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: A device is described for directing sheets (2) which has at least two inlets for the sheets, a first inlet (A1) and a second inlet (A2), associated respectively to a first sheet infeeder line (L1) and a second sheet infeeder line (L2), and an outlet (AU) for the sheets. A support member is associated to the first inlet (A1) in order to restingly receive at least one sheet (2) which enters the first inlet (A1)) for transfer of the sheet (2) towards the outlet (AU). A guide and transfer element (D2) is associated to the second inlet (A2) for guiding at least an entering sheet into the second inlet (A2) and to transfer the sheet towards the outlet (AU). The guide and transfer element (D2) and the support member (S) are reciprocally arranged for conveying the sheets (2) towards the outlet along a common outlet direction (DAU).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting a flexible sheet to a first element with improved lateral alignment. The method includes a step of measuring a first lateral misalignment after establishing a first contact between the flexible sheet and either of the first element and a sheet parking surface called anchor in the first stage. If the 5 misalignment exceeds a predetermined threshold the flexible sheet is parked at the anchor such that it is not in contact with the first element, and the relative position of the first element and the anchor is altered during the second stage for correcting the mismatch during a contact between the flexible sheet and the first element to be established within the next step of the method. During the steps of shifting the contact point to obtain the second stage 10 the contacting process is more accurate and reproducible than the process for establishing the initial contact.

Abstract: The sheet guide device according to the embodiments includes, an image carrier; a transfer body which faces the image carrier; and a pre-transfer guide which guides a recording medium to a facing area from under the facing area of the image carrier and the transfer body, and an end thereof on the facing area side is inclined with respect to a center line of the facing area.

Abstract: A skew feeding correction portion includes a first pair of skew-feed rollers that has rollers, a second pair of skew-feed rollers, a third pair of skew-feed rollers, as skewing at the downstream side of the second pair of skew-feed rollers, and a reference member that is arranged along a sheet conveying direction and that corrects the skew feeding of the sheet in such a manner that a side end of the sheet, which is conveyed as being skewed by the respective pairs of skew-feed rollers, is brought into contact with the reference member, wherein the first pair of skew-feed rollers releases the nip of the sheet by separating the rollers from each other before the sheet is nipped by the third pair of skew-feed rollers after the sheet is nipped by the second pair of skew-feed rollers.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for rotating sheets, receiving cut sheets and providing them to a utilization device. The rotator continually engages sheets with a drive or rotation component throughout the transport and rotation process. The rotator includes a transport mechanism having nip roller pairs. The nip rollers can be engaged with, and disengaged from, the driven rollers. This allows for feed velocity differentials when entering and exiting the rotator feed table, and for clearance during sheet rotation. A rotator disk assembly is centered on the table, and comprises a driven rotator disk and an overriding, pressure disk. When sheets enter or pass through the rotator section, the pressure disk is raised to provide a clearance. Sheets are rotated by lowering the pressure disk and raising surrounding nips to provide clearance for the disk to turn. Nips can then be lowered to drive the rotated sheet downstream.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for feeding sheets to a processing machine, in particular a printing press, provision is made for the sheet to be accelerated to processing speed by use of at least two acceleration stations arranged one after the other. One of the acceleration stations is arranged such that the acceleration station can be displaced in order to align the sheet.

Abstract: A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.

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: A sheet transport technique of clamping and transporting a sheet by a roller and a belt abutted against the roller, the technique capable of suppressing shift of the belt in the rotation axis direction of the roller without hindering downsizing of the apparatus is provided. A sheet transport apparatus is made up of a roller 101 being formed with a tubular cavity having a predetermined length in a rotation direction and covered with an elastic body on the outer periphery in the rotation radius direction of the cavity and a belt unit 102 for abutting a belt 102c of a width narrower than the width of the cavity in the rotation axis direction of the roller 101 against the roller face of the roller 101 so that it is positioned inside the range in which the cavity is formed in the rotation axis direction of the roller 101, and sandwiching a sheet 7 between the belt 102c and the roller 101 and transporting the sheet.

