Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for a printing apparatus includes a pickup roller, which rotates in close contact with a sheet of paper loaded in a cassette and which allows the paper to enter in a paper feeding path of the printing apparatus, and a moving device, which allows the pickup roller to be selectively close to or separated from the paper loaded in the cassette while moving the pickup roller up and down.

Abstract: There is disclosed a member for office machines which comprises a core body and an annular elastic body installed on the peripheral surface thereof, wherein the expansion rate of the annular elastic body E(%) falls within the range of 5 to 30%, when expressed by the formula E(%)={(d1−d2)/d2}×100 wherein d1 in mm is the diameter of the core body, or a longest value in the cross-section of the core body in the shape of a roller or odd-shape; and d2 in mm is the inside diameter in mm of the annular elastic body before being installed on the peripheral surface of the core body. The member for office machines enables stable and steady paper sheet feeding, when used as a paper feeding member in electrophotographic equipment and electrostatic recording equipment, and equipment having a variety of paper feeding mechanisms such as ink-jet printers, automatic teller machines (ATM), money exchange machines, counting machines, automatic vending machines and cash dispensers (CD).

Abstract: To provide a sheet supply device including a long life sheet supply roller. A large radius portion 10a of a sheet supply roller 10 is gradually abraded in association with passage of operation time. Protrusions 12a of an idle roller 12 initially contact a rotational shaft 14 without forming any play between the protrusions 12a and the rotational shaft 14. However, friction force generated between the tips of the protrusions 12 and the rotational shaft 14 wears down the protrusions 12a. As a result, a difference between the radius of the large radius portion 10a and the radius of the idle roller 12 will be hardly decreased even after a cumulative operation time. Therefore, even after the abrasion progresses, sheet supply operations will be operated properly.

Abstract: A sheet material feed roller assembly including a feed roller mounted for contact with a stack of sheet material is disclosed. A variable load motor is provided that is adapted and constructed to cause the feed roller to apply a variable normal force to a top sheet of the stack of sheet material. A force transfer linkage is mounted between the feed roller and the torque load motor. The force transfer linkage is adapted and constructed to transfer force from the torque load motor to the feed roller. The transfer linkage can be provided as an elongate arm member including a first end upon which the feed roller is mounted, and a second, opposite end upon which the load motor is mounted. In an embodiment, the elongate arm member has a length of approximately 60 mm. A computer-controlled variable power source can be connected to the load motor, and an encoder can be connected between the power source and the motor. The motor can be provided as a stepper motor or a DC motor.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that may be constructed using a first tray mounted in a frame and biased by an elastic member to bring the paper stacked on the first tray into engagement with a pickup roller. A finger is pivotally attached to the frame to force the paper loaded from the first tray to be loaded sequentially. A second tray is attached to the frame and has an end that forms a document guide that is interposed between the finger and the pickup roller. Alternatively, the second tray can end before the pickup roller and a film can be attached to the second tray to form a document guide that extends between the pickup roller and the finger. Regardless of the method used to form a document guide, the document guide allows a user to intersperse a manually fed document between documents that are being loaded from a separate tray using an automatic document loading process.

Abstract: A signature feeder for delivering stacked signatures to a conveyer or gatherer includes a variable speed separator disk for separating signatures from the stacked signatures. The separator disk mechanically couples with a servomotor. The separator disk has a blade with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The servomotor accelerates the separator disk through the stacked signatures to separate signatures from the stacked signatures. After a signature separates from the stacked signatures, the servomotor slows the separator disk.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent, wherein the document feed component has a dynamic coefficient of friction in the range of about 1.0 to about 3.0, a Shore O hardness in the range of about 2 to about 85, a compression set of less than about 12%, and a resistance to wear of less than about 0.05 g/hr. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives.

Abstract: A sheet feeder provided with a feed roller having a circumferential surface portion and a cutout surface portion and capable of reliably feeding sheets regardless of the thickness and weight of the recording medium. The feed roller has a roller shaft extending from both side thereof. Each roller has an inner peripheral surface through which the roller shaft extends, and has an outer peripheral portion serving as a contact portion for contacting with a separation pad when the cutout surface portion is in confrontation with the pad. An annular space is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the roller and an outer peripheral surface of the roller shaft. A spacer is movable over the roller shaft and is insertable into and rectactable from the annular space. In the insertion position, a distance between an axial center of the roller shaft and the contact portion is increased. In the retracted position, the distance is decreased because of the urging of the separation pad toward the roller.

