G03G2215/00721

Photo-interruptor unit, sheet conveyance apparatus and image forming apparatus
11579553 · 2023-02-14 · ·

A photo-interruptor unit includes a photo-interruptor and a supporting portion to detachably support the photo-interruptor. The supporting portion includes a hole which is formed on an attaching surface and through which a hook portion is inserted, and a guide portion to protrude from the attaching surface and guide the hook portion so that it deforms in a deformation direction when the photo-interruptor is moved in a movement direction intersecting an insertion direction. A regulating portion protrudes from the attaching surface and forms continuously with the guide portion to regulate a position in the movement direction of the photo-interruptor. The guide portion includes a first rib portion and a second rib portion that oppose one another in the deformation direction, and a distance between the first rib portion and the second rib portion in the deformation direction narrows toward a downstream direction of the movement direction.

Recording material processing apparatus or image forming system each of which executes stapling process
11713207 · 2023-08-01 · ·

A recording material processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a detecting unit, a stapling unit, an instructing unit, a control unit, a switching unit, and a notifying unit. The detecting unit detects recording material placed in the processing tray. The stapling unit executes a stapling process for the recording material placed in the processing tray. The instructing unit outputs a stapling process execution instruction. Upon receipt of the execution instruction in a state in which the detecting unit has detected a recording material inserted in the processing tray from an outside of a main body of a main body apparatus, the control unit cause the stapling process to be executed. The switching unit switches a position of the stapling unit among a plurality of positions. The notifying unit provides notification of a placement position of the recording material in the processing tray corresponding to each of the plurality of positions.

Method for correcting media position errors in a printing system
11703791 · 2023-07-18 · ·

A media transport system is used to transport a media sheet along a media transport path past an image capture system. The image capture system includes an image capture device positioned to capture an image of the media sheet, and a platen positioned behind the media sheet, wherein a surface of the platen includes a non-uniform density pattern. The image capture system captures an image of the media sheet that includes at least one edge of the media sheet and a portion of the platen that extends beyond the edge of the media sheet. An image analysis system automatically analyzes the captured digital image to detect an edge position of the media sheet by detecting a platen region that includes the non-uniform density pattern and a media region. The detected edge position is used to adjust a position that a printing module prints image data onto the media sheet.

Sheet conveying device, image reading device incorporating the sheet conveying device, and image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet conveying device
11691833 · 2023-07-04 · ·

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet loader, a sheet feeder, an optical sensor, and a rotary member. The sheet loader is configured to load a sheet. The sheet feeder is configured to feed the sheet loaded on the sheet loader. The optical sensor is configured to detect the sheet at a predetermined position on the sheet loader in a width direction of the sheet and at a predetermined position in a sheet conveyance passage in the width direction of the sheet. The rotary member is configured to rotate to a first position when the sheet is not at the predetermined position on the sheet loader and a second position when the sheet is at the predetermined position. The rotary member has a detection target portion configured to be detected by the optical sensor when the rotary member is located at the first or second position.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
20220413418 · 2022-12-29 ·

A fixing member is supported so as to be displaceable in a crossing direction that crosses a sheet conveying direction. A pressure member rotationally drives the fixing member by being rotationally driven. A motor rotationally drives the pressure member. A biasing mechanism elastically biases the fixing member toward the pressure member. A sheet detection portion detects a sheet at a first position and a second position. The first position is a position between a mechanism that feeds the sheet to a fixing position and the fixing position in the conveyance path. The second position is a position between the fixing position and a mechanism that takes over conveyance of the sheet from the fixing device. A control device times a time required for detection results from the sheet detection portion to show a predetermined change, and controls a rotational speed of the motor according to the timed time.

Adjusting a pickup time of a printing medium when a transfer delay occurs or is anticipated to occur

An image forming apparatus includes an engine to form an image on an image forming medium, a paper transfer device to pick up a printing paper and transfer the paper to a transfer path, a sensor to sense a printing paper at a predetermined position on the transfer path, and a processor to determine whether a transfer delay occurs, when the printing paper is sensed, and adjust a pickup timing to advance a pickup of a printing paper of a next page.

IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS
20230081902 · 2023-03-16 · ·

An image formation apparatus includes: an image former that prints an image on paper; a corrector that corrects a print position of the image on the paper; and a first sensor that is disposed on a conveyance path upstream of the image former, detects paper, and outputs detection data to the corrector, wherein the corrector obtains, on the basis of the detection data, an amount of change in a shape of first paper from a shape of second paper printed before the first paper is printed, and corrects a print position of a first image on the first paper on the basis of the change amount.

Recording material processing apparatus or image forming system each of which executes stapling process
11472659 · 2022-10-18 · ·

A recording material processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a detecting unit, a stapling unit, an instructing unit, a control unit, a switching unit, and a notifying unit. The detecting unit detects recording material placed in the processing tray. The stapling unit executes a stapling process for the recording material placed in the processing tray. The instructing unit outputs a stapling process execution instruction. Upon receipt of the execution instruction in a state in which the detecting unit has detected a recording material inserted in the processing tray from an outside of a main body of a main body apparatus, the control unit cause the stapling process to be executed. The switching unit switches a position of the stapling unit among a plurality of positions. The notifying unit provides notification of a placement position of the recording material in the processing tray corresponding to each of the plurality of positions.

Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
11474470 · 2022-10-18 · ·

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting portion to support a sheet, a feeding portion to feed the supported sheet, and a base member opposed to the supporting portion so the sheet is supported by the supporting portion between the supporting portion and the base member. A regulation unit includes a regulation portion to regulate a position of an edge portion of the supported sheet and moves in a moving direction, and a sensor outputs an output value that changes in accordance with an amount of movement of the regulation unit. The sensor and the regulation unit are supported by the base member, and the sensor is supported by the base member at a position above an abutment position between the sheet supported by the supporting portion and the feeding portion in a gravity direction.

Sheet conveyance apparatus and image forming apparatus

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a guide member disposed to define a conveyance path, a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element configured to output a detection signal that changes in accordance with an amount of received light, a first light-passing portion disposed to define an optical path from the light-emitting element to the conveyance path, and a second light-passing portion disposed to define an optical path from the conveyance path to the light-receiving element. The light-receiving element is configured such that the detection signal changes in accordance with whether or not a sheet is present in the conveyance path. Reflectance of each of the first light-passing portion and the second light-passing portion to the light emitted from the light-emitting element is higher than reflectance of the guide member to the light emitted from the light-emitting element.