Abstract: A media transport apparatus and method includes a first media transport having a first drive unit, configured and operative to convey the substrate media through a marking zone to be marked by a print head. A first motion encoder is operatively connected with the first media transport, configured and operative to output a first signal dependent upon the motion of the first media transport surface. A second media transport with a second drive unit and second motion encoder is configured and operative to receive the substrate media from the first media transport and to convey the substrate media. The second drive unit drives the motion of the second media transport with substantially the same surface velocity as the first media transport.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a conveying amount measuring unit that measures a conveying amount of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit; a first detection unit that detects the sheet downstream of the sheet conveying unit in a conveying direction of the sheet; a second detection unit that detects the sheet upstream of the sheet conveying unit in the conveying direction of the sheet; and a conveying distance calculation unit that calculates a conveying distance of the sheet based on the measured result by the conveying amount measuring unit and the detected results detected by the first detection unit and the second detection unit.

Abstract: A paper-sheet-thickness detecting device includes a reference roller provided on a fixed rotation shaft; a detection roller provided to face and come into contact with the reference roller; a detection block in which the detection roller is provided at one end and the other end is rotatably fixed around a fulcrum shaft so that the detection block is turned and displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing through between the reference and detection rollers; a holding block that holds the fulcrum shaft; a first pressing member fixed to the holding block to maintain contact between the detection and reference rollers by pressing the detection block, the first pressing member being displaced according to rotation and displacement of the detection block when the paper sheet passes through between the reference and detection rollers; and a displacement detector that detects a displacement amount of the first pressing member.

Abstract: A document conveying device includes a document conveying unit, a controller, first and second document detectors, a pulse count detector, and a determining unit. The first document detector is located on a feeding path along which a document is fed by the document conveying unit, and detects a document leading edge. The second document detector is located at a position different from that of the first document detector in both a document feeding direction and a direction orthogonal thereto, and detects the document leading edge. The determining unit determines whether the number of pulses detected by the pulse count detector during the period from detection of the document leading edge by one of the first and second document detectors to detection of the document leading edge by the other exceeds a predetermined value. If the number of pulses exceeds the predetermined value, the controller stops the document feeding operation.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first rotator, a second rotator, and a third rotator, at least one of which is configured to convey a sheet medium; a first detection unit configured to detect a first control factor for controlling a first motor that rotates the first rotator; a second detection unit configured to detect a second control factor for controlling a second motor that rotates the second rotator; a motor control unit configured to control a rotational speed of a third motor that rotates the third rotator; and a speed control unit configured to request the motor control unit to change the rotational speed of the third motor based on the sum of the first control factor and the second control factor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms images on sheets by using input image data, the apparatus including: a detection unit that detects a blank area outside of an image forming area formed on a sheet; a setting unit that, when a sum of a length in a conveyance direction of a blank area on a trailing edge side in the conveyance direction of a sheet and a length in the conveyance direction of a blank area on a leading edge side in the conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed following the sheet is a reference value or less, sets a sheet conveyance interval to the reference value, and when the sum is greater than the reference value, sets the conveyance interval to be less than the reference value; and a conveying unit that conveys the sheets at the conveyance interval set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A method and article determine a greatest distance between adjacent sensors along the media path and command a flushing to advance media the determined greatest distance in the print engine and the peripheral device.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a first conveyance member a separation section, a first sheet length detector to detect whether the sheet is longer than a predetermined length slightly longer than a specific sheet size in the sheet conveyance direction, a trailing-edge detector disposed downstream from the separation section, a leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector a distance smaller than the specific sheet size and from the first conveyance member a distance longer than the specific sheet size, and a controller. When the sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined length, the controller starts sheet feeding when the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge of the sheet, and when the sheet is smaller than that, the controller starts sheet feeding when either the leading-edge detector detects the leading edge of the sheet or the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can detect a leading edge of a tabbed sheet after skew correction with high accuracy and without increasing a size of the apparatus. A transfer unit transfers a toner image to the sheet, the skew of which having been corrected based on a detection result of a first skew detection unit, while the toner image is controlled to be synchronized with the sheet based on the detection result of the first skew detection unit and a detection result of a second skew detection unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying path for conveying a sheet, an optical displacement sensor that detects displacement of the sheet, and a calculating unit that calculates a movement index value indicating moving distances of the sheet in a conveying direction and a direction perpendicular thereto based on an output from the optical displacement sensor. The optical displacement sensor includes a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a matrix array. A row alignment direction and a column alignment direction of the light receiving elements are tilted with respect to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A media transport apparatus and method includes a first media transport having a first drive unit, configured and operative to convey the substrate media through a marking zone to be marked by a print head. A first motion encoder is operatively connected with the first media transport, configured and operative to output a first signal dependent upon the motion of the first media transport surface. A second media transport with a second drive unit and second motion encoder is configured and operative to receive the substrate media from the first media transport and to convey the substrate media. The second drive unit drives the motion of the second media transport with substantially the same surface velocity as the first media transport.

