Abstract: A pusher plate stacking bin apparatus is provided for a valuable media depository. The apparatus comprising a pusher plate driven by a rack and pinion apparatus to stack a media item that is in a final position within the apparatus onto a media stacking platform. The media item is urged into the final position such that a trailing edge of the media item overhangs and rests on a fixed media guide and such that a leading edge of the media item overhangs and rests on a hinged media guide with a bottom surface of the media item elevated above the media stacking platform. The rack and pinion apparatus drives the plate past the media guides causing the hinged media guide to drop and the media item to fold along the leading edge as the media item is stacked onto the platform.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette, a first conveying unit, a lift mechanism, a motor, a second conveying unit, and a control unit. The controller drives the motor and, if a value indicating a movement amount of the tray moving from when the lift mechanism starts the lifting of the tray until when a position of the top part reaches a first position is a first value, matches a position of the first conveying unit, which comes into contact with the top part to thereby rise together with the tray, with a second position and, if the value indicating the movement amount is a second value larger than the first value, matches the position of the first conveying unit, which comes into contact with the top part to thereby rise together with the tray, with a third position lower than the second position.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a feeding tray on which a sheet can be mounted; a first conveying passage; an image forming unit disposed along the first conveying passage and configured to record an image on the sheet; a cutting unit disposed along the first conveying passage downstream of the image recording unit and configured to cut the sheet; a second conveying passage connected to the first conveying passage; and a controller configured to perform: conveying the sheet mounted on the feeding tray to the image recording unit; recording an image on the sheet by the image recording unit; cutting the recorded sheet at a cutting position on the sheet to divide the sheet into a first sheet on which the image has been recorded and a second sheet on which the image has not been recorded; discharging the first sheet; and conveying the second sheet to the second conveying passage.

Abstract: A sheet container includes a sheet loader, a pair of sheet regulators, a pressing member, and a pressing force adjusting device. The sheet loader is movable in a vertical direction and configured to load a sheet. The pair of sheet regulators is configured to regulate a position in a width direction of the sheet loaded on the sheet loader. The pressing member is disposed on at least one of the pair of sheet regulators and configured to press a lateral end face of the sheet, toward another one of the pair of sheet regulators in the width direction of the sheet. The pressing force adjusting device is configured to adjust pressing force generated by the pressing member to the sheet while maintaining a state in which the pressing member applies the pressing force to the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet includes a first lift tray configured to move up or down in a first lift range and to support a sheet; a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet supported by the first lift tray; and a second lift tray configured to move up or down in a second lift range and to support a sheet in cooperation with the first lift tray. A lowest position in the second lift range is a position above a lowest position in the first lift range, and the second lift range is a range which is narrower than the first lift range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents are provided. The apparatus includes a feeder for receiving a packet of a plurality of documents and separating the documents to serially feed the documents to a scanner. A retard adjacent the feeder is operable in first and second positions. In the first position the retard forms a nip with the feeder so that the retard is operable to impede the progress of one or more documents in the packet while the feeder feeds one of the documents in the packet. In the second position, the retard is spaced apart from the feeder to form a gap between the feeder and the retard. The system further includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the documents in a packet indicative of whether the number of documents in the packet exceeds a predetermined threshold. A drive mechanism automatically drives the retard pad between the first and second positions in response to the detected characteristic.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a placement unit on which sheets of paper are placed, a feeder that feeds a sheet, thrust mechanisms that push up the placement unit toward the feeder, and an edge guide. Each of the thrust mechanisms includes a coil spring that imparts an urging force to the placement unit, one case that is mounted on the placement unit and receives the coil spring from one end thereof and accommodates the coil spring, and another case that is disposed so as to partially overlap the one case and receives the coil spring from the other end thereof and accommodates the coil spring. The one case and the other case are configured to be movable relative to each other in the urging direction of the coil spring and to be rotatable together in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A motor driving unit controls motor conducted current of a brushed DC motor on the basis of a motor control signal. A motor control unit provides the motor control signal to the motor driving unit and thereby controls the brushed DC motor. A brush noise detecting unit detects brush noises in conducted current of the brushed DC motor and outputs a brush noise detection signal. A speed determining unit determines a time interval of the brush noises and determines a rotation speed of the brushed DC motor on the basis of the time interval. Further, the motor control unit determines whether the brushed DC motor is in a lock status or not on the basis of the rotation speed in a period that the motor control signal is provided to the motor driving unit to cause the brushed DC motor to be in operation.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus includes a first stacking unit, for stacking sheets of a first size, configured to move vertically between an upper limit position and a lower limit position, and a second stacking unit for stacking sheets of a second size larger than the first size in cooperation with the first stacking unit. The second stacking unit is jointed to the first stacking unit at a predetermined position, moving vertically together with the first stacking unit while being joined to the first stacking unit above the predetermined position, and is released from being jointed to the first stacking unit below the predetermined position.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device including a power transmission unit that transmits power of a driving source to a transportation roller and a discharging roller, in which the power transmission unit is configured to include a first gear group that constitutes a first power transmission route and a second gear group that constitutes a second power transmission route and that is configured to include a smaller number of gears than the first gear group, the second gear group includes a transportation roller driving gear and is disposed inside a curved inversion route as seen from an axial direction of a rotation shaft, and at least a portion of the transportation roller driving gear is positioned inside a medium transportation region in a width direction of a medium.

