Abstract: There is provided a recording medium discharging apparatus including: a support tray; a discharging mechanism configured to discharge the recording media; a detector configured to detect a specific state in which a position of an uppermost surface of the recording media is not lower than a predetermined position; and a controller configured to control the discharging mechanism. When executing a job for continuously discharging the recording media on the support tray at a predetermined discharge interval, the controller is configured to control the discharging mechanism to pause discharge of the recording media on the support tray under a condition that the detector keeps detecting the specific state until a predetermined number of pieces of the recording medium is discharged on the support tray since the detector has detected the specific state, and is configured to set the predetermined number to be greater as the discharge interval is shorter.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprising an image forming system, a sheet-feeding system, a sheet-transporting system, a sheet-controlling device, a sheet-detection device, a first driving system, a second driving system and a controller is provided. The sheet-controlling device and the sheet-detection device are disposed between the sheet-feeding system and the sheet-transporting system. The sheet-controlling device controls an entry of a sheet into the sheet-transporting system. The first driving system drives the sheet-controlling device, and the second driving system drives a transporting mechanism of the sheet-transporting system. The controller upon receiving an error signal from the sheet-detection device signals the sheet-controlling device to inhibit the entry of the sheet into the sheet-transporting system and signals the transporting mechanism to continue its operation. A duplex printing method is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including a sheet container on which sheets are placed, a transfer roller to transfer the sheets to an image forming unit via a transfer path; a friction pad to transfer the sheets together with the transfer roller; and a movable portion provided on the transfer path to alter a direction of the transfer path based on the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveyer configured to convey a sheet; a first introducing part into which a sheet is introduced toward the conveyer; a second introducing part into which a sheet is introduced toward the conveyer, wherein the second introducing part is different from the first introducing part; a cover configured to be displaced between an open state, in which the second introducing part is opened, and a closed state, in which the second introducing part is covered, in a state where the first introducing part is opened; a cover sensor that detects the open-and-closed state of the cover; and a controller, wherein when the cover sensor detects the closed state of the cover, the controller performs a driving process of driving the conveyer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, first and second branch paths of a decoloring apparatus are formed downstream in a sheet conveying direction of a reading section in a conveying path. A diverting section is provided at a branch point of the first and second branch paths in the conveying path. A control section determines on the basis of image data whether decoloring processing should be applied to a sheet, diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the first branch path with the diverting section, and diverts, if determining that the decoloring processing should not be applied to the sheet, the sheet to the second branch path with the diverting section. A decoloring section is provided between the reading section and the branch point in the conveying path and heats the sheet to decolor an image formed with a decolorable color material.

Abstract: This invention provides a bottom removal-type paper supply apparatus used in an image reading apparatus or the like which can always accurately supply paper into the image reading apparatus regardless of whether the amount of paper stacked on a paper support base is small or large. In order to transport paper stacked on the paper support base into the apparatus, a first pickup roller to which a pressing force can be applied by a pressing roller and a second pickup roller at a central portion of the paper support base which assists the first pickup roller are provided. The second pickup roller is provided with a shutter. By closing the shutter when the paper stacked on the paper support base is less than or equal to a prescribed number of sheets or weight, the pickup roller and the paper can be prevented from contacting.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, capable of reliably feeding sheets that have a curl, includes a sheet surface detection mechanism configured to detect an upper surface of a topmost sheet of sheets supported on a tray. The sheet surface detection mechanism includes a sensor unit arranged on a upstream side of a suction and conveyance mechanism in a sheet conveyance direction, a sensor lever configured to turn the sensor unit ON/OFF, and a detection unit having one end connected to the sensor lever and another end that extends toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction. The detection unit includes, on a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, a protruding member that protrudes in a downward direction and that is capable of contacting the topmost sheet supported on the tray.

Abstract: To provide a sheet take-out apparatus for preventing double feed of sheets and controlling gaps to a desired value, a sheet processing apparatus, and a sheet take-out method. A take-out apparatus includes a supply structure for supplying postal matter to a take-out position, a take-out structure for taking out the postal matter from the take-out position, and a conveying structure for receiving and conveying the postal matter taken out on a conveying path. When a leading edge of the postal matter is held by the conveying structure, an absorbing operation of a vacuum pump is stopped and a moving speed of a take-out belt is reduced. Furthermore, when the postal matter is detected by a sensor, the take-out belt is stopped.

