Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transfer device for transferring a sheet, and a reading device for reading an image of the sheet at a prescribed read position. A light volume detection device is arranged at a position of one side end in a direction perpendicular to a transfer direction of the sheet to be transferred to detect the light volume according to a deviation amount at a sheet transfer position in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the sheet end. An operation device calculates the deviation amount with respect to a reference position of the sheet transfer position from a difference between the light volume detected by the light volume detection device when the sheet is not present at the sheet transfer position and the light volume detected by the light volume detection device when the sheet is transferred to the sheet transfer position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a middle plate, a lifter mechanism, and a sheet-feed roller. The sheet-feed roller can move to a first position retracted from the sheet, a second position lower than the first position for feeding the sheet, and a third position lower than the second position. The sheet feeding apparatus has a position control mode in which when a sheet is fed, the sheet-feed roller is moved from the first position to the third position and stopped there, the middle plate is moved toward the sheet-feed roller by the lifter mechanism, the sheet stacked on the middle plate is brought into abutment against the sheet-feed roller, the middle plate is moved until a position detection sensor outputs the detection signal that the sheet-feed roller is in the second position, and a height of the sheet is controlled.

Abstract: A paper sheet storage device comprises paper sheet transporting units 401 to 406 having a transport path 450 for paper sheets and for transporting the paper sheets; a paper sheet feeder 250 for feeding a paper sheet onto the transport path; sensors 301 to 303, disposed on the transport path, for detecting passage of a paper sheet; a transport speed acquiring unit for acquiring the transport speed of a paper sheet based on detection by the sensors; and a controller 210 for controlling the paper sheet transport unit and the paper sheet feeder. In the event that the acquired transport speed of a paper sheet is slower than a prescribed speed, the controller causes the paper sheet feeder to halt the feeding of paper sheets, and operates in reverse a portion of the paper sheet transport unit that is situated closer to the paper sheet feeder than the slow moving paper sheet.

Abstract: A technique is provided that enables detection of the state of a sheet skew or the like without adding a special sensor or the like in a sheet carrying apparatus if possible. Information about sheet detection timing by two sensors that are arranged at different positions from each other in a sheet carrying direction and arranged at positions different from each other in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction is acquired. A skew of a carried sheet is determined in accordance with the acquired information.

Abstract: A paper transport device is configured to independently drive a paper ejecting roller when predetermined abnormal events occur. When paper-jamming occurs and if no paper is present downstream of a jammed paper or a preceding paper that is present most downstream is located upstream of a predetermined position, the paper ejecting roller is stopped to prevent ejection of papers outside of the paper transport device. When paper-jamming occurs and if a preceding paper that is present most downstream is located downstream of the predetermined position, the paper ejecting roller is independently driven to complete ejection of the preceding paper.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed a plurality of documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor arranged in a conveyance path configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an interval of the document between a trailing edge of a preceding document and a leading edge of a next document conveyed through the conveyance path, and a reading unit configured to execute a first reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and a second reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a second conveyance speed that is lower than the first conveyance speed, wherein the reading unit executes the second reading mode after the first reading mode when the interval of the document is less than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A device and method for assisting a user to clear a media jam in a printing device that announces pages, picks media responsively to the announced pages and images the picked media using a media transport path, that: detects a media jam at a given location along the media transport path; halts printing device components upstream from the given location in the media path while continuing to image picked media downstream from the given location in the media transport path; and, prompts the user to clear the detected media jam from the given location after all downstream media has been imaged.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet feeding apparatus including a first feeding member that feeds at least one of the sheets from a feeding tray; a second feeding member that feeds the sheet fed by the first feeding member; a separating member, wherein a nip portion is formed between the separating member and the second feeding member, and when two sheets are entered the nip portion, the separating member separates one of the entered sheets from the other; an adjusting unit that changes a force of the separating member; a detecting unit that detects at least one of a distance by which the other of the entered sheets is transported beyond the nip portion and an advancing speed of the other of the entered sheets at the nip portion; and a controller that controls the adjusting unit based on a detection value of the detecting unit.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.