Abstract: A contact member swingably moves about a swing axis to contact a recording medium stacked on a medium tray, and shifts to different states depending on volume of medium. A controller performs: a detection process of detecting the stacked volume based on signals of M times outputted from the sensor, the M times being a number of times that is larger than or equal to two times; a stack determination process of determining whether the recording medium is stacked on the medium tray based on signals of N times, the signals of N times being a part of the signals of the M times outputted from the sensor, the N times being a number of times that is smaller than M; and a sheet feeding process of controlling the feed roller to feed the recording medium, in response to determining that the recording medium is stacked on the medium tray.

Abstract: A driven gear is relatively movable to a first support position and to a second support position on a support member. When a first gear rotates in a first direction, the driven gear rotates at the first support position in conjunction with rotation of the first gear to permit the rotation of the driven gear. When the first gear rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the driven gear moves to the second support position under a force received from the gear in an area where the driven gear meshes with the first gear. Then, at the second support position, the driven gear is locked on a locking member and thus stopped, preventing the first gear from rotating in the second direction.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes: a cassette configured to internally contain a sheet material; a push-up plate that is mounted on an inner bottom surface of the cassette and that is a plate on top surface of which the sheet material is mounted; a push-up plate displacement mechanism configured to include push-up plate biasing members and to change a posture of the push-up plate using a biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members; a width regulating member configured to be displaced in a width direction intersecting with a feeding direction and to regulate a position of the sheet material; and a biasing member selecting mechanism that includes a switching unit configured to switch application and release-application of the biasing force of one of the push-up plate biasing members to a posture change of the push-up plate, in interlocking with displacement of the width regulating member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (4) includes a placing plate (34) on which a sheet is placed; a pickup roller (71) which feeds the sheet to a conveying path (25); a lift member (36) which is turned around a rotating shaft (46) to elevate the placing plate (34) and to make an downstream side end portion of an uppermost sheet in a conveying direction come into contact with the pickup roller (71); a drive unit (37) which rotates the rotating shaft (46); a variable resistor (54) which changes an electric resistance value depending on a rotating angle of the rotating shaft (46); and a control part (77) which calculates the rotating angle of the rotating shaft (46) using the electric resistance value measured by the variable resistor (54) and detects an amount of the sheets based on the calculated rotating angle.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first tray on which sheets are stacked, a sheet feeder, a second tray on which sheets to be supplied to the first tray are stacked, wherein the second tray is disposed adjacently to the first tray, a sheet mover, an abnormality detector, and a controller. The sheet feeder feeds the sheets stacked on the first tray. The sheet mover moves the sheets stacked on the second tray. The sheet mover is movable between a first position for stacking sheets on the second tray and a second position for supplying the sheets stacked on the second tray to the first tray. The abnormality detector may detect an abnormality in the sheet mover. When the abnormality detector detects an abnormality in the sheet mover, the controller inhibits the sheet mover from operating and permits the sheet feeder to feed a sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus which is able to make it known that a first containing area for feeding cannot be replenished with sheets in a second containing area for replenishing. A sheet feeding cassette has the first containing area in which sheets to be fed are contained, the second containing area that is adjacent to the first containing area and in which sheets for replenishing are contained, and a sheet mover that transfers the sheets contained in the second containing area to the first containing area. A first detector detects whether or not the sheet mover is at a standby position. When the first detector detects that the sheet mover is not at the standby position, a warning is issued to prompt return of the sheet mover to the standby position.

