Abstract: An image reading device includes a document stacking tray on which documents are stacked, a feed roller for picking up, one sheet at a time, the documents that are stacked on the document stacking tray, a curved transporting path through which the document is transported, and a CCD reading unit and a CIS reading unit for reading images from the document. The document stacking tray includes a electric tray for raising or lowering the document within a range of a height of the curved transporting path, so as to feed the document to the feed roller. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide an image reading device and an image forming apparatus that are capable of separating and transporting a large number of documents and efficiently reading images from the documents even when the documents are thick.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving media along a media path employ an increase in the force with which a gripping surface contacts the media in order to compensate for wear experienced by the gripping surface. The force is increased as a function of a measured variable which can be the number of revolutions of a feed roller on which the gripping surface is defined. The variable can alternatively be elapsed time, or can be a number of sheets of media that pass a given point on the media path. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a wear compensator which is configured to cause the increase in force with which the gripping surface contacts the media.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for a printing device includes a pickup roller and a feeding roller picking up sheets loaded on a tray and feeding the sheets into a sheet feeding path, respectively, a rotation member installed on a rotation shaft of the feeding roller to support and rotate the pickup roller at a free end, a relay gear engaging the feeding roller and the pickup roller, a clutch unit selectively transferring a raising force of the rotation shaft to the rotation member, and a stopper installed in the rotation member to be elevated and lowered with respect to the rotation member to block a path between the pickup roller and the feeding roller. Accordingly, since the pickup roller is raised to allow the sheets to be loaded and then lowered after the sheets are loaded on the tray, front ends of the sheets are automatically inserted under the pickup roller.

Abstract: A feeding and conveying system for feeding and conveying sheet material for printing, collating, or binding the sheet material, among other processes. The feeding and conveying system includes at least one feeder having a magazine containing a plurality of articles of sheet material, for example, signatures, a rotatable disk for separating the sheet material from the magazine, and a feed drum for transferring the sheet material from the magazine to a conveyor. The rotatable disk, having at least one separating blade, is reciprocally rotated to separate the sheet material from the magazine. The separation of the sheet material from the magazine may be aided by applying a source of vacuum to the sheet material, for example, by means of suckers. The feed drum may include one or more grasping devices for grasping and retaining the sheet material, for example, one or more grippers. The rotation of the separator disk may be controlled by a programmable controller.

Abstract: A document-ejecting/feeding mechanism is assembled inside an automatic document feeder, includes a driving device, gears, one-way clutches and rollers. After feeding action is canceled, the driving device is reversed and cooperates with the action of gears and one-way clutches, and at least one of rollers that near the paper-ejecting position is still rolled to the paper ejecting direction. Therefore, after the feeding action is canceled, the document will be still moved out from the feeder automatically and not tore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder for manipulating and scanning multiple documents, sheets, cards and sheet-like substrates. The present invention is especially suitable for automatic feeding and scanning of a stack of business cards or other material, which is sufficiently rigid. In an embodiment, a card feeder includes a vertically movable pickup roller, a backstop incline, and output rollers. The card feeder uses the pickup roller to separate and push the top card of the stack against a backstop incline. The card slides upwards along the incline until it engages the output rollers, which move the card past a scanner. The present invention relates to embodiments, which transfer an output card to a card scanner using output rollers to push the card toward scanner input rollers. The output rollers and scanner input rollers can be synchronized or the output rollers can freely rotate in one direction after power to a motor driving rotation is cut off.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic printing machine that minimizes trail edge flip when delivering a sheet to a photoreceptor at a desired tangential position. The sheet feeding device includes a baffle member which has two control points, one of which is an idler roller. The baffle further includes a ramp member which controls the trail edge of a sheet to maximize the beam length to reduce the bending energy which results in trail edge flip.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus comprises primary paper feed device 3 sequentially transferring only an uppermost print sheet P on a paper feed tray, and secondary paper feed device 4 guiding a tip end of the print sheet P transferred by the primary paper feed device 3 by a pair of guide members 12 and 13, introducing the print sheet P to a portion between a pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10 and transferring the print sheet P introduced to the portion between the pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10 to a transport downstream side according to rotation of the pair of secondary paper feed rollers 10. The paper feed apparatus is provided with a guide distance adjustment device 14 for making a distance between the pair of guide members 12 and 13 variable. The guide distance adjustment device 14 rotates eccentric cams 22 by rotation of an operation member 20.

