Abstract: A fixing device includes a sheet detecting mechanism configured to detect a sheet. The sheet detecting mechanism includes an actuator, a link member, and a detecting part. The actuator swings by being pushed by the sheet. The link member swings in conjunction with the swing of the actuator. The detecting part detects the swing of the link member. When a shift of a position of the actuator with respect to the detecting part is caused, the actuator slides with respect to the link member to absorb the shift.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying status detecting unit configured to determine a conveyance status of a medium based on a driving torque of a driving unit, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the medium at a reference speed, the reference speed being faster than the upstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed from the upstream conveying unit, and the reference speed being slower than the downstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed to the downstream conveying unit, and wherein the conveyance status of the medium is detected by the comparison of a prescribed reference torque to the driving torque of the driving unit at least when the medium is conveyed between the upstream conveying unit and the conveying unit or when the medium is conveyed between the conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for correcting an edge portion of a sheet material, including a first roller provided in a sheet material conveying path, a second roller including a center shaft and side rollers provided at both sides thereof, the center shaft having an outer diameter less than a minimum diameter of the side rollers, each of the side rollers having an outer diameter increasing from a center side to an outer side thereof, and a pressing unit configured to cause the second roller to bend toward the first roller to press the side rollers of the second roller against the first roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including an wall disposed on a first side of the image reading apparatus in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a sheet is provided. The wall extends in a direction orthogonal to the width direction. The image reading apparatus further includes a first driven roller disposed on a second side in the width direction relative to the wall; a first driving roller opposed to the first driven roller; a first driven shaft inserted into the first driven roller and urged against the first driving roller; a second driven roller disposed on the second side relative to the first driven roller; a second driving roller opposed to the second driven roller; a second driven shaft inserted into the second driven roller and urged against the second driving roller; and a reader unit configured to read the image on the sheet.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a apparatus main body, and a unit body that forms a medium transportation path, and is configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the apparatus main body. The unit body includes a feeding roller that transports a medium, and a driven transportation unit that transmits the drive force of the drive transportation unit to the feeding roller. The unit body is displaceable between a first position at which the driven transmission unit is connected to the drive transmission unit and a second position at which the driven transmission unit is separated from the drive transmission unit. When a user pulls out the medium, the unit body retained at the first position moves from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a mechanism for forming a corrugated shape in a sheet to be conveyed. The mechanism may include various components include one or more pressing portions, one or more ribs, one or more discharge rollers, a switching mechanism and the like. In one arrangement, ribs and pressing portions configured to create the corrugated shape may be disposed at various locations upstream or downstream of the platen, recording portion and/or nozzles thereof. In one example, pressing portions may be disposed both upstream and downstream of the nozzles of the recording portion to maintain a corrugated shape in the conveyed sheet. Various other configurations may be used.