Abstract: A member for feeding sheets is provided with a core and a cover mounted on the core. The cover is made of a conductive material or one whose coefficient of friction is lower than that of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feeder provided in an image forming device and includes a sheet feed roller, a pair of collars provided at both ends of the sheet feed roller and rotatable independent of the sheet feed roller, and a separation pad provided in confronting relation to the sheet feed roller and the pair of collars. The sheet feed roller has a cylindrical roller having a diameter smaller than that of the collar and a roller shaft. An irregular diameter sleeve including first and second radius portions is mounted on the roller shaft, and the collar is loosely rotatable on the irregular diameter sleeve. The first radius portion has a first radius greater than a second radius of the second radius portion. When the first radius portion is angularly rotated to a position in confrontation with the separation pad, a distance between an axis of the roller shaft and the lower end of the collar is greater than the radius of the feed roller.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer in accordance with the present invention does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives. Consequently, the document feed component of this invention has the advantage of not contaminating paper or other media with which they come into contact, even for extended periods of time, while maintaining other advantageous properties, such as a high coefficient of friction, low hardness, low compression set, and excellent resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone. The document feed component of the present invention may be shaped as a roller, wheel, belt, pad or the like.

Abstract: A shaft portion of a retard roller is supported by a pair of supporting members so that the retard roller can be assuredly supported and easily detached. One of the pair of supporting members is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the shaft portion. By moving the movable supporting member in a direction of separating from the shaft portion, the retard roller can be detached. A regulation device regulates movement of the movable supporting member in the direction of separating from the shaft portion at a position where the pair of supporting members engage with the shaft portion and is provided on a guide cover for blocking an opening for mounting/detaching the retard roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a main frame, a sheet supporting device provided within the main frame to support a sheet, a sheet supply rotary device for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device, a recovery device attached to the main frame to recover a sheet supplying force of the sheet supply rotary device, and a switching device for shifting the recovery device between a recovery position to be abutted against the sheet supply rotary device to effect a recovery operation and a waiting position to be spaced apart from the sheet supply rotary device.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus has a stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a separating unit for separating and paying away the sheets tacked on the stacking portion, a feeder for feeding the sheets downstream of the separating unit, a plurality of conveyance paths leading from the separating unit to the feeder, and a switching device for switching the plurality of conveyance paths, the separating unit being effective to feed the sheets at a speed higher than the feeding speed of the feeder.

Abstract: An elastic roller contains EPDM rubber as a main component and has a friction coefficient of not less than 2 with respect to ordinary paper and a hardness of not more than 35.degree..The amount of softening agent added to EPDM rubber which is a main component is not more than 150 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of rubber.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus that can be used in an image reading apparatus or an image recording apparatus to pick-up sheets of paper for one-by-one transfer to an image generating mechanism (e.g., an image reader or a print. head). The sheet feeding apparatus includes sheet pick-up member and a power transmission device that moves the pick-up member from a home position toward a sheet supply portion, from an arbitrary position to an initializing position, and from the initializing position to the home position.

Abstract: A document feed component is presented comprising a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer, a curing agent, and a blowing agent. The elastomer optionally further includes activators, polymerization accelerators, and a filler material. An important feature of the present invention is that the use of a foamed epichlorohydrin elastomer in accordance with the present invention does not require the use of processing aids and migratory additives. Consequently, the document feed component of this invention has the advantage of not contaminating paper or other media with which they come into contact, even for extended periods of time, while maintaining other advantageous properties, such as a high coefficient of friction, low hardness, low compression set, and excellent resistance to ultraviolet light and ozone. The document feed component of the present invention may be shaped as a roller, wheel, belt, pad or the like.

Abstract: A sheet transporting device includes a drive roller including a high rigidity roller having a surface coated with ceramic particles and a follower roller including an elastic roller having a surface coated with a low friction material. A sheet of printing medium is nipped and fed by the drive roller and the transporting roller.

Abstract: Rubber rollers for carrying media, comprising a blend of urethane rubber and silicone rubber, and an apparatus equipped therewith. A rubber roller abrasion evaluating tester provided with means for carrying a medium to be carried while in contact with rubber rollers to be evaluated, and means for forcefully causing slippage of the carried medium by a prescribed distance on the rollers. A method of selecting a medium to be carried which has a prescribed abrasive strength, by abrading a carried medium under a constant weight using an abrading material and calculating the rate of the abrasion of the carried medium.