Abstract: An auxiliary roller is disposed in the proximity of sides of feed rollers and in the proximity upward from a separation pad. At the print time, the auxiliary roller is slightly projected toward the side of print sheet from roller faces of the feed rollers. The auxiliary roller is displaced as paper is displaced in a stack direction of the paper, and can be freely rotated. A hopper is moved up, paper is pressed against the feed rollers, and the separation pad abuts the feed rollers. Then, the feed rollers and a transport roller are rotated forward for feeding the paper to the transport roller. Further, the paper is sent from the transport roller at a distance equal to or greater than the length along the feeding path between the position of the front end of paper placed in a paper feed tray and the abutment center point of the separation pad and the feed rollers. Subsequently, the feed rollers and the transport roller stop, the hopper is moved down, and the separation pad is brought away from the feed rollers.

Abstract: In order to securely prevent or detect overlap feeding of sheet materials, there is provided a sheet material feeding mechanism which deforms the sheet materials on a feeding line so as to form a gap between the overlapping sheet materials which firmly cling to each other. For preventing the overlap feeding of the sheets, the drive relationship between a feeding roller and a pair of a parting roller and a retarding roller located on the downstream side from the feeding roller is optimized to form the gap between the sheet materials. Further, for detecting the overlap feeding of the sheets, bending correction ribs are provided on guide plates formed on the upper and lower sides of the feeding line of the sheet materials so as to deform the sheet materials fed in the overlapping condition, thereby the gap is formed between the overlapping sheets.

Abstract: A method and system provide for generating a predetermined feed spacing between a first document and a second document. The method includes the steps of determining an adjustment time period, and reducing a feed wheel speed to an adjustment speed. The feed wheel transports the documents between a document stack and a transport wheel. The method further provides for increasing the feed wheel speed after the adjustment time period has expired such that the trailing edge of the first document and the leading edge of the second document have the predetermined feed spacing. Determining the adjustment time period in conjunction with variable control of the feed wheel provides and enhanced approach to feed spacing unachievable through conventional approaches.

Abstract: The present invention is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus which can monitor a sheet conveying condition even with small sheet interval, an image forming apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, an image reading apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, and a sheet processing apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus. The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus that has detecting means for detecting each of the sheets to be conveyed, wherein, when the sheets are conveyed continuously, conveyance of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet is started in a condition that the succeeding sheet cannot be detected by the detecting means, and the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet are conveyed in such a manner that a an interval which can be detected by the detecting means is created between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet at a position of the detecting means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of feeding a sheetlike material (50-54) into a printer. An externally located cover sheet (50-54) is removed from a pile of sheets and conveyed towards a section (a10-a12) of the transport path at a transport speed (V0, V1). The lower limit (v0) of the transport speed is the same as or greater than the transport speed (v0) of the sheets (50-54) in section (a1-a12). Conveyance of the sheet (52,54) is delayed until section (a10-a12) has been reached. Identical predetermined spacing (AS) thus occurs between immediately successive transported sheets (52,54).

Abstract: A credit card stacker holding up to a predetermined number of cards in a lower section. Cards are supplied by a separator mechanism from the upper section of the card stacker, as they are depleted from the lower section by the issuing mechanism. The separator mechanism supports one edge of a card in the upper section only while the other edge of the card is supported by a predetermined number of cards in the lower section. When the number of cards in the lower section drops below the predetermined number, the separator allows cards to drop to the lower section.

