Abstract: An apparatus includes an openable and closable cover, a movable member disposed in the apparatus main body and to be exposed outside when the cover is opened, an openable and closable support member that supports the movable member, and a support shaft that supports the cover and the support member. The movable member and the support member are moved together with the cover as the cover rotates about the support shaft. The support shaft can move between a first position at which the support shaft supports the cover and the support member and a second position at which the support shaft does not support the cover and supports the support member. Moving the support shaft to the second position allows the cover to be detached from the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes: an accommodating unit having a placement surface on which the stack of sheets is mounted; an inclined member having an inclined surface inclined relative to the placement surface to extend in an inclined direction and a back surface opposite the inclined surface; a sheet pick-up unit for feeding an uppermost sheet in the stack of sheets toward the inclined member; and a sheet separating member provided on the inclined surface. The sheet separating member includes a plurality of separation pieces and a support portion those made of resin. The support portion supports the separation pieces at positions closer to the back surface than to the inclined surface so that the separation pieces are movable away from the placement surface in the inclined direction and toward the back surface in a normal direction of the inclined surface independently from one another.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transmission assembly and an office machine comprising the same. The transmission assembly includes a body, a first roller, a second roller, a flexible element, a third roller and a transmission element. The first roller is pivoted at a first position of the body, the second roller is pivoted at a second position of the body, one end of the flexible element connects to the body, the third roller is pivoted besides the first roller in parallel and rotates with the first roller simultaneously, and a transmission element is used to surround axes of the first roller and the second roller; wherein, the rotating directions of the first roller, the second roller, the third roller and the transmission element are the same. The present disclosure provides another office machine using the same.

Abstract: A sheet tray provided with first and second trays respectively having first and second supporting surfaces. The second tray slidably assembled, in a first direction, to the first tray. The first and second supporting surfaces are configured to support sheets thereon. The first tray and the second tray have a first guide portion and a second guide portion which are formed at central parts, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, respectively. The second guide portion is configured to slidably contact the first guide portion to guide the slide movement of the second tray. A first separation regulating part formed on the first guide portion, and a second separation regulating part formed on the second guide portion are configured to engage with each other in the vertical direction to prevent separation of the first and second trays in the vertical direction, exceeding a particular dimension.

Abstract: The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a frame supporting first and second bearing portions, and a restricting portion. The frame supports the first and second bearing portions such that a movable amount with respect to the frame, in a direction along a sheet conveying direction, of the first bearing portion is larger than that of the second bearing portion. The restricting portion is provided with a predetermined gap from the first bearing portion in the direction along the sheet conveying direction, and configured to restrict the first bearing portion from moving in the direction along the sheet conveying direction in a case when the first bearing portion abuts with the restricting portion.

Abstract: A sheet pickup apparatus and image forming apparatus are provided. The sheet pickup apparatus includes a roller support member rotatably disposed in a sheet feeding unit and comprising roller support portions connected by a hinge, a driving shaft rotatably disposed in an end of the roller support member to transmit rotational force to the roller support member, a pickup roller rotatably disposed in another end of the roller support member, a damper member disposed to absorb impact force by limiting rotation of the roller support member, and a power transmitting member disposed in the roller support member to transmit the rotational force to the pickup roller.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveyor which conveys a sheet from an upper path to a lower path through a curved path. The conveyance section includes a feed roller which is disposed at the upper path and feeds the sheet, a separation roller which is disposed at the upper path and separates the sheet in conjunction with a separator, and a conveying roller which conveys the sheet along the curved path. The lower path includes a horizontal path extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The separator includes a flat plate portion having a flat plate shape, and the flat plate portion is disposed above the horizontal path and is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. The separation roller is disposed above the separator.

Abstract: In the present invention, when a status of clogging a paper due to some cause occurs, controls of inverting a conveyance roller and returning the jammed paper in a paper feeding tray is performed. At this time, the position of a paper damming up member is lowered by an actuator when the jammed paper is returned to the paper feeding tray and the conveyance roller is inverted so as to avoid a state in which the paper damming up member 33 hinders the returning of the paper and the paper cannot be returned to the paper feeding tray. The paper damming up member is lowered to a position that is lower than a conveyance guide plate at a downstream side in a paper conveying direction. Then, the paper is returned to the paper feeding tray without damage. The returned paper can be reused.

Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a mechanical frame, a gear assembly, a paper supply tray, a pickup assembly, a paper pressing assembly and a stopper assembly. The gear assembly includes a drive gear and a transmission gear. The paper pressing assembly includes a paper pressing frame, a paper pressing tray, a gear shaft, at least one swing arm and an elastic element. The stopper assembly includes a blocking element and a connecting element. The drive gear drives the transmission gear and the gear shaft to rotate, the connecting element drives the blocking element to move downward to make the blocking element realize a paper blocking function, and the drive gear breaks away from the drive gear, the elastic element pushes against the paper pressing tray to move downward, the blocking element breaks away from the paper supply tray to raise up for making the paper blocking function disappeared.

Abstract: A removable media dam for a media input tray. The removable media dam is mountable in a front wall of the media tray and may contain one or more rollers for feeding media from the media input tray. The removable media dam includes a separator roll positioner for angularly rotating a separator roll between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust the height of the separator roll with respect to a media contact surface thereby varying the media sheet separation force applied by the separator roll to media sheets being fed from the media tray. In one form, the removable media dam is mountable by a user without the use of tools.

Abstract: A sheet feed device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus body, a cassette, a sheet conveying path, a pickup roller, a feeding portion, a lift plate, and a regulation member. Feeding portion conveys sheet fed from pickup roller downstream in sheet conveying direction while holding sheet at nip portion. Lift plate is changeable in position between first position and second position. When cassette is removed from apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in first position, regulation member protrudes to sheet conveying path on upstream side in sheet conveying direction relative to nip portion to thereby regulate entering of sheet stored in sheet storage portion into nip portion. When cassette is mounted into apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in second position, regulation member retreats from sheet conveying path thereby to cause sheet conveying path to become open.

Abstract: A sheet separator including two guides disposed to face each other across a distance in a width direction, at least one of the two guides being configured to move along the width direction to enlarge or reduce the distance therebetween, a separation roller, a separation pad configured to separate sheets being conveyed by the separation roller on a sheet-by-sheet basis in cooperation with the separation roller, a pressing mechanism configured to apply a pressing load to press the separation pad toward the separation roller, and an adjuster configured to increase the pressing load in response to the at least one of the two guides moving in a direction to enlarge the distance, and decrease the pressing load in response to the at least one of the two guides moving in a direction to reduce the distance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet feeding device which feeds a plurality of stacked sheet-like recording media one by one from a tray containing the recording media, including a sheet feeding roller which comes in contact with the uppermost layer of the recording media contained in the tray, and rotates to feed the recording medium; an inclined member including an inclined surface which is positioned on a downstream side in a feeding direction of the recording media, and inclined at an obtuse angle to the feeding direction of the recording media, and on which the fed recording media abuts; and a separating member having an uneven surface, to separate the one fed recording medium, wherein the separating member is configured to be movable between a position projecting to the inclined member and a position retreated from the projecting position, while maintaining the same inclining angle as that of the inclined member.

Abstract: Sheet conveying path extends from sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed roller is disposed, in sheet conveying path, facing sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed pad is disposed facing circumferential surface of sheet feed roller, and has pad surface that forms, between pad surface and circumferential surface, nip portion into which sheet is conveyed. Support member has support surface to which sheet feed pad is fixed and contact surface located upstream of support surface in sheet conveying direction so as to be higher than pad surface, and configured to make contact with leading end of sheet fed from sheet stacking portion. Rib portions are disposed in support member. Rib portions are disposed on both side portions, in sheet width direction intersecting sheet conveying direction, of support surface, and have inclined surfaces that extend so as to lower front end portions thereof, respectively, from contact surface toward downstream side in sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: Even in printing apparatus that make use of a plurality of kinds of sheets, the degradation of image quality is reduced. A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet stacking unit; a sheet conveying unit being in contact with the sheet stacked on an uppermost portion, of the stacked sheets, and conveying the sheet; a separation unit separating the sheets into only one sheet of the uppermost portion by a separation slope that abuts a tip portion of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit; and a guide unit connected to the separation unit and guiding the sheet, in which an angle between the sheet stacking unit and the separation slope is switched to a first angle and a second angle smaller than the first angle by a rotation center of the separation unit provided in a vicinity of a connection portion of the separation unit and the guide unit.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeding device capable of cleaning a pickup roller satisfactorily, which is downsized and reduced in the number of components. The sheet feeding device rotates the pickup roller under a state in which the pickup roller abuts against a friction body, to thereby clean the pickup roller.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding cassette (10), wall portions (25a to 25d) are provided upright at four peripheral end portions of a cassette base (25). Of the wall portions (25a to 25d), the wall portion (25a) positioned on a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction has a first notch portion (41) formed at a substantially center portion in a longitudinal direction of the wall portion (25a), the first notch portion (41) facing a feeding roller (30a) provided on an image forming apparatus (100) main body side.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a paper cassette, a feeding roller, a baffle, and a paper separating apparatus. The paper cassette stores stacks of paper. The feeding roller pulls a sheet of paper from the paper cassette and feeds the sheet of paper into a paper transport path. The baffle is located at a side of the paper cassette. The paper separating apparatus is mounted to the baffle and prevents more than one sheet of paper from being fed into the paper transport path at a time.

