In accordance with an embodiment, a paper feed apparatus comprises a paper feed section, a separation section, an abutting section and a friction force variable section. The paper feed section feeds an image receiving medium. The separation section is arranged at the downstream side of the paper feed section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. In a case in which a plurality of the image receiving media fed from the paper feed section is overlapped, the separation section separates the plurality of the image receiving media that is overlapped. The abutting section abuts against the image receiving medium fed from the paper feed section. The friction force variable section changes a friction force of the abutting section against the image receiving medium.

The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling on-edge stacking of mailpieces and maintaining a constant ideal stack pressure of a given stack of mailpieces in an autonomous manner.

A sheet material feeding apparatus includes: a cassette configured to internally contain a sheet material; a push-up plate that is mounted on an inner bottom surface of the cassette and that is a plate on top surface of which the sheet material is mounted; a push-up plate displacement mechanism configured to include push-up plate biasing members and to change a posture of the push-up plate using a biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members; a width regulating member configured to be displaced in a width direction intersecting with a feeding direction and to regulate a position of the sheet material; and a biasing member selecting mechanism that includes a switching unit configured to switch application and release-application of the biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members to a posture change of the push-up plate, in interlocking with displacement of the width regulating member.

A sheet material feeding apparatus includes: a cassette configured to internally contain a sheet material; a push-up plate that is mounted on an inner bottom surface of the cassette and that is a plate on top surface of which the sheet material is mounted; a push-up plate displacement mechanism configured to include push-up plate biasing members and to change a posture of the push-up plate using a biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members; a width regulating member configured to be displaced in a width direction intersecting with a feeding direction and to regulate a position of the sheet material; and a biasing member selecting mechanism that includes a switching unit configured to switch application and release-application of the biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members to a posture change of the push-up plate, in interlocking with displacement of the width regulating member.

Various embodiments of an adhesive prediction system are disclosed. The system can include a non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when implemented on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a plurality of input variables, an input variable of the plurality of input variables corresponding to at least one of an adhesive and a substrate to be used in a tape application process; performing an analysis of input variables and output variables generated during a test of the tape application process (1310) to generate a predictive data model (1320); and storing the predictive data model.

A scanner includes: a first transport roller pair that transports a material; a reader that reads the material; a second transport roller pair that transports the material; a transport motor; and a pressing section. The transport motor 50 rotates both the rollers of the first transport roller pair and both the rollers of the second transport roller pair. The pressing section can vary a first pressing force generated in the first transport roller pair and a second pressing force generated in the second transport roller pair. The pressing section varies the second pressing force in such a way that the second pressing force when the first transport roller pair transports the material but the second transport roller pair does not transport the material becomes lower than the second pressing force when neither the first transport roller pair nor the second transport roller pair transports the material.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting unit, a sheet feed unit, an air separation unit configured to separate the uppermost sheet by blowing the air onto a side surface of the sheet bundle supported by the sheet supporting unit, a velocity detection unit configured to detect actual velocity of a sheet fed by the sheet feed unit, a drive load detection unit configured to detect an actual drive load for feeding the sheet by the sheet feed unit, and a controller configured to control the sheet feed unit and the air separation unit. In a case where the sheet is fed by the sheet feed unit, the controller is configured to control an operation of the air separation unit depending on the actual velocity of the sheet detected by the velocity detection unit and the actual drive load detected by the drive load detection unit.

In accordance with an embodiment, a paper feed apparatus comprises a paper feed section, a separation section, an abutting section and a friction force variable section. The paper feed section feeds an image receiving medium. The separation section is arranged at the downstream side of the paper feed section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. In a case in which a plurality of the image receiving media fed from the paper feed section is overlapped, the separation section separates the plurality of the image receiving media that is overlapped. The abutting section abuts against the image receiving medium fed from the paper feed section. The friction force variable section changes a friction force of the abutting section against the image receiving medium.

In accordance with an embodiment, a paper feed apparatus comprises a paper feed section, a separation section, an abutting section and a friction force variable section. The paper feed section feeds an image receiving medium. The separation section is arranged at the downstream side of the paper feed section in a conveyance direction of the image receiving medium. In a case in which a plurality of the image receiving media fed from the paper feed section is overlapped, the separation section separates the plurality of the image receiving media that is overlapped. The abutting section abuts against the image receiving medium fed from the paper feed section. The friction force variable section changes a friction force of the abutting section against the image receiving medium.

A printer includes: a first fixed printhead; a second fixed printhead positioned downstream of the first printhead relative to a media feed direction; a fixed platen for supporting print media; an input roller assembly positioned upstream of the first printhead, the input roller assembly comprising a pair of input rollers having a first nip force N.sub.1; an output roller assembly positioned downstream of the second printhead, the output roller assembly comprising a pair of output rollers having a second nip force N.sub.2; and an intermediary roller assembly positioned between the first and second printheads, the intermediary roller assembly comprising a pair of intermediary rollers having a third nip force N.sub.3. The nip forces satisfy the relationship N.sub.1>N.sub.2>N.sub.3 for optimal printing results.