An image reading apparatus includes an output tray that receives a medium which is output thereon; an output roller pair that outputs the medium onto the output tray; an output-tray posture switching portion that switches a posture of the output tray with respect to the apparatus body; and an output-direction switching portion that switches an output direction of the medium by using the output roller pair. The output roller pair includes an output driving roller, and an output driven roller that nips the medium between the output driven roller and the output driving roller and that follows the rotation of the output driving roller. The output-direction switching portion switches the output direction of the medium by displacing a rotation center of the output driven roller around a rotation center of the output driving roller.

An apparatus main body of an image reading apparatus is capable of being switched between a first posture and a second posture in which an inclination angle is smaller than that of the first posture. The image reading apparatus is capable of switching between a separation state in which a separation roller separates a document and a non-separation state in which the separation roller does not separate the document. The image reading apparatus puts the separation roller in the separation state when the apparatus main body is in the first posture and puts the separation roller in the non-separation state when the apparatus main body is in the second posture.

An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: receive paper information on a type of paper on which an image is formed; acquire assist information about assistance to supply the paper by supplying gas to the paper and adjustment information about positioning of the paper after assistance to supply the paper is performed, the assist information and the adjustment information corresponding to the received paper information and relating to transport of the paper; and perform control for storing the paper information, the assist information, and the adjustment information in association with one another into a memory.

An image forming apparatus includes a processor configured to: receive paper information on a type of paper on which an image is formed; acquire assist information about assistance to supply the paper by supplying gas to the paper and adjustment information about positioning of the paper after assistance to supply the paper is performed, the assist information and the adjustment information corresponding to the received paper information and relating to transport of the paper; and perform control for storing the paper information, the assist information, and the adjustment information in association with one another into a memory.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus body including an opening portion, a storage configured to store a sheet, a pickup roller configured to pick up and feed the sheet, a separation conveyance unit including a separation nip, and a guide member including a guiding surface configured to guide the sheet such that the sheet passes under an upper edge of the opening portion while the storage is being drawn out of the apparatus body. A downstream end of the guiding surface in a sheet feeding direction is positioned downstream of the separation nip in the sheet feeding direction. An upstream end of the guiding surface in the sheet feeding direction is positioned upstream in the sheet feeding direction of a leading-edge position of the sheet stored in the storage.

A drive circuit including a push-pull circuit is a circuit in which a converted signal whose voltage level is inverted compared with a reference signal is input to the gate terminal of a first N-type MOSFET, and the reference signal is input to the gate terminal of a second N-type MOSFET. A second adjustment circuit advances the falling timing of the converted signal input to the gate terminal of the first N-type MOSFET.

A conveyance apparatus includes a separation unit configured to separate and convey a sheet, a detection unit configured to detect a floating of the sheet passing through the separation unit, and a control unit configured to stop separate conveyance by the separation unit if the detection unit detects the sheet for not less than a predetermined time and/or a predetermined count.

A conveyance apparatus includes a separation unit configured to separate and convey a sheet, a detection unit configured to detect a height-direction deformation of the sheet passing through the separation unit on a downstream side than a sheet-conveying position of the separation unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet, and a control unit configured to stop the sheet conveyed by the separation unit if the detection unit detects the deformation of the sheet.

An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet, a support portion configured to support the conveyance unit openably and movably with respect to the reading unit in a vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position, a bundled wire transmitting a signal or electric power to the conveyance unit, and a cover portion configured to cover the bundled wire. The cover portion includes a first cover member provided on the conveyance unit and a second cover member provided movably in the vertical direction with respect to the reading unit. A whole length of the cover portion in the vertical direction in a case where the conveyance unit is located at the upper position is longer than a whole length of the cover portion in a case where the conveyance unit is located at the lower position.

An image scanning method is applied in an image scanning device which includes an input tray and a paper feeding sensor. The method detects whether there are papers on the input tray in step one. If there are papers, step two is executed. Otherwise, the method ends and an error is reported. In step two, papers are separated and fed. Whether the papers contact the paper feeding sensor is detected in step three. The method executes step four if the papers contact the paper feeding sensor, and ends the method with an error message otherwise. In step four, the method scans and detects whether an image of a fed edge of each of the papers is abnormal. If the image is abnormal, the method ends and an error is reported. Otherwise, scanning continues.