SHEET FEEDER AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of multi-feeding and jam caused when the interval between sheets in conveyance becomes too narrow while suppressing increase in the device cost.SOLUTION: A sheet feeder comprises a plurality of conveyance members 34a, 34b, 34c and conveys sheets while temporarily stopping conveyance and resuming conveyance after that. Two preceding and following sheets in the conveyance direction stop together in the temporary stop state. Driving stop and resumption for temporary stop and resumption are synchronously performed with respect to a first conveyance member 34a facing the preceding first sheet P1 of the two sheets and a second conveyance member 34b facing the following second sheet P2. Pieces of stop position information acquisition means 112a, 114 for obtaining information on the stop position of the second sheet on the conveyance path in the temporary stop state are provided, and the stop timing after resumption is controlled in accordance with the acquired information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3 【課題】装置コストの増大を抑えつつ、搬送中の用紙と用紙との間の間隔が狭くなりすぎることによって起こる、重送やジャムの発生を防止することができる。【解決手段】複数の搬送部材３４ａ、３４ｂ、３４ｃを有し搬送の一旦停止とその後の再開を行いながら用紙を搬送する。前記一旦停止状態で搬送方向で前後する２枚の用紙が共に停止し、前記２枚の用紙のうち先行する第１用紙Ｐ１が対向する第１搬送部材３４ａと、後続の第２用紙Ｐ２が対向する第２搬送部材３４ｂとについて前記一旦停止及び前記再開のため駆動停止及び再開を同期して行う。前記一旦停止状態における前記第２用紙の搬送経路上での停止位置に関する情報を求める停止位置情報取得手段１１２ａ、１１４を設け、取得した情報に応じて前記再開後の停止タイミングを制御する。【選択図】図３