In an image forming apparatus, a first conveyance part conveys a sheet, a detection unit detects a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance part, a second conveyance part is provided downstream of the detection unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet and conveys the sheet, a measurement unit measures a conveyance time of the sheet from when conveyance of the sheet by the first conveyance part is started until the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the detection unit, and an estimation unit estimates a remaining lifetime of the second conveyance part based on the conveyance time measured by the measurement unit.

In an image forming apparatus, a first conveyance part conveys a sheet, a detection unit detects a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance part, a second conveyance part is provided downstream of the detection unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet and conveys the sheet, a measurement unit measures a conveyance time of the sheet from when conveyance of the sheet by the first conveyance part is started until the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the detection unit, and an estimation unit estimates a remaining lifetime of the second conveyance part based on the conveyance time measured by the measurement unit.

The invention relates to a sheet alignment device (5) for a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, with a feed section, at least one sensor (30, 32) for determining the position and/or alignment of the sheet (B) and also at least two alignment modules (10), each having an alignment roller (12), to which a drive device (14) is assigned in each case, whereby there is assigned to each alignment module (10) a swivel device (16), with which the alignment roller (10) can be swivelled around a swivel axis (A) perpendicular to the feed section. The invention relates also to a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, whereby a sheet alignment device (5) of the aforementioned type is provided. The invention relates finally to a method for the aligning of a sheet (B) consisting of thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film by means of the following steps: the alignment of the sheet (B) is determined, the sheet (B) is speeded up, turned and/or displaced laterally by means of at least two alignment rollers (12), controllable with regard to circumferential speed and alignment, on a feed section.

The invention relates to a sheet alignment device (5) for a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, with a feed section, at least one sensor (30, 32) for determining the position and/or alignment of the sheet (B) and also at least two alignment modules (10), each having an alignment roller (12), to which a drive device (14) is assigned in each case, whereby there is assigned to each alignment module (10) a swivel device (16), with which the alignment roller (10) can be swivelled around a swivel axis (A) perpendicular to the feed section. The invention relates also to a machine for the processing of sheets (B) consisting of a thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film, whereby a sheet alignment device (5) of the aforementioned type is provided. The invention relates finally to a method for the aligning of a sheet (B) consisting of thin, flat material such as paper, cardboard or film by means of the following steps: the alignment of the sheet (B) is determined, the sheet (B) is speeded up, turned and/or displaced laterally by means of at least two alignment rollers (12), controllable with regard to circumferential speed and alignment, on a feed section.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor that conveys a recording medium; an image former that performs image formation for the recording medium; a receiver that receives an instruction of adjustment start of post pressing condition by a post processing apparatus without stopping a print job during continuous output operation that performs image formation continuously for a plurality of recording mediums, performs post processing by the post processing apparatus, and outputs the plurality of recording mediums; and a hardware processor that performs interval widening control for the recording medium being conveyed on a conveyance passage so as to convey the recording medium by widening an interval with a preceding recording medium from a time when the instruction of adjustment start of the post processing condition has been received.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyor that conveys a recording medium; an image former that performs image formation for the recording medium; a receiver that receives an instruction of adjustment start of post pressing condition by a post processing apparatus without stopping a print job during continuous output operation that performs image formation continuously for a plurality of recording mediums, performs post processing by the post processing apparatus, and outputs the plurality of recording mediums; and a hardware processor that performs interval widening control for the recording medium being conveyed on a conveyance passage so as to convey the recording medium by widening an interval with a preceding recording medium from a time when the instruction of adjustment start of the post processing condition has been received.

A medium ejection apparatus includes an ejection roller pair configured to eject a medium, a driving device configured to rotate at least one roller of the ejection roller pair, a processor for detecting a size of the medium, and controlling the driving device to increase a rotation speed of the at least one roller to be higher than a previous rotation speed, from a predetermined timing after a rear edge of the medium passes through a nip position of the ejection roller pair. The processor changes the predetermined timing in accordance with the size of the medium.

A medium ejection apparatus includes an ejection roller pair configured to eject a medium, a driving device configured to rotate at least one roller of the ejection roller pair, a processor for detecting a size of the medium, and controlling the driving device to increase a rotation speed of the at least one roller to be higher than a previous rotation speed, from a predetermined timing after a rear edge of the medium passes through a nip position of the ejection roller pair. The processor changes the predetermined timing in accordance with the size of the medium.

A packing apparatus includes a sealing mechanism, a timing sensing section, and a control section. The sealing mechanism affixes tape continuously on portions of a cardboard box transported with major flaps thereof folded. The sealing mechanism includes an affixing roller to press the tape against a first side surface and the major flaps. The timing sensing section senses the timing at which the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated. The control section controls pressing force exerted by the affixing roller, based on a result of the sensing performed by the timing sensing section, in such a way that the pressing force is reduced after the affixing of the tape on the first side surface is initiated.

A controller recognizes a remaining level of sheets in a sheet feeding cassette. The controller counts the required time after a sheet feeding rotary member starts to rotate until a sheet feeding sensor senses the tip end of a sheet. The controller judges whether a sheet feeding delay has occurred based on the required time. The controller calculates the incidence of sheet feeding delays for each sheet remaining level.