An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit, a detection unit provided downstream of the feeding unit, a measurement unit that measures a measured time from the start of conveyance of a recording material to the detection of the recording material, and a determination unit that performs renewal determination for determining whether the feeding unit has been replaced with a new feeding unit. Thus, replacement of the feeding unit with a new feeding unit can automatically be detected.

An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit, a detection unit provided downstream of the feeding unit, a measurement unit that measures a measured time from the start of conveyance of a recording material to the detection of the recording material, and a determination unit that performs renewal determination for determining whether the feeding unit has been replaced with a new feeding unit. Thus, replacement of the feeding unit with a new feeding unit can automatically be detected.

A sheet processing apparatus comprises a roller disposed in a sheet conveyance path; a sheet sensor disposed in the sheet conveyance path and configured to detect conveyance of sheets and generate sensor information indicative of detection; and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each sheet of a predetermined number of sheets of a plurality of sheets conveyed by the roller, use the sensor information to generate an individual sheet-conveyance dataset indicating a sheet passage interval; and store the individual sheet-conveyance dataset in data storage. The controller is further configured to, after the roller conveys the predetermined number of sheets, calculate a summary sheet-conveyance dataset including sheet passage interval statistics for the predetermined number of sheets; store the summary sheet-conveyance dataset in the data storage; discard the individual sheet-conveyance datasets from the data storage; and evaluate the sheet passage interval statistics to determine whether to modify the predetermined number of sheets.

A sheet processing apparatus comprises a roller disposed in a sheet conveyance path; a sheet sensor disposed in the sheet conveyance path and configured to detect conveyance of sheets and generate sensor information indicative of detection; and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each sheet of a predetermined number of sheets of a plurality of sheets conveyed by the roller, use the sensor information to generate an individual sheet-conveyance dataset indicating a sheet passage interval; and store the individual sheet-conveyance dataset in data storage. The controller is further configured to, after the roller conveys the predetermined number of sheets, calculate a summary sheet-conveyance dataset including sheet passage interval statistics for the predetermined number of sheets; store the summary sheet-conveyance dataset in the data storage; discard the individual sheet-conveyance datasets from the data storage; and evaluate the sheet passage interval statistics to determine whether to modify the predetermined number of sheets.

A magnetic ink reading device includes a housing having a slot through which a medium is inserted, a roller driven by a motor by which the medium is conveyed along a conveyance path, one or more sensors arranged along the conveyance path and configured to detect the medium at one or more respective positions, a magnetic head configured to read a magnetic pattern formed on the medium with magnetic ink, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor to convey the medium inserted through the slot, measure a length in a conveyance direction of the medium using outputs from the sensors, and control the magnetic head to read the magnetic pattern from the medium while controlling the motor to continuously convey the medium for a period corresponding to the measured length.

A magnetic ink reading device includes a housing having a slot through which a medium is inserted, a roller driven by a motor by which the medium is conveyed along a conveyance path, one or more sensors arranged along the conveyance path and configured to detect the medium at one or more respective positions, a magnetic head configured to read a magnetic pattern formed on the medium with magnetic ink, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor to convey the medium inserted through the slot, measure a length in a conveyance direction of the medium using outputs from the sensors, and control the magnetic head to read the magnetic pattern from the medium while controlling the motor to continuously convey the medium for a period corresponding to the measured length.

The invention provides a heat-shrinkable polyester-based film roll obtained by winding a heat-shrinkable polyester-based film with a shrinkage ratio of 30% or more in a film main shrinkage direction in hot water at 90° C. for 10 seconds. The film roll has a winding length of 2000-25000 m and a width of 400-2500 mm. The film has a thickness of 5-40 μm. In thickness unevenness in a width direction of the film on a surface layer of the film roll, there are positions having concave thickness patterns, and in a concave portion that has a maximum thickness difference (maximum concave portion), thickness unevenness in the maximum concave portion, which is obtained from the maximum thickness difference in the maximum concave portion and an average thickness of the film is 10% or less. The winding hardness of the surface layer of the film roll is 400-800.

A sheet feeding device includes a support that detachably supports a roll, a rotation driver that rotates a spool, a guide including a facing portion and a guide portion, a support shaft that swingably supports the guide, a biasing member that presses the guide, a sensor that retractably projects from the facing portion and outputs a detection signal, a roller that contacts an outer circumferential surface of the roll, and circuitry that controls the rotation driver. The circuitry determines a passing time based on a first change rate and a second change rate, and causes the rotation driver to rotate the spool by a predetermined angle in a winding direction, from the passing time, to position a leading end of a continuous sheet at a feeding start position, and rotates the spool in the feeding direction to feed the continuous sheet from the feeding start position along the guide portion.

An image reading apparatus includes a first stacking unit having a stacking surface, and an abutment portion that abuts a document stacked on the stacking surface, a feeding unit, a reading unit, a second stacking unit, a first detection unit, a rotating shaft, a drive unit, and a control unit. The second stacking unit receives the document fed by the feeding unit and read by the reading unit. The first detection unit detects presence or absence of the document stacked on the first stacking unit. The drive unit rotates the first stacking unit around the rotating shaft rotatably supporting the first stacking unit. At a predetermined timing after the first detection unit detects the absence of the document on the first stacking unit, the control unit controls the drive unit to rotate the first stacking unit in a direction with which the abutment portion is lowered.

An image reading apparatus includes a first stacking unit having a stacking surface, and an abutment portion that abuts a document stacked on the stacking surface, a feeding unit, a reading unit, a second stacking unit, a first detection unit, a rotating shaft, a drive unit, and a control unit. The second stacking unit receives the document fed by the feeding unit and read by the reading unit. The first detection unit detects presence or absence of the document stacked on the first stacking unit. The drive unit rotates the first stacking unit around the rotating shaft rotatably supporting the first stacking unit. At a predetermined timing after the first detection unit detects the absence of the document on the first stacking unit, the control unit controls the drive unit to rotate the first stacking unit in a direction with which the abutment portion is lowered.