Abstract: A conveying portion includes a pair of superimposing rollers and a controller which controls the rotation of the pair of superimposing rollers, wherein the controller controls a rotation of a pair of conveying rollers so that a tail end of a first sheet passes a nip portion between the pair of conveying rollers by conveying the first sheet to the downstream side before a leading end of a third sheet superimposed on a second sheet reaches the nip portion between the pair of conveying rollers nipping the first sheet and the second sheet superimposed on the first sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second units including first and second feeding members respectively for feeding a medium, and a medium feeding path provided between the first and second units. The second unit is movable between a closing position where the medium feeding path is formed between the first unit and the second unit and an opening position where the second unit separates from the first unit to open the medium feeding path. The second feeding member has a second gear that meshes with a first gear of the first feeding member when the second unit is in the closing position. When the second unit moves to the closing position, a shift mechanism holds one of the first gear and the second gear at a retracted position where the first gear and the second gear do not mesh with each other.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device is provided with a housing including a contact portion, a sheet conveyance path, a drive roller, a driven roller, and a support member. The driven roller is made of a resin material, and is provided with a roller portion, and a pair of shaft portions. The support member is made of a metal material and rotatably supports the driven roller. The support member includes a pair of ring portions through which each of the shaft portions is inserted, and a pair of arm portions extending in one direction from the paired ring portions and supported on the housing. The driven roller is rotated with the drive roller in a state that a downstream outer portion of the ring portion in the conveying direction is contacted with the contact portion of the housing.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair and a mechanism. While following movement of the sheet nipped by the conveyance roller pair, the mechanism moves the conveyance roller pair from a home position, and, in response to a trailing edge of the sheet passing through a conveyance roller pair nip portion, the mechanism returns the pair to the home position. The mechanism includes a movement supporting portion, a cam, a pressing member, and an urging member. The pressing member urges the conveyance roller pair toward the home position by exerting an urging force to the cam. In response to the conveyance roller pair and one of the cam and the pressing member moving in the width direction from the home position, the pressing member exerts the urging force to the cam in a direction reverse to a direction in which the conveyance roller pair has moved.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus including: a pair of rollers which includes an upper roller and a lower roller and conveys a sheet in a nipping manner; a driving unit which independently drives the upper roller and the lower roller; a conveying unit which is disposed at the upstream of the pair of rollers in the sheet conveying direction and conveys the sheet to the pair of rollers; an overlapping unit which is provided between the pair of rollers and the conveying unit and overlaps a subsequent sheet on a precedent sheet in the conveying direction; and a control unit which controls the driving unit, wherein the control unit controls the driving unit so that: the upper roller and the lower roller are driven before a leading end of the precedent sheet conveyed by the conveying unit reaches the pair of rollers and the driving of the upper roller and the lower roller is stopped before a tail end of the precedent sheet passes the pair of rollers; the pair of rollers is driven again before a leading end of

Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a first carrying part and a second carrying part that are configured to carry a medium, making a nip part therebetween. The guide member includes a medium regulation part having a surface to regulate the medium, an arm part that is at a side of the surface and extend in a direction away from the surface, and a rotation supporting point that is on a distal end of the arm part, and the guide member is formed rotatable around the rotation supporting point between the guide position and a retreat position, the retreat position being more distant to the nip part than the guide position.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording unit and a transporting mechanism to transport a recording medium. The transporting mechanism includes, a guide surface to guide an end portion, of the recording medium, in a direction intersecting with a transporting direction of the recording medium, and a pair of rollers arranged, in a direction orthogonal to the guide surface, at a position between the guide surface and a central portion of the transporting path. The pair of rollers includes, a driving roller to transport the recording medium, and a driven roller having a rotary portion facing a recording surface, of the recording medium, on which the image is recorded, and configured to rotate about a rotation axis thereof following movement of the recording medium, and a first shaft to support the rotary portion rotatably. The rotary portion is supported rockably with respect to the first shaft.

Abstract: A sheet transporting device includes a regulating member that is arranged so that an edge of a sheet is abutted against the regulating member while moving downstream in a transporting direction of the sheet, and a first transport member that transports the sheet toward the regulating member while moving downstream in the transporting direction, and that pushes the sheet against the regulating member while slipping on a surface of the sheet in a state where the sheet is abutted against the regulating member, wherein the regulating member and the first transport member moving together downstream in the transporting direction.

Abstract: A card processing unit that enables increasing a degree of freedom of a location of a communication antenna between pad rollers and simplifying a structure of the card processing unit itself. Specifically, a card processing unit equipped with a communication antenna for communicating with a non-contact IC card. The processing unit includes: two transfer rollers for transferring the non-contact IC card through contacting a surface of the non-contact IC card; pad rollers so placed as to face and bias themselves to the transfer rollers; fixed shafts protruding at both sides of each of the pad rollers in the axial direction for supporting the pad roller so as to be rotatable; and coil springs for biasing the fixed shafts at both the sides of the pad roller 16 in the axial direction so as to press the pad roller toward a corresponding one of the transfer rollers.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device (30) includes a plurality of first conveyance rollers (31) and a plurality of second conveyance rollers (32). The sheet conveying device (30) includes stiffening rollers (34). The stiffening rollers (34) are disposed coaxially with at least one conveyance rollers (32) among the first and second conveyance rollers (31) and (32), and have diameters larger than diameters of the conveyance rollers (32). The stiffening rollers (34) includes first stiffening rollers (34a), which apply conveying forces to a sheet (P), and second stiffening rollers (34b), which apply smaller conveying forces to the sheet (P) than the conveying forces to the sheet (P) in the first stiffening rollers (34a).

