Abstract: A pick mechanism includes a hinged pick arm which moves between a retracted position and a varying, operating 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: In one embodiment, a sheet media input structure for a printer or other sheet media processing device comprises a sheet media supporting surface and a moveable face positioned downstream along a media path from the supporting surface. The face is moveable between a first position in which the face protrudes into the media path to block a leading edge of media sheets supported on the supporting surface and a second position in which the face does not protrude into the media path and media sheets are free to move from the supporting surface along the media path past the face. In one embodiment, the face pivots between the first and second positions. In another embodiment, the face rotates in a plane between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A sheet separator for an automatic document feeder of the invention is capable of separating an outmost sheet from a stack. The separator includes a separating roller driven by a driving device, a friction roller, a first shaft, and a force-applying mechanism for pushing the separating and friction rollers against each other. The friction roller has a first rotating state, in which the friction roller is driven by the separating roller, a stationary state when the separating roller feeds a first sheet, and a second rotating state, in which the friction roller is driven by a second sheet fed by the separating roller. The first shaft is inserted into the friction roller to provide a damping torque for stopping the rotation of the friction roller.

Abstract: An overlapped-sheet detection apparatus can detect whether sheets are overlapped and shift the same, if overlapped, for further processing. The overlapped-sheet detection apparatus is provided with conveying belts 2a and 3a, forwarding and shifting rollers 4 and 5, motor 6 and discriminator 80. Conveying belts 2a and 3a hold and convey sheets 1 on a conveying path. Forwarding roller 4 is provided at the conveying path to forward sheets 1 in a conveying direction and forward sheets 1 in conveying direction A. Shifting roller 5 is provided opposite to forwarding roller 4 to shift sheets 1 back to direction C which is the reverse of conveying direction A if said sheets are overlapped. Motor 6 supplies shifting roller with driving torque to shift sheets 1 back to direction C reversed to conveying direction A. An encoder is built in motor 6 to detect a rotation state of shifting roller 5. Discriminator 80 judges from an output of the encoder whether sheets 1 are overlapped.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a method to pick up paper using the printing apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a method in which a conveyance force of a feed roller applied to recording paper is maintained constant in a period from the start to the end of use of the feed roller and a separation roller. The separation roller pressing force control method according to the present invention is such that a pressing force of the separation roller applied to the feed roller is set to be low in a variable range (Sa) such as the start of use in which the coefficient of friction of the feed roller is high, so that the conveyance force applied to the recording paper is not too large. As the coefficient of friction gradually decreases in accordance with the use of the feed roller, the pressing force of the separation roller is made to be gradually raised, thereby increasing the conveyance force applied to the recording paper and retaining it in a stable area Sb.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is capable of recording images in high quality by supporting and operating each member in good precision despite the use of inexpensive and simple structure for the supporting member thereof. A recording unit is provided with a chassis made in the form of a box as a whole by folding the upper and lower edge portions and the right-hand side of a plate member. For the recording unit, a carriage is slidably supported with a guiding portion formed by folding the upper and lower edge portions of the chassis functioning as the supporting member. Also, a pinch roller holder is axially supported to support the pinch roller axially. To the base of the base unit, a carrier roller and a sheet-expeller roller are axially supported. The recording unit and the base unit are connected with each other.