Abstract: A passive linear encoder includes a loop and a sensor. The loop is configured to engage print media and to move in concert with, and under power of, the print media. The sensor is positioned to scan indicia defined on an inner surface of the loop.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a decurling mechanism to correct a curl formed on a sheet; a pair of guides including a first guide member and a second guide member arranged to oppose to the first guide member, the pair of guides constituting a conveyance passage to guide a sheet discharged from the decurling mechanism toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction; and an auxiliary guide arranged to protrude obliquely in the sheet conveying direction from the side of the first guide member toward the second guide member to a predetermined position in the conveyance passage.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is provided with a decurling mechanism to correct a curl formed on a sheet; a pair of guides including a first guide member and a second guide member arranged to oppose to the first guide member, the pair of guides constituting a conveyance passage to guide a sheet discharged from the decurling mechanism toward the downstream aide in the sheet conveying direction; and an auxiliary guide arranged to protrude obliquely in the sheet conveying direction from the side of the first guide member toward the second guide member to a predetermined position in the conveyance passage.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a control section configured to control a rotating speed of a longitudinal alignment roller, which is set on a recording medium stacking surface of a processing tray and configured to align a recording medium in a longitudinal direction, such that acceleration and deceleration of the rotating speed is performed at least twice during one longitudinal alignment operation and a paddle including a striking paddle configured to strike the recording medium, a dropping paddle configured to drop the recording medium, a draw-in paddle configured to draw the recording medium in a direction of a stopper, a dropping-paddle supporting member configured to support the dropping paddle from the back in a rotating direction of the paddle, and a draw-in-paddle supporting member configured to support the draw-in paddle from the back in the rotating direction.

Abstract: Provided is a medium processing apparatus, which comprises a transfer roller unit and a guide roller unit. The transfer roller unit comprises a first rotation shaft and one or more transfer rollers coupled to the first rotation shaft. The guide roller unit receives power from the transfer roller unit, and comprises a second rotation shaft, a one-way clutch connected to the second rotation shaft, and a guide roller connected to the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying portion which can move a sheet in a sheet conveying direction and in a sheet width direction, a moving portion which moves the conveying portion in the sheet width direction, a punching portion which punches a hole in the sheet, and a pressing portion which presses an upstream end of the sheet. The sheet forms a first loop to correct skew feeding while the sheet is conveyed with its downstream end abutted against the conveying portion in the sheet conveying direction. The conveying portion conveys the sheet. The moving portion moves the conveying portion in the sheet width direction to correct lateral registration of the sheet. The pressing portion presses an upstream end of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction and forms a second loop of the sheet to correct skew feeding. The sheet is positioned with reference to the pressing portion.

Abstract: An apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing characteristics of the sheet with respect to the transport path. The characteristics of the sheet including a skew position, process direction position or a lateral position of the sheet. The registration nip assembly changing a first sheet characteristic to a first target characteristic by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary registration datum. A delivery registration datum disposed downstream of the registration nip assembly. The registration nip assembly changing a second sheet characteristic to a second target characteristic when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary registration datum and the delivery registration datum. The apparatus including an auxiliary nip assembly disposed between the delivery registration datum and the registration nip assembly, wherein the preliminary registration datum is disposed between the delivery registration datum and the auxiliary nip assembly.

Abstract: This invention is a sheet handling assembly that incorporates the use of combined functions by using a passive-fixed flat spring to produce a nips load and nip release while simultaneously providing a nip support and mounting.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus body, a conveyance unit which is movably supported by the apparatus body toward an outside of the apparatus body, and includes a sheet conveying path, a conveying guide which forms the sheet conveying path, and is rotatably supported on the conveyance unit wherein in a state that the conveyance unit moves to the outside, the conveying guide can be held in an opening position where the sheet conveying path is opened, and an interlock portion which causes a closure of the conveying guide held in the opening position through interlocking with an operation of mounting the conveyance unit in the apparatus body.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit includes first and second conveyance rollers facing each other, a first stopper provided at an axial end portion of the first conveyance roller, projecting radially beyond a circumferential surface of the first conveyance roller, downstream rollers positioned downstream from the first and second conveyance rollers in a sheet conveyance direction, an engaging and disengaging unit to disengage the first and second conveyance rollers from each other, and a controller. The first stopper rotates to a contact position projecting into the sheet conveyance path and to a non-contact position away from the sheet conveyance path as the first conveyance roller rotates. The first stopper moves to the non-contact position after stopping a sheet. The first and second conveyance rollers are disengaged from each other after a leading end of the sheet reaches the downstream rollers, before the first stopper moves to the contact position.

Abstract: A document transporter is provided which has a conveyor 3 comprising a frictional carrier 4 rotatably mounted in a passageway 2, a drive device 5 for driving frictional carrier 4 and a weighting device 7 for pressing a bill 1 within passageway 2 against frictional carrier 4. Bill 1 can move within a two-directional plane containing a contact point with a ball 6 of weighting device 7 to release reactive force accumulated in bill 1 so that bill 1 moves to come into alignment with a longitudinal central axis of passageway 2 for automatic centering. [Representative Drawing] FIG.

