A media processing device includes: a hopper for supporting a stack of media units (e.g. cards), the hopper including (i) a gate wall configured to abut leading edges of the media units and (ii) an outlet defined at an end of the gate wall; a pick roller at the outlet for engaging an outer one of the media units in the stack and dispensing the outer media unit from the hopper to a media processing path; the gate wall including a flexible gate at the outlet, the flexible gate configured to deflect toward the media processing path responsive to the outer media unit being driven into the flexible gate by the pick roller, wherein the outer media unit deflects when passing by the flexible gate, permitting the outer media unit to be dispensed from the hopper.

A medium conveying apparatus includes a feed roller to feed a medium, a separation roller opposed to the feed roller, a motor to generate driving force by being supplied with electric power, a cam member rotated in a first direction by the driving force to press the separation roller toward the feed roller, and a driving force transmitting mechanism between the motor and the cam member, the driving force transmitting mechanism being configured to transmit the driving force from the motor to the cam member and provided such that the cam member keeps pressing the separation roller toward the feed roller without rotating the cam member in a second direction opposite to the first direction even if electric power supply to the motor is shut off.

A sheet conveyance device includes a first conveyance member, and a drive transmission mechanism. The first conveyance member is configured to convey a sheet toward a second conveyance member. The drive transmission mechanism is configured to transmit a driving force of a driving source to the first conveyance member. The drive transmission mechanism includes a first drive transmitter and a second drive transmitter disposed coaxially with the first drive transmitter. The driving force is transmitted from the first drive transmitter to the second drive transmitter. The second drive transmitter is rotatable relative to the first drive transmitter within at least a predetermined angular range.

A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.

Sheet collating device for accumulating sheets from at least one hopper, comprising: a lower transport path and an upper transport path; a switchable guide for directing the sheets from the at least one hopper to the lower or the upper transport path; left and right upper drive shafts connected to a right and a left upper drive pulleys supporting a pair of upper belts, a drive direction of the pair of upper belts being changed dependent on what transport path of the upper and lower transport paths is selected; first and second lower drive shafts connected to a right and a left lower drive pulleys supporting first and second pairs of lower belts; and a first series of right paddles mounted on the first pair of lower belts and a first series of left paddles mounted on the second pair of lower belts for registering a collated set of sheets.

A sheet feeding device includes a tray, a feeding member, a conveying member, a separation member, a transmission unit, and a biasing member. The separation member abuts the conveying member and separates a single sheet from sheets fed by the feeding member. The transmission unit includes first and second portions respectively having first and second transmission surfaces. Where the first and second transmission surfaces abut each other, the first portion drives the second portion that drives the feeding member. The biasing member biases either of the first and second portions so that the first and second transmission surfaces move away from each other. The conveying member is driven in a state where the separation member abuts the conveying member and the feeding member abuts the sheet stacked on the tray and is stopped. Thereafter, the first and second transmission surfaces abut each other, and the feeding member is driven.

A stripper assembly can include a feed wheel, a stripping tire, a drag clutch, and first and second stripping elements. The feed wheel and stripping tire can be mounted for rotation in clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) directions and can contact one another to define a nip through which papers are directed. The drag clutch can be interposed between the stripping tire and the shaft it is mounted upon. The first and second stripping elements can be positioned on the shaft of the stripping tire on opposite sides of the nip. Each of the stripping elements can be configured and positioned to engage papers passing through the nip. The drag clutch is not interposed between either of the first and second stripping elements and the shaft of the stripping tire.

A sheet conveyance apparatus comprises: a first conveyance roller configured to convey a sheet; a second conveyance roller, arranged downstream of the first conveyance roller in the conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed, configured to convey the sheet; a first conveyance path configured to guide the sheet from the first conveyance roller to the second conveyance roller; a second conveyance path, which is branched from the first conveyance path between the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller to guide the sheet, the second conveyance path having a bent portion; a third conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet guided by the second conveyance path; a first motor configured to drive the third conveyance roller; a second motor; a first transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the second motor to the second conveyance roller.

According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a roller, a motor, a clutch, and a torque generator. The roller conveys a sheet. The motor is a driving source. The clutch connects or disconnects drive of the motor with respect to the roller. The torque generator applies a torque to the roller.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a first conveyance rotary member, a second conveyance rotary member, a punch member, a sensor, a punch motor, a conveyance motor, a first drive transmission portion including a first number of drive transmission members configured to sequentially transmit driving force of the conveyance motor to the first conveyance rotary member, and a second drive transmission portion including a second number of drive transmission members configured to sequentially transmit driving force of the conveyance motor to the second conveyance rotary member, the second number being larger than the first number.