Measuring device, sheet-shaped material transporting device, image formation device and measuring method

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

0001The present invention relates to a measuring device, a sheet-shaped material transporting device, an image formation device and a measuring method.

Related Art

0002Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JPHEI967037B"><text>Hei 9-67037</text></patcit> discloses a cut sheet feeding device which detects the inter-sheet friction coefficient, the frequency of unintended accompanying of plural cut sheets and the carrying speed of cut sheets in the sheet feeding process, and varies the limiting torque value working on separating rollers on the basis of the combination of the results of measurement. Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="JPHEI82707B"><text>Hei 8-2707</text></patcit> discloses a paper leaf letting-out controller which measures, with a torque measuring sensor, the letting-out load at the time paper leaves are let out by letting-out rollers which operate to let out paper leaves one by one and controls the letting-out speed of the letting-out rollers on the basis of the result of measurement.

SUMMARY

0003The present invention aims to provide a measuring device capable of detecting the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on a base, a sheet-shaped material carrying device and an image formation device.

0004In order to achieve the foregoing, according to a first aspect of the invention, a measuring device, wherein a feed-out member feeds out an uppermost one of a plurality of sheet-shaped materials stacked on a base by rotating in contact with the uppermost sheet-shaped material, has a detector that detects a force imparted to the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member, the force being generated by feeding-out the uppermost sheet-shaped material.

0005According to a second aspect of the invention, the measuring device according to Claim 1, wherein the detector detects any compressive force or tensile force from the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member or information based on any displacement of the base.

0006According to a third aspect of the invention, a sheet-shaped material transporting device has a base capable of bearing a plurality of sheet-shaped materials; a feed-out member that feeds out an uppermost one of the sheet-shaped materials on the base by rotating in contact therewith; and a detector that detects a force imparted to the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member, the force being generated by feeding-out the uppermost sheet-shaped material.

0007According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to Claim 3, wherein the detector detects any compressive force or tensile force from the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member or information based on any displacement of the base.

0008According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to Claim 3 or 4 , further has a moving speed information detector that detects information on a moving speed of sheet-shaped materials fed out by the feed-out member; and a feed-out force controller that controls the force with which the feed-out member feeds out the sheet-shaped materials on the basis of the information detected by the moving speed information detector and the information detected by the detector.

0009According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to Claim 5, further has a contact state adjuster that adjusts the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials stacked on the base on the basis of the information detected by the moving speed information detector and the information detected by the detector.

0010According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to Claim 6, wherein the contact state adjuster adjusts the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials by blowing air toward the sheet-shaped materials stacked on the base.

0011According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to any of Claims 5 through 7 , further has a cleaner that cleans the feed-out member.

0012According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the sheet-shaped material transporting device according to any of Claims 5 through 7 , wherein the feed-out force controller controls the force with which the feed-out member feeds out the sheet-shaped materials by controlling the load that the feed-out member imposes on the sheet-shaped materials.

0013According to a tenth aspect of the invention, an image formation device has an image formation part that forms an image on a sheet-shaped material; and a sheet-shaped material transporting device that transports a plurality of sheet-shaped materials to the image formation part, the sheet-shaped material transporting device comprising a base capable of bearing the plurality of sheet-shaped materials, a feed-out member that feeds out an uppermost one of the sheet-shaped materials on the base by rotating in contact therewith, and a detector that detects a force imparted to the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member, the force being generated by feeding-out the uppermost sheet-shaped material.

0014According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to Claim 10, further comprising a display that performs prescribed displaying according to information detected by the detector.

0015According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to Claim 10 or 11 , wherein the detector detects any compressive force or tensile force from the base and the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member or information based on any displacement of the base.

0016According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to any of Claims 10 through 12 , further has a moving speed information detector that detects information on a moving speed of sheet-shaped materials fed out by the feed-out member and a feed-out force controller that controls the force with which the feed-out member feeds out the sheet-shaped materials on the basis of the information detected by the moving speed information detector and the information detected by the detector.

0017According to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to Claim 13, further has a contact state adjuster that adjusts the state of contact between the sheet-shaped materials stacked on the base on the basis of the information detected by the moving speed information detector and the information detected by the detector.

0018According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to Claim 14, wherein the contact state adjuster adjusts the state of contact between the sheet-shaped materials by blowing air toward the sheet-shaped materials stacked on the base.

0019According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to any of Claims 13 through 15 , further has a cleaner that cleans the feed-out member.

