Patent ID: 6883800

Claim:
A paper convey device for conveying a paper sheet in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a paper feed unit which feeds a paper sheet; a first sensor which is placed near an exit of said paper feed unit, detects passage of a first paper sheet, and outputs a first detection signal; a first CPU which receives the first detection signal to generate a control signal defining a desired cycle time at which the respective paper sheets should be conveyed; a reverse/paper discharge unit which, upon reception of the paper sheet, reverses a direction of a paper sheet by using a reverse motor, and discharges the paper sheet by using a paper discharge motor; a second sensor which is placed near the reverse motor in said reverse/discharge unit, detects passage of each paper sheet, and outputs a second detection signal, and a second CPU which receives the control signal and the second detection signal, compares a timing of passage of each paper sheet with the cycle time defined by the control signal, determines a delay or an advance for each paper sheet, and controls the reverse motor in accordance with the determination result.