Abstract: A feeding apparatus includes a knock-up plate to be rotatably installed on a main body of an image forming apparatus and install a paper, a knock-up spring to elastically apply pressure to the knock-up plate in a direction of a pickup roller, a cam to be fixed at one end of a knock-up shaft and downwardly apply pressure to the knock-up plate, and a driving force transfer member to transfer a rotating force of the knock-up shaft to the pickup roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storing cassette, a lift mechanism, a sheet feeding portion, a remaining quantity sensing portion, and a control portion. The control portion, during continuous sheet feeding by the sheet feeding portion, controls the lift mechanism to make a sheet stacking plate ascend to a lifted position where sheets make contact with the sheet feeding portion, and feeds a foregoing sheet and then, at a sheet feeding timing a predetermined time thereafter, starts feeding the following sheet. The control portion makes the sheet feeding timing earlier as the remaining quantity of the sheets sensed by the remaining quantity sensing portion decreases.

Abstract: A media stacker (100) comprises a stacking platform (102), a feed mechanism (104), a media arresting mechanism (106) and a controller (108). The feed mechanism conveys media sheets for dispensing onto the stacking platform, wherein the media sheets are dispensed onto the stacking platform with a momentum imparted by the feed mechanism. The media arresting mechanism reduces the momentum of media sheets. The controller determines that a trailing edge of a media sheet is to be dispensed onto the stacking platform, and further control the media arresting apparatus to reduce the momentum of the media sheet in response to the determination.

Abstract: A controller recognizes a remaining level of sheets in a sheet feeding cassette. The controller counts the required time after a sheet feeding rotary member starts to rotate until a sheet feeding sensor senses the tip end of a sheet. The controller judges whether a sheet feeding delay has occurred based on the required time. The controller calculates the incidence of sheet feeding delays for each sheet remaining level.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for automatically adjusting a feeder tray of a printing device are disclosed. For example, the method receives a signal to initiate a feeder tray adjustment routine, wherein the feeder tray adjustment routine determines an amount of lateral adjustment of the feeder tray to eliminate a lateral input error of a print media that is fed to a registration subsystem of the printing device, activates a mechanism to adjust a lateral position of the feeder tray by the amount that is determined, and feeds subsequent print media through the registration subsystem for printing an image on the subsequent print media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a controller and capable of forming images in double-face printing is provided. The controller conducts a measuring process to measure a time period corresponding to a sheet length; a comparison process to compare a measured value with a switch threshold value being a value in a range of a measurement error allowed to the measured value; and one of a first conveying process, in which a conveying unit is driven to convey a predetermined number of sheets circulating in a conveying path, and a second conveying process, in which the conveying unit is driven to convey a greater number of sheets than the predetermined number circulating in the conveying path. The controller conducts the first conveying process when the measured value is greater than the switch threshold value and conducts the second conveying process when the measured value is smaller than the switch threshold value.

Abstract: A control device to control an image forming system having an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge apparatus and includes a storage, a generator, and a controller. The storage stores sheet stacking information and taking out completion information. The generator generates a sheet bundle image representing a sheet bundle stacked on each of plural stacking trays based on the stored sheet stacking information. The controller combines the sheet bundle image with a system configuration image to display a combination on a display. The controller filters, from a list of processed image forming jobs, an image forming job for which sheets are not taken out to display the filtered image forming job on the display, and updates the sheet stacking information and the taking out completion information where the controller controls to determine that the sheet bundle stacked on any one of the plural stacking trays is taken out.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a lower frame, an upper frame, a separation roller, a pickup roller, a paper feeding channel and at least one blocking element, the lower frame has a groove, the separation roller is mounted to the upper frame, the pickup roller is mounted to the lower frame and placed in the groove, a paper feeding channel is formed between the separation roller and the pickup roller, or between the separation roller and the lower frame, the blocking element is pivoted on the upper frame and placed beside the separation roller, the blocking element has a stopping part, the stopping part contacts the lower frame.