Abstract: A system for conveying mailpieces along a feed path including first and second conveyances. A first conveyance is operative to convey mailpieces along the feed path and includes a singulating and drive belt. The singulating and drive belts define a throat or singulating a mailpiece from the stack of mailpieces. A second conveyance accepts mailpieces from the first conveyance and conveys singulated mailpiece downstream of the first conveyance. The system further includes a series of sensors extending from the first to the second conveyance for issuing a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the feed path. Additionally, the system includes a means to vary the velocity of the drive belt based upon the location of the gap signal along the series of sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes. The invention is based on a device and a method for monitoring the separation of a sheet product, particularly of banknotes, by means of a separator (1, 2, 3) having a drive (4, 7) and a controller (8) for monitoring and controlling the angular speed (w) of the separator, and is based on monitoring of the angular speed of the separator by the controller for changes and the determination of faulty separation, if the change of the angular speed is greater than a permitted deviation, or if the angular speed falls below a threshold value (S).

Abstract: A sheet supply device that is addable to a medium processing device includes a strage part storing a medium and a controller. The controller performs a first operation in which the medium is supplied from the storage part of the sheet supply device, and a second operation in which another medium supplied from an upstream side of a medium path is carried to a downstream side. When the second operation is performed, the controller operates the carrying part by transmitting a drive force to the carrying part via the transmission mechanism without operating the carrying transmission member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feed tray, a chute having first and second guides, first and second rollers arranged on the first guide, first and second contact members protruded from the second guide and urged to contact the first and second rollers, respectively, and a sheet sensor arranged between the first roller and the second roller. A controller controls a motor to rotate the first and second rollers in a first direction in which the sheet is fed from the second roller to the first roller when the controller receives a signal from the sensor, and controls the motor to stop the rotation of the first and second rollers when the signal from the sensor is terminated, and then rotate the first and second rollers in a second direction in which the sheet is fed from the first roller to the second roller.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which controls a host-based printer includes a determination portion which determines designation of feed from a feed unit or manual feed port, a display control portion which, when it is determined that feed from the manual feed port is designated, causes a display portion to display a display to prompt the operator to insert a print medium into the manual feed port, an identification portion which identifies compressed-image data transfer permission corresponding a user instruction, and a transfer portion which transfers compressed image data of one page to the host-based printer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a take-out member to take out a sheet from a take-out position by rotating in a state in which a negative pressure is applied to the sheet at the take-out position and the sheet is adsorbed to the take-out member; a conveyor portion to receive and convey the sheet taken out from the take-out position by the take-out member; and a control portion to control the take-out member such that, when the sheet at the take-out position is being adsorbed to the take-out member, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is slower than a conveying speed of the sheet at the conveyor portion, and when the sheet adsorbed to the take-out member is being transferred to the conveyor portion, the take-out member is rotated at a circumferential speed that is the same as a conveying speed of the conveyor portion at that time.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a separating and feeding unit which has a separating member and a paper feeding member coming into contact with the separating member at a predetermined separating pressure, and separates and feeds an original sheet by sheet from a bundle of originals placed on an original placing table; a conveying unit which conveys the original separated by the separating and feeding unit toward a scanning position; a separating pressure switching unit which applies and releases the separating pressure and which is controlled by a control unit to release the separating pressure after a leading edge of a preceding sheet of the original has passed through the separating and feeding unit and to apply the separating pressure before a sheet of original separated and fed next to the preceding sheet of original is fed from the bundle of original to the separating and feeding unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet-table unit, a sheet-separating unit disposed at a downstream end of the sheet-table unit along a convey direction of the sheets, a convey unit arranged at a downstream end of sheet-separating unit, a discharge unit located at a downstream end of the convey unit, an sheet processing unit placed between the convey unit and the discharge unit, a speed sensor arranged at an upstream end of the sheet-separating unit for detecting a movement of each sheet for forming a sheet interval between two adjacent sheets, and an edge sensor located between the sheet-separating unit and the sheet processing unit. The edge sensor detects a front edge and a rear edge of each sheet passing therethrough, and sends corresponding control signals to a system controller which delays a predetermined time according to the control signals to control the sheet processing unit to start and stop processing.

