Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism with a separator and paper blocking mechanisms. When feeding paper, a lift plate carrying paper is moved up to allow a pick-up roller and the separator to move one sheet from the lift plate. After feeding paper, the lift plate is lowered away from the pick-up roller, and the paper blocking mechanism pushes excess paper back to the lift plate.

Abstract: A resilient friction pad is pushed by a spring against a conveying roller for feeding paper automatically in a printer. The friction pad is placed in a recess at the end of the paper tray. A flat auxiliary spring may be used to share the pressure of a heavy paper load and to prevent the separation of the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. A support block may be placed underneath the resilient friction pad to prevent sagging of the resilient friction pad. A corrugated arm may be inserted between the push-up spring and the resilient friction pad to provide wider contact between the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. Two springboards, one wider than the other, are located at the tail end of the resilient friction pad, one to lift to paper tray when the paper stack is light and the other to depress the paper stack so that paper in the upper section of the remaining paper stack does not push the paper being fed so hard that more than one sheet of paper are fed.

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 feeding roller that is driven to rotate, and a base plate to stack sheets thereupon. The sheet feeding device is configured to rotate around a supporting axis thereof in directions to contact and separate from the feeding roller. A base plate pressing member is configured to press the base plate toward the feeding roller, such that an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the base plate contacts the feeding roller in order to be fed by the feeding roller. A first friction device is arranged in a vicinity of a first part of an upper surface of the base plate so as to oppose the feeding roller. The first friction device is configured to provide a bottom sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the base plate with a first frictional resistance greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A paper discharging apparatus for a printer includes: a plurality of support plates for supporting the paper and rotating in a direction parallel to a paper proceeding direction; a rotation shaft of a feed roller arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper proceeding direction, and to which a feed roller contacting the paper is coupled; a power transfer portion having a sector gear installed on the rotation shaft so that the sector gear doe not rotate when the rotation shaft rotates in a forward direction, and the sector gear does rotate when the rotation shaft rotates in a reverse direction; a crank rod having one end connected to the sector gear, and reciprocating when the sector gear rotates; and a cam shaft connected to the crank rod and rotating in correspondence to the reciprocation of the crank rod.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising a pad base, a grove along the central line of the pad base, and a spring embedded in the grove, 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 grove. The sheets are driven by rollers and rise gradually along the protrusions such that the sheets are separated one by one. Moreover, a radical 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 mechanism for automatically and adjustably feeding sheets is provided. The mechanism includes a paper dividing plate, a roller for picking the sheets, wherein a channel is formed between the paper dividing plate and the roller, and the sheets are driven by friction between the roller and the sheets to pass through the channel, and a controller having a first end engaged with the paper dividing plate and a second end as a fulcrum for the paper dividing plate, wherein when an unbalanced force from the roller is applied on the paper dividing plate, the paper dividing plate pivots on the fulcrum to adjust the unbalanced force.

Abstract: A paper separating device of the automatic document feeder can be assembled with a paper case loaded at least one piece of paper to provide the automatic paper separating and feeding function. The separating device includes: a paper feeding roller, which is located at one side of the paper case to carry its internal paper moving along the rolling tangent direction; a friction slice, which has one side near the paper feeding roller and locates the paper between the friction slice and the paper feeding roller; a first elastic component, which is combined at one bottom of the friction slice to provide the elastic force perpendicular to the tangent direction to force the friction slice approach the paper feeding roller; the characteristic is there is a second elastic component located at the other side of the friction slice to provide an elastic force opposite to the tangent to force the friction slice move toward the opposite tangent direction.

Abstract: A method and device for reducing the maximum torque to rollers mounted on a drive shaft of a drive roller assembly. By using a plurality of slip clutches, each for engaging an individual roller to the drive shaft and setting a maximum torque for the individual rollers, each roller is coupled to the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller does not exceed the maximum torque, and each roller is mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller exceeds the maximum torque. Because each roller has a separate slip clutch, each roller can be mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft without affecting the other rollers coupled to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal printer component for image recording to a thermosensitive recording sheet. There is a loading opening through which the thermal printer component is supplied with the recording sheet. Plural guiding projections position the recording sheet in the loading opening. A recording sheet package includes a packaging case for containing a stack of plural recording sheets with looseness. The loading opening is loadable with the packaging case. A package outlet is formed in the packaging case for passage of each recording sheet, and set directed toward the thermal printer component. Plural cutouts are formed in a periphery of the packaging case, and receive the guiding projections. Blocking portions of a blocking frame are disposed inside the packaging case, and close the cutouts. The blocking portions are shiftable inwards from the cutouts by the guiding projections.