Abstract: A conveyance unit includes a cassette removably attached to an apparatus body and a conveyance interlocked part provided in the apparatus body. The cassette includes a sheet storage part for storing a sheet, a lift plate liftably provided between a lowered position and a raised position and a biasing member for biasing the sheet to contact with a pickup roller. The conveyance interlocked part includes a lever for engaging with the lift plate when the cassette is attached to the apparatus body and being liftable together with the lift plate, a pressing mechanism for pressing the lever downward, and a support member provided between the apparatus body and the lever so as to suppress a drop of the lever disengaged from the lift plate when the cassette is detached from the apparatus body.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a plate movable up and down, a control cam that moves the plate up and down, a stepping motor that derives the control cam, a sheet feeding roller that contacts the sheet on the plate moved up by the control cam to feed the sheet held in contact with the feeding unit through rotation caused by drive from the stepping motor, and a control unit that controls the stepping motor. The control unit rotates the stepping motor at a first speed so that the control cam moves the plate up. After the sheet feeding roller is rotated, when the sheet feeding roller is stopped to stop the stepping motor, the control unit changes the rotational speed of the stepping motor from the first speed to a second speed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a sensor configured to detect a state of an object and outputs a detection value; a drive unit configured to be able to move the sensor in a direction in which the sensor approaches the object and in a direction in which the sensor is away from the object; and a control unit configured to execute calibration for setting a positional relationship between the sensor and the object based on the detection value of the sensor while causing the drive unit to change the positional relationship between the sensor and the object.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, which can set a sheet feeding interval to be short. The controller determines whether a sheet surface height of an uppermost sheet becomes a predetermined sheet surface height, based on a detection signal from a lower limit detection sensor, when a pickup roller abuts the uppermost sheet. When determining that the sheet surface height of the uppermost sheet becomes the predetermined sheet surface height, the controller feeds a predetermined number of sheets without performing detection by the lower limit detection sensor, and then controls a motor such that the uppermost sheet is located with an appropriate range by lifting a tray when feeding a next sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller 101 which feeds a sheet stacked on a sheet supporting plate 110 capable of being lifted and lowered is supported by a support portion as being linearly movable in an up-and-down direction, and a roller biasing member applies a force to the support portion in a direction in which the sheet feeding roller is pressed to s sheet stacked on the sheet supporting plate. A biasing direction 101b of the sheet feeding roller due to the roller biasing member is set within a range between a normal line of the sheet feeding roller at the upstreammost pressing position against the sheet feeding direction and a normal line of the sheet feeding roller at the downstreammost pressing position out of the pressing positions where the sheet feeding roller is pressed to the sheet as being varied in accordance with a sheet stacking state of the sheets.

Abstract: A method for preventing damage to a document by a document transport apparatus provides a member for receiving the document as a stack of sheets to be serial fed to a feeding station. At least two spaced-apart microphones are disposed at the feeding station and responsive to audio to produce signals representing audio energy received by each microphone respectively. The energy received from each microphone is compared to determine if it is ambient noise or if it indicates that two attached sheets are being fed or a single sheet is being damaged. The document transport apparatus is shut off to prevent damage to documents when it has been determined that two attached sheets are being fed or that a single sheet is being damaged.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral includes: a moving device configured to move up a lift plate; a changing device configured to mechanically change a resistance value of a variable resistor depending upon a position of the lift plate; a mechanical switch; a connecting device configured to apply a predetermined DC voltage to the variable resistor when an upper end of one or more paper sheets placed on the lift plate or an upper end of the lift plate has reached a predetermined uppermost position in the paper feed cassette; a calculating device configured to calculate a remaining amount of paper sheets placed on the lift plate as a function of a DC voltage value output from the variable resistor; and a stopping device configured to stop upward movement of the lift plate using the DC voltage value output from the variable resistor.

Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).

