1. An image recording apparatus comprising:
a sheet feed tray configured to store a plurality of stacked recording medium;
a sheet feed roller configured to feed the plurality of recording medium, one by one, from the sheet feed tray;
an image recording unit configured to record an image on the recording medium fed by the sheet feed roller;
an output unit configured to output the recording medium recorded by the image recording unit;
a first conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium from the sheet feed tray to the output unit via the image recording unit;
a second conveying unit configured to return the recording medium, which has conveyed via the image recording unit, to the sheet feed tray;
an image memory configured to store image data to be recorded by the image recording unit; and
a controller configured to control the sheet feed roller, the image recording unit, the first conveying unit, and the second conveying unit to record the image on the recording medium; and
a detection unit configured to detect a position of the recording medium with respect to the sheet feed tray,
wherein the controller is configured to control the sheet feed roller to start feeding a following recording medium subsequent to a preceding recording medium fed by the sheet feed roller irrespective of whether the image data for the following recording medium is stored in the image memory,
wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the image data for the following recording medium is stored in the image memory after having started the sheet feeding of the following recording medium, and whether first and second following recording media had been fed from the sheet feed tray,
wherein, when the controller determines that an image data for the following recording medium fed from the sheet feed tray is not stored in the image memory and that a trailing edge of the first following recording medium has passed the sheet feed roller, the controller is configured to control the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit to return the first following recording medium to the sheet feed tray by conveying the first following recording medium through the image recording unit and the second conveying unit, and
wherein, when the controller determines that an image data for the following recording medium fed from the sheet feed tray is not stored in the image memory and that the trailing edge of the second following recording medium has not passed the sheet feed roller, the controller is configured to control the sheet feed roller to return the second following recording medium to the sheet feed tray without passing through the image recording unit and the second conveying unit.
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching roller being capable of rotating in normal and reverse directions,
wherein the controller controls the switching roller to rotate in the normal direction when outputting the recording medium, which has passed the image recording unit, to the output unit, and
controls the switching roller to rotate in the reverse direction when returning the recording medium, which has passed the image recording unit, to the sheet feed tray via the second conveying unit.
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the controller further configured to perform a duplex image recording, and
in the duplex image recording control, the controller is configured to perform recording an image on a first surface of the recording medium fed from the sheet feed tray by the image recording unit, then returning the recording medium to the sheet feed tray via the second conveying unit, feeding the returned recording medium again from the sheet feed tray, recording an image on a second surface of the re-fed recording medium by the image recording unit, and outputting the recording medium, which is recorded on the second surface, to the output unit.
4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the sheet feed roller is configured to be rotatable in normal and reverse directions, and
the controller is configured to, if the controller determines that the trailing edge of the following recording medium has not passed the sheet feed roller, rotate the sheet feed roller in the reverse direction to return the following recording medium to the sheet feed tray.
5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a counter configured to count the amount of rotation of the sheet feed roller.
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit further includes a rotary encoder configured to output the amount of rotation of the sheet feed roller.
7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the following recording medium is returned to the sheet feed tray via a position opposite to a position where the recording medium fed from the sheet feed tray passes when the trailing edge of the following recording medium has passed the sheet feed roller.
8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upward-oriented surface of the following recording medium returned to the sheet feed tray is a different from an upward-oriented surface of the same before initially being fed from the sheet feed tray when the trailing edge of the following recording medium has passed the sheet feed roller.
9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feed tray is positioned below the image recording unit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for processing a container that has been pre-tensioned, said container being in a sealed position against a filling element, said method comprising pressure-filling said container with liquid filling-material, said container being maintained at a filling pressure, upon completion of said pressure-filling, while said container is in said sealed position, carrying out a pressure-treatment of said liquid filling-material, and relieving pressure in said container to ambient pressure, wherein carrying out said pressure treatment comprises raising internal pressure in said container to a treatment pressure that is higher than said filling pressure, and wherein raising said internal pressure comprises introducing gas into a head space of said container.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein carrying out said pressure treatment comprises carrying out said pressure treatment for an interval that is shorter than a time required for completion of said pressure-filling.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein carrying out said pressure treatment comprises carrying out said pressure treatment for an interval that is between 0.5 seconds and 3 seconds.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising maintaining said treatment pressure to be between 1.5 times said filling pressure and 2.5 times said filling pressure.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein carrying out pressure treatment comprises causing a pressure rise within said interior, wherein said pressure rise is between 0.5 bar and 3.0 bar.
21. The method of claim 16, further comprising, prior to pressure-filling said container with liquid filling-material, causing gas to pass into said container from a gas reservoir, and, after causing said gas to pass into said container, returning gas that is in said container to said gas source.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein introducing gas into said head space comprises introducing a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and sterile air.
23. A method for processing a container, said method comprising, during a filling phase, filling an interior of said container with liquid content, when said container has been filled to a designated level, ceasing filling, and testing said container for leaks, wherein testing said container for leaks comprises connecting said interior to a gas source, allowing said gas source to fill said interior until a pressure within said interior reaches a treatment pressure, disconnecting said source from said interior, and, during the course of a testing interval, monitoring for evidence of leakage from said container.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein monitoring for evidence of leakage comprises monitoring a rate of change of pressure within said container.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein monitoring for evidence of leakage comprises inspecting an outer surface of said container.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising using a camera for inspecting said outer surface.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein monitoring for evidence of leakage comprises, using a pressure sensor, monitoring pressure in said container.
28. The method of claim 23, wherein testing said container for leaks occurs with said container arranged in a sealed position against a filling element.
29. The method of claim 23, wherein said treatment pressure is greater than a filling pressure used in pressure-filling said container.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said treatment pressure is between 1.5 times said filling pressure and 2.5 times said filling pressure.
31. The method of claim 23, wherein connecting said interior to a gas source comprises connecting said interior to a channel that transports a treatment gas at said treatment pressure.
32. The method of claim 23, wherein said designated level is selected such that filling is completed prior to testing said container for leaks.
33. The method of claim 23, further comprising determining that no leak is present, and resuming filling of said container.
34. An apparatus for processing a container that contains liquid filling-material, said apparatus comprising a source of inert gas at a treatment pressure that is higher than a fill pressure that is used to fill said container, and a plurality of filling elements, wherein a first filling element from said plurality of filling elements comprises a housing, and a first controlled gas path, wherein said filling element provides controlled dispensing of liquid content into said container, wherein said first controlled gas path is formed in said housing, and wherein said first controlled gas path selectively connects said source with said container.
35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said source comprises a joint channel that connects to each filling element in said plurality of filling elements.
36. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a second controlled gas path, and a collection chamber, wherein said collection chamber is connected to all filling elements in said plurality of filling elements, wherein said second controlled gas path is selectively connected to said collection chamber such that an interior of said container can be selectively connected to said collection chamber, wherein said second controlled gas path is configured to permit escape of gases used in rinsing and pre-tensioning of said containers.