Patent ID: 8292289

Claim:
A transport device that transports a sheet set in a set section toward the downstream side on a transport path, the transport device comprising: a feeding member that feeds the sheet set in the set section toward the downstream side on the transport path; a stepped portion formed at an end of the set section in the downstream side of the transport path, the stepped portion extending over a width of the set section; a restricting member disposed in the feeding member and forming a part of the stepped portion that is provided at a set position of the sheet in the set section, the restricting member being displaced to restrict the sheet moving toward the downstream side on the transport path; a pusher disposed in the feeding member comprising a spring that applies a force to the restricting member so that the restricting member is positioned at a first position where the restricting member protrudes on the transport path; a paper sheet detecting sensor which sends an ON-detection signal when the sheet is set in the set section and which sends an OFF-detection signal when the sheet is not determined to be set in the set section; wherein the restricting member includes a restricting section that comes in contact with a front end of the sheet from the downstream side on the transport path, and is rotatable about a shaft extending along the transport path so as to be displaced between the first position and a second position where the restricting section retracts from the transport path, wherein the feeding member is displaced between a feed position where the feeding member feeds the sheet and a non-feed position where the feeding member does not feed the sheet, and when the feeding member is displaced from the non-feed position to the feed position, an engagement portion of the feeding member is engaged with the restricting member so as to cause the restricting member to resist the force of the pusher so that the restricting member is positioned at the second position, wherein upon receiving an OFF-detection signal from the paper sheet detecting sensor the feeding member is displaced from the non-feed position to the feed position, and wherein upon continuously receiving an OFF-detection signal from the paper sheet detecting sensor after the feeding member is displaced from the non-feed position to the feed position, it is determined that the sheet is not determined to be in the set section and the feeding member is displaced from the feed position to the non-feed position.