Abstract: There is provided a feeding device for feeding a sheet in which, when a user operates a knob of a second regulating portion disposed on a front side to move the second regulating portion, locking of a first regulating portion disposed on a rear side can be released.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can reliably feed even sheets having a non-uniform thickness to prevent excessive stacking. An auxiliary tray 1 is swingably provided on the upper surface of a tray 2 which is provided in a cassette body 3a to be lifted and lowered and stacks sheets thereon. When the sheets are stacked, a swing regulating portion 12 regulates the swing of the auxiliary tray 1 when the tray 2 is in a sheet stacking position and releases the regulation of the swing of the auxiliary tray 1 when the tray 2 is lifted.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a mechanical frame, a drive assembly mounted to the mechanical frame, an input tray, a pickup assembly driven by the drive assembly, an elevating assembly and a control assembly. The elevating assembly mounted to the mechanical frame and pivoted to a bottom of the rear end of input tray includes a drive shaft, a gear assembly and an elastic element. The rotating shaft defines two cam parts projecting beyond the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is capable of rotating to make the cam parts press downward on or break away from the input tray so as to drive the input tray to swing downward or swing upward under an elastic push action of the elastic element. The control assembly includes a control system and a paper sensor controlled by the control system for detecting whether there is any paper on the input tray.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a document feeding apparatus includes: a sheet containing section; a lift plate for lifting sheets stacked in the sheet containing section between a sheet feeding position and a sheet loading position; a sheet feeding section for separating and feeding the sheets in the sheet feeding position one after another; and a lifting mechanism for lifting up and down the lift plate, the lifting mechanism including: a biasing member for biasing the lift plate toward the sheet feeding section; a cam, having an outer peripheral surface with a cam curve, coupled with a driving force source and being rotated thereby; and an operating lever so provided independently of and between the lift plate and the cam as to abut the outer peripheral surface of the cam and to simultaneously press the lift plate against a biasing force of the biasing member, thereby to change a posture of the lift plate between the sheet feeding position and the sheet loading position.

Abstract: The present invention relates a sheet feeding apparatus with a lifting and lowering mechanism in a sheet deck 2, which includes abutting portions 101a to 101d which makes wire hanging portions 64a to 64d of a sheet stacking table 52 abut thereon and makes the sheet stacking table 52 lockable with respect to a storing portion 61. The mechanism also includes a pulse motor 27 and a one-way clutch 40. A controller 5 drives the pulse motor 27 to be rotated in a lifting direction of the sheet stacking table 52, further drives the pulse motor 27 to be rotated in the same direction even after the wire hanging portions 64a to 64d abut on the abutting portions 101a to 101d to cause the pulse motor 27 to step out, and renders the pulse motor 27 non-conductive. Thus, the wire hanging portions is locked to abut on the abutting portions.

Abstract: A printing stock feeder system may include, but is not limited to: a support stand; a feed deck rotatably coupled to the support stand; a printing stock storage stack; and a printing stock transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A media processing device, a control method for a media processing device, and a control program for the same can accurately detect the last one or specified number of media stored in the media stacker. Media stackers store media in a stack. Media processing units write data and/or print a label on the media. A media transportation mechanism has a transportation arm that can hold the media and move vertically, and transports the media between the media stackers and the media processing units by movement of the transportation arm. A control unit controls the media processing units and the media transportation mechanism 31. The control unit has a measurement unit that measures the height of media stacked in the media stacker when media is removed from the stacker by the media transportation mechanism, and a comparison unit that compares the measured media height with a reference value to detect the difference therebetween, and determines the remaining media count in the media stacker.

