Distance detector, sheet feeder, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A distance detector includes a distance-measuring sensor, a first detection surface, a second detection surface, and processing circuitry. The first detection surface is perpendicular to an optical axis of the distance-measuring sensor. The second detection surface is behind or in front of the first detection surface with respect to the distance-measuring sensor. The second detection surface has two faces inclined with respect to the optical axis of the distance-measuring sensor. The first detection surface or the second detection surface is retractable from the distance-measuring sensor. The processing circuitry determines whether the first detection surface or the second detection surface is detected by the distance-measuring sensor and causes the distance detector to detect a distance from the distance-measuring sensor to the first detection surface based on detection of the first detection surface by the distance-measuring sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.