Abstract: A credit card stacker holding up to a predetermined number of cards in a lower section. Cards are supplied by a separator mechanism from the upper section of the card stacker, as they are depleted from the lower section by the issuing mechanism. The separator mechanism supports one edge of a card in the upper section only while the other edge of the card is supported by a predetermined number of cards in the lower section. When the number of cards in the lower section drops below the predetermined number, the separator allows cards to drop to the lower section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium with a recording head, comprising a conveying roller pair for conveying the recording medium, discharging roller pairs for conveying the recording medium in the downstream of the conveying roller pair, and a stepping motor for driving the conveying roller pair and the discharging roller pairs. A peak value of driving current of the stepping motor after a tailing edge of the recording medium passes the conveying roller pair is smaller than a peak value of driving current of the stepping motor before the tailing edge of the recording medium passes the conveying roller pair.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a paper feeding apparatus and a driving method thereof for an office machine. The office machine includes a paper accommodating device and a paper processing apparatus. The paper accommodating device is for accommodating paper sheets to be processed by the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus is for feeding the paper sheets accommodated by the paper accommodating device one by one to the paper processing apparatus. The paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a delivery roller, a pair of feeding rollers, a detection device, a transmission gear assembly, a drive motor and a controller. The detection device detects a leading edge and a trailing edge of the paper sheet delivered by the paper feeding apparatus. In particular, the paper feeding apparatus is a simple-configuration, light-weight and compact component and capable of feeding paper sheets accurately.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for conveying a sheet from a feeding roller to an image processing section, comprising an intermediate conveyance roller disposed between the feeding roller and the image processing section, a drive source providing a rotary drive force to the intermediate conveyance roller, an intermediate conveyance roller moving mechanism for moving the intermediate conveyance roller to be projecting in a sheet conveyance route so as to be conveyable of the sheet when the drive source is driven in one rotational direction and to be escaping from the sheet conveyance route when the drive source is driven in the other rotational direction and an intermediate conveyance roller normally feeding mechanism for rotating the intermediate conveyance roller in only one sheet feeding direction notwithstanding of the rotational direction of the drive source.

Abstract: A sheet separating device having a mechanism for buckling or humping a top sheet of a stack and thereby separating the top sheet from an underlying sheet that may be adhering to the underside of said top sheet.

Abstract: In a scanning unit such as a facsimile machine, an automatic document feeder transports individual sheets from a stack of documents along a document path over a scanning window to an output tray. An upper guide member includes an integrated chassis which provides most of the functional features required for picking individual sheets from a stack of documents in an input tray and transporting the sheet past a scanning window. The various components incorporated in the integrated chassis include a document separation mechanism, pre-scanning pinch rollers, post-scanning pinch rollers, a spring-loaded limiter with minimal paper path obstruction, a hinging mechanism to facilitate manual access to the document path, a latching mechanism, referencing datums, and ESD grounding including ESD brushes adjacent the document path and an ESD shield for a circuit board housed in the upper guide member.

Abstract: A paper sheet conveying apparatus and method for an image information processor in which a paper sheet with image information recorded thereon can be prevented from a skew carriage. The paper sheet conveying apparatus includes a driving motor which is controlled to be shifted from a forward revolution mode to a reverse revolution mode or vice versa. The paper conveying apparatus further includes a power cleaving means that selectively supplies the power to a first power transmitting system and to a second power transmitting system.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a sheet tray accommodating stacked sheets, and a sheet feeding unit feeding the stacked sheets in the sheet tray one by one. The sheet feeding unit includes a feeding roller which rotates in a sheet feeding direction, and a separation roller which presses against the feeding roller when feeding each of the stacked sheets and which rotates, via a torque limiter, in a direction opposite the sheet feeding direction. The separation roller is rotated by rotation of the feeding roller when a single sheet is sandwiched between the feeding and separation rollers. Also included is a conveying member arranged downstream of the feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction, and a driving source which drives each of the feeding roller, the separation roller, and the conveying member via a driving force transmission mechanism so the separation roller and the conveying member are driven in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus comprising, feeding means for feeding sheets; and limiting means movable to a limiting position for limiting a front end of the sheets and to an escape position for releasing the limitation. And the sheet feeding apparatus releases the limitation on the front end by the limiting means before the sheets start to be fed.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of a sheet at the top of a stack of sheets supported on a sheet support and an inclined separation plane separates a sheet, fed forward by the sheet feed roller, from the other sheets of the stack of the sheets. A rotatable separation roller is disposed between the inclined separation plane and the sheet feed roller such that the separation roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of the sheet fed forward by the sheet feeding roller. The separation roller is movable depending on the rigidity of the sheet so that when the sheet being fed forward has low rigidity, the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the separation roller, but when the sheet being fed forward has high rigidity, the separation roller is moved upward thereby allowing the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: A document feeder with overlap protection that prevents the overlap of successive documents moving from a document stack and that utilizes a nudger. An independent motor selectively drives the nudger. Document edge detectors sense the location of documents at the nudger and at other locations fed from the document stack and send control signals to the independent motor so that a proper distance is maintained between successive documents. A document edge detector can be placed at various locations along the path of document travel.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a stocking plate on which a plurality of sheets are stackable, a separating device for separating the sheets stacked on the stocking plate one by one by a pair of pressure contact members, a feeding device for feeding the sheets, and a pressure releasing device for releasing the pressure contact of the pair of pressure contact members has a returning device for acting on the pressure releasing device to thereby return the pair of pressure contact members to their pressure contact state after a single-sheet feeding is terminated when the sheets are fed with the pair of pressure contact members pressure-released by the pressure releasing device.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus including a feed roller supplying paper to a image reading position and a discharge roller discharging the paper. A load in the rotational direction is provided at the discharge roller to prevent the image reading turbulence at the time when the paper is separated from the feed roller.

Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus feeds sheet media between a feed roller and a separating member pressed into contact with the feed roller, and separates and conveys sheet media held between the feed roller and the separating member one by one by utilizing differences in frictional coefficients between the feed roller, the separating member, and the sheet media. The sheet media are separated and conveyed while periodically changing the pressurizing force of the reverse roller against the feed roller.

Abstract: In order to securely prevent or detect overlap feeding of sheet materials, there is provided a sheet material feeding mechanism which deforms the sheet materials on a feeding line so as to form a gap between the overlapping sheet materials which firmly cling to each other. For preventing the overlap feeding of the sheets, the drive relationship between a feeding roller and a pair of a parting roller and a retarding roller located on the downstream side from the feeding roller is optimized to form the gap between the sheet materials. Further, for detecting the overlap feeding of the sheets, bending correction ribs are provided on guide plates formed on the upper and lower sides of the feeding line of the sheet materials so as to deform the sheet materials fed in the overlapping condition, thereby the gap is formed between the overlapping sheets.

Abstract: A paper returner is placed in the vicinity of an end portion of a hopper for stacking a plurality of sheets of paper which faces a paper feeding roller, so as to be pivotable between a first position where the paper returner constitutes a part of the paper transporting passage, and a second position where the paper returner is isolated from the paper transporting passage. A separation pad is provided on a first face of the paper returner. The separation pad has a friction coefficient which is higher than a friction coefficient of the first face of the paper returner. The paper returner is placed at the first position so that a top sheet of paper in the hopper is abutted against the paper feeding roller, and is separated from other sheets of paper by the separation pad. The paper returner is placed at the second position so that the first face of the paper returner returns sheets of paper, which are entered in the paper transporting passage together with the sheet of paper to be fed, to the hopper.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: A sheet feeding machine includes a sheet feeding table which is vertically movable and capable of supporting a plurality of first recording sheets thereon, first sheet feeding device movably situated above the sheet feeding table, the first sheet feeding device feeding the first recording sheets successively from a topmost sheet as the sheet feeding table with the first recording sheets moves upward, a base body detachably attached to the sheet feeding table, the base body supporting a plurality of second recording sheets thereon, and second sheet feeding device situated on the base body and feeding the second recording sheets successively from a bottommost sheet so that when the base body is attached to the sheet feeding table, the second recording sheet is fed by the second sheet feeding device and is transferred further by the first feeding device as a conveying device.

Abstract: A credit card stacker holding up to a predetermined number of cards in a lower section. Cards are supplied by a separator mechanism from the upper section of the card stacker, as they are depleted from the lower section by the issuing mechanism. The separator mechanism supports one edge of a card in the upper section only while the other edge of the card is supported by a predetermined number of cards in the lower section. When the number of cards in the lower section drops below the predetermined number, the separator allows cards to drop to the lower section.

Abstract: A card feeder for a card printer provides a stack of cards at an input end of the printer. The cards are supported on a pair of rollers that are driven at differential speeds and through one-way clutches so that a card being fed from the stack will pass through an outlet opening and can be accelerated by further drives. The outlet opening is controlled as to size by a slidable gate that permits changing the thickness of the opening to permit use of different thickness cards in the hopper. The feeder includes cleaning rollers that are formed as a module that can be inserted and replaced, and also an encoding station where the card can be encoded such as for a magnetic strip, or for non contact radio frequency or other smart card chips contained on the card being processed prior to the printing operation.