Abstract: A method of processing documents by receiving at least a batch of documents and a separator card in an input receptacle of a document processing device. The separator card includes a conductive material disposed on one side, and a barcode indicative of the source of the batch of documents. The documents and separator card are transported via a transport mechanism past an evaluation unit and a field-effect sensor, respectively. The document processing device evaluates each document, determines whether the document meets or fails predetermined criteria, and detects the presence of the conductive material when a separator card is transported past the sensor. The source identification information from each separator card is entered into a memory of the document processing device after all the documents from the corresponding batch of documents have met the predetermined criteria. Feeder operation is paused between each batch long enough to verify that the previous batch closed successfully.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into a waiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separ

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, comprising: a sheet introduction port for feeding a sheet to inside from outside of the sheet processing apparatus; a sheet exit port for ejecting the sheet from inside to outside of the sheet processing apparatus; a sheet carrying part having a sheet carrying passage that communicates the sheet introduction port and the sheet exit port; a fold processing part disposed in a middle of the sheet carrying passage, for arbitrarily folding the sheet; a sheet stacking part that stacks the sheet ejected from the sheet exit port; and a detector that detects whether a height of a bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking part reaches a prescribed height and outputs an OFF signal for turning off a drive of the sheet carrying part, wherein the detector performs detection at a first detection level for detecting the prescribed height of the bundle of sheets folded when the fold processing part is set in a drive state, and at a second detection level for detecting the prescribed height o

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet placing tray on which a sheet is placed, a feeding member for feeding the sheet placed on the sheet placing tray, a first sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a first detection position, and a second sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a second detection position disposed on an upstream side of the first detection position in a sheet feeding direction. A control unit controls the feeding member so as not to perform the sheet feeding operation when the first detection unit detects the sheet and the second detection unit does not detect the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets made from paper, paperboard and the like to a processing machine, includes a stacking table with a delivery device, by way of which the sheets disposed upright on one of their edges are fed to a separating apparatus. The stacking table is divided and has a fixed part and a part mounted in such a way that it can pivot about a rotational axis. A method for feeding a stack or bundle of sheets into the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for handling a sheet therein, comprises, a first body including a first transfer path along which the sheet is driven to be moved, a second body including a second transfer path along which the sheet is driven to be moved, an interface area through which the first and second transfer paths of the first and second bodies movable with respect to each other on occasion demands, are capable of communicating with each other so that the sheet is capable of being transferred through the interface area between the first and second transfer paths when the first and second bodies have a predetermined positional relationship therebetween, and a controller for controlling at least one of the first and second transfer paths to drive the sheet to be moved along the at least one of the first and second transfer paths.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is arranged so that a first eject tray is located at a position to which sheets are ejectable in such a manner that front and back surfaces of the sheets are not reversed after the sheets are subjected to predetermined processing. Further, the sheet transport apparatus of the present invention is provided with a first eject tray operation section for aligning leading edges of the sheets ejected to the first eject tray by changing a positional relation in a vertical direction between an upstream side and a downstream side of the first eject tray in a sheet transporting direction.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus and a method of preventing damage of gear may include a driving roller to transfer a document sheet while being in contact with a scanning glass of a reading unit and configured to be spaced-apart from the scanning glass so that a jammed sheet can be removed, a driving gear joined to the driving roller, a power transmitting gear to be selectively engaged with the driving gear so as to supply a rotational force of a driving motor to the driving roller, a first sensor installed at a front side of the driving roller to detect a document sheet, a controlling portion to control a scanning process, wherein the controlling portion controls the power transmitting portion to be spaced-apart from the driving gear when the first sensor cannot detect the document sheet.