Abstract: The method of detecting a mailpiece of the open mailpiece type such as a non-wrapped magazine consists in causing the mailpiece (3) to pass on edge through a first conveyor (2A) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while holding it tightly over substantially the entire height of the mailpiece, then to pass on edge through a second conveyor (2B) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while leaving a top end (3B) of the mailpiece free to fan out. Two measurements are taken of the thickness of the mailpiece (3) respectively when the mailpiece is in the first conveyor (2A) and when it is in the second conveyor (2B), for the purpose of determining, by differentially comparing the two measurements, whether the mailpiece is an open mailpiece.

Abstract: When individual light emitting diodes of respectively-juxtaposed optical sensors are simultaneously caused to emit light, individual light receiving transistors therefor may be subjected to influences of the light from other light emitting diodes. Therefore, a paper sheet processing apparatus which can read an identification object accurately is provided. The bill processing apparatus (1) includes: a first sensor (8) having a first light emitting part (8a) for irradiating the identification object with light and a first light receiving part (8b) for receiving the light from the first light emitting part (8a), and a second sensor (88) having a second light emitting part (88a) for irradiating light in a direction different from that of the first light emitting part (8a) and a second light receiving part (88b) for receiving the light from the second light emitting part (88a).

Abstract: A length measurement apparatus including: a measurement portion that measures a sheet length based on a rotational amount of a length measurement roll for a first detection period in which first and third sensors detect the sheet, and a sheet length based on a rotational amount of the length measurement roll for a second detection period in which the second sensor and any one of the first and third sensors detect the sheet, the any one of the first and third sensors being disposed at a position opposite to the second sensor via the length measurement roll; and a whole length calculation portion that selects the sheet length nearer to integral multiples of the circumference length of the length measurement roll from the sheet lengths measured for the first and second detection periods, and calculates the whole length of the sheet by using the selected sheet length.

Abstract: A sheet measuring apparatus includes a first rotating member that includes a first peripheral surface portion that contacts a transported sheet; a second rotating member that includes a second peripheral surface portion made of a material different from that of the first peripheral surface portion, the second peripheral surface contacting the first peripheral surface portion and not contacting the sheet; a first rotation amount detecting unit that detects a first rotation amount that is a rotation amount of the first rotating member; a second rotation amount detecting unit that detects a second rotation amount that is a rotation amount of the second rotating member, the second rotation amount being used for a calculation related to the transported sheet; and a fault detecting unit that detects a fault that has occurred in the first rotating member on the basis of the first rotation amount and the second rotation amount.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detection apparatus is provided for detecting the thickness of a sheet document on a document transport path. The apparatus comprises: a first detector unit having a sheet document contact point adjacent the document transport path, the detector unit comprising a piezoelectric element, a first portion of the piezoelectric element being fixed relative to the document transport path, and the piezoelectric element being arranged such that contact between a sheet document and the sheet document contact point as a sheet document passes the detector unit along the document transport path causes flexing of a second portion of the piezoelectric element relative to its first portion; and a sensing circuit connected to the piezoelectric element for outputting an electric signal based on the charge generated by the piezoelectric element upon flexing, the outputted signal being related to the thickness of the sheet document. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A paper transport device includes a transport section that transports paper on a first transport path, and reverses a transport direction to transport the paper onto a second transport path, and a detecting section that detects that the paper has arrived at the reversal position, wherein the detecting section includes a first member that is arranged on the first transport path, and changes posture thereof among a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture, a second member that changes posture thereof between a fourth posture and a fifth posture, a detector that detects whether the second member is in the fourth posture or in the fifth posture, and a joint member that couples the first member and the second member together, allows the second member to be in the fourth posture, rotates the second member to the fifth posture, and keeps the second member in the fourth posture.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a transport roller transporting the sheet to the image forming unit; a stacking unit stacking a sheet; a manual feed path extending from a manual feed slot to the transport roller; a feed path extending from the stacking unit to the transport roller; a feed unit transporting the sheet of the stacking unit to the transport roller through the feed path; a first detection unit detecting a sheet inserted into the manual feed path from the manual feed slot; and a control unit, when the first detection unit detects the sheet inserted from the manual feed slot while an operation to feed the sheet of the stacking unit to the image forming unit by the feed unit and the transport roller, and an image forming operation by the image forming unit are executed, aborting the image forming operation.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device intermittently feeds a sheet according to commanded feeding amounts included in successively generated feeding commands. The sheet feeding device includes upstream and downstream feeding rollers rotated by respective first and second amounts of rotation corresponding to the commanded feeding amount. The sheet feeding device includes an obtaining portion for obtaining an overrun amount of the sheet immediately after a trailing edge of the sheet member has left the upstream feeding roller, based on a difference obtained by subtracting a product of a first radius and the first amount of rotation of the upstream feeding roller, from a product of a second radius and the second amount of rotation of the downstream roller. The obtained overrun amount is subtracted from the next commanded feeding amount, when estimating that the trailing edge leaves the upstream feeding roller during feeding of the sheet according to the next feeding command.

