Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a first discharge tray that assumes a closed state or an open state, by pivoting about a first pivotal shaft, a first transport route linearly extending from a document tray to the first discharge tray, a first reading device that reads an image of the document, a transport device that transports the document through the first transport route, and a controller that, when an instruction to read the document is inputted to an input device, restricts the transport device from transporting the document and the first reading device from reading the image, when the closed state or a full state of the first discharge tray is detected by a first detector, and allows the transport device to transport the document and the first reading device to read the image, when neither of the closed state and the full state is detected by the first detector.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, a light-source control unit, a line sensor, an image data generating unit, and an image analysis unit. The line sensor includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a plurality of charge coupled devices, and a shift register. The image data generating unit generates image data according to electric charges output from the shift register. The image analysis unit determines whether transfer of the electric charges is normal, based on a contour reproduction status, being the status of reproduction of contours in test image data generated by reading of a test image having contours oriented intersecting an orientation whereby the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged. The light-source control unit adjusts the amount of light from the light source based on the determination by the image analysis unit.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a first tray, a first elevation motor for moving up the first tray, a second tray for placing paper sheets, a second elevation motor for moving up the second tray, a separation plate disposed between the first tray and the second tray, an upper sensor unit and a lower sensor unit attached to the first tray, a light blocking plate attached to the second tray, and a controller. The paper feeding device has a tray parallel elevation mode in which both the trays are moved up in parallel in a state where the separation plate is removed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, a light-source control unit, a line sensor, an image data generating unit, and an image analysis unit. The line sensor includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a plurality of charge coupled devices, and a shift register. The image data generating unit generates image data according to electric charges output from the shift register. The image analysis unit determines whether transfer of the electric charges is normal, based on a contour reproduction status, being the status of reproduction of contours in test image data generated by reading of a test image having contours oriented intersecting an orientation whereby the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged. The light-source control unit adjusts the amount of light from the light source based on the determination by the image analysis unit.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a first tray, a first elevation motor for moving up the first tray, a second tray for placing paper sheets, a second elevation motor for moving up the second tray, a separation plate disposed between the first tray and the second tray, an upper sensor unit and a lower sensor unit attached to the first tray, a light blocking plate attached to the second tray, and a controller. The paper feeding device has a tray parallel elevation mode in which both the trays are moved up in parallel in a state where the separation plate is removed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sensor section, an oscillation mechanism, a control section, and an object determination section. The sensor section has a pyroelectric infrared sensor detecting presence of an object based on an infrared ray change. The oscillation mechanism turns the sensor section. The control section, upon the detection of the object by the sensor section, makes the oscillation mechanism start the turning operation. The object determination section, after the turning operation of the sensor section starts from a predefined initial position, determines that the object exists in a case where a state in which the object is detected by the sensor section continues for a predefined first period of time, and determines that the object does not exist in a case where the state in which the object is detected does not continue for the first period of time.

Abstract: A signal generation portion of an image forming apparatus generates a different level of signal according to an output value of a pyroelectric sensor. A recognition portion determines a measurement value on the speed of change of the signal and recognizes which of a first range and a second range the measurement value is. In a power supply portion, when the measurement value falls within the first range in a mode other than a power-saving mode, and the image forming apparatus is brought into the power-saving mode, and, when the measurement value falls within the second range in the power-saving mode, the power-saving mode is cancelled.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects the upper half of the human body. A first signal generation portion generates a first signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A second detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects a lower area than the first detection portion. A second signal generation portion generates a second signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A storage portion stores discrimination data including data defining, with respect to the waveforms of the first and second signals, a condition for recognizing a human moving toward the image forming apparatus and a condition for recognizing a human crossing a detection area of the pyroelectric sensors. A recognition portion recognizes the direction of movement of a human.

