FEEDER, ITS CONTROL METHOD, IMAGE READER AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of being obliged to switch a manual feeding mode every time when starting a device, in a state of using such a device by mainly using manual feeding, though a separate feeding mode is designated in the initial setting, in the device such as a document scanner for continuously feeding a large quantity of documents. SOLUTION: This feeder has a detecting means for detecting whether or not a sheet-like member is in a feedable state. The detecting means does not detect the sheet-like member before accepting feeding starting indication, and has a state control means for transferring a separating means to a separation invalid state from a separation valid state when the detecting means detects the sheet-like member after accepting the feeding starting indication. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT