Abstract: An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a separating member, a biasing member, a detectable portion and a detector. The separating member is mounted on a base portion to be movable between a first position to which the separating member is positioned when being pressed by a sheet feeding member and a second position at a distance from the first position. The biasing member biases the separating member so that the separating member moves from the first position toward the second position. The detectable portion is provided on the separating member. The detector detects the detectable portion at a detection position. The detectable portion is present at the detection position when the separating member is located at the first position and deviates from the detection position when the separating member is moved to the second position.

Abstract: A sheet transporting apparatus is provided, including a transport mechanism provided with a roller, a motor, a controller, and a measuring input unit, wherein a transport route has a curved area for inverting the sheet, and the controller is constructed such that the control on the motor is executed by a closed loop control system by using a measured value of an control output at an initial stage of the transport of a sheet from a tray, and the control on the motor is switched from the control performed by the closed loop control system to control performed by an open loop control system on condition that a preset phenomenon arises after the sheet is taken out of the tray.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for moving print media in a printer includes: a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise along an axis of rotation and a hub. The hub is operatively and pivotally connected to the shaft at a connection such that the hub rotates with the shaft about the axis of rotation and so that the hub may tilt on the shaft relative to the axis of rotation. The device also includes a pick tire or other feature on the hub on each side of the connection to move print media when the shaft rotates the hub. In another embodiment, a method for moving print media in a printer includes: applying a force to a sheet of print media at two locations spaced apart across the sheet; and, simultaneously with the act of applying, equalizing the force applied at the two locations.

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 supply device includes a supply roller, a prevention member, a restriction member, and a rotatably supported rotary member. The supply roller supplies a medium. When in a first posture, the prevention member prevents the medium from being supplied by the supply roller. When in a second posture different from the first posture, the prevention member allows the medium to be supplied by the supply roller. When located at a determined position, the restriction member restricts a shift of the prevention member from the first posture to the second posture. When rotated, the rotary member moves the restriction member located at the determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.

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: A document conveying device of the present disclosure includes a feeding unit, a stopper, and a restriction surface. The feeding unit is swingably supported on a first swinging fulcrum and is disposed selectively at a paper feeding position or at a retracted position. The stopper is swingably supported on a second swinging fulcrum, and has a document restriction portion and an engagement piece. The restriction surface is provided on the main body side of the document conveying device, and extends downward from a position coinciding with a first trajectory toward an inner side of the first trajectory, while extending downward from a position coinciding with a second trajectory toward an inner side of the second trajectory. When the feeding unit is at the retracted position, the engagement piece is engaged with the restriction surface, and when the feeding unit is at the paper feeding position, the engagement therebetween is released.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor apparatus may include a sheet support portion, a first roller that feeds sheets supported on the sheet support portion, and a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller and rotatable about a rotation axis. The apparatus further include a holder supported swingably about the rotation axis, a wall opposite the sheet support portion with the holder interposed therebetween, and a pressing member disposed between the wall and the holder to press the first roller toward the sheet support portion. The pressing member includes a holding member movably supported by the holder to contact the wall, and a spring disposed between the holding member and the holder to apply a biasing force causing the holding member and the holder to move away from each other while maintaining a state in which the holding member contacts the wall regardless of swing of the holder about the rotation axis.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, a removable media tray is operative to hold a plurality of media types of different widths and a pick device includes a pick mechanism and a translation mechanism for moving the pick mechanism to a centerline of a width of one or more media sheets in the media tray. The media tray includes a reference edge surface and a media edge guide moveable to a selected position with respect to the reference edge surface. The one or more media sheets are restrained between the reference edge surface and the media edge guide with the translation mechanism automatically translating the pick mechanism to the centerline of the corresponding media width during insertion of the media tray into the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-functional printer are provided. The paper-feeding device includes a base, a driving axle, a position-limiting element and a retaining element. The base has a first assembling portion. The driving axle, the position-limiting and the retaining elements are all in the base. The position-limiting element has a second assembling portion and two position-limiting portions on radial directions of the second assembling portion between the inserting portion and the body. The retaining element includes a swing frame, a paper-separating element and a spring. The body of the swing frame is located between the two position-limiting portions. The first and second pivoting portions coaxial and connect the body are pivoted respectively to the first and second assembling portions. The inserting portion of the paper-separating element is sheathed by the body and the separating element leans against the driving axle.