Abstract: A sheet feeder separates a stack of sheet materials one by one for securely feeding individual sheet materials without multiple sheet feeding or failure in feeding a sheet material. The leading edge of a sheet material stacked on a bottom board of a cassette is brought into contact with a sheet feed roller. Near the location at which the leading edge of the sheet material comes in contact with the sheet feed roller, a tilt member is pressed onto the sheet feed roller by the action of a compression spring. A contact area of the tilt member with the sheet feed roller is reduced to prevent the sheet feed roller from rotating together with the sheet material. The topmost sheet material is fed by the rotation of the sheet feed roller in the counter-clockwise direction and supplied beyond the tilt member by friction with the sheet feed roller, whereas the next sheet material is blocked by the tilt member due to less friction between the sheet materials, thereby preventing multiple sheet feeding.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes a sheet material stacking means for stacking sheet materials; a feeding roller for feeding the sheet material stacked on the sheet material stacking means; a separation roller, driven by the feeding roller, for separating a sheet material from the sheet materials; a separation roller holder for rotatably holding the separation roller, the separation roller holder is movable by rotation thereof between a position in which the separation roller is contacted to the feeding roller and a position in which the separation roller is away from the feeding roller; and returning means for returning a sheet material or sheet materials other than the sheet material separated out by the separation roller to the sheet material stacking means.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet separating device having a rotary member configured to feed a first sheet picked up by a sheet pick-up device and an obstructing member configured to obstruct feeding of another sheet fed with the first sheet. A drive device is configured to drive the sheet pick-up device and the rotary member to rotate. At least one detecting device is configured to detect a leading edge of the first sheet. A control device is configured to control sheet feeding. The control device is configured to change a rotational speed of one or both of the sheet pick-up device and the rotary member based on a detection result of the at least one detecting device and a drive amount of the drive device.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (15). The user interface includes a card reader (16), receipt printer opening (30), cash dispensing opening (38) and deposit accepting opening (40). A stack of notes (84) input to the machine are separated one by one from the stack through the action of at least one picking member (158, 352) and at least one stripper member (64, 162, 354). The actions of non-contact stripper rolls and a contact stripper roll are generally effective to only enable a single note to move past the stripper members. Upon sensing that multiple notes have moved past the stripper members with a sensor (176, 366) the system is operative to return notes to the stack for subsequent picking trials. In some cases the stripper members may be driven so as to move notes engaged therewith relative to a note engaged with the stripper member so as to reorient the notes and facilitate note separation in subsequent picking events.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (15). The user interface includes a card reader (16), receipt printer opening (30), cash dispensing opening (38) and deposit accepting opening (40). A stack of notes (84) input to the machine are separated one by one from the stack through the action of at least one picking member (158, 352) and at least one stripper member (64, 162, 354). The actions of non-contact stripper rolls and a contact stripper roll are generally effective to only enable a single note to move past the stripper members. Upon sensing that multiple notes have moved past the stripper members with a sensor (176, 366) the system is operative to return notes to the stack for subsequent picking trials. In some cases the stripper members may be driven so as to move notes engaged therewith relative to a note engaged with the stripper member so as to reorient the notes and facilitate note separation in subsequent picking events.

Abstract: In the context of a structure wherein outer casing(s) is/are disposed so as to permit opening and closing about shaft(s), stopper member(s) and engagement piece(s) engaging with such stopper member(s) being disposed at such outer casing(s) so as to permit independent displacement in pivoting fashion about shaft(s) for each thereof, one end(s) of arm member(s) is/are supported by outer casing(s) so as to permit displacement in pivoting fashion, and shaft(s) of stopper member(s) is/are secured to other end(s) of such arm member(s). In addition, when bottom region(s) of stopper member(s) in engaged state(s) with engagement piece(s) abuts or abut and is/are pressed upward by original(s) loaded in original tray(s) during closing of outer casing(s) which had at least immediately prior thereto been in open state(s), this causes other end(s) of arm member(s) to be displaced upward in pivoting fashion, in accompaniment to which stopper member(s) is/are lifted upward.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding roller and a holder body. A separation pad is arranged on an upstream side, in a feeding direction of a recording medium, within a concave portion of a top surface side of the holder body facing a surface of the sheet feeding roller. On a downstream side of the concave portion adjacent to the separation pad, a low friction member is arranged in which at least a surface layer is formed of a material with a small coefficient of friction. Furthermore, a gap formation portion is formed in a surface of the concave portion where the low friction member is arranged and made higher than a surface where the separation pad is arranged. Additionally, by making the separation pad and the low friction member with the same thickness, when arranged in the concave portion, the surface of the low friction member is formed higher than the surface of the separation pad by the height of the gap formation portion.

Abstract: A feeder/separator apparatus for separating and moving sheets from a stack of sheets is described. The feeder/separator includes an input area for positioning the stack of sheets; a first and second series of rollers for jointly feeding a sheet on the bottom of the stack into an area of the apparatus including a third and forth series of rollers and a first series of belts; a pre-separation brake adapted to act in a pivoting pattern only on the first series of belts to cause a first stage separation of the bottom sheet; a separation brake adapted to act in a linear pattern only on the fourth series of rollers to cause a second stage separation of the bottom sheet, the pre-separation and separation brakes permitting the bottom sheets to be separated from the stack; and a fifth series of rollers and a second series of belts both being adapted to feed the bottom sheets away from the feeder/separator apparatus in a sheet feed path.

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 sheet feeder having a driving mechanism to release sheets of document from a stack out of an exit nip, one sheet at a time. A retard mechanism is used to prevent other sheets from being drawn out of the exit nip by the frictional force between the sheets. The retard mechanism has a frictional surface driven by a cylinder, which is allowed to rotate freely in only one direction to move the frictional surface against the editing direction of the released sheet. The driving mechanism is programmed to move backward in an intermittent manner to move the sheets in the bottom of the stack away from the exit nip so as to cause the cylinder to rotate in order to spread out the wear of the frictional surface. Preferably, the frictional surface has a plurality of cuts in a helical or partially helical pattern.

