Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a lift plate, an actuating segment, driving unit, a sheet feeding portion, a first detecting portion, a remaining amount detection portion. The remaining amount detection portion includes a detection piece, a link mechanism, a second detecting portion, a controller. The link mechanism couples together the driving shaft and the detection piece at a coupling position attained by pivoting the lift plate through a predetermined angle from a lower limit position in rotation direction, so as to let the driving shaft and the detection piece rotate together. The second detecting portion senses whether or not the detection piece is present. The controller determines the remaining quantity level of the stacked sheets according to whether or not the second detecting portion is detecting the detection piece being present.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a casing and a medium detecting mechanism. A medium entrance is formed on the casing. The medium detecting mechanism includes a detector, a first pivoting component, a second pivoting component and a resilient component. When at least one medium enters into the medium entrance and abuts against the first pivoting component, the at least one medium drives the first pivoting component to pivot in a first pivoting direction, so that the second pivoting component is driven by the resilient component to pivot in the first pivoting direction to actuate the detector for generating a signal. When the second pivoting component is stopped from pivoting in the first pivoting direction, deformation of the resilient component allows the first pivoting component to be driven by the at least one medium to pivot relative to the second pivoting component in the first pivoting direction continuously.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an apparatus body, a sheet stacking portion including an engagement portion, provided to be insertable to/removable from the apparatus body and capable of having sheets stacked thereon, and a conveyance guide portion provided to be insertable to/removable from the apparatus body and constituting a sheet conveyance path through which a sheet passes in a state where the conveyance guide portion is mounted to a mounted position in the apparatus body. The conveyance guide portion has an engaged portion that is pressed by the engagement portion accompanying an operation where the sheet stacking portion is inserted to the apparatus body, and moves the conveyance guide portion to the mounted position.

Abstract: A medium conveying device includes a medium placing tray provided on a main body of an image forming apparatus to be openable and closable. The medium placing tray includes a placing portion on which a medium is placed. The medium conveying device includes a first displacement member including a contact portion that contacts the medium placed on the placing portion and a first engaging portion, and a second displacement member including a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion. A detecting unit detects a displacement state of the second displacement member. A determination unit determines the presence or absence of the medium on the placing portion based on a detection result of the detection unit. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage and disengages from each other in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet bundle housing unit that houses recording sheets piled as a sheet bundle; a swing member having a sheet contact portion on one end side, and swinging between a projection position at which the sheet contact portion projects above a sheet placement surface of the housing unit and a non-projection position at which the sheet contact portion does not project above the sheet placement surface, the swing member moving from the projection position to the non-projection position by the sheet bundle; a sheet detection unit that detects the sheet bundle in the housing unit using the swing member; and an interlocking mechanism that moves the swing member to the non-projection position, regardless of presence or absence of the sheet bundle in the housing unit, by interlocking with the housing unit being pulled out from an apparatus body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body; a paper supply tray mounted in the body; a first sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element; a first actuator including a first actuating arm to sense the presence of the printing medium stored in the paper supply tray by coming into contact with and being moved by the printing medium, a second actuating arm to sense a width of the printing medium by selectively coming into contact with and being moved by the printing medium fed to the printing path according to the width of the printing medium, and a first sensing arm placed between the first actuating arm and the second actuating arm to intercept the light that would otherwise be transmitted to the light receiving element by being moved in linkage with the first actuating arm and the second actuating arm.

Abstract: A transport device includes a set section, a sheet sensor, and a feeding member. When a detection member does not retract, the sheet sensor outputs an OFF-detection signal. The feeding member is displaced between a feed position and a non-feed position on the basis of the detection signal. At the feed position, the feeding member comes in contact with the sheet set in the set section from above and feeds the sheet toward the downstream side on a transport path. At the non-feed position, the feeding member is separated upward from the feed position. A method, which detects a sheet in the transport device, includes displacing the feeding member from the non-feed position to the feed position, and detecting that the sheet does not exist in the set section when an OFF-detection signal is output from the sheet sensor while the feeding member is positioned at the feed position.

Abstract: A media picking device for an image forming apparatus having a sensing mechanism for detecting the leading and trailing edge of a sheet of media being picked from a media input tray. The device includes a pick mechanism for picking the top-most media sheet; and a sensing mechanism including a sensor and a flag positioned adjacent the pick tire and moveable between at least two positions, the flag having a first end contacting the surface of a picked sheet; the flag moving from a first position to a second position when the leading edge of the picked sheet passes by and moving from the second position to the first position when the trailing edge of the picked sheet passes by. The sensing mechanism providing an output signal corresponding to the movement of the flag. The sensor is one of a photointerrupter, a proximity sensor, a potentiometer, and a switch.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a tray for holding one or more document sheets and a first flag disposed adjacent to the tray so as to engage a document sheet in the tray. A second flag is disposed adjacent to the tray to engage the document sheet so that the first and second flags produce balanced amounts of friction on the document sheet.

Abstract: Various media drive and methods are disclosed for moving a media drive member relative to a medium.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor, and a carrier system configured to transport the sensor along a scanning path. A mid-frame is provided having a slot formed along the scanning path. A print media support is provided for holding a supply of print media. A print media detection device is positioned below the mid-frame. The print media detection device includes a first end and a second end. The first end has a sense surface, wherein the sensor senses one of a presence and an absence of the sense surface in the slot of the mid-frame as a determination of the depletion of the supply of print media at the print media support.

