Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism comprising three drive rollers, one idle roller, one belt, and an elastic member. The belt is tightened around the drive rollers, where they drive the belt to rotate. The elastic member activates the idle roller causing the idle roller to exert a force on the belt for moving a document between the idle roller and belt during transportation of the document.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus provided with a sheet feeding rotary member rotatable in a direction for feeding sheets, and a separating pad biased toward the sheet feeding rotary member, and for separating the sheets one by one between the sheet feeding rotary member and the separating pad and feeding them has a vibration absorbing member interposed between the separating pad and a pad supporting portion for pivotally supporting the separating pad for absorbing the vibration of the separating pad.

Abstract: A paper feeding roller having a high paper feeding capability, excellent wear resistance and weatherability, and which is capable of being easily produced. The invention provides a paper feeding roller in which an outer peripheral surface of the roller is surrounded by a laminar elastic member comprising a hydrogenated polystyrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, having a plurality of outwardly protruding projections on a surface of said member and the elastic member satisfies at least one of the following requirements: containing an inorganic filler, containing an additive consisting of a wear-resistant resin, and being modified by irradiation with radiation.

Abstract: A roller for use in an imaging system includes a variable hardness, fluid-pressurizable roller core, and a roller cover surrounding the roller core. A source of pressurized fluid can be used to pressurize the roller core to a fixed, predetermined pressure prior to installation of the roller core in an imaging system. Alternatively, a variable-pressure source of pressurized air can be used to variably pressurize the roller core during operation of the imaging system.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller 10 includes a shaft member 12 and an elastomeric layer 14 provided on the outer circumference of the shaft member 12. The shaft member 12 includes a tubular support 16 and a pair of shaft sections 18 extending in the axial direction to define a rotary axis of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 is formed of an elastic member separate from the shaft member 12, and attached to the outer circumference 16a to be conformed with the profile of the support 16 of the shaft member 12. The elastomeric layer 14 includes a base 20 and a plurality of micro-structured elements 22, each having a three-dimensionally projected shape, formed on the surface 20a of the base 20. Each of the plurality of micro-structured elements 22 on the elastomeric layer 14 is brought into frictional contact at a distal end thereof with the sheet medium and feed the same as the shaft member rotates.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the entrance of a document into a sheet feeder. The document sensor is attached to the sheet feeder. The document sensor comprises a printed circuit board, a key peg and a rocking lever. The printed circuit board is attached to the sheet feeder. The printed circuit board has a first lead wire and a second lead wire detached form each other. The key peg is also attached to the sheet feeder pinning the rocking lever so that the rocking lever is free to rotate relative to the key peg. A conductive member is attached to the rocking lever so that rotating the rocking lever is able to establish an electrical connection between the first lead wire and the second lead wire through the conductive member.

Abstract: The invention provides a roller having excellent flexibility and wear resistance. The invention also provides a sheet delivery unit equipped with this roller. The unit is prevented from being clogged up with sheets due to rigidities of the sheets. Also, simultaneous delivery of plural sheets is suppressed. The allowable range of rigidities of paper currencies and the allowable range of their widths can be extended. The roller has a central portion extending along an axis, an outer peripheral portion formed around the central portion and made of a resilient body, and plural helical ribs connecting together the central portion and the outer peripheral portion. Each rib consists of a resilient body. Each rib is so shaped as to thicken gradually from the central portion toward the outer peripheral portion.

