A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.

A laminator for laminating thermal film and paper has an upper support bracket that operably mounts an upper roller, the upper roller having a plurality of grooves axially spaced along the upper roller, and an upper paper guide having a roller-receiving channel shaped to receive the upper roller at least partially therethrough. An upper plate is mounted on the upper paper guide over the roller-receiving channel, the upper plate having a plurality of plate apertures spaced by connecting ribs, the connecting ribs being sized and positioned along the axial direction of the upper roller to each fit within one of the plurality of grooves of the upper roller. The laminator further has a lower support bracket that operably mounts a lower roller.

A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a winding roller and a gripper. The winding roller rotates and winds the two-ply sheet to separate the two-ply sheet. The gripper is disposed in the winding roller and configured to grip a gripped portion of the two-ply sheet at one end of the two-ply sheet without abutting a tip of the gripped portion at the one end of the two-ply sheet on a member.

A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator that includes a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is inserted into a gap between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The second separator is inserted between the two sheets at said another end of the two-ply sheet that is opposite to the one end of the two-ply sheet and moves in a width direction of the two-ply sheet after the first separator is inserted into the gap and relatively moves from the one end to said another end.

A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator, an abnormality detection device, and circuitry. The separator is configured to move to be inserted into a gap formed between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The abnormality detection device is configured to detect an abnormal state in which the gap larger than a predetermined size is not formed between the two sheets before the separator is inserted into the gap. The circuitry is configured to control movement of the separator based on a result detected by the abnormality detection device.

A sheet separation device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a conveyance roller pair and circuitry. The conveyance roller pair is configured to convey the two-ply sheet while nipping the two-ply sheet, when separating the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The circuitry is configured to control sheet conveyance. The circuitry is configured to stop the conveyance roller pair, cause a leading end of the two-ply sheet conveyed toward the conveyance roller pair to contact a nip region of the conveyance roller pair while the conveyance roller pair is stopped, and start the conveyance roller pair to rotate to nip the two-ply sheet.

A laminator for laminating thermal film and paper has an upper support bracket that operably mounts an upper roller, the upper roller having a plurality of grooves axially spaced along the upper roller, and an upper paper guide having a roller-receiving channel shaped to receive the upper roller at least partially therethrough. An upper plate is mounted on the upper paper guide over the roller-receiving channel, the upper plate having a plurality of plate apertures spaced by connecting ribs, the connecting ribs being sized and positioned along the axial direction of the upper roller to each fit within one of the plurality of grooves of the upper roller. The laminator further has a lower support bracket that operably mounts a lower roller.

A thermal fixer includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller. The first thermal fixing roller includes a first heater. The second thermal fixing roller is pressed to the first thermal fixing roller. The second thermal fixing roller includes a second heater and has a diameter, a rigidity, and a surface releasability substantially identical to the first thermal fixing roller.

A sheet laminator includes a thermal fixing roller pair, a first heater, a second heater, multiple temperature detectors, and a driver. The thermal fixing roller pair includes a first thermal fixing roller and a second thermal fixing roller facing the first thermal fixing roller. The thermal fixing roller pair thermally fixes and conveys a two-ply sheet and a sheet medium nipped between two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The first heater heats the first thermal fixing roller. The second heater heats the second thermal fixing roller. The multiple temperature detectors are at different positions along an axial direction of the thermal fixing roller pair. The multiple temperature detectors detect a surface temperature of the thermal fixing roller pair. The driver drives the thermal fixing roller pair.

A dual roll laminating film cartridge includes a body defining a first end supporting first ends of first and second rolls of continuous translucent laminating film. The body further defines a second end supporting second ends of the first and second rolls, wherein facing surfaces of the films extended from the first and second rolls in an advancing direction are coated with a heat-activated adhesive. A bridge extends between the first and second ends of the body at a position between the first and second rolls, the bridge defining an article chute for the reception of articles to be laminated by the films of the first and second rolls. The cartridge further includes a code indicative of one or more characteristics of the film of the first and second rolls, the code comprising a predetermined flag pattern of coding tabs that project outward from the body.