Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a controller having a processing unit to cause a first detector to detect an uppermost sheet, an elevator to lift and stop a sheet stack at a reference position, and a second detector to detect and store the position. In a primary operation of the controller, the uppermost sheet is attracted and conveyed for a given number of times while the second detector contacting it, a variation amount of angle is calculated and converted to a thickness of M sheets. With a driven contact roller retracted in a secondary operation, the sheet stack is lifted each time the uppermost sheets by a thickness of N sheets are attracted and conveyed based on the stored thickness of M sheets under N=XM (“M” represents a positive number, “N” represents a positive integer, and “X” represents a positive number of 1 or greater).

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a controller having a processing unit to cause a first detector to detect an uppermost sheet, an elevator to lift and stop a sheet stack at a reference position, and a second detector to detect and store the position. In a primary operation of the controller, the uppermost sheet is attracted and conveyed for a given number of times while the second detector contacting it, a variation amount of angle is calculated and converted to a thickness of M sheets. With a driven contact roller retracted in a secondary operation, the sheet stack is lifted each time the uppermost sheets by a thickness of N sheets are attracted and conveyed based on the stored thickness of M sheets under N=XM (“M” represents a positive number, “N” represents a positive integer, and “X” represents a positive number of 1 or greater).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a sheet conveyance mechanism, and a sheet detector. The image forming mechanism forms an image and transfers it onto the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance mechanism. The sheet detector is arranged upstream from an image transfer region and configured to detect the sheet. The sheet detector includes a light source, a plurality of photoreceptors, and a controller. The plurality of photoreceptors is arranged in line in a main-scanning direction and includes a first photoreceptor group and a second photoreceptor group. The first photoreceptor group changes output voltages when overridden by the side edge of the sheet. The second photoreceptor group includes an opposite end of the plurality of photoreceptors being out of the side edge of the sheet. The controller is configured to adjust a light emission amount in accordance with characteristics of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet detector, a sheet detector mechanism and an image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus may include an image forming mechanism, a sheet conveyance mechanism, and a sheet detector. The image forming mechanism may form an image and transfer the image onto the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance mechanism. The sheet detector may be arranged upstream from an image transfer region and configured to detect the sheet. The sheet detector may include a light source emitting light, a plurality of photoreceptors, and a controller. The plurality of photoreceptors may be arranged in a line in a main-scanning direction and may include a first photoreceptor group and a second photoreceptor group. The first photoreceptor group may change output voltages when overridden by the side edge of the sheet. The second photoreceptor group may include an opposite end of the plurality of photoreceptors being out of the side edge of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet containing tray withdrawable from a housed position to a front side of an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. A sheet feeding device is provided so as to feed sheets in the sheet containing tray in a direction perpendicular to a withdrawal direction of the sheet containing tray. A pair of side aligning members is also provided so as to align widthwise ends of the sheets. A rear side aligning member mounts a hitching member so as to hitch and prevent a jammed sheet from remaining in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus when the sheet containing tray is withdrawn. The hitching member includes a horizontally protruding plate so as to overhang the uppermost sheet set on the sheet containing tray at a position a prescribed length downstream of a downstream end of the rear side aligning member. A joining portion is also provided so as to join the protruding plate and the rear side aligning member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet containing tray withdrawable from a housed position to a front side of an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. A sheet feeding device is provided so as to feed sheets in the sheet containing tray in a direction perpendicular to a withdrawal direction of the sheet containing tray. A pair of side aligning members is also provided so as to align widthwise ends of the sheets. A rear side aligning member mounts a hitching member so as to hitch and prevent a jammed sheet from remaining in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus when the sheet containing tray is withdrawn. The hitching member includes a horizontally protruding plate so as to overhang the uppermost sheet set on the sheet containing tray at a position a prescribed length downstream of a downstream end of the rear side aligning member. A joining portion is also provided so as to join the protruding plate and the rear side aligning member.