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an upstream conveyance roller pair disposed upstream of an image reader including an upstream driving roller and an upstream driven roller; a downstream conveyance roller pair including a downstream driving roller and a downstream driven roller; an upstream auxiliary roller pair including upstream auxiliary rollers disposed coaxially on a shaft of the upstream driving roller and of the upstream driven roller, respectively, each formed of an elastic member and having a diameter greater than that of the adjacent upstream driving roller and of the adjacent upstream driven roller, respectively; and a downstream auxiliary roller pair including downstream auxiliary rollers each disposed coaxially on a shaft of the downstream driving roller and of the downstream driven roller, formed of a low-hardness elastic member and having a diameter greater than that of the adjacent downstream driving roller and of the adjacent downstream driven roller.

Abstract: A medium carrying device includes an apparatus body, medium guide unit that is detachable with respect to the apparatus body, a carrying roller that is disposed in the apparatus body, and is configured to rotate to carry a print medium passing through the medium guide unit, and a driven roller that is disposed in the medium guide unit at a position corresponding to the carrying roller in a contacting manner so that the driven roller rotates in accordance with a rotation of the carrying roller.

Abstract: A valuable file identification device, comprising a housing; a hollow transparent drum; an annular clamping belt supported by at least two tension rollers and pressing against the transparent drum, the outer surface of the annular clamping belt and the outer surface of the transparent drum forming a clamping and conveying channel for the valuable file, and the length of the clamping and conveying channel being greater than that of the valuable file in the conveying direction; at least one information acquisition device, the information acquisition element of the information acquisition device being adjacent to the inner surface of the transparent drum, facing at least a part of the outer surface of the annular clamping belt, and being fixed relative to the side wall of the housing; and a power-driven device respectively driving the transparent drum and the annular clamping belt to move synchronously in opposite directions.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided that includes a driving roller, a driven roller configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the driving roller and feed a sheet while pinching the sheet with the driving roller, an elastic shaft inserted through the driven roller and configured to rotatably support the driven roller, the elastic shaft including a protrusion formed on at least one end of the elastic shaft in an axial direction of the elastic shaft, the protrusion protruding outward in a radial direction of the driven roller, and two recess-shaped bearings configured to support two end portions of the elastic shaft in the axial direction, respectively, at least one of the bearings including a contact surface configured to contact the protrusion when the elastic shaft is supported by the bearings.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure between a pair of rollers is disclosed.

Abstract: A first frame includes a pair of first roller-receiving portions which rotatably supports a convey roller. A second frame is attached to the first frame and includes an extending portion which extends beyond one of the first roller-receiving portions toward one side of the convey roller in its axial direction. A third frame includes a base portion, and a first side wall and a second side wall which are opposite to each other. The first and second side walls are attached to the extending portion so as to he perpendicular to the axial direction of the convey roller. The first side wall is disposed more toward the one side of the convey roller in the axial direction than the second side wall and includes a portion which receives a shaft of a motor for the convey roller, and a second roller-receiving portion which rotatably supports the convey roller.

Abstract: In order to correct a corrugation caused when a sheet widthwise edge portion elongates more than the vicinity of the center in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a fixing portion that fixes a toner image onto a sheet by heating, a plurality of pairs of rollers provided along a sheet feeding direction with an interval in the downstream of the fixing portion in the feeding direction to nip and convey a sheet; and a tensioning device that applies a tensile strength of the sheet feeding direction to a sheet in a center area of a width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device is provided with a housing including a contact portion, a sheet conveyance path, a drive roller, a driven roller, and a support member. The driven roller is made of a resin material, and is provided with a roller portion, and a pair of shaft portions. The support member is made of a metal material and rotatably supports the driven roller. The support member includes a pair of ring portions through which each of the shaft portions is inserted, and a pair of arm portions extending in one direction from the paired ring portions and supported on the housing. The driven roller is rotated with the drive roller in a state that a downstream outer portion of the ring portion in the conveying direction is contacted with the contact portion of the housing.

