An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a discharging portion, a supporting portion, an image reading portion, and a switching portion is provided. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet. The discharging portion is configured to discharge the sheet on which the image has been formed. The supporting portion is configured to support the sheet discharged by the discharging portion. The image reading portion is configured to read, at a reading position, the image formed on the sheet. The switching portion is configured to switch between causing the sheet discharged by the discharging portion to be conveyed to the supporting portion and causing the sheet discharged by the discharging portion to be conveyed toward the image reading portion. The sheet conveyed toward the image reading portion is conveyed to the reading position after conveyance by the discharging portion is finished.

The present invention is directed to a method of loading workpieces using a piler conveyor P including a first conveyor which sequentially conveys the workpieces by continuous operation at a first speed, a second conveyor which magnetically attracts, on a lower surface, the workpieces passed from the first conveyor for sequential conveyance by intermittent operation, and a loading frame where the workpieces are placed, the method including a first step S1 of gradually accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed, a second step S2 of operating the second conveyor at the second speed and passing the workpieces 1 from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, a third step S3 of gradually decelerating the second conveyor from the second speed for operation, and a fourth step S4 of stopping the second conveyor and causing the second conveyor to lose a magnetic force and dropping a workpiece 1 positioned above the loading frame onto the loading frame 30, wherein the first speed and the second speed are set at an equal constant speed.

The present invention is directed to a method of loading workpieces using a piler conveyor P including a first conveyor which sequentially conveys the workpieces by continuous operation at a first speed, a second conveyor which magnetically attracts, on a lower surface, the workpieces passed from the first conveyor for sequential conveyance by intermittent operation, and a loading frame where the workpieces are placed, the method including a first step S1 of gradually accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed, a second step S2 of operating the second conveyor at the second speed and passing the workpieces 1 from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, a third step S3 of gradually decelerating the second conveyor from the second speed for operation, and a fourth step S4 of stopping the second conveyor and causing the second conveyor to lose a magnetic force and dropping a workpiece 1 positioned above the loading frame onto the loading frame 30, wherein the first speed and the second speed are set at an equal constant speed.

A document sheet conveyance device includes an inner guide and an outer guide defining a curved sheet conveyance passage for allowing conveyance of a document sheet from a document sheet feeding section to a predetermined document reading position, and a movable guide projectable into the sheet conveyance passage. The outer guide includes an outer curved guide surface defining an outer surface of the sheet conveyance passage. The inner guide includes an inner curved guide surface defining an inner surface of the sheet conveyance passage, and a first flat part. The movable guide includes a projecting portion projectable into the sheet conveyance passage, and a second flat part provided in the projecting portion. The movable guide is attached to the outer guide in such a way as to allow the first and second flat parts to face each other with the projecting portion projecting in the sheet conveyance passage.

A document sheet conveyance device includes an inner guide and an outer guide defining a curved sheet conveyance passage for allowing conveyance of a document sheet from a document sheet feeding section to a predetermined document reading position, and a movable guide projectable into the sheet conveyance passage. The outer guide includes an outer curved guide surface defining an outer surface of the sheet conveyance passage. The inner guide includes an inner curved guide surface defining an inner surface of the sheet conveyance passage, and a first flat part. The movable guide includes a projecting portion projectable into the sheet conveyance passage, and a second flat part provided in the projecting portion. The movable guide is attached to the outer guide in such a way as to allow the first and second flat parts to face each other with the projecting portion projecting in the sheet conveyance passage.

A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

A control system for a converting line has a sensor configured to sense a distance between the sensor and a surface of a roll of web material as the roll of web material is unwound from an unwinder and directed to the converting line. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a diameter measurement of the roll as the roll rotates based upon the sensor signals; (ii) store a plurality of data structures in a memory of a controller of a control system wherein the data structures comprise a plurality of data items associated together as the diameter measurements of the roll of the web material; (iii) process by a statistical regression analysis the data structures associated with the diameter; and (iv) generate signals for controlling the converting line based upon the processed diameter measurements.

Provided is a printing apparatus comprising: a discharging unit configured to convey and discharge print media; a tray configured to receive print media discharged in a first direction from the discharging unit; and a drive unit configured to move the tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In discharging print media, the tray is moved in the second direction to thereby receive the discharged print media at a plurality of different positions on the tray. The tray is movable to a take-out position being a position closer in the second direction to a take-out side where print media are taken out than any of the positions at which the tray receives the print media discharged from the discharging unit.

Provided is a printing apparatus comprising: a discharging unit configured to convey and discharge print media; a tray configured to receive print media discharged in a first direction from the discharging unit; and a drive unit configured to move the tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In discharging print media, the tray is moved in the second direction to thereby receive the discharged print media at a plurality of different positions on the tray. The tray is movable to a take-out position being a position closer in the second direction to a take-out side where print media are taken out than any of the positions at which the tray receives the print media discharged from the discharging unit.

A printing apparatus can prevent a print medium from buckling during discharging. In a case in which the print conveyance speed determined by the print mode is higher than or equal to a specified speed, the print medium after printing is conveyed to a discharging tray at the print conveyance speed, and in a case in which the print conveyance speed determined by the print mode is lower than the specified speed, the print medium after printing is conveyed to the discharging tray at the specified speed increased from the print conveyance speed.