Abstract: When a to-be-transported printing medium is fed in association with an operation for transporting the printing medium to a predetermined printing start position, a control is provided so as to eliminate an emergency stop of the feeding operation that tends to be caused due to an increase in the printing speed, thereby realizing a high-speed printing. To provide this, prior to a determination of the printing start position, the feeding by a feeding roller of the printing medium is started. Thereafter, when the printing start position is fixed within a predetermined period after the detection of a front end of the printing medium, whether or not to stop the feeding roller is determined at this timing. The predetermined period is a period during which the printing medium can be stopped at a predetermined stop position at which the printing medium is not yet caught by a transportation roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a feed passage and includes feed roller pairs, sensors, and a controller. The feed roller pairs are arranged along the feed passage and feed sheets of paper in a feed direction along the passage by nipping the sheets. Each of the sensors is fitted at or near one of the feed roller pairs and senses a specified point on each of the sheets when the sheet is nipped by at least the associated roller pair. The controller includes a memory for storing reference feed timings as proper feed timings at each of which the specified points on the sheets should pass one of the sensors. The controller finds the real feed timing when each of the sensors senses the specified point on the sheet nipped by at least the associated roller pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery processing apparatus comprising an alignment stage, an aligning means having an alignment member operable to align a sheet on the alignment stage and to escape to a home position during a non-alignment period, a conveying means for conveying the sheet on the alignment stage, a sheet processing means for performing a prescribed processing to the sheet on the alignment stage, a delivery portion for stacking the sheets and a stacking amount detecting means having a detection member selectively moving to a detection position and a non-detection position at a region overlapping an operation region of the alignment member to detect the stacking amount of the sheet delivered to the delivery portion.

Abstract: A document inverting-and-transporting apparatus includes a transport path, an inversion-and-transport path, a document transporting unit, a closed portion, a document length detecting unit, a comparing unit, a controlling unit. The transport path includes a first route along which the document is transported from a feeding start position to a transport direction changing position; a joining position; and a reading position. The inversion-and-transport path includes a second route along which the document is transported from the transport direction changing position to the reading position via the joining position. The closed portion constitutes a part of the inversion-and-transport path. The comparing unit compares a detected length of the document with a predetermined length larger than a length of the closed portion. The controlling unit determines whether the document is to be transported to the inversion-and-transport path, based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A sheet folding device, method, and computer program product for conveying one of a sheet and a sheet bundle with pressure by a sheet conveying unit toward a sheet position adjusting unit; moving the sheet position adjusting unit to a standby position located downstream of a folding position of a folding plate in a sheet conveying direction; releasing the pressure of the sheet conveying unit; adjusting said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle to the folding position by supporting and moving said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle; putting a fold line in said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle conveyed along a sheet conveying path at the folding position; and folding said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle by pinching a portion of said one of a sheet and a sheet bundle around the fold line at a nip part.

Abstract: A sheet abnormality detection apparatus includes a plurality of abutting members which move upon coming into contact with at least one of sheets conveyed to overlap while being shifted from each other in a convey direction and an object attached to a sheet. The plurality of abutting members are disposed side by side in a direction perpendicular to a sheet convey direction. The apparatus also includes an abnormality detection unit which detects a sheet abnormality on the basis of a relative positional shift among the plurality of abutting members. A sheet abnormality detection method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A detector for a deposit accepting apparatus of an automated banking machine or for another sheeting handling system includes an ultrasonic transmitter driven by a driving signal operative to cause the ultrasonic transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic sound signal through a sheet pathway of the detector. The detector also includes an ultrasonic receiver operative to generate a receiver signal responsive to the ultrasonic sound signal. The detector further includes first and second correlation filters. The first and second correlation filters are operative to generate first and second outputs responsive to the receiver signal. At least one processor is operative responsive to the first and second outputs of the correlation filters to determine information associated with changes in phase of the ultrasonic sound signal and to distinguish between single and multiple sheets in the pathway responsive to the information associated with changes in phase.