Abstract: A sheet supporting plate is vertically movably provided in a sheet feeding cassette, and a controller controls a lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the sheet supporting plate based on basis weight information from an inputting portion. The controller stops the sheet supporting portion at a position where an abutting force causing a feeding roller biased by a feeding roller pressure spring to abut against a sheet is increased as the basis weight of the sheet is increased.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet accommodating unit which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body and configured to accommodate sheets, a sheet stacking unit which is provided in the sheet accommodating unit and can move while supporting the sheet, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, and a lift unit configured to move the sheet stacking unit toward the sheet feeding unit, wherein, before feeding of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit by the sheet feeding unit, the lift unit increases and then reduces press contact force between the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit and the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: To provide a sheet take-out apparatus for preventing double feed of sheets and controlling gaps to a desired value, a sheet processing apparatus, and a sheet take-out method. A take-out apparatus includes a supply structure for supplying postal matter to a take-out position, a take-out structure for taking out the postal matter from the take-out position, and a conveying structure for receiving and conveying the postal matter taken out on a conveying path. When a leading edge of the postal matter is held by the conveying structure, an absorbing operation of a vacuum pump is stopped and a moving speed of a take-out belt is reduced. Furthermore, when the postal matter is detected by a sensor, the take-out belt is stopped.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a manual feed tray on which sheets are stacked, a feeding member, side regulating plates, a detecting portion which detects positions of the side regulating plates and detects a width size of the sheets, an operation panel which receives an input of width size information of the sheets from a user, and a control circuit which compares width size information detected by the detecting portion and the width size information input to the operation panel, and stops a sheet feeding operation of the feeding member when the two pieces of width size information are different, and the control circuit compares the width size information of the detecting portion and the width size information of the operation panel, per sheet before the feeding member starts feeding the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a swing member swinging between a first position where a force for moving a pressing plate upward is transmitted to the pressing plate and a second position where transmission of the force is interrupted, a latchet mechanism that forbids the pressing plate to move downward and includes a latchet gear rotating in conjunction with a motion of the pressing plate and a latching member that is movably attached to the swing member and configured to forbid rotation of the latchet gear by engaging with the latchet gear, and a pressing member that applies a pressing force to the latching member when the swing member is in the second position and does not apply the pressing force to the latching member, and render the latching member movable relative to the swing member when the swing member is in the first position.

Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).

Abstract: Image data is stored in a RAM, and when recording media are fed from a paper feed tray for a time interval longer than a predetermined time interval, a CPU causes an image forming section to execute a correction process.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium placing member, a feeding mechanism for feeding the medium, and a lifting unit for moving the medium placing member toward the feeding mechanism. A first switching unit connects a transmission of a driving force from a driving source to the lifting unit based on a shifting of the feeding mechanism. A second switching unit connects the transmission based on control by a control unit. The control unit causes the second switching unit to transmit the driving force to the lifting unit to move the medium placing member upward based on detection by a medium detecting unit. When the medium placing member moves upward to a predetermined position, the first switching unit disconnects the transmission, holding the medium placing member at the predetermined position. The control unit causes the second switching unit to disconnect the transmission so that the medium placing member moves downward.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including sheet feeding unit; a pressure plate on which sheets are stacked and which is biased so that an uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets comes in pressure contact with the sheet feeding unit; a first pressing-down mechanism which presses down the pressure plate to separate the uppermost sheet and the sheet feeding unit by a constant distance when the sheet feeding unit is not operated; a second pressing-down mechanism which is adopted to press down the pressure plate when an amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate is smaller than a predetermined amount, and is given a load from the pressure plate depending on a position of the pressure plate; and sheet stacking amount detecting unit which measures the load and detects a stacking amount of the sheets stacked on the pressure plate on the basis of the measured load.

Abstract: A sheet-supplying device has a sheet-accommodating tray, a raising/lowering unit, a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a controlling unit. The raising/lowering unit raises and lowers the sheet-accommodating tray substantially. The first position sensor detects a first position indicating a position in the stacked direction of one end portion of a topmost sheet stacked in the sheet-accommodating tray. The second position sensor detects a second position indicating a position in the stacked direction of another end portion of the topmost sheet. The controlling unit controls the raising/lowering unit to raise or lower the sheet-accommodating tray based on both the first position detected by the first position sensor and the second position detected by the second position sensor so that one end of the topmost sheet in the stacked status is positioned at a prescribed position in the stacked direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a knock-up plate to accommodate recording media thereon and capable of moving to a pickup position and a release position, a forward roller to transfer a recording medium picked up by the pickup roller, a retard roller capable of moving to a contact position and to a separation position, a first control unit to move the knock-up plate to the pickup position and the release position, and a second control unit to move the knock-up plate to the contact position and the separation position, wherein the first control unit and the second control unit are driven by a single driving motor.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding cassette which lifts up and lifts down a bottom plate each time when a paper is fed, a recording material sensor detects that no recording materials exist when the bottom plate rises over a predetermined position. Accordingly, by measuring a period of time when it is detected that no recording materials exist during a sheet feeding operation, a stacking amount of the recording materials in a sheet feeding cassette can be detected.