Abstract: The Media Handling Mechanism application to Media Handling devices includes pickup roller, cam and feed roller. The feed roller feeds the media, then the pickup roller presses the media with friction pad, and picks up the media by rotating motion. The Media Handling Mechanism applies to kinds of the media of different size and thickness. This simple design not only decreases the cost, but also the working efficiency is improved.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a media pick-up device of a media dispenser including a plurality of conveying rollers rotated by a driving force of a driving means, for conveying media, first separating rollers arranged with predetermined overlaps to the conveying rollers, for separating the media one by one, and second separating rollers arranged to face the conveying rollers with predetermined gaps, for generating a frictional force to the media. The media pick-up device of the media dispenser can accurately separate the media one by one regardless of variations of stiffness of the media.

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: A print medium exit system in a printer includes a kicker device ejecting a sheet of print medium out of the printer. A clutch mechanism prevents actuation of the kicker device when the clutch mechanism is engaged by the sheet of print medium.

Abstract: An automatic feeding device for feeding plural number of recording sheets stacked on a pressure plate by separating them one by one is provided with a sheet-feeding roller for carrying the recording sheets stacked on the pressure plate; a separation roller for separating the recording sheets one by one by abutting against the recording sheet carried by the sheet-feeding roller; and a fornt stage-regulator that confines the number of recording sheets advancing into the separation roller. At least one of the sheet-feeding shafts provided for both ends of the sheet-feeding roller is made movable along the bearing groove of elongated hole of the bearing, and least one of the sheet-feeding shafts is structured to move between plural positions during the execution of a series of feeding operations. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to enable the recording medium to be bitten stably into the nipping portion of the sheet-conveying roller and pinch roller in good condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of preventing paper double feeding in a paper feeding unit of a printer include a stripper which is installed to be inclined at a predetermined angle and attached to at least one front side of a plurality of paper guides, a lever which is installed at a rear side of the stripper and has a contact surface with paper transferred by a pickup roller, and a lever shaking unit which shakes the lever so that the contact surface intermittently contacts a back side of the paper transferred by the pickup roller. The method includes applying a first paper feeding resistance force to a first sheet of paper which is picked-up by the pickup roller and transferred into the printer, and intermittently applying a second paper feeding resistance to a rear side of a second sheet of paper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a sheet feed apparatus configured to sequentially separate sheets stacked on a sheet stacking member. The sheet feed apparatus includes a sheet feed roller configured to come in pressing contact with the uppermost sheet in order to feed the sheet. The sheet feed apparatus also includes a tilt member arranged to oppose the sheet feed roller. The sheet feed apparatus includes a contact face arranged to press against the sheet feed roller. The sheet feed apparatus also includes a tilt face arranged to contact an edge of the uppermost sheet. The tilt face and the contact face are formed from one of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene (PE), metal, poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK), and polyimide (PI) to provide superior wear resistance.

Abstract: A sheet feeder including a hopper that holds a sheet in a stack, a sheet feed roller that touches the sheet on the hopper and feeds the sheet in a sheet feed direction, a face provided on a front end of the hopper with respect to the sheet feed direction so that a leading edge of the sheet being fed bumps into the face, and a plurality of protrusions that are disposed on the face and that bumps into the leading edge of the sheet when the sheet is fed, wherein protrusions are placed on a plurality of lines parallel to the sheet feed direction, only one of the protrusions is placed on each on of the lines, and each one of the protrusions is separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction.

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

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising a pad base, a groove along the central line of the pad base, and a spring embedded in the groove, is disclosed. The top of the spring protrudes above the top surface of base and a series of inclined protrusions are formed at two sides of the groove. The sheets are driven by rollers and rise gradually along the protrusions such that the sheets are separated one-by-one. Moreover, a radial arrangement of the ribs and the sheet-separating pad allows the lower edge of each sheet to move smoothly so that paper jams can be prevented.

