Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a first pair of rollers for feeding a print medium; a second pair of rollers for feeding the print medium, the second pair of rollers being disposed downstream in a print medium feeding direction from the first pair of rollers; a first detector for detecting the print medium slack in a specified degree by contact with the print medium, the first detector being disposed between the first pair of rollers and the second pair of rollers; a second detector for detecting either the first pair of rollers or the second pair of rollers need a specified value of driving torque; and a controller for controlling either a feeding speed at which the print medium is fed by the first pair of rollers or a feeding speed at which the print medium is fed by the second pair of rollers based on either outputs from the first detector or outputs from the second detector.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus which can certainly detect the position of a pickup roller, and an image forming apparatus including the paper feeding apparatus are provided. The paper feeding apparatus feeds a sheet stacked on a paper feed cassette by the pickup roller, and includes a sensor and the pickup roller rotatably supported by a support shaft and including a detection object part in which a first detection object part having a first length in a movement direction of movement around the support shaft and detected as a first detection state by the sensor, a second detection object part having a second length different from the first length in the movement direction and detected as the first detection state by the sensor, and a third detection object part formed between the first detection object part and the second detection object part and detected as a second detection state different from the first detection state by the sensor are arranged in the movement direction.

Abstract: A sheet processing system capable of performing lateral shift correction of a sheet in an upstream sheet processing apparatus based on an amount of lateral shift to be caused by conveying thereof into a downstream sheet processing apparatus. A side edge sensor of a stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the stacker. A stacker controller corrects lateral shift of the sheet by a shift unit. A side edge sensor of a finisher disposed downstream of the stacker detects a lateral shift amount of a sheet conveyed into the finisher. The finisher sends the detected lateral shift amount to the stacker. The stacker receives the lateral shift amount from the finisher, and the stacker controller corrects lateral shift of subsequent sheets based on both the lateral shift amount detected in the stacker and the lateral shift amount sent from the finisher.

Abstract: A clamper clamps an edge of a lenticular sheet and moves in a sub-scanning direction to transport the lenticular sheet. While the lenticular sheet is transported so as to form an image receptor layer on a rear side of the lenticular sheet, a sensor unit is moved in a main-scanning direction, such that the sensor unit is moved relative to the lenticular sheet in a direction which has a predetermined measurement scanning angle from the main-scanning direction. The sensor unit receives an inspection light projected toward and passed through the lenticular sheet, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a received amount of the inspection light. Based on a variation of the inspection light, an oblique transportation angle of the lenticular sheet is calculated and the clamper is rotated in a direction to cancel the oblique transportation angle of the lenticular sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is disclosed that includes a plurality of size sensors configured to be arranged in line and to detect a sheet set into a predetermined position; a feeding part configured to feed the sheet set into the predetermined position to a scan position; and a controller configured to control the feeding part to feed the sheet based on two detect signals output from two size sensors among the plurality of the size sensors.

Abstract: A conveying distance control device includes a conveying roller; a first detecting unit detecting rotational positions of the conveying roller; a line sensor sequentially detecting marks arranged on a test chart; a calculation unit, and a control unit. The calculation unit calculates a skew angle between a line passing through positions of a first mark and a second mark and a conveying direction of the conveying roller. The control unit obtains conveying distance errors indicating differences between corrected conveying distances not including errors caused by the skew angle and theoretical conveying distance of the marks in association with the rotational positions of the conveying roller, calculates a correction value for correcting a conveying distance of the conveying roller based on relationships between the conveying distance errors and the rotational positions of the conveying roller, and controls the conveying distance of the conveying roller based on the correction value.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus may include a sheet holder configured to be removed from and attached to the apparatus body and to hold a stack of sheets therein; an actuator including a base portion pivotally attached to the apparatus body via a first shaft and a movable portion pivotally attached to the base portion via a second shaft and extending toward the sheet holder; and a detector configured to detect a position of the base portion. The actuator may be configured such that the base portion and the movable portion pivot in response to the detector detecting the position of the base portion. The movable portion may be configured to pivot in a removal direction in which the sheet holder is removed from the apparatus body.

Abstract: In an apparatus which detects overlapped conveyance of a printing sheet using ultrasonic wave attenuation, when a printing sheet with an IC tag is conveyed, the position of the IC tag on the printing sheet is acquired. By reference to the acquired IC tag position, overlapped conveyance detection is performed at a position which is not under the influence of the IC tag.

