A medium feeding device includes: a medium mounting section that a medium is mounted; a feeding unit that feeds the medium in a feeding direction; a separation unit that separates the medium with the feeding unit; an operation detection unit that is disposed at a position facing a surface of the medium in the medium mounting section and detects a movement of the medium in the feeding direction; an interval forming unit that forms an interval in the feeding direction between a trailing end of a first medium which is the lowest medium fed among media mounted on the medium mounting section and a trailing end of a second medium which is bound with the first medium and stacked on the first medium; and a control unit that stops feeding of the medium based on a detection interval by a detection value of the operation detection unit.

A medium feeding device includes: a medium mounting section that a medium is mounted; a feeding unit that feeds the medium in a feeding direction; a separation unit that separates the medium with the feeding unit; an operation detection unit that is disposed at a position facing a surface of the medium in the medium mounting section and detects a movement of the medium in the feeding direction; an interval forming unit that forms an interval in the feeding direction between a trailing end of a first medium which is the lowest medium fed among media mounted on the medium mounting section and a trailing end of a second medium which is bound with the first medium and stacked on the first medium; and a control unit that stops feeding of the medium based on a detection interval by a detection value of the operation detection unit.

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet loading portion which is capable of elevating operation and on which a sheet is loaded, a feeding member for feeding the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion, the feeding member being capable of elevating movement between a contacting position in contact with the sheet and a distanced position distanced upward from the sheet, and a control portion that controls the elevating operation of the sheet loading portion and the elevating movement of the feeding member. When the feeding member at the contacting position moves to the distanced position, the feeding member is distanced upward from the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion after the sheet loading portion starts a descending operation.

An example paper feed device includes a tray to feed printing paper, a magnetic force generation element to generate a magnetic flux, a 3D magnetic sensor to detect changes in the a density of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic force generation element in each of three axes, and a controller. The tray has a movable element that is movable in relation to the printing paper. Either the magnetic force generation element or the 3D magnetic sensor is attached to the movable element. The controller determines the position of the movable element based on a detection signal received from the 3D magnetic sensor.

An example paper feed device includes a tray to feed printing paper, a magnetic force generation element to generate a magnetic flux, a 3D magnetic sensor to detect changes in the a density of the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic force generation element in each of three axes, and a controller. The tray has a movable element that is movable in relation to the printing paper. Either the magnetic force generation element or the 3D magnetic sensor is attached to the movable element. The controller determines the position of the movable element based on a detection signal received from the 3D magnetic sensor.

A sheet stacking device is provided with a hopper unit configured to stack a sheet, a feeding unit configured to feed out the sheet to the hopper unit, a distance detection unit configured to detect an inter-sheet distance, in the vertical direction, between a rear end portion of the sheet that is preceding and a tip end portion of the sheet that is subsequent, and an output unit configured to output a behavior stabilization command for the sheet based on the inter-sheet distance.

A sheet stacking device is provided with a hopper unit configured to stack a sheet, a feeding unit configured to feed out the sheet to the hopper unit, a distance detection unit configured to detect an inter-sheet distance, in the vertical direction, between a rear end portion of the sheet that is preceding and a tip end portion of the sheet that is subsequent, and an output unit configured to output a behavior stabilization command for the sheet based on the inter-sheet distance.

An image forming apparatus includes a print portion that prints an image on a sheet passing by a print position, and an inserter that inserts an insert sheet between sheets conveyed one after another. In a print job involving an insert process, the print portion conveys, while securing an insert interval between a preceding sheet, which is a sheet immediately preceding the insert sheet, and a succeeding sheet, which is a sheet immediately following the insert sheet, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet one after another. The print portion automatically changes the insert interval according to the length of the insert sheet in the conveyance direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a print portion that prints an image on a sheet passing by a print position, and an inserter that inserts an insert sheet between sheets conveyed one after another. In a print job involving an insert process, the print portion conveys, while securing an insert interval between a preceding sheet, which is a sheet immediately preceding the insert sheet, and a succeeding sheet, which is a sheet immediately following the insert sheet, the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet one after another. The print portion automatically changes the insert interval according to the length of the insert sheet in the conveyance direction.

Provided in a paper sheet feeding apparatus and a box making machine are: a plurality of wheels capable of supplying a sheet by coming into contact with a lower surface of the sheet; a grate liftable and lowerable to an ascending position positioned above upper edges of the plurality of wheels and a descending position positioned below the upper edges of the plurality of wheels; a drive motor; an elevating device capable of lifting the grate to the ascending position by rotating the drive motor in one direction and capable of lowering the grate to the descending position by rotating the drive motor in the other direction; and a control device capable of adjusting an amount by which the grate is lifted and lowered by the elevating device by controlling the drive motor.