Patent ID: 6354589
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet feed apparatus, comprising:a sheet table for holding a sheet set including at least one sheet; a single sheet transfer mechanism, which includes a single sheet flipping mechanism, for sequentially performing in order a first transfer operation in which an initial sheet is separated from said sheet set placed on said sheet table and said initial sheet is transferred via a first connecting path to a reading position to receive a front-face sheet reading operation, and a second transfer operation in which the single sheet flipping mechanism flips over the initial sheet and transfers said initial sheet via said first connecting path to the reading position to receive a rear-face sheet reading operation; and a controller for controlling said single sheet transfer mechanism to perform said first transfer operation on a succeeding sheet after said initial sheet passes by said reading position during said second transfer operation on said initial sheet, for controlling the single sheet sheet flipping mechanism to again flip over the initial sheet, and for controlling the single sheet transfer mechanism to eject the initial sheet only after the first transfer operation has been performed on the succeeding sheet and the first and second transfer operations have been performed on the initial sheet.