Abstract: A sheet feeder mountable to a body of an apparatus includes a bottom plate on which the sheets are placed and a bottom plate lift unit including a bottom plate pusher disposed beneath the bottom plate, a rack member to rotate the bottom plate pusher vertically by moving horizontally, a pinion gear to move the rack member horizontally, a biasing member to pull the bottom plate pusher toward the rack member, attached therebetween, and a position detector to detect positions of the rack member and the pinion gear. The pinion gear is coupled using projection-and-recess engagement to a rotation transmission device provided to the body, and a quantity of tooth Z1 of the pinion gear by which the rack member is moved by the rotation transmission device, a total tooth number Z2 of the pinion gear, and a coupling division number S of the rotation transmission device satisfy Z1=Z2·(1/S)·N.

Abstract: A sheet-supplying device has a sheet-accommodating tray, a raising/lowering unit, a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a controlling unit. The raising/lowering unit raises and lowers the sheet-accommodating tray substantially. The first position sensor detects a first position indicating a position in the stacked direction of one end portion of a topmost sheet stacked in the sheet-accommodating tray. The second position sensor detects a second position indicating a position in the stacked direction of another end portion of the topmost sheet. The controlling unit controls the raising/lowering unit to raise or lower the sheet-accommodating tray based on both the first position detected by the first position sensor and the second position detected by the second position sensor so that one end of the topmost sheet in the stacked status is positioned at a prescribed position in the stacked direction.

Abstract: A mechanism for detecting an amount of remaining sheets, includes: a sheet feeding tray to be accommodated in an apparatus main body such that the sheet feeding tray can be inserted into and withdrawn from the apparatus main body, in which sheets can be loaded in an inside of the sheet feeding tray; a tilting plate that is tiltably provided in the sheet feeding tray so as to tilt in accordance with an amount of remaining sheets in the sheet feeding tray; a rotating member that rotates between a starting end position and a final end position of rotation of the rotating member in association with the tilting of the tilting plate; and a locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the rotating member.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding apparatus, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus, an original document tray on which sheets are accommodated along the sheet feeding direction includes a placing plate on which the sheets are placed and which can be lifted and lowered and to move the sheets to a position at which the sheets can be fed by a pickup roller, a detection unit which detects that sheets are placed on the placing plate, and a curl suppressing member which presses a central portion in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the accommodated sheets to suppress upward curl of downstream edges in the sheet feeding direction of the sheets.

Abstract: Occurrence of improper sheet-feeding of sheets is reduced. A sheet stacking section is lifted by an amount that is larger when a sheet-feed retry is performed than when an ordinary lifting operation is performed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for a feeding a sheet in a document reproduction machine. A feedbox is contained within a document reproduction machine. Within the feedbox, an elevator moves at least one sheet to the upper portion of the feedbox, to a stack height finger, for feeding the sheet into a feed device. At least one sensor, located at the upper portion of the feedbox, detects the location of the sheet. The location information is sent from the sensor to a data processing device. The data processing device sends information to an actuating device. The actuating device may cause one or more plungers to move through apertures in the elevator. The plungers will result in a substantially flat sheet. The sheet is then fed into the feed device.

Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus includes a loading member which loads the sheet discharged by the discharge member, a tip support member which abuts against the leading edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge member in the sheet discharge direction, a rotation member which abuts against an upper surface of the sheet discharged to the loading member, and is rotated to transport the sheet to the stopper side, and a control section which controls a transport amount of the sheet through the rotation member based on a loading amount of the sheet loaded on the loading member.

