A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet receiving part, a first discharge part, a sheet conveyance path, an escape conveyance path, a branch guide, an escape tray, a second discharge part, and a first sheet detection part. When a device failure occurs, the branch guide switches the conveyance direction such that the sheet remaining on the sheet conveyance path is discharged on the escape tray by the second discharge part, through the escape conveyance path sequentially. Then, the second discharge part stops a discharging of the sheet in a state where the sheet remains in the second discharge part when the sheet is a last sheet to be conveyed to the escape tray. Then, a receiving of a new sheet to the sheet receiving part from the image forming apparatus is inhibited while the first sheet detection part detects the last sheet.

A conveyor includes a first conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a first direction, a second conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed in a second direction different from the first direction, a switching part configured to switch a conveyance direction of the sheet between the first direction and the second direction, a sheet detector configured to detect the sheet at the switching part, a conveyance system driver configured to convey and stop the sheet, and circuitry configured to control the conveyance system driver to stop conveyance of the sheet in a predetermined condition, control the sheet detector to detect the sheet at the switching part, and control the switching part to switch the conveyance direction of the sheet from the first direction to the second direction when the sheet detector does not detect the sheet at the switching part.

A conveyor includes a first conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a first direction, a second conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed in a second direction different from the first direction, a switching part configured to switch a conveyance direction of the sheet between the first direction and the second direction, a sheet detector configured to detect the sheet at the switching part, a conveyance system driver configured to convey and stop the sheet, and circuitry configured to control the conveyance system driver to stop conveyance of the sheet in a predetermined condition, control the sheet detector to detect the sheet at the switching part, and control the switching part to switch the conveyance direction of the sheet from the first direction to the second direction when the sheet detector does not detect the sheet at the switching part.

A sheet placement device includes a placement member on which a sheet is placed; a limiter that is movable with respect to the placement member to limit a position of an end of the sheet placed on the placement member; a contact member provided in the limiter and to be displaced by contacting with the end of the sheet; and a detector that detects displacement of the contact member. The detector is provided in the placement member.

A sheet placement device includes a placement member on which a sheet is placed; a limiter that is movable with respect to the placement member to limit a position of an end of the sheet placed on the placement member; a contact member provided in the limiter and to be displaced by contacting with the end of the sheet; and a detector that detects displacement of the contact member. The detector is provided in the placement member.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, an actuator, an image forming unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The conveyor transports a sheet having a length measured in a transport direction. The actuator drives the conveyor. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet. The detection unit includes a first sheet detection sensor that outputs a detection signal indicating whether the sheet transported by the conveyor passes through a first predetermined detection position. The controller controls the actuator based on the length of the sheet in response to an indication that the detection unit is not operating normally.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor, an actuator, an image forming unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The conveyor transports a sheet having a length measured in a transport direction. The actuator drives the conveyor. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet. The detection unit includes a first sheet detection sensor that outputs a detection signal indicating whether the sheet transported by the conveyor passes through a first predetermined detection position. The controller controls the actuator based on the length of the sheet in response to an indication that the detection unit is not operating normally.

A sheet folding apparatus includes a sheet folding unit disposed to fold a sheet and a conveyance unit disposed to feed the sheet to the sheet folding unit in a feed direction orthogonal to a fold direction of the sheet folding unit while correcting a skew of the sheet. The conveyance unit includes an elongated reference guide, a conveyance mechanism disposed to convey the sheet in the feed direction while exerting a force on the sheet toward the reference guide, an adjustment mechanism disposed to adjust an inclination of the reference guide with respect to the feed direction. The apparatus further includes an input unit through which a user inputs a folding misalignment amount of the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit. The inclination of the reference guide is corrected by the adjustment mechanism based on at least the folding misalignment amount inputted through the input unit.

A system for wear and aging evaluation of a paper-based resource described herein is structured for determining a fitness state of a physical body structure of a paper resource item and for adaptive processing of the paper resource item in accordance with the fitness state. Specifically, the system comprises an item transfer unit configured to receive one or more paper resource items and a scanning device structured to retrieve a fitness state of a paper resource item from a physical state sensing component of the paper resource item. The system is structured to adaptively process the paper resource item based on determining whether (i) a wear level and (ii) an item age level of the paper resource item are associated with either a fit item type or an unfit item type.

A system for wear and aging evaluation of a paper-based resource described herein is structured for determining a fitness state of a physical body structure of a paper resource item and for adaptive processing of the paper resource item in accordance with the fitness state. Specifically, the system comprises an item transfer unit configured to receive one or more paper resource items and a scanning device structured to retrieve a fitness state of a paper resource item from a physical state sensing component of the paper resource item. The system is structured to adaptively process the paper resource item based on determining whether (i) a wear level and (ii) an item age level of the paper resource item are associated with either a fit item type or an unfit item type.