Abstract: A sheet printer includes sheet stacking and supplying parts that overlap each other at upper and lower stages, and the first sheet stacking and supplying part includes a first feeding roller that separates, supplies and conveys a sheet, and a first feeding roller arm that holds the first feeding roller so as to be capable of abutting on the sheet, and rotates about an axis. The second sheet stacking and supplying part includes a second feeding roller that separates, supplies and conveys a sheet, and a second feeding roller arm that holds the second feeding roller so as to be capable of abutting on the sheet, and rotates about an axis. The second feeding roller arm is disposed outside the first sheet stacking and supplying part in a direction that intersects a supplying and conveying direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a sheet stacking portion that has a rotation stacking portion which is rotatable, a sheet feed roller that feeds the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking portion, and a separating portion that separates the sheet fed by the sheet feed roller. The rotation stacking portion is configured to be rotatable about a rotation fulcrum on a downstream side in a sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet placing portion, a feeding member, a supporting body, a driver, an electromagnetic clutch and a retraction controller. The supporting body is capable of changing a posture between a sheet feeding posture of the feeding member and a retracting posture for retracting the feeding member. The electromagnetic clutch is capable of changing a state between an engaged state in which a drive force is transmitted to the supporting body and a disengaged state in which the drive force is not transmitted to the supporting body. The retraction controller stops the output of a drive force after the electromagnetic clutch is set in the engaged state and the supporting body is set to the retracting posture by the drive force, and sets the electromagnetic clutch in the disengaged state when an engagement keeping time elapses after the output of the drive force is stopped.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller 101 which feeds a sheet S stacked on a sheet supporting plate 110 capable of being lifted and lowered is swingably supported at a swing end of a sheet feeding roller supporting arm 104 which is arranged swingably in an up-and-down direction and a roller biasing member applies a force to the sheet feeding roller supporting arm in a direction that the sheet feeding roller is pressed to sheets S stacked on a sheet stack tray. A swing fulcrum 104a is arranged in a range between a tangential line of the sheet feeding roller at the upstreammost pressing position against the sheet feeding direction and a tangential line of the sheet feeding roller at the downstreammost pressing position out of pressing positions where the sheet feeding roller is pressed to the sheets as being varied in accordance with a sheet stacking state of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheet feeding roller configured to feed an uppermost recording medium from stacked recording mediums, an inclined portion located at a downstream position of the sheet feeding roller in a conveyance direction of the recording medium and having a surface inclined with respect to the conveyance direction, and a restriction member configured not to contact the recording medium before the sheet feeding roller feeds the recording medium, and configured to contact the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is fed by the sheet feeding roller and conveyed along the inclined portion.

Abstract: A multifunction printer (MFP) and a stopper applied therein are provided. The MFP includes a body, a top cover and the stopper. The body has a paper conveyor path, a paper holder located in front of an entrance of the paper conveyor path and a first rotating axle located in the paper conveyor path. A first side of the top cover rotates about the first rotating axle to be close to the paper holder. The stopper has a second rotating axle connected to the body, a connecting portion and an eccentric portion. The connecting portion is connected between the second rotating axle and the eccentric portion. The eccentric portion hangs down at the entrance of the paper conveyor path. A center of gravity of the stopper is located in the eccentric portion. A first stopping point of the top cover is located in a rotating path of the eccentric portion.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device and a multi-function printer (MFP) using the paper-feeding device are provided. The MFP includes a housing with the paper-feeding device installed thereon. The paper-feeding device includes an outer case, an inner case and a retainer. The outer case has first side-walls, openings and slots, in which each opening and each slot on the opening are correspondingly disposed on each first side-wall. The inner case is located beside the first side-walls of the outer case and has a second side-wall. The second side-wall has a position-limiting rib protruding towards the first side-walls. The retainer is located between the first side-walls and has a body, a protrusion and a pivot, in which the protrusion is disposed at a top-portion of the body and correspondingly located in the slots, and the pivot is located between the protrusion and a retaining-portion of the body and correspondingly locked in the openings.

