Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separator to separate an uppermost layer from a bundle of sheets stacked on a sheet stacker, a conveyor to convey a sheet of the uppermost layer one by one along a sheet conveyance path, and a first air blowing port and a second air blowing port disposed along the sheet conveyance path, to blow air upstream in a sheet conveyance direction. The second air blowing port is disposed downstream from the first air blowing port.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a medium, an end detection sensor for detecting a position of an end of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller, an overlap detection sensor for detecting an overlap of the medium conveyed by the conveying roller in a detection area, and a processor to determine whether an overlap detection is valid or invalid based on a positional relationship between the position of the end of the medium detected by the end detection sensor and the detection area, and execute an abnormality processing for multi-feed based on a detection result by the overlap detection sensor when it is determined that the overlap detection is valid.

Abstract: A document stacker (1) for receiving documents from a document processing device (3), wherein the document stacker comprises: a document support (4), and a frame (5), wherein the document support is attached to the frame by a linear guide means configured such that the document support is linearly movable with respect to the frame along a predetermined path of movement (7) inclined to a horizontal plane, and wherein the document stacker further comprises a load cell (14) configured to resist relative movement between the frame and the document support along said predetermined path and to emit an output signal representative of the load applied to the load cell by the document support.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sensing processing portion, a determination processing portion, an acquisition processing portion, an acceptance processing portion, and a setting processing portion. The sensing processing portion senses a sheet size. The determination processing portion determines whether the sheet size corresponds to any of a plurality of standard sizes based on a result of the sensing by the sensing processing portion. The acquisition processing portion acquires sheet attribute information that is determined for each sheet type based on a result of the determination by the determination processing portion or the result of the sensing by the sensing processing portion. The acceptance processing portion accepts a selection operation of selecting any of the acquired sheet attribute information. The setting processing portion sets a processing condition of a sheet based on the sheet attribute information selected by the selection operation.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey a rectangular medium, and a processor to generate an input image acquired by imaging the conveyed medium, detect an overlap of the conveyed medium, detect an object area from the input image, determine whether an outer shape of the object area is rectangular, determine whether a multi-feed of the medium has occurred based on whether the overlap of the medium has been detected and whether the outer shape of the object area is rectangular, and execute an abnormality processing when it is determined that the multi-feed of the medium has occurred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising includes an image carrying member including a movable surface to include a toner image; a transfer roller to form a transfer nip between the transfer roller and the movable surface of the image carrying member, to move position in a direction in correspondence to a thickness of a print medium to intersect a direction of introduction of the print medium into the transfer nip, and to receive a transfer bias voltage to transfer the toner image from the movable surface of the image carrying member to the print medium; and a movement guide structure to guide the print medium toward the transfer nip, and to move in synchronization with the movement of the position of the transfer roller to change a gap between an end of the movement guide structure facing the image carrying member and the image carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that utilizes a communication device is disclosed. A communication unit of a housing which corresponds to an antenna portion is provided at a position at which the communication unit can be seen without obstruction from the upper side. A communication device such as a smartphone can be brought close to or into contact with the communication unit readily. Accordingly, wireless communication between the antenna portion and the communication device can be established.

Abstract: A thickness detection mechanism arranged in a scanner or printer for measuring the thickness of mediums fed through the scanner or printer, which comprising: a conveyor section; at least a idle roller set arranged above the conveyor section, which includes at least a shaft and an idle roller pivotally arranged on the shaft; at least an elastic portion arranged above the shaft; and at least a pressure sensor secured on the elastic portion; wherein the thickness detection mechanism measures the thickness of the medium by measuring the pressure applied on the pressure sensor by the idle roller set as the idle roller set being pushed upward, and thus avoids the medium too thin or too thick to enter the scanner or the printer.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes a first electrode (1) and a second electrode (2) at least partially facing each other with a conveyance path (5) therebetween, the conveyance path extending along a conveyance direction in which a sheet-like detection object (3) is conveyed, an oscillating circuit to form an electric field (9) between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2), a detection circuit to detect a change in capacitance between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2), a first board (11) and a second board (12) including at least one of the oscillating circuit or the detection circuit, an insulative first plate (6) arranged between the first electrode (1) and the conveyance path (5), and an insulative second plate (7) arranged between the second electrode (2) and the conveyance path (5).

