Separation conveyance device, image forming apparatus, method for controlling separation conveyance device, and computer-readable recording medium

A method for controlling a separation conveyance device, the conveyance device including a separation device having a first roller and a load unit, a second roller, a motor configured to generate power, a transmission system and a controller, the method comprising:

• feeding, via the first roller, a conveyance object;
• and
• applying, via the load unit, a load to the conveyance object fed by the first roller to separate the conveyance object from a plurality of conveyance objects using the load;
• conveying, via the second roller, the conveyance object fed from the first roller;
• rotating, via the transmission system, the first roller at a first linear speed and the second roller at a second linear speed higher than the first linear speed;
• cutting off, via the transmission system, the power of the motor from the first roller when the second roller conveys the conveyance object;
• and
• determining, via the controller, a separation state of the conveyance object by the separating device based on load torque applied from the transmission system to a motor shaft of the motor in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the motor shaft.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that contains a control program that causes a controller included in a separation conveyance device having a separation device including a first roller and a load unit, a second roller, a motor configured to generate power, and a transmission system, to execute:

• feeding, via the first roller, a conveyance object, and
• applying, via the load unit, a load to the conveyance object fed by the first roller to separate the conveyance object from a plurality of conveyance objects using the load,
• conveying, via the second roller, the conveyance object fed from the first roller,
• rotating, via the transmission system, the first roller at a first linear speed and the second roller at a second linear speed higher than the first linear speed,
• cutting off, via the transmission system, the power of the motor from the first roller when the second roller conveys the conveyance object, and
• determining, via the controller, a separation state of the conveyance object by the separating device based on load torque applied from the transmission system to a motor shaft of the motor in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the motor shaft.