0020According to a seventeenth aspect of the invention, the image formation device according to any of Claims 13 through 15 , wherein the feed-out force controller controls the force with which the feed-out member feeds out the sheet-shaped materials by controlling the load that the feed-out member imposes on the sheet-shaped materials.

0021According to a eighteenth aspect of the invention, a measuring method for a measuring device wherein a feed-out member feeds out an uppermost one of a plurality of sheet-shaped materials stacked on a base by rotating in contact with the uppermost sheet-shaped material, the method has detecting a force imparted to the sheet-shaped materials not in contact with the feed-out member, the force being generated by feeding-out the uppermost sheet-shaped material.

0022According to the first aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be measured.

0023According to the second aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be easily detected.

0024According to the third aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be detected.

0025According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be easily detected.

0026According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the cause of the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials can be identified, and the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled according to the identified cause.

0027According to the sixth aspect of the invention, further, when the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials is identified as the cause of the force of resistance, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled.

0028According to the seventh aspect of the invention, further, the force of resistance attributable to the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials can be easily reduced.

0029According to the eighth aspect of the invention, further, when any smear of the feed-out member is identified as the cause of the force of resistance, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be increased.

0030According to the ninth aspect of the invention, further, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled.

0031According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be detected.

0032According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, further, information on the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be provided to the worker.

0033According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, further, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be easily detected.

0034According to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, further, the cause of the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials can be identified, and the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled according to the identified cause.

0035According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, further, when the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials is identified as the cause of the force of resistance, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled.

0036According to the fifteenth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the twelfth aspect of the invention, the force of resistance attributable to the state of contact between sheet-shaped materials can be easily reduced.

0037According to the sixteenth aspect of the invention, further, when any smear of the feed-out member is identified as the cause of the force of resistance, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be increased.

0038According to the seventeenth aspect of the invention, further, the force of feeding out the sheet-shaped materials can be controlled.

0039According to the eighteenth aspect of the invention, the force of resistance to the feeding-out of sheet-shaped materials loaded on the base can be measured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0040Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, wherein: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is a profile outlining an image formation device which is an exemplary embodiment of the invention;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a schematic diagram showing details of the configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of a paper feed cassette and its peripheries;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a flow chart showing an example of processing (S10) performed by the controller, when the timing of feeding out of the recording medium by the paper feed unit is delayed, against the delay whose cause is identified by the controller;</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette and its peripheries;</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a third exemplary embodiment the paper feed cassette and its peripheries; and</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment paper feed cassette and its peripheries.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0041Next, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments are nothing to limit the invention.

0042<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> outlines an image formation device 10 which is an exemplary embodiment of one aspect of the invention. The image formation device 10 has an image formation device body 12, and an image formation part 14 is mounted within this image formation device body 12. An ejecting part 16 to be described afterwards is provided above this image formation device body 12, and paper feed units 18 (recording medium transporting devices) of two levels, for instance, are arranged underneath this image formation device body 12. An arrangement is so made as to enable optional plural paper feed units to be disposed further underneath the image formation device body 12.

0043Each paper feed unit (recording medium transporting device) 18 has a paper feed unit body 20 and a paper feed cassette 22 which can stack plural recording media, which may be paper sheets. A feed-out member 24 is arranged above the vicinities of the farther end of the paper feed cassette 22, and a separating roller 26 and a feed roller 28 are arranged behind this feed-out member 24. The feed roller 28 is driven by a driving part (not shown), and so turns as to feed recording media toward a main transportation path 32 to be described afterwards. The separating roller 26 is pressed against the feed roller 28 to be turnable with the rotation of the feed roller 28, and so turns, together with the feed roller 28, as to feed the recording media one by one toward the main transportation path 32 to be described afterwards. For instance, when plural recording media are held between the feed roller 28 and the separating roller 26, the separating roller 26 causes the stacked recording media to slip against one another to prevent any recording medium with which the feed roller 28 is not in contact from being transported, thereby to separate the recording media and to feed out only the recording medium at the top to the main transportation path 32.

0044The main transportation path 32 is the passage of the recording media from the feed roller 28 to an ejection outlet 34. This main transportation path 32, located behind (in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>, on the right side of) the image formation device body 12, has a part formed substantially vertically from the paper feed unit 18 to a fixing device 36 to be described afterwards. A fixing device 42 and an image carrier 44 to be described afterwards are arranged upstream of this fixing device 36 of the main transportation path 32, and a registration roller 38 is arranged further upstream of the fixing device 42 and the image carrier 44. The registration roller 38 temporarily stops recording media fed to the main transportation path 32, and transports the recording media at a prescribed timing to the gap between the fixing device 42 and the image carrier 44.