Abstract: A paper tray of printer is provided, which includes a paper tray body, a slide shaft, a first pick arm, a second pick arm and a paper width guide. The first pick arm is fixed on the slide shaft, and the second pick arm is slidely disposed on the slide shaft. The paper width guide is disposed on the paper tray body and is connected to the second pick arm through a linkage device to drive the second pick arm, so that a position of the second pick arm varies along with a position of the paper width guide. Accordingly, an interval between the first pick arm and the second pick arm can be varied along with a size of a paper, so as to avoid paper skew when the paper is fed.

Abstract: A conveyor including a conveyance element configured to rotate in a first rotary direction for sending in a first direction a sheet conveyed along a first path and in an opposite second rotary direction for sending the sheet to a second path including: a guide member for rotating between first and second positions; a first transmission element for transmitting a drive force to the conveyance element; a lever for rotating the guide member to at least one of the first and second positions; a second transmission element connected with the first transmission element to transmit the drive force to the lever; and a transmission controller for controlling transmission of the drive force from the second transmission element to the lever, wherein the transmission controller transmits the drive force from the second transmission element to the lever while the lever rotates the guide member.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus capable of detecting a sheet end portion in a short time period even if sheets are conveyed at a narrow interval and at high speed, thus making it possible to expedite the start timing of a subsequent sheet alignment operation. In accordance with results of detection by lateral registration detection sensors performed when a sheet reaches a lateral registration detection sensor unit, the sensor unit is moved in a width direction for sheet end detection. Based on a moving distance of the sensor unit from a standby position to a position where the sheet end is detected, a shift amount to be shifted the sheet in the width direction, i.e., a lateral registration error, is computed.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: (a) a medium supporter; (b) an inkjet head; and (c) a medium feeder including a first roller and a second roller for cooperating with each other to nip the recording medium, for thereby feeding a recording medium outwardly of the medium supporter. The first roller is displaceable between a projecting position and a non-projecting position, such that the first roller projects out from the medium supporter when being placed in the projecting position.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a conveying path along which a sheet is conveyed and a transparent member disposed on the conveying path and including a surface facing the sheet being conveyed. The transparent member including a reference line extending across the transparent member in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The sheet conveyor further includes a guide member comprising a guide edge that includes a first guide edge and a second guide edge, the guide edge having a shape, such that a distance from the guide edge to the reference line varies in the direction in which the reference line extends. The guide edge further may include a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The guide member is disposed upstream of the transparent member in a conveying direction of the sheet, and the guide member is configured to guide the sheet to the transparent member. The first guide portion may include a first guide edge disposed separate from a reference line by a first distance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a carriage on which a recording head is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism including a motor to reciprocate the carriage, a sheet transport mechanism to transport the sheet in a direction orthogonal to a movement direction of the carriage, a sheet guide member arranged below the recording head and having a guide unit which is opposite to the recording head and on which the sheet passes, a paper loading unit arranged below the recording head and containing the stacked sheet before printing, a first transport path to transport the sheet from the paper loading unit to between the recording head and the sheet guide member while inverting the sheet, a second transport path to transport the sheet from the paper loading unit to a temporal containing unit in a state where a front-back direction of the sheet is kept, and a third transport path to transport the sheet from the temporal containing unit to between the recording head and the sheet guide member in a state where the front

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a stapler configured to staple sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus; a guide plate configured to guide the sheets to the stapler in a conveying direction of the sheets; a longitudinal alignment roller configured to rotate, when guiding the sheets to the stapler, in a first direction to longitudinally align the sheets and rotate, when discharging the sheets subjected to the finishing, in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a pressing member, one end and the other end of which are attached to the guide plate and a main body section of which is curved in an arc shape toward the longitudinal alignment roller and is in contact with the longitudinal alignment roller.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.

Abstract: In a paper-sheet post-processing device, a paper-sheet aligning unit has: a main unit; a paper-sheet holding part which holds paper-sheets supported on a paper-sheet supporting unit; a cam mechanism which places the paper-sheet pressing part close to and separate from the paper-sheet supporting unit; and an aligning mechanism which aligns the paper-sheets supported on the paper-sheet supporting unit with a standard position by rotation of the aligning member; and the main unit has a rotation shaft rotatably supported axially by a first support part and a second support part and the cam member and aligning member are arranged to be fixed to the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes a medium feeding unit that feeds a medium by contacting the medium, a separating unit that presses the medium against the medium feeding unit to separate the medium from subsequent media, and a conveying unit that conveys the medium having been separated by the separating unit. A first guide member is provided between the medium feeding unit and the conveying unit, and configured to guide a surface of the medium on the medium feeding unit side. A second guide member provided is so as to face the first guide member, and configured to guide the medium. The first guide member has a guide protruding portion that protrudes toward the second guide member.