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

Abstract: A paper feeder for use in image forming apparatus is provided, which includes separating rubber member and sheet feeding roller both disposed at a location corresponding to a widthwise central portion of a recording sheet, and which is operative to feed the recording sheet by rotation of the sheet feeding roller and bring the leading edge of the recording into contact with a skew correction roller in a rotation-halted state to correct possible skew of the recording sheet before image formation, the paper feeder being provided with buckling preventive mechanism extending over opposite sides of the separating rubber member for preventing the recording sheet from being deflected during feeding of the recording sheet by the sheet feeding roller.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus in an image forming apparatus including a paper-entering angle varying portion disposed in a frame to vary the angle of a leading end of a sheet entering a paper separating member according to the thickness or stiffness of the paper being fed. The paper-entering angle varying portion includes a paper leading end bending guide formed on the bottom surface of the frame in which paper is stacked. The paper feeding apparatus can prevent a paper feed problem, for example, multi sheet feed or a sheet feed failure by varying the paper-entering angle using the paper leading end bending guide when the paper is picked up according to the stiffness of the paper being fed.

Abstract: A paper pick-up device of an image forming apparatus has a rack member disposed on a pickup bracket supporting a pickup roller to pick-up a paper sheet, and a pinion engaged with rack member. The pickup bracket reciprocally moves with according to the paper characteristics set by a printing command, so that the pickup roller moves to one position among at least two positions which are pre-set in accordance with the paper characteristics and picks-up the paper sheet. Accordingly, since the paper pick-up device prevents slip, multiple-transferring, and paper jam from occurring, the paper sheet is accurately picked-up and transferred.

Abstract: A method of feeding sheets includes the step of conveying the sheets between a feed roller and a separation member. The separation member is pressed against and into contact with the feed roller with a pressure applied between the feed roller and the separation member. The method also includes the steps of separating and conveying the sheets conveyed between the feed roller and the separation member one by one, and providing a cyclic change in the pressure between the feed roller and the separation member.

Abstract: For use in an identification card printer includes a roller support, a guide roller, and a card stop. The roller support is positioned between a card feeder and the card transport mechanism. The guide roller is supported by the roller support for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to a card feed plane and transverse to a card path. The guide roller includes a card engaging side adjacent the card feed plane where non-abrasive contact of a first surface of the lead card is made during the card feed operation. The card stop is positioned adjacent a side of the guide roller that is opposite the card engaging side. During card feed operations, the lead card is allowed passage to the card transport mechanism along the card engaging side of the guide roller while cards that are stacked upon the lead card are blocked by the card stop.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding a plurality of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion one by one includes feeding means for feeding the plurality of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, separation means for separating the sheets one by one by contacting to the sheets, returning means for returning the sheets to the sheet stacking portion, and separation force switching means for switching between generation and release of a separation force of the separation means. During a feeding operation, the feeding operation is switchable between a separating mode in which the separation force for a sheet is generated by the separation means and a conveying mode in which the separation force is released.

Abstract: Disclosed is a media pickup device of a media dispenser which can use various kinds of media having different thickness by varying an overlap amount between a feeding roller and a separating roller. To this end, the device comprises: a feeding roller and a separating roller arranged with a predetermined interval for separating media discharged from a media cassette sheet by sheet and feeding; and a variable means for varying an overlap amount between the feeding roller and the separating roller according to thickness of media.

Abstract: A sheet separate-feeding apparatus prevents double-feed of sheet caused by the separation roller, even in case that plural sheets overlapped to each other are strongly pushed toward a separation roller from a sheet stacking portion at the sheet supplying time. The sheet separate-feeding apparatus includes a separation roller for feeding out the sheet, and a separation pad which nips the sheet between the separation roller and it and separates its sheet from the other sheets, wherein there are provided stopper levers which are arranged on both sides of a contact portion on a sheet feeding surface between the separation roller and the separation pad so that they can come in and out, and which receive the sheet inserted from the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation member in contact with a sheet for separating the sheet with frictional force, comprising plurality of protrusion members, each structured of a supporting portion upright from an operation surface for the sheet and a distal end portion formed at a distal end of the supporting portion capable of contacting to the sheet. The supporting portion of the protrusion member is inclined toward a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the operation surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A media separator includes an elongated body having a series of formations thereon. The formations have angular surfaces for engaging a leading edge of sheets advancing therealong. As the leading edges move against the formations, separation between the sheets is enhanced.

Abstract: A sheet-supply device includes a pair of stopper members provided to a bottom plate of a hopper portion so as to move between a protruding position where upper surfaces of the stopper members protrude from a surface of the bottom plate and a retracted position where upper surfaces of the stopper members retract from the surface of the bottom plate, and a position change mechanism moving the stopper members between the protruding and retracted positions. By changing a timing of ascending the stopper members to the protruding position according to a type of the sheets to be fed, an appropriate resistance is applied to all of the sheets in the hopper portion except a topmost sheet during a sheet feed operation, thereby preventing a multi-feed problem.