Abstract: A sheet conveyer device is provided. The sheet conveyer device includes a sheet tray, a feeder roller, a separator roller, a roller holder to rotatably support the feeder roller and to be coupled with the separator roller, spreading from a separator roller side toward a feeder roller side, to be movable between a first position and a second position, a manipulation arm configured to be coupled to the roller holder and to manipulate the roller holder to move between the first position and the second position, and a driving unit to drive the manipulation arm to move the roller holder. The manipulation arm is coupled to the roller holder at a coupled section, which is in a position between the feeder roller and the separator roller and in a position between two tangent planes which are common to the feed roller and the separator roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus that is capable of driving a motor without causing step-out even when a cheap PM type stepping motor is used for a sheet feeding unit. A sheet feeding unit includes a tray that stacks sheets, a sheet feeding mechanism that conveys the sheets, a lifting mechanism that lifts the tray, a stepping motor that drives the sheet feeding mechanism and the lifting mechanism, and a switching mechanism that switches an operation of the sheet feeding mechanism and an operation of the lifting mechanism according to a rotating direction of the stepping motor. A control unit changes the number of pulses of initialization of the stepping motor according to whether the sheet to be fed is a sheet after excitation current for the stepping motor is switched on from off and whether the lifting mechanism operates after feeding a previous sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus in which a pickup unit is arranged to be movable in association with the detaching/mounting movement of a detachable printing medium cassette. With such a movement of the pickup unit, it is possible to increase the number of printing media that can be stored in the printing medium cassette having a predetermined height.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a separating and feeding unit which has a separating member and a paper feeding member coming into contact with the separating member at a predetermined separating pressure, and separates and feeds an original sheet by sheet from a bundle of originals placed on an original placing table; a conveying unit which conveys the original separated by the separating and feeding unit toward a scanning position; a separating pressure switching unit which applies and releases the separating pressure and which is controlled by a control unit to release the separating pressure after a leading edge of a preceding sheet of the original has passed through the separating and feeding unit and to apply the separating pressure before a sheet of original separated and fed next to the preceding sheet of original is fed from the bundle of original to the separating and feeding unit.

Abstract: In an imagining apparatus having a removable media input tray that moves in a direction transverse to a media feed direction and includes a reference edge surface and a media alignment guide moveable to a selected position within a predetermined range of travel with respect to a reference edge surface, a system for automatically translating the pick mechanism to a selected position during insertion of the media input tray based on the position of the media edge guide.

Abstract: ADF includes a pickup roller, an arm, a regulatory member, a drive motor and a control section. The pickup roller is supported at shaft thereof by the arm swung between a lowered position and a raised position. The drive motor supplies a driving force for the swing to the arm. The regulatory member constrains the arm from moving upward across the raised position. The control section sets a setting-speed of the drive motor to a first speed by which much importance is attached to the reduction of driving noise of the drive motor when a first driving factor causing the arm to move from the neighborhood of the raised position occurs, and sets the setting-speed to a second speed by which much importance is attached to the reduction of contact noise with the regulatory member when a second driving factor causing the arm to move from the lowered position occurs.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a slope portion arranged downstream of the sheets in a feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion and configured to separate the sheets from each other, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being bent when contacting the slope portion, and a contact width variable mechanism configured to change a contact width in which the slope portion and a leading edge of the sheet, in the feeding direction, fed by the sheet feeding unit are in contact with each other by moving part of the slope portion in the feeding direction or in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.