Abstract: Paper moving rollers, for use in printer or duplicating machines, particularly those using an autocompensating feed system, are disclosed. These rollers have a long effective life and provide reliable single feed of paper while minimizing double and multiple feeds. The rollers are made from a rubber composition comprising isoprene rubber, at least one ozone-resistant rubber, such as EPDM, and a rubber curing system substantially soluble in the rubber mixture. The process for moving paper in a printer or duplicating machine using these rollers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for information comprises a recording roller for feeding a recording paper. A line-type recording head is operative for recording an image on the recording paper. Normally, the recording head presses the recording paper against the recording roller. A first releasing mechanism is operative for allowing relative movement of the recording head and the recording roller away from each other. A reading roller is operative for feeding a document sheet. A reading head is operative for reading information from the document sheet. The reading head is located near the recording head. Normally, the reading head presses the document sheet against the reading roller. A second releasing mechanism is operative for allowing relative movement of the reading head and the reading roller away from each other. First and second side plates are located respectively at opposite sides of the recording roller, the recording head, the reading roller, and the reading head.

Abstract: A paper feeding unit for a printing apparatus including conveyance and friction rollers conveying paper from a paper cassette to an image-transfer zone, the paper being urged against a frame, having a surface substantially parallel with the image-transferring zone, with one end of a spring mounted on the end of a cantilevered paper guide.

Abstract: A feed roller assembly including an axle, a feed roller fixedly mounted around the axle and turned with it to feed a sheet of paper forward, an end cap fixedly mounted on one end of the axle and having a projecting rod raised from an inner side, the projecting rod having a bevel face, and a transmission gear turned about one end of the axle adjacent to the end cap, the transmission gear having a springy projecting rod raised from one end and moved to act against the projecting rod of the end cap, causing the end cap and the axle to be turned with the transmission gear, the springy projecting rod of the transmission gear passing over the bevel face of the projecting rod of the end cap when the roller is pulled by a transmission roller, which delivers the fed sheet of paper forwards, to turn the axle and the end cap at a higher speed than the transmission gear, permitting the end cap and the axle to be turned relative to the transmission gear.

Abstract: A sheet member conveying mechanism, including a conveying guide for guiding a sheet member from a paper feed port to a paper discharge tray, a forwarding roller disposed on the most upstream side of the conveying guide, and a paper feed roller disposed on the downstream side of the forwarding roller to convey sheet members, forwarded by the forwarding roller, downstream one by one. An upper part of the outer peripheral surfaces of each of the forwarding roller and the paper feed roller is exposed above the upper surface of the conveying guide. The uppermost site of the paper feed roller is located at a lower position than the uppermost site of the forwarding roller.

Abstract: A lift and interlock actuator mechanism for installing a CRU in a printing machine. There is provided a lift and interlock actuator mechanism which has a sliding planar member which is moved from a first position to a second position to remove and/or install a feed head CRU in a printing machine. The planar member creates an interlock which prevents the CRU from being removed or installed when the corresponding drive components are in the wrong position. Sliding of the planar member disengages a drive coupling from the CRU and also causes a lift mechanism to pivot the CRU about the drive shaft causing the CRU to be moved to a position for easy removal. To install the CRU the planar member is slid to the second position the CRU is placed into position and rotated down, allowing the planar member to slide back to the first position. This sliding allows the drive coupling to mesh and allows the CRU to rrotate into the home position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus comprising supply rotary means rotated in a sheet supplying direction, and separation rotary means contacted with the supply rotary means and rotated in a sheet returning direction opposite to the sheet supplying direction. Wherein the separation rotary means has a first layer made of elastic porous resin material, a second layer disposed outside of the first layer and made of impregnated resin coating impregnated into a surface of the porous resin material, and outer third layer made of coating resin material.

Abstract: A printer is provided with a hopper dimensioned to retain a plurality of sheets thereon and a sheet feed roller for feeding an uppermost sheet out of the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper. Further, a separation pawl is located at a corner portion of the plurality of sheets held on the hopper for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thin. A wall surface is located downstream in a sheet feed direction with respect to the plurality of sheets maintained on the hopper is also provided for separating an uppermost sheet from a next sheet if the sheets to be printed upon are relatively thick. A selecting mechanism for selecting either a separating operation utilizing the separation pawl or a separating operation utilizing the wall surfaces also provided on the printer.