Abstract: An upstream-side printing unit group and a downstream-side printing unit group, respectively, are driven by separate prime motors and synchronously controlled. In addition to rotary encoders for the upstream-side and downstream-side prime motors, rotary encoders are provided on a last impression cylinder of the upstream-side printing unit group and a first transfer cylinder of the downstream-side printing unit group to detect differences between rotational phases, which the upstream-side and downstream-side printing unit groups should have, and the actual rotational phase of the last impression cylinder of the upstream-side printing unit group or the first transfer cylinder of the downstream-side printing unit group. In accordance with the rotational phase differences, the rotational speeds of the prime motors are corrected.

Abstract: A sheet measuring apparatus includes a first rotating member that includes a first peripheral surface portion that contacts a transported sheet; a second rotating member that includes a second peripheral surface portion made of a material different from that of the first peripheral surface portion, the second peripheral surface contacting the first peripheral surface portion and not contacting the sheet; a first rotation amount detecting unit that detects a first rotation amount that is a rotation amount of the first rotating member; a second rotation amount detecting unit that detects a second rotation amount that is a rotation amount of the second rotating member, the second rotation amount being used for a calculation related to the transported sheet; and a fault detecting unit that detects a fault that has occurred in the first rotating member on the basis of the first rotation amount and the second rotation amount.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a first conveyance member a separation section, a first sheet length detector to detect whether the sheet is longer than a predetermined length slightly longer than a specific sheet size in the sheet conveyance direction, a trailing-edge detector disposed downstream from the separation section, a leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector a distance smaller than the specific sheet size and from the first conveyance member a distance longer than the specific sheet size, and a controller. When the sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined length, the controller starts sheet feeding when the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge of the sheet, and when the sheet is smaller than that, the controller starts sheet feeding when either the leading-edge detector detects the leading edge of the sheet or the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge thereof.

Abstract: An aeration device adapted to aerate one or more sheets of a stack of sheets includes a side blower configured to selectively provide an air stream at an outlet thereof along an airstream direction so as to impinge against at least a portion of the stack. A height detecting device is configured to detect a height of an uppermost sheet of the stack. A side blower adjustment device is configured to adjust a height of the side blower and/or an angle of the airstream direction so as to track, by the air stream, the uppermost sheet of the stack based on an input from the height detecting device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device has: a sheet accommodating portion that accommodates a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; a sheet carrying plate that is provided within the sheet accommodating portion and stacks the sheet stack thereon; a pickup roller that contacts an upper face of the sheet stack and dispatches a sheet on an uppermost layer of the sheet stack, an elevator mechanism that displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position in which the upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller, and a separating position in which the upper face of the sheet stack separates from the pickup roller by a predetermined distance; and a controller that controls an operation of the elevator mechanism such that the sheet carrying plate is lowered to the separating position after a sheet feeding operation for feeding a sheet at the sheet feeding position is completed.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus or an image forming apparatus includes: a housing including an opening and closing member that can be opened and closed; a conveying path that conveys an object to be conveyed, at least a part of the conveying path being provided adjacent to an inner side of the opening and closing member; a first detector that detects whether the object is present in a predetermined region and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a result of the detection; and an interlocking mechanism that causes, when the opening and closing member is opened, the first detector to change at least one of a position and a structure of the first detector in mechanically association with movement of opening of the opening and closing member, and to output a detection signal which is the same as a detection signal output when the object is present in the predetermined region.