Abstract: A pick mechanism is described. The pick mechanism comprises: a movable pick component; a stepper motor; and, a stepper motor controller. The stepper motor is operably connected to the pick component to drive the pick component in a sequence of movements, and each movement involves the pick component travelling in one direction between one position and another position in a required time. The controller produces control signals that control the motor such that the pick component is driven during a movement at or close to the minimum rate of acceleration required to complete the movement in the required time.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes a send-out means that is pressed to contact with the uppermost surface of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material stacking member to move the contact surface in a predetermined direction for sending out the sheet material, a lift up/down means that moves the sheet material stacking member between a feeding position and a separate position, a member to be detected that can move in the up and down direction when the sheet material stacking member moves, a detecting member that can output a detection signal when the member to be detected moves to a predetermined position, and a cassette that supports the sheet material stacking member and can be attached and detached from an apparatus main body. The cassette has an engaging portion for moving the member to be detected to the predetermined position when being attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium is disclosed herein. An example of the non-transitory storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to actuate a pick assembly of a media handling system to select a sheet of medium from a media stack and lower the media stack a predetermined amount and subsequently raise the media stack the predetermined amount upon failure to pick the sheet of medium from the media stack. The non-transitory storage medium may include additional instructions as disclosed herein. A media handling system and method of media handling are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A recording medium feeding device includes a first support member that supports a feed roller and is configured to be swingable about a pivot shaft so that the first support member swings to displace the feed roller in directions to and away from the recording medium, a first engagement section that includes a gear that swings with the first support member, and a second engagement section that is engageable with the first engagement section when the first support member swings to move the feed roller away from the recording medium, wherein engagement of the first engagement section and the second engagement section is maintained in a state where a power in a swing direction is not transmitted to the first support member, and engagement of the first engagement section and the second engagement section is released when the power in the swing direction is transmitted to the first support member.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeder, which includes: a sheet placing table; a rotary body which is movable and sends out sheets; a sheet placement detection portion for detecting placement of sheets; an upper limit detection portion for detecting that the rotary body has reached an upper limit position; a transport detection portion for detecting transport of sheets; and a control part which rotates the rotary body so as to perform sheet feeding operation regardless of a detection state of the upper limit detection portion when sheets are set on the sheet placing table, determines that a non-feed jam has occurred when no sheet arriving is detected, and stops rotating the rotary body by determining that the sheet feeder is brought into a sheet feeding restriction state, when sheets are set again on the sheet placing table and the rotary body is detected to be in the upper limit position.

Abstract: A document feeder feeds document sheets one by one from a stack on a tray by pressing one or more pick-up rollers against an uppermost document sheet and guiding one widthwise edge of the document sheet. The width direction is perpendicular to a document transport direction. The document feeder includes: a document size obtainer that obtains size information indicating a width of the document sheet; and a center-of-contact shifting mechanism that shifts a center of contact of each pick-up roller along an axial direction of the pick-up roller according to the obtained size information. The center of contact is a central point of an area where the pick-up roller is in contact with the document sheet. Each pick-up roller is in a barrel shape. The center-of-contact shifting mechanism shifts the center of contact of each pick-up roller by axially tilting the pick-up roller relative to the document surface.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a supply tray and a supply unit. The supply unit includes a supporting shaft, an arm configured to pivot around the supporting shaft, and, a first roller and a second roller which are provided in the arm. The first and second rollers are pressedly contacted with a sheet placed on the supply tray. The supply tray is provided with a contact portion. The contact portion includes a first contact portion facing to the first roller and second rollers, and a second contact portion disposed in an upstream side of the first contact portion in the supply direction. A friction coefficient of the second contact portion is smaller than that of the first contact portion. When the first and second rollers rotatingly moves on the sheet, a friction force is applied by the second contact portion to the sheet.