Abstract: In a feeding apparatus, a control device determines whether a brake roller is rotating based on the result of detection by a rotating-state detection sensor while a medium is being transferred by a separator roller. When determining that the brake roller is not rotating, the control device sets a pickup roller to non-contact state where the pickup roller is not in contact with a medium on a feed tray while a medium is not being transferred by the separator roller.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: edge guides which move in a width direction of the recording target medium and align side edges of the recording target medium which is stacked; a motor which moves the edge guides; a determining section which determines whether an electric current value when the motor is driven reaches a predetermined threshold value; and a position detecting section which detects a position of the edge guides in the width direction. Here, when the side edges of the recording target medium are aligned, the edge guides move close to the recording target medium and it is determined whether a difference between a position of the edge guides at the time when the electric current value reaches the predetermined threshold value and a position of the edge guides corresponding to the size of the recording target medium is equal to or smaller than a predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a drive source, a drive roller driven by the drive source, a driven roller to press against the drive roller and rotate with the drive roller, an angular velocity detector to detect an angular velocity of the drive roller, a timing estimation unit to estimate a timing when a sheet-type recording medium enters between the drive roller and the driven roller, and a controller to control the drive source based on detection results obtained by the angular velocity detector. The controller includes a feedback control unit to perform feedback control based on data obtained by the angular velocity detector, and a feed-forward control unit to perform feed-forward control based on data obtained by the timing estimation unit.

Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.

Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.

Abstract: A system (100) includes a first end feeder device (103-1), and a second end feeder device (103-2) upstream in a media transport path from the first end feeder device (103-1). Each of the feeder devices (103-1, 103-2, 105-1, 105-2) is configured to feed a piece of a print medium (205) to a neighboring device (103-2, 105-1, 105-2) downstream in the media transport path only after receiving a logical token from the neighboring downstream device (103-2, 105-1, 105-2) corresponding to the piece of print media (205).

Abstract: A sheet supplying device, including a sheet accommodating section which accommodates recording sheets, and is removable from a main body of the sheet supplying device, a locking section which locks the sheet accommodating section within the main body, not to draw out the sheet accommodating section from the main body, a suction conveying section which vacuums the recording sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating section and conveys the recording sheet, and a suction detecting section which detects the recording sheet vacuumed by the suction conveying section, wherein when the suction conveying section has supplied the recording sheet, if the suction detecting sensor detects the recording sheet, the locking section locks the sheet accommodating section within the main body of the sheet supplying device, and if it does not detect the recording sheet, the locking section releases the sheet accommodating section from the main body.

Abstract: Provided is a double feed detecting device, including: a first detecting unit which is disposed in a conveyance path of a sheet member, and detects overlapping of the sheet members which pass along the conveyance path; a second detecting unit having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are opposed each other and disposed across the conveyance path, and detecting light which is irradiated from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the sheet member by the light receiving unit, and outputting a signal corresponding to a received light quantity; and a discriminating unit which discriminates the double feed when the first detecting unit detects the overlapping of the sheet members and an output signal of the second detecting unit is equal to or lower than a set double feed determination threshold value.

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: 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 sheet processing apparatus capable of preventing paper sheet clogging in a traveling route in which a paper sheet is conveyed is provided. The paper sheet processing apparatus comprises an open/close member 2B which is opened or closed with respect to a frame 2A and a traveling route through which the paper sheet (a bill, a card, a coupon ticket, and the like are collectively referred to as “paper sheet”) is conveyed is formed between the open/close member 2B and the frame 2A when the open/close member 2B is closed with respect to the frame 2A. The open/close member 2B is provided with a sensor 31 for detecting that the open/close member 2B is opened from the frame 2A.

