Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a separation member supply unit. The conveyance unit conveys sheets for circuit board. The stacking unit stacks the sheets. The separation member supply unit supplies a separation member to separate the stacked sheets at any position. The separation member supply unit places the separation member on the sheet in being conveyed.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a stacking unit, and a separation member supply unit. The conveyance unit conveys sheets for circuit board. The stacking unit stacks the sheets. The separation member supply unit supplies a separation member to separate the stacked sheets at any position. The separation member supply unit places the separation member on the sheet in being conveyed.

Abstract: A disclosed to-be-transferred object length measurement device includes a first rotating body; a passage detection unit detecting a passage of the to-be-transferred object; a rotation amount measurement unit measuring a rotation amount of the first rotating body in a first measurement period; a second rotating body feeding the to-be-transferred object; a speed detection unit detecting a first feeding speed and a second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object; and a calculation unit calculating a feeding distance of the to-be-transferred object per a predetermined rotation amount of the first rotating body based on the first feeding speed, and further calculating a length of the to-be-transferred object based on the rotation amount of the first rotating body in the first measurement period, the feeding distance, and the second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object in the second measurement period.

Abstract: A first engaging member makes a first engagement with a first locking member to lock an edge guiding unit. A second engaging member makes a second engagement with a second locking member to lock the edge guiding unit. The first locking member is movable to a first retract position and a second retract position. When the first locking member moves to the first retract position, the second engagement is released in conjunction with a release of the first engagement, and when the first locking member moves to the second retract position, the first engagement is released while maintaining the second engagement.

Abstract: A starting unit starts, in parallel with a blowing operation for a first tray, a blowing operation for a second tray that is to perform a feeding operation next. When a predetermined time elapses after starting the blowing operation for the second tray, a feeding unit switches from the first tray to the second tray, and feeds the recording medium from the second tray. When the blowing operation is performed for a number of trays before switching the trays and the number of trays is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, a control unit limits the number of trays for performing the blowing operation.

Abstract: A device for measuring intensity of a transmitted light, includes a first measuring unit that measures a first intensity of a light transmitted through a medium on a conveying path in its thickness direction and outputs a first measured value; a second measuring unit that is arranged adjacent to the first measuring unit, measures a second intensity of the light transmitted through the medium in the thickness direction, and outputs a second measured value; and an operating unit that obtains a true measured value from the first measured value and the second measured value.

Abstract: A disclosed to-be-transferred object length measurement device includes a first rotating body; a passage detection unit detecting a passage of the to-be-transferred object; a rotation amount measurement unit measuring a rotation amount of the first rotating body in a first measurement period; a second rotating body feeding the to-be-transferred object; a speed detection unit detecting a first feeding speed and a second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object; and a calculation unit calculating a feeding distance of the to-be-transferred object per a predetermined rotation amount of the first rotating body based on the first feeding speed, and further calculating a length of the to-be-transferred object based on the rotation amount of the first rotating body in the first measurement period, the feeding distance, and the second feeding speed of the to-be-transferred object in the second measurement period.

Abstract: A device for measuring intensity of a transmitted light, includes a first measuring unit that measures a first intensity of a light transmitted through a medium on a conveying path in its thickness direction and outputs a first measured value; a second measuring unit that is arranged adjacent to the first measuring unit, measures a second intensity of the light transmitted through the medium in the thickness direction, and outputs a second measured value; and an operating unit that obtains a true measured value from the first measured value and the second measured value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet size detection device including a sheet width direction regulating member, a sheet conveyance direction regulating member, two levers, a detection sensor, and a pattern supplementing device. The levers each have a concavo-convex pattern and interlock with the regulating members, respectively, and are superimposed to have the same center of rotation and the same locus formed by a leading end of the concavo-convex pattern. The concavo-convex pattern of at least one of the levers is shaped to prevent, in a detection pattern, erroneous detection attributed to positional displacement of the concavo-convex pattern. The detection sensor including push switches detects the sheet size according to a combined concavo-convex pattern formed by the superimposed levers.

Abstract: A tray unit can accommodate a stack of recording mediums. A side fence performs alignment of the stack of the recording mediums in one direction and an end fence performs alignment in another direction. A first lever has a first corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the side fence. A second lever has a second corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the end fence. A sensor is provided integrally with the tray unit and has portions that are selectively pressed by a composite corrugated portion formed of the first corrugated portion and the second corrugated portion.