Abstract: An automatic lifting and feeding device includes a main controller, a material thickness detecting device, a material loading mechanism for placing materials and driving the materials to rise and fall, a material taking mechanism for transferring materials and a height detecting mechanism for detecting the height of the materials, wherein, the material thickness detecting device, the material loading mechanism, the material taking mechanism and the height detecting mechanism are respectively connected to the main controller. The height detecting mechanism includes a bracket and the height testing part connected to the bracket, and the detector for detecting the material distance is arranged on the height testing part. The invention also provides an automatic lifting feeding method. The advantage of the invention is that the height does not need to be adjusted manually. The device can automatically detect the height of the material, and achieves high efficiency.

Abstract: A system for wear and aging evaluation of a paper-based resource described herein is structured for determining a fitness state of a physical body structure of a paper resource item and for adaptive processing of the paper resource item in accordance with the fitness state. Specifically, the system comprises an item transfer unit configured to receive one or more paper resource items and a scanning device structured to retrieve a fitness state of a paper resource item from a physical state sensing component of the paper resource item. The system is structured to adaptively process the paper resource item based on determining whether (i) a wear level and (ii) an item age level of the paper resource item are associated with either a fit item type or an unfit item type.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveyance roller to convey a medium, a motor to drive the conveyance roller, a signal generator to output a pulse signal, a pulse width of which changes according to a rotation speed of the motor, and a processor to rotate the conveyance roller by controlling the motor, and detect a fluctuation of the pulse width caused by a load fluctuation when the conveyance roller conveys a medium to determine a thickness of the medium according to the pulse width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage, circuitry, and an information provider. The storage is configured to temporarily store one or more sheets to be removed without being used in the image forming apparatus. The circuitry is configured to determine whether a manual operation is performed on the image forming apparatus and whether the one or more sheets stored in the storage exceed a given value in number or height. The information provider is configured to provide information urging removal of the one or more sheets from the storage in response to determination by the circuitry that the manual operation is performed and that the one or more sheets stored in the storage exceed the given value in number or height.

Abstract: A capacitance detection device includes a first electrode and a second electrode that at least partially face each other on opposite sides of a transfer path. An oscillator circuit forms an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. A detection circuit detects a change in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the oscillator circuit and the detection circuit is included in each of a first board and a second board. The first board is disposed such that a side surface of the first board faces the first electrode in an electric field direction, and the second board is disposed such that a side surface of the second board faces the second electrode in the electric field direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which utilizes a communication device is disclosed. A communication unit of a housing which corresponds to an antenna portion is provided at a position at which the communication unit can be seen without obstruction from the upper side. A communication device such as a smartphone can be brought close to or into contact with the communication unit readily. Accordingly, wireless communication between the antenna portion and the communication device can be established.

Abstract: A device for detecting a thickness of a sheet medium is provided, the device is used to improve the sensitivity of the entire sheet medium thickness detection device while eliminating the zero voltage impact by disposing, before an A/D converter, an appropriately amplified subtraction amplification unit used for eliminating the zero voltage impact of thickness voltage. The sheet medium thickness detection device includes a thickness sensor, a position voltage conversion unit, an A/D converter and a control processor which are sequentially connected, and further includes a medium position detection unit, a timer unit, a D/A converter and a subtraction amplification unit. The medium position detecting unit is connected to the control processor and is used to detect whether a detected medium passes through, and the timer unit is connected to the control processor.