Abstract: A postal meter mail piece feeder comprising a hopper section, a singulating section and a mail piece turner. The hopper section comprises a bottom mail piece support deck for supporting mail pieces thereon, a rear wall having a mail piece drive for contacting and moving the mail pieces along the support deck, and a front stop for biasing the mail pieces towards the rear wall. The singulating section is downstream from the hopper section and comprises a retard drive and a sensor connected to the retard drive. The mail piece turner is downstream from the singulating section and comprises a turning surface for turning the mail pieces about 90° from the singulating section for entry into a postage applying section of a postage meter.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet support for supporting sheets, and a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet support. An abutment member is pivotally supported to be rocked between a regulating position to regulate a tip end of the sheets supported by the sheet support and a non-regulating position to allow supply of the sheets by the sheet supply roller. An operation unit shifts the abutment member from the regulating position to the non-regulating position when the sheets are supplied by the sheet supply roller and shifts the abutment member from the non-regulating position to the regulating position after the sheets are supplied.

Abstract: An auxiliary roller is disposed in the proximity of sides of feed rollers and in the proximity upward from a separation pad. At the print time, the auxiliary roller is slightly projected toward the side of print sheet from roller faces of the feed rollers. The auxiliary roller is displaced as paper is displaced in a stack direction of the paper, and can be freely rotated. A hopper is moved up, paper is pressed against the feed rollers, and the separation pad abuts the feed rollers. Then, the feed rollers and a transport roller are rotated forward for feeding the paper to the transport roller. Further, the paper is sent from the transport roller at a distance equal to or greater than the length along the feeding path between the position of the front end of paper placed in a paper feed tray and the abutment center point of the separation pad and the feed rollers. Subsequently, the feed rollers and the transport roller stop, the hopper is moved down, and the separation pad is brought away from the feed rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus which can monitor a sheet conveying condition even with small sheet interval, an image forming apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, an image reading apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus, and a sheet processing apparatus having such a sheet conveying apparatus.

Abstract: Device for individually supplying flat products (P) to a processing station, including a feed attachment (2) having a wall (4) with substantially vertical orientation, against which the products are juxtaposed, and a system (16) for extracting the products to feed them one by one to the processing station.

Abstract: There are disclosed a pressing force adjustable roller unit, a sheet member or transport system in an image processing apparatus provided with the roller unit, and a sheet member supply system in which multi-transport can securely be prevented. In a holder to which a roller is attached via a holding shaft to move the roller in a load direction from a peripheral surface, a torsion spring is connected in a direction in which the holding shaft is pressed downward, a windup degree of a winding portion of the torsion spring is adjusted by engagement of an engaging arm projecting from the winding portion with a first or second stopper disposed on a holder side, and a roller pressing force can therefore be adjusted. There are also provided a hopper for piling sheets, a supply roller for picking up and feeding out the sheet, and a multi-transport preventing roller pair of a separation roller and a retard roller, so that the hopper can vertically move with respect to the supply roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet material conveying apparatus comprising first conveying means for conveying a sheet, material second conveying means for conveying, on a downstream side in a sheet material conveyance direction of the first conveying means, the sheet material and a plurality of guide members for forming a curving conveyance route located between the first conveying means and the second conveying means. The guide member forms the curving conveyance route located on an inner side among the guide members is a rotary body rotatably, which is arranged with no pressing member for pressing the sheet material to the rotary body.

Abstract: An object of the paper sheet feed mechanism of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet feed mechanism in which delivery of paper sheets is stable. The paper sheet feed mechanism comprises a feed roller conveying paper money to the right direction of the drawing, a spring pressing the feed roller against the paper money, a sensor detecting the press force that the paper money receives by being pressed by the feed roller, a push-up board pushing up the paper money, and a control section regulating the height of the push-up board based on the detection result by the sensor, and also comprises a pick roller conveying the paper sheet at a conveyance speed faster than a conveyance speed by the feed roller.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus includes a tray to be loaded with a stack of sheets, a side guide for preventing the sheets from skewing, and a sheet feeding mechanism for sequentially picking up and feeding the sheets, the top sheet being first. The tray includes an abutment parallel to a direction of sheet conveyance. The stack of sheets abut against the abutment at one side thereof. The side guide is movable toward and away from the abutment in matching relation to the size of the sheets. The sheet feeding mechanism is positioned at the intermediate between the abutment and the position of the side guide matching with sheets of minimum size available with the sheet feeder.

