An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet having the image formed thereon is to be stacked, a first roller capable of forward and reverse rotations, a second roller capable of rotating with the first roller when the first roller makes a forward rotation, a third roller capable of rotating with the first roller when the first roller makes a reverse rotation and then the forward rotation, a regulation portion movable between a regulation position where entering of the sheet into a nip portion between the first and second rollers is prevented, and an allowing position where discharge of the sheet is allowed, and a movement unit configured to cause the regulation portion to be placed in the allowing position during forward rotation, and to be placed in the regulation position during reverse rotation.

A device for redirecting sheets in a sheet transport mechanism, especially sheets of a print medium in a printing system includes a support member, which carries or supports at least one guide member for directing a path of travel of a sheet. The support member is configured to be mounted adjacent a first transport path of a plurality of sheets and such that the support member is movable between a first inoperative position in which the at least one guide member does not impinge upon the first transport path, and a second operative position in which the at least one guide member is introduced into the first transport path to redirect one or more of the sheets to a second, alternative transport path. The device further includes an actuator configured to move the support member between the first and second positions. The actuator is connected to the support member such that vibrations imparted by the actuator to the support member, as the support member moves between the first and the second positions, are substantially parallel to the first transport path.

A device for redirecting sheets in a sheet transport mechanism, especially sheets of a print medium in a printing system includes a support member, which carries or supports at least one guide member for directing a path of travel of a sheet. The support member is configured to be mounted adjacent a first transport path of a plurality of sheets and such that the support member is movable between a first inoperative position in which the at least one guide member does not impinge upon the first transport path, and a second operative position in which the at least one guide member is introduced into the first transport path to redirect one or more of the sheets to a second, alternative transport path. The device further includes an actuator configured to move the support member between the first and second positions. The actuator is connected to the support member such that vibrations imparted by the actuator to the support member, as the support member moves between the first and the second positions, are substantially parallel to the first transport path.

An image forming apparatus, having a housing with an opening, an image forming unit, a path to guide a recording medium toward the opening, a reversible roller disposed in the path, and an intermediate reversible roller disposed between the image forming unit and the reversible roller, is provided. A rotating direction of the reversible roller is switchable between a first rotating direction and a second rotating direction opposite from the first rotating direction. A circumferential speed of the reversible roller is switchable between a predetermined circumferential speed and none. A rotating direction of the intermediate reversible roller is switchable between a third rotating direction and a fourth rotating direction opposite from the third rotating direction. The circumferential speed of the reversible roller in the first rotating direction is reduced to be lower than the predetermined circumferential speed while the intermediate reversible roller is rotating in the third rotating direction.

An image forming apparatus, having a housing with an opening, an image forming unit, a path to guide a recording medium toward the opening, a reversible roller disposed in the path, and an intermediate reversible roller disposed between the image forming unit and the reversible roller, is provided. A rotating direction of the reversible roller is switchable between a first rotating direction and a second rotating direction opposite from the first rotating direction. A circumferential speed of the reversible roller is switchable between a predetermined circumferential speed and none. A rotating direction of the intermediate reversible roller is switchable between a third rotating direction and a fourth rotating direction opposite from the third rotating direction. The circumferential speed of the reversible roller in the first rotating direction is reduced to be lower than the predetermined circumferential speed while the intermediate reversible roller is rotating in the third rotating direction.

A paper sheet handling device that facilitates removal of paper sheets blocked on a conveying path. The device includes a safe casing internally provided with a paper sheet storage box; a processing unit capable of being pulled out from, or stowed in, a main device; a conveying section coupled to the processing unit, and that forms a conveying path; a handover section coupled to a top plate of the safe casing to hand over the sheets between the storage box and the conveying path; and a positioning section that positions for connecting the handover section and the conveying path together when the processing unit is being stowed in the main device.

A paper sheet handling device that facilitates removal of paper sheets blocked on a conveying path. The device includes a safe casing internally provided with a paper sheet storage box; a processing unit capable of being pulled out from, or stowed in, a main device; a conveying section coupled to the processing unit, and that forms a conveying path; a handover section coupled to a top plate of the safe casing to hand over the sheets between the storage box and the conveying path; and a positioning section that positions for connecting the handover section and the conveying path together when the processing unit is being stowed in the main device.

A reversing roller pair is controlled such that, when an abnormality occurs during the conveying of a sheet, the sheet is conveyed in a forward direction by the reversing roller pair, and is controlled to continue conveying until a state where the final sheet among the sheets conveyed in the forward direction is detected by a first detection portion, and subsequently to stop in a state where the final sheet is nipped by the reversing roller pair.

A reversing roller pair is controlled such that, when an abnormality occurs during the conveying of a sheet, the sheet is conveyed in a forward direction by the reversing roller pair, and is controlled to continue conveying until a state where the final sheet among the sheets conveyed in the forward direction is detected by a first detection portion, and subsequently to stop in a state where the final sheet is nipped by the reversing roller pair.

It is aimed to provide a conveying device for absorbent articles capable of precisely sorting an absorbent article between a main conveyance path and a branch path and a conveyance method using the same. A path switching means includes a belt conveying unit with a conveying belt arranged along an annular path and configured to circulate along the annular path to be able to convey an absorbent article and a path switching mechanism configured to switch a conveyance path specified by the conveying belt between a path along which the absorbent article is transferrable from an upstream conveying mechanism to a downstream conveying mechanism and a path along which the absorbent article is guided along a sampling path from the upstream conveying mechanism.