Patent ID: 7274886
Filing Date: 2007-09-25
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printer engine configured to form an image on a medium; a supply unit configured to supply the medium to the printer engine through a feed path; a light emitting element configured to emit light onto the medium at a predetermined position on the feed path; a transmitted light receiving element configured to receive transmitted light of the light emitted by the light emitting element which is transmitted through the medium; a reflected light receiving element configured to receive reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting element which is reflected by the medium; a detecting unit which executes a detection through the emission of light and the reception of transmitted light and reflected light; a first determining unit which determines a characteristic of the medium based on detection signals output by the transmitted light receiving element and the reflected light receiving element as a result of the detection; a control unit which executes a predetermined control in the image forming apparatus based on the characteristic determined by the first determining unit; a second determining unit configured to determine whether the medium is present based on one of the detection signals output by the transmitted light receiving element and the reflected light receiving element; and a correcting unit configured to correct an output of at least one of the light emitting element, the transmitted light receiving element, and the reflected light receiving element output as a result of the detection, based on an output of one of the transmitted light receiving element output and reflected light receiving element output, when the light is emitted by the light emitting element while the medium is not present.