Abstract: A paper feeding system has a housing, a paper tray, a paper path positioned before a front end of the paper tray, a paper engaging mechanism installed above the paper tray, a paper separating mechanism, and a driving device. The paper engaging mechanism comprises an engaging arm and an engaging roller. The engaging arm comprises a first fixing shaft rotatably installed on the housing, and a second end installed with the engaging roller. When the engaging arm swings down to the paper tray, the engaging roller pushes at least a sheet of paper from the paper tray to the paper path. The paper separating mechanism comprises a separating roller and a friction pad installed respectively above and below the paper path. When two sheets of paper pass between a gap between the friction pad and the separating roller, the separating roller will move only the top sheet forward. The driving device is used to drive the engaging arm, the engaging roller, and the separating roller.

Abstract: A device for collecting and transferring cut products has an in-process storage device and a feeder feeding a stream of the cut products to the in-process storage device. The in-process storage device has a collecting tray in which the cut products fed by the feeder are collected. A transport device is provided for transporting the cut products away from the in-process storage device. A rotatably driven transfer drum is positioned underneath the collecting tray. The rotatably driven transfer drum has a gripping device that grips in a gripping position a preset number of the cut products collected in the collecting tray and moves the preset number of the cut products to the transport device by rotation of the rotatably driven transfer drum by a preset rotary angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper feeding apparatus for use in an image reader, e.g. such as an image scanner, which is designed especially to prevent overlap feeding of sheets of paper, and can adjust both the pressing forces between a hopper for carrying sheets of paper in a stacked manner and a pickup roller for paper feeding and between a parting roller and a retard roller for the prevention of overlap feeding. The paper feeding apparatus of the present invention serves to feed the sheets of paper one by one from the hopper and to restrict overlap feeding by the parting roller and the retard roller. This optimizes the paper feeding in the pass line from the hopper to the preventing mechanism for overlap feeding, thereby achieving a secure prevention overlap feeding.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a movable sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a sheet feeding device urged against the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and adapted to rotate in a sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, a feeding device disposed at a downstream side of the sheet feeding device in the sheet feeding direction and adapted to feed the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, a separating roller adapted to rotate in a sheet restoring direction to restore the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, a drive transmitting device for stopping rotation of the sheet feeding device toward the sheet feeding direction before a leading end of the sheet fed out from the sheet supporting device by the sheet feeding device reaches the feeding device and then for rotating the sheet feeding device in the sheet feeding direction again, and a pressing and retracting device for moving the sheet supporting device which abutted the sheet against the sheet feeding device before the lead

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivery of sheet media to a printer includes a chassis, a drive motor, a media tray with elevatable pressure plate, a plurality of pick rollers situated opposite movable pinch rollers that come into contact with the pick rollers to form a roller assembly therebetween when in an extended position. A movable separator forms a throat between one of the pick rollers and the leading edge of the separator when it is in an extended position. A common transmission is used to simultaneously position the pinch rollers, separator, and the pressure plate. The apparatus also includes a media retarder for preventing multiple sheets of media from advancing through the apparatus at the same time. The method includes delaying the rotation of the pick rollers until a stack of media has been raised to press against the pick rollers, and the pinch rollers and separator are in an extended position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the movement of paper sheets from a paper tray or the like is disclosed, and includes using a moveable sheet feeding device for removing the topmost single sheet from a stack of paper sheets seriatim to feed them along a path of travel to a paper printing station. A retractable guide device is used for helping to guide the sheets and to help retain them in the desired path of travel, and thus prevents the paper sheets from curling or other moving away from the path of travel. An end portion of the guide device is connected to and moves with a paper feeding mechanism as it continues to move downwardly into engagement with the current topmost sheet of the stack as it diminishes during a paper feeding operation.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).