Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a pickup roller mechanism disposed at an entrance of a paper feeding path, and a separation mechanism disposed to a rear end of the pickup roller mechanism. The pickup roller mechanism includes a first pickup unit positioned at the entrance of the paper feeding path, a second pickup unit mounted to a rear end of the first pickup unit, and a third pickup unit disposed to a rear end of the second pickup unit. The second pickup unit includes a first driving gear. The third pickup unit includes a second driving gear, and a transmission belt looped around an outer periphery of the first driving gear and an outer periphery of the second driving gear.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head that performs recording; a feeding roller that feeds out a medium that has been set, a transport roller that transports the medium fed out by the feeding roller toward a facing position facing the recording head; an auxiliary roller that is provided between the feeding roller and the transport roller and that assists in the transport of the medium; a motor that generates a driving force; and a drive train that is configured to transmit the driving force of the motor to the auxiliary roller and the transport roller.

Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a medium tray, a feed roller to feed media placed on the medium tray in order from the lower side, a brake roller located to face the feed roller, a torque limiter to control a load applied to the brake roller, and a changing member to change a limit value of a torque of the torque limiter according to a height of the media placed on the medium tray.

Abstract: A printer includes a driving roller to move a medium supported on a support table in a predetermined transportation direction, and pinch roller assemblies each including a pinch roller, a support to support the pinch roller to allow the pinch roller to contact, or to be spaced from, the driving roller, and an actuator provided upstream in the transportation direction with respect to the pinch roller. The actuator includes a contact portion contactable with the support, and an operation portion to press the contact portion to the support to move the pinch roller in a direction away from the driving roller.

Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a transport roller, a drive source, and a gear train. The transport roller transports a sheet. The gear train transmits rotating force from the drive source to the transport roller. The gear train includes a movable gear and a leaf spring. The movable gear is configured to move between a normal position where transmission of the rotating force to the transport roller is enabled, and a disengaged position where the transmission of the rotating force to the transport roller is interrupted, and also to move in an axial direction, and includes a helical gear that generates force to axially move in one direction, when the movable gear moves from the normal position to the disengaged position. The leaf spring buffers the movement of the movable gear in the one direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet conveying apparatus, including: a first guide member for restricting a movement of an end portion of a sheet in a sheet width direction; a second guide member for restricting a movement of the other end portion of the sheet in the sheet width direction; and a moving portion, wherein when one guide member of the first guide member and the second guide member is moved in the sheet width direction, the moving portion moves the other guide member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the one guide member is moved while being interlocked with a movement of the one guide member in a first area of a moving area, and allows the one guide member to be moved without being interlocked with a movement of the other guide member in a second area of the moving area.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a separation roller, a retard roller forming a nip with the separation roller, and a load application device configured to apply a load to the retard roller. The load application device includes a motor, a first drive train, a second torque limiter isolated from the first drive train, and a controller. The first drive train includes a plurality of gears for transmitting a driving force from the motor to the retard roller, a first torque limiter, and a clutch disposed between the motor and the first torque limiter. The second torque limiter is configured to communicate with the retard roller. The controller is configured to, during conveyance of a sheet, control the clutch to allow transmission of the driving force from the motor for a predetermined time period and to interrupt transmission of the driving force from the motor after expiration of the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor includes a drive roller, a retard roller forming a nip with the drive roller, a first torque limiter disposed coaxially with the retard roller and communicating with the retard roller, a first gear disposed coaxially with the retard roller, a drive train including a plurality of gears for receiving a driving force from the first gear, a second torque limiter, and an arm member including a contact portion located downstream of the drive roller in the conveyance direction. The arm member is movable between a first arm position to allow transmission of the driving force to the second torque limiter and a second arm position to interrupt transmission of the driving force to the second torque limiter. The arm member is configured to, as the sheet conveyed by the drive roller contacts the contact portion, move from the first arm position to the second arm position.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a reaction force generating apparatus which can be improved in size and weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a financial device and a method for controlling the same. The financial device includes: a multi-media storage module including a first storage part having a first stacking space in which media are stacked and a second storage part disposed under the first storage part and having a second stacking space in which media are stacked, in which the multi-media storage module has the first stacking space and the second stacking space provided at different sizes.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus configured to convey a sheet includes: a rotatable support portion configured to support a rotary portion which is configured to convey a sheet; an urging portion configured to urge the support portion in a direction of a rotary shaft center of the support portion with a support shaft, which is configured to support the support portion in a rotatable manner and is inserted through the urging portion; and a regulating portion configured to regulate a position of the support portion urged by the urging portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an accommodation unit, feeding, conveying, and separating members, and detecting, control, image forming, and regulating units. The conveying member conveys a fed recording material. The separating member forms a nip and separates recording materials. The detecting unit detects that the recording material has been fed to the nip. The feeding member starts feeding an accommodated recording material and, where a recording material is fed to the nip, causes the feeding to be finished. An image is formed on a fed recording material. The regulating unit regulates an end on an upstream side. The control unit measures a period from a recording material feeding to detection that a recording material is fed to the nip. Based on the measured period, information is output indicating that a position of the regulating unit is deviated from a position according to a size of the accommodated recording materials.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet feeding unit to feed a sheet, a sheet separating unit disposed opposite the sheet feeding unit to separate the sheet together with the sheet feeding unit, a bottom plate on which the sheet is loaded, a pressing unit having a leading end and movably disposed between the bottom plate and the sheet separating unit, and a support to rotatably support the pressing unit such that the leading end of the pressing unit contacts and separates from the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pair of registration rollers, a pair of intermediate rollers, a registration sensor, and a control section that performs rotation control on the pair of registration rollers and the pair of intermediate rollers. The control section changes a starting timing of slowdown control according to a time when the registration sensor detects arrival of recording paper. The control section changes a period of time from completion of the slowdown control to start of increasing the rotational speed of the pair of registration rollers and the rotational speed of the pair of intermediate rollers from a lower speed limit to a steady state speed according to the change of the starting timing of the slowdown control.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for an image forming apparatus is provided. The paper feeding apparatus includes a first paper feeding roller, a first one-way rotation transmission member disposed coaxially on the first paper feeding roller to transmit a first one-way rotational force to the first paper feeding roller, a second paper feeding roller spaced apart from the first paper feeding tray, a second one-way rotation transmission member disposed coaxially on the second paper feeding roller to transmit a second one-way rotational force to the second paper feeding roller, a drive source to rotate the first and second paper feeding rollers, a first power transmission member disposed between the first one-way rotation transmission member and the drive source, and a second power transmission member disposed between the second one-way rotation transmission member and the drive source.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including a tray configured to support a sheet; a chassis defining a first conveyer path, in which the sheet on the tray is conveyed in a first conveying direction, and a second conveyer path, through which the sheet is conveyed in a second conveying direction through a branch point to be inverted to reenter the first conveyer path through a merging point; a base member integrally formed of resin and including a guiding section to define a form of a part of the second conveyer path; a recording unit to record an image on the sheet conveyed in the first conveyer path; a drive shaft supported by the base member; and a return-conveyer roller disposed in the second conveyer path and configured to convey the sheet to be guided on the guiding section in the second conveying direction by rotation of the drive shaft, is provided.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying roller, a drive motor, a second detection portion, and a control portion. The control portion includes a first drive control portion, a rotation amount calculation portion, and a second drive control portion. When a front end of a sheet member is detected by the second detection portion, the first drive control portion sets driving of the drive motor in a stopped state before the sheet makes contact with the conveying roller. Rotation amount calculation portion performs a process of calculating a rotation amount of the conveying roller after the sheet member conveyed from upstream in the conveying direction of the sheet member makes contact with the conveying roller. Second drive control portion starts driving of the drive motor at a timing in accordance with the rotation amount of the conveying roller calculated by the rotation amount calculation portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including a conveyer unit, an image forming unit, and a registration unit, is provided. The conveyer includes a first roller, a second roller, and a belt having a first surface to contact the sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet in an image forming area. The registration unit is on an upstream side of the image forming area and includes a third roller and a fourth roller. A rotation axis of the third roller is on a side of the first surface, and a rotation axis of the fourth roller is on a side of a second surface of the belt, which is a reverse surface of the first surface. The registration unit manipulates the third and fourth rollers to align the sheet with a reference orientation and convey the sheet to the belt.

