Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a sheet stacking means for stacking a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply means for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a separation means for separating the sheets one by one by abutting the sheets against the separation means to cause elastic angular change in the sheet thereby to ride the sheet over the separation means, and a guide means having a guide surface for guiding the sheet separated by the separation means toward a downstream side, and wherein the sheet stacking means is provided at its downstream end with a projection which protrudes toward downstream sides of the separation means and of the guide surface of the guide means.

Abstract: In a serial recording apparatus having three recording modes, i.e., normal, high-quality, and high-speed recording modes, sheet feed control satisfying requirements in these modes is performed. More specifically, high-speed sheet feed control is performed in the normal or high-speed recording mode, and low-noise sheet feed control with improved precision is performed in the high-quality recording mode, although the speed is low. The apparatus can include a sheet feeder, a designator, a selector and a controller. The sheet feeder feeds a recording sheet relative to a recording head. The designator designates one of the recording modes. The selector selects one of a plurality of patterns for driving the sheet feeder in accordance with the designated recording mode. The controller controls a moving speed of the sheet feeder in accordance with the selected pattern for driving the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a sheet supporting unit for supporting a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, and a separator which can be elastically flexed to change an inclination angle thereof when the separator is urged by a sheet fed out by the sheet supply device for separating the sheet which rides over the separator from the other sheets. The separator is disposed in an inclined condition so that a tip end of an abutment surface, against which the sheets are to be urged and over which the sheet rides, of the separator before flexed is inclined with respect to a normal plane perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction by a predetermined angle toward the sheet supporting unit.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a separation member which is elastically flexible to change an angle thereof when the separation member is urged by a sheet fed out by a sheet supply unit, thereby separating the sheet which rides over the separation member from the other sheets, and a load releasing device for removing a load from the separation member to permit the separation member to return to its original state after the sheet is separated by the separation member and a guide for guiding the sheet separated by the separation member in the state where the separated sheet is not contacted with the separation member.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a head for forming an image on a recording medium or for reading an image formed on a recording medium; a supporting member for holding the head; a first unit for electrical connection provided for the head; a second unit for electrical connection provided for the supporting member, which can be electrically connected to the first unit for electrical connection; and a member for deelectrifying static electricity, which is provided for the supporting member in the vicinity of the second unit for electrical connection. This deelectrifying member prevents static electricity from flowing into the signal lines provided for the second unit for electrical connection when the supporting member is actuated to hold the head.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided having a pressure plate for supporting sheets on a sheet supporting surface, a pick-up roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the pressure plate, a plate member for separating the sheets fed out by the pick-up roller one by one, and a separation pad provided on the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate opposite the pick-up roller. The separation pad protrudes from the sheet supporting surface toward the sheets to contact frictionally the lower surface of the bottom-most sheet supported by the pressure plate. The separation pad has an upper surface which is higher at a portion opposing the pick-up roller than a portion downstream thereof, in a sheet feeding direction, relative to the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate, to urge an end of a sheet fed out by the pick-up roller toward the pressure plate.

