Method of and device for controlling feeding of sheets by detecting

Abstract

Photographic light-sensitive mediums such as sheets are fed one by one by a suction pad in a sheet-feed control device. The suction pad is displaced downward at a low speed in a position near a stack of sheets so as to approach an uppermost one of the sheets, thereby attracting the uppermost sheet to the suction pad, and the uppermost sheet is flexed by a sheet presser while it is being separated away from the other sheets. Then, a judgement is made as to whether the suction pad attracts either a single sheet or a plurality of sheets, by detecting the magnitude of the flexion of the sheet or sheets attracted. Then, the suction pad is displaced again toward the position where the uppermost sheet is to be attracted, when it is detected that the suction pad has attracted the plurality of sheets. At this time, the suction pad is placed in a given stop position, thereby releasing the plurality of sheets from the suction pad. It is then detected whether the plurality of sheets have been released from the suction pad. After the plurality of sheets have been released from the suction pad, the suction pad is displaced again toward the position where the suction pad attracts the uppermost sheet so as to attract and hold the uppermost sheet.