Abstract: In a liquid ejecting apparatus, a recording medium is conveyed by only a first conveying device during a first period, by only a second conveying device during a second period, and by both the first and second conveying device during a third period. The recording medium is conveyed, in theory, at first and second conveying speeds during the first and second periods respectively. A transition period is set from the first period to the third period or from the third period to the second period. The head controller controls a ejecting head during a period prior to the transition upon assuming that the conveying speed is the first conveying speed, during a period after the transition upon assuming that the conveying speed is the second conveying speed, and during the transition period upon assuming that the conveying speed is a third conveying speed between the first and second conveying speeds.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit, a conveying unit, a driving source driving the conveying unit, a feeding unit, a discharging unit, a control unit, a switching mechanism switching a driving state of the feeding unit and a restricting mechanism restricting backward feeding of the discharging unit. The control unit changes a timing of feeding the subsequent printing medium in accordance with a printing start position of the subsequent printing medium.

Abstract: The invention includes a swing mechanism contacting/separating a driven discharge roller with/from a driving discharge roller by swinging a support portion rotatably supporting the driven discharge roller. A planetary gear mechanism is provided in a power transmitting route from a driving source to the swing mechanism. The planetary gear mechanism switches the transmission of the driving force to the swing mechanism into a transmission state and a cutoff state by the switching portion.

Abstract: A paper feeding device that includes, in a drive transmission mechanism to a paper feeding roller that delivers paper, a drive member provided on an apparatus body side as a member to transmit torque in a given direction for delivery of paper from a conveying motor to the paper feeding roller and a driven member provided on the paper feeding roller side. By relatively rotating the drive member and the driven member to form a coupling state of the members before an instruction to start the delivery of paper is output, the rotation of the paper feeding roller is started without a time lag when the instruction to start the delivery of paper is output.

Abstract: The present invention provide a sheet conveying device comprising a driving source which freely rotates in a forward/reverse direction, a separation roller shaft configured to drive a separation roller to separate and feed each sheet to be conveyed in accordance with forward/reverse rotation of the driving source, a stopper unit configured to close a conveyance path of stacked sheets on an upstream side of the separation roller in a conveyance direction, a stopper opening/closing member configured to open/close the stopper unit in a vertical direction, and a transfer unit provided between the stopper opening/closing member and the separation roller shaft and configured to transfer a rotating force to the stopper opening/closing member in accordance with a drive of the separation roller shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a main body including the image forming unit and having an opening open in a horizontal direction, a sheet supply tray including a contact portion, a retaining mechanism disposed at the main body, a feed roller disposed at the main body, a pivotable member disposed at the main body and including a contact portion, and a clutch mechanism. The pivotable member is configured to, when the sheet supply tray is attached to the main body, pivot from a first position to a second position by the contact portion of the pivotable member receiving a force having the vertical direction from the contact portion of the sheet supply tray. The clutch mechanism is configured to allow or cut-off transmission of a driving force to the feed roller in response to the sheet supply tray relative to the main body.