0045Further, an ejection roller 40 is arranged near the ejection outlet 34 of the main transportation path 32.

0046Therefore, a recording medium fed out of the paper feed cassette 22 of the paper feed unit 18 to the feed-out member 24 is separated by the collaboration of the separating roller 26 and the feed roller 28, and only the recording medium at the top is guided to the main transportation path 32. The medium is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 38, a developer image is transferred onto it when it is passed at an intended timing between the fixing device 42 and the image carrier 44 as will be described afterwards and, with this transferred developer image fixed by the fixing device 36, the medium bearing it is ejected by the ejection roller 40 from the ejection outlet 34 into the ejecting part 16.

0047When printing is to be done on both sides of the medium, it is returned to a reverting path. Thus, the main transportation path 32 is split into two branches before the ejection roller 40, and a switching device 46 is provided at the branching point, from where a reverting path 48 to return to the registration roller 38 is formed. This reverting path 48 is provided with transporting rollers 50a through 50c and, when printing is to be done on both sides, the switching device 46 is changed over to the side of opening the reverting path 48, the turning of the ejection roller 40 is reversed at the time when a part immediately preceding the rear end of the recording medium comes into touch with the ejection roller 40 to guide the recording medium onto the reverting path 48. Then, the recording medium is ejected from the ejection outlet 34 into the ejecting part 16 past the registration roller 38, the fixing device 42, the image carrier 44 and the fixing device 36.

0048The image formation part 14, which may be an electrophotographic device, includes the image carrier 44 which may be a photoreceptor; an charger 56 which may be an charging roller to uniformly charge this image carrier 44; an optical writing device 58 which optically writes a latent image onto the image carrier 44 uniformly electrified by the charger 56; a developing device 60 which makes visible, with a developer, the latent image formed by this optical writing device 58 on the image carrier 44; the fixing device 42, such as a transfer roller, which transfers the developer image provided by this developing device 60 onto the recording medium; a cleaning device 62, such as a blade, for clearing the image carrier 44 of the residual developer; and the fixing device 36 which fixes the developer image on the recording medium transferred by the fixing device 42 onto the recording medium. The optical writing device 58, including a scanning type laser exposure device, is arranged in parallel to the paper feed unit 18 and on the front side of the image formation device body 12, and exposes to light the image carrier 44 across the developing device 60. Also, the optical writing device 58 exposes the image carrier 44 under the control of a controller 66 to be described afterwards. The exposure position of the image carrier 44 constitutes the latent image writing position P.

0049A process cartridge 64, formed by integration of the image carrier 44, the charger 56, the developing device 60 and the cleaning device 62, and all these elements can be replaced in an integrated way. This process cartridge 64 can be taken out of the image formation device body 12 by opening the ejecting part 16.

0050The controller 66, including a CPU and a memory (neither shown), controls the parts constituting the image formation device 10. The image formation device 10 is provided with a display 68 which displays results of processing by the controller 66 and results of detection by a pressure sensor 82 to be described afterwards.

0051Next, the paper feed cassette 22 and its peripheries will be described in detail.

0052<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is a schematic diagram showing details of the configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 and its peripheries. The paper feed cassette 22 has a bottom plate (base) 70 on which recording media can be stacked and a front plate 72 which supports the recording media from forward in the transporting direction (right side in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>).

0053The bottom plate 70 is hung on the front side and the rear side in the transporting direction by a hanging member 74 each, and moved upward or downward along a guide 78a by a motor 76 turning forward or backward under the control of the controller 66. The bottom plate 70 is also enabled to freely move back and forth (rightward and leftward in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>).

0054The front plate 72 is enabled to freely rock pivoting on a spindle 80 disposed underneath. For instance in a state of being erected vertically, the front plate 72 is held between and in contact with the bottom plate 70 and the pressure sensor 82.

0055The pressure sensor 82 is disposed, for instance, within the paper feed cassette 22, detects the force the recording medium and the bottom plate 70 are subjected to in the transporting direction of the recording medium (rightward in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>) as a pressure via the front plate 72, and outputs the result of detection to the controller 66.

0056Further, a device 84 which generates an air stream for blowing air toward the recording medium stacked on the bottom plate 70 under the control of the controller 66 is provided between the paper feed cassette 22 and the separating roller 26, and a photosensor 86 which detects the presence or absence of any recording medium and outputs the result of detection to the controller 66 is arranged downstream of the feed roller 28 in the recording medium transporting direction.