Abstract: A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (100, 101) having non-uniform physical characteristics, the sorting machine having sorting outlets equipped with stackers (3) controlled by a monitoring and control unit in compliance with a plurality of programs, each of which is assigned to a predefined type of flat article (100, 101) having predetermined physical characteristics and setting predetermined operating parameters such as, in particular, the pitch between said flat articles (100, 101), and the speed at which said flat articles (100, 101) are conveyed, the sorting machine (1) having means for determining the predetermined physical characteristics of each incoming flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3), said monitoring and control unit being arranged to act after said determination to assign a predefined type of flat article to said flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3) and to activate the corresponding unstacking program so as to apply predetermined operating parameters while said

Abstract: A document validator includes a sensor, a transportation unit, an actuator, and a controller. The transportation unit is adjacent the sensor and has a document path, at least a portion of which has an adjustable path height. The transportation unit is configured to transport a document from a first location past the sensor to a second location. The actuator is operable to transition the adjustable path height between a first path height and a second path height different from the first path height. The controller is configured to automatically cause the actuator to transition the adjustable path height between the first path height and the second path height. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A sheet ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a sheet detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a sheet. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the sheet. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding sheet. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding sheet and the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the preceding sheet. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the sheet to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying member to rotate and convey a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a driven sheet conveying member to contact the sheet conveying member and form at least one first transfer nip therebetween in a lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to a thickness of the sheet passing through the first transfer nip and rotated with the sheet conveying member in the sheet conveyance direction, a displacement member to contact the sheet conveying member and form a second transfer nip smaller than the first transfer nip in the lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the sheet passing through the second transfer nip and supported at a support member, and a displacement amount detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement member.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes a first separation unit, a second separation unit, a drawing roller for drawing sheets from a nip of the second separation unit, and a pinch roller rotating in contact with it. Overlapping sheets which pass the first and second separation units and are not separated are detected to be overlapped in a state that they are clamped by the nip of the drawing roller and pinch roller. When overlapping is detected, in a state that the rear ends of the overlapping sheets in the conveying direction are restricted by the nip, the drawing roller and pinch roller are stopped and the overlapping sheets are re-separated.

Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus includes: an insertion slot through which a paper sheet is inserted; a sensor which detects insertion of the paper sheet; a traveling route through which the paper sheet is conveyed; a light emitting part which irradiates the traveling route with light; a light receiving part which receives light from the traveling route; a black calibration part which sets a reference value for the lowest brightness in a state that the emission of the light emitting part is ineffective; and an authenticity judgment processing part which judges an authenticity. The black calibration part can set the reference value before the authenticity judgment processing part judges the authenticity after the sensor detects the insertion of the paper sheet at every time when the paper sheet is inserted.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet discriminating device includes a first conveying structure and a second conveying structure that are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in a conveying direction of a sheet and that are configured to convey the sheet, and an information detecting means that is provided between the first conveying structure and the second conveying structure such that a detection range thereof is not blocked, and that is configured to detect information from the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying member to rotate and convey a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a driven sheet conveying member to contact the sheet conveying member and form at least one first transfer nip therebetween in a lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to a thickness of the sheet passing through the first transfer nip and rotated with the sheet conveying member in the sheet conveyance direction, a displacement member to contact the sheet conveying member and form a second transfer nip smaller than the first transfer nip in the lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the sheet passing through the second transfer nip and supported at a support member, and a displacement amount detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement member.

Abstract: A multi-feed detection apparatus may include an ultrasonic transmission unit, arranged on one side of a conveyance path configured to convey a sheet-like member, for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward the conveyance path, an ultrasonic reception unit, arranged on the other side of the conveyance path, for receiving the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transmission unit, and a multi-feed determination unit for determining, based on the reception result of the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic reception unit, whether multi-feed of sheet-like members has occurred. The ultrasonic transmission surface of the ultrasonic transmission unit is inclined with respect to the conveyance path, and the ultrasonic reception surface of the ultrasonic reception unit is arranged to be almost parallel to the conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in a sheet conveyor and/or an image forming apparatus includes multiple first rollers aligned in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, multiple second rollers facing the respective first rollers, a first roller shaft supporting two first rollers, at least one second roller shaft supporting rollers other than the two first rollers, at least one third roller shaft to support at least three second rollers, a first roller shaft holder supporting the first roller shaft to move from the at least one third roller shaft in a contact/separation direction, a biasing member biasing the first roller shaft toward at least one third roller shaft, and a displacement amount detector detecting an amount of displacement of the first roller shaft. A thickness of a sheet between the first and second rollers is detected based on a detection result by the displacement amount detector.

