Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes first and second roller members fixed to a rotatable shaft, a first follower roller that cooperates with the first roller member to form a conveying nip, and a second follower roller that cooperates with the second roller member to form a conveying nip. The first and second roller members have outer periphery cut-away parts and the first and second follower rollers are moveably supported and can be biased to home positions. If the first roller member cut-away part faces the first follower roller, the first follower roller is biased to move toward a home position while the nip of the second roller member nips and conveys a sheet. If the second roller member cut-away part faces the second follower roller, the second follower roller is biased to move toward a home position while the nip of the first roller member nips and conveys a sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes first and second roller members fixed to a rotatable shaft, a first follower roller that cooperates with the first roller member to form a conveying nip, and a second follower roller that cooperates with the second roller member to form a conveying nip. The first and second roller members have outer periphery cut-away parts and the first and second follower rollers are moveably supported and can be biased to home positions. If the first roller member cut-away part faces the first follower roller, the first follower roller is biased to move toward a home position while the nip of the second roller member nips and conveys a sheet. If the second roller member cut-away part faces the second follower roller, the second follower roller is biased to move toward a home position while the nip of the first roller member nips and conveys a sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a registration roller pair including a first roller and a second roller, configured to form a nip by the first roller and the second roller, and configured to correct a skew of a sheet conveyed thereto by allowing the sheet to abut the nip. The first roller includes an outer peripheral surface with a groove portion, the groove portion being formed in a region in which a corner portion of a sheet abuts the outer peripheral surface, and causing a part of the outer peripheral surface to be concave and another part of the outer peripheral surface to be convex in an axial direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device has a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface which is curved in a sheet conveyance direction, and a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided that can prevent image streaks due to dirt, stain or the like from being produced in an image of an original that is read while being conveyed. The image reading apparatus (A) includes an ADF (40) having a scanner unit (59) incorporated therein and comprised of a cylinder (60) having an outer peripheral surface thereof on which a plurality of read pixels (61) are arranged in a matrix. In reading an original (D), the scanner unit is rotatably driven in an original conveying direction at a circumferential speed approximately equal to an original conveying speed, and reads image information on the original passing through an image reading position (P1).

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and a control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and misfeeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided that can prevent image streaks due to dirt, stain or the like from being produced in an image of an original that is read while being conveyed. The image reading apparatus (A) includes an ADF (40) having a scanner unit (59) incorporated therein and comprised of a cylinder (60) having an outer peripheral surface thereof on which a plurality of read pixels (61) are arranged in a matrix. In reading an original (D), the scanner unit is rotatably driven in an original conveying direction at a circumferential speed approximately equal to an original conveying speed, and reads image information on the original passing through an image reading position (P1).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and miss-feeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of enhancing productivity in reading bound originals, such as a book, a magazine, or a document. A sheet-scanner device implementing the image reading device includes a sheet scanner as a reader part for reading an image on an original. The sheet scanner comprises a sheet-like substrate formed thereon with a light-emitting layer that can emit light spontaneously, and a light-receiving layer on which a plurality of reading pixels are arranged. The sheet scanner is mounted in the sheet-scanner device such that the sheet scanner can be drawn out onto and in from the original.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet conveyance path formed by a guide member having a curved surface. The curved surface is curved in a sheet conveyance direction. In the sheet conveyance device, a flexible sheet scanner is provided along the curved surface of the guide member, and the flexible sheet scanner has an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a guide member and a flexible guide assist member. The guide member constitutes a conveyance path for guiding a conveyed sheet. The guide assist member is provided in the guide member, the guide assist member is brought into contact with the conveyed sheet to apply a force to the sheet, and whereby the guide assist member assists the guidance of the sheet conveyance. The sheet conveyance device is characterized in that a sheet scanner is provided in the guide assist member. In the sheet scanner, photoelectric conversion devices formed by organic semiconductor devices are arranged.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device according to an aspect of the invention includes a conveyance roller pair which is rotated to convey a sheet by receiving a driving force from a motor conveying a sheet; a conveyance guide which guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair; and sheet detection unit for detecting the sheet guided by the conveyance guide. In the sheet conveyance device, a sheet conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair is controlled based on information from the sheet detection unit. The sheet detection unit is a sheet scanner having an optical sensor layer in which photoelectric conversion devices formed by combinations of organic transistors and organic photodiodes are continuously arranged in a matrix shape, and the sheet scanner is provided in an area of the conveyance guide in order to continuously detect the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair in a predetermined area.

Abstract: An image reading device which is capable of enhancing productivity in reading bound originals, such as a book, a magazine, or a document. A sheet-scanner device implementing the image reading device includes a sheet scanner as a reader part for reading an image on an original. The sheet scanner comprises a sheet-like substrate formed thereon with a light-emitting layer that can emit light spontaneously, and a light-receiving layer on which a plurality of reading pixels are arranged. The sheet scanner is mounted in the sheet-scanner device such that the sheet scanner can be drawn out onto and in from the original.