet conveyance member for providing a correct position of the image on the sheet is set.

A medium processing device includes a conveyance guide that forms a conveyance path, a reference surface guide that is provided at one side of the conveyance path, a trigger sensor that detects a rear end of the medium in the conveyance direction, a first alignment roller and a second alignment roller for aligning the medium with the reference surface guide. The first alignment roller is provided at the middle, in a width of the conveyance path. The second alignment roller is provided between the reference surface guide and the first alignment roller in the width direction. The second alignment roller is provided at a downstream side of the first alignment roller in the conveyance direction. A space from the first alignment roller to the second alignment roller in the conveyance direction is longer than a space from the trigger sensor to the first alignment roller in the conveyance direction.

A media handling assembly contains a transport path for driving a document sheet downstream in a process direction. A first side edge extends lengthwise along the process direction. A registration guide edge extends lengthwise along the process direction and is situated opposite the first side edge. The media handling assembly includes at least one nozzle that is arranged proximate the first side edge. The at least one nozzle selectively discharges an airstream transverse the process direction towards the registration guide edge. The airstream drives the sheet against the registration edge guide for side registering and deskewing of the sheet.

According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a conveying path forming unit and an orthogonal movement permitting part. The conveying path forming unit forms a path for conveying a sheet. The orthogonal movement permitting part is provided in the conveying path. The orthogonal movement permitting part conveys the sheet along the conveying direction. The orthogonal movement permitting part allows the sheet to move in a conveying orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a feeder, and a relay device. The main body forms an image on a sheet. The feeder feeds the sheet toward the main body. The relay device connects the main body to the feeder. The main body is placed on a placement surface. The feeder is arranged opposite to the main body with the relay device therebetween in a direction along the placement surface. The relay device includes a conveyance unit and a casing which houses the conveyance unit. The conveyance unit conveys the sheet fed from the feeder to the main body and rotates relative to the casing with an axis as a pivot thereof. The axis extends in a cross direction intersecting with the placement surface.