Abstract: According to an embodiment, a paper feed device includes: a tray that has a support surface on which a sheet is placed and is capable of entering a first state and a second state. The first state is a state for placing the sheet on the support surface. The second state is a state for taking out the sheet from the support surface toward a downstream side in a conveying direction and for putting the sheet in an inclined posture heading upward on the downstream side in the conveying direction than an upstream side in the conveying direction.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a paper feed device includes: a tray that has a support surface on which a sheet is placed and is capable of entering a first state and a second state. The first state is a state for placing the sheet on the support surface. The second state is a state for taking out the sheet from the support surface toward a downstream side in a conveying direction and for putting the sheet in an inclined posture heading upward on the downstream side in the conveying direction than an upstream side in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A manual paper feed device includes: a manual feed tray on which sheets are stacked; a paper feeding roller that feeds the sheets on the manual feed tray into an image forming unit; a pressing tray that is, with the sheets stacked thereon, rotatably supported and a downstream side of which in a conveying direction of the sheets is biased to the paper feeding roller side; a bias releasing member that separates and holds the pressing tray in a direction opposed to the bias direction and releases the biasing; and a sensor that detects at least one of presence or absence of the sheets on the manual feed tray and a bias releasing state of the pressing tray. The manual paper feed device prohibits paper feeding operation when the bias releasing state of the pressing tray is detected regardless of presence or absence of sheets stacked on the pressing tray.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium inspection method detects small protrusions that constitute defects on the surface of a magnetic recording medium. The method includes flying a glide inspection head at a predetermined height over the surface of the moving magnetic recording medium; detecting a contact duration time during which the glide head is in contact with a protrusion on the surface of the magnetic recording medium using a contact detection sensor attached to the glide inspection head; and determining the small protrusion based on the contact duration time.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium inspection method for detecting a small protrusion that constitutes a defect on a surface of a magnetic recording medium, the method comprising the steps of flying a glide inspection head at a predetermined height over a surface of the moving magnetic recording medium; detecting a contact duration time during which the glide head is in contact with the protrusion on the surface of the magnetic recording medium using a contact detection sensor attached to the glide inspection head; and determining the small protrusion based on the contact duration time.