According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a support shaft, a connecting member, and a detachable member. The support shaft extends in a first direction. The support shaft includes a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The connecting member is formed of an elastic material. The connecting member interposes the protrusion therebetween. The connecting member is connected to the support shaft to surround an outer periphery of the support shaft. The detachable member is detachably connected to the support shaft via the connecting member.

A method for handling (flat) objects (10), in particular sanitary articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins or the like, wherein the objects (10) are conveyed along a transport section (12) in a product flow and are then put together in a grouping station to form groups of objects (10). The objects (10) are introduced into the product flow in the region of an inlet station (23) before the objects (10) are put together to form groups.

An image forming device with a collapsible paper guide is provided. The image forming device includes a casing, a first tray structure and a paper guide. A medium gateway opening is formed on the casing. The first tray structure is disposed on the casing and adjacent to the medium gateway opening. The paper guide includes a first base disposed on the first tray structure and a first guiding component pivotally connected to the first base. The paper guide is switchable relative to the first tray structure between a used position and a stored position. A first included angle included between the first guiding component and the first base is less than 90 degrees when the paper guide is located at the used position, so that the first guiding component can be interfered and driven to pivotally fold for preventing the paper guide from being broken or damaged.

A first transport unit transports, along a first path, a sheet transported from an image forming unit. A second transport unit transports the sheet along a second transport path branched from a junction with the first transport path. A first cover, when open, holds the sheet transported to an exterior of a housing and, when closed, partially constitutes the second transport unit. A flap is disposed at the junction and, when at a first position, blocks the second transport path and guides the sheet along the first transport path and, when at a second position, blocks the first transport path and guides the sheet along the second transport path. A drive unit moves the flap between the first position and the second position. A moving mechanism moves away from the flap in response to closing of the first cover, and pushes and moves the flap to the second position.

A printer includes a printing unit, a casing, a scanner unit disposed in an upper portion of the casing, and a discharge unit that, below the scanner unit, is connected to the casing pivotably between a closed position and an open position and that a sheet of paper is discharged to. The discharge unit includes a placement surface for the sheet and a medium support unit capable of supporting the sheet from below while in a state of being protruded from the placement surface. The medium support unit is displaceable between a maximum protruded position and a minimum protruded position. When the amount of protrusion of the medium support unit from the placement surface when the discharge unit is in the open position is less than the amount of protrusion of the medium support unit in the maximum protruded position from the placement surface.

A banknote separation device includes a banknote separation wheel set and a reverse wheel set. The reverse wheel set includes a reverse wheel component, a reverse wheel set rotation shaft, a first fixing frame and a second fixing frame. Two ends of the reverse wheel set rotation shaft are fixed on two mounting side plates respectively, the first fixing frame and the second fixing frame are respectively fixedly connected at two ends of reverse wheel component. The first fixing frame is provided with two lash adjusting threaded holes and a first lash adjusting screw, the second fixing frame is provided with a second lash adjusting threaded hole and a second lash adjusting screw cooperating therewith, and radial clearances between two ends of the reverse wheel component and the banknote separation wheel set are adjusted respectively by the two lash adjusting screws.

The rotational pin and the lock pin are laterally provided in the right and left first brackets that are fixed to the right and left side surfaces of the sheet loading tray respectively, and furthermore, the right and left second brackets are fixed to the right and left of the one side surfaces of the casing. When the sheet loading tray reaches the sheet loading position, the lock pin is made to enter the sheet loading tray lock groove formed on the right and left second brackets to thereby lock and hold the sheet loading tray at the sheet loading tray storage position, along with an action of rotating the sheet loading tray about the rotational pin fitting into the sheet loading tray support groove formed on the right and left second brackets from the sheet loading position to the sheet loading tray storage position.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet container accommodating a recording medium therein, a sheet separating feeder including a sheet feeding body and a sheet separating body, an image forming part, and a bend applier. The sheet feeding body feeds the recording medium along with a surface movement thereof while the recording medium contacting the surface thereof. The sheet separating body forms a sheet separation nip region with the sheet feeding body and sandwiches the recording medium in the sheet separation nip region. The sheet separating feeder separates and feeds the recording medium contacting the sheet feeding body. The image forming part forms an image on the recording medium. The bend applier having a leading end of an elastic material contacts and bends the recording medium before the sheet separation nip region and generates a wrinkle extending on the recording medium in a sheet conveying direction.

A paper sheet processing device includes: an accommodating part that accommodates a paper sheet; and a sliding stage part that is provided within the accommodating part and supports the paper sheet accommodated within the accommodating part, the sliding stage part sliding with respect to the accommodating part to cause a portion of the sliding stage part to protrude to outside of the accommodating part, and the sliding stage part sliding with respect to the accommodating part to push the paper sheet to the outside of the accommodating part and cause a leading end of the paper sheet to protrude to the outside of the accommodating part.

A conveying apparatus includes: receiving trays arranged vertically and has a lowest tray and a first receiving tray; a conveying mechanism; a supporter supporting the receiving trays; and a swing mechanism configured to swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter to one of a receiving position at which the first receiving tray receives a medium and an upper position. The swing mechanism is configured to: keep the first receiving tray at the upper position when a first external force directed in a direction in which the first receiving tray is moved from the upper position toward the receiving position is not applied to the first receiving tray located at the upper position; and swing the first receiving tray with respect to the supporter toward the receiving position when the first external force is applied to the first receiving tray.