Abstract: A pickup error-sensing apparatus of an image forming apparatus and method therefor. The pickup error-sensing apparatus includes a sensing actuator rotatably disposed on a frame with respect to a paper cassette, displaceable when sheets of paper are loaded in the cassette, a paper sensor unit outputting a paper loading and unloading signals according to the displacement of the sensing actuator, a sensing actuator-operating unit operating the sensing actuator to allow the paper sensor unit to output the paper unloading signal when a pickup roller carries out a pickup movement, and a control unit determining whether the paper unloading signal is output when the pickup roller carries out the pickup movement, and determining occurrence of a pickup error to stop the image forming apparatus when the paper unloading signal is not output. The apparatus and method sense the pickup error generated from inadequate movement of the pick-up roller without installing a separate paper sensor.

Abstract: A value sheet handling apparatus comprises an actuating mechanism for exerting pressure onto a value sheet so as to move the value sheet, and further comprises detecting means to detect movement of the value sheet with respect to the actuating mechanism, wherein if the detecting means ascertains that the value sheet has not been moved by the actuating mechanism the pressure exerted onto the flexible media is increased until motion of the value sheet is detected. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure is varied in dependence on the type of the value sheet. The value sheet is dispensed from a stack by buckling the sheet, the rest of the stack being gripped in the area exposed by the buckling of the sheet.

Abstract: A high capacity document sheet processor combines significant speed and efficiency enhancing improvements in existing approaches to stack feeding particularly in the stack loading, feeding and singulating functions with novel operational arrangements adaptable to a universal paper handling and envelope inserting system.

Abstract: An object of the paper sheet feed mechanism of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet feed mechanism in which delivery of paper sheets is stable. The paper sheet feed mechanism comprises a feed roller conveying paper money to the right direction of the drawing, a spring pressing the feed roller against the paper money, a sensor detecting the press force that the paper money receives by being pressed by the feed roller, a push-up board pushing up the paper money, and a control section regulating the height of the push-up board based on the detection result by the sensor, and also comprises a pick roller conveying the paper sheet at a conveyance speed faster than a conveyance speed by the feed roller.

Abstract: Image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording plate, the apparatus comprising a plate store (1) for storing a stack (12) of recording plates separated by interleaved sheets; a drum image scanner (6) on which recording plates are located for recordal of an image; and a frictional feed apparatus (2) for withdrawing recording plates from the store (1) and feeding them singly to the drum image scanner (6).

Abstract: A paper detecting device is provided that may be constructed using a tray-rotatable-cam that can rotate around a shaft through a limited range. The tray-rotatable-cam is rotated into operating position by the insertion of the paper tray into the electrophotographic apparatus. A height-adjusting-beam is positioned substantially perpendicularly to the tray-rotatable-cam and is able to rotate on its own shaft through a limited range to raise the height of the shaft supporting the sensor-activating-blade. The shaft supporting the sensor-activating-blade is at a substantially perpendicular orientation to the height-adjusting-beam. A torsion spring installed on the same shaft as the height-adjusting-beam to provide the force to lift the shaft, and sensor-activating-blade to their operational height. The torsional spring also prevent the shaft and sensor-activating-blade from being caught in the paper tray when the paper tray is inserted or removed from the electrophotographic apparatus.

Abstract: A stack height control assembly utilizing the feedhead as the height sensing member. As a result of incorporating the stack height sensor into the feedhead, several advantages are realized. There is no additional drag imparted to the sheets as the result of a sensing arm or other sensing member. This also reduces the possibility of skewing the sheets with an additional sensing member. The feedhead, due to the normal force required to acquire the sheets also provides an accurate measurement of stack height. The normal force of the feedhead also eliminates and inaccuracies that could be caused by curled sheets in a feed tray. The stack height is also measured "on the fly" as the sheets are being acquired and fed, thus providing an efficient stack height sensing scheme. A floating coupler and sensor flag arrangement can be mounted so that it is engaged with a paper supply drawer as the drawer is moved into an operative position.

Abstract: A copying machine including a cassette for storing a plurality of paper sheets P. The cassette is inserted into, or removed from, the copying machine through a front side. A paper-empty detecting unit detects the presence or the absence of paper sheets in the cassette. The paper-empty detecting unit comprises a detecting device and a moving device for moving the detecting device. The moving device moves the detecting device in response to the insertion or removal of the cassette. When the cassette is being inserted into or removed from the copying machine, the detecting device is moved out of the way by the moving device. After the cassette is inserted into the copying machine, the detecting device is moved to a detecting position at which the point of the detecting device abuts the paper sheet in the cassette.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a circular sheet feeding apparatus with a lower loading tray which can be used for loading uneven stacks of sheets, and with a loading and reversing mechanism which carries the uneven stack of sheets in an initial direction underneath a reversing drum, and then around the drum with the help of the drum itself, and into a pick-up tray moving in a second direction. This apparatus is also equipped with an extractor for the removal of the top sheet on the pick-up tray which conveys the sheet in a direction opposite to said second direction.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a continuous sheet feeder in which a stack of sheets arranged sheet-by-sheet are transported by conveyor belts from a lower loading tray, around a reversing cylinder and onto a discharge tray. In the region of the discharge tray, the conveyer passes between two guide rollers the longitudinal axes of which are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the reversing cylinder. The two guide rollers in the discharge tray are laterally movable with respect to each other whereby the inclination of the stack of sheets resting in the discharge tray can be automatically adjusted so that the upper sheet in the stack is always maintained in a horizontal disposition regardless of the format or size of the sheets, or their sheet-by-sheet arrangement.