Abstract: There is provided a paper feed roller capable of being used for delivering and feeding paper, which is high in coefficient of friction, has sufficient hardwearing properties with the coefficient of friction not affected by the change in environment of temperature and humidity, is low in ink transferability and is small in change in passage of year of the coefficient of friction of the surface.A coating layer 5 formed of an elastic material such as rubber is formed on an surface of a core material 4 molded of a foamed material such as sponge, and a bonding agent 6 having an elasticity such as denatured silicon is coated on the surface of the coating layer 5 so that ceramic particles 7 are fixed without clearance to provide a paper feed roller 1. Alternatively, the bonding agent 6 is directly coated on the surface of the core material 4 molded of a pliable material such as soft rubber and sponge so that the ceramic particles 7 are fixed without clearance to provide the paper feed roller 9.

Abstract: A roller comprises a rotary shaft, an outer peripheral wall member for defining an outer peripheral surface to be contacted with a sheet, and a support member for supporting the outer peripheral wall member so that the outer peripheral wall member surrounds the rotary shaft. The support member defines a space between the rotary shaft and the outer peripheral wall member and supports the outer peripheral wall member with maintaining a condition that the outer peripheral wall member is deformed to swell radially outwardly.

Abstract: A stack of sheets or blanks for feeding one by one from the bottom of the stack by a feeding mechanism is supported for high speed feeding to subsequent stations. A feed cylinder rotatably supported beneath the leading edge of the stack includes a suction device. An intermediate portion of the blank leading edge is drawn by the suction device downwardly toward an opening in the periphery of the feed cylinder. Continued rotation of the feed cylinder further bends the blank. For blanks of large size and having a leading edge with an irregular contour the blank leading edge intermediate portion extends forwardly from edge lateral portions. Positioned in spaced relation along the interior of the feed cylinder are a plurality of air manifolds having outlets directed at selected angles upon the lateral portions of the blank leading edge. The manifolds are connected to a source of pressurized air which is directed in a sweeping motion upon the blank leading edge lateral portions upon rotation of the feed cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including at least a pair of variable outer diameter rollers and having a compact, simple and long life construction. The variable outer diameter roller includes a generally cylindrical pipe having four equally spaced penetrating holes radially disposed in its cylindrical wall, a sealing means having a diaphragm positioned adjacent each of the penetrating holes and fitted to the pipe support, and sliders forming a roller peripheral face fitted into each penetrating hole to be able to slide smoothly. Each slider is moved by diaphragms in a direction so the roller outer diameter expands by compressed air supplied through a fluid supply passage in a rotary axle which supports the roller. Exhausting the compressed air causes the roller outer diameter to decrease and restores the roller to its original size.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller holding mechanism includes a sheet feeding roller which is detachably mounted on one end of a sheet feeding shaft. A body frame holds the other end of the sheet feeding shaft. The sheet feeding shaft is supported by a supporting member at the end of the shaft proximate the body frame, and a plate part is mounted to the body frame to support the supporting member. The body frame further supports a vibration preventive member. A part of the vibration preventive member abuts on a predetermined portion of the plate part, the supporting member or the sheet feeding shaft in a manner so as to prevent deformation. The vibration preventive part may include an elastic member. This roller holding mechanism may be used in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeder of a document input device includes a pick roller 20, separator pads 68 that come into contact with the pick roller 20, a first pair of pick springs 58, and a second pick spring 60. The first pick springs 58 are disposed on the upstream side of the second pick spring 60 in the direction of conveying the paper. The first pick springs 58 are disposed on the regions on both outer sides of the width of the separator pads 68 in the axial direction of the roller, and the second pick spring 60 is disposed at a central position in the width of the separator pad 68. The first and second pick springs 58 and 60 are integrally formed as a spring unit using a single metal plate, and a force of contact of the first pick springs 58 upon the pick roller 20 on the upstream side is smaller than a force of contact of the second pick spring 60 upon the pick roller 20 on the downstream side. The separator pad 68 is formed by branching a web 70 of a rubber sheet into fork-like pad units.