Abstract: A sheet buffer apparatus which retains a sheet to be conveyed to a post-processing unit configured to perform post-processing for a sheet, the apparatus comprises: a buffer unit configured to perform buffer processing to retain a sheet to be conveyed to the post-processing unit and overlay the sheet to be retained and a succeeding sheet; a determination unit configured to determine whether a sheet is inhibited from the buffer processing by the buffer unit; and a control unit configured, when the determination unit determines that the sheet succeeding the sheet to be retained is a sheet for which the buffer processing is inhibited, to control the buffer unit not to perform the retaining of the sheet to be retained.

Abstract: In a case that it is determined that a first feeding unit is not ready to feed upon designation of a first print job that requires air feeding, start of the first print job is waited until the first feeding unit is ready to feed. In a case that a second print job that requires roll feeding is accepted during waiting for the first print job, the second print job is executed, and the first print job that requires air feeding is executed after completion of the second print job.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling sheets in a digital printing machine, wherein the arrival of at least one sheet in a transport path is detected at least once at at least one marked location of said transport path to improve the control of the sheets themselves during the printing operation. This is achieved in that at least one signal having a countable pulse is generated, in that a freely selectable but then fixed start of these pulses is assigned to the position of at least one frame (occupiable field) of frames—into which the minimum of one transport path segment is divided—relative to said marked location, and in that the minimum of one sheet is controlled with the use of this pulse at at least one other marked location of the transport path.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus comprises a document transport path which extends from an upstream end to a downstream end, a low speed drive disposed at the upstream end of the document transport path and for transporting a document along the document transport path from the upstream end towards the downstream end, a high speed drive disposed at the downstream end of the document transport path and for receiving a document being transported along the document transport path from the low speed drive, an actuatable document processing device disposed at the downstream end of the document transport path and for, when actuated, performing a downstream processing operation on a document being transported along the document transport path, a sensor for (i) sensing speed of movement of a document which is being transported along the document transport path from the upstream end to the downstream end, and (ii) providing a first electrical signal which is indicative of speed of movement of the document, and a control

Abstract: A media dispenser comprises: a pick unit arranged to pick individual sheets under control of a pick unit motor; a transport section arranged to transport each picked sheet; a stacker wheel arranged to collate transported sheets under control of a stacker wheel motor; and a controller including a counter. The controller is arranged to (i) enable selectively the pick unit motor and the stacker wheel motor, (ii) provide a first step signal to both the pick unit motor and an input to the counter, and (iii) provide an output from the counter as a second step signal to the stacker wheel motor.

Abstract: A laser printer forms images on a recording sheet fed from a paper cassette. A conveying gap between consecutively fed recording sheets is adjusted such that a conveying gap between consecutively fed thin sheets is larger than a conveying gap between consecutively fed thick sheets.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus and image forming method that can prevent a decrease in image quality by preventing a step-out of a driving source, which occurs because a load of a feeding device is applied when a medium is transported for image formation. When no roller reset operation, by which a paper feed roller is returned to a reset position, is performed (YES in S21), it is judged whether a counted value N of a counter, which indicates a position of a sheet of paper, is below a threshold value Na, which indicates that it is in an A region in which a load of a hopper or paper return levers of an automatic sheet feeder (ASF) is applied to a stepping motor (S22). When N<Na, driving for high torque is selected (S23), and then paper transport in the A region is performed with a high torque (S25). On the other hand, when N?Na, driving for low torque is selected (S24) and then paper transport in a B region after the A region has passed is performed with a low torque (S25).

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus including a medium detection sensor having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and that changes the signal level of a detection signal output from the light-receiving unit according to the presence/non-presence of a medium between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, and a medium guide member that is arranged in the middle of a transport path for the medium to guide the medium, and that has a medium guide face for guiding the medium, and a sensor attachment so that the medium guide face may be arranged at a position closer to either the light-emitting unit or the light-receiving unit.

Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus. The system includes: a first conveying unit conveying to the image forming apparatus a recording material; a second conveying unit conveying to an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus the recording material; a detector detecting a recording material type while the second conveying unit halts conveying the recording material; a first controller, based on detection by the detector, determining a speed for conveying the recording material to the image forming unit, and conveying the recording material at the conveying speed; and a second controller controlling recording material conveying speeds of the first conveying unit. Before the recording material reaches the second conveying unit, the second controller maintains a first conveying speed, and after the recording material reaches the second convey unit, maintains a second conveying speed determined by the first control unit.

Abstract: A paper feeder employs a retard roll mounted on a shaft that is controlled by a magneto rheological variable clutch. Current is adjusted to the magneto rheological variable clutch to produce a variable drag torque (from near zero to fully locked) on the retard roll. The current is adjusted based on various inputs, some of which include media type, temperature, humidity, media size, and transport speed. Variable drag on the retard roll results in a reduction in induced skew of sheet passing through a nip formed between the retard roll and a separation roll, as well as, less and more consistent wear of the retard roll.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet-table unit, a sheet-separating unit disposed at a downstream end of the sheet-table unit along a convey direction of the sheets, a convey unit arranged at a downstream end of sheet-separating unit, a discharge unit located at a downstream end of the convey unit, an sheet processing unit placed between the convey unit and the discharge unit, a speed sensor arranged at an upstream end of the sheet-separating unit for detecting a movement of each sheet for forming a sheet interval between two adjacent sheets, and an edge sensor located between the sheet-separating unit and the sheet processing unit. The edge sensor detects a front edge and a rear edge of each sheet passing therethrough, and sends corresponding control signals to a system controller which delays a predetermined time according to the control signals to control the sheet processing unit to start and stop processing.

Abstract: A sheet surface detecting mechanism, which detects the upper surface of sheets stacked on a tray, including: a sensor disposed in a position spaced apart from a conveying portion; a pivotal sensor flag turning the sensor ON/OFF; and a sheet surface detecting member being disposed in parallel with the sheets stacked on the tray, moving in a vertical direction while causing the sensor flag to pivot in contact with the upper surface of the sheets, and turning the sensor ON/OFF via the sensor flag.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus enabling a user to place originals on any of sheet feed trays without confirming requested orientation of the originals, either front facing or back facing. Image data of an original fed from a first sheet feed tray and read by a first reading unit is processed handling as image data of a front surface of the original, and image data of an original fed from the first sheet feed tray and read by a second reading unit is processed handling as image data of a back surface thereof. Image data of an original fed from a second sheet feed tray and read by the first reading unit is processed handling as image data of the back surface of the original, and image data of an original fed from the second sheet feed tray and read by the second reading unit is processed handling as image data of the front surface thereof.

Abstract: A recording medium transfer apparatus includes a motor control unit for controlling the motor to rotate at higher speed when the recording medium is fed to the liquid ejection area than that when the recording medium is discharged out of the liquid ejection area, and a feed control unit for controlling a next recording medium to be fed simultaneously with discharge of the recording medium, if a position of a rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated upstream of a predetermined position, which is upstream of the discharge roller as much as a distance between a feed start position of the recording medium and the liquid ejection area, whereas controlling the next recording medium to start to be fed after discharge of the recording medium has been finished, if the position of the rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated downstream of the predetermined position.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a feed roller system for high speed image scanning equipment, which improves the feeding of documents, and in particular, thin or ultra-thin documents, into the scanner equipment. The feed roller system comprises a pick roller and a feed roller, each associated with its own clutch, allowing the pick roller and feed roller to be selectively driven together, independently, and/or not at all. Initially, both rollers are driven to feed a document. Drive to the pick roller is disabled by the pick roller clutch when the leading edge of the document reaches a gap control sensor, downstream of the rollers. Drive to the feed roller continues until it is disabled by the feed roller clutch when the leading edge of the document reaches a page entry sensor, downstream of the gap control sensor and the first transport rollers.

