A transfer device for one or more flat substrates (4, 4a, 4b), which can be inserted between two successive units upstream and downstream (3, 6, 9) in a packaging production machine (1), the device including a bridge (14) with an upper surface (16) providing a junction between the upstream unit (3, 6) and the downstream unit (9). An adjustment device (19) varies a length (L1, L2) of the bridge (14). The bridge (14) is a static apron on which the substrate (4, 4a, 4b) slides, having a fixed transversal end (36) and a mobile transversal end (22). The adjustment device (19) varies a position of the mobile end (22), as a function of a spacing (E1, E2) between the two units.

A transfer device for one or more flat substrates (4, 4a, 4b), which can be inserted between two successive units upstream and downstream (3, 6, 9) in a packaging production machine (1), the device including a bridge (14) with an upper surface (16) providing a junction between the upstream unit (3, 6) and the downstream unit (9). An adjustment device (19) varies a length (L1, L2) of the bridge (14). The bridge (14) is a static apron on which the substrate (4, 4a, 4b) slides, having a fixed transversal end (36) and a mobile transversal end (22). The adjustment device (19) varies a position of the mobile end (22), as a function of a spacing (E1, E2) between the two units.

An image forming apparatus includes a feeder unit, a separating unit, a conveying unit disposed downstream of the separating unit in a sheet feeding direction, an image forming unit disposed downstream of the conveying unit in the sheet feeding direction, a drive unit, and a control unit. The feeder unit feeds a sheet. The separating unit separates sheets fed by the feeder unit one by one. The conveying unit conveys the sheet. The image forming unit forms, while the sheet is being conveyed, an image on the sheet. The drive unit drives the conveying unit. The control unit controls the drive unit. After the conveyed sheet reaches the image forming unit, the control unit reduces a conveyance speed of the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit.

An image forming apparatus includes a feeder unit, a separating unit, a conveying unit disposed downstream of the separating unit in a sheet feeding direction, an image forming unit disposed downstream of the conveying unit in the sheet feeding direction, a drive unit, and a control unit. The feeder unit feeds a sheet. The separating unit separates sheets fed by the feeder unit one by one. The conveying unit conveys the sheet. The image forming unit forms, while the sheet is being conveyed, an image on the sheet. The drive unit drives the conveying unit. The control unit controls the drive unit. After the conveyed sheet reaches the image forming unit, the control unit reduces a conveyance speed of the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit.

A sheet loading apparatus includes: a sheet loading portion that includes a bottom portion on which a sheet is loaded; and a regulating mechanism that butts an end edge of the sheet extending in a first direction to limit a position of the sheet in a second direction. The regulating mechanism includes: a guide portion that is formed on the bottom portion to extend in the second direction; and a limiting member slidable along the guide portion. The guide portion includes: first engaged portions that are formed at predetermined intervals along the second direction; and a second engaged portion that is formed continuously along the second direction. The limiting member includes: a pair of engaging portions that are composed of: a first engagement portion able to engage with one of the first engaged portions; and a second engagement portion which engages with the second engaged portion.

A sheet loading apparatus includes: a sheet loading portion that includes a bottom portion on which a sheet is loaded; and a regulating mechanism that butts an end edge of the sheet extending in a first direction to limit a position of the sheet in a second direction. The regulating mechanism includes: a guide portion that is formed on the bottom portion to extend in the second direction; and a limiting member slidable along the guide portion. The guide portion includes: first engaged portions that are formed at predetermined intervals along the second direction; and a second engaged portion that is formed continuously along the second direction. The limiting member includes: a pair of engaging portions that are composed of: a first engagement portion able to engage with one of the first engaged portions; and a second engagement portion which engages with the second engaged portion.

A sheet stacking tray includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sheet stopper, a first full-load detector, a second full-load detector, and a plurality of motors. The plurality of motors maintain the sheet stopper at a protruding position to block a sheet conveyed by the first conveyor until the first full-load detector outputs a signal indicating that a sheet bundle is fully loaded, shift the sheet stopper to a lowered position to allow the sheet bundle to pass when the first full-load detector outputs the signal indicating that the sheet bundle is fully loaded, drive the first conveyor and the second conveyor together to convey the sheet bundle when the sheet stopper shifts to the lowered position, and stop the second conveyor and drive only the first conveyor, when the second full-load detector detects a leading edge of the sheet bundle.

A sheet stacking tray includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a sheet stopper, a first full-load detector, a second full-load detector, and a plurality of motors. The plurality of motors maintain the sheet stopper at a protruding position to block a sheet conveyed by the first conveyor until the first full-load detector outputs a signal indicating that a sheet bundle is fully loaded, shift the sheet stopper to a lowered position to allow the sheet bundle to pass when the first full-load detector outputs the signal indicating that the sheet bundle is fully loaded, drive the first conveyor and the second conveyor together to convey the sheet bundle when the sheet stopper shifts to the lowered position, and stop the second conveyor and drive only the first conveyor, when the second full-load detector detects a leading edge of the sheet bundle.

In an image forming system, a hardware processor controls whether the first sheet is conveyed to an upstream side of the image former via a first conveying path which reverses sides of the first sheet or via a second conveying path which does not reverse the sides of the first sheet as well as the first conveying path, when images are formed on both sides of a plurality of the first sheets by the image former, in order to narrow a space between a plurality of the first sheets.

In an image forming system, a hardware processor controls whether the first sheet is conveyed to an upstream side of the image former via a first conveying path which reverses sides of the first sheet or via a second conveying path which does not reverse the sides of the first sheet as well as the first conveying path, when images are formed on both sides of a plurality of the first sheets by the image former, in order to narrow a space between a plurality of the first sheets.