Abstract: There is provided a conveying device including a controller that makes a conveying speed of a printing medium conveyed by a first conveyor unit be higher than a conveying speed of a printing medium conveyed by a second conveyor unit and makes the printing medium be conveyed while forming sagging on the printing medium between the first and second conveyor units. The controller makes a sheet sensor acquire the amount of light, which passes through the printing medium conveyed between a light emitting part and a light receiving part, as the amount of received light and determines whether or not the double-feed of the printing media has occurred only when this amount of received light is smaller than the double-feed criterion amount of received light at substantially the same conveying distance of the printing medium conveyed by the first conveyor unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a paper feed section, a separation roller, a registration roller pair arranged downstream of the paper feed section, a conveyance roller pair arranged downstream of the registration roller pair, a multi feed sensor arranged between the paper feed section and the registration roller pair, and a document conveyance controller. When an original document arrives at the conveyance roller pair, the document conveyance controller suspends driving of the paper feed section and starts multi feed determination.

Abstract: A system can include an input for receiving objects having a flat shape; a capacitance sensing network comprising a plurality of capacitance sensors positioned to be proximate to the received objects; an operations section coupled to the capacitance sensing network and configured to perform predetermined operations on the objects; and a processor section coupled to receive capacitance sense values from the capacitance sensors and configured to determine the presence and features of received objects, prior to the objects being forwarded to the operations section.

Abstract: A multi-feed detection device includes: an arm member supported swingably and configured to come into contact with a traveling sheet; and detecting means for detecting whether a plurality of the traveling sheets are overlapped and fed, on the basis of swing of the arm member. The detecting means includes: a detection plate attached to an arm; and a non-contact sensor configured to measure, in a non-contact manner, the positional relation between the non-contact sensor and the detection plate, the positional relation being changed by swing of the arm.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can precisely determine any occurrence of a jam by a sound which is generated by paper for various types of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of a paper, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance of the paper, a paper thickness setting module for setting a thickness of a paper conveyed to the conveyance path, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal of a specific frequency band in the sound signal, wherein the sound jam detector determines the specific frequency band based on a thickness of the paper.

Abstract: There is provided a conveying device including a controller that makes a conveying speed of a printing medium conveyed by a first conveyor unit be higher than a conveying speed of a printing medium conveyed by a second conveyor unit and makes the printing medium be conveyed while forming sagging on the printing medium between the first and second conveyor units. The controller makes a sheet sensor acquire the amount of light, which passes through the printing medium conveyed between a light emitting part and a light receiving part, as the amount of received light and determines whether or not the double-feed of the printing media has occurred only when this amount of received light is smaller than the double-feed criterion amount of received light at substantially the same conveying distance of the printing medium conveyed by the first conveyor unit.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detecting device for detecting a thickness of a sheet includes a fixed roller rotatably supported by a shaft so that the fixed roller faces the sheet; a movable roller rotatably provided so that the movable roller and the fixed roller sandwich and feed the sheet, and configured to be displaced in accordance with the thickness of the sandwiched sheet; a swing member rotatably supporting the movable roller and including a shaft so that the swing member is swung around the shaft, wherein the swing member further includes a detection target part formed in a manner that a distance between the detection target part and the shaft is greater than that between a position where the movable roller is supported by the swing member and the shaft; and a detecting unit detecting the displacement amount of the detection target part of the swing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a printing unit configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a multiple-sheet-feed detecting unit configured to detect a multiple sheet feed of the recording medium; an image holding unit configured to hold an image expected to print on the recording medium on which the multiple sheet feed is detected (i.e. the multi-fed medium); and a print control unit configured to control the printing unit. The print control unit is further configured (a) to cancel printing on the multi-fed medium, and (b) to cause the printing unit to print the held image on another recording medium, which (b1) is in transfer after the multi-fed medium, (b2) is nearest in a transferring order to the multi-fed medium, and (b3) has a property same as that of the multi-fed medium.

