Abstract: An over-stack protective portion is provided on a stopper member. When a sheet feeding device is in a standby position, the over-stack protective portion is held in a position in which the over-stack protective portion is in pressure contact with sheets having the maximum stacking height capable of being fed and supported by a sheet supporting portion. Also, when the sheets are to be fed, the pressure contact of the over-stack protective portion with the sheets having the maximum stacking height is released.

Abstract: An optical cracked-grain selector that does not mistakenly identify normal grains of rice having no cracks as cracked grains due to the presence of the embryonic portion and/or surface scratches when optically identifying cracked grains of rice mixed in with material rice grains. An identification part in a cracked grain identification unit obtains a first rice grain image (having an embryonic portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain that is received by a first CCD sensor built into a CCD camera of a photoreaction detection unit and a second rice grain image (having cracks, an embryo portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain received by a second CCD sensor built into the CCD camera, acquires an image of the cracks by calculating a difference in the amount of light between the two rice grain images, and identifies a cracked grain.

Abstract: A continuously operating magnetic particle separating machine includes an inlet for receiving a material having magnetic particles mixed therein, an outlet for discharging the material after the magnetic particles have been separated therefrom, a first flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet, a first magnetic element positionable in the first flow path, a second flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet, and a second magnetic element positionable in the second flow path. The separating machine includes a control system including a diverter valve switchable between a first position for directing the material through the first flow path and a second position for directing the material through the second flow path, whereby the switching frequency of the diverter valve is responsive to a concentration of the magnetic particles in the material.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet feeding apparatus including a first feeding member that feeds at least one of the sheets from a discharge tray; a second feeding member that feeds the sheet fed by the first feeding member; a separating member, wherein a nip portion is formed between the separating member and the second feeding member, and when two sheets are entered the nip portion, the separating member separates one of the entered sheets from the other; an adjusting unit that changes a force of the separating member; a detecting unit that detects at least one of a distance by which the other of the entered sheets is transported beyond the nip portion and an advancing speed of the other of the entered sheets at the nip portion; and a controller that controls the adjusting unit based on a detection value of the detecting unit.

Abstract: In a sheet conveying mechanism, a first bulging space and a second bulging space are provided on a downstream side and an upstream side, respectively, of a conveying path. The second bulging space has a length L1 along the conveying path. The conveying path between the first and second bunging spaces is defined to have a length L2. The lengths L1 and L2 are set to satisfy a predetermined relationship with a frequency of noise propagating through the conveying path. The sheet conveying mechanism can inexpensively reduce noise generated inside the conveying path during sheet conveyance without hindering the conveyance of the sheet.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a sheet feed apparatus for an electronic device are disclosed. The sheet feed apparatus includes a mount pick arm that pivotally moves closer to a stack of media as the media is picked from the stack of media. A pick arm is pivotally connected to the mount pick arm and picks media from the stack of media.

Abstract: When a sheet is conveyed from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a bar-like pushing member is moved in a direction of the stacking tray in synchronization with an ejector. Consequently, simultaneously with the movement of the sheet by the ejector, a lower surface of a leading end of the sheet is pushed to relax and reduce a contact force between the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet and the stacking tray (or an upper surface of a sheet already stacked on the stacking tray). As a result, static friction at the leading end of the sheet is changed to dynamic friction and the entire sheet is conveyed to the stacking tray without bending.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprising an actuator and a sensor mounted on a main body, the actuator being capable of contacting an upper surface of a sheet placed on a bottom plate provided in a sheet tray as the bottom plate is raised, thereby allowing the sensor to detect that the sheet is present. The paper feeder further comprises a through bore formed in the bottom plate for receiving the actuator when a sheet is absent from the sheet tray, so that the sensor may detect that the sheet is absent, and a push-out guide provided on peripheries of the through bore for contacting the actuator in the through bore as the sheet tray is pulled out, thereby pushing the actuator upward out of the through bore.

Abstract: This paper feed mechanism includes a paper feed cassette integrally having a paper contact portion on a position deviating from the center of a rear-side inner wall surface in the cross direction by a prescribed distance in the cross direction and an apparatus body mountable with the paper feed cassette, and the apparatus body includes a driving portion rotating a paper feed roller in a paper feed direction and a paper discharge direction and a control portion bringing the rear end of the paper into contact with the paper contact portion for generating torque for the paper and thereafter transporting the paper to the apparatus body in paper feeding.