Abstract: A method for forming a stripper roller is described where, instead of a symmetrical, cylindrical paper-feed roller, an asymmetrical feed roller (or stripper roller) is used to separate a bottommost sheet from a stack of sheets. Eccentric portions of the feed roller are located at both ends of the roller, and the middle portion of the roller is cylindrical. In one embodiment, the eccentric end portions are formed by cutting ends of a cylindrical roller and then placing a shim between the center shaft and each end portion. Paper-feed springs oppose the eccentric portions of the feed roller, while a centrally located separator pad opposes the cylindrical middle portion of the feed roller. The extended radius at the apogee of the eccentric portions allows the eccentric portions to effectively reach out and grab the bottommost sheet even if the stack of sheets were only initially lightly contacting the roller.

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. Precise co-planar referencing is provided between a pick roller mounted on a frame beneath a document path and a document separator mechanism mounted on an upper guide member which moves between an open position for allowing manual access to the document path to a closed position for scanning document sheets. An integrated sheet metal chassis on the upper guide member provides a direct reference path between a central portion of the chassis which carries the document separator mechanism as well as Z axis and Y-axis (media transport direction) reference datums on both side edges of the channels which are engaged by a rigid vertical reference arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism in a recording apparatus which paper feed mechanism permits the reduction in size of the entire apparatus. The paper feed mechanism comprises a main roller 3 which is rotated in both forward and reverse directions for conveying sheets of paper P from a paper receptacle portion to a recording portion, a paper separating and feeding member 20 which comes into pressure contact with the main roller 3 to separate and feed the sheets of paper P accommodated in the paper receptacle portion, and a stop member 30 which comes into pressure contact with the main roller 3 on a downstream side with respect to the paper separating and feeding member 20 in the paper conveyance direction to forcibly stop the feed of the sheets P being fed continuously. By the paper feed mechanism of such a construction, the plural sheets of paper stacked in the paper receptacle portion are separated one by one and fed to the recording portion.

Abstract: A sheet supply/conveyance mechanism for sheets includes a hopper for accommodating a stack of plural sheets, a conveyer for picking up the sheets from the hopper and conveying the sheets in an advancing direction along a path, two detectors for optically detecting a leading edge of a sheet being conveyed, a correcting device for correcting the horizontal alignment of the sheet in accordance with the detection results of said detectors, and right and left guide plates provided in the hopper for aligning the respective, opposite sides of the stacked sheets. The guide plates are slidable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the sheet advancing direction. The guide plates are respectively connected with the two detectors, so that the detectors are also slidable in the horizontal direction, together with the respective guide plates.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a feeding mechanism comprises feeding members to contact with a recording medium and exert a feeding force to the recording medium, holding portions for holding the feeding members in predetermined positions, and a shaft rotatively supported axially at both ends thereof. At least one portion of the shaft is in a tapering configuration to make its end side portion thinner, hence facilitating the mounting of the feeding member while maintaining the strength of the shaft member. The present invention is also directed to a recording apparatus including such a feeding mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying, accommodating and paying out bank notes, includes shaft-mounted guide rollers for feeding bank notes from a stacking space to a pay-out tray, shaft-mounted vane wheels with eccentric ends mounted between adjacent guide rollers, a spring-biased shutter at an inlet/outlet of the pay-out tray, a lid covering a stacking space and including a finger application notch, the lid being opened and closed by one touch operation when a spring is brought to a dead point, a conveying path communicating with a bank note insertion opening and including a pair of bank note guide bars having a substantially S-shaped sectional profile, large and small monetary amount stacking spaces provided above and below the guide bars, respectively, such that bank notes are fed to either stacking space with forward or reverse rotation of the guide bars, a stationary roller provided with an adjacent ratchet wheel, and step rotated by an operating member with an end pawl thereof engaged with a ratchet wheel tooth to d

Abstract: A paper feed roller (5) is divided into a first roller (5a) and a second roller (5b); a slit (58) through which about 10 to 20 sheets of documents can pass is formed between the first roller and a gate plate (57) opposite to this; and the paper fed out therefrom is fed out to a space between the second roller (5b) and a separation pad (7) in contact with this.Also, there is adopted a construction in which the pressing force of a paper conveyance spring is transformed by a slide cam sliding in a direction parallel to the paper feed roller; and the paper width detection sensor is assembled by a fitting construction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet supporting means for supporting a plurality of sheets, sheet supply means for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means, separation means for separating the sheets one by one by abutting the sheet against the separation means and by riding one of the sheets over the separation means, and flexion permitting means for causing the sheet supply means not to apply the load to the flexion of the sheet produced when the sheet is riding over the separation means.