Abstract: A paper tray for a printer includes a bottom plate and a rear plate. A plurality of papers is placed on the bottom plate. The plurality of papers includes a first paper and a second paper. The first paper is located on a topmost portion of the plurality of papers, and the second paper is located adjacent to the first paper and below the first paper. A plurality of bent pieces is secured on the rear plate. Each bent piece includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is placed on the rear plate. An obtuse angle is defined between the first piece and the second piece. The second pieces of the plurality of bents pieces are configured to allow the first paper sliding there over, and block the second paper sliding there over.

Abstract: A conveyor device includes a conveyor including a conveyor roller to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a cover movable between a closed position where the cover covers the conveyor roller and an open position where the cover is separated from the conveyor roller. The conveyor further includes a pinch roller urged toward the conveyor roller when the cover is in the closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, the conveyor roller and the pinch roller define a nip point along the conveyance path. The conveyor device includes a holder supported by the cover and to rotatably support the pinch roller and an urging member disposed between the cover and the holder to move the holder away from the cover to urge the pinch roller toward the conveyor roller when the cover is in the closed position.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes: a cassette including a sheet container; a sheet conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction extending along a direction of loading/unloading of the cassette into/from an apparatus body; a paper feed roller configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction; an opposed member, opposite to the paper feed roller, forming together with the paper feed roller a paper feed nip where the sheet enters; and a restricting member configured to, in a first state where the cassette is unloaded, close off a portion of the sheet conveyance path upstream of the paper feed nip in the sheet conveyance direction to restrict the sheet in the sheet container from entering the paper feed nip and, in a second state where the cassette is loaded and the paper feed roller is ready to convey the sheet, open the sheet conveyance path.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a first member having a first sliding surface formed into a comb shape along the direction of movement of an object; a second member having a second sliding surface formed into a comb shape opposing the first sliding surface of the first member with the intermediary of a viscous member, the second member sliding between a first position which causes a restricting member to be positioned at a restricting position and a second position which causes the restricting member to be positioned at the releasing position in a state of engaging the restricting member; and a urging device configured to apply an urging force which causes the second member to slide from the first position to the second position, the urging device being arranged at least partly between tips and roots of teeth of the comb shape of the second sliding surface.

Abstract: A recording medium supply device includes a cassette attachable to and detachable from a main body and capable of stacking recording medium thereon, a feeding roller which feeds the uppermost recording medium to the main body from a leading end of the recording medium, a regulating member which is arranged forward in the direction in which the cassette is removed from the main body as seen from the feeding roller, and a projection preventing member attached adjacent to the tip portion of the cassette facing the leading end of the recording medium. The position of the lower end of the regulating member is higher than the cassette attached to the main body, and lower than the lower end of the feeding roller, and the position of the upper end of the projection preventing member is higher than the position of the lower end of the regulating member.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a first feeding unit feeds the medium to be fed to a downstream side of a feeding direction. A second feeding unit then feeds the medium to a upstream side and a downstream side on the basis of a feeding direction of the first feeding unit. A friction member is positioned opposite to the first feeding unit. A displacement member converts between a first state in which the displacement member protrudes upwardly in a stacked direction with respect to the friction member and a second state in which the displacement member retracts downwardly. The displacement member is set as the second state when one remaining sheet of the medium is fed to the downstream side by the first feeding unit, and the displacement member is set as the first state when a trailing end of the one remaining sheet passes through the friction member.

Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: An apparatus to separate out printed products from a stack including a pushing device to separate out a respective printed product from the stack. The pushing device includes a first rotary drive. The apparatus further includes a downstream-arranged removal device to convey away the respective separated out printed product. The removal device also includes a second rotary drive separate from the first rotary drive.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, including; a sheet holding portion; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member having an inclined surface and configured to guide each sheet in a sheet feed direction; and separation protrusions which are provided on the inclined member and each of which protrudes from the inclined surface such that a distal end thereof is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than a proximal end thereof, wherein each separation protrusion has a contact surface and said each sheet comes into contact with one or more contact surfaces of the separation protrusions, and wherein each separation protrusion protrudes from the inclined surface such that the distal end of one of the separation protrusions is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than the proximal end of another of the separation protrusions that is located immediately downstream of the one of the separation protrusions in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A sheets-separating module and a multifunction printer using the same are provided. The sheets-separating module includes a body, an elastic element and a plurality of sheets-separating structures, in which the body has an opening, the elastic element is disposed in the opening of the body and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the elastic element connects the body, the second end thereof is a free end, and a section modulus of the elastic element is gradually descending from the second end to the first end. The sheets-separating structures are disposed on the elastic element.

Abstract: A recording medium feeding device includes a lower stage side tray which stores a recording medium, an upper stage side tray which is provided above the lower stage side tray and stores the recording medium, a first separation inclined surface which is opposite to a tip of the recording medium which is stored in the lower stage side tray and the upper stage side tray and extends along a feed path of the recording medium, and a second separation inclined surface in which a trailing end in the feed path is positioned below a bottom surface of the upper stage side tray, and thus, which is opposite to the tip of the recording medium which is stored in the lower stage side tray and is not opposite to the tip of the recording medium which is stored in the upper stage side tray.

Abstract: A printing medium supplying apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a printing medium aligning unit which is disposed on the apparatus main body to move between an aligning position at which the printing medium aligning unit aligns a printing medium and a distanced position at which the printing medium aligning unit is distanced from the aligning position.

Abstract: The feeding device includes a storage unit, a feeding roller which rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet stored in the storage unit to move the uppermost sheet forward, a separation plate disposed forward in the movement direction of the uppermost sheet and provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the movement direction, and a separation auxiliary member is disposed along the inclined surface of the separation plate and operated by a force received when the uppermost sheet comes in contact. The separation auxiliary member includes a rotation shaft parallel with the inclined surface, and a first resistance part rotating about the rotation shaft as the center from an initial position projecting from the inclined surface to an embedded position embedded in the inclined surface as a friction coefficient of the first resistance part is higher than that of the inclined surface and the received force is increased.

Abstract: A paper tray for a printer includes a bottom plate and a rear plate. A plurality of papers is placed on the bottom plate. The plurality of papers includes a first paper and a second paper. The first paper is located on a topmost portion of the plurality of papers, and the second paper is located adjacent to the first paper and below the first paper. A plurality of bent pieces is secured on the rear plate. Each bent piece includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is placed on the rear plate. An obtuse angle is defined between the first piece and the second piece. The second pieces of the plurality of bents pieces are configured to allow the first paper sliding there over, and block the second paper sliding there over.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet feeding unit capable of feeding sheets stacked on a sheet stacking face of a sheet stack tray, wherein the sheet feeding unit includes a feeding roller configured to feed the sheets, a driving motor configured to rotate the feeding roller, a lifting member configured to move at least edges of the sheets in a direction of the feeding roller, a sheet-shaped member connected to a front end of the lifting member at the downstream side, and a counter member disposed opposite to the feeding roller to pinch the sheet-shaped member, wherein, when the feeding roller is rotated, the sheet-shaped member is moved to the downstream side to cause the lifting member to move, and when the sheets are brought into contact with the feeding roller, the contacted uppermost sheet is fed by the feeding roller.