Abstract: A removable media tray with an adjustable rear tray extension operable by a rear media restraint. The tray extension is slidably attached to a front section of the tray via a cam having a locking arm engaged in a J-slot. When in the curved portion of the J-slot the front section and tray extension are locked together. A rear media restraint slidably latching to a track in the bottom of the tray has a locking lobe that engages with a locking notch on the cam. As the media restraint is slid toward the rear, the locking lobe initially rotates the cam moving the locking arm to the straight section of the J-slot, then the locking lobe engages with the locking notch, locking the media restraint to the tray extension. Thereafter, the media restraint and tray extension move together until the end of the J-slot is reached by the locking arm.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a tray main body and a cover member. The tray main body has a first mount surface. The cover member is rotatably connected to an end of the tray main body on the side opposite to the sheet feeding side so that the cover member can move rotationally between a closed position where the cover member covers the first mount surface and an open position where the first mount surface is exposed, and has a second mount surface on which a sheet is mounted over the first mount surface when cover member is in the open position. The cover member includes an opening for sheet insertion which penetrates through from an upper surface to a bottom surface of the cover member so that a sheet can be inserted onto the first mount surface when the cover member is in the closed position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a recording-medium container member that contains a recording medium; a restriction member that extends, at a downstream side of the recording-medium container member in a transporting direction of the recording medium, from one end side of the recording-medium container member in a width direction toward a location above the recording medium contained in the recording-medium container member, the restriction member including a restricting portion that restricts upward movement of the recording medium; and a guide member provided at the one end side of the recording-medium container member in the width direction and located upstream of the restriction member in the transporting direction of the recording medium, the guide member pressing the recording medium toward the other end side of the recording-medium container member in the width direction to adjust the transporting direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A cassette (1) includes first and second sheet accommodation sections (3) and (5), and a restricting section (7). The second sheet accommodation section (5) is slidably attached to the first sheet accommodation section (3). The restricting section (7) includes first and second engagement sections (38a) and (78a), and a manipulation section (70). The first engagement section (38a) is disposed in the first sheet accommodation section (3). The manipulation section (70) is disposed in the second sheet accommodation section (5). The second engagement section (78a) engages with the first engagement section (38a). A lever portion (71) of the manipulation section (70) is shiftable from a lying down posture to a tilted posture. The second engagement section (78a) is disposed in the lever portion (71).

Abstract: A sheet feed device that includes a sheet feed tray configured to be enabled to be drawn from a main body of an image forming apparatus; a bottom plate arranged in the sheet feed tray and configured to stack thereon a plurality of sheets; a driving unit configured to move the bottom plate upward; a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit a driving force from a drive source arranged on the main body to the driving unit; and a one-way rotation transmitting unit configured to unidirectionally transmit input from the drive transmitting unit to the driving unit and configured to be arranged on one side of the drive transmitting unit opposite to a side connected to the driving unit.

Abstract: A roller is rotatably provided in an arm that is swingable relative to a main body of an apparatus, and is connected to a tension spring using a wire of a roller shaft. A roller guide portion that guides the roller is provided in a sheet feeding cassette. The roller is guided along a guiding member of the roller guide portion in accordance with insertion of the sheet feeding cassette into the main body of the apparatus. When the roller is guided along the guiding member, an elastic force of the tension spring is accumulated. The sheet feeding cassette is pulled to a mounting position when the roller is guided along the guiding member. The sheet feeding cassette is pushed out also when the roller is guided along the guiding member.

Abstract: A paper feeding device that includes, in a drive transmission mechanism to a paper feeding roller that delivers paper, a drive member provided on an apparatus body side as a member to transmit torque in a given direction for delivery of paper from a conveying motor to the paper feeding roller and a driven member provided on the paper feeding roller side. By relatively rotating the drive member and the driven member to form a coupling state of the members before an instruction to start the delivery of paper is output, the rotation of the paper feeding roller is started without a time lag when the instruction to start the delivery of paper is output.