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 document creating apparatus, comprising an image transfer system and a feeder. The feeder has a frame, housing and a roll for individually feeding sheets of material within the image transfer system. The housing is pivotally connected to the frame on a pivot axis. The roll is pivotally connected to the housing on a roll axis that is offset from the pivot axis. A spring is connected to the housing and the frame at an offset distance from the pivot axis. When the offset distance decreases, the force exerted by the spring increases. When the offset distance increases, the force exerted by the spring decreases. The force exerted by the spring between the first roll and the second roll as a result is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: A retard roller of non-ground surface type which is virtually free from adhesion of paper dust thereby to have an excellent friction coefficient sustainability, and which is free from creaky noises at a relatively low sheet feeding speed; a retard roller of non-ground surface type having little variation in outer diameter; and a sheet feeder employing such a retard roller. The retard roller comprises a roller body and a shaft extending axially therethrough, the roller body having a textured roller surface comprising a multiplicity of island portions (10) and a sea portion (11) recessed from the island portions, the island portions and the sea portion each having a multiplicity of fine projections (12). The ratio S1/S2 of the total area S1 of the island portions to the area S2 of the sea portion preferably is 0.25 to 0.55. The fine projections preferably each have a height of 3 to 25 &mgr;m.

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 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 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 method for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece, in which the top object (2) of the stack (1) is moved in its plane, gripped at its freed edge and removed from the stack (1). The top object (2) is moved against a stop (5), at least in the region of one of its corners (2b), by a movable separating element (6, 6′) and, as a result of further movement, is bent in such a way that it escapes from the stop (5) and is moved out of the stack (1). The invention further relates to an apparatus for dismantling a stack (1) of flat objects (2, 3) piece by piece.

Abstract: In a scanning unit such as a facsimile machine, an automatic document feeder transports individual sheets from a stack of documents along a document path over a scanning window to an output tray. An upper guide member includes an integrated chassis which provides most of the functional features required for picking individual sheets from a stack of documents in an input tray and transporting the sheet past a scanning window. The various components incorporated in the integrated chassis include a document separation mechanism, pre-scanning pinch rollers, post-scanning pinch rollers, a spring-loaded limiter with minimal paper path obstruction, a hinging mechanism to facilitate manual access to the document path, a latching mechanism, referencing datums, and ESD grounding including ESD brushes adjacent the document path and an ESD shield for a circuit board housed in the upper guide member.

Abstract: The feeding mechanism for feeding media from an initial site to a predetermined site comprises a base, a scrubber, a deskewer, two feeders, a lifting device having two cam portions, a driving element and a releasing device. The deskewer is moved between a first position and a second position and sets the media located at the initial site. The two feeders are used for transmitting the media located at the initial site toward the predetermined site. The cam portions are used as a lifter to move the deskewer from the first position to the second position. The driving element disposed between the lifting device and the releasing device generates forces to actuate the cam portions to move the deskewer. The releasing device is used as an overload protection clutch connected between the lifting device and the driving element, having a first plate separately contacting the driving element.

Abstract: A card hopper includes a control gate that reliably allows cards of varying thicknesses to be fed individually through an outlet opening without adjustment. The hopper is configured to hold a stack of plastic cards or similar, fairly rigid, substrates. The control gate is positioned at the outlet opening and includes a flexible blade that reduces a height of the outlet opening to less than a thickness of an end card of the stack, whereby the flexible blade flexes in response to the end card when driven through the outlet opening. Also disclosed is a card feeder assembly that includes the above-described hopper.

Abstract: Image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording plate, the apparatus comprising a plate store (1) for storing a stack (12) of recording plates separated by interleaved sheets; a drum image scanner (6) on which recording plates are located for recordal of an image; and a frictional feed apparatus (2) for withdrawing recording plates from the store (1) and feeding them singly to the drum image scanner (6).

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a sheet tray accommodating stacked sheets, and a sheet feeding unit feeding the stacked sheets in the sheet tray one by one. The sheet feeding unit includes a feeding roller which rotates in a sheet feeding direction, and a separation roller which presses against the feeding roller when feeding each of the stacked sheets and which rotates, via a torque limiter, in a direction opposite the sheet feeding direction. The separation roller is rotated by rotation of the feeding roller when a single sheet is sandwiched between the feeding and separation rollers. Also included is a conveying member arranged downstream of the feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction, and a driving source which drives each of the feeding roller, the separation roller, and the conveying member via a driving force transmission mechanism so the separation roller and the conveying member are driven in conjunction with each other.