Abstract: A media processing device executes a retard preparation operation that moves a separation roller and a paper return lever at a desired time even when the moving mechanism that moves a separation roller and a paper return lever together, and the conveyance mechanism that conveys the medium, share a common drive source. A printer has a moving mechanism that executes a retard preparation operation that moves the paper return lever and separation roller in conjunction with each other. Drive power from the conveyance motor is transferred to the moving mechanism. The printer also has a trigger lever that can move between an interference position physically interfering with the moving mechanism and preventing the retard preparation operation from starting, and an actuator that moves the trigger lever from the interference position to a non-interference position.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a driving source, a switchback roller which switches between a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction, first and second gear train for rotating the switchback roller in the normal and reverse rotation directions, respectively, a switching mechanism which switches among a first mode for transmitting driving force to the first gear train, a second mode for transmitting the driving force to the second gear train, and a third mode for not to transmit the driving force, a switching element which switches between a first state allowing switching of the switching mechanism into the first or third mode and a second state allowing switching of the switching mechanism into the second mode; and a controller which controls a state change of the switching element between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a delay mechanism that can transmit, with a delay, the rotational force of a discharge roller to a discharge tray. When the reverse rotation of the discharging roller has been begun, the delay mechanism accumulates the length of the delay, or, when the forward rotation of the discharge roller is performed for a longer period than the accumulated length of the delay, opens the discharge tray. When the feeding of a sheet is not performed during a sheet feeding operation accompanied by the reverse rotation of the discharging roller, the discharging roller is rotated forward to cancel out the length of the delay accumulated in the delay mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying device comprising a first conveyance path for conveying a sheet from a pair of first rollers to a pair of second rollers, a second conveyance path for performing switchback conveyance of the sheet, a switching unit for switching the second rollers between a press-contacted state and a separated state, and a single driving source for driving the rollers and the switching unit. A non transferring of drive section is set where when the driving source switches the rotation direction after the sheet that has been switchback-conveyed has reached the first rollers, a drive from the driving source is not transferred to the second rollers. The switching unit is driven to separate the second rollers during a time the drive is not transferred to the second rollers due to the non transferring of drive section.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, including: a drive source rotatable forwardly and reversely; a first roller rotatable in a first direction by the forward rotation of the drive source to convey a conveyed medium and rotatable in a second direction reverse to the first direction by the reverse rotation of the drive source; a recording device; a second roller; a first power transmitter which transmits a first-direction driving power to the second roller and not to transmit a second-direction driving power to the second roller, wherein the first-direction driving power is a rotational driving power of the first roller rotating in the first direction, and the second-direction driving power is a rotational driving power of the first roller rotating in the second direction; and a second power transmitter which transmits the second-direction driving power to the second roller and not to transmit the first-direction driving power to the second roller.

Abstract: An image scanning device includes a bottom wall, a surrounding wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a frame connected to the surrounding wall and having a first side plate, and a transparent panel fixed to the frame and having a lateral side supported by an upper part of the first side plate. A contact image sensor module is disposed on the bottom wall transverse to the first side plate, and includes a housing having a first short side wall spaced apart from the first side plate by a first distance less than or equal to 2 mm, and a plurality of sensors, one of which that is closest to the first short side wall is spaced apart from an outer surface of the first short side wall by a second distance less than or equal to 2.5 mm.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a casing with an internal space, a sheet placing portion, a sheet feeding unit, a driving unit, an opening/closing cover and a drive switching unit. A sheet is to be placed on the sheet placing portion. The sheet feeding unit includes a sheet feeding member. The driving unit is arranged in the internal space and coupled to a rotational drive system of the sheet feeding member and transmits a rotational drive force to the sheet feeding member. The opening/closing cover is openably and closably arranged on the casing to cover a opening formed in the casing. The drive switching unit uncouples the driving unit and the sheet feeding member in association with a switching movement of the opening/closing cover from a closed state to the open state. The sheet feeding unit is mountable into and removable from the internal space through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention is for separating upper and lower sheets. The sheet feeder includes a feed roller that conveys the sheet fed by a pickup roller in a sheet feeding direction and a retard roller rotated in a sheet feeding direction at a rotational velocity faster than that of the feed roller by interposing a torque limiter. Meanwhile, the retard roller is rotated at a velocity equal to that of the feed roller when a single sheet is nipped in the roller nip portion. The sheet feeder further includes a controller that performs control such that, when double sheet feeding occurs by the pickup roller, the sheet of the retard roller side projects ahead of the sheet of the feed roller side in the sheet feeding direction by virtue of the torque limiter, and then, the retard roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A feeding roller, a drive motor configured to drive the feeding roller, a control unit configured to perform one rotation control on the feeding roller, a sheet feeding path curved immediately after the feeding roller, a conveying roller pair provided in the sheet feeding path, and being set to a sheet conveyance speed higher than that of the feeding roller so as to eliminate a loop formed when a sheet passes through the sheet feeding path during one rotation control of the feeding roller; and a ratchet mechanism configured to stop the driving force from the drive motor and cause the feeding roller to be rotated by the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller pair when the feeding roller is pulled by the sheet being conveyed by the conveying roller pair in the course of the one rotation control of the feeding roller are provided.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a feeding roller; a support shaft; a support portion; a drive shaft; a planetary gear unit; and a driving force transmission unit. The support portion rotatably supports the feeding roller and is pivotally movably supported to the support shaft. The drive shaft is rotatable upon receipt of a driving force from a motor. The planetary gear unit includes a sun gear rotatable integrally with the drive shaft, and a planetary gear swingably movable about the sun gear while maintaining meshing engagement therewith. The transmission unit includes an input gear meshingly engageable with the planetary gear when the drive shaft rotates. The transmission unit transmits the driving force to the feeding roller through the drive shaft, the sun gear, the planetary gear, and the input gear.