Abstract: A media-loaded device includes a main body and a guide unit. The main body, in which media are stackable, has a first engaging member. The guide unit is movable relative to the main body and has a disengaging member. The disengaging member has a second engaging member that engages with the first engaging member. The second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging member by an external force applied to the disengaging member in a stacking direction of the media.

Abstract: A sheet skew feeding correcting apparatus includes a shutter member which abuts against a leading end of the sheet conveyed by the conveying apparatus, the shutter member is movable between a first attitude where the shutter member abuts against the leading end of the sheet and a second attitude where the shutter member permits the sheet to pass therethrough, and a loop abutting portion against which a loop portion of the sheet formed while the sheet is conveyed by the first sheet conveying apparatus, wherein the loop portion of the sheet whose leading end is abut against the shutter member moves the shutter member from the first attitude to the second attitude by a force pressing the loop abutting portion.

Abstract: The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets within an image forming device. One embodiment includes a registration mechanism located along the media path. The mechanism may include a series of discrete registration nips that each includes a pair of drive rolls and idler roll. The nips are spaced at intervals across the media path. Guide ribs are arranged across the media path and may be positioned between the nips. The guide ribs further guide the media sheets through the registration mechanism and along the media path.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a sheet accumulating feed path that is arranged on a downstream side of the sheet conveying unit in a sheet conveying direction and being capable of accumulating therein a plurality of sheets; a stopping member that stops a leading edge of a sheet conveyed into the sheet accumulating feed path; a width aligning unit that aligns a width of the sheet stopped by the stopping member and accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path; and a control unit that performs control to cause: the sheet conveying unit to convey a sheet into the sheet accumulating feed path; the stopping member to stop the leading edge of the sheet; and the width aligning unit to align the width of a sheet every time a sheet is accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path.

Abstract: A paper transporting device includes a driving roller member, a driven roller member, a first guiding member and a second guiding member. The driving roller member is rotated. The driven roller member is rotated in contact with the driving roller member. The first guiding member is disposed on a driving roller member side, and guides a paper to a contact portion in which the driving roller member and the driven roller member are in contact with each other. The second guiding member is disposed on a driven roller member side, and guides the paper to the contact portion. The second guiding member partially protrudes inward in a radial direction of the driving roller member from an outer peripheral surface of the driving roller member at a downstream side in a paper transporting direction of the contact portion.

Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.

Abstract: According to aspects illustrated herein, a printmaking device, a method, and a system for reducing process direction errors of a sheet in a registration device is provided herein. The printmaking device includes a feed path, a printing module, and a sheet registration system. The sheet registration system is along the feed path and includes at least one trail edge sensor, a registration controller, and at least one pair of registration nips. The feed path moves a first side of the sheet in a process direction. The registration controller registers the first side of the sheet by: measuring and correcting a first skew error of the sheet; measuring and correcting a first arrival time of the trail edge of the sheet to determine a first process direction position of the sheet; and delivering the first side of the adjusted sheet at a first predefined delivery time.

Abstract: When an instruction reception section receives an image forming instruction from an operator, a detector detects an toner image forming unit which performs an image forming operation in connection with the operator's instruction. A mode determining section determines which one of an image formation preceding mode or a sheet conveyance preceding mode is set for the toner image forming unit detected by the detector, and a drive controller controls drivings of the sheet conveying section and the image forming section according to the determined mode.

Abstract: A method for aligning a media sheet in a media path of an image forming apparatus includes aligning the media sheet against a first reference edge of an input tray. The media sheet may then move through an alignment nip which is constructed to laterally move the media sheet against a reference edge. The media sheet moves along the reference edge and becomes aligned prior to moving to a transport belt. The media sheet may then move through one or more transfer nips to receive one or more images.