Abstract: The invention provides a double feed sensing device capable of sensing double feed of paper sent out for the first time. The double feed sensing device includes a thickness sensing unit for sensing thickness of cut paper conveyed, a rigidity sensing unit for sensing bending rigidity of the conveyed paper, and a double feed determining unit for comparing a value of the thickness of the paper sensed by the thickness sensing unit and a value of the bending rigidity of the paper sensed by the rigidity sensing unit with threshold values of thickness and rigidity of the paper set based on values of thickness and bending rigidity of one sheet of the paper and values of thickness and bending rigidity of stacked sheets of the paper, so as to determine whether the paper is double-fed or not.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to rotate responsive to drive force received from a motor to convey a recording medium via a manual feed input, and a clutch device configured to be switched between first and second modes in which the motor drive force is transmitted to the feeding roller and prevented from being transmitted to the feeding roller, respectively. The apparatus includes a sensor disposed between the manual feed input and the feeding roller for detecting the recording medium, and a control unit configured to maintain the clutch device in the first mode while controlling the motor to drive the feeding roller to feed the recording medium while the sensor detects that the recording medium is fed through the manual feed input.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image reading apparatus are capable of stably correcting the delay or the advance of a sheet even if sheet conveying rollers such as a skew feeding correction roller and the like are decentered. The delay amount or the advance amount of the sheet being conveyed is detected by a deviation amount detection unit and a control amount setting unit sets the sheet conveying speed and the correction time of a sheet conveying roller which corrects the delay or the advance of the sheet based on the delay amount or the advance amount of the sheet detected by the deviation amount detection unit. The control amount setting unit sets the sheet conveying speed and the correction time of the sheet conveying roller so that the delay or the advance of the sheet is corrected when the sheet conveying roller rotates integer multiple.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking section configured to stack a number of sheets, a sheet feeding mechanism configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking section one by one, and an intermediate conveying device configured to convey the sheet fed from the sheet feeding mechanism to an image forming apparatus. The intermediate conveying device includes a plurality of sheet conveying devices arranged in an intermediate sheet conveying path at certain intervals to convey the sheet fed from the sheet feeding mechanism, at least one driving device configured to drive each of the plurality of sheet conveying devices, and a plurality of sheet detecting devices arranged in the intermediate sheet conveying path at certain intervals to detect a sheet length by detecting at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the conveyed sheet.

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: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet storage unit, a sheet feeding unit, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet to the image forming unit, a plurality of sheet detection sensors disposed along the conveyance path, a determination unit for determining whether predetermined time elapses from a detection of a front end of the sheet until a detection of a rear end of the sheet and a discharge unit. When the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensor disposed in the furthest upstream position among the plurality of sheet detection sensors, the sheet is discharged from the discharge unit, and when the determination unit determines that the predetermined time has elapsed based on the detection by the sheet detection sensors other than that disposed in the furthest upstream position, the sheet is stopped.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus increases the conveyance precision of a conveyance unit. The conveyance apparatus has first and second conveyance rollers. The conveyance apparatus includes a DC motor serving as a driving source for the conveyance rollers, a first encoder which outputs a first pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the first conveyance roller, a second encoder which outputs a second pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the second conveyance roller, and a control unit having a first mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on first information about the first pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the first and second conveyance rollers, and a second mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on second information about the second pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the second conveyance roller.

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: An apparatus and method are described in which documents and enclosures are fed by feeding stations to a supply track and subsequently transported along the supply track to a gathering station. A sensor downstream of the feeding stations is used for scanning markings. A divert station connected to the supply track allows clearing the supply track, when scanned markings indicate that the first sheet of a next set has been scanned in the supply track, by diverting the first sheet to the divert station. This allows enclosures of the set being gathered to be fed along the supply track and gathered at the gathering station. After the completed set has vacated the gathering station, the diverted sheet is transported to the gathering station and gathered with further documents of the next set.

Abstract: A method for measuring dimensions of a stack of medium in a media input location of an imaging system, includes emitting light along a direction that is at a predetermined angle with respect to the normal of the planar surface of the media input location. An array of photosensors are disposed along an array direction that lies in a plane defined by the direction of the light and the normal of the planar surface. The photosensors receive a spatially-varying pattern of light reflected from a surface that is substantially parallel to the planar surface of the media input location to provide corresponding electronic signal data from the photosensor array for subsequent transmission to a printing system controller. The varying electronic signal data is used to provide a measurement of the one or more dimensions corresponding to the stack of medium.

Abstract: A bill position adjustment method and system for bill acceptor is disclosed to include a body with an insertion slot and a bill passage, a transmission mechanism for transferring an inserted bill, a recognition device for recognizing the authenticity and value of an inserted bill, an entrance sensor and a stoppage sensor mounted in the bill passage for controlling the transmission mechanism to transfer the inserted bill into position for recognition, a bill passage adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width of the bill passage to correct the direction of an inserted bill into accurate alignment with the recognition device, and a bill sensor mounted in a sensor zone in the insertion slot for detecting the width of an inserted bill and controlling the bill passage adjustment mechanism to adjust the width of the bill passage subject to the detection result.

Abstract: In a card processing apparatus a card tray and, a card-transporting device are provided. A device for sensing the position or detention of a card in the card tray and a holding device for a card that has stopped in an irregular manner in the card tray due to manipulation of the card-processing apparatus, are also included. The holding device is activated if a change in the position of the card is not detected even though a conveying signal has been issued to the card-conveying device.

Abstract: A method for sensing a paper skew adapted for a device having a paper feeding mechanism is provided. The device has a feed sensor which is fixed at a start position of paper feeding; and, a position sensor which moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of paper feeding and passes through a first and a second positions. The first position is the intersection of a moving path of the position sensor and a line. The feed sensor is on the line, and the line is parallel to the direction of paper feeding. The method includes the device having a first distance; moving the position sensor to the second position; feeding a work paper into the device; obtaining a second distance which is a moving distance of the work paper fed; and determining whether the work paper is skewed or not according to the difference between the first and the second distances.

Abstract: A first position of a media is determined with respect to a surface. The surface is advanced and a second position of the media is determined with respect to the surface. The relative speed between the surface and a linear speed feed of the media is altered based on the first and second positions.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device of an aspect of the invention includes: a conveying path that allows a sheet to be conveyed and includes a first guide face and a second guide face opposing and apart from each other at a predetermined interval; a sheet conveying unit disposed on the conveying path; and a first detecting unit and a second detecting unit arranged opposing each other across the conveying path. Each of the first and second detecting unit includes: an arm member rotatably supported to take a posture where the arm member projected from the guide face to the conveying path and a posture where the arm member is retracted from the conveying path by rotating toward the guide face; and a first sensor that outputs a signal depending on the posture of the arm member.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive and predictive analysis of sensor readings to track documents in a document processing system. The system comprises: a plurality of sensors for sensing a document, wherein each sensor includes an associated filtering system for filtering sensor readings, and a performance tracking system for collecting performance data; and a control system that and adjusts filtering characteristics of the filtering system based on the collected performance data. In addition, a correlation system is provided for using data from at least one upstream sensor to interpret an ambiguous downstream sensor signal.

Abstract: A sheet-handling apparatus with a detecting device includes a casing, a plurality of entrance rollers located in the casing, an image collector arranged at one side of the casing, a plurality of middle reflectors and side reflectors. A paper path is formed between the entrance rollers, the paper path includes a middle path and two side paths arranged in the sides of the middle path. The image collector includes an illuminant and an image sensor. The middle reflectors are fixed in the casing and at the other side of the paper path and face to the middle path. The side reflectors are arranged at the side of the middle reflectors. The invention can monitor a paper when it is stuck in the paper path, and the manufacture cost of the invention is reduced.

Abstract: A paper conveyance apparatus includes a stacking portion; a feeding mechanism to extract and feed paper from the stacking portion one sheet at a time; and an intermediate portion for conveying the fed paper to the vicinity of a feeding port or feeding device of a main body of an image forming apparatus. The intermediate portion includes a plurality of conveyance devices and a plurality of paper detecting devices disposed from the upstream side to the downstream side of a conveyance path. The paper conveyance apparatus further includes a control device for reducing the conveyance speed of the plurality of conveyance devices when the leading edge of the paper is detected by a detecting device disposed at least one device further toward the upstream side than a paper detecting device disposed furthest downstream of the plurality of detecting devices.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to a system and method for controlling functions in a mail sorting system based on gap length measurement and tracking. The system and method includes a plurality of sensors located along one or more mail piece transport paths. The sensors are used to collect data regarding the gap length between each mail piece transported through the system. The gap length data is processed and stored within a controller/processor that uses the gap lengths to control the operation of one or more devices within the mail sorting system. For example, the gap lengths may be used to control the operation of a diverter, a printer or any other electromechanical, hardware or software device. The gap lengths can be used to trigger and/or inhibit the operation of the one or more devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for singling sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., for subsequent processing of single pieces of sheet material. To permit recognition of mix-ups in the singling order, maintenance of the singling order is checked at the place of singling by monitoring whether the next piece of sheet material to be singled is singled.

Abstract: A sheet tray (1) includes at least one sheet detecting sensor (10) for detecting a sheet set on a sheet setting surface (2). The sheet detecting sensor (10) includes (i) a movable detecting section having a projecting section which projects from the sheet setting surface (2), and (ii) a detecting section for detecting rotation of the movable detecting section, and the projecting section have a ball-like shape. This makes it possible to provide (i) a sheet tray which is able to prevent breakage of sheet and breakage of the projecting section even when setting the sheet on the sheet setting surface from any direction and any angle; (ii) a sheet transporting apparatus including the sheet tray; and (iii) an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray.