Abstract: A sheet sender 21A includes a lift plate 21P, a feed roller 21B and a registration roller 23. A biasing spring 21S applies an upward force onto the lift plate 21P. The lift plate 21P is moved upward by eccentric cams 60 which are arranged at axial ends of the feed roller 21B and rotationally driven by arm protrusions 211 which have come in contact with the eccentric cams 60. A rotational driving force is transmitted to a feed gear 220 and a registration gear 231 from a main gear 70 to rotate the feed roller 21B and the registration roller 23. A gear of the main gear 70 that engages with the feed gear 220 is idly rotatable within a predetermined angle with respect to a gear that engages with the registration roller 23.

Abstract: A gear assembly including a driving gear and a driven gear and an electronic device are provided. The driving gear includes a pawl pivoted on a first surface and an elastic member disposed in a slot of the driving gear. The driven gear includes a ratchet disposed on a second surface facing the first surface. When the driving gear rotates with a driving speed along a driving direction, a centrifugal force is generated to drive the pawl moving to a clutching position to be engaged with the ratchet and drives the driven gear rotating with the driving gear. When the driving gear rotates with a nominal speed slower than the driving speed along a direction opposite to the driving direction, the engagement between the pawl and the ratchet is released, and the pawl is back to a nominal position so the driven gear does not rotate with the driving gear.

Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.

Abstract: A sheet feeding portion is provided with a pair of separation rollers that include a feed roller which conveys the sent sheet and a retard roller which applies a rotation force to return the sheet in a direction opposite to a sheet feeding direction through a torque limiter in a state of being pressed against the feed roller. The sheet feeding portion further includes a rotation transmitting mechanism that transmits a rotation of the retard roller, at the time of sending the sheet to the sheet feeding direction, to the pickup roller and a changing mechanism that switches a retard pressure, which allows the retard roller to be pressed against the feed roller, according to a reaction force that is transmitted to the retard roller from the pickup roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic transaction apparatus 1 provided with a temporary accumulating unit that accumulates paper money temporarily and discharges them again, wherein jammed paper money can be discharged and removed easily with a simple construction. The automatic transaction apparatus 1, which is provided with the temporary accumulating unit 30 that accumulates paper money 7a temporarily by conveying the paper money 7a with a conveyor roller section 40 and winding them around a drum 60, and dispenses the temporarily accumulated paper money 7a from the drum 60 and discharges them from the conveyor roller section 40, was also provided with a manipulation knob 100 that is pushed-in between a gear 65 that rotates the drum 60 and a gear 47 that rotates the conveyor roller section 40, and intermeshed to the gears, enabling the knob to rotate both the gears simultaneously.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus having sheet transport device transporting sheet through nip between pressing and drive members by applying rotational force to drive member via power transmission mechanism that includes: first and second rotational shafts connected to drive member and drive source, respectively; first and second rotation transmitting members attached to first and second rotational shafts, respectively; holding member including first and second contact parts disposed on opposite sides of second rotation transmitting member; and rotational move member switching to power non-transmission and transmission states by moving holding member rotationally to first and second positions in conjunction with opening and closing operations of opening/closing member of apparatus housing. Power is not transmitted between rotational shafts in power non-transmission state and transmitted in power transmission state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a first tray configured to accommodate one or more recording sheets to be supplied to an image forming unit, a body frame configured to position an upper part of the first tray, and an expansion members disposed under the body frame to position a lower part of the first tray. The expansion member may include a transmission mechanism configured to be engagable with a body-side gear provided in the body frame. The transmission mechanism may be configured to transmit a drive force, which is transmitted from a drive source provided in the body frame via the body-side gear, to an add-on mechanism, when the transmission mechanism is engaged with the body-side gear.