0057Further, a roller cleaning device 88 for cleaning the feed-out member 24 is disposed near the feed-out member 24. The roller cleaning device 88 has a cleaning device body 90, a supporting part 92 and a contact part 94. The cleaning device body 90 rocks the supporting part 92 pivoting on one end of the supporting part 92 under the control of the controller 66. The contact part 94, disposed at the other end of the supporting part 92, is enabled by the rocking of the supporting part 92 to clean the surface of the feed-out member 24 when it comes into contact with the feed-out member 24. The roller cleaning device 88 may as well be of a type that cleans the feed-out member 24 by blowing air out.

0058The controller 66 so controls the motor 76 as to bring the top one of the recording media stacked on the bottom plate 70 into contact with the feed-out member 24, turns the feed-out member 24 via a driving part (not shown), and transports the recording medium toward the feed roller 28 and the separating roller 26 with the frictional force of the feed-out member 24 against the recording medium.

0059When the feed-out member 24 has fed out the top one of the recording media stacked on the bottom plate 70, the recording media with which the feed-out member 24 is not in contact and the bottom plate 70 are subjected to a force in the recording medium transporting direction (rightward in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>). Since the front plate 72 is held between the bottom plate 70 and the pressure sensor 82, the force to which the recording media with which the feed-out member 24 is not in contact and the bottom plate 70 are subjected by the rotation of the feed-out member 24 becomes substantially equal to the resistive force against the feeding-out of the recording media by the feed-out member 24, and detected as a pressure working on the pressure sensor 82 via the front plate 72.

0060The controller 66 controls the load that the feed-out member 24 imposes on the recording medium according to the timing of detection by the photosensor 86 of the presence or absence of any recording medium (the moving speed of the recording medium). Further, the controller 66 controls the operation of at least one of the air stream generating device 84 and the cleaning device body 90 according to the timing of detection by the photosensor 86 of the presence or absence of any recording medium and the result of detection by the pressure sensor 82.

0061Incidentally, the separating roller 26 may be equipped with a control mechanism which would increase the torque in the direction reverse to the recording medium transporting direction when more than one recording medium have entered between the feed roller 28 and the separating roller 26.

0062Next, the processing which is performed, when the timing of the feeding out of the recording medium by the paper feed unit 18 is delayed, against the delay whose cause is identified by the controller 66.

0063<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a flow chart showing an example of processing (S10) performed by the controller 66, when the timing of the feeding out of the recording medium by the paper feed unit 18 is delayed, against the delay whose cause is identified by the controller 66.

0064As charted in <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>, at step 100 (S100), the controller 66 feeds out a recording medium stacked on the bottom plate 70 toward the gap between the feed roller 28 and the separating roller 26 by turning the feed-out member 24.

0065At step 102 (S102), the controller 66 determines according to the result of detection by the photosensor 86 whether the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium is not less than a prescribed value and, if the delay is not less than the prescribed value, the processing advances to S104, or if the delay is less than the prescribed value, the processing advances to S112. The delay of the recording medium occurs when the force of feed-out (carriage) by the feed-out member 24 is smaller than the resistive force against the feed-out.

0066At step 104 (S104), the controller 66 determines whether the value of detection by the pressure sensor 82 is not less than a prescribed value A and, if the value of detection is not less than the prescribed value A, the processing advances to S106, or if the value of detection is less than the prescribed value A, the processing advances to S108.

0067At step 106 (S106), the controller 66 identifies the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium in the stacked recording medium. Possible causes of the delay include one related to the force of mutual adherence between recording media and one related to the state of contact of the edge of the recording medium, such as burrs.

0068At step 108 (S108), the controller 66 increases the quantity of the air stream generated by the air stream generating device 84, and so separates the recording media as to improve the slip among the recording media.

0069At step 110 (S110), the controller 66 determines whether the value of detection by the pressure sensor 82 is not more than a prescribed value B and, if the value of detection is not more than the prescribed value B, the processing advances to S112, or if the value of detection is more than the prescribed value B, the processing advances to S116.

0070At step 112 (S112), the controller 66 identifies the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium to be a drop in the force of the feed-out member 24 to feed out the recording medium. Possible causes of the delay include a fall in the coefficient of the friction of the feed-out member 24 with the recording medium.

0071At step 114 (S114), the controller 66 cleans the surface of the feed-out member 24 via the roller cleaning device 88 and thereby improves the fall in the coefficient of the friction of the feed-out member 24.