Abstract: A first sensing means, which may form part of a banknote authenticator, is used to determine the profile of, for example, at least the leading edge of a banknote. Actuators located elsewhere in the banknote handling machine are operated in accordance with the outputs of other sensors, after taking the measured profile into consideration, so as to correct for errors due to the banknote being damaged in the area sensed by the other position detectors.

Abstract: A system and method includes a printing system assembly and controller. The printing system assembly is configured to separate media from a printer input during a separation time and then deliver it to a printer marking engine. The controller is configured to measure the separation time. The controller is further configured to adjust a plurality of parameter settings according to the measured separation time and according to the influence each of the parameter settings has on the separation time.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device has a sheet delivering roller for delivering sheets one by one; a feeding roller for feeding the sheet delivered by the sheet delivering roller; a pinch roller urged by the feeding roller to be rotated by the feeding roller; a detecting lever swingable by being contacted by a leading of the sheet delivered by the sheet delivering roller; and a sensor for detecting the swing motion of the detecting lever. An area of said detecting lever to which the leading end of the sheet is contactable is such a curved surface that a distance from a nip between the feeding roller and the pinch roller is substantially constant.

Abstract: In a paper feeder, a signal switching unit switches a paper present signal output from a paper detector to a paper absent signal indicative of absence of a paper in the second paper cassette if a first paper cassette is pulled out from a specific position.

Abstract: A multi-sheet feed detection system comprises a photosensor configured to receive light emitted in a non-visible spectrum by a transmitter through at least one sheet, and a detection module configured to detect a multi-sheet feed condition based on an amount of non-visible light received by the photosensor.

Abstract: An image-to-sheet closed loop registration system tracking the image drum position and/or velocity and coordinating movement of the sheet into the transfer nip based on such information.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device, capable of reliably detecting obstacles such as wrinkles or foreign particles on a recording medium, is provided with a clearance sensor mechanism for detecting foreign particles and wrinkles on the recording medium. In such an inkjet recording device, printing is performed by scanning with the inkjet head while a platen on which the recording medium is mounted is fed. When a plate-like member provided between the default position in which the platen is on standby and the printing performing position to be scanned by the inkjet head contacts foreign particles or wrinkles of the recording medium mounted on the platen, the concealing member, together with the plate-like member, rotates about the axis line direction of an axis member. When a sensor detects the rotation of the concealing member, the platen is fed in the reverse direction. Further, when the inkjet head starts printing, a solenoid presses a receiving member and rotates the plate-like member.

Abstract: There are provided a thickness detecting apparatus which can restrain erroneous detection even though a sheet or the like overlaps with only a part of a rotary body, and, which can enhance the degree of accuracy of detection, comprising a cylindrical displaceable rotary body and a cylindrical stationary rotary body which are opposed to each other, the thickness detecting apparatus detecting a thickness of the sheet or the like to be transferred in accordance with a displacement by which the displaceable rotary body is separated from the stationary rotary body, when the sheet or the like passes through between the displaceable rotary body and the stationary rotary body, and the center of a load with which the displaceable rotary body presses the sheet or the like is biased from the center of the displaceable rotary body in one of center axial direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises an upper unit, a lower unit and a banding unit. When sheets being conveyed are jammed in the upper unit, the upper unit is stopped and the processes of the lower unit and the banding unit are continuously executed. After the upper unit is stopped, sheets that may possibly be conveyed into the lower unit by inertia are rejected in a safety pocket.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet tray, a feed roller, a separating pad, a feed motor, a conveying roller pair, and a deformation prevention member. The sheet tray loads sheets including first and second sheets. The feed roller picks up and feeds the first and second sheets. The separating pad separates the first sheet from the second sheet together with the feed roller. The feed motor drives the feed roller. The conveying roller pair is provided downstream from the feed roller in a sheet conveyance direction, and feeds the first sheet fed by the feed roller. The deformation prevention member prevents deformation of a head of the second sheet caused by the feed roller and the separating pad nipping the second sheet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for feeding media into a printing system in which a movable media guide is used to register media on a tray with a potentiometer and an opto-interrupt sensor are mounted in a fixed position relative to the tray with the slidable potentiometer member being moved by translation of the media guide. An obstruction structure is coupled to move relative to the opto-interrupt sensor when the media guide is translated and provides one or more fins to selectively block or open the optical signal path of the opto-interrupt sensor, with the sensed media width being determined according to the output signals of the opto-interrupt sensor and the potentiometer.