Abstract: A drive switching mechanism includes a transmission gear and a planetary gear configured to transmit a drive from an input gear to an output gear. The drive switching mechanism further includes a swinging member configured to hold the planetary gear such that the planetary gear can swing around the input gear, a retaining unit configured to retain the swinging member in a swing enabled or disabled state, and a releasing unit configured to disengage the planetary gear from the output gear and cause them to be spaced apart. The output gear includes a toothless part that does not engage with a gear section engaging with the transmission gear.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit having a holding section; a separation pad that contacts a sheet and imparts a conveyance resistance to the sheet; a separation roller that imparts a conveyance force to the sheet; a drive source that supplies driving force to the separation roller; a conveyance roller disposed at a position downstream of the separation roller, wherein the conveyance roller rotates at a circumferential speed greater than a circumferential speed of the separation roller, to impart conveyance force to the sheet, and wherein the conveyance roller and the separation roller are disposed so as to simultaneously contact the same sheet; and a drive shutoff unit, which shuts off the driving force supplied to the separation roller when the conveyance roller imparts the conveyance force to the sheet so the separation roller rotates in a following manner with the conveyance of the sheet.

Abstract: A paper feeding device and a multi-function printer using the same are provided. The paper feeding device includes a frame, a top cover, a set of gear chains, a power unit and a set of driving gears. The set of gear chains and the power unit are disposed on a side of the frame. The set of driving gears is disposed on the top cover. When the top cover is closed relatively to the frame, the set of driving gears interferes with the power unit, and the power unit provides a power to enable the set of driving gears to rotate, so as to drive the set of gear chains. When the top cover is opened relatively to the frame, the set of driving gears releases interference with the power unit and the set of gear chains, and the set of gear chains is at a free rotation status.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper pick-up device, a first roller assembly, and a second roller assembly. The first roller assembly includes a first shaft, a first roller, and a power coupling device. When the power coupling device is connected with the first shaft and the first roller for transmitting a paper, the first roller is driven to be rotated by the first shaft. When the front edge of the paper is moved to the second roller assembly, the first roller is driven to be rotated at a higher speed by the paper. Consequently, a power connection between the first roller and the first shaft is released by the power coupling device. Then, the first roller reaches a static status in order to correct the skew phenomenon of the next paper.

Abstract: A one-way clutch is mounted on an outer periphery of a rotary shaft in a manner to place a clutch needle bearing in contact with the outer periphery of the rotary shaft. A rotary member is disposed on one side of the one-way clutch and engaged with the one-way clutch to be subjected to the rotation of the rotary shaft transmitted thereto. A retaining member is mounted on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft and located on the opposite side of the one-way clutch from the rotary member, while an urging unit is provided for urging the one-way clutch to abut against the retaining member.

Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.

Abstract: A recording paper conveying device includes a registration roller pair and a conveyor roller pair adjacent to the registration roller pair. By rotating the conveyor roller pair, a sheet of recording paper is fed until leading edge of the sheet abuts the registration roller pair in stationary state so that the sheet is deflected by a prescribed amount. Then, conveyor roller pair is rotated at the constant velocity, and while the sheet is kept deflected, rotation of the registration roller pair is started, to start feeding of the sheet by the registration roller pair. While the registration roller pair is kept rotating, rotation of the conveyor roller pair is suspended, and then, the conveyor roller pair is returned to the state of rotation before suspension. Thus, unnecessary deflection of the sheet just in front of the registration roller pair can be prevented.

Abstract: In a tandem media supply, two vertical stacks of media sheets are stored. The first stack is positioned on a lift plate that rises as top sheets are removed from the stack of media. When the first stack is exhausted, the second stack is moved by an actuator towards a position where the lift plate was loaded with the first stack of media sheets. Movement of the second stack displaces a biased gate to decouple the lift plate from a drive member that elevated the lift plate. The lift plate drops under the effect of gravity to a position where the second stack of media sheets moves onto the lift plate. Once the second stack is on the lift plate, a biasing force returns the biased gate to a position that enables the drive member to elevate the lift plate.

Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium feeding device is provided. A power transmission mechanism includes a retardation mechanism configured to retard rotation start timing of a pick-up roller than movement start timing of a pressing member when the pressing member starts to move from a stand-by position toward the pick-up roller. The retardation mechanism includes a driving side rotational member and a driven side rotational member which are configured to rotate around a common center axis. When the driving side rotational member rotates around the center axis in a predetermined rotation direction by a predetermined play angle, the driving side rotational member is engaged with the driven side rotational member to integrally rotate the driven side rotational member in the rotation direction.