An image forming apparatus includes: a circulating member that is a part of a transport path that transports a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member, circulates, and holds a leading end portion of the recording medium; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position in a circulation path of the circulating member; and a feeding section that feeds out the recording medium to a holding position where the holding member holds the leading end portion of the recording medium. When a circulation velocity Vg is defined as a velocity at which the circulating member circulates the holding member, a transport velocity of the recording medium is reduced from a first transport velocity V1, which is higher than the circulation velocity Vg, to a second transport velocity V2, which is lower than the first transport velocity V1, before the leading end portion of the recording medium enters the holding position.

An image forming apparatus includes plural rotating members that are rotatable; an annular circulating member that is wound around the plural rotating members and circulates when the rotating members rotate; a retaining member attached to an attaching portion of the circulating member and that circulates together with the circulating member, the retaining member being configured to retain a recording medium in an area where the attaching portion comes into contact with one of the rotating members; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position defined on a circulation path along which the circulating member circulates; a delivering unit that delivers the recording medium to a retaining position where the recording medium is to be retained by the retaining member; a detector that detects rotation of the one rotating member; and a controller that controls delivery of the recording medium from the delivering unit to the retaining position, the delivery being controlled with reference to information detected by the detector.

An image forming apparatus includes plural rotating members that are rotatable; an annular circulating member that is wound around the plural rotating members and circulates when the rotating members rotate; a retaining member attached to an attaching portion of the circulating member and that circulates together with the circulating member, the retaining member being configured to retain a recording medium in an area where the attaching portion comes into contact with one of the rotating members; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position defined on a circulation path along which the circulating member circulates; a delivering unit that delivers the recording medium to a retaining position where the recording medium is to be retained by the retaining member; a detector that detects rotation of the one rotating member; and a controller that controls delivery of the recording medium from the delivering unit to the retaining position, the delivery being controlled with reference to information detected by the detector.

An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing cylinder that is rotatably supported, that has a groove formed in an outer portion thereof in a rotational radial direction thereof, and that causes an image transferred to a recording medium to be fixed to the recording medium when the recording medium passes along an outer surface of the fixing cylinder in the rotational radial direction; a delivery cylinder that is rotatably supported; a circulating member that is loop-shaped and wrapped at least around the fixing cylinder and the delivery cylinder; plural holding members configured to hold the recording medium when the recording medium passes around the delivery cylinder toward the fixing cylinder, the holding members being supported by the circulating member such that the holding members are arranged in a length direction of the circulating member with predetermined intervals therebetween, each holding member being disposed in the groove when the holding member passes along the outer portion of the fixing cylinder; and a pressure unit that is rotatably supported and that causes the recording medium to pass between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder while a pressure is applied between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder, the pressure unit coming into contact with an end portion of the groove in a rotation direction of the fixing cylinder before or after a period from when one of the holding members starts a holding operation for holding the recording medium to when the holding operation is completed.

An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing cylinder that is rotatably supported, that has a groove formed in an outer portion thereof in a rotational radial direction thereof, and that causes an image transferred to a recording medium to be fixed to the recording medium when the recording medium passes along an outer surface of the fixing cylinder in the rotational radial direction; a delivery cylinder that is rotatably supported; a circulating member that is loop-shaped and wrapped at least around the fixing cylinder and the delivery cylinder; plural holding members configured to hold the recording medium when the recording medium passes around the delivery cylinder toward the fixing cylinder, the holding members being supported by the circulating member such that the holding members are arranged in a length direction of the circulating member with predetermined intervals therebetween, each holding member being disposed in the groove when the holding member passes along the outer portion of the fixing cylinder; and a pressure unit that is rotatably supported and that causes the recording medium to pass between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder while a pressure is applied between the pressure unit and the fixing cylinder, the pressure unit coming into contact with an end portion of the groove in a rotation direction of the fixing cylinder before or after a period from when one of the holding members starts a holding operation for holding the recording medium to when the holding operation is completed.

A system has: a transport chain, which is roof-shaped in an upper region, along which printed products are transportable astride, collectable, and optionally stitchable in an intermediate stitching station; and a stop, which is adjustable in accordance with a format of a printed product of the printed products being delivered, is arranged in a transport direction of the printed products, and is positioned after the intermediate stitching station along the transport chain, the stop corresponding to a location of delivery of the printed product from the transport chain. A cyclic transfer of the printed product during the delivery takes place via a delivery system, the delivery system having in an infeed region a printed product transporter configured to transfer the printed product being delivered, the printed product transporter having pivot arms, the pivot arms being controllable according to a measured thickness of the printed product being delivered.

This invention provides a stacker for use in forming stacks of cut sheets received from an upstream utilization device (e.g. a printer, cutter, etc.) that allows for positive driving of sheets into a stack using a stacking unit that includes a series of grippers that are adapted to grip and release a leading edge of each sheet at the appropriate time. In this manner, each sheet is gripped as it arrives from the upstream operation and is passed downstream into the stack, being released so as to properly decelerate at the stack's backstop. The grippers are mounted on a continuous belt between a pair of opposing drive sprockets. An edge sensor located upstream of the stacking unit triggers motion of the belts. The grippers are actuated by a mechanical cam arrangement to selectively grip and release at predetermined positions as the belt is driven.

A sheet stacker includes a sheet stacking portion, a guide portion, and an air blower. The sheet stacking portion is configured to stack a sheet bundle. The guide portion is configured to receive a leading end of a sheet conveyed toward the sheet stacking portion and guide the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The air blower is disposed above the sheet stacking portion and configured to blow air toward the sheet on a downstream side, in the sheet conveyance direction, from a position at which the guide portion receives the leading end of the sheet.

A sheet stacker includes a sheet stacking portion, a guide portion, and an air blower. The sheet stacking portion is configured to stack a sheet bundle. The guide portion is configured to receive a leading end of a sheet conveyed toward the sheet stacking portion and guide the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The air blower is disposed above the sheet stacking portion and configured to blow air toward the sheet on a downstream side, in the sheet conveyance direction, from a position at which the guide portion receives the leading end of the sheet.

An image forming apparatus includes: a circulating member that is a part of a transport path that transports a recording medium; a holding member that is fixed to the circulating member, circulates, and holds a leading end portion of the recording medium; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position in a circulation path of the circulating member; and a feeding section that feeds out the recording medium to a holding position where the holding member holds the leading end portion of the recording medium. When a circulation velocity Vg is defined as a velocity at which the circulating member circulates the holding member, a transport velocity of the recording medium is reduced from a first transport velocity V1, which is higher than the circulation velocity Vg, to a second transport velocity V2, which is lower than the first transport velocity V1, before the leading end portion of the recording medium enters the holding position.