Abstract: Mobile metal scrap recovery apparatuses and methods of operating them to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus comprises first and second wheeled components, each of which is road transportable. The first wheeled component comprises a unit for screening the metal scrap-contaminated soil into at least a coarser fraction and a finer fraction. The second wheeled component comprises a magnet separator, an eddy current separator, and a manual picking station. Methods for conducting the business of scrap metal recovery are also disclosed. Such business methods involve the use of a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluff management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include fluffing a stack of media with a predetermined amount of air flow, sensing sheet separation in the media stack, determining if the sheet separation meets predetermined criteria, wherein if the sheet separation does not meet the predetermined criteria, adjusting the air flow used for fluffing the media stack.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a feeding section configured to feed a recording sheet, a first conveyance roller which conveys the recording sheet fed from the feeding section to a recording area and conveys the recording sheet during a recording operation, a recording section configured to record an image on the recording sheet at the recording area downstream from the first conveyance roller in the direction of feeding the recording sheet, a conveyance rate detection unit configured to detect the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller, a recording sheet end detection unit disposed downstream from the first conveyance roller and detects the end part of the recording sheet, and a correction unit configured to correct the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller based on a result detected by the conveyance rate detection unit.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus having: a conveyance roller, wherein a surface roughness Ra of a surface layer remains in a range from 8 ?m to 30 ?m, at a stage where a total length of sheets conveyed reaches at 42,000 m.

Abstract: A common driving source transmits a drive force to a driving unit that drives a feeding unit and a conveying unit. The driving source is a motor that rotates in either of a normal direction and a reverse direction. The feeding unit includes a mechanical drive-blocking mechanism in its driving sequence. The conveying unit includes a two-system driving sequence and a mechanical drive-blocking mechanism in the driving sequence so as to rotate in one direction regardless of a rotating direction of the driving source. A reduction ratio of each driving sequence in the conveying unit is identical.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for storing a slip-sheet removed from a stack of interleaved slip-sheets and printing plates. A materials handling system separates a slip-sheet from a media stack that includes image recordable materials. A slip-sheet separates each of the image recordable materials from one another in the media stack. The slip-sheets removed from the stack are stored in a movable slip-sheet holder.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosed concepts provide for a method and apparatus for processing batched items, which may comprise a multitude of flats, e.g., letters. The individual items are conveyed in a row and abut against a band conveyor with one edge. They are at least partially resting against and overlapping each other in a shingle-like manner. The overlapping flats are further separated (fanned out) by guiding mechanisms on each side of the overlapping flats that accelerate and decelerate as necessary.

Abstract: An open/close mechanism can be used for paper trays of an image forming apparatus. The open/close mechanism includes a plate member provided on a side of a housing of the image forming apparatus and configured to pivot upon an axis between an open position and a close position, and a box member that is arranged in the housing beneath the plate member and that can be drawn out of the housing from the side. The open/close mechanism includes also includes a restricting unit that is coupled to the plate member and that abuts against the box member when the box member is set in the housing and when the plate member is in the open position thereby restricting detachment of the box member from the housing.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding cassette includes a main body. A locked portion allows the main body to be locked to a locking portion in a cassette accommodating section by inserting the main body in the cassette accommodating section. An unlocking unit is provided for detaching the locked portion from the locking portion when the main body is drawn out of the cassette accommodating section. A handle is provided in the main body and includes fixed and movable grips. The fixed grip has a recess with a “]” shaped cross section open to the insertion direction. The movable grip is slidable to a fitted state in the recess of the fixed grip when the handle is gripped, and a projecting state projecting partially from the recess when gripping is released. The unlocking unit operates for unlocking in accordance with changing of states of the movable grip from the projecting state to the fitted state.

Abstract: A method which is capable of completely separating a plate member with a large area without using a peeling member and eliminating a possibility of permanent deformation on the plate member. A plurality of suction pads are suckingly disposed on a surface of a topmost plate member in a substantially lattice shape. Then, while the topmost plate member is held by the suction pads disposed in a zigzag shape among the suction pads disposed in the substantially lattice shape, the topmost plate member is lifted by the remaining suction pads. Finally, the suction pads holding the topmost plate member are lifted.