Media conveying apparatus, media conveying method, and non-transitory recording medium

Abstract

A media conveying apparatus includes a feed roller to feed a medium, a separation roller located facing the feed roller, a conveyance roller located downstream from the feed roller in a media conveyance direction to convey the medium by rotating in a first direction and to align a leading end of the medium by stopping or rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and circuitry configured to set a torque applied to the separation roller. The circuitry sets the torque applied to the separation roller after the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.

1 . A media conveying apparatus, comprising:
 a feed roller to feed a medium;   a separation roller located facing the feed roller;   a conveyance roller located downstream from the feed roller in a media conveyance direction to convey the medium by rotating in a first direction and to align a leading end of the medium by stopping or rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and   circuitry configured to set a torque applied to the separation roller,   wherein the circuitry sets the torque applied to the separation roller after the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.   
     
     
         2 . The media conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor to generate a driving force for rotating the separation roller, wherein a motor torque of the motor is changeable; and   a torque limiter located between the motor and the separation roller to define a limit value of the torque applied to the separation roller,   wherein the circuitry sets the motor torque before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value greater than the limit value and to set the motor torque after the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value smaller than the limit value.   
     
     
         3 . The media conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second conveyance roller located downstream from the conveyance roller in the media conveyance direction,
 wherein the circuitry sets the torque applied to the separation roller from when the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to when the leading end of the medium passes through a position of the second conveyance roller to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.   
     
     
         4 . The media conveying apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging device located downstream from the conveyance roller in the media conveyance direction,
 wherein the circuitry sets the torque applied to the separation roller from when the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to before the leading end of the medium reaches an imaging position of the imaging device to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.   
     
     
         5 . A media conveying method, comprising:
 feeding a medium by a feed roller;   conveying the medium by a conveyance roller located downstream from the feed roller in a media conveyance direction rotating in a first direction and aligning a leading end of the medium by the conveyance roller stopping or rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and   setting a torque applied to a separation roller located facing the feed roller,   wherein the setting includes setting the torque applied to the separation roller after the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.   
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a media conveying apparatus, causes the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
 feeding a medium by a feed roller;   conveying the medium by a conveyance roller located downstream from the feed roller in a media conveyance direction rotating in a first direction and aligning a leading end of the medium by the conveyance roller stopping or rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and   setting a torque applied to a separation roller located facing the feed roller,   wherein the setting includes setting the torque applied to the separation roller after the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium to a value smaller than the torque applied to the separation roller before the conveyance roller starts to align the leading end of the medium.