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 separating mechanism and a method of separating sheets is provided to prevent the multifeeding of sheets into printers or copiers. The sheet separating mechanism provides a first nip and a second nip for feeding a series of sheets therebetween. The first nip can include a first motor and the second nip can include a second motor for feeding a leading sheet from the first nip to the second nip. The mechanism further provides a first sensor for sensing a trailing edge of the leading sheet and a second sensor for sensing a leading edge of the leading sheet. The first sensor is upstream of the first motor and the second sensor is downstream of the second motor. A trailing sheet can be prevented from feeding with the leading sheet by stopping the first motor when the leading edge of the leading sheet is sensed by the second sensor while simultaneously the first sensor remains occluded.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus increases the conveyance precision of a conveyance unit. The conveyance apparatus has first and second conveyance rollers. The conveyance apparatus includes a DC motor serving as a driving source for the conveyance rollers, a first encoder which outputs a first pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the first conveyance roller, a second encoder which outputs a second pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the second conveyance roller, and a control unit having a first mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on first information about the first pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the first and second conveyance rollers, and a second mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on second information about the second pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the second conveyance roller.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints on a medium at a first transport speed or a second transport speed lower than the first transport speed. The printing apparatus includes: an image forming unit for forming a developer image on the medium according to a print job sent from a host device; a fixing unit for fixing the developer image on the medium; a discharge roller for discharging the medium; a discharged medium detection unit for detecting a trailing edge of the medium passing through the fixing unit; a last medium determining unit for determining whether the discharged medium detection unit detects a last medium of the print job; and a control unit for discharging the medium at the first transport speed or controlling the last medium determining unit to determine the last medium and discharging the last medium at a transport speed higher than the second transport speed.

Abstract: A document feeding device has: a document placement stand on which documents of different sizes can be placed; a conveying section separating, one-by-one, documents of a document stack placed on the document placement stand, and conveying a separated document to a discharging section; a first document width sensing unit sensing a maximum document width of the document stack placed on the document placement stand; a second document width sensing unit sensing a document width of a document separated from the document placement stand by the conveying section; and a controller that, in a case in which a mixed size document mode that permits conveying of documents of different sizes is not set, causes the conveying section to restartably interrupt conveying of the document when the maximum document width sensed by the first document width sensing unit and the document width sensed by the second document width sensing unit differ.

Abstract: In a sheet overlap detection apparatus, an amplification factor control unit changes the amplification factor of a second amplifier which amplifies the output from a first amplifier which receives the output from an ultrasonic receiver. A first overlap detection monitor output decision unit decides the output from the second amplifier as a sheet overlap detection monitor output when the amplification factor of the second amplifier is adjusted, and the output value of the second amplifier has become almost equal to a first set value while one sheet is sandwiched between an ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a pair of rollers for transporting a sheet and a sheet detection device for detecting the sheet transported by the pair of rollers. The sheet detection device includes a flag that is displaceable when urged by the sheet transported by the pair of rollers and a single-chip acceleration sensor attached to the flag to detect the arrival of the sheet. When the sheet is brought into contact with the flag to rotate the flag, the acceleration sensor detects the roll acceleration of the flag so as to determine the timing of stopping the pair of rollers on the basis of a detection signal.

Abstract: There is described a document feeding apparatus and an image reading apparatus, which are employed for a copier, a facsimile, a scanner, etc. The document feeding apparatus or the image reading apparatus includes: a document feeding tray on which documents are stacked; a paper forwarding device to forward the documents; a document detector to detect the documents; and a controller to control the paper forwarding device. When forwarding a document having a length equal to or greater than a predetermined length in a conveying direction, the controller activates the paper forwarding device so as to forward a next document based on a detected result acquired by the document detector. While, when forwarding a document having a length smaller than the predetermined length, the controller activates the paper forwarding device so as to forward a next document without being based on a detected result acquired by the document detector.

Abstract: To provide a paper feeding device that can switch setting information only with an easy action of sheet removal and setting in a predetermined position. The paper feeding device includes a first detecting unit that detects whether a sheet is set in a predetermined position, a second detecting unit that detects whether the sheet removal and setting is performed in the predetermined position after the setting of the sheet is detected by the first detecting unit, and a switching unit that switches setting information concerning the sheet when the sheet removal and setting is detected by the second detecting unit.

Abstract: Equipment for transferring sheets with change of direction for sheets entering along a first direction comprising output rollers to move the sheets along a second direction, right-angled with respect to the first direction, and members of engagement and movement, actuatable for engaging and moving the sheets entering along the first direction along the second direction up to the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement provide a condition of reception which define a space of reception for the entering sheets and a condition of engagement and movement which engage and move the sheets for the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement return to the condition of reception upon the engagement of the entered sheet with the output rollers for enabling a following sheet to enter and to be moved along the first direction jointly with the movement of the previously entered sheet along the second direction.