Abstract: A voice conversion apparatus includes: an input unit that inputs designation of a conversion destination voice; an extraction unit that analyzes a voice signal of a conversion source voice and extracts time series data including a phoneme and a pitch; an adjustment unit that matches a height of the pitch to a height of the designated conversion destination voice; and a generation unit that inputs the phoneme and the pitch to a deep learning model that learns voice data of many people and is capable of synthesizing a designated person's voice in time-series order, and generates a voice signal obtained by synthesizing the designated conversion destination voice.

Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus. The image reading device includes an image reader to read an image of a document, and a color reference component arranged to face the image reader. In the image reading device, the image reader reads the color reference component at a prescribed timing to obtain color reference image data, and correction data generating processes are executed based on the obtained color reference image data to generate correction data used to correct data of the image read by the image reader. In the image reading device, wherein the color reference component is moved relative to the image reader in a direction orthogonal to a direction toward and away from the image reader. The image forming apparatus includes the image reading device, and an image is formed on a recording material based on data of the image read by the image reading device.

Abstract: An image reading device and an image forming apparatus. The image reading device includes an image reader to read an image of a document, and a color reference component arranged to face the image reader. In the image reading device, the image reader reads the color reference component at a prescribed timing to obtain color reference image data, and correction data generating processes are executed based on the obtained color reference image data to generate correction data used to correct data of the image read by the image reader. In the image reading device, wherein the color reference component is moved relative to the image reader in a direction orthogonal to a direction toward and away from the image reader. The image forming apparatus includes the image reading device, and an image is formed on a recording material based on data of the image read by the image reading device.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes: a recording-medium set unit, on which a recording medium is set; a recording-medium set detecting unit that detects whether the recording medium is set on the recording-medium set unit; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium; a sheet-feeding cover section that constitutes part of the conveying unit and that includes an openable and closable sheet feeding cover; and a control unit that separately receives a power-on signal, which is output when a power source of an image forming device including the automatic document feeder is turned on, and an energy-saving return signal, which is output when a return is made from an energy saving state where a power source of part of the device is disconnected. When the power-on signal is received, the control unit performs an initialization operation to initialize each unit of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: A document reading device including an image reader. The image reader includes a first reader to read a first image from a first face of a document fed by a document feeder and a second reader to read a second face of the document. An operation mode is switchable between a normal operation mode in which the image reader is in an operation enabled state and an energy-saving mode in which the image reader is in an operation stop state. In a return from the energy saving mode to the normal operation mode, the image reader performs a start-up operation including a first initial operation for returning the first reader to the normal operation mode and then performs a second initial operation for returning the second reader to the normal operation mode.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes: a recording-medium set unit, on which a recording medium is set; a recording-medium set detecting unit that detects whether the recording medium is set on the recording-medium set unit; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium; a sheet-feeding cover section that constitutes part of the conveying unit and that includes an openable and closable sheet feeding cover; and a control unit that separately receives a power-on signal, which is output when a power source of an image forming device including the automatic document feeder is turned on, and an energy-saving return signal, which is output when a return is made from an energy saving state where a power source of part of the device is disconnected. When the power-on signal is received, the control unit performs an initialization operation to initialize each unit of the automatic document feeder.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder comprises: a first conveyance portion through which documents from a bundle of documents placed on a paper feeding tray are separated from one another and conveyed to a reading position; a second conveyance portion through which a document having been conveyed to the reading position is ejected onto a paper ejection tray; a detector that detects any one mode from a productivity mode and a silent mode; and a controller that controls, when the detector has detected the productivity mode, the first conveyance portion so as to bring a conveyance speed in the first conveyance portion to a first conveyance speed, and, when the detector has detected the silent mode, controls the first conveyance portion so as to bring a conveyance speed in the first conveyance portion to a second conveyance speed that is slower than the first conveyance speed.

Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a movable document table on which documents are stacked, a pickup roller that feeds a topmost document among the documents on the movable document table to a feed position via a feed opening, and a shielding member that is arranged on the upstream side of the pickup roller and above the topmost document, and that shields the feed opening. At least an end portion of the shielding member on the document table side is made of a flexible member.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder comprises: a feeding unit that causes an image of a first side of a document to be read by a first image reading unit; a second image reading unit that reads an image of a second side of the document; a release unit that supports a reading guide opposite to a reading surface of the second image reading unit and enables underneath of the reading surface to be released; and a paper ejection tray on which the document having been subjected to image reading and ejected from a paper ejection roller pair is accumulated, wherein an end fence that rises up at a document ejection direction upstream side of the paper ejection tray is configured of separate members that are an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rotational pivot of the release unit is provided downstream from the end fence in a feeding direction.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder comprises: a feeding unit that causes an image of a first side of a document to be read by a first image reading unit; a second image reading unit that reads an image of a second side of the document; a release unit that supports a reading guide opposite to a reading surface of the second image reading unit and enables underneath of the reading surface to be released; and a paper ejection tray on which the document having been subjected to image reading and ejected from a paper ejection roller pair is accumulated, wherein an end fence that rises up at a document ejection direction upstream side of the paper ejection tray is configured of separate members that are an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rotational pivot of the release unit is provided downstream from the end fence in a feeding direction.