Abstract: A sheet supply device has a bottom contacting or resting on an external surface. The sheet supply device stores sheets of media and supplies the sheets of media to a processing device. The sheet supply device comprises a controller device, a platform supporting the sheets of media, and a foot-activated user input device positioned at the bottom of the sheet supply device adjacent the external surface. The platform moves upward (in a first direction away from the external surface) to supply the sheets of media to the processing device, and the platform moves downward (in a second direction toward the external surface) to allow the sheets of media to be loaded onto the platform. Operation of the foot-activated user input device causes the compartment to open and/or the platform to move downward (in the second direction).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding device (1). The sheet feeding device (1) includes a sheet feeding cassette (2), a push-up member (4), a drive shaft (5), and a rotation detecting device (6). The rotation detecting device (6) includes an output gear connected to the drive shaft (5). The output gear includes a gear main body provided with a gear tooth on its outer edge; and an electrode holding member that is attached to the gear main body. The electrode holding member is rotatably provided in the case (9) and a rotating electrode is attached to the electrode holding member. The electrode holding member is formed of at least one thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of POM, PA, PBT, PP, PE, ABS resin, PS, PPE, PC, and PMMA. The gear main body is formed of a material whose strength is higher than thermoplastic resin of which the electrode holding member is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeder, including: a support member which can be rotated around a pivot at upstream side thereof in a sheet feeding direction and supports sheets; a driving unit rotating the support member upwardly; a feeding portion feeding the sheets; a first detection unit detecting the sheets on the support member at a first detection position above the support member; a second detection unit detecting the sheets on the support member at a second detection position located at upstream of the first detection position and below the first detection position; and a stacking amount determining portion determining a stacking amount of the sheets on the support member, based on a period of time between a time when the second detection unit detects the sheets and a time when the first detection unit detects the sheets while the support member is upwardly rotated by the driving unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette is capable of being mounted to and removed from an apparatus body along a specified mounting direction. The sheet accommodated within a sheet accommodating portion is conveyed through a sheet conveyance path in a sheet conveyance direction extending along the mounting direction. A sheet feeding roller is disposed at an inlet side of the sheet conveyance path so as to face the sheet accommodating portion. A retard roller is disposed so as to face the sheet feeding roller. The sheet feeding roller forms a sheet feeding nip between the sheet feeding roller and the retard roller. A lock mechanism locks drawing-out of the sheet feeding cassette from the apparatus body or releases the lock. A separator moves the retard roller away from the sheet feeding roller prior to or simultaneously with the lock being released by the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet container, a sheet conveying member disposed facing a sheet stack that includes multiple sheet members loaded on the sheet container to separate an uppermost sheet member placed on the sheet stack from the other sheet members and to convey the uppermost sheet member, and a pressing member switchable between a pressing position to press the sheet stack from above and a retracted position to separate from the sheet stack.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet feeding device capable of preventing the occurrence of failure in sheet feeding and degradation in quality of printed matter with downsizing achieved and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet feeding device. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet storing portion 55 in which sheets are stored, a feeding roller 51 placed above the sheet storing portion, a flexible member 53 placed along part of the peripheral surface of the feeding roller with one end of the flexible member fixed to the sheet storing portion at a position below the stored sheets, and a pulling-up portion 300 that is connected to the other end of the flexible member above the sheet storing portion and that pulls up the flexible member to press the sheet on the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet accommodating section, a sheet loading plate, an operating plate, a sector gear, and a pressing member. The sheet loading plate is turnably supported on a bottom surface of the sheet accommodating section. The operating plate lifts up and down the sheet loading plate. The sector gear transmits drive power from a main body of an image forming apparatus to the operating plate. The pressing member is located at a first location when the sheet loading plate is positioned at the lying down position, and moves to a second location by rotation of the sector gear by a predetermined amount. The first location is a location where the pressing member comes in contact from above with the sheet loading plate at the lying down position, and the second location is a location where the pressing member retreats from the sheet loading plate.

Abstract: A sheet feed device is provided in which, at the time of pulling out a sheet housing portion from an image forming apparatus main body, when the sheet housing portion moves from a first position to a second position, a pickup roller moves on a first rotary shaft, to a position on an upstream side in an insertion direction, and at the time of inserting the sheet housing portion in the image forming apparatus main body, when the sheet housing portion moves from the second position to the first position, the pickup roller moves on the first rotary shaft, to a position on a downstream side in the insertion direction. A movable area of the pickup roller in a direction of the rotary shaft is equal to or larger than a movement amount of the pickup roller between the upstream side position and the downstream side position.