Abstract: When a sheet reaches a sheet separator, an operation mechanism rocks a pick arm, thereby separating a paper feed roller from the sheet. At that time, a roller presses another roller and a separation pad holder through a separation roller and a sheet which is separated by the separation pad, and a pressure welding pressure between the separation roller and the separation pad is reduced. With this, the separation roller and the separation pad can be separated from each other with a small and simple mechanism, and a back tension when a sheet is fed can be reduced inexpensively.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for detecting double-feed of paper to prevent banking accidents or jam in a paper handling machine for handling paper, sheets of currency note are not separated by a sheet separating means and thus plural sheets are double fed. The apparatus includes paper feeding means for guiding upper and lower surfaces of the paper and feeding the paper, a pivot member pivotally installed to a rotary shaft, and having a contact portion disposed in a paper feeding path of the paper feeding means and contacting with one surface of the feeding paper, and an encoder portion with a plurality of slits, in which the rotary shaft is closer to the contact portion rather than the encoder portion, and a sensor for counting the number of slits of the encoder portion when the pivot member pivots. The present invention can accurately detect the overlay of the paper having a thin thickness with a simple construction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying system in which when a sheet is passed from a sheet conveying apparatus to another, each including a sheet conveyance controller, the receiving apparatus can smoothly control acceleration, deceleration, or stop of conveyance of the sheet. A first sheet conveying device includes a first conveying roller pair to nip and convey a sheet, a releasing mechanism to release nipping of the sheet by the first conveying roller pair, and a first controller to control the first conveying roller pair and the releasing mechanism. A second sheet conveying device includes a second conveying roller pair to nip and convey the sheet conveyed by the first sheet conveying device, a second controller to control the second conveying roller pair, and a detecting device to detect position of a sheet. In response to the detection by the detecting device, the second controller causes the releasing mechanism to release the nipping of the sheet by the first conveying roller pair.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a medium detection sensor having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and that changes the signal level of a detection signal output from the light-receiving unit according to the presence/non-presence of a medium between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, and a medium guide member that is arranged in the middle of a transport path for the medium to guide the medium, and that has a medium guide face for guiding the medium, and a sensor attachment portion to which the medium detection sensor is attached so that the medium guide face may be arranged at a position nearer to one of the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit than the other of the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided including a sheet feed tray on which sheets of a plurality of sizes are placed. A conveying unit conveys a sheet on the sheet feed tray to a predetermined processing position. A sheet position detector has a plurality of light-emitting units respectively arranged at positions corresponding to different sheet widths and one light-receiving unit capable of moving to positions corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting units. A light reception position detector which detects the position of the light-receiving unit, and a control unit which selects one of the plurality of light-emitting units can also be provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided, which includes: a sheet feed member and a separating member which form a nip portion by pressing each other, the separating member rotates following the sheet feed member when a first recording sheet is inserted into the nip portion, and rotates reversely when a second recording sheet is inserted while being stacked under the first recording sheet; a sheet detection unit which detects the recording sheet inserted into the nip portion; a direction detection unit which detects a rotation direction of the separating member; and a separating force adjusting unit which gradually increases a reverse rotation torque of the separating member from a initial torque after the sheet detection unit detects the recording sheet, and stops the increase of the reverse rotation torque to maintain the reverse rotation torque when the direction detection unit detects reverse rotation of the separating member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, a lock mechanism that locks the sheet feeding tray, a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets from the sheet feeding tray one by one, an opening and closing unit that opens and closes a conveyance path, a sheet detecting sensor that detects presence of a sheet at a position at which the opening and closing unit is arranged, and a state detecting unit that detects a state of the opening and closing unit. When the sheet detecting sensor detects that a sheet is stuck during conveyance of the sheet, the lock mechanism locks the sheet feeding tray not to be drawn out, and unlock the sheet feeding tray after the opening and closing unit opens the conveyance path.

