A sheet supplying unit 1 supplies sheets S one by one. A knife-type folding unit 5 folds the sheet. A first sensor 28 detects the sheet entering the folding position. A second sensor 30a, 30b detects the sheet passing through the opening. A timer 31 measures a time interval from end of sheet detection by the second sensor to start of sheet detection by the first sensor. A sheet feed interval change unit 33 calculates a reduction amount of the sheet feed interval using the measured values of the timer and changes the sheet feed interval based on the reduction amount each time a predetermined number of the sheets are folded.

Provided is a sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets, including: a feeding-roller pair; a loop-forming space provided downstream from the feeding-roller pair, for forming a sheet loop; a pushing member for pushing the looped sheet; a folding-roller pair for nipping a prescribed part of the sheet pushed by the pushing member, thereby to fold the sheet; and a path provided between the feeding-roller pair and the folding-roller pair, for guiding the sheet fed from the feeding-roller pair toward the loop-forming space.

A recording apparatus includes a conveying unit, a supporting unit, and a static elimination unit. The conveying unit conveys a recording medium in a first direction to a recording area where recording is performed by a recording unit. The supporting unit supports the recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit and includes an abutment surface that abuts the recording medium when the supporting unit supports the recording medium. The static elimination unit eliminates static from the recording medium in a static elimination portion. The static elimination portion is not provided at a position opposed to the abutment surface and is provided at a position not opposed to the abutment surface in the supporting unit.

Examples disclosed herein relate to a device including a flap. In examples, the device includes a star wheel to advance a medium along an output media path; and a flap disposed to cover the star wheel in a first position and to be moved by a force applied by a medium being advanced along the output media path to a second position. In examples, the medium is to be directed toward an output tray when the flap is in the second position.

A folding apparatus for a continuous web for production of absorbent hygiene articles and intended to be folded into a “V” or “U” shape in first and second longitudinal portions along a folding line parallel to a feeding line. A folding section includes a contact unit extending along the feeding line and defining the folding line. First and second guides are positioned on opposite sides of the contact unit and respectively have first and second sliding surfaces. The first and second sliding surfaces extend in a helical fashion along the feeding line, each having a respective infeed section, where the web is not folded, and a respective outfeed section, positioned downstream of the respective infeed section according to a web feeding direction, where the web is folded in two and has the first portion and the second portion set at an angle to each other.

In an image forming apparatus, a conveyance section forms a conveyance path and conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction. The conveyance section includes a conveyance roller for rotating around a roller shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and a guide member. The guide member includes a first guide member for rotating around a first axial line to open/close with respect to a first partial region of the conveyance path, and a second guide member for rotating around a second axial line to open/close with respect to a second partial region different from the first partial region. The first axial line extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the roller shaft. The second axial line extends in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction. The first guide member opens in conjunction with an opening action of the second guide member.

According to one or more embodiments, a sheet conveying device includes a reading device, a roller, a downstream guide, and a transition guide. The reading device reads a surface of the sheet. The roller faces the reading device. The downstream guide is downstream of the roller in the sheet conveyance direction. The transition guide guides the sheet at least during a sheet transition from the reading position to s an upstream end of the downstream guide.

A pair of regulating guides can guide both end edges in a sheet width direction Y of a sheet being conveyed being nipped by a conveying belt and balls. The pair of regulating guides can move to their respective guide positions each for guiding one of both end edges of the sheet and their respective retracting positions each retracting from one of the both end edges of the sheet by a distance larger than the guide position. A guide moving unit for moving the pair of regulating guides makes each of the pair of regulating guides reach the guide position from the retracting position after the rear end of the sheet passed from a conveying roller pair positioned on the upstream side to the conveying belt passes the conveying roller pair.

To provide a configuration for allowing a user to easily take out a sheet stopped on a conveying belt. Regulating guides are disposed on both sides of a conveying belt in a sheet width direction Y and can guide both end edges in the sheet width direction of a sheet S being conveyed while being nipped by the conveying belt and the balls. A take-out port is provided on a side close to the regulating guide in the sheet width direction and serves as an opening for taking out the sheet stopped on the conveying belt. The regulating guide on a side away from the take-out port moves in the sheet width direction Y toward the take-out port when the sheet is stopped on the conveying belt.

A flexural document pick-up device includes: a feeding path comprised of a upper wall and a lower wall; a input tray arranged upstream to the feeding path; a paper feeding unit arranged partially in the feeding path; a separation roller disposed on the opposite side of the paper feeding unit; a blocking arm disposed upstream to the paper feeding unit; a securing groove arranged on the upper wall; and a guiding unit with the following portions disposed sequentially from downstream to upstream of the feeding direction: a securing section which is secured to the securing groove, a flexure section which is extended from the securing section to the feeding path, a guiding section which is connected to the flexure section and essentially parallel to the feeding path, a lifting section which is connected to the guiding section and a vertex which is arranged on the end of the lifting section.