Abstract: As apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer. The apparatus folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus. The controller controls the laser printer and the folder sealer to produce the mail piece in the defined configuration. Concurrently the data processor transmits text from an output file to the laser printer for printing on printed sheets and envelope forms. The data processor also controls the laser printer to print an address for the mail piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement for a document feeder comprising a feed deck, a separator assembly for separating and feeding individual documents, the separator assembly including a separator wheel disposed above the feed deck, drive structure for driving the separator wheel, and structure for adjustably positioning the separator wheel assembly to a position relative to the feed deck commensurate with the material being fed. The improvement comprises structure for pivotally coupling the document feeder to vertical frame members. The coupling structure is located at one end of the document feeder near the separator assembly. There are a pair of leg members extending below the feed deck, each of the leg members resting on a horizontal frame member at opposite sides of the document feed path. The leg members are laterally spaced so as not to interfere with documents being conveyed by the underlying document transport.

Abstract: A hollow shaft tube and shaft member with functional members like a paper feed roller for business machines etc., and its manufacturing method.The shaft tube has a bulge and dent, thereon a functional member to be fixedly secured. The bulges and dents having spring effect are formed symmetrically concerning the shaft tube center axis. The shaft and the functional members are fixedly secured by the spring effect.The shaft tube is made with half molds, having punchs in holes of both halves. The punchs hit the tube set in the molds to form the bulge and dent. The shaft tube is pressed in the functional member, using a press-in tool, to construct the shaft member.

Abstract: A replacement roller cartridge for a cut sheet retard feeder. The cartridge assembly includes a feed roll , a nudger roll, and a retard roll aligned so that the axis of rotation are substantially in the same plane within a frame. The frame is inserted into the feed head and pivoted into an active position. Upon insertion into the feed head, the retard roll is captured by a separate retard bracket so that when the feed head is pivoted into the active position the retard roll is withdrawn from the frame and forms a feed nip with the feed roll. A gear train is provided on both sides of the cartridge to drive the feed roll and the nudger roll. The cartridge assembly provides a low cost, easily replaceable unit that eliminates the need for a service technician to replace worn feed rolls. The design is also adaptable for use in various types of sheet and document feeders and can be used throughout a printing machine.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit includes a sheet forwarding unit for forwarding sheets from a sheet storing unit, a key input portion, a sheet detection gate, and a control unit. In one embodiment, the sheet forwarding unit repetitively performs its function after an operation start instruction until either the sheet detection gate detects a sheet from the feeding cassette or until the number of repetitions of the sheet forwarding unit reaches a predetermined number. An error process is performed when the number of repetition reaches the predetermined number without the gate detecting a sheet. Also, the sheet feeding unit compares the number of times a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit with the number of times the sheet if forwarding to determine the status of the feeding roller.

Abstract: An automatically self-adjusting nudger roll for use in a friction retard feeder includes two rolls held together by a spring with one of the rolls being fixedly attached in a position while the other acts as a rotating feed roll. The other roll is mounted to orbit around the outer surface of the fixedly positioned roll. This assembly automatically adjusts the normal force on substrates as the requirement of the feed force changes and thereby reduces misfeeds and multifeeds.

Abstract: A paper transport apparatus has an inclinable feed-in tray. Documents are drawn from the feed-in tray with a feed roller operating in conjunction with a retard roller. The rollers and the feed-in tray are supported on a pivotable frame. Pivoting of the frame permits the feed-in tray to be inclined to a desired angle to facilitate feeding of documents that do not readily slide while resulting in the documents being fed to the rollers at a constant entry angle irrespective of the angle of inclination of the feed-in tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet feed apparatus which is particularly, although not exclusively, useful in a xerographic copying machine. The apparatus includes a roller assembly including first and second rollers, the first roller being arranged to engage the top sheet in a stack of sheets and advance the sheet to a nip defined between the second roller and a retard member. The roller assembly is attachable to a support such as a feedhead cover, by means of a snap-in connection whereby, when assembled to the support way, the second roller is operably coupled to a drive gear. In order to facilitate connections between a drive shaft through the second roller and the drive gear, the drive shaft is biassed towards the drive means by a compression spring, and is mounted for movement along the axis of the second roller against the bias of the compression spring.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus including sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveying apparatus, sheet delivering apparatus, structure for supporting the sheet conveying apparatus and sheet delivering apparatus and having an opening side, sheet storing apparatus, and structure for guiding the sheet storing apparatus such that the sheet forming apparatus is detachable from the sheet feeding apparatus at the same opening side.