Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Shirou Saeki

Kenji Hashimoto

Yukitaka Nakazato

Tadashi Ikoma

Takashi Fujii

Akira Hirose

Motoya Sano

Hiroyuki Ishizaki

In an automatic document feeder (ADF) for an image forming apparatus, a table is loaded with multiple documents or a single document, as desired. A transport section transports the document or one of the documents fed from the table to a predetermined position on a glass platen included in a body of the apparatus, and then transports it away from the predetermined position. A feed section has a feeding member for feeding the document from the table to the transporting section, and a separating member movable in opposite direction to an intended direction of document feed into frictional engagement with the feeding member. A mode selecting section is accessible for selecting either of a multiple feed mode for sequentially feeding the multiple documents from the table while separating the individual documents, and a single feed mode for feeding the single document therefrom. A drive source drives the separating member while switching the drive direction thereof. A controller controls the drive source such that when the multiple feed mode is selected, the separating member contacts the feeding member with friction acting therebetween, while when the single feed mode is selected, the former contacts the latter without friction acting therebetween. In the single feed mode, the separating member is driven in the feed direction and feeds a document in cooperation with the separating member, thereby preventing the document from being damaged or displaced.

Automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus

An automatic document feeder for use with an electrophotographic copier, digital copier or similar image recorder capable of transporting ordinary documents in the form of separate sheets and a continuous document in the form of computer form (CF) paper which is formed with equally spaced sprocket holes, as desired. A sprocket hole sensor is disposed on an imaginary line along which the sprocket holes of the CF paper are moved. A control device reversibly controls the transport of the CF paper to a predetermined reference position on a glass platen in association with the number of sprocket holes being counted. The document feeder is capable of not only copying a desired page of the CF paper but also implementing jam recovery in the event when a paper sheet jams the image recorder.

Automatic document feeder responsive to paper jam

Switchable automatic document feeder capable of feeding continuous form

An automatic document feeding method for a recycling automatic document feeder (RADF) for use with a copier or similar image recording apparatus. The last document to be returned and the document immediately preceding it are discharged in succession. The discharge of the last document occurs on the elapse of a predetermined period of time after the discharge of the immediately preceding document.

Document feeding method for a recycling automatic document feeder

An automatic document feeder (ADF) for use with an electrophotographic copier, digital copier or similar image recorder for selectively feeding ordinary documents in the form of separate sheets and a continuous document in the form of computer form (CF) paper. Sprocket holes formed through the CF paper are sensed to controllably transport and stop the CF paper on the basis of the number of sensed holes. Slippage of the CF paper apt to occur when the paper begins to be transported and when it is transported by a belt that faces a glass platen is prevented from being erroneously determined to be a jam. Cuts intervening between nearby sprocket holes for temporarily fastening a carbon to the CF paper are prevented from being sensed as the sprocket holes.

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Yokohama, Japan

Shirou Saeki