Patent ID: 7343689
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: B65H,G01B,G03G

Abstract:
1. A sheet thickness detection device which is provided in a sheet conveying path formed by a pair of conveyance guides opposite to each other and which detects the thickness of a sheet conveyed in said sheet conveying path, the sheet thickness detection device comprising: a pair of levers which are mounted on said pair of conveyance guides, respectively, and each of which is swingably pivoted at one end thereof to allow opening and closing motions of another end thereof about said end serving as a base point, the levers being disposed to allow a sheet to be inserted in a gap between said levers by the opening motion of said lever; and a swing amount detection unit provided at the other end of the lever for detecting the thickness of the sheet by detecting the amount of the swing of said levers when the sheet is inserted, the swing amount detection unit comprises an optical sensor, the optical sensor comprising a reflection type displacement sensor provided on one of surfaces of the pair of levers opposite to each other for projecting light on the other of the opposite surfaces and for receiving reflected light from the other of said opposite surfaces.