Abstract: A stopper, a paper feeding device including an inner and outer cases, a first and second axels, a first and second rollers, a pair of stoppers and a tray, and a multi-function printer are provided. The outer case has two side walls and two protrusions disposed on the side walls. The inner case is between the two side walls. The first axel pivots the inner case and the side walls. The first roller covers the first axel. The stoppers are disposed at outer side of the side walls, wherein each of the stoppers has a C-ring, a connecting portion and a stopping portion. Each C-ring pivoted to the first axel has a first and second ends, and the protrusions prop against to the first ends. The second axel pivots the inner case, and the second roller covers the second axel. The tray is disposed below the first roller.

Abstract: There is provided a feeding guide unit that slides according to a width size of the feeding material in a receiving unit that receives a plurality of feeding materials, and a separation unit having an inclined surface structure that abuts on a tip of the fed feed material so that a separating load is exerted, and separates the following feed material to feed only the feed material at the uppermost position. The separating load of the separation unit is changed to at least two stages in conjunction with a movement in a width direction of the feeding guide unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet stacking portion, a feeding roller, a biasing member, and a cam member, wherein a predetermined idling section in which the feeding roller does not work with rotation of the feeding shaft is provided between the feeding roller and the feeding shaft, the sheet feeding apparatus comprises a returning mechanism which returns the feeding roller to the initial feeding position after the feeding roller finishes feeding the sheet on the sheet stacking portion, and when a sheet feeding operation is started, at a time when the cam member starts rotating together with the feeding shaft and passes the idling section, the feeding roller starts rotating, feeds out the sheet on the sheet stacking portion and then is returned to the initial feeding position by the returning mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a separation roller having a circumferential surface that contacts a first sheet to be fed first among stacked sheets and picks up the first sheet and one or more second sheets adjacent to the first sheet, a separation arm that is closer to the circumferential surface of the separation roller downstream in a feeding direction and configured to apply higher frictional resistance to the second sheets than the first sheet to feed the first sheet ahead of the second sheets, and a guide member including a guide portion that has a lower-friction surface than the separation arm and extends from the separation arm with a distal end thereof in contact with or close to the circumferential surface of the separation roller. The guide portion guides the first and second sheets along the circumferential surface of the separation roller.

Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus used in an image forming apparatus, includes a medium mounting unit held at a body or apparatus frame for mounting a medium, a conveying member supported rotationally around an axis to the body for conveying the medium, and a separating member being held at the body and contacting with the conveying member. The medium mounting unit includes an engaging portion for engaging the body, whereas the body or apparatus frame includes an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion, and the engaging portion includes a contacting portion for regulating the body or apparatus frame in a conveyance direction of the medium. This medium conveyance apparatus maintains improved medium conveyance capability for a long period.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a casing having a loading surface, a supply roller, a drive mechanism, a blocking member, and an interlocking mechanism. The supply roller is configured to feed recording sheets on the loading surface toward the image forming unit. The drive mechanism is configured to move the supply roller. The blocking member is disposed upstream from the supply roller in a sheet feed direction and includes a block surface configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The block surface is configured to block insertion of a recording sheet to a downstream side when in the first position, and configured to allow insertion of the recording sheets on the loading surface when in the second position. The interlocking mechanism is configured to receive a drive force from the drive mechanism to move the blocking member.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for compressing media in a media stack. In various embodiments, a paddle moves between various positions. During the move, the paddle is configured to compress the media stack.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism adapted for being used in an automatic sheet feeding device includes a bearing supporter for positioning papers thereon, a sheet separation spring and a sheet separation holder. The bearing supporter defines a receiving groove. The sheet separation spring shows a rough outer periphery surface. The sheet separation spring is disposed in the receiving groove with an axis thereof being parallel to a bottom wall of the receiving groove. The sheet separation holder mounted to the bearing supporter defines an opening corresponding to the receiving groove. The sheet separation spring is restricted in the receiving groove by the sheet separation holder with a top of the rough outer periphery surface thereof being exposed through the opening beyond a top face of the sheet separation holder so as to separate the papers whereby and further ensure the automatic sheet feeding device transports the papers piece by piece.

