Patent ID: 7144008
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a sheet tray configured to accommodate stacked sheets; a sheet feeding device configured to feed the stacked sheets from the sheet tray; a separation device configured to separate an individual sheet from the stacked sheets; a first light emitting device configured to emit first light toward the stacked sheets, and to emit first light of at least two intensities; a first light receiving device configured to receive the first light emitted by the first light emitting device; a first control device configured to detect a number of sheets based on a quantity of a decrease of the transmitted light emitted by the first light emitting device; a second light emitting device configured to emit second light toward the individual sheet after the separation device separates the individual sheet, and to emit second light of at least two intensities; a second light receiving device configured to receive the second light emitted by the second light emitting device; and a second control device configured to detect a quantity of a decrease of the individual sheet based on a quantity of a decrease of the transmitted light emitted by the second light emitting device.