Abstract: A multi-feed judging device includes a transporting unit that holds a recording medium between a driving roller and a driven roller, which is driven by the driving roller, and transports the recording medium by rotating the driving roller; a detecting unit that detects a position of the driven roller; a calculating unit that calculates a thickness of the recording medium based on positions of the driven roller when the recording medium is transported and when the recording medium is not transported; a reference value updating unit that updates a reference value of the thickness by using the calculated thickness; a judging unit that judges, using the reference value, whether recording media, which are transported after the reference value was updated, are transported while overlapping each other or not. The calculating unit calculates the thickness when the position is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a first pair of rollers that forms a nip part and carries a medium, the nip part being defined as an area where the rollers contact each other applying a pressure to other, a guide part that guides the medium to the first pair of rollers, and a medium detection member that includes a tip end part and a pivoting fulcrum and that is pivoted around the pivoting fulcrum by the medium as the medium moves along the guide part. In a case of being viewed from a roller axial direction of the first pair of rollers, the tip end part passes the nip part when the medium detection member pivots around the pivoting fulcrum as a center.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport roller which transports a sheet, a cover which covers the transport roller, a pinch roller attached to the cover via a shaft facing the transport roller, and a regulation member projecting from a facing surface, facing the transport roller, of the cover and configured to regulate a movement of the shaft in an extending direction of the shaft. The regulation member includes a surface which extends along the extending direction of the shaft, a first end portion fixed to the cover, and a second end portion which faces an end face of the shaft, and is located closer to the end face of the shaft than the first end portion in the extending direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A second support member supports a first support member so that the first support member is movable between a predetermined first position and a second position at an upstream side of the first position in a conveying direction of a recording medium. The first support member is moved to the first position during conveyance of the recording medium by a first conveying section. The first support member is moved to the second position during non-conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveying section.

Abstract: A sheet transport mechanism includes a pair of transport rollers and a roller pressing mechanism. The roller pressing mechanism includes one pair of first levers, one pair of second levers, and an elastic member. The one pair of first levers are supported to swing around a first swing shaft. A rotary shaft of a second roller of the pair of transport rollers is rotatably supported by a bearing aperture formed at substantially a center of the first lever. In addition, the one pair of second levers are supported to swing around the second swing shaft. Both ends of the elastic member are connected to tip ends of the second levers. The end of each second lever rotates around the second swing shaft, and presses the first lever toward the first roller of the pair of transport rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method weigh an object, in particular a flat item of mail, during transport. A conveying device having an endless conveying belt and a counterpart conveying element is able to temporarily grip an object in a clamping region and to transport it in a transporting direction. Weighing scales are able to weigh the object while the object is gripped in a clamping region. The damping element is configured to damp vibrations of an object gripped in the clamping region. The damping element has a surface which is curved in the transporting direction. The endless conveying belt is guided in such a way around the curved surface that the endless conveying belt rests areally against the curved surface in a damping region and the endless conveying belt and the counterpart conveying element are configured to guide the object gripped in the clamping region past the curved surface.

Abstract: A transport apparatus includes: a guide surface which extends in a transport direction for transporting a medium and which is configured to guide the medium to be transported; a first roller which is a driving roller for transporting the medium; a second roller which is a driven roller arranged to face the first roller; and a roller support member which rotatably supports the second roller and which is configured to be pivotable about a support shaft perpendicular to an axis of a rotational shaft of the second roller between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide unit for guiding the side end of the sheet; a first roller pair arranged on the downstream side of the guide unit for conveying the sheet, including a driven roller held in contact with a whole sheet in a sheet width direction; and a second roller pair having a conveyance roller arranged on the downstream side of the roller and adapted to convey the sheet, and a plurality of pinch rollers pinching the sheet in cooperation with the conveyance roller, wherein each of the plurality of pinch rollers applies to the sheet a conveyance force inclined toward a conveyance path side end, which is nearer to the pinch roller, and wherein the smaller the distance between the pinch roller and the conveyance path side end, the greater the inclination of the conveyance force thereof.