Abstract: A media level indicator and a printer having some are disclosed. The printer has the media level indicator, a housing and a media container slidably contained in the housing. The media level indicator includes a media detecting assembly and a level indicating assembly, wherein the media detecting assembly includes a shaft for rotatably engaged with the housing, a detecting arm fixed to the shaft and abutting the top of the paper stack, and a driving arm. The driving arm is articulated with a lever of the level indicating assembly. When the paper amount changes, the detecting arm is moved and drives the media detecting assembly to rotate, which provides motion in an indicating end of the level indicating assembly, which extends outwardly from the media container. Therefore, a change in the paper amount is indicated.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pick up device for paper sheets includes an input unit configured to support a plurality of paper sheets in a stacked manner, a supply mechanism configured to move the placed paper sheets in a stacking direction and supply each paper sheet to an pick up position, a pick up mechanism configured to pick up the paper sheet at the pick up position from the input unit one by one, and a control unit configured to determine a supply speed or a feed amount of the paper sheets by the supply mechanism in accordance with thickness information per unit time of the picked up paper sheets obtained from a thickness detector, and configured to determine whether the supply mechanism is to be operated or stopped based on density information of the paper sheets obtained from a paper sheet sensor.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a mechanical frame, a drive system mounted to the mechanical frame, an input tray pivoted to the mechanical frame, a controlling assembly, a pickup assembly and an elevating assembly. The pickup assembly includes a pickup roller and a pickup wheel pivoted to the pickup roller. The elevating assembly mounted to the mechanical frame is pivoted to the input tray. The controlling assembly includes a controlling system, a paper sensor, a floating sensor, and a pickup sensor detecting a position of the pickup assembly to get a total thickness of papers on the input tray. The controlling system controls the drive system to drive the elevating assembly to wiggle upward and downward to drive the input tray to rise and descend according to the total thickness of the papers on the input tray so as to make the pickup wheel pick up the papers steadily.

Abstract: A remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus includes a loading unit that loads a sheet; a moving unit that moves the loading unit to a feed position of the loaded sheet; a feeding unit that feeds the sheet from the loading unit; a sheet thickness detecting unit that detects a thickness of the sheet; a load thickness detecting unit that detects that thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit, gradually decreasing; and a remaining sheet volume calculating unit that calculates a remaining volume within the loading unit based on the certain load thickness detected by the load thickness detecting unit and the sheet thickness detected by the sheet thickness detecting unit, each time a sheet is fed by the feeding unit after the load thickness detecting unit detects that the thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit has reached the certain load thickness.

Abstract: A packing material for distribution is formed in such a shape that, when the packing material attached in a deck unit fails to be removed, a control unit determines that no sheet is present on a tray based on detection signals from a sheet surface detection sensor and a sheet presence detection sensor. When a user checks the deck unit when the absence of sheets is displayed, the user can notice a failure to remove the packing material, thus preventing damage to a sheet feeding apparatus caused by the failure to remove the packing material for distribution.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet cassette insertable into a housing in a first direction, a remaining amount detecting member including a contact piece extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction and coming into contact with an uppermost sheet, and detecting a remaining amount of sheets according to a position of the contact piece, and a switching member switching the position of the contact piece between a contact position where the contact piece enters a storage space to come into contact with the uppermost sheet and a retracted position where the contact piece is retracted from the storage space. The position is switched to the contact position when the sheet cassette is inserted into the housing in the first direction and set to a feeding position while switched to the retracted position when the sheet cassette is separated from the feeding position and withdrawn from the housing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is constituted from a sheet loading section having a raising and lowering plate, sheet side surface regulating members that regulate side surfaces of sheets, and an air blowing section that blows air towards the side surface of sheets in a top part, a sheet suction and conveying section, a reflection type sensor which detects the upper limit position of the sheets in the sheet loading section, a control section which, when an output of the reflection type sensor becomes an output indicating the state between the sheets that are put in the floating state due to the air flow blown out from an air blowing section and the sheets that are maintaining the stacked state, carries out control so as to raise the raising and lowering plate.

Abstract: A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1?y2=?y to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement ?y and the number n of fed sheets (t=?y/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H?y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H?y2)/t)+1).