An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a transport unit that transport a document, a feeding unit that transports the document to the transport unit, a controller that stops the feeding operation of the feeding unit after the leading end of the preceding document transported from the feeding unit reaches the transport unit and restarts the feeding operation after the rear end of the preceding document passes a predetermined position. The controller, restarts the feeding operation a first time after the rear end of the succeeding document following the preceding document passes the predetermined position when a size of the preceding document indicates a first size, and restarts the feeding operation a second time after the rear end of the succeeding document passes the predetermined position where the second time is longer than the first time when the size indicates a second size larger than the first size.

The invention presented and described comprises an apparatus for mounting flat data carriers (1) on a continuous carrier web (2), having a data carrier supply device (3), a data carrier transfer device (4) and a carrier web positioning device (5), wherein the supply device (3) has a drive roller (6), a deflector (7) arranged substantially horizontally spaced apart from the drive roller (6) and at least one carrying belt (8) which runs around the drive roller (6) and deflector (7), wherein the carrying belt (8) has an upper run (9) which runs substantially horizontally in the feed direction of the data carriers (1), and a lower run (10) which runs in the opposite direction below said upper run, wherein the upper run (9) forms a transport path (11) for the data carrier (1) and is hydraulically connected to a suction box (12) which is arranged beneath in such a way that data carriers (1) which are located on the upper run (9) can be drawn by suction onto the carrying belt (8) by negative pressure, wherein the transfer device (4) has a transfer roller (14), which is provided with intake openings (13) on the circumference and which is hydraulically connected to a negative pressure source in such a way that data carriers (1) located on the outer casing of the transfer roller (14) can be drawn by suction onto the outer casing by negative pressure, wherein the transfer roller (14) has an entry region (15) which is adjacent to the suction box (12) of the supply device (3) and an exit region (16), which is spaced apart from the entry region (15) by a specific angle and is adjacent to the positioning device (5), and wherein at the exit region (16) of the transfer roller (14), a data carrier (1) which is located there on the outer casing of the transfer roller (14) can be transferred onto the carrier web (2).

The invention presented and described comprises an apparatus for mounting flat data carriers (1) on a continuous carrier web (2), having a data carrier supply device (3), a data carrier transfer device (4) and a carrier web positioning device (5), wherein the supply device (3) has a drive roller (6), a deflector (7) arranged substantially horizontally spaced apart from the drive roller (6) and at least one carrying belt (8) which runs around the drive roller (6) and deflector (7), wherein the carrying belt (8) has an upper run (9) which runs substantially horizontally in the feed direction of the data carriers (1), and a lower run (10) which runs in the opposite direction below said upper run, wherein the upper run (9) forms a transport path (11) for the data carrier (1) and is hydraulically connected to a suction box (12) which is arranged beneath in such a way that data carriers (1) which are located on the upper run (9) can be drawn by suction onto the carrying belt (8) by negative pressure, wherein the transfer device (4) has a transfer roller (14), which is provided with intake openings (13) on the circumference and which is hydraulically connected to a negative pressure source in such a way that data carriers (1) located on the outer casing of the transfer roller (14) can be drawn by suction onto the outer casing by negative pressure, wherein the transfer roller (14) has an entry region (15) which is adjacent to the suction box (12) of the supply device (3) and an exit region (16), which is spaced apart from the entry region (15) by a specific angle and is adjacent to the positioning device (5), and wherein at the exit region (16) of the transfer roller (14), a data carrier (1) which is located there on the outer casing of the transfer roller (14) can be transferred onto the carrier web (2).

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a control unit configured to execute a stop process of stopping a second sheet in a state in which the second sheet is nipped by a second conveyance portion, and a conveyance restart process of restarting conveyance of the second sheet stopped by the second conveyance portion. The control unit has a first mode in which the conveyance restart process is performed at a first timing at which a first time has elapsed since a first sheet has passed a reference position, and a second mode in which the conveyance restart process is performed at a second timing at which a second time longer than the first time has elapsed since the first sheet has passed the reference position.

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a control unit configured to execute a stop process of stopping a second sheet in a state in which the second sheet is nipped by a second conveyance portion, and a conveyance restart process of restarting conveyance of the second sheet stopped by the second conveyance portion. The control unit has a first mode in which the conveyance restart process is performed at a first timing at which a first time has elapsed since a first sheet has passed a reference position, and a second mode in which the conveyance restart process is performed at a second timing at which a second time longer than the first time has elapsed since the first sheet has passed the reference position.

A rotary feeding member includes a plurality of first regions each including a plurality of first protruding portions and a plurality of first recessed portions, and a plurality of second regions each including a plurality of second protruding portions and a plurality of second recessed portions. The plurality of first regions and plurality of second regions are alternately arranged in a rotating direction of the rotary feeding member, and a ratio of a second depth of the second recessed portions to a first depth of the first recessed portions is 0.4 or greater and 0.8 or less.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit on which a sheet is stacked, a feed member configured to abut against the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit to feed the sheet, a friction member disposed on the sheet stacking unit so as to be opposed to the feed member; a drive unit configured to drive the feed member, a detection unit configured to detect a load on the drive unit when the drive unit drives the feed member, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit. The control unit causes the drive unit to drive the feed member at a first speed and thereafter in a case where the load detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition, the control unit causes the drive unit to drive the feed member at a second speed higher than the first speed.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit on which a sheet is stacked, a feed member configured to abut against the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit to feed the sheet, a friction member disposed on the sheet stacking unit so as to be opposed to the feed member; a drive unit configured to drive the feed member, a detection unit configured to detect a load on the drive unit when the drive unit drives the feed member, and a control unit configured to control the drive unit. The control unit causes the drive unit to drive the feed member at a first speed and thereafter in a case where the load detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition, the control unit causes the drive unit to drive the feed member at a second speed higher than the first speed.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that reduces image artifacts caused by the back tension of a separating unit. A control unit decreases the number of rotations (the rotational speed) of a resist roller pair after the leading edge of a sheet reaches a transfer position.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that reduces image artifacts caused by the back tension of a separating unit. A control unit decreases the number of rotations (the rotational speed) of a resist roller pair after the leading edge of a sheet reaches a transfer position.