Abstract: A target transportation device includes a first transportation portion which is capable of applying a transportation force toward a downstream side from an upstream side of a transportation path to a target, a second transportation portion which is provided on the transportation path at a position at the downstream side with respect to the first transportation portion in a transportation direction and is capable of applying a transportation force toward the downstream side from the upstream side of the transportation path to the target while nipping the target, and a cutting member which is provided on the transportation path at a position between the first transportation portion and the second transportation portion and is capable of cutting the target in the width direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the target. The second transportation portion is configured so as to be capable of changing a nipping position of the target in the transportation direction of the target.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus having sheet transport device transporting sheet through nip between pressing and drive members by applying rotational force to drive member via power transmission mechanism that includes: first and second rotational shafts connected to drive member and drive source, respectively; first and second rotation transmitting members attached to first and second rotational shafts, respectively; holding member including first and second contact parts disposed on opposite sides of second rotation transmitting member; and rotational move member switching to power non-transmission and transmission states by moving holding member rotationally to first and second positions in conjunction with opening and closing operations of opening/closing member of apparatus housing. Power is not transmitted between rotational shafts in power non-transmission state and transmitted in power transmission state.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus includes: a carry path which is defined to guide a first carried object and a second carried object; a first pulley; a first roller; a second pulley; a first belt which is wound on the first pulley and the second pulley; a first tensioner; and a first moving mechanism which moves the first roller between a first position and a second position. The first moving mechanism moves the first roller between a first position at which the first roller carries the first carried object and a second position which is farther from the carry path than the first position and at which the first roller carries the second carried object.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a shift unit which includes a conveyance roller pair capable of being placed in a contact state and a separation state and configured to convey sheets having an overlapping portion where a rear end portion of a preceding sheet and a front end portion of a following sheet overlap each other. The shift unit is movable in a widthwise direction while conveying the sheets by the conveyance roller pair. The sheet conveyance apparatus moves the shift unit in the widthwise direction when it is determined that the overlapping portion of the sheets has reached the conveyance roller pair.

Abstract: A recording medium transport device includes a connecting member that connects two transport roller pairs, and a drive switching section that is provided to one of the two transport roller pairs, and switches between a state in which a rotational drive force is transmitted between the two transport roller pairs via the connecting member and a state in which the rotational drive force is not transmitted between the two transport roller pairs. A controller of the recording medium transport device causes the drive switching section to switch from the state in which the rotational drive force is not transmitted between the two transport roller pairs to the state in which the rotational drive force is transmitted between the two transport roller pairs via the connecting member, when the rotational speed of at least one of the transport roller pairs falls outside a predetermined speed range.

Abstract: A card substrate rotator comprises a substrate support, a rotator mechanism and a lift mechanism. The substrate support is configured to receive a card substrate and comprises a feed roller. The rotator mechanism is configured to rotate the substrate support about an axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the substrate support and the axis in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A paper pressing apparatus for a printing apparatus includes a bracket, a paper pressing member, a first gear, a first rolling arm, a second rolling arm, and a first elastic member. The paper pressing member is lifted up from the bracket to accommodate heavily creased or buckled papers, and then released to press the papers flat as they are drawn into the printer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a marking device, a media path positioned to supply sheets of media to the marking device, and a media supply tray positioned to supply the sheets of media to the media path. Further, a pair of rollers forms a nip adjacent the media supply tray. The rollers rotate in opposite directions to cause the sheets of media to move from the media supply tray to the media path. Additionally, a first frame structure supports a first roller of the pair of rollers. The first frame structure can be in a fixed position and holds the first roller in a fixed location. A second frame structure supports a second roller of the pair of rollers. The second frame structure is adjustable in a first direction toward the first roller and has a variable pivot position allowing the second frame structure to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Document guide systems and methods employing a document platen are provided. According to an illustrative embodiment, a document guide system employing a document platen includes a document platen having a first, document-faceable side and a second, opposing side, and a document support sub-system adjacent the first side of the document platen. The document support sub-system and the first side of the document platen are adapted to receive a document therebetween, and the document platen forms an aperture adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation therethrough.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and a roller that includes plural components which are assembled together so as to surround the shaft member. The components have a shape such that a joint between the components is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the roller which is formed by assembling the components together. The joint extends from one end to another end of the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction while bending or curving at least at a portion in the middle thereof.