Abstract: The remaining sheet quantity detection device of the present invention is provided with a storage unit for storing first information which associates a distance between a distance measuring sensor and a tray with a level value in a distance range less than a peak distance, and second information which associates the distance with the level value in a distance range exceeding the peak distance. Additionally provided is a distance acquisition unit for acquiring a distance that is associated with the level value obtained by the distance measuring sensor in the first information when a detection unit detects that the distance is less than the peak distance, and acquiring a distance that is associated with the level value obtained by the distance measuring sensor in the second information when the detection unit detects that the distance exceeds the peak distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sensor section, an oscillation mechanism, a control section, and an object determination section. The sensor section has a pyroelectric infrared sensor detecting presence of an object based on an infrared ray change. The oscillation mechanism turns the sensor section. The control section, upon the detection of the object by the sensor section, makes the oscillation mechanism start the turning operation. The object determination section, after the turning operation of the sensor section starts from a predefined initial position, determines that the object exists in a case where a state in which the object is detected by the sensor section continues for a predefined first period of time, and determines that the object does not exist in a case where the state in which the object is detected does not continue for the first period of time.

Abstract: A signal generation portion of an image forming apparatus generates a different level of signal according to an output value of a pyroelectric sensor. A recognition portion determines a measurement value on the speed of change of the signal and recognizes which of a first range and a second range the measurement value is. In a power supply portion, when the measurement value falls within the first range in a mode other than a power-saving mode, and the image forming apparatus is brought into the power-saving mode, and, when the measurement value falls within the second range in the power-saving mode, the power-saving mode is cancelled.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects the upper half of the human body. A first signal generation portion generates a first signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A second detection portion includes a pyroelectric sensor and detects a lower area than the first detection portion. A second signal generation portion generates a second signal whose level varies according to the output value of the pyroelectric sensor. A storage portion stores discrimination data including data defining, with respect to the waveforms of the first and second signals, a condition for recognizing a human moving toward the image forming apparatus and a condition for recognizing a human crossing a detection area of the pyroelectric sensors. A recognition portion recognizes the direction of movement of a human.

Abstract: The remaining sheet quantity detection device of the present invention is provided with a storage unit for storing first information which associates a distance between a distance measuring sensor and a tray with a level value in a distance range less than a peak distance, and second information which associates the distance with the level value in a distance range exceeding the peak distance. Additionally provided is a distance acquisition unit for acquiring a distance that is associated with the level value obtained by the distance measuring sensor in the first information when a detection unit detects that the distance is less than the peak distance, and acquiring a distance that is associated with the level value obtained by the distance measuring sensor in the second information when the detection unit detects that the distance exceeds the peak distance.

Abstract: A document conveying apparatus for a document processor has a pair of width restriction members for correctly positioning documents to be processed. The width restriction members are movable in the width direction of the document processor. First and second rack-and-pinion mechanisms are spaced apart in the document conveying direction and are interlocked so that the racks of both mechanisms move together in a synchronized manner. Each width restriction member is coupled to two of the racks that move in the same direction.

Abstract: A document conveying apparatus has a document pushing-down/adjusting mechanism disposed at an upper position on the downstream side of a document discharge port. The document pushing-down/adjusting mechanism acts on the rear end of the document on delivery after its rear end is substantially liberated from being nipped by a pair of document discharge rollers, forcibly pushes the rear end of the document down toward the upstream end position on the document-placing plate means, and holds the document for the document-placing plate means for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A document conveying apparatus of the circulation type has a first document discharge port disposed above the surface of the document-placing plate on the upstream side thereof and a second document discharge port disposed above the surface of the document-placing plate but below the first document discharge port on the downstream side of the first document discharge port. A first document transfer mechanism and a second document transfer mechanism are disposed in relation to the first document discharge port and the second document discharge port, respectively. On a downstream region of the second document discharge port is disposed a turn plate which is selectively pivoted between an ascended position and a descended position.

Abstract: A recirculating original-sheet transport apparatus supplies a sheet from a stack of original documents to the exposure station of an image forming apparatus and restores the sheet onto the stack. It includes a sheet container for receiving originals, a sheet feeder for feeding an original sheet from the sheet container to the image forming apparatus, and a sheet restorer for restoring the sheet into the sheet container. The sheet restorer includes a turning path in which is a plurality of soft rollers having guide ribs therebetween, and a straight transport path in which is a plurality of position-variable hard rollers around which transport belts extend and between which are guide ribs as well.