Abstract: When the sheets are taken out sheet by sheet and started to be fed, in a first predetermined section, a driving mode is set to a fixed PWM driving mode, and a DC motor is driven in response to a PWM signal of a fixed duty to perform the sheet feed operation (S110, S120). When the tip end of the fed sheet is detected by a registration sensor (S140: YES), the sheet feed operation is once stopped (S150), and the driving mode is changed to a position feedback control mode (S170). Thereafter, the sheet is fed to a registration position by a position feedback control, the sheet reaches the registration position, the sheet feed is completed (S200: YES), and the process enters the next transfer operation. The transfer operation is also performed in the position feedback control mode. When a control method is changed before/after the registration sensor in this manner, the speeding-up and noise reduction of the sheet feed operation are realized.

Abstract: An original reading device includes a registration roller located upstream of an original reading position in an original transport path for adjusting the timing of feeding an original to the original reading position. There is at least one original feed roller for transporting the original which has been fed from an original loading tray into the original transport path toward the registration roller. A rotary motion controller is also provided, and it causes the original feed roller closest to the registration roller to rotate when a rear part of the original close to a trailing edge thereof passes over the original feed roller closest to the registration roller.

Abstract: An external force application unit is allowed to impact on a sheet material, and an external force detection unit detects an impact force through the sheet material. Further, there is provided a push-in sensing unit for detecting abnormality of the sheet material entering a space between the external force application unit and the external force detection unit. When the push-in sensing unit detects the abnormality, a control circuit operates a motor to rotate a cam, thereby moving the external force application unit to be retracted in a direction in which the external force application unit is moved away from an entering position of the sheet material.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not a jammed document is necessarily returned to a document tray when a jam of the document is caused within a carrier path and, then, the elevation operation of the document tray is controlled on the basis of its result of the determination. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has not been completed should be returned to the document tray, the document tray is moved down. Since the jammed sheet of which reading has been completed should not be returned to the document tray, the document tray is maintained at a position as it is. When the apparatus stops due to the carrying jam, a time required for processing the document is shortened.

Abstract: A sheets separation/conveying apparatus has a pick-up roller to take out sheets in the piled up state on the conveying path. The sheets taken out on the conveying path are checked when passing the first roller and plural sheets being conveyed in the overlapped state are detected by a detector and separated each other by the second roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus allowing travel of a tabbed sheet, in which even when a tabbed sheet is made to travel, no erroneous jamming detection occurs, thus allowing the tabbed sheet to travel in the same manner as in the case of an ordinary sheet. The image forming apparatus includes: a sheet detecting unit arranged in a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet and adapted to detect the sheet; and a control unit which, when the tabbed sheet is made to travel, performs control so as to make a set value for a reference timer for a jamming judgment to be made through detection of a sheet by the sheet detecting unit different from a set value for an ordinary sheet.

Abstract: Image forming methods and apparatuses capable of performing stable and fast sheet transfer operations are provided. In a continuous feed mode, a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet are successively fed from a sheet tray through first and second transfer rollers to an image forming position. When it is determined that a trailing edge of the preceding sheet has passed the first transfer roller, the driving of the first transfer roller is stopped for a predetermined time period. As a result, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are transferred with a desired sheet interval while suppressing sheet interval variations.