Abstract: A device includes a conveying unit conveying a sheet, a guide, disposed downstream of the conveying unit in a conveying direction, guiding one side end of the conveyed sheet while being in contact with a side end, a feeding unit obliquely conveying the sheet closer to the guide, a pressing unit pressing the conveyed sheet in a direction in which the sheet moves away from the guide, and a control unit controlling the pressing unit and the feeding unit so that the feeding unit nips the pressed sheet to form a loop in the sheet between the conveying unit and the feeding unit and then conveys the sheet while the side end of the sheet is in sliding contact with the guide.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus transports paper one by one through a transportation mechanism to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a paper feed cassette to contain paper, a paper side guide arranged in the paper feed cassette to position the paper in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of the paper, and a dust removing roller arranged in the paper side guide and in contact with the paper contained in the paper feed cassette.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a guide member disposed in a space on a side of a pair of rotating bodies. The guide member is supported such that the guide member can project outward from an outer periphery of one of the rotating bodies located upstream in a sheet conveying direction. When a front end of a conveyed sheet abuts against the guide member and pushes the guide member, the guide member retracts from a projecting position into the space on the side of the pair of rotating bodies, and in this state, the front end of the sheet is guided to a nip portion of the pair of rotating bodies.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a plurality of skew feeding correction rollers, a detection portion and a control portion which controls each sheet conveying speed of the plurality of skew feeding correction rollers so as to perform skew feeding correction of the sheet depending on the output from the detection portion. The control portion controls the plurality of skew feeding correction rollers so as to perform skew feeding correction of the sheet while the sheet is conveyed in a state in which the sheet conveying speed of the plurality of skew feeding correction rollers is slower than that when the amount of skew feeding of the sheet is less than a predetermined amount of skew feeding when the amount of skew feeding exceeds the predetermined amount of skew feeding.

Abstract: A medium feed device has a configuration in which a feed section is provided to send a medium in the front-and-back direction of the medium feed device, the device includes a guide member which guides the medium in the back face side of the medium feed device, the guide member is provided to be capable of being extended and contracted in a direction connecting the base end side and the free-end side of the guide member, and the guide member forms a feed pathway for a the medium which is held to have a roll shape which is sent further from the back face side than the guide member, in a first state where the guide member is contracted, and forms a feed pathway for a fed medium of a single sheet shape which is sent from the guide member, in a second state where the guide member is extended.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus which conveys a recording sheet fed from a sheet feeding section toward a transfer position with controlled timing, including: a pair of registration rollers; a pair of loop rollers to form a loop of the recording sheet, the loop rollers being disposed upstream of the registration rollers in a sheet feeding direction; and a movable conveying unit configured such that the registration rollers and the loop rollers move as a unified body when correcting at least a lateral misalignment, which is a misalignment in a vertical direction to the sheet feeding direction, and inclination of the recording sheet.

Abstract: Registering a sheet in a differential drive registration system by identifying observed state values corresponding to a sheet handled by the differential drive registration system. The method also including determining an error vector, wherein the error vector is defined by a difference between the observed state values and reference state values for the sheet. Control input values are also determined based on the error vector, a set of control parameters, and the observed state values. The control input values being determined such that there is a linear differential relationship between the observed state values and the control input values. Additionally the method includes generating drive wheel velocities in the differential drive registration system based on the control input values. The identifying and determining steps being repeated for the sheet in a closed-loop process such that the observed state values substantially track the reference state values.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying mechanism and a control unit. The conveying mechanism is configured to pick up and convey a sheet every first time interval T and includes a sound source which produces a plurality of element sounds attendant on conveying the sheet. The control unit is configured to control the conveying mechanism so that the element sounds are caused at times determined based on a second time interval. The second time interval is acquired by dividing the first time interval T by a division number n which is an integer of two or more.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, a tray on which the sheet is placed, a first roller configured to feed the sheet placed on the tray, a first guide member configured to guide the sheet fed from the first roller to the recording unit, a second guide member configured to guide the sheet passed through the recording unit, a second roller configured to feed the sheet guided by the second guide member, a third guide member configured to guide the sheet fed from the second roller to the recording unit, a common roller configured to transmit a rotation force to the first roller and the second roller, and a second-roller arm including the second roller at a distal end thereof and configured to be pivotable about an axis.

Abstract: A feed assembly including: feed roller; support element for supporting feed roller; separating mechanism for facilitating separation of first and second sheets; and base with guide surface for guiding sheets and positioning wall for positioning separating mechanism; wherein engaging portion for engaging with separating mechanism is formed in positioning wall; separating mechanism includes: separator for separating sheets; first biasing element including first and second ends; seat including first and second walls; positioning element installed on first wall to be moved between first and second positions; and shifter for shifting positioning element; first biasing element biases separator; shifter holds positioning element in first position; and when feed roller is removed from support element, shifter moves positioning element to second position.