A device for applying coiling-tension to a slit band sheet includes an upper structure that is disposed on the upper side of a band sheet which has been passed through a slitter line and slitted; and a lower structure that is disposed on the lower side of the band sheet and faces the upper structure vertically. In addition, an upper belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the upper structure. A lower belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the lower structure. The upper structure has a first reversing portion, an upper pressing portion, and a second reversing portion. The first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion are integrated with each other. A tension adjusting mechanism is installed on side surfaces of the first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion and a side surface of the second reversing portion.

A discharge unit discharges the sheet has an image. A switching unit switches between stacking the sheet discharged from the discharge unit on a stacking unit or conveying the sheet the discharge unit toward an image reading apparatus. A conveyance unit conveys the sheet conveyed via the switching unit to a reading unit. A cooling unit cools the sheet discharged from the discharge unit or cools the reading unit.

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device to form an image on a recording medium, a casing to accommodate the image forming device, a sheet discharging port through which the recording medium having the image is discharged from the casing, a sheet stacker to stack the recording medium output through the sheet discharging port and opening on one side of the apparatus body and surrounded by outer walls including an outer wall having the sheet discharging port, an air guide opening disposed within a sheet passing range in a width direction of the recording medium in a sheet conveying path through which the recording medium having the image passes from the image forming device to the sheet discharging port, and an air suction fan to discharge air passing through the air guide opening to an outside of the casing.

A sheet discharge device includes a discharge conveyance path, a pair of discharge rollers, a side wall, a sheet stacking tray, a first fan, and a second fan. The discharge conveyance path communicates with a discharge port through which a sheet having passed through a fixing portion is discharged. The pair of discharge rollers convey the sheet along the discharge conveyance path and discharge the sheet from the discharge port. The side wall extends downward from the discharge port. The sheet stacking tray extends from the side wall in a sheet discharge direction in which the sheet is discharged by the pair of discharge rollers. The first fan is disposed below the discharge conveyance path and blows air toward the discharge conveyance path. The second fan is disposed above the discharge port and blows air from above the discharge port toward the sheet stacking tray.

A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.

A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.

A recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a recording medium, a discharge unit, a tray, and a side portion. The discharge unit discharges the recording medium in a discharge direction. The recording medium discharged by the discharge unit is stacked on the tray. The side portion regulates the recording medium stacked on the tray in a direction intersecting the discharge direction. The side portion is provided with an exhaust vent hole including an inclined portion for upwardly exhausting air from an inside of the recording apparatus to an outside of the recording apparatus.

The relay conveyance apparatus includes a casing, an opening, a cover, a conveyance guide, a protruding part and a cooling mechanism. The casing has an inner space in which a relay conveyance path is formed. The opening is formed in the casing. The protruding part is provided in the cover. When the conveyance guide is switched to a path formation position, the protruding part is inserted into the inner space of the casing to allow closing of the cover, and when the conveyance guide is switched to a path opening position, the protruding part interferes with the conveyance guide to restrict the closing of the cover. The cooling mechanism includes a main duct, a fan and an air blowing port. The air blowing port is provided in the protruding part, and through which the cooling air is blown from the main duct to the relay conveyance path.

A device for applying coiling-tension to a slit band sheet includes an upper structure that is disposed on the upper side of a band sheet which has been passed through a slitter line and slitted; and a lower structure that is disposed on the lower side of the band sheet and faces the upper structure vertically. In addition, an upper belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the upper structure. A lower belt is stretched on an outer peripheral surface of the lower structure. The upper structure has a first reversing portion, an upper pressing portion, and a second reversing portion. The first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion are integrated with each other. A tension adjusting mechanism is installed on side surfaces of the first reversing portion and the upper pressing portion and a side surface of the second reversing portion.

The relay conveyance apparatus includes a casing, an opening, a cover, a conveyance guide, a protruding part and a cooling mechanism. The casing has an inner space in which a relay conveyance path is formed. The opening is formed in the casing. The protruding part is provided in the cover. When the conveyance guide is switched to a path formation position, the protruding part is inserted into the inner space of the casing to allow closing of the cover, and when the conveyance guide is switched to a path opening position, the protruding part interferes with the conveyance guide to restrict the closing of the cover. The cooling mechanism includes a main duct, a fan and an air blowing port. The air blowing port is provided in the protruding part, and through which the cooling air is blown from the main duct to the relay conveyance path.