0072At step 116 (S116), the controller 66 determines whether a prescribed number of recording media have been fed out and, if not, the processing advances to S100 or, if they have, the processing is ended.

0073Incidentally at S114, the controller 66 may, instead of cleaning the surface of the feed-out member 24, display on the display 68 that the coefficient of the friction of the feed-out member 24 with the recording medium has fallen and urge the operator to replace the feed-out member 24.

0074<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 and its peripheries.

0075In illustrating the second exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22, substantially the same parts constituting the first exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> are assigned respectively the same reference numerals.

0076The bottom plate 70 is provided with a movable part 98 which freely rocks pivoting on a spindle 96 and a pressure sensor 100, and recording media can be stacked on the top face of the movable part 98. The controller 66 is so disposed as to accept the result of detection by the pressure sensor 100 and to detect the load imposed on the recording medium by the feed-out member 24. It is enabled to identify the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium according to the results of detection by the pressure sensor 82, the photosensor 86 and the pressure sensor 100, and to control the air stream generating device 84, the roller cleaning device 88 and so forth accordingly.

0077The paper feed cassette 22 may as well be provided with, instead of the photosensor 86, a slip sensor 102 for detecting any slip of recording media. The controller 66 may as well identify the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium according to the results of detection by the pressure sensor 82, the slip sensor 102 and the pressure sensor 100, and to control the air stream generating device 84, the roller cleaning device 88 and so forth accordingly.

0078<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 and its peripheries.

0079In illustrating the third exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22, substantially the same parts constituting the second exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 shown in <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> are assigned respectively the same reference numerals.

0080The paper feed cassette 22 may as well be so configured as to have no front plate 72 and to instead have a loading part 104 detachably arranged over the bottom plate 70 to have recording media over the loading part 104. The loading part 104 has a base part 106, plural straight moving stages 108 arranged on this base part, a moving part 110 arranged on these straight moving stages 108, and a pressure sensor 112 which detects as a pressure the force which the moving part 110 is subjected to by the rotation of the feed-out member 24. The moving part 110 is provided with a movable part 116 which freely rocks pivoting on a spindle 114 and a pressure sensor 118, and recording media can be stacked on the top face of the movable part 116. The controller 66 is so disposed as to accept the result of detection by the pressure sensor 118 and to detect the load imposed on the recording medium by the feed-out member 24. It is enabled to identify the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium according to the results of detection by the pressure sensor 118 , the photosensor 86 and the pressure sensor 112, and to control the air stream generating device 84, the roller cleaning device 88 and so forth accordingly.

0081<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 and its peripheries.

0082In illustrating the fourth exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22, substantially the same parts constituting the first exemplary embodiment of the paper feed cassette 22 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> are assigned respectively the same reference numerals.

0083The paper feed cassette 22 may as well be so configured as to have the front plate 72 pinched between the bottom plate 70 and an elastic member 120 such as a spring and to be provided with a distance sensor 122 which detects any displacement of the bottom plate 70 by detecting the displacement of the front plate 72.

0084The controller 66 identifies the cause of the delay (in the feed-out timing) of the recording medium according to the results of detection by the photosensor 86 and the distance sensor 122, and to control the air stream generating device 84, the roller cleaning device 88 and so forth accordingly.

0085The distance sensor 122 may as well be an on/off sensor (switch) which is turned on or off according to the displacement of the front plate 72.

0086Although cases in which the pressure sensor 82 or the like detects the compressive form deriving from the bottom plate 70 is described in the foregoing exemplary embodiments, this is not the only applicable principle, but forces working on recording media with which the feed-out member 24 is not in contact and on the bottom plate 70 may as well be detected by detecting a tensile force deriving from the bottom plate 70.

0087Also, the detection of forces working on recording media with which the feed-out member 24 is not in contact and on the bottom plate 70 as well as the control of the air stream generating device 84 and the roller cleaning device 88 according to the results of detection can be applied to a paper feed cassette 22 in which the bottom plate 70 is impelled from underneath by an impelling member such as a spring.

0088Further, though the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to an image formation device having a measuring device and a sheet-shaped material transporting device wherein recording media, such as paper sheets on which images are recorded, are taken up as an example of sheet-shaped materials, the invention is not limited to this configuration, but the sheet-shaped materials may as well be bank notes or cards, and the measuring device and the sheet-shaped material transporting device may as well be devices intended for use with bank notes or cards.