Abstract: There are provided a separation unit, which 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; and a guide member, which is disposed between the sheet supply tray and the separating member with an angle with respect to the sheet supply tray drawn from the feed roller to guide the sheet to the supply roller and also abuts against leading edges of the sheets drawn out from the feed roller to separate them. Since the separating member of a separating mechanism and the guide member are mounted on the same holder so that 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for the separation of sheets comprising a transport structure (11; 61; 111; 161; 211; 311) for exerting a force on an outermost sheet (1) of a pack of sheets (2) in a direction of transport (10) and a separation structure (12; 62; 112; 162; 212; 312) for exerting a force on at least one other sheet of the pack against the direction of transport (10) to prevent the other sheet from moving along with the outermost sheet (1) in the direction of transport (10). Because the apparatus comprises a treating device (23, 24; 77; 123; 173; 232; 323, 384, 385, 387, 388) for treatment of the engaging surface (25, 26; 175) of the transport structure and/or the separation structure to increase the roughness of the rough surface (25, 26; 175), a more reliable separation effect can be obtained especially over a longer period.

Abstract: A paper separating device of the automatic document feeder can be assembled with a paper case loaded at least one piece of paper to provide the automatic paper separating and feeding function. The separating device includes: a paper feeding roller, which is located at one side of the paper case to carry its internal paper moving along the rolling tangent direction; a friction slice, which has one side near the paper feeding roller and locates the paper between the friction slice and the paper feeding roller; a first elastic component, which is combined at one bottom of the friction slice to provide the elastic force perpendicular to the tangent direction to force the friction slice approach the paper feeding roller; the characteristic is there is a second elastic component located at the other side of the friction slice to provide an elastic force opposite to the tangent to force the friction slice move toward the opposite tangent direction.

Abstract: An Object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet supporting device, sheet feeding device, separating device, separation force giving device for supplying a separation force to the separating device in a direction reverse to a sheet feeding direction, and separation force switching device for being switched between a connection state for supplying the separation force to the separating device by the separation force giving device and a cut-off state in which the separation force is not supplied to the separating device, wherein said separation force switching device is switched into the cut-off state at a time of a beginning of the feeding and is switched into the connection state when the sheet feeding device has fed the sheets for a predetermined distance from the beginning of the feeding, and a separation force supplied to said separating device in a state such that the separation force switching device is switched into the cut-off state is set to be smaller than a s

Abstract: A stopper member regulates the leading edges of sheets stacked on a sheet supply tray. In a first position of the stopper member, the sheets on a sheet supply tray are prevented from advancing into a paper feed path, and in a second position, the sheets drawn out by a draw-out device pass. The stopper member can be moved to a third position between the first and second positions. The displacement to the third position from the first position is associated with the lowering of the draw-out device for drawing out the sheets from the sheet supply tray, and the displacement from the third position to the second position is accomplished by the leading edge of a sheet drawn out by the draw-out device. This structure prevents damage to the original stacked on the sheet supply tray, and attains a simple structure and a low cost apparatus.

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 bump into the leading edge of the sheet when the sheet is fed, wherein each one of the protrusions is placed in a line parallel to the sheet feed direction and is separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: A high-speed sheet feeder includes a separator wheel having a diameter of about three inches. A curved metal shroud having a low friction surface is disposed in close proximity to the wheel. The shroud has first and second straight parts that are disposed about ninety degrees relative to one another, and a curved part that interconnects the straight parts. The curvature substantially conforms to the curvature of the separator wheel. The second straight part of the shroud is parallel to a conveyor belt and has a slot formed in it so that the separator wheel engages sheets below the second straight part. The large diameter of the separator wheel, which is about double the diameter of prior art separator wheels, and the unique shape and extent of the shroud combine to enable a sheet feeder to handle sheets of widely varying thickness.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes sheet stacking means for stacking sheets; sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets from the sheet stacking means; separating means for separating for separating the sheets one by one; returning means for returning the sheet other than the sheet separated by separating means toward the sheet stacking means; wherein the returning means effects its sheet returning operation when the sheet other than the sheet separated from the separating means passes through a predetermined position.

Abstract: Resilient supporting member for resiliently supporting the lower edge of recording paper sheets is provided near a lower part of a back plate of a paper sheet feeding apparatus. The resilient supporting member includes a rocking support piece and a spring. When the recording paper sheets are inserted into the paper sheet feeding apparatus, the rocking support piece is angularly displaced about an axis extending perpendicularly to the paper sheet feeding direction and absorbs the impact force generated in inserting the recording paper sheets, whereby the rocking support piece is pressed against a predetermined holding portion by an upwardly directed spring force and the angle that the receiving face of the rocking support piece makes with the supporting face of the back plate is held at an angle &thgr;1 suitable for paper sheet feeding.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of separator pads each having a particular coefficient of friction with respect to sheets for separating the sheets one by one. An automatic switching mechanism automatically replaces the separator pads. The automatic switching mechanism includes a pad pressure switching section, a pad angle switching section, a ball screw with