According to an aspect of an embodiment, a paper sheet storage device includes a holding member that includes a loading region into which a paper sheet is loaded; a storing member that is disposed adjacent to the holding member and that is used to store the paper sheet; a carrier unit that, in a state in which at least a single pair of carrier belts is abutting against both sides of the paper sheet, carries the paper sheet into the loading region; and a pressing mechanism that presses the paper sheet, which has been carried into the loading region, inside the storing member. In the paper sheet storage device, at the time of pressing of the paper sheet by the pressing mechanism, the carrier unit releases the abutment of one of the carrier belts with respect to the paper sheet.

A recording material feeding device includes a stacking portion, a driving source, a holding member, a torque limiter for limiting transmission of a driving torque from the driving source to the stacking portion in a case that the driving source rotates in a state in which the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion; a storing portion for storing information on a holding state of the holding member; and a controller for controlling the driving source to rotate at a rotational speed slower when the information is information indicating that the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion than when the information is information indicating that the holding member does not hold the position of the stacking portion.

A recording material feeding device includes a stacking portion, a driving source, a holding member, a torque limiter for limiting transmission of a driving torque from the driving source to the stacking portion in a case that the driving source rotates in a state in which the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion; a storing portion for storing information on a holding state of the holding member; and a controller for controlling the driving source to rotate at a rotational speed slower when the information is information indicating that the holding member holds the position of the stacking portion than when the information is information indicating that the holding member does not hold the position of the stacking portion.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion, a lifting portion, a feeding portion, and a control portion. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a first height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a sheet presence detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to presence or absence of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, and a second height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the stacking portion. The control portion performs control for sheet feeding operation using the signal from the sheet presence detecting portion if the position of the stacking portion is above a predetermined height based on the signal from the second height detecting portion and, if the position of the stacking portion is below the predetermined height, the control portion performs control for sheet feeding operation not using the sheet presence detecting portion.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking portion, a lifting portion, a feeding portion, and a control portion. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a first height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the stacking portion, a sheet presence detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to presence or absence of the sheets stacked on the stacking portion, and a second height detecting portion configured to output a signal corresponding to a position in a height direction of the stacking portion. The control portion performs control for sheet feeding operation using the signal from the sheet presence detecting portion if the position of the stacking portion is above a predetermined height based on the signal from the second height detecting portion and, if the position of the stacking portion is below the predetermined height, the control portion performs control for sheet feeding operation not using the sheet presence detecting portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a stacking portion including a lifting portion, a feeding member feeding a sheet stacked on the lifting portion to a conveyance passage, a position detector detecting movement of the sheet stacked on to a feedable position to the conveyance passage, a driver including a motor and performing the lifting operation of the lifting portion, a rotation detector detecting rotation of the motor, and a controller. The controller determines a factor that the position detector does not detect the movement of the sheet stacked on the lifting portion to the feedable position within a predetermined time based on a detection result of the rotation detector while controlling the driver to lift up the lifting portion.

An image forming apparatus includes a stacking portion including a lifting portion, a feeding member feeding a sheet stacked on the lifting portion to a conveyance passage, a position detector detecting movement of the sheet stacked on to a feedable position to the conveyance passage, a driver including a motor and performing the lifting operation of the lifting portion, a rotation detector detecting rotation of the motor, and a controller. The controller determines a factor that the position detector does not detect the movement of the sheet stacked on the lifting portion to the feedable position within a predetermined time based on a detection result of the rotation detector while controlling the driver to lift up the lifting portion.

A paper feed device and a paper feed method that, even in a case where the number of paper sheets remaining on a paper sheet stacking plate is low, allow paper sheet changing to be facilitated. There are included a paper sheet push-up member for pushing up from below a paper sheet batch on the paper sheet stacking plate and a push-up member driving device that, in a case where the number of paper sheets in the paper sheet batch on the paper sheet stacking plate is not higher than the prescribed number, makes at least a part of the paper sheet push-up member protrude upward beyond the upper surface of the paper sheet stacking plate. Thus, a lower surface of the paper sheet batch placed on the paper sheet stacking plate is pushed up from below, thereby creating a clearance.

A paper feed device and a paper feed method that, even in a case where the number of paper sheets remaining on a paper sheet stacking plate is low, allow paper sheet changing to be facilitated. There are included a paper sheet push-up member for pushing up from below a paper sheet batch on the paper sheet stacking plate and a push-up member driving device that, in a case where the number of paper sheets in the paper sheet batch on the paper sheet stacking plate is not higher than the prescribed number, makes at least a part of the paper sheet push-up member protrude upward beyond the upper surface of the paper sheet stacking plate. Thus, a lower surface of the paper sheet batch placed on the paper sheet stacking plate is pushed up from below, thereby creating a clearance.

A tiltenator of a media separator module (integrated within a valuable media depository) adaptively controls pressure maintained against a bunch of media as individual items from the bunch are fed through the media separator module.