Abstract: In a sheet-supply device, a substantially T-shaped cutaway portion is provided in a projected portion, which is provided to an inclined wall and at a position corresponding to a sheet-supply roller near a lower end of the inclined wall that holds a stack of sheets loaded to a hopper portion. A first friction member is slidably supported in the cutaway portion so as to slide along the inclined wall from a downstream, normal position to an upstream position in a sheet feed direction. The first friction member includes a base portion and a pad portion, the pad portion is made of corkrubber and adhered to a surface of the base portion. A frictional coefficient &mgr; of the pad portion is relatively high, i.e., frictional coefficient between adjacent sheets (approximately 0.6)≦&mgr;≦1.0.

Abstract: An automatic feeding device in a printing machine includes: a sheet container containing a number of sheets, a pick-up unit picking up and transporting sheets in the sheet container using a rotational friction, a driving unit driving the pick-up unit, and at least one sheet separator roller rotatably installed in a transport path of the sheets to rotate in a direction opposite to a sheet transport direction to individually separate the sheets one by one picked up by the pick-up unit. The sheet separator rollers rotate in response to a driving force of the driving unit and frictionally contact the picked sheets to separate the sheets one by one. According to the automatic feeding device, when the sheets are fed, the sheet separator rollers rotate in the direction opposite to the sheet transport direction and frictionally contact leading ends of the sheets to separate the sheets so that the sheets can be always separated in a reliable manner regardless of deformation or a type of the sheets.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that can feed a sheet accurately and stably by eliminating sheet feeding problems such as double feeding and misfeeding. A plurality of sheets stacked on a lifting plate are fed to a separator plate and separated so that only one sheet will be transported with the rotation of a feed roller, and only the one sheet is thus transported downstream in a sheet feeding direction. When the one sheet has been transported to a target position reaching a transport roller and a pinch roller, a sheet aligning/pressing portion and a separator plate pressing portion displace the remaining sheets in a direction away from the feed roller, cause an abutting portion to move away from the feed roller, and prevent the remaining sheets from moving downstream in the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprises a pressure plate disposed at a position where sheets first hit the same and a separation plate for separating the sheets. The pressure plate and the separation plate are rotatable independently of each other. The pressure plate is pressed by one spring, while the separation plate is pressed by another spring, against sheet feed roller independently of each other.

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

Abstract: A kicker in a printing device is mounted adjacent to an entrance of a feed zone where a pick roller is located for picking a top sheet from an input tray in a pick process. A plurality of next-to-top sheets next to the top sheet move out of the input tray and stop approximately at the entrance of the feed zone during the pick process. The kicker includes a relatively rigid base part for kicking a first portion of the next-to-top sheets back to the input tray and a flexible top part attached to the base part for kicking a second portion of the next-to-top sheets back to the input tray.

Abstract: A separation unit is formed of a feed roller that touches the uppermost surface of sheets stacked on a sheet supply tray to feed the sheet, a supply roller to supply the drawn out sheet, and a separating member pressing against the supply roller to allow only the uppermost sheet to pass. A guide member is disposed between the sheet supply tray and the separating member with an angle with respect to the sheet supply tray to guide the sheet to the supply roller and abut against leading edges of the sheets drawn out from the feed roller to separate them. The separating member of the separating mechanism and the guide member are attached and detached as a single body to the guide member for guiding the sheets. Therefore, while high separation performance for the sheets can be maintained, workability in replacing the separating member becomes easy.

Abstract: A fixed separating plate, having a separating strip, is provided to a middle of a lower end portion of a sheet holder, which holds a plurality of sheets, in a sheet width direction. A pair of first and second movable separating plates are provided on each side of the fixed separating plate. The first and second movable separating plates are upwardly urged and can descend lower than the fixed separating plate. The first and second movable separating plates independently rotate downward when the first and second movable separating plates are pressed by leading edges of the sheets that are subjected to a sheet feeding force from the sheet feed roller. With this structure, the degree of the inclined angles of the movable separating plates, which receive the leading edges of the side areas of the sheets to be fed, can be changed in accordance with the size and rigidity of the sheets stacked on the sheet holder.

Abstract: A modular single sheet feeder for feeding media sheets to a processing apparatus includes a chassis frame and a modular roller support and drive assembly pivotally supported on the frame for easy assembly. The roller support and drive assembly biases a roller frame which may be a replaceable bogie toward the media sheets to be fed and selectively positions the roller frame in a stack feeding position. A stack stop is provided for limiting the motion of the stack during manual loading and is automatically moved out of the media path as sheets are fed. Over engagement protection of the input gears and of the roller drive gears is also provided.

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.