A sheet stacking apparatus includes a stacking portion, a conveyance member, an abutment portion, a belt member, a nipping portion configured to nip the belt member, a lifting/lowering unit configured to lift and lower the nipping portion, and a controller configured to control the lifting/lowering unit such that, in a case where the belt member moves a current sheet and then moves a next sheet, (i) the nipping portion is positioned at the first position after the belt member contacts the current sheet and before the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion, and (ii) the nipping portion is positioned at the second position after the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion and before the belt member contacts the next sheet.

A system includes an image forming station, which is configured to apply droplets of one or more printing fluids to a target substrate, so as to form an image thereon, and a substrate conveyor, which includes one or more perforated plates having multiple openings, and is configured to grip and move the target substrate to and from the image forming station for forming the image, the substrate conveyor includes one or more rotatable elements, which are fitted in the respective openings, and are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate, and when the target substrate moves over the one or more rotatable elements, at least one of the rotatable elements is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate.

A system includes an image forming station, which is configured to apply droplets of one or more printing fluids to a target substrate, so as to form an image thereon, and a substrate conveyor, which includes one or more perforated plates having multiple openings, and is configured to grip and move the target substrate to and from the image forming station for forming the image, the substrate conveyor includes one or more rotatable elements, which are fitted in the respective openings, and are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate, and when the target substrate moves over the one or more rotatable elements, at least one of the rotatable elements is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate.

A sheet stacker includes a tray to store a stack of sheets, a conveyor above the tray, a leading end guide above the tray, and an air exhaust. The conveyor conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction. The leading end guide is downstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction. The leading end guide guides the sheet from the conveyor to the tray. The air exhaust exhausts air above an upper surface of the stack of sheets on the tray to an upstream from the tray in the conveyance direction. Further, the leading end guide holds a leading end of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor at a holding position and releases the leading end of the sheet at a release position downstream from the holding position in the conveyance direction.

This invention provides a stacker for use in forming stacks of cut sheets received from an upstream utilization device (e.g. a printer, cutter, etc.) that allows for positive driving of sheets into a stack using a stacking unit that includes a series of grippers that are adapted to grip and release a leading edge of each sheet at the appropriate time. In this manner, each sheet is gripped as it arrives from the upstream operation and is passed downstream into the stack, being released so as to properly decelerate at the stack's backstop. The grippers are mounted on a continuous belt between a pair of opposing drive sprockets. An edge sensor located upstream of the stacking unit triggers motion of the belts. The grippers are actuated by a mechanical cam arrangement to selectively grip and release at predetermined positions as the belt is driven.

This invention provides a stacker for use in forming stacks of cut sheets received from an upstream utilization device (e.g. a printer, cutter, etc.) that allows for positive driving of sheets into a stack using a stacking unit that includes a series of grippers that are adapted to grip and release a leading edge of each sheet at the appropriate time. In this manner, each sheet is gripped as it arrives from the upstream operation and is passed downstream into the stack, being released so as to properly decelerate at the stack's backstop. The grippers are mounted on a continuous belt between a pair of opposing drive sprockets. An edge sensor located upstream of the stacking unit triggers motion of the belts. The grippers are actuated by a mechanical cam arrangement to selectively grip and release at predetermined positions as the belt is driven.

An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing cylinder, having a groove formed in an outer portion thereof in a rotational radial direction thereof; a delivery cylinder; plural holding members configured to hold a recording medium when it passes around the delivery cylinder toward the fixing cylinder, and arranged in a length direction of a circulating member, each holding member being disposed in the groove when the holding member passes along the outer portion of the fixing cylinder; and a pressure unit applying a pressure to the recording medium as it passes between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder, the pressure unit coming into contact with an end portion of the groove in a rotation direction of the fixing cylinder before or after a period during a holding operation when one of the holding members holds the recording medium.

In accordance with one embodiment, a sheet feed apparatus comprises a sheet housing section, a guide, an optical sensor, markers and a determination section. The sheet housing section houses sheets. The guide is arranged at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet housed in the sheet housing section. The detection position of the optical sensor varies by interlocking with the guide. The markers, which have different image features corresponding to the sizes, are arranged at the detection position of the optical sensor pre-determined according to the size of the sheet. The determination section determines the size of the sheet housed in the sheet housing section based on a detection result of the optical sensor.

A transport with media hold down is used with an inkjet printer. A plurality of spar links and vacuum links are connected pivotally together to form an endless belt orbiting around drive wheels and driven wheels. Vacuum links have hollow chambers to hold the media sheet against the endless belt using vacuum. At least one spar is received in a slot on a spar link. The spar extends above the link to receive the media sheet. The spar moves into a clamping position by a cam and follower to clamp the media sheet against the spar link. The media sheet will thus pass beneath the inkjet print head without contact. The spar moves into an extended position by the cam and follower to release the media sheet. The spar moves into a retracted position below the spar link surface by the cam and follower to allow the media sheet to exit the transport.

A transport with media hold down is used with an inkjet printer. A plurality of spar links and vacuum links are connected pivotally together to form an endless belt orbiting around drive wheels and driven wheels. Vacuum links have hollow chambers to hold the media sheet against the endless belt using vacuum. At least one spar is received in a slot on a spar link. The spar extends above the link to receive the media sheet. The spar moves into a clamping position by a cam and follower to clamp the media sheet against the spar link. The media sheet will thus pass beneath the inkjet print head without contact. The spar moves into an extended position by the cam and follower to release the media sheet. The spar moves into a retracted position below the spar link surface by the cam and follower to allow the media sheet to exit the transport.