Abstract: A supply device includes a supply roller, a prevention member, a restriction member, and a rotatably supported rotary member. The supply roller supplies a medium. When in a first posture, the prevention member prevents the medium from being supplied by the supply roller. When in a second posture different from the first posture, the prevention member allows the medium to be supplied by the supply roller. When located at a determined position, the restriction member restricts a shift of the prevention member from the first posture to the second posture. When rotated, the rotary member moves the restriction member located at the determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a stopper located in a sheet feeding route and supported rotatably about a pivot point. The posture of the stopper is changed among a restricting posture in which a contact end contacts a leading end SU of a sheet S in a feeding direction to restrict the leading end SU before a feeding of the sheet S by a feeding mechanism, a feed allowing posture assumed during feeding and in which the contact end is separated from the leading end SU in a first direction F in which the sheet S is fed, and a rotational posture reached by rotating the stopper about the pivot point so that the contact end faces in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second direction is a direction in which the sheet S is pulled out from the feeding mechanism when a jam occurs.

Abstract: A holding member holds a separation pad configured to separate sheets conveyed by a roller one by one, and a roller pressing member. A pressing mechanism is disposed on an opposite side of the separation pad from the roller. The holding member is configured to move relative to the roller between a distant position and a close position in which the holding member is closer to the roller than in the distant position. The pressing mechanism is configured to press the separation pad against the roller when the holding member is in the close position. When the holding member is in the distant position, at least a roller contacting portion of the roller pressing member is retracted from a first surface of the separation pad in a direction away from the roller. The first surface of the separation pad faces the roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a sheet from being broken, bent, or remaining in an apparatus when a sheet containing portion is pulled out. In association with a cassette pulling operation, a separation mechanism separates a separation roller that is brought into press-contact with a feed roller in a manner in or out of contact with the feed roller, and lowers a lifter plate. A restricting portion constituted of a feed roller separation arm and a feed roller separation spring restricts the feed roller being applied a force by a feed roller pressurizing spring from following the separation roller separated from the feed roller and the lowering lifter plate when the cassette is pulled out.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus which are capable of stably feeding sheets having a different basis weight. When lifting a sheet supporting plate (50) vertically movably provided in a sheet feeding cassette (51), a controller controls a lifting and lowering mechanism (55A) which lifts and lowers the sheet supporting plate (50), based on basis weight information from an inputting portion. The controller stops the sheet supporting portion (50) at a position where an abutting force causing a feeding roller (56) biased by a feeding roller pressure spring (58) to abut against a sheet (S) is increased as the basis weight of the sheet is increased.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a pickup roller for feeding a sheet on a tray toward a predetermined processing position, an arm member rotatably supporting the pickup roller, a rotary shaft supported on the housing to be rotatable about an axis thereof, a coupling member for coupling the arm member and the rotary shaft, a pivoting mechanism for pivoting the arm member via the rotary shaft so that the pickup roller shifts its position between a feeding position and a retracted position, and a controller for controlling the operation of the pivoting mechanism. The controller controls the arm member to pivot in such a direction that the pickup roller moves toward the retracted position when a sheet is placed on the tray.

Abstract: There are provided a sheet feed device and an image forming apparatus in which a sheet separation capability is improved. The sheet feed device includes a sheet stacking portion that includes a rotation stacking portion which is rotatable; a sheet feed roller that feeds the sheet stacked in the sheet stacking portion; and a separating portion that separates the sheet fed by the sheet feed roller. The rotation stacking portion is configured to be rotatable about a rotation fulcrum on a downstream side in a sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprising a supply roller for feeding sheets mounted on a tray, a drive shaft for supporting the supply roller and rotationally driving the same, first and second supporting arms swingably supported on the drive shaft, a feed roller rotatably supported on the first and second supporting arms, a feed roller transmission mechanism for rotating the feed roller in conjunction with the rotation of the supply roller, first and second transmission mechanisms for swinging the first and second supporting arms, and first and second resilient retaining members which are capable of retaining the first and second supporting arms, the first and second transmission mechanisms shifting the timings that the respective first and second supporting arms are swung against the corresponding resilient retaining members. An automatic sheet transfer device comprising this sheet feeding device. An electrophotographic image forming device comprising this automatic sheet transfer device.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus which is capable of increasing the number of stacked sheets without increasing a size of an apparatus is provided. The feeding apparatus includes a stopper member which is in contact with a leading edge of a sheet placed on a sheet stacking plate and blocks the sheet from entering a separation unit, and an actuating member which presses the stopper member in conjunction with a rotation of a holding member, and a movement distance of the actuating member is longer than a movement distance of the holding member.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, a document pick-up module, and a conveying channel. The upper cover has a first hooking element. The document pick-up module is arranged between the upper cover and the conveying channel. In addition, the document pick-up module has a second hooking element. When the automatic document feeder is operated in a standby mode, the document pick-up module is swung to a position near the upper cover and the second hooking element is engaged with the first hooking element, so that the document pick-up module is fixed on the upper cover. Since the document pick-up module is not contacted with the document when the automatic document feeder is operated in the standby mode, the possibility of causing an erroneous action of the document pick-up module will be eliminated.

