Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet support portion supporting a sheet or sheets, a sheet feeding unit for performing a sheet feeding operation, an air sheet-separation unit for performing an air blowing operation, and a control unit for performing sheet feeding control to perform the sheet feeding operation by using the sheet feeding unit, in a state where the air blowing operation is in a stopped state, after the air blowing operation is performed by the air sheet-separation unit and the air blowing operation is stopped. In the sheet feeding control, after performing the air blowing operation, the control unit performs the air blowing operation again when performing the sheet feeding operation by using the sheet feeding unit on sheets of a set number of sheets set in advance based on an attribute of the sheet supported on the sheet support portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet includes a sheet support portion, a feeding portion, a sheet support detection portion, a separation portion, and a control portion configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode, wherein in a case where a first type is set as a sheet type of the sheets in a state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion, and wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion and the first type is set as the sheet type in a state where the second mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodating portion, an image forming portion, an accommodating portion opening portion, a lifter plate, a lifter plate lifting and lowering mechanism, a lower-limit detecting portion, a control unit lowering the lifter plate and opening the accommodating portion in accordance with an operation in a set mode of a plurality of modes when the control unit receives an instruction to open the accommodating portion, wherein the modes includes a first mode in which the accommodating portion is opened irrespective of whether or not the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position and a second mode in which the accommodating portion is opened after the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position; and an operating portion operable by an operator for changing setting of the mode, between the modes, executed when the control unit receives the instruction to open the accommodating portion.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet; a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image; a measurement unit provided downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to measure a color of the fixed measurement image; a detector configured to detect whether a cooling device having a cooling function valid is connected between the fixing unit and the measurement unit; and a controller configured to determine, in a case in which the color of the measurement image is measured, a time to be taken after the sheet has passed through the fixing unit until the measurement unit starts measuring the color of the measurement image based on a result of the detector, and to control sheet conveyance based on the determined time.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that can form images on both surfaces of a sheet, a first roller conveys a sheet conveyed from a reversal roller and a first motor drives the reversal and first rollers. A one-way clutch restricts transfer of a driving force from the first motor to the first roller while the reversal roller is conveying a sheet in a first direction, and permits transfer of a driving force from the first motor to the first roller while the reversal roller is conveying a sheet in a second direction. Second and third rollers are provided on a downstream side of the first roller. A second motor drives the second and third rollers. A controller drives both of the first and second motors when resuming conveyance of a sheet conveyed on a duplex conveyance path after causing the sheet to await abutment with the second roller.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet; a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image; a measurement unit provided downstream of the fixing unit in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to measure a color of the fixed measurement image; a detector configured to detect whether a cooling device having a cooling function valid is connected between the fixing unit and the measurement unit; and a controller configured to determine, in a case in which the color of the measurement image is measured, a time to be taken after the sheet has passed through the fixing unit until the measurement unit starts measuring the color of the measurement image based on a result of the detector, and to control sheet conveyance based on the determined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodating portion, an image forming portion, an accommodating portion opening portion, a lifter plate, a lifter plate lifting and lowering mechanism, a lower-limit detecting portion, a control unit lowering the lifter plate and opening the accommodating portion in accordance with an operation in a set mode of a plurality of modes when the control unit receives an instruction to open the accommodating portion, wherein the modes includes a first mode in which the accommodating portion is opened irrespective of whether or not the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position and a second mode in which the accommodating portion is opened after the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position; and an operating portion operable by an operator for changing setting of the mode, between the modes, executed when the control unit receives the instruction to open the accommodating portion.

Abstract: A first roller conveys a sheet conveyed from a reversal roller. A first motor drives the reversal roller and the first roller. A one-way clutch restricts transfer of a driving force from the first motor to the first roller while the reversal roller is conveying a sheet in a first direction, and permits transfer of a driving force from the first motor to the first roller while the reversal roller is conveying a sheet in a second direction. A second and third rollers are provided on a downstream side of the first roller. A second motor drives the second roller and the third roller. A controller drives both of the first and second motors when resuming conveyance of a sheet conveyed on a duplex conveyance path after causing the sheet to wait abutting the second roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of reading an original, temporarily storing image data in a storage unit, and then transferring the image data to an image forming unit to improve FCOT in forming an image. A memory stores image data output from image reading units. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium based on the image data stored in the memory. A first memory output frequency in a first mode in which one side of an original is read and an image is formed on one side of a recording medium is lower than a second memory output frequency in a second mode in which both sides of an original are read and an image is formed both sides of a recording medium.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit that is pivotable against the first unit, and a controller. The first unit includes a platen, a member, and a movable first reader. The second unit includes an original tray, a conveyance unit that conveys an original from the original tray, a static second reader. The controller determines an opening/closing state of the second unit against the first unit based on read data obtained when the second reader reads the member. The first reader reads the first side of an original conveyed by the conveyance unit and the second reader reads the second side of the original when the original placed on the original tray is read. The first reader reads the first side while moving under the original when the original placed on the platen is read.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit that is pivotable against the first unit, and a controller. The first unit includes a platen, a member, and a movable first reader. The second unit includes an original tray, a conveyance unit that conveys an original from the original tray, a static second reader. The controller determines an opening/closing state of the second unit against the first unit based on read data obtained when the second reader reads the member. The first reader reads the first side of an original conveyed by the conveyance unit and the second reader reads the second side of the original when the original placed on the original tray is read. The first reader reads the first side while moving under the original when the original placed on the platen is read.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of reading an original, temporarily storing image data in a storage unit, and then transferring the image data to an image forming unit to improve FCOT in forming an image. A memory stores image data output from image reading units. An image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium based on the image data stored in the memory. A first memory output frequency in a first mode in which one side of an original is read and an image is formed on one side of a recording medium is lower than a second memory output frequency in a second mode in which both sides of an original are read and an image is formed both sides of a recording medium.

Abstract: Generation of shading correction data is started before an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is longer than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point, and generation of shading correction data is started after an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is shorter than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus capable of suppressing a shock that may occur when a trailing edge of a tabbed sheet passes through a roller pair. In an image reading section, when a document to be read is the tabbed sheet, a timing to start separation of the roller pair in response to detection of a trailing edge of the document is delayed by a time period corresponding to a tab length with respect to the timing to start separation when a document other than the tabbed sheet is conveyed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the shock when the trailing edge of the tabbed sheet passes through the roller pair, and to thereby suppress image reading failure due to the shock.

Abstract: An original reader capable of being downsized without requiring a large-capacity image memory. A conveying path conveys an original. Sensors are arranged on the conveying path, for detecting the conveyed original. CCD line sensors read the conveyed original. A CPU of the image reader decides the size of the conveyed original based on the results of detection by the sensors. An image memory stores image data output from the line sensors. The CPU transmits the decided original size and the stored image data to a controller. When the CPU cannot decide the original size at a predetermined timing, it transmits one of original size candidates to the controller, as a provisional original size. When the size of the original decided afterwards is different from the provisional original size, the CPU retransmits the decided size of the original.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus capable of suppressing a shock that may occur when a trailing edge of a tabbed sheet passes through a roller pair. In an image reading section, when a document to be read is the tabbed sheet, a timing to start separation of the roller pair in response to detection of a trailing edge of the document is delayed by a time period corresponding to a tab length with respect to the timing to start separation when a document other than the tabbed sheet is conveyed. Thus, it is possible to prevent the shock when the trailing edge of the tabbed sheet passes through the roller pair, and to thereby suppress image reading failure due to the shock.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a separation roller, a first conveyance roller arranged on a downstream side of the separation roller and conveys the sheet separated by the separation roller, a second conveyance roller further conveys the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller, wherein the separation roller and the first conveyance roller are driven exclusively of each other by a first motor, and a control unit controls such that, when a trailing edge of a sheet passes through the separation roller while the sheet is being conveyed by the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller, the first motor makes a conveyance speed of the first conveyance roller higher than the conveyance speed thereof before the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the separation roller, and that, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the first conveyance roller, the first motor drives the separation roller.

Abstract: An original reader capable of being downsized without requiring a large-capacity image memory. A conveying path conveys an original. Sensors are arranged on the conveying path, for detecting the conveyed original. CCD line sensors read the conveyed original. A CPU of the image reader decides the size of the conveyed original based on the results of detection by the sensors. An image memory stores image data output from the line sensors. The CPU transmits the decided original size and the stored image data to a controller. When the CPU cannot decide the original size at a predetermined timing, it transmits one of original size candidates to the controller, as a provisional original size. When the size of the original decided afterwards is different from the provisional original size, the CPU retransmits the decided size of the original.

Abstract: Generation of shading correction data is started before an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is longer than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point, and generation of shading correction data is started after an instruction to start reading of the document is input in a case in which time to generate shading correction data corresponding to a document reading mode is shorter than time since the instruction to start reading of the document is received until the document is fed to reach a reading point.