Paper feeding apparatus for image forming apparatus and controlling method thereof

Abstract

An apparatus and method feed paper in an image forming apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus in an image forming apparatus includes: a pick-up roller rotated by a pick-up motor, to pick up a paper; a driving roller and a feeding roller rotated respectively by a line feeding motor, to transfer a paper; a media sensor having: a light emitting unit positioned on a paper transferring path, to emit light onto a paper moved forward by the pick-up roller; at least one light receiving unit installed at a predetermined angle with respect to a paper, to receive light reflected from a paper, the paper being illuminated by the light from the light emitting unit and moved forward along the paper transferring path; a pick-up switch unit to output a paper entrance determination signal by comparing an output signal from the light receiving unit with a predetermined reference signal; and a controller to determine whether a paper is provided on a basis of the paper entrance determination signal input from the pick-up switch unit, and to determine the paper type using a signal input from the light receiving unit. As a result, not only a paper type but also whether a paper is picked up is detected through the media sensor, so that the mechanical construction is improved and manufacturing costs are reduced.