Abstract: A media transport method includes transporting media along a media transport path by a plurality of rollers, for each of the rollers, determining a respective estimated length of advancement of the media based on at least an amount of rotation of the respective roller, and comparing the respective estimated length of advancement of the media determined for each of the rollers with each other.

Abstract: A paper conveying path extends from a paper feeding tray to an image forming unit, a branch conveying path extends from a branching point in the paper conveying path to a paper container, a first paper sensor and a second paper sensor are arranged in the paper conveying path upstream of the branching point, and a switch nail is arranged at the branching point to switch paths between the paper conveying path and the branch conveying path. The switch nail is controlled so that a jammed paper is conveyed to the paper container via the branch conveying path upon detecting paper jamming in the paper conveying path and the first sensor detects the jammed paper while the second sensor does not detect the jammed paper.

Abstract: Affords sheet stacking device that, in stacking sheets onto a loading tray, enables stacking of the sheets always in the correct posture regardless of the nature of the sheets' surface material. The sheet stacking device includes a tray unit located downstream of a sheet discharging port, a sheet-end regulating member provided on the tray unit, a conveying unit for transporting sheets carried out onto the tray unit though the sheet discharging port, toward the sheet-end regulating member, and a conveyance controller for controlling the conveying unit. In conveying toward the sheet-end regulating member a sheet having been carried onto the tray unit, the conveyance controller varies the running time during which the conveying unit applies conveyance force to the sheet, in accordance with the material nature of the sheet surface.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing image formation on a fed sheet includes a feeding unit, a detecting unit, a conveying control unit, and a first, second, and third determining unit. The feeding unit feeds a sheet of an irregular size onto a conveyance path. The detecting unit detects timings at which a leading edge and trailing edge of the fed sheet pass through a conveyance path predetermined position. The first determining unit determines a length of the sheet in a width direction. The conveying control unit discharges the sheet to a discharge destination without performing image formation on the sheet. The second determining unit determines a length of the sheet in the conveyance direction. The third determining unit determines a sheet size of the sheet of the irregular size from the length of the sheet in the width direction and the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A sheet-medium-conveying device includes a tray, a conveying unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a reference value changing unit. A plurality of sheets to be conveyed are settable on the tray. The conveying unit conveys the sheets on the tray. The measuring unit measures a quantity with respect to the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit. The detecting unit detects an overlapped feed in which at least two sheets are conveyed in a partially overlapped condition. The overlapped feed is detected by comparing the quantity measured by the measuring unit with a reference value. The determining unit is configured to determine whether a type of sheet conveyed by the conveying unit is changed. The reference value changing unit is configured to change the reference value to a value corresponding to the changed type of sheet as determined by the determining unit.

Abstract: A method for moving a media sheet within an imaging device includes moving a media sheet along a media path by rotating an at least one roller. While the media sheet is moving, a first sensor is activated with the media sheet and then a second sensor is activated with the media sheet. Feedback is received by a processor indicating the number of rotations of the at least one roller. A measured distance DM from the first sensor to the second sensor is calculated. An adjusted distance DA from the second sensor to a feed nip is then calculated. After activation of the second sensor, the roller continues to move the media sheet on the media path and the roller is rotated at least the adjusted distance DA. The media sheet then enters into the feed nip in a substantially deskewed alignment.

