Patent ID: 8172218

Claim:
A paper feed system comprising: a first paper feed mechanism which takes out and transfers one by one a plurality of papers placed on a paper feed table in a stack; a second paper feed mechanism which transfers the papers transferred by the first paper feed mechanism to an image forming section at predetermined timings, a first paper edge detector being provided between the first and second paper feed mechanisms, for detecting an edge of the paper, a second paper edge detector being provided between the first and second paper feed mechanisms, at a position closer to the second paper feed mechanism than the first paper edge detector, for detecting an edge of the paper; and a paper feed control section for controlling the first paper feed mechanism to transfer the papers at a first speed, and then at a second speed not higher than the first speed after the second paper edge detector detects a leading edge of the paper; the second speed being determined on the basis of the timings at which the leading edge of the paper is detected by the first and second paper edge detectors, and varying the second speed according to the timings at which the leading edge of the paper is detected by the first and d second paper edge detectors, such that a uniform amount of sag across substantially the length of the papers is imparted to the papers that abut the second paper feed mechanism.