Abstract: A paper collecting device, comprising a separation roller, a drive roller, a feed roller, a support member, and an elastic member. In addition to the separation having a one-way clutch, the feed roller also has an extra one-way clutch added between the feed gear and the feed rim. When the paper separation process stops and the separation roller instantaneously reverses rotation, the two one-way clutches will disengage and allow the separation roller and feed roller to detach from the driving source of the motor. This will allow the separation roller and feed roller to rotate freely and possess the same tangential velocity to prevent paper from being pushed or pulled causing paper wrinkle or tear. Moreover, the diameter of the feed rim is smaller in design than the separation rim. The paper collecting device also comprising a paper blocking mechanism located on the support member above the frame to prevent paper overly pushed inside.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus comprises a sheet stacking means, being able to be installed in and released from the main body of the apparatus, for stacking sheets, a sheet feed roller for feeding the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, and plural inclined plane members, disposed at the end of the downstream side of a sheet feed direction of the sheet stacking means, for coming into contact with the sheets fed by the sheet feed roller to separate them, wherein, among the plural inclined plane members, the height of the inclined plane member corresponding to the sheet feed roller is set to be lower than the height of the other inclined plane members, whereby a sheet feed cassette can be installed/released without any contact with the sheet feed roller, and the sheets can be fed without any fold of their edges.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for a printer. The device includes a paper feeding cassette to load a plurality of paper sheets, and a driving power source. A driving gear is driven by the driving power source, and a passive gear rotates interlockingly with the driving gear. A first link is provided, with one end pivotally installed on a rotation shaft of the driving gear, and another end coupled to a rotation shaft of the passive gear. A pickup gear rotates interlockingly with the passive gear, and a second link is provided, with one end rotatably installed on the rotation shaft of the passive gear, and with another end coupled to a rotation shaft of the pickup gear. A pickup roller is coaxially coupled to the pickup gear, to simultaneously rotate and press the paper so as to feed the paper sheets one by one into the printer body. A supporting arm is provided, with a first end coupled to a rotation shaft of the pickup roller, and a second end pivotally installed on a side of the printer body.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: A roller including: an outer peripheral portion coming into contact with a sheet; an inner peripheral portion; and a plurality of connection ribs for connecting the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion to each other, in which the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion have a cylindrical configuration and are arranged concentrically, and in which the connection ribs are inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a straight line radially extending from an axis of the roller.

Abstract: An inclined separating surface includes an upwardly curved surface that is gradually lowered near the ends, from a middle portion in a sheet width direction as a top. The inclined separating surface holds leading edges of sheets stacked on a sheet holder. At the middle of the inclined separating surface, a sheet separating unit, which extends in a sheet advance direction, is provided so as to protrude from and retract into the inclined separating surface. With this structure, the leading edges of side areas of the sheets do no contact the inclined separating surface before the leading edges of middle areas of the sheets contact the inclined separating surface. Consequently, the leading edges of the middle areas of the sheets are surely applied with separating action by the sheet separating unit.

Abstract: A self-adaptive sheet feeding roll for reliably feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, sheets of various and different sheet weights along a sheet path. The self-adaptive sheet feeding roll includes (a) a cylindrical core having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface; (b) a compliant surface layer formed over the outer surface of the cylindrical core and having an external surface and a given layer thickness; and (c) a series of spaced apart, non-radial slots formed from the external surface into the compliant surface layer and defining a series of spaced apart blade portions within the compliant surface layer for adaptively compressing and deforming against, and responsively to, sheets of various and different sheet weights, thereby self-adjusting a normal force Fn as well as a sheet driving force Fd thereof and enabling reliable feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, of such sheets of various and different sheet weights.

Abstract: A paper pickup mechanism for automatically picking up a paper is provided.

Abstract: A friction plate coupling structure inside an automatic document feeder. The friction contact surface of the friction plates is designed to have a slant surface resembling a frustum so that overall contact area is increased and stability of the coupling between the friction plates is improved.

Abstract: A self-adaptive sheet feeding roll for reliably feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, sheets of various and different sheet weights along a sheet path. The self-adaptive sheet feeding roll includes (a) a cylindrical core having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface; (b) a compliant surface layer formed over the outer surface of the cylindrical core and having an external surface and a given layer thickness; and (c) a series of spaced apart, non-radial slots formed from the external surface into the compliant surface layer and defining a series of spaced apart blade portions within the compliant surface layer for adaptively compressing and deforming against, and responsively to, sheets of various and different sheet weights, thereby self-adjusting a normal force Fn as well as a sheet driving force Fd thereof and enabling reliable feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, of such sheets of various and different sheet weights.

Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.

Abstract: A replaceable friction roller is mounted on the driving shaft of a paper conveying roller. The roller is made replaceable by providing a slit from the surface of the roller to the shaft surface. The roller can be split open along the cur when replacing a new roller. The ends of the shaft of the roller are inserted in at least one open mouth socket. The socket has spring action to hold the shaft in place.

Abstract: Feeder systems are mechanical systems that feed individual sheets of paper to other mechanical devices. Feeder systems need to be able to handle a variety of types of paper with different weights and finishes. Glossy paper has proven difficult to feed because of anti-offset agents used in the printing process. The agents contaminate the rollers in the feeder system causing misfeeds and jams. The present invention is a cleaning apparatus that can be used in conjunction with the feeder system to keep the feeder system free from malfunctions during the processing of glossy paper. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head mounted on a supporting arm. Various types of abrasive cleaning heads can be employed in the cleaning apparatus such as metal blades, meshes and brushes. The cleaning heads keep the rollers operational while minimizing deterioration of the roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: A device (10) for feeding sheets from a ream (22) comprising a main feeding roller (24) subdivided into a plurality of sleeves (32) which rotate in contact with an uppermost sheet (23a), coming from the ream, to feed it along a path (30), and an auxiliary separating roller (26) adapted for separating the uppermost sheet (23a) from the other sheets of the ream (22), wherein the feeding and separating rollers (24, 26) are both arranged on the same side with respect to said path (30) and therefore rotate in contact with one and the same side of the uppermost sheet (23a). The separating roller (26) is accommodated in a central seat (34) made between the sleeves (32) of the main feeding roller (24) and is arranged prevalently inside the radial working envelope of the sleeves (32) of the main feeding roller (24), so that the feeding device (10) has an extremely compact structure.

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: A plurality of spike-like projections A, B risen at an obtuse angle, at an acute angle or at right angles in a rotational direction of a metallic rod 1 are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the metallic rod 1 by plastic processing.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding roller that comes in contact with stacked sheets and feeds sheets one by one from the top, wherein an air outlet is provided so that air can be blown onto the upper part of the stacked sheets from the lateral side in the sheet feeding direction, and a floatation suppression member for suppressing floatation of the sheets is provided between the air outlet and the sheet feeding roller and spaced apart from the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet feeding device, which is provided with a paper supply member which feeds a sheet of paper on the top of stack of paper, the paper supply member being actuated by an actuator. The sheet feeding device further provided with a control system which controls the paper supply member, the control system having a stable sheet feeding operation mode in which the control system drives the paper supply member for a first time period initially, then stops the paper supply member after the first time period terminates, and then drives the paper supply member for a second time period.

Abstract: A non-planar single sheet separator wall preferably inclined at about 25° from the vertical away from a paper stack first engages the side corners of the leading edge of a sheet of paper or other media picked from the top of the generally horizontal or downwardly inclined stack by a roller or pusher and causes the corners of the sheet to first curl upwardly along the wall before the central portion of the leading edge of the sheet engages the central portion of the separator wall. The separator wall configuration substantially eliminates downward curling of one or both leading corners of a sheet which is purposely upwardly bowed by an elastomeric pad near the center of the separator wall to reduce multi-sheet picks and separator jams.

Abstract: A paper pickup apparatus in a printer for pivotally moving by a motor includes a driving shaft rotated by the motor, a first pickup housing having at least one first transmission gear and first and second end portions, the first end portion mounted to the driving shaft, the first transmission gear transmitting torque from the driving shaft, a second pickup housing having at least one second transmission gear and being rotatably mounted to the second end portion of the first pickup housing, the second transmission gear transmitting torque from the first pickup housing, a connecting portion for connecting the first and second pickup housing with each other, the first pickup housing being rotatable to the second pickup housing centering thereon, and a pickup roller mounted to the second pickup housing and rotated by torque from the second transmission gear.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding documents in a facsimile is provided. The document feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller for picking up documents one by one, a white roller that faces a read module and rotates, the read module for reading data from the documents transferred by the pickup roller, a discharge roller for discharging the documents after the documents are passed through the white roller and the read module, a driving unit, a power transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting a power of the driving unit either only to the pickup roller, or to all of the pickup roller, the white roller and the discharge roller simultaneously, and a controller for controlling the power transmission mechanism to selectively transmit the power either one of the pickup roller, the white roller, and the discharge roller.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a single sheet feeder includes a stack damper which is rotatably suspended on or near a pre-feed roller axis to prevent buckling of thin media sheets and to impart a slight bend to thick media sheets during sheet movement by the pre-feed roller. The stack damper has a surface which extends from a location proximate the pre-feed roller parallel to the surface of a stack of media from which individual sheets are to be removed.

Abstract: A replaceable roller bogie for a single sheet feeder includes pre-feed and separation rollers mounted on a frame which also has a frame positioning lever thereon. Roller drive gears are mounted between spaced plates on the frame and include a pre-feed roller clutch gear with elastomeric teeth which is mounted in slots on the frame which limit motion travel of the clutch gear to prevent over engagement of gear teeth on the clutch gear with gear teeth on the pre-feed roller drive gear. The replaceable bogie is pivotally supported on the sheet feeder and held in place by a manually operable release and latch mechanism.

Abstract: Over engagement protection of roller drive gears on a single sheet feeder roller assembly, which may comprise a replaceable roller bogie, is provided by a clutch gear which drives a pre-feed roller, the clutch gear being mounted in a roller support frame which includes spaced elongate, preferably arcuate, slots which limit gear travel toward the pre-feed roller when the roller is driven in a forward direction and which disengages the gears when the input power is reversed. The clutch gear is provided with elastomeric teeth for noise reduction and the roller assembly also includes a separation roller which is over driven relative to the surface speed of the pre-feed roller.

Abstract: A paper-feeding roller, made of a cylindrical elastic material, which is used for a printing apparatus of ink jet type, with the paper-feeding roller mounted on a core, wherein a friction coefficient (&mgr;) of the paper-feeding roller is set not less than 1.5; and the following relationship is established among the friction coefficient (&mgr;) of the paper-feeding roller, a tensile elongation E (%) thereof, and a fracture-time strength T (MPa) thereof: 15>(E×T)/(&mgr;×100)≧5.

Abstract: An apparatus for the separation of sheets includes a transport structure for exerting a force on an outermost sheet of a pack of sheets in the direction of transport and a separation structure for exerting a force on at least one other sheet of the pack against the direction of transport to prevent the other sheet from moving along with the ourtermost sheet in the direction of transport. The apparatus also includes a treating device for treatment of the engaging surface of the transport structure and/or the separation structure to increase the frictional coefficient of the engaging surface. Thus, a more reliable separation effect can be obtained especially over a longer period.

Abstract: A paper-feeding roller, made of a cylindrical elastic material, which is used for a printing apparatus of ink jet type, with the paper-feeding roller mounted on a core,

Abstract: The present invention includes at least one friction member module frictionally and rotatably mounted on a frame. When the friction member module is rotated, the friction between the frame and the friction member module is converted into a torque which is exerted on the frame, so that the frame can be swayed to a paper taking position, thereby facilitating feeding paper automatically.

Abstract: An apparatus for the separation of sheets includes a transport structure for exerting a force on an outermost sheet of a pack of sheets in the direction of transport and a separation structure for exerting a force on at least one other sheet of the pack against the direction of transport to prevent the other sheet from moving along with the outermost sheet in the direction of transport. The apparatus also includes a treating device for treatment of the engaging surface of the transport structure and/or the separation structure to increase the frictional coefficient of the engaging surface. Thus, a more reliable separation effect can be obtained especially over a longer period.