Abstract: A compiling unit includes a collection tray and a variable-speed compiling system adapted to operate at at least two speeds to thereby receive a sheet of media at a higher speed and register the sheet of media within the collection tray at a lower speed. A control system is adapted to selectively operate the variable-speed compiling system at the at least two speeds. A printing system having a sheet media source, at least one marking engine, such a compiling unit and such a control system is included. A method of compiling sheet media is also included.

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: An ingestion assembly is provided for a singulating apparatus having a conveyor system for moving a stack of sheet material along a feed path. The ingestion assembly is spatially positioned above the conveyor belt and includes at least one singulating roller driven in a direction opposing the motion of the conveyor belt. The ingestion assembly comprises an assembly support rotationally mounting the singulating roller at a downstream end portion and pivotally mounting to the singulating apparatus at an upstream end portion. A movable guide mounts to the assembly support and is positionable relative thereto as a function of a force vector imposed on the guide by the sheet material. Additionally, the moveable guide includes a surface operative to guide the sheet material into a singulating interface which is formed between the singulating roller and the conveyor system. In operation, sheet material enters the throat of the ingestion assembly and contact is made with the moveable guide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a common conveyance path through which a sheet fed from a sheet feed tray is conveyed from a registration roller to a transfer section; a direct conveyance path through which the sheet is directly fed from the sheet feed tray to the common conveyance path; a delay conveyance path in which the sheet after being branched from the direct conveyance path is joined to the common conveyance path, and is caused to delay in being fed from the sheet feed tray to the common sheet conveyance path; a conveyance section which conveys the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray to the transfer section; and a controller which controls the conveyance section to convey once the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray from the direct conveyance path to the delay conveyance path, and thereafter to convey to the common conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet handling system comprising a sheet registration system having sheet registration nips and a receiving system for a sheet including a capturing point for engaging said sheet. Auxiliary nips are positioned between the sheet registration nips and the receiving station. The auxiliary nips are moveable between an open and closed position. A controller receives a signal indicative of the length of said sheet and sends a signal to the auxiliary nips to be in a sheet engaging position when the length of the sheet is less than the distance between the sheet feeding nips and the capturing point of said receiving station and be in an open position if the length of said sheet is greater than the distance between the sheet registration nips and the capturing point of said receiving station. In another embodiment, the auxiliary nips are maintained in their open position until the trailing edge of a sheet is about to leave the sheet registration nips, at which point the auxiliary nips are closed.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing for sheets after image formation such as sorting or stapling of the sheets, when the sheets are subjected to processing in a processing tray, after the sheets are discharged to the waiting tray, a paddle operation is started to drop the sheets to the processing tray. When the paddle is in a position where the paddle does not come into contact with the sheets on the processing tray, the rotation of the paddle is stopped once to prevent the paddle from interfering with the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding cassette, transport rollers, a pick-up roller, a sheet detector, and a control section. The sheet feeding cassette stores sheets for developer images to be transferred thereonto at a secondary transfer position. The transport rollers transport a sheet at variable speeds along a sheet transport path which extends from the cassette to the secondary transfer position. The pick-up roller feeds a sheet into the sheet transport path. The sheet detector detects whether a sheet is fed from the cassette. When the detector detects that a sheet is not fed, the control section controls the pick-up roller to feed the sheet again. The control section varies respective transport speeds of the pick-up roller, a sheet feed roller, and the transport rollers, according to number of attempts to feed the sheet.

Abstract: A recording medium transfer apparatus includes a motor control unit for controlling the motor to rotate at higher speed when the recording medium is fed to the liquid ejection area than that when the recording medium is discharged out of the liquid ejection area, and a feed control unit for controlling a next recording medium to be fed simultaneously with discharge of the recording medium, if a position of a rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated upstream of a predetermined position, which is upstream of the discharge roller as much as a distance between a feed start position of the recording medium and the liquid ejection area, whereas controlling the next recording medium to start to be fed after discharge of the recording medium has been finished, if the position of the rear end of the recording medium when recording or printing has been finished is situated downstream of the predetermined position.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when a jam occurs in any of temporary accumulation sections or temporary accumulating doors are opened or closed, even if non-established and established notes are mixedly accumulated in the temporary accumulation sections, an operator can collectively recount these notes without considering the mixture.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided including a sheet feed tray on which sheets of a plurality of sizes are placed. A conveying unit conveys a sheet on the sheet feed tray to a predetermined processing position. A sheet position detector has a plurality of light-emitting units respectively arranged at positions corresponding to different sheet widths and one light-receiving unit capable of moving to positions corresponding to the plurality of light-emitting units. A light reception position detector which detects the position of the light-receiving unit, and a control unit which selects one of the plurality of light-emitting units can also be provided.

