A system and control method are provided for determining an amount of a product dispensed from or added to a product formation. At defined intervals, a mark is projected with a light source imager onto an aspect of the product formation that changes as the amount of product is depleted or added to the product formation. A digital image is taken of the aspect of the product formation that captures the projected mark and is transmitted to a digital imager processor, wherein a feature of the projected mark is analyzed that changes as the product formation decreases or increases in size as the product is dispensed or added. The analyzed feature is compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the product formation to determine an actual amount of the product on the product formation, or amount of product depleted from or added to the product formation.

A system and control method are provided for determining an amount of a product dispensed from or added to a product formation. At defined intervals, a mark is projected with a light source imager onto an aspect of the product formation that changes as the amount of product is depleted or added to the product formation. A digital image is taken of the aspect of the product formation that captures the projected mark and is transmitted to a digital imager processor, wherein a feature of the projected mark is analyzed that changes as the product formation decreases or increases in size as the product is dispensed or added. The analyzed feature is compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the product formation to determine an actual amount of the product on the product formation, or amount of product depleted from or added to the product formation.

A feed detection unit which detects a document which is fed is provided at a position between a pinching position at which a feed roller and a frictional force application portion pinch the document and an intersecting position at which a tangential line of the feed roller which is closer to a downstream side in a transport direction than the pinching position is perpendicular to a transport path in the transport direction, which is a different position from the feed roller in a width direction which intersects the transport direction.

A feed detection unit which detects a document which is fed is provided at a position between a pinching position at which a feed roller and a frictional force application portion pinch the document and an intersecting position at which a tangential line of the feed roller which is closer to a downstream side in a transport direction than the pinching position is perpendicular to a transport path in the transport direction, which is a different position from the feed roller in a width direction which intersects the transport direction.

A medium feeding device includes a storage unit that stores media in a form of a sheet, a delivery unit that is disposed downstream in a medium delivery direction relative to the media stored in the storage unit and that delivers the media individually, a transfer unit that is disposed above the storage unit and that sticks by suction to each of the media stored in the storage unit and transfers the media to the delivery unit individually, and a fluffing unit that is disposed beside the media stored in the storage unit in a direction intersecting the medium delivery direction. The fluffing unit fluffs an upper-side region of the media in a state of being separated by blowing air toward a side of the media. The medium feeding device further includes plural position detection units that are arranged in a region that is on the delivery unit side relative to a position of a downstream end portion, in the medium delivery direction, of each of the media stored in the storage unit and that does not reach a contact portion where the delivery unit comes into contact with the media. The position detection units are arranged at an interval in a width direction of the media intersecting the medium delivery direction. The position detection units detect a position of the downstream end portion, in the medium delivery direction, of each of the media.

A medium feeding device includes a storage unit that stores media in a form of a sheet, a delivery unit that is disposed downstream in a medium delivery direction relative to the media stored in the storage unit and that delivers the media individually, a transfer unit that is disposed above the storage unit and that sticks by suction to each of the media stored in the storage unit and transfers the media to the delivery unit individually, and a fluffing unit that is disposed beside the media stored in the storage unit in a direction intersecting the medium delivery direction. The fluffing unit fluffs an upper-side region of the media in a state of being separated by blowing air toward a side of the media. The medium feeding device further includes plural position detection units that are arranged in a region that is on the delivery unit side relative to a position of a downstream end portion, in the medium delivery direction, of each of the media stored in the storage unit and that does not reach a contact portion where the delivery unit comes into contact with the media. The position detection units are arranged at an interval in a width direction of the media intersecting the medium delivery direction. The position detection units detect a position of the downstream end portion, in the medium delivery direction, of each of the media.

A rotating member control device that controls a first rotating member and a second rotating member to convey a sheet includes a processor configured to execute a program to implement processes of controlling the first rotating member and the second rotating member to come into contact or be separated from each other and acquiring a value that corresponds to or is proportional to a driving torque of a first driving unit that rotationally drives the first rotating member. The processor acquires the value upon separation when the first rotating member and the second rotating member are separated from each other and upon conveyance when the sheet is held between and conveyed by the first rotating member and the second rotating member. The processor further sets a rotational speed of the second rotating member such that the value acquired upon separation and the value acquired upon conveyance become equal.

Provided is a control unit of a conveying apparatus, the conveying apparatus including: a conveying unit that conveys recording paper along a conveyance path; an imaging unit that images the recording paper; and a light emitting unit arranged on an opposite side of the imaging unit across the conveyance path, wherein the control unit detects conveyance information of the recording paper based on image information of the recording paper imaged by the imaging unit in a state in which light from the light emitting unit is transmitted through the recording paper. The control unit detects the conveyance information of the recording paper based on a plurality of images of the recording paper imaged at different timings by the imaging unit.

Provided is a control unit of a conveying apparatus, the conveying apparatus including: a conveying unit that conveys recording paper along a conveyance path; an imaging unit that images the recording paper; and a light emitting unit arranged on an opposite side of the imaging unit across the conveyance path, wherein the control unit detects conveyance information of the recording paper based on image information of the recording paper imaged by the imaging unit in a state in which light from the light emitting unit is transmitted through the recording paper. The control unit detects the conveyance information of the recording paper based on a plurality of images of the recording paper imaged at different timings by the imaging unit.

A conveyance apparatus includes a separation unit configured to separate and convey a sheet, a detection unit configured to detect a floating of the sheet passing through the separation unit, and a control unit configured to stop separate conveyance by the separation unit if the detection unit detects the sheet for not less than a predetermined time and/or a predetermined count.