Abstract: A sheet-supply cassette including a main member open upward and adapted to store a plurality of recording sheets stacked on each other, each of which is separated from the other recording sheets, and is fed in a sheet-feed direction, by a sheet feeder; an inclined sheet-separate plate provided in a downstream-side portion of the main member as seen in the sheet-feed direction, and which cooperates with the sheet feeder to separate the each recording sheet from the other recording sheets; and a plurality of back-surface support portions which are formed integrally with the downstream-side portion of the main member, such that the back-surface support portions are distant from each other in a perpendicular direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction. The inclined sheet-separate plate is detachably attached to the back-surface support portions such that a back surface of the inclined sheet-separate plate is supported by the back-surface support portions.

Abstract: A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet feeding cassette that can accommodate a stack of recording materials; a pick-up roller that comes into contact with the top recording material of the recording materials accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette to feed the recording material; a roller holder that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has the pick-up roller at a tip, the pick-up roller being pressed against the recording material; and a lever that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has a pressing portion at a tip, the pressing portion being pressed against the recording material. The lever is disposed on the roller holder and is supported coaxially with the roller holder.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus includes a pickup roller, a knock-up plate to accommodate recording media thereon and capable of moving to a pickup position and a release position, a forward roller to transfer a recording medium picked up by the pickup roller, a retard roller capable of moving to a contact position and to a separation position, a first control unit to move the knock-up plate to the pickup position and the release position, and a second control unit to move the knock-up plate to the contact position and the separation position, wherein the first control unit and the second control unit are driven by a single driving motor.

Abstract: A cover-type apparatus with a simplified locking structure includes a first body, a second body and an interlocking mechanism for fastening the second body and the first body together. The interlocking mechanism includes a hook disposed on the first body, and an elastic member disposed on the second body and being engageable with the hook. The elastic member deforms elastically in response to a force exerted thereon by the hook.

Abstract: A system for manual adjustment of a pick mechanism between multiple positions transverse to a media feed direction associated with different widths of media such that pick forces are substantially balanced about the centerline of a media sheet to be picked. The system includes a shaft for receiving torque, a pick mechanism having a pick arm, and a pick arm adjustment mechanism coupled to the pick mechanism during translating of the pick arm. The pick arm is rotatably and slidably mounted at a first end thereof on the shaft. The pick arm adjustment mechanism comprises a translating member rotatably and slidably mounted on the shaft and coupled to a portion of the first end of the pick arm allowing the pick mechanism to be lifted from a topmost media sheet and allow manual translation of the translating member and pick arm to one of the plurality of predetermined positions.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a casing having a loading surface, a supply roller, a drive mechanism, a blocking member, and an interlocking mechanism. The supply roller is configured to feed recording sheets on the loading surface toward the image forming unit. The drive mechanism is configured to move the supply roller. The blocking member is disposed upstream from the supply roller in a sheet feed direction and includes a block surface configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. The block surface is configured to block insertion of a recording sheet to a downstream side when in the first position, and configured to allow insertion of the recording sheets on the loading surface when in the second position. The interlocking mechanism is configured to receive a drive force from the drive mechanism to move the blocking member.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for compressing media in a media stack. In various embodiments, a paddle moves between various positions. During the move, the paddle is configured to compress the media stack.