Abstract: A separation unit includes a separation pad configured to separate sheets one by one by making the sheets contact with a nip portion of the separation pad, a holder configured to hold the separation pad, and a supporting member configured to keep a base end of the separation pad to the holder. The separation pad includes a supported portion receded in the base end of the separation pad. The supporting member includes an attaching portion configured to attach the supporting member to the holder and a holding portion configured to fit in the supported portion to hold the supported portion in cooperation with the holder.

Abstract: A recording medium supply device includes a cassette attachable to and detachable from a main body and capable of stacking recording medium thereon, a feeding roller which feeds the uppermost recording medium to the main body from a leading end of the recording medium, a regulating member which is arranged forward in the direction in which the cassette is removed from the main body as seen from the feeding roller, and a projection preventing member attached adjacent to the tip portion of the cassette facing the leading end of the recording medium. The position of the lower end of the regulating member is higher than the cassette attached to the main body, and lower than the lower end of the feeding roller, and the position of the upper end of the projection preventing member is higher than the position of the lower end of the regulating member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet guide portion disposed upstream of a nip portion so as to guide a leading edge of a sheet sent from a sheet storing portion to the nip portion, and a manual bypass guide member which extends from a manual bypass sheet feeder and has a leading edge portion disposed between the sheet guide portion and the nip portion and can be elastically deformed in up and down direction so as to guide a manual bypass sheet to the nip portion. The manual bypass sheet is guided by the manual bypass guide member toward the nip portion and is sent out by the feed roller to a sheet transport path.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a loading surface, a supply roller configured to feed recording sheets loaded on the loading surface, an overload prevention member disposed upstream from the supply roller in a sheet feed direction, and a movable member disposed downstream from the overload prevention member in the sheet feed direction. The overload prevention member includes a restriction surface configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The movable member is configured to be moved from a third position to a fourth position by being pushed by leading ends of the recording sheets. The movable member and the overload prevention member are configured to interlock each other such that, when the movable member is in the third position, the restriction surface is in the first position, and when the movable member is in the fourth position, the restriction surface is in the second position.

Abstract: A damper member moves a stopper after a delay in time from a restricting position, at which the stopper restricts the movement of paper, to a releasing position, at which the restriction on the movement is released; the damper member includes a base having a first sliding surface along the paper movement direction and also includes a slider, having a second sliding surface facing the first sliding surface through a viscous material, that slides between a first position at which the stopper is placed at the restricting position and a second position at which the stopper is placed at the releasing position; when at least the slider slides and reaches the first position or the second position, a clearance area is formed in the base to store a viscous material, at a position corresponding to the front end in the sliding direction of the slider.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit where sheets to be processed are stacked, a regulating member, a sheet waiting unit, a first moving unit, a second moving unit, and a control unit. The regulating member abuts on one edge of sheets conveyed to the sheet stacking unit. The sheet waiting unit keeps sheets waiting, stacks the waiting sheets displaced sequentially, and then conveys the sheets to the sheet stacking unit. The first moving unit sequentially moves the conveyed sheets, starting from a lowermost sheet, to be abutted against the regulating member. The second moving unit moves the conveyed sheets to the first moving unit. The control unit controls a moving speed of the second moving unit so that a next sheet does not reach the first moving unit until the sheet moved by the first moving unit is abutted against the regulating member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a tray, a driving mechanism disposed above the tray, a separating mechanism rotatably connected to the tray, and at least one resilient element to provide a constant pressure against the separating mechanism. The driving mechanism includes at least one roller to move one of the sheets. The separating mechanism includes at least one retard pad to separate the sheets and create frictional resistance between the separating mechanism and the stack of the sheets. When the tray has only a few sheets left, the separating mechanism is rotated and the frictional resistance is reduced.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a first feeding unit feeds the medium to be fed to a downstream side of a feeding direction. A second feeding unit then feeds the medium to a upstream side and a downstream side on the basis of a feeding direction of the first feeding unit. A friction member is positioned opposite to the first feeding unit. A displacement member converts between a first state in which the displacement member protrudes upwardly in a stacked direction with respect to the friction member and a second state in which the displacement member retracts downwardly. The displacement member is set as the second state when one remaining sheet of the medium is fed to the downstream side by the first feeding unit, and the displacement member is set as the first state when a trailing end of the one remaining sheet passes through the friction member.