Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus comprising: a pair of supply rollers adapted to be moved into pressure contact with each other to take a sheet into the gap therebetween; a retractable gate member disposed at the inner side of said supply rollers and adapted to retain the leading end of the sheet after the latter is taken into the gap between the supply rollers; and a plurality of detectors disposed between the gate member and the supply rollers. The detectors are arrayed along a line perpendicular to the direction of supply of the sheet to detect the leading end of the sheet. When the leading end of the sheet is detected by all of the detectors, a signal is generated to move the supply rollers into pressure contact while retracting the gate member and, thereafter, to start the rotation of the supply rollers. The time length between the detection of the sheet and the commencement of the supply is shorter for the supply of the second and subsequent sheets than for the first sheet.

Abstract: A copying machine wherein a retractable stopper device including at least one stopper portion which is normally projected is provided at an original discharge side of the exposure section, and the stopper device is retracted forcibly after the exposure is completed. The retractable stopper device further comprises a pair of leg portions provided on both sides of the member, respectively, compression springs fitted around the leg portions for urging the member upwardly, and a pair of projections projected upwardly and mounted at the both sides of the stopper member.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading a cassette containing a plurality of recording sheets into a device such that the sheets are fed to the device from a substantially constant, predetermined position.