Abstract: A sheet feed device of an image forming apparatus includes an outside cover and an inside cover. The outside cover opens and closes a side of a housing. The inside cover is disposed more inside of the housing than the outside cover. Each of the covers is rotatably supported with a lower end thereof as a fulcrum by the housing. A first locking piece is provided in the upper end of the outside cover, and a second locking piece is disposed below the first locking piece. A coupled portion configured to be selectively coupled with the first locking piece or the second locking piece is provided in the inside cover. During the process where the outside cover is rotationally moved in the opening direction, the coupled portion is once released from the coupling with the first locking piece, and then is coupled with the second locking piece.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a lift plate of a media tray is disclosed herein. An example of the apparatus includes a rocker assembly adjacent the lift plate and a slide assembly coupled to the rocker assembly to actuate the rocker assembly subsequent to insertion of the media tray in a printing device, thereby raising the lift plate. The apparatus additionally includes a lock assembly to release the lock assembly upon initiation of opening of the media tray, thereby allowing the lift plate to lower prior to such removal. A media tray and method for actuating a lift plate of a media tray are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: By abutting a positioning member against an abutting surface provided in an image forming apparatus body, positioning in a mounting direction of a sheet storing portion drawably mounted on the image forming apparatus body. A position of the positioning member is changed stepwise by a support portion having a receiving surface abutting against the positioning member, and the shift of the sheet storing portion positioned by the positioning member with respect to the image forming portion is adjusted stepwise.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding mechanism configured to re-feed the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-feeding mechanism includes a fixed guide configured to guide the sheet fed in a sheet feed direction and having a guide surface partially defining re-feeding path through which the sheet passes, a base guide disposed downstream of the fixed guide, and a movable guide having a guide surface and configured to guide the sheet guided by the fixed guide and to move toward and away from the base guide. The fixed guide includes an engaging portion and the movable guide includes an engaging portion. The guide surface of the movable guide is positioned relative to the guide surface of the fixed guide when the engaging portion of the movable guide engages the engaging portion of the fixed guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for marking indicia on a plate blank where plate blanks are successively presented from a load magazine and moved to a printing station where the indicia is marked thereon and produce a finished plate. The finished plate is then moved into a receiving magazine where it is added to a stack of previously finished plates in a predetermined order corresponding the order in which the finished plates are produced. Also provided herein as a load magazine for presenting and having dispensed therefrom successive single plate blanks at a load magazine opening and a receiving magazine for receiving and stacking finished plates in a predetermined order.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can prevent degradation of sheet feeding performance at low cost. A drive transmission portion 200B is provided between a driving motor 227 that drives a conveying roller 250 provided in an apparatus body and a body-side lifting portion 200C that drives a lifter mechanism 200A of a sheet feeding cassette 201 mounted on the apparatus body. When the sheet feeding cassette 201 is mounted on the apparatus body, the drive transmission portion 200B selectively transmits drive of the driving motor 227 to the lifter mechanism 200A through the body-side lifting portion 200C to lift a stacking plate 206 by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The moving mechanism of a sheet feeding device has a first moving member and a second moving member. The first moving member is held in a position corresponding to the number of sheets supported by a sheet support member, and when moving in a specific direction can move the sheet support member in the separation direction away from a paper feed roller. The second moving member moves out and back through a specific range of movement in each revolution of the paper feed roller, engages the first moving member and moves the first moving member in the specific direction when moving out, and releases said engagement when moving back.

Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a base member and a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked. The sheet stacking portion is supported by the base member swingably in a first direction orthogonal to a second direction, and swings and changes an inclination angle for holding the stacked sheet.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a frame, a drive assembly mounted to the frame, an input tray, a pickup assembly driven by the drive assembly, an elevating assembly and a control assembly. A front end of the input tray is pivoted to the frame, a bottom of the input tray has a pressing portion. The elevating assembly includes a gear assembly driven by the drive assembly, a rotating shaft driven by the gear assembly and located under the input tray, and an elastic element against the bottom of the input tray. The rotating shaft has a cam portion thereon and a notch formed between two ends of the cam portion. The control assembly includes a control system and a paper sensor detecting whether there is any paper on the input tray and control the drive assembly to drive the elevating assembly and the pickup assembly.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a sheet stacking portion provided turnably in a vertical direction within a cassette body. The sheet feeding cassette also includes first and second side edge restricting portions configured to restrict widthwise positions of the sheets. The second side edge restricting portion includes first and second pressing portions configured to press the sheets on the sheet stacking portion against the first side edge restricting portion. The second pressing portion provided upstream in the sheet feeding direction of the first pressing portion is moved up and down by an interlock mechanism in linkage with a total thickness of the sheets on the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a stacking plate configured to stack sheets, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets by contacting the sheets stacked on the stacking plate, an elevating unit configured to elevate the stacking plate by a drive transmitted from a drive unit, a drive transmission unit configured to transmit the drive from the drive unit to drive the sheet feeding unit, and a clutch mechanism configured to cause the drive transmission unit to transmit the drive from the drive unit to the sheet feeding unit after the elevating unit urges the sheets stacked on the stacking plate toward the sheet feeding unit by elevating the stacking plate.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a loading unit for loading a sheet, a feeding roller section that has a shaft member on which a first roller and a second roller are disposed, and that feeds the sheet, and a holding member that holds the feeding roller section such that the first and second rollers are moved to a contact position where the first and second rollers are in contact with the sheet loaded on the loading unit and a separate position where the first and second rollers are separated from the sheet loaded on the loading unit. When the width of the sheet is less than or equal to a predetermined length, the first roller is in contact with the sheet whereas the second roller is not in contact with the sheet. The loading unit has a hole provided at a position opposite to the second roller.

