A conveying apparatus includes: a first roller and a second roller configured to convey a print sheet while nipping the print sheet at a nip pressure; an adjustor supporting the first roller and the second roller in a manner capable of adjusting an inter-axial distance between the first roller and the second roller, the adjustor being configured to apply a biasing force biasing the second roller toward the first roller and capable of adjusting the biasing force; and a controller configured to control the nip pressure by driving the adjustor to adjust the biasing force.

A conveying apparatus includes: a first roller and a second roller configured to convey a print sheet while nipping the print sheet at a nip pressure; an adjustor supporting the first roller and the second roller in a manner capable of adjusting an inter-axial distance between the first roller and the second roller, the adjustor being configured to apply a biasing force biasing the second roller toward the first roller and capable of adjusting the biasing force; and a controller configured to control the nip pressure by driving the adjustor to adjust the biasing force.

A sheet processing apparatus arranged in a space between an image reading section for reading an image and an image formation section for forming an image on a sheet includes a carry-in path guiding a sheet from a carry-in entrance; a relay roller provided in the carry-in path to relay and transport the sheet; a first transport path positioned on a downstream side of the relay roller and having a carry-in roller to transport the sheet from the carry-in path to the first collection tray; and a second transport path branched from the carry-in path and having a branch roller to transport the transported sheet to the second collection tray. The relay roller shifts the sheet in a direction crossing the transport direction while a front end of the sheet enters the first transport path or the second transport path, and arrives at the carry-in roller or the branch roller.

A sheet processing apparatus arranged in a space between an image reading section for reading an image and an image formation section for forming an image on a sheet includes a carry-in path guiding a sheet from a carry-in entrance; a relay roller provided in the carry-in path to relay and transport the sheet; a first transport path positioned on a downstream side of the relay roller and having a carry-in roller to transport the sheet from the carry-in path to the first collection tray; and a second transport path branched from the carry-in path and having a branch roller to transport the transported sheet to the second collection tray. The relay roller shifts the sheet in a direction crossing the transport direction while a front end of the sheet enters the first transport path or the second transport path, and arrives at the carry-in roller or the branch roller.

A contact-separation mechanism includes a cam to rotate to move a contact-separation member to and from a counterpart member, a detection target to rotate together with the cam, and a detector to detect presence or absence of the detection target in a detection area of the detector, and circuitry. The cam has a reference range. The circuitry issues a rotation stop instruction of the cam after a target time elapses from passing of the reference range of the detection target through the detection area, and sets the target time based on a duration of an immediately preceding passing of the reference range through the detection area.

A contact-separation mechanism includes a cam to rotate to move a contact-separation member to and from a counterpart member, a detection target to rotate together with the cam, and a detector to detect presence or absence of the detection target in a detection area of the detector, and circuitry. The cam has a reference range. The circuitry issues a rotation stop instruction of the cam after a target time elapses from passing of the reference range of the detection target through the detection area, and sets the target time based on a duration of an immediately preceding passing of the reference range through the detection area.

In at least one embodiment of this disclosure, there is provided an image reading apparatus that includes a reader, an upstream reading conveyance rotator pair, at least one upstream conveyance rotator pair, and an upstream separator. The reader reads a detection target image on a sheet. The upstream reading conveyance rotator pair is disposed upstream from the reader in a sheet conveyance direction to convey the sheet. The upstream conveyance rotator pair is disposed upstream from the upstream reading conveyance rotator pair in the sheet conveyance direction to convey the sheet toward the upstream reading conveyance rotator pair. The upstream separator causes one rotator of the upstream conveyance rotator pair to be contacted against and separated from another rotator of the upstream conveyance rotator pair.

In at least one embodiment of this disclosure, there is provided an image reading apparatus that includes a reader, an upstream reading conveyance rotator pair, at least one upstream conveyance rotator pair, and an upstream separator. The reader reads a detection target image on a sheet. The upstream reading conveyance rotator pair is disposed upstream from the reader in a sheet conveyance direction to convey the sheet. The upstream conveyance rotator pair is disposed upstream from the upstream reading conveyance rotator pair in the sheet conveyance direction to convey the sheet toward the upstream reading conveyance rotator pair. The upstream separator causes one rotator of the upstream conveyance rotator pair to be contacted against and separated from another rotator of the upstream conveyance rotator pair.

A first roller pair disposed upstream of a second roller pair is separated from each other by a separating mechanism. A control portion is configured to start rotating the second roller pair after a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted against the second roller pair in a stopped condition. The control portion is configured to execute, based on the information concerning the sheet length acquired by the acquisition portion, either one of a plurality of modes including a first mode of rotating an upstream roller pair and the first roller pair to convey the sheet while the first roller pair is in a contact condition and a second mode of operating the separating mechanism to separate the first roller pair and of rotating the upstream roller pair to convey the sheet while the first roller pair is in a separated condition.

A first roller pair disposed upstream of a second roller pair is separated from each other by a separating mechanism. A control portion is configured to start rotating the second roller pair after a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted against the second roller pair in a stopped condition. The control portion is configured to execute, based on the information concerning the sheet length acquired by the acquisition portion, either one of a plurality of modes including a first mode of rotating an upstream roller pair and the first roller pair to convey the sheet while the first roller pair is in a contact condition and a second mode of operating the separating mechanism to separate the first roller pair and of rotating the upstream roller pair to convey the sheet while the first roller pair is in a separated condition.