A label cutter comprises a movable cutting blade, a pre-tensioning device, and a trigger. The pre-tensioning device pre-tensions the cutting blade into an arrested position. Upon its release, the cutting blade moves from the arrested position to a cutting position for cutting a label strip. In the arrested position, the cutting blade is retracted behind a component of the cutter.

A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a separation-conveyance portion; a first conveyance rotary member and a second conveyance rotary member provided downstream of the separation-conveyance portion to convey the sheet in cooperation with each other; and a third conveyance rotary member arranged between the separation-conveyance portion and the first or the second conveyance rotary member in a sheet conveyance direction, wherein a conveyance speed of the second conveyance rotary member is changeable to a first conveyance speed which is the same as the first conveyance rotary member and a second conveyance speed different from the first conveyance speed, and wherein, when the first conveyance rotary member is set to the first conveyance speed and the second conveyance rotary member is set to the second conveyance speed, the third conveyance rotary member is set to a third conveyance speed between the first conveyance speed and the second conveyance speed.

A media stacker may comprises a stacking platform; and a pair of a guiding tracks above the stacking platform and extending from a media receiving side of the media stacker in a media advance direction along opposite sides of a media transport path; wherein at least one guiding track of the pair of guiding tracks is movable between a support position and a release position to guide and support the media sheet above the stacking platform and to release the media sheet to drop from the guiding track to the stacking platform.

A media stacker may comprises a stacking platform; and a pair of a guiding tracks above the stacking platform and extending from a media receiving side of the media stacker in a media advance direction along opposite sides of a media transport path; wherein at least one guiding track of the pair of guiding tracks is movable between a support position and a release position to guide and support the media sheet above the stacking platform and to release the media sheet to drop from the guiding track to the stacking platform.

A thickness detector includes a rotator having different shape marks, disposed at different positions in a rotation direction; an opposing member disposed opposite the rotator; a detector to detect and output a displacement amount of the rotator or the opposing member in a sheet thickness direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire first output values for one rotation from the detector, in a state without sheet; determine, based on a value output from the detector, whether one of the plurality of marks is detected in a state with the sheet held; acquire a predetermined number of second output values after one of the marks is detected; extract, from the first output values, values corresponding to the second output values, based on the value corresponding to the detected mark; and calculate a sheet thickness based on the second output values and the extracted first output values.

A thickness detector includes a rotator having different shape marks, disposed at different positions in a rotation direction; an opposing member disposed opposite the rotator; a detector to detect and output a displacement amount of the rotator or the opposing member in a sheet thickness direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire first output values for one rotation from the detector, in a state without sheet; determine, based on a value output from the detector, whether one of the plurality of marks is detected in a state with the sheet held; acquire a predetermined number of second output values after one of the marks is detected; extract, from the first output values, values corresponding to the second output values, based on the value corresponding to the detected mark; and calculate a sheet thickness based on the second output values and the extracted first output values.

A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belts and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures. The sheets are fed to the conveyor in synchronism with the conveyor speed by a timed feeder so that the sheets are carried by the conveyor with a predetermined gap between the sheets and no belt apertures in the gap. A sensor counts the apertures in the belt and activates the feeder at predetermined time intervals.

A vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belts and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures. The sheets are fed to the conveyor in synchronism with the conveyor speed by a timed feeder so that the sheets are carried by the conveyor with a predetermined gap between the sheets and no belt apertures in the gap. A sensor counts the apertures in the belt and activates the feeder at predetermined time intervals.

A controller is configured to drive a conveying roller to allow a sheet to abut on a registration roller and stop, and to drive the registration roller to convey the sheet abutting on the registration roller to the printing unit at a set sheet interval. The controller is configured to control a conveying speed of the conveying roller based on a time from a first timing to a second timing, the first timing at which a preceding sheet conveyed from the registration roller to the printing unit exits the conveying roller, the second timing at which a following sheet reaches the conveying roller.

A controller is configured to drive a conveying roller to allow a sheet to abut on a registration roller and stop, and to drive the registration roller to convey the sheet abutting on the registration roller to the printing unit at a set sheet interval. The controller is configured to control a conveying speed of the conveying roller based on a time from a first timing to a second timing, the first timing at which a preceding sheet conveyed from the registration roller to the printing unit exits the conveying roller, the second timing at which a following sheet reaches the conveying roller.