US 12,264,024 B2
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
Katsumi Okada, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Katsumi Okada, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,699.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-023941 (JP), filed on Feb. 18, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0264912 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 26/00 (2006.01); B65H 19/10 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 19/105 (2013.01) [B65H 2553/80 (2013.01); B65H 2701/1311 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
12. A sheet feeding device configured to feed a sheet from a sheet roll, the sheet feeding device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a step at a leading end of the sheet roll;
a roller disposed at a position different from a position of the sensor in a circumferential direction of the sheet roll;
a support supporting the sensor and the roller to bring the sensor and the roller into contact with a surface of the sheet roll;
circuitry configured to acquire a sensor signal from the sensor; and
a spool insertable through a sheet tube of the sheet roll to rotate the sheet roll in conjunction with rotation of the spool, wherein
the support being pivotable within a range in which the sensor does not contact the spool, and
the circuitry is further configured to:
detect an inclination of the sensor signal when the leading end of the sheet roll passes by the sensor;
determine, when detecting the inclination at an nth rotation of the sheet roll or the spool, whether the inclination is detected again at an (n+1)th rotation of the sheet roll or the spool, where n is an integer of one or more; and
determine that the leading end of the sheet roll is present when continuously detecting the inclination for a number of rotations of the sheet roll or the spool.