Abstract: A paper-sheet-thickness detecting device includes a reference roller provided on a fixed rotation shaft; a detection roller provided to face and come into contact with the reference roller; a detection block in which the detection roller is provided at one end and the other end is rotatably fixed around a fulcrum shaft so that the detection block is turned and displaced according to a thickness of a paper sheet passing through between the reference and detection rollers; a holding block that holds the fulcrum shaft; a first pressing member fixed to the holding block to maintain contact between the detection and reference rollers by pressing the detection block, the first pressing member being displaced according to rotation and displacement of the detection block when the paper sheet passes through between the reference and detection rollers; and a displacement detector that detects a displacement amount of the first pressing member.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheets, first and second sheet transfer members are movable to transfer one of the sheets between the first and second sheet transfer members, the first and second sheet transfer members have respective transfer surfaces contactable with the one of the sheets so that the one of the sheets is driven to be transferred by at least one of the first and second sheet transfer members, and an information reader is arranged between the first and second sheet transfer members in such a manner that an information is readable from the one of the sheets even when the one of the sheets is transferred by one of the first and second sheet transfer members and is prevented from being transferred by both of the first and second sheet transfer members.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a first detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a surface condition of a recording material based on a captured image of a surface of the recording material, a second detection unit configured to detect a characteristic corresponding to a grammage of the recording material based on an ultrasonic wave detected via the recording material by irradiating the recording material with an ultrasonic wave, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the recording material. The first detection unit and the second detection unit are located opposite each other with respect to the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus which detects an end part position of a sheet in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet conveyed on a sheet conveying path, comprising a plurality of sensor portions; a holding portion which holds the plurality of sensor portions; a plurality of aperture stops which is disposed between the light emitting portions and the light receiving portions and which is provided on the holding portion; and a driving portion which causes a movement of the holding portion in the sheet width direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion which conveys a sheet, a lever which is pushed by the sheet conveyed by the conveying portion, and moves from a standby position, a detecting portion which generates a signal corresponding to a position of the lever, and generates a first signal when the lever moves in a first moving area from the standby position to a predetermined position and generates a second signal when the lever moves in a second moving area beyond the predetermined position, and a biasing portion which does not apply to the lever a biasing force when the lever is in the first moving area, and applies to the lever a biasing force opposite in a direction in which the lever is pushed by the sheet and moves when the lever is in the second moving area.

Abstract: A sheet detecting device including: an ultrasound generator; a transmitting side opening, which includes a first opening and a second opening to transmit the ultrasound; a transmitting side propagation unit, which is connected to the ultrasound generator and each of the transmitting side openings; a receiving side opening, which includes a third opening and a fourth opening to receives the ultrasound transmitted from the first opening and the second opening; an ultrasound receiver; a receiving side propagation unit, which is connected to each of the receiving side openings and the ultrasound receiver; and a first determining unit, wherein a first distance from the ultrasound generator to the first opening is different from a second distance from the ultrasound generator to the second opening, and wherein a third distance from the ultrasound receiver to the third opening is different from a fourth distance from the ultrasound receiver to the fourth opening.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first detector configured to detect a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a conveying direction, a second detector provided on a downstream side of the first detector in the sheet conveying direction to detect the leading edge of the sheet conveyed, a punching portion, in the downstream side of the first detector in the sheet conveying direction, to move in a sheet width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction and perform a punching process for the sheet, an edge detector configured to move in the width direction together with the punching portion and detect the edge of the sheet conveyed in the width direction, and a controller, on the basis of at least either of information of a conveying speed of the sheet and a sheet length in the conveying direction, when the edge detector starts movement in the width direction after the first or second detector detects the leading edge of the sheet, to judge whether the edge detector can detect the edge of the sheet or no

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, even when the measured paper size differs from the scheduled size, it is possible to reduce the frequency of requiring a recovery procedure, and prevent the productivity from decreasing by continuing the operation of the printing apparatus as much as possible. The printing apparatus includes a paper feeding unit for feeding a print sheet from a paper feed tray 120, 130a, 130b, 130c or 130d to a transportation route CR through a paper feed route FR, in-tray sensors 182, 183a, 183b . . . for measuring the paper size in the paper feed trays; a transportation sensor 181 for measuring the paper size on the transportation route, a transportation operation adjusting unit 332 for adjusting the transportation operation on the transportation or paper feed route according to the measurement result of the transportation sensor 181 when the measurement results of the transportation sensor 181 and in-tray sensors mismatch.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including feeding unit that feeds a medium, conveying unit that conveys the fed medium, recording unit that performs recording on the medium, and controlling unit that controls the feeding unit and the conveying unit, a measuring unit that measures a distance between the previous medium and the next medium after completing the preparatory feeding; and determining unit that determines whether or not the measured distance is a predetermined distance or greater, wherein, if the distance is the predetermined distance or greater, the controlling unit completely feeds the next medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording medium identifying device includes: a sensor set downstream in a recording medium conveying direction of a heating device and configured to detect reflected light of a recording medium; and a control section configured to calculate a printing ratio of the recording medium and determine, if the printing ratio of the recording medium is equal to or larger than a threshold, that the recording medium is un-reusable. An erasing apparatus includes: the recording medium identifying device; a heating device configured to heat the recording medium to temperature equal to or higher than erasing temperature; a switching mechanism configured to switch a recording medium conveying path; and a disposal box in which unusable recording media are stored. If the control section determines that the recording medium is un-reusable, the control section controls the switching mechanism and stores the recording medium in the disposal box.

