A sheet feed apparatus includes a sheet feed cassette, an air blowing device, and an air blowing control portion. The air blowing device blows warm air to a sheet stack in the sheet feed cassette. The air blowing control portion controls the air blowing device to adjust an air volume and a temperature of the warm air. The air blowing control portion adjusts the air volume and the temperature of the warm air in accordance with the amount of sheets in the sheet feed cassette.

A medium conveyance device includes a conveyor configured to convey a medium along a conveyance path, a first sensor configured to detect whether or not the medium is disposed is a detection region in the conveyance path, and a controller configured to control the conveyor to convey the medium in an ejection direction opposite to a feed direction when the conveyor conveys the medium in the feed detection and when the first sensor no longer detects the medium, wherein the controller controls the conveyor to convey the medium in the ejection direction when the conveyor keeps the medium stopped and when the first sensor no longer detects the medium.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet separation device, a first sheet feeder, a second sheet feeder, an image forming device, and circuitry. The sheet separation device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The first sheet feeder is configured to feed the two-ply sheet. The second sheet feeder is configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets. The image forming device is configured to form an image on a surface of the inner sheet. The circuitry is configured to cause the first sheet feeder to feed the two-ply sheet, perform a sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet and cause the second sheet feeder to start feeding the inner sheet before completion of the sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet.

Disclosed are a method and a device (1) for handling individual intermediate layers (5). The method involves removing from each of at least two separate stacks of intermediate layers (7) an individual intermediate layer (5) arranged topmost on the particular stack of intermediate layers (7). The removed individual intermediate layers (5) are moved into a detection range of a sensor system (13) of its own and the particular own sensor system (13) identifying, preferably by means of optical detection, an outer edge (6) of the particular intermediate layer (5). Subsequently, the removed individual intermediate layers (5) move toward a particular target location (Z1, Z2), the particular, preferably optical detection thereby being taken into account, such that the intermediate layers (5) reach their particular target location (Z1, Z2) in a predetermined position.

Disclosed are a method and a device (1) for handling individual intermediate layers (5). The method involves removing from each of at least two separate stacks of intermediate layers (7) an individual intermediate layer (5) arranged topmost on the particular stack of intermediate layers (7). The removed individual intermediate layers (5) are moved into a detection range of a sensor system (13) of its own and the particular own sensor system (13) identifying, preferably by means of optical detection, an outer edge (6) of the particular intermediate layer (5). Subsequently, the removed individual intermediate layers (5) move toward a particular target location (Z1, Z2), the particular, preferably optical detection thereby being taken into account, such that the intermediate layers (5) reach their particular target location (Z1, Z2) in a predetermined position.

The sheet feeding device includes a feed roller, a separation pad and a guide part. The feed roller is configured to feed a sheet by being rotated while coming into pressure contact with the sheet. The separation pad is configured to form a separation nip by being in pressure contact with the feed roller and to separate the fed sheet at the separation nip. The guide part is configured to guide a leading edge of the sheet to the separation nip. The apex part is formed along a feeding direction of the sheet on both outer sides of the feed roller in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The apex part projects in a direction closer to the feed roller than an extension line of the separation nip between a pressure contact position of the feed roller and the sheet and the separation nip.

The sheet feeding device includes a feed roller, a separation pad and a guide part. The feed roller is configured to feed a sheet by being rotated while coming into pressure contact with the sheet. The separation pad is configured to form a separation nip by being in pressure contact with the feed roller and to separate the fed sheet at the separation nip. The guide part is configured to guide a leading edge of the sheet to the separation nip. The apex part is formed along a feeding direction of the sheet on both outer sides of the feed roller in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction. The apex part projects in a direction closer to the feed roller than an extension line of the separation nip between a pressure contact position of the feed roller and the sheet and the separation nip.

A paper sheet sensing device includes: a sheet thickness sensor that includes a reference member and a displacement sensor, and senses a sheet thickness of a conveyed recording medium by bringing the reference member into contact with the recording medium and sensing a position of a height of the reference member with the displacement sensor, the position of the height having changed with the recording medium; a first attacher to which the sheet thickness sensor is attached; a conveyor that nips and conveys the recording medium, and is disposed adjacent to the sheet thickness sensor at a predetermined distance equal to or shorter than a length of the recording medium being conveyed, in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a displacement preventer that prevents a change in an output of the displacement sensor due to a shift of a relative position of the height of the reference member.

A paper sheet sensing device includes: a sheet thickness sensor that includes a reference member and a displacement sensor, and senses a sheet thickness of a conveyed recording medium by bringing the reference member into contact with the recording medium and sensing a position of a height of the reference member with the displacement sensor, the position of the height having changed with the recording medium; a first attacher to which the sheet thickness sensor is attached; a conveyor that nips and conveys the recording medium, and is disposed adjacent to the sheet thickness sensor at a predetermined distance equal to or shorter than a length of the recording medium being conveyed, in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a displacement preventer that prevents a change in an output of the displacement sensor due to a shift of a relative position of the height of the reference member.

There is provided a printing apparatus including: a holder configured to accommodate a printing medium; a conveyor configured to convey the printing medium along a conveying direction; a printer; a cutter configured to cut the printing medium; a first detector configured to detect front and rear ends of the printing medium; and a controller. A distance in the conveying direction between the first detector and the cutter is shorter than a length of one of media generated by dividing the printing medium into n-pieces of media. The controller is configured to: calculate a length in the conveying direction of the printing medium by using a result of the detecting of the front and rear ends, and set a cutting position of the printing medium; and cause the cutter to cut the printing medium at the set cutting position.