Abstract: A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections. In addition, the connection linear section is constituted by a first linear section which connects ends on one side of the pair of the intersections and a second linear section which connects ends on the other side of the pair of the intersections and formed shorter than the first linear section.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair and a mechanism. While following movement of the sheet nipped by the conveyance roller pair, the mechanism moves the conveyance roller pair from a home position, and, in response to a trailing edge of the sheet passing through a conveyance roller pair nip portion, the mechanism returns the pair to the home position. The mechanism includes a movement supporting portion, a cam, a pressing member, and an urging member. The pressing member urges the conveyance roller pair toward the home position by exerting an urging force to the cam. In response to the conveyance roller pair and one of the cam and the pressing member moving in the width direction from the home position, the pressing member exerts the urging force to the cam in a direction reverse to a direction in which the conveyance roller pair has moved.

Abstract: In a first step, a sheet is conveyed in a direction, whereby a leading end portion of the sheet is fed to a position between a decurl roller and a decurl pinch roller, which are in positions spaced apart from each other. In a second step, the leading end portion of the sheet is curved and held by causing the decurl pinch roller to come close to or press against the decurl roller. In a third step, the leading end portion of the sheet is withdrawn from between the decurl roller and the decurl pinch roller by conveying the sheet in a direction opposed to the conveying direction. After executing the first to third steps, the sheet is conveyed in the conveying direction through the first step while the sheet is curved by the decurl roller.

Abstract: A sheet end detection device includes a cylindrical roller rotatable around an axis; and a phase detection unit configured to detect a phase in a circumferential direction of the roller. A first piezoelectric element band is provided on the peripheral surface of the roller and extending in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, and the first piezoelectric element band is configured to detect a contact of the sheet and extending in an axial direction of the roller over an inside and an outside of a contact area to be contacted with the conveyed sheet on the peripheral surface. A position of an arbitrary point of the first piezoelectric element band in the axial direction of the roller corresponds one-to-one with the phase in the circumferential direction of the roller.

Abstract: A medium feeding device 1 includes a separating power generating device 7 which causes a brake roller 4 to generate a rotational load in a direction counter to a conveying direction. The device 7 includes a torque limiter 17 which generates a load of a predetermined upper limit torque T1, a torque limiter 18 which is arranged in series with the torque limiter 17 on a power transmission path to the brake roller 4 and generates a load of an upper limit torque T2 smaller than the torque T1, and an electromagnetic clutch 22 which switches between connection and disconnection between the power transmission path and a bypass route which bypasses the torque limiter 18. The device 7 can change the rotational load of the brake roller 4 to the torque T1 or the torque T2 by the switching of the electromagnetic clutch 22.

Abstract: A medium feeding device 1 includes a feeding roller 3 which conveys a medium S1 in a conveying direction, a brake roller 4 that is arranged to press the feeding roller 3 with a predetermined pressure, and a separating power generating device 7 which is connected to the brake roller 4 and generates rotational load in a direction counter to the conveying direction with respect to the brake roller 4. The separating power generating device 7 includes a torque limiter 19 which generates an upper limit torque T1 which is a fixed load as a first load generating unit, and an electromagnetic brake 23 which can change the generated load as a second load generating unit. The torque limiter 19 and the electromagnetic brake 23 are connected in parallel to the brake roller 4.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a first rotating shaft, a driving roller fixed to the first rotating shaft, a driven roller that faces and is pressed against the driving roller, and a second rotating shaft supporting the driven roller. The driving roller or the driven roller includes a cylindrical center portion, and end portions located at both ends of the center portion and having an approximately circular truncated cone shape. Surfaces of the center portion and the end portions are made of an elastic material. An outer surface of the center portion is matched with outer surfaces of one end of the end portions, and a diameter of another end of the end portions is larger than a diameter of the one end. The end portions have a hollow inside, and have a thin surface.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a curve-shaped conveying path conveying a sheet from a first conveyance direction toward a second conveyance direction, a drive conveying portion conveying the sheet in the second conveyance direction by a pair of mutually-pressed rollers, and a belt conveying portion conveying the sheet toward the drive conveying portion by an endless belt member, wherein the belt conveying portion is configured to include a first belt support roller which is arranged coaxially with one of the pair of rollers and a second belt support roller which is arranged at an upstream side of the drive conveying portion from the first belt support roller, to wind the belt member around the first and second belt support members, and to set an outer diameter of the first belt support roller including the belt member to be smaller than an outer diameter of the one roller.