Provided is a sensor control apparatus including a main board, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor, which are connected in series to the main board. The first sensor includes a diagnosis unit configured to perform a failure diagnosis of each of an LED, a phototransistor, and an LED controller. In a case where a failure is detected, the diagnosis unit electrically isolates the first sensor from the series connection, and supplies a power supply voltage to the second sensor.

A banknote handling apparatus includes a plurality of storage mechanisms that are provided for each type of paper sheet and store a corresponding paper sheet, a distinguishing unit that distinguishes a first paper sheet input, a detection unit that detects that the first paper sheet is conveyed to a corresponding storage mechanism specified according to a result of distinguishing, and a drive control unit that controls driving of a gate portion that switches a conveyance pathway to the corresponding storage mechanism according to a positional relationship between the first paper sheet and a forward paper sheet conveyed earlier than the first paper sheet when conveyance of the first paper sheet is detected.

A sheet conveyance device includes a sheet receiving part, a first discharge part, a sheet conveyance path, an escape conveyance path, a branch guide, an escape tray, a second discharge part, and a first sheet detection part. When a device failure occurs, the branch guide switches the conveyance direction such that the sheet remaining on the sheet conveyance path is discharged on the escape tray by the second discharge part, through the escape conveyance path sequentially. Then, the second discharge part stops a discharging of the sheet in a state where the sheet remains in the second discharge part when the sheet is a last sheet to be conveyed to the escape tray. Then, a receiving of a new sheet to the sheet receiving part from the image forming apparatus is inhibited while the first sheet detection part detects the last sheet.

A sheet loading device includes a discharge roller pair, a loading tray, a paddle member, a sheet holding member, a tray lifting-lowering drive portion, a top surface detection sensor, and a control portion. The control portion is capable of performing a lifting-lowering operation to arrange the loading tray at a reference position by lowering the loading tray with the sheet holding member arranged at the holding position to turn the top surface detection sensor into an off state, then lifting the loading tray to turn the top surface detection sensor into an on state, and then lowering the loading tray again to turn the top surface detection sensor into the off state and stopping the loading tray. With the loading tray at the reference position, a predetermined clearance is provided between a top surface of a sheet loaded on the loading tray and a rotational orbit of the paddle member.

A sheet loading device includes a discharge roller pair, a loading tray, a paddle member, a sheet holding member, a tray lifting-lowering drive portion, a top surface detection sensor, and a control portion. The control portion is capable of performing a lifting-lowering operation to arrange the loading tray at a reference position by lowering the loading tray with the sheet holding member arranged at the holding position to turn the top surface detection sensor into an off state, then lifting the loading tray to turn the top surface detection sensor into an on state, and then lowering the loading tray again to turn the top surface detection sensor into the off state and stopping the loading tray. With the loading tray at the reference position, a predetermined clearance is provided between a top surface of a sheet loaded on the loading tray and a rotational orbit of the paddle member.

A sheet stacking apparatus includes a frame, a round member directly or indirectly connected to the frame, and an arm directly or indirectly connected to the frame. The arm is rotatable to rotate between a first position and a second position. The arm is positioned to bias sheets toward the round member when in the first position, and the arm is positioned to bias the sheets away from the round member when in the second position.

A sheet stacking apparatus includes a frame, a round member directly or indirectly connected to the frame, and an arm directly or indirectly connected to the frame. The arm is rotatable to rotate between a first position and a second position. The arm is positioned to bias sheets toward the round member when in the first position, and the arm is positioned to bias the sheets away from the round member when in the second position.

A sheet binding device includes a first binding unit that performs a first binding process of binding a sheet bundle having a first thickness or less without using a staple, and a second binding unit that performs a second binding process of binding the sheet bundle having a second thickness or less exceeding the first thickness using a staple, the first binding process by the first binding device is preferentially executed when the thickness of the sheet bundle is the first thickness or less, and the second binding process by the second binding unit is executed when the thickness of the sheet bundle exceeds the first thickness and is equal to or less than the second thickness.

A sheet binding device includes a first binding unit that performs a first binding process of binding a sheet bundle having a first thickness or less without using a staple, and a second binding unit that performs a second binding process of binding the sheet bundle having a second thickness or less exceeding the first thickness using a staple, the first binding process by the first binding device is preferentially executed when the thickness of the sheet bundle is the first thickness or less, and the second binding process by the second binding unit is executed when the thickness of the sheet bundle exceeds the first thickness and is equal to or less than the second thickness.

A sheet detection device includes, as detection pieces, a first detection piece integrally provided on a rotary shaft and a second detection piece attached to the first detection piece via a biasing member. The second detection piece is capable of rotation in conjunction with the first detection piece under a biasing force of the biasing member. When the second detection piece is brought into contact with a ceiling at an upper part of the rotary shaft, the second detection piece stops further rotation while the first detection piece is capable of rotation together with the rotary shaft against the biasing force.