Abstract: Provided is a transporting device including a transport section that contacts with a material to be transported and that transports the material to be transported, a table on which the material to be transported is placed, a moving member that includes the table provided on an upper surface of the moving member so that an upper surface of the table is higher than the upper surface of the moving member in a vertical direction and moves the material to be transported, which is placed on the table, to a contact position where the material to be transported contacts with the transport section, and a positioning member that contacts with an end portion of the material to be transported in a width direction orthogonal to a transport direction in which the material to be transported is transported by the transport section.

Abstract: A drawing-in device configured to draw and position a sheet feeding cassette functioning as a unit into a predetermined position of an apparatus main body includes an engage-target tip. The engage-target tip is pressed in the mounting direction of the unit, thus the engage-target tip retreats from a locking position, where a latching pin is locked so as not to disengage, to a retreat position, where the latching pin can engage with the engage-target portion.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a pressing member, a restricting mechanism, and an interlocking mechanism. The pressing member is movable up and down between a pressing position and a release position. The pressing position causes a pressure to a paper sheet against the feed roller. The release position causes a release of the pressure. The restricting mechanism is movable between a restricting position and a removal position. The restricting position causes a restriction on moving up of the pressing member to the pressing position. The removal position causes a removal of the restriction. The interlocking mechanism is configured to move the restricting mechanism to the removal position in interlock with rotation of the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus has sheet tray, sheet conveyance path, sheet feed roller, lift plate, and guide wall. Sheet feed roller is disposed, downstream of sheet tray in sheet conveyance direction, above central portion of sheet tray in sheet width direction perpendicular to sheet conveyance direction, so as to face central portion. Lift plate is movable upward and downward to allow sheet to contact with sheet feed roller. Guide wall is disposed downstream of lift plate in sheet conveyance direction and spaced from lift plate with predetermined gap, to guide the conveyed sheet in diagonally upward direction intersecting placing surface of sheet tray. Both end portions in sheet width direction in front edge portion, of lift plate, facing guide wall are provided with end guide surfaces, respectively, which are inclined upward relative to central portion in sheet width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a printing unit for printing an image on a recording medium and a pickup roller for picking up the recording medium, a paper feeding device, which includes an elevatable knock-up plate on which recording media are stackable and a pressure member for elastically pressing the knock-up plate towards the pickup roller and is removably inserted into the main body, and a variable guide unit, which is supported by the main body, is fixed in a slope state to lower the knock-up plate in a direction against the pickup roller when the paper feeding device is withdrawn from the main body, and moves to maintain a contact state with the knock-up plate due to a rising state of the knock-up plate in a state in which the paper feeding device is inserted into the main body.

Abstract: A sheet feed device comprises: a sheet feed tray configured to be enabled to be drawn from a main body of an image forming apparatus; a bottom plate arranged in the sheet feed tray and configured to stack thereon a plurality of sheets; a driving unit configured to move the bottom plate upward; a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit a driving force from a drive source arranged on the main body to the driving unit; and a one-way rotation transmitting unit configured to unidirectionally transmit input from the drive transmitting unit to the driving unit and configured to be arranged on one side of the drive transmitting unit opposite to a side connected to the driving unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of ensuring reliability of meshing of gears at low cost are provided. When a sheet feeding cassette is mounted to a printer body, a lifter gear provided to a lifter shaft of a lifter plate which lifts a sheet supporting plate is engaged with a first lifter idler gear, and the lifter gear is rotated by rotations of the first lifter idler gear by a drive of a lifter motor, and thereby the sheet supporting plate is lifted. And, displacement of the lifter gear is restricted by a load applied to the lifter gear by a restriction portion provided with an auxiliary support shaft which is provided to an opening portion formed in the lifter gear and the sheet feeding cassette to enter the opening portion when lifting the sheet supporting plate.