Abstract: A document reading device including an image reader. The image reader includes a first reader to read a first image from a first face of a document fed by a document feeder and a second reader to read a second face of the document. An operation mode is switchable between a normal operation mode in which the image reader is in an operation enabled state and an energy-saving mode in which the image reader is in an operation stop state. In a return from the energy saving mode to the normal operation mode, the image reader performs a start-up operation including a first initial operation for returning the first reader to the normal operation mode and then performs a second initial operation for returning the second reader to the normal operation mode.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ADF includes: a sheet-feed cover unit; a switch unit to be switched on or off depending on whether the sheet-feed cover unit is open or closed and including a first terminal, to which a first voltage, by which a driving motor is driven, is input, and a second terminal connected to the driving motor; and an open/close-detection circuit unit that includes a first switch circuit and a second switch circuit. The first switch circuit is switched on or off based on a threshold voltage that is larger than a second voltage to be generated in the driving motor by a jammed-document removing motion and smaller than the first voltage. The open/close-detection circuit unit detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is closed when the second switch circuit is energized, but detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is open when the second switch circuit is de-energized.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a transmitting glass; and a step member that is located upstream of a reading position, at which an image of a conveyed document is read by a reading unit via a transmitting glass, in a conveying direction of the document, and has a document guiding surface at a position away from a surface of a transmitting glass by a prescribed distance and forms a step between the document guiding surface and the transmitting glass. The step member is provided with a protrusion protruding downstream in the conveying direction of the document to form space between the transmitting glass and a downstream part of the step member in the conveying direction of the document.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ADF that feeds and conveys original document sheets one sheet by one sheet from a tray unit to a read position on a document glass by motive power from a driving motor includes: an opening/closing unit operable to open and close relative to the document glass; an open/close detection sensor that detects an open/closed state of the opening/closing unit; a first interlock switch, which is arranged between a power source and the driving motor, that is on when the opening/closing unit is closed, and vice versa; and a control circuit that determines the open/closed state of the opening/closing unit based on detection outputs of the first interlock switch and the open/close detection sensor. The control circuit determines that the opening/closing unit is in the closed state when the first interlock switch is on and the open/close detection sensor is detecting the closed state.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device such as a feed mechanism includes a pick-up roller and a cover member. The pick-up roller feeds, into an apparatus, a sheet such as a document on a placing table such as a document placing table on which the sheet is placed. The cover member such as a pick-up cover covers the pick-up roller. The cover member is supported at both ends thereof on a shaft of the pick-up roller or on shaft bearings that receive the shaft of the pick-up roller.

Abstract: A document conveying device includes a document table on which a stack of document sheets is placed; a rotating shaft member detachably provided on a main body of the document conveying device; a feeding member configured to contact and feed a topmost sheet of the stack of document sheets, the feeding member being attached to the rotating shaft member via a driving force transmitting member; a separating unit configured to separate the topmost sheet from one or more sheets that are fed together with the topmost sheet, rotating members rotatably attached to the rotating shaft member; a holding member configured to hold the feeding member and the driving force transmitting member; and a rotating member position restricting unit configured to restrict a position of the rotating members other than the holding member to a given predetermined position with reference to a position of the holding member.

Abstract: An auto document feeder includes a movable document table on which documents are stacked, a pickup roller that feeds a topmost document among the documents on the movable document table to a feed position via a feed opening, and a shielding member that is arranged on the upstream side of the pickup roller and above the topmost document, and that shields the feed opening. At least an end portion of the shielding member on the document table side is made of a flexible member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a transmitting glass; and a step member that is located upstream of a reading position, at which an image of a conveyed document is read by a reading unit via a transmitting glass, in a conveying direction of the document, and has a document guiding surface at a position away from a surface of a transmitting glass by a prescribed distance and forms a step between the document guiding surface and the transmitting glass. The step member is provided with a protrusion protruding downstream in the conveying direction of the document to form space between the transmitting glass and a downstream part of the step member in the conveying direction of the document.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a sheet housing unit that houses a sheet; a sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet; a sheet detection unit that detects presence or absence of the sheet in the sheet housing unit; a sheet nipping unit that nips the sheet housed in the sheet housing unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls the sheet nipping unit to reach a nipping state to nip the sheet in the sheet housing unit upon the sheet detection unit detecting a sheet-present state, executes a power saving mode to stop supplying power to at least a part of the electric mechanisms when no drive command is input for a predetermined time, and controls the sheet nipping unit to cancel the nipping state before execution of the power saving mode.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a sheet feeding unit, a separation section disposed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction from the sheet feeding unit, a conveyance member to transport a sheet separated by the separation section, a trailing-edge detector disposed at a first conveyance distance (L1) downstream from a separation position (Ab) and including a rotary follower and a rotation detector, a first leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector, and a controller. The trailing-edge detector A detects a sheet length in the sheet conveyance direction. The controller causes the sheet feeding unit to start sheet feeding in response to detection of the leading edge of the sheet by the first leading-edge detector when the detected sheet length equals a predetermined reference length and in other cases in response to detection of the trailing edge of the sheet by the trailing-edge detector.