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 banknote dispensing device including a storage section for storing one or more banknotes, a discharging unit driven by a first motor for discharging banknotes one-by-one at a first speed, and a transporting unit driven by a second motor for receiving the discharged banknotes from the discharging unit and transporting the discharged banknotes at a second speed where the second speed is faster than the first speed, the one-way clutch permitting the discharged banknote to be continuously drawn at the second speed without damaging the discharged banknote. The banknote dispensing device includes one or more sensors connected to a control unit, the control unit determining whether the transported banknote is transported properly and turning off the motors in an error condition.

Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods of registration system control are provided that compensate for differences in physical properties of various substrates being transported through the system that impact velocity of the substrate. Exemplary systems of the Invention include at least one roll pair formed by a first, driven roll and a second roll defining a nip therebetween that is part of the transport path through which a substrate is passed. A prestored lookup table includes empirically-derived compensation factors for plural different kinds of substrates, with each compensation factor being based on physical characteristics of the substrate that impact displacement and velocity of the substrate along the transport path, such as the substrate's mass per unit area, which has been found to have a strong correlation with detected deviations in linear travel displacement and velocity.

Abstract: One method operates a pick motor and a separate feed motor to pick and feed a sheet for printing. Desired pick and feed motor velocities are obtained from respective first and second functions of sheet position. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the pick system until a predetermined event. The feed-system sheet position is synchronized to the pick-system sheet position upon the happening of the event. Sheet position for obtaining both desired motor velocities is determined by the feed system after the event. Another method operates a printer pick motor and includes starting picking by driving the pick motor in a first direction, to move a sheet forward, with an input sufficient to prevent any teetering transitions between peaks and valleys of an encoder sensor output which would be falsely counted as forward motion by a single-channel encoder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a sheet tray accommodating stacked sheets, and a sheet feeding unit feeding the stacked sheets in the sheet tray one by one. The sheet feeding unit includes a feeding roller which rotates in a sheet feeding direction, and a separation roller which presses against the feeding roller when feeding each of the stacked sheets and which rotates, via a torque limiter, in a direction opposite the sheet feeding direction. The separation roller is rotated by rotation of the feeding roller when a single sheet is sandwiched between the feeding and separation rollers. Also included is a conveying member arranged downstream of the feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction, and a driving source which drives each of the feeding roller, the separation roller, and the conveying member via a driving force transmission mechanism so the separation roller and the conveying member are driven in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: A media advance device includes a pick roller and a pair of sensors. The first sensor may be an encoder utilized to determine the speed of media advance. In addition, data from the first sensor and/or the second sensor may be utilized in a closed loop feedback system to alter the time in which an error signal may be returned according to the level of the media in the media tray. In addition, the speed of the media advance may be varied in real time to compensate for variations in the time intervals required to advance sheets of media from the media tray to the second sensor. By virtue of the detected speed of media advance as sensed by the first sensor and/or the second sensor, the level of media in the media tray may be calculated in a substantially accurate manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus with a foreign material removal apparatus is formed of a sheet feeding table which is vertically movable and supports printing sheets thereon; a sheet feeding device for feeding the printing sheets stacked on-the sheet feeding table one by one; an image forming device for forming an image on the printing sheet fed by the sheet feeding means; a detecting device situated adjacent to the sheet feeding means and detecting the printing sheets fed by the sheet feeding device; and a foreign material removal device for removing foreign material covering the detecting device. The foreign material removal device includes a pump attached to the sheet feeding device and driven by vertical movements of the sheet feeding table to flow air, and a nozzle situated adjacent to the detecting device and attached to the pump. When the sheet feeding table moves vertically, the pump allows air to flow through the nozzle to remove the foreign material covering the detecting means.