Abstract: An ink refilling system includes an ink jet recording apparatus, in which a cartridge with an ink containing portion can be installed. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a driver for driving a conveyer for conveying a recording medium, and a first transmitter for transmitting the driving force from the driver out of the ink jet recording apparatus. Also provided is an ink filling apparatus for filling the ink into the cartridge, the ink filling apparatus including: an ink storing portion for storing the ink to be filled into the cartridge; a connector for injecting the ink from the ink storing portion to the cartridge; a pressure-feeding device for pressure-feeding the ink through the connector; and a second transmitter for transmitting the driving force to drive the pressure-feeding device. The driving force from the driver of the ink jet recording apparatus is transmitted to the pressure-feeding device through the first and second driving force transmitters.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carriage for causing a recording head provided with discharge ports for discharging ink to travel by mounting the recording head on the carriage, a wiping member for wiping the discharge port surface of the recording head having the discharge ports arranged therefor, and holding means for rotatively holding the wiping member in the traveling direction of the carriage at the time of the discharge port surface being wiped by means of the wiping member. With this arrangement, ink adhering to the leading end of the wiping member is prevented from flying and spreading to stain the recording area of a recording material, thus keeping the quality of printed images thereon.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet support, and a separating unit against which the sheet fed by the sheet supply roller abuts to cause elastic angular displacement of the sheet and adapted to permit the separation of the sheet when the sheet rides over the separating unit. The separating unit is formed from a thin plated-shaped member which includes at least one aperture or one notch.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus according to the present invention has a pawl separator for separating sheets one by one by regulating the tip ends and upper surfaces of tip end portions of the sheets, which pawl separator can be retarded from a sheet regulating position when it is urged by the sheet with a predetermined force. With this arrangement, sheets having small resiliency such as plain sheets are separated one by one by successively riding over the pawl separator, and sheets having great resiliency such as post cards and envelopes urge the pawl separator to a retracted position to pass through the pawl separator and are separated one by one by of another separation.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having an image reading operation capable of performing image reading by an image reading device for converting image information into electrical signals, and an image recording operation by a recording device for forming an image onto a recording medium is disclosed. The recording apparatus comprises a mounting unit capable of mounting both the image reading device and the recording device, a sensor for sensing which one of the image reading device and the recording device is mounted on the mounting unit, a quality preserving section for preserving the image quality in the recording operation, and a controller for controlling the reading operation by the image reading device, the recording operation by the recording device, and the quality preserving operations. The controller disenables the quality preserving operations by the quality preserving section, when the result sensed by the sensor indicates that the image reading device is mounted on the mounting unit.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, a sheet supply for positively contacting the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and for feeding out the sheet, a release mechanism for releasing contact between the sheet supply and the sheet, a separation device for separating the sheets fed by the sheet supply one by one, a pair of convey rotary devices for conveying the separated sheet, and a controller.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus such as an ink jet type recording apparatus, there are provided a recording unit for performing a recording operation on a recording material in response to a recording signal, the recording unit having a power supply for supplying power to drive the same, and a feeding unit for automatically feeding the recording material to the recording unit. This feeding unit is detachably connected to the recording unit. The recording apparatus further comprises a power supply apparatus installed on the feeding unit, capable of supplying power to the recording unit under such a condition that the feeding unit is connected to the recording unit. The recording unit can be made compact and lightweight. The recording unit is solely operable as a portable recording unit.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus, the size and the weight of the apparatus and the number of components are reduced, accumulated tolerance is reduced due to the decrease in the number of components, and the sheet feeding/discharging property, the conveying property, the adjustability of the distance between recording means and a sheet member, and the assembling capability of the apparatus are improved. The apparatus includes a first roller for conveying the sheet member toward a supporting surface, a second roller for grasping the sheet member together with the first roller, a third roller for discharging the sheet member from the supporting surface, and a fourth roller for grasping the sheet member together with the third roller. The apparatus also includes a first case including a carriage, the first roller and the third roller, and a second case including a platen, the second roller and the fourth roller.

Abstract: A system for smoothly driving a stepping motor with constant currents. For that purpose, a voltage level setting circuit forms various combinations of voltage levels for a first phase and voltage levels for a second phase. Drive currents of the stepping motor are determined using the various combinations for a plurality of times during one step drive of the stepping motor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising a supply means for supplying a sheet in a predetermined direction, a convey means for conveying the sheet supplied by the supply means in a predetermined direction, a recording means for recording an image on the sheet conveyed by the convey means, in response to image information, a reversible drive means for driving the supply means and the convey means, and a drive transmitting means for transmitting a driving force from the drive means to the supply means or the convey means, and wherein the drive transmitting means comprises a plurality of planetary gears as means for rotating the supply means only in a sheet supplying direction regardless of a rotational direction of the convey means, and the planetary gears are revolved around gears having different speed reduction ratios from the drive means as sun gears, respectively.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, in which a recording head records on a recording medium disposed above a platen, includes a carriage for moving the recording head, a recovery mechanism having a contacting member, a guide shaft and a limiting mechanism. The guide shaft guides the carriage to a recording area and to a separate recovery area, and positions the recovery mechanism so that the contacting member is capable of contacting the surface of the recording head on which an ink discharge port is provided. The limiting mechanism has a guide surface and an elastic member, and limits the rotational movement of the carriage with respect to the guide shaft; the elastic member maintains the position of the carriage with respect to the platen at the recording area by applying an elastic force to the guide member.

Abstract: A recovery mechanism is provided with an elastic blade for wiping the formation surface of ink discharge ports of a recording head by allowing the leading end of its wiping surface to slide on the formation surface of ink discharge ports of the head, and an ink jet recording apparatus is provided with such recovery mechanism. For this recovery mechanism, a guide wall unit, which is extended to the vicinity of the formation surface of ink discharge ports, is arranged along the wiping surface of the blade in a state that the blade is in a wiping operation, and then, ink adhering to the leading end of the wiping surface of the blade is guided to a gap between the guide wall unit and the blade. In this way, the flying splash of ink at the time of wiping can be suppressed for the assurance of a stabilized wiping operation, thus making it possible for the recovery mechanism and the ink jet apparatus provided therewith to perform a high-quality recording.

Abstract: There is provided a die protection apparatus for a hydraulic press in which a slide is moved up and down by a hydraulic cylinder, which apparatus comprises: a slide position detection means for detecting a position of the said slide; a pressure detection means for detecting a pressure that is applied to the said slide; a setting means for setting a threshold value of the said applied pressure and a predetermined position of the said slide which are required to form a workpiece in accordance with a die used; and an emergency stop means which, if a working pressure develops that exceeds the said threshold value at any position in a workpiece forming zone, is so operative as to determine the said working pressure to be abnormal, thereby emergency stopping the said slide.