Abstract: A card feed drive roller is provided with a drive section that is a soft elastomeric-material which has a coefficient of friction adequate to break away lower cards in a substantial stack of cards and has at least one support section that is of harder material that will limit the amount of compression of the drive section under weight of the card stack. The limitation of the compression of the drive section insures that when an outlet opening is adjusted it will be high enough so one card will always fit through the outlet opening, and multiple cards will not be fed through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention includes at least one friction member module frictionally and rotatably mounted on a frame. When the friction member module is rotated, the friction between the frame and the friction member module is converted into a torque which is exerted on the frame, so that the frame can be swayed to a paper taking position, thereby facilitating feeding paper automatically.

Abstract: It is a device for alignment of stock, such as a sheet of paper or a film, in the transport path of a printing machine, especially in the transport path between a storage container for the stock and the print station or the print station and finishing devices, such as stitching and binding devices and collecting or stacking containers.

Abstract: A pick mechanism includes a hinged pick arm which moves between a retracted position and a varying, operative position. The pick arm is anchored about a pivot axis and hinged along its length. Rotation of a pick roller along the arm while in contact with a media sheet induces a moment on the pick arm causing the pick arm to pivot and hinge. A first stop limits the pivoting motion. A second stop limits the hinging motion. Such pivoting and hinging is desirable to create an effective normal force enabling reliable picking of thick media sheets. Such motions are limited to prevent the pick roller from translating too far from a media separation ramp. If the pick roller translates too far, undesirable media buckling may occur during the pick operation.

Abstract: The paper supply device according to the present invention includes a paper support member for supporting paper, a pick-up roller which is in contact with the paper and takes the paper out of the paper support member in a specified direction, and a removing member which is kept in contact with the pick-up roller and removes adherents to the pick-up roller and such a paper supply device is used to feed paper in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.

Abstract: To prevent wavy swell from causing in sheet in transferring thereof and avoid wrinkle from being produced in later printing steps, there is provided a sheet transfer machine forward from a printing drum and a press roll. The machine is provided with upper and lower guide plates respectively formed with hole portions. Upper and lower rolls are disposed at the hole portions. There are provided hold rollers for pressing sheet coming from between the upper and the lower guide plates to an upper face of the lower guide plate downstream from the upper roll in a direction of transferring print sheet. In printing, swell is prevented from being produced by pressing the print sheet coming from between the two rolls by the hold rollers. When the sheet is sandwiched by the printing drum and the press roll and printed in later steps, wrinkle is not produced in the print sheet.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for rotating a drive roller includes an input transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive force from a motor, an output transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force to the drive roller, an intermediate transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting the drive force from the input transmission mechanism to the output transmission mechanism in either a first direction or a second direction, and a switching mechanism for moving the intermediate transmission mechanism to a first position to drive the output transmission mechanism in the first direction or a second position to drive the output transmission mechanism in the second direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus is provided, in which there are provided in an edge area of an opening 16 a guide groove 12b for guiding insertion of a separating pad unit 18 into the opening 16 from the side on which a sheet feeding roller 6 is disposed and a rotation regulating groove 15c for regulating a rotation regulating fitting shaped portion 15a provided in the separating pad unit 18 to be guided by the guiding groove 12b to be inserted in the opening 16 to locate the separating pad unit 18 in a position in the opening 16 where the separating pad unit 18 should be accommodated, whereby a sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus with improvement of usability as well as improvement of sheet feeding performance are realized.

Abstract: A pickup roller is movable in a vertical direction and pulls out papers to the paper feed rollers, is provided. The pickup roller moves down towards the papers stacked on the paper tray. A front edge alignment member that aligns the front edge of the papers and a stopper that controls rotation of the front edge alignment member engages the front edge alignment member. A stopper release member pivots the stopper to release it from the front edge alignment member in synchronization to the up and down movement of the pickup roller.

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: A sheet such as paper or hard film can be fed accurately in an intended direction while positively holding the sheet merely by applying plastic processing to a peripheral surface of a metallic rod.