Abstract: A starting unit starts, in parallel with a blowing operation for a first tray, a blowing operation for a second tray that is to perform a feeding operation next. When a predetermined time elapses after starting the blowing operation for the second tray, a feeding unit switches from the first tray to the second tray, and feeds the recording medium from the second tray. When the blowing operation is performed for a number of trays before switching the trays and the number of trays is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, a control unit limits the number of trays for performing the blowing operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet size detection device including a sheet width direction regulating member, a sheet conveyance direction regulating member, two levers, a detection sensor, and a pattern supplementing device. The levers each have a concavo-convex pattern and interlock with the regulating members, respectively, and are superimposed to have the same center of rotation and the same locus formed by a leading end of the concavo-convex pattern. The concavo-convex pattern of at least one of the levers is shaped to prevent, in a detection pattern, erroneous detection attributed to positional displacement of the concavo-convex pattern. The detection sensor including push switches detects the sheet size according to a combined concavo-convex pattern formed by the superimposed levers.

Abstract: A first engaging member makes a first engagement with a first locking member to lock an edge guiding unit. A second engaging member makes a second engagement with a second locking member to lock the edge guiding unit. The first locking member is movable to a first retract position and a second retract position. When the first locking member moves to the first retract position, the second engagement is released in conjunction with a release of the first engagement, and when the first locking member moves to the second retract position, the first engagement is released while maintaining the second engagement.

Abstract: A medium discrimination device includes a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a printing medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity at each time the printing medium is conveyed, a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device, a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of printing medium to be used, a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity assigned to each printing medium to be set by the medium setting device, and a control processing unit configured to perform paper type detection on a first printing medium, and double feed detection on following printing mediums.

Abstract: A medium discrimination device includes a transmitted light quantity measurement device arranged to measure a transmitted light quantity in a thickness direction of a medium on a conveyance route, and configured to perform a measurement of the transmitted light quantity at each time the medium is conveyed, a measurement value memory device storing a result of the measurement performed by the transmitted light quantity measurement device, a medium setting device configured to previously set a type of medium to be used, a medium information memory device storing information of a transmitted light quantity assigned to each medium to be set by the medium setting device, and a control processing unit configured to perform paper type detection on a first medium, and double feed detection on following mediums.

Abstract: A tray unit can accommodate a stack of recording mediums. A side fence performs alignment of the stack of the recording mediums in one direction and an end fence performs alignment in another direction. A first lever has a first corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the side fence. A second lever has a second corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the end fence. A sensor is provided integrally with the tray unit and has portions that are selectively pressed by a composite corrugated portion formed of the first corrugated portion and the second corrugated portion.

Abstract: A double-sided image forming device comprises a double-side operation unit. The double-side operation unit includes a sheet reversing unit including a switchback conveying path for reversing a front side and a back side of a sheet conveyed from an image forming unit, and a reconveying path for reconveying the sheet to the image forming unit so as to form an image on the back side. The switchback conveying path has a length smaller than a length of a conveyable maximum-size sheet. The double-side operation unit can slide from/toward a body of the double-sided image forming device in a direction perpendicular to a direction of conveying the sheet. A rear end guide is further provided in the switchback conveying path so as to guide a rear end of a large-size sheet.

Abstract: A sheet reversing and discharging device of the present invention conveys each of a tab sheet and an ordinary sheet in a particular manner. Before a tab sheet enters a reversal tray, a drive roller is driven in the reverse direction while a driven roller is lowered into contact with the drive roller beforehand. The drive roller and driven roller pull in the tab sheet in the direction of conveyance until the tab of the tab sheet moves away from the tip of a path selector. The drive roller and driven roller surely convey the tab sheet to the reversal tray after the tab has moved away from the above tip. Whether or not the tab has moved away from the tip is determined on the basis of a period of time elapsed since a sheet sensor adjoining the inlet of the device has sensed the trailing edge of the tab sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes conveying means respectively located at an upstream side and a downstream side on a sheet conveyance path. First drive means rotates the upstream conveying means at a constant speed while second drive means rotates the downstream conveying means at a variable speed. When the second drive means accelerates the rotation of the downstream conveying means, speed adjusting means causes the conveying speed of the upstream conveying means to reflect the acceleration. The sheet conveying device insures smooth, reliable conveyance even when a sheet extends over both of the upstream and downstream conveying means.

Abstract: A double-sided image forming device comprises a double-side operation unit. The double-side operation unit includes a sheet reversing unit including a switchback conveying path for reversing a front side and a back side of a sheet conveyed from an image forming unit, and a reconveying path for reconveying the sheet to the image forming unit so as to form an image on the back side. The switchback conveying path has a length smaller than a length of a conveyable maximum-size sheet. The double-side operation unit can slide from/toward a body of the double-sided image forming device in a direction perpendicular to a direction of conveying the sheet. A rear end guide is further provided in the switchback conveying path so as to guide a rear end of a large-size sheet.