Abstract: An image forming device including a pair of fixing rollers, a sheet guide unit displaceable to one of first and second positions, a position detector detecting a position of the sheet guide unit, first and second sheet sensors respectively detecting the sheet at a first fixed position upstream of the fixing rollers and at a second fixed position downstream of the fixing rollers, and a control unit including a determination unit and a determination part. The determination unit includes a retrieving part that retrieves first and second threshold time periods when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively. The determination part determines whether a first or second time period starting from detecting by the first sheet sensor and ending when detecting by the second sheet sensor are within the first and second threshold time periods, respectively, when the position detector detects the first and second positions, respectively.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding roller pair, a sheet pushing member, and a detection unit. The folding roller pair folds a sheet or a sheet bundle by a nip portion. The sheet pushing member results in a tip pushing a portion between two ends of the sheet or sheet bundle into the nip portion and then performs a tip returning operation. The detection unit detects whether the tip reaches a predetermined position within a predetermined time. When the tip does not reach the predetermined position within the predetermined time, the sheet pushing member retries the pushing operation after performing the returning operation. When the tip reaches the predetermined position within the predetermined time, the sheet pushing member stops the pushing operation and controls rotation driving of the folding roller pair such that the folding roller pair starts to convey the sheet or sheet bundle.

Abstract: An original-feeding device includes an original tray, a pickup roller configured to be lowered onto originals stacked on the tray and to feed one of the originals, the pickup roller configured to be lifted up after the feeding, a conveyor configured to convey the fed original, a length detector configured to detect a length of the conveyed original, an original sensor configured to detect a trailing edge of the conveyed original, and a controller configured to control the pickup roller either in a first mode in which the pickup roller is lowered in accordance with a detected length of the original or in a second mode in which the pickup roller is lowered at the detection of a trailing edge of the original. The controller changes the first mode to the second mode if lengths of the originals detected by the length detector vary.

Abstract: A paper sheet or bill processing apparatus capable of reliably detecting a paper sheet or bill present in a traveling route. The paper sheet or bill processing apparatus includes: a motor for a paper sheet or bill conveyance mechanism which can be driven to convey a paper sheet or bill along a traveling route; a discharge sensor which detects whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route; and control means which carries out a redetection process to detect whether or not the paper sheet or bill is present in the traveling route again by the discharge sensor after the motor is driven if the paper sheet or bill is not detected by the discharge detection sensor in a detection process in a condition that driving of the conveyance mechanism is stopped.

Abstract: A sheet detection unit of an image forming apparatus includes a light receiving unit including a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a sheet feeding direction. A computation processing unit shifts signals from the elements in synchronization with a sheet feeding speed and makes additions, increases a signal change level, and stores the signals in buffers in a result storage unit. A sheet position determination unit detects a position of an edge portion of a sheet being fed based on distribution of data stored in the buffers.

Abstract: A first detecting unit S1 for detecting a conveyed sheet at a first detecting position and a second detecting unit S2 for detecting the sheet at a second detecting position are provided. A calculation unit calculates a distance between the first and second detecting positions based on detection signals from the first detecting unit and the second detecting unit at the time when a reference sheet having a known length has been conveyed and a length of reference sheet.

Abstract: Using detectors, skewed conveyance of sheet media such as checks can be detected accurately regardless of whether part of the conveyed medium is folded over. The biased feed detection unit 33 of a check processing device 1 according to at least one embodiment of the invention determines the lengths L1 and L2 of the conveyed check 6 (ST31 and ST32) and the thickness of a folded part of the check 6 (ST33) at different positions perpendicular to the transportation direction based on the output of a paper thickness detector 25 and a length detector 26 disposed to the check transportation path 7. The folded length L3 is then subtracted from the difference ?L of the detected lengths to acquire a corrected difference ?L1 (ST35). If the corrected difference ?L1 is less than or equal to a threshold value D, the medium is determined to be conveyed normally (ST37). If the corrected difference ?L1 exceeds the threshold value D, the medium is determined to be skewed (ST38).

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a torque estimation unit that, based upon a first load torque generated at a time that a sheet-like member passes through a first nip between a first driving roller and a first driven roller of an upstream sheet conveying unit, estimates a second load torque generated at a time that the sheet-like member passes through a second nip between a second driving roller and a second driven roller of a downstream sheet conveying unit; and a control unit that controls the driving torque such that the second load torque is counterbalanced by applying a counterbalancing torque in synchronization with a timing of entry of the sheet-like member into the second nip.