Abstract: A sheet feeder control method for controlling a sheet feeder of an image forming apparatus includes feeding a sheet through a sheet feed path exposable to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the feeding of the sheet at at least a first position on the sheet feed path, discharging the fed sheet to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the discharge of the sheet at a second position downstream of the first position in a sheet feeding direction, detecting a sheet jam during the feeding and discharging of the sheet, and if the jammed sheet is detected at the second position but not at the first position, cancelling a malfunction state due to the sheet jam when the sheet stops being detected at the second position, irrespective of whether the sheet feed path is covered or exposed.

Abstract: The unstacker device (1) for unstacking flat articles comprises: a magazine (3) in which the articles (2) to be unstacked are disposed on edge in a stack against a jogging edge (5) and facing an unstacking plate (4) arranged to separate a first article (2A) and to drive it in a certain unstacking direction (A) that is perpendicular to the jogging edge (5); a conveyor (7) for conveying the unstacked articles, the conveyor having an inlet (7A) downstream from the jogging edge (5); and retaining means (8) disposed between the jogging edge (5) and the inlet of the conveyor (7A) and actuated to exert a retaining force on an article (2A, 2B), which retaining force opposes movement of the article.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a multifeed detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can suppress erroneous detection of the occurrence of a multifeed. The paper conveying apparatus includes an ultrasonic detector for outputting an ultrasonic signal, a multifeed detector for determining whether a multifeed of papers has occurred based on the ultrasonic signal, a sound signal generator for generating a sound signal, and a control module for performing an abnormal processing when the multifeed detector determines that a multifeed has occurred and the sound signal generator does not output a predetermined sound signal, and determining that a multifeed has not occurred and not performing the abnormal processing when the multifeed detector determines that a multifeed has occurred and the sound signal generator outputs the predetermined sound signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring substrate media thickness including a nip assembly having a first nip for engaging substrate media and transporting the media along a process direction. The first nip has a nip velocity. A sensor is in operative communication with the first nip for sensing the nip velocity. A processor is operably connected to the sensor. The processor determines a media thickness responsive to a change in nip velocity detected by the velocity sensor upon entry of the media in the first nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image; a drawer unit configured to be pulled out from a body of the image forming apparatus; a first lock unit configured to receive power from a power supply and perform at least one of lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body; and a second lock unit configured to perform lock and unlock of the drawer unit with respect to the body by a mechanical operation performed by an operator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a sheet detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a sheet. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the sheet. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding sheet. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding sheet and the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the preceding sheet. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the sheet to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, including: a sheet feeding mechanism; a sheet sensor for detecting, as a detection value, a physical quantity related to a fed sheet; a physical-quantity judgment section for judging whether the detection value falls within a predetermined range; an another-sheet judgment section for judging whether there is another sheet after a sheet to be judged by the physical-quantity judgment section; and a double-feeding judgment section for judging that double feeding has occurred when the physical-quantity judgment section judges that the detection value does not fall within the predetermined range and when the another-sheet judgment section judges that there is another sheet, and judging that the double feeding has not occurred when the physical-quantity judgment section judges that the detection value does not fall within the predetermined range and when the another-sheet judgment section judges that there is no another sheet.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes: a moving member in contact with a detection object that moves following movement of the detection object; and a support member that rotatably supports the moving member; a detection unit that detects a positional change of the moving member, the moving member being acted on by a first force as a force to press the moving member against the detection object, a second force as a force to press the moving member substantially in a direction of a rotation shaft of the moving member, and a third force as a force to press the moving member in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the rotation shaft of the moving member.

Abstract: A paper conveying device includes: a conveyance path, along which paper is conveyed; paper jam removal zones provided side by side along the conveyance path; paper detection sensors respectively provided in the paper jam removal zones for detecting the presence or absence of paper; a paper jam detecting section for detecting paper jam based on output signals from the paper detection sensors; a signal storing section for storing previous signal statuses just before current signal statuses of the output signals of the paper detection sensors; a display section for displaying one of the paper jam removal zones; and a display controlling section for identifying the one of the paper jam removal zones based on the current signal statuses and the previous signal statuses of the paper detection sensors when paper jam is detected, and displaying the identified paper jam removal zone on the display section.

Abstract: A method for transporting printed products is provided. The method includes the steps setting a nip to a first size for printed products having a first thickness, sensing a printed product having a second thickness different from the first thickness, the printed product sensing occurring prior to the printed product entering the nip, adjusting the first size of the nip, to a second size different from the first size, to receive the printed product having a second thickness; and transporting the printed product having the second thickness through the nip.

Abstract: There are provided a paper conveying apparatus, a jam detection method and a computer-readable, non-transitory medium which can precisely determine any occurrence of a jam by a sound which is generated by paper for various types of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a sound signal generator, provided with a sound detector near a conveyance path of a paper, for generating a sound signal corresponding to a sound generated by a paper during conveyance of the paper, a paper thickness setting module for setting a thickness of a paper conveyed to the conveyance path, and a sound jam detector for determining whether a jam has occurred based on a signal of a specific frequency band in the sound signal, wherein the sound jam detector determines the specific frequency band based on a thickness of the paper.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet transport apparatus and a sheet transport method preventing false detection of multiple feeding when feeding sheets of different thicknesses. The sheet transport apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor including an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver disposed opposite each other across a sheet transport path, a type detector for discriminating between a first sheet and a second sheet thicker than the first sheet while one or the other of the sheets is being fed along the transport path, and a multiple feed detector for detecting the presence or absence of multiple feeding of sheets along the transport path, based on an output produced by the ultrasonic sensor and on a detection result supplied from the type detector.

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 sheet take-out apparatus includes a first separation unit, a second separation unit, a drawing roller for drawing sheets from a nip of the second separation unit, and a pinch roller rotating in contact with it. Overlapping sheets which pass the first and second separation units and are not separated are detected to be overlapped in a state that they are clamped by the nip of the drawing roller and pinch roller. When overlapping is detected, in a state that the rear ends of the overlapping sheets in the conveying direction are restricted by the nip, the drawing roller and pinch roller are stopped and the overlapping sheets are re-separated.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer, including a first roller to rotate to convey a sheet in a conveying direction; a separator arranged to be opposed to the first roller and configured to nip the sheet and to separate the sheet from other sheets; a multiple sheet sensor arranged in a downstream position with respect to the first roller and configured to sense presence of multiple sheets, the multiple sheet sensor including an emitter and a receiver; and a second roller arranged in a downstream position with respect to the multiple sheet sensor and configured to convey the separated sheet, is provided. A component being at least one of the emitter and the receiver is arranged in an outer side position with respect to the separator, and at least a part of the component is arranged in an inner side position with respect to the second roller.

Abstract: A sheet thickness detector incorporated in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveying member to rotate and convey a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction, a driven sheet conveying member to contact the sheet conveying member and form at least one first transfer nip therebetween in a lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to a thickness of the sheet passing through the first transfer nip and rotated with the sheet conveying member in the sheet conveyance direction, a displacement member to contact the sheet conveying member and form a second transfer nip smaller than the first transfer nip in the lateral direction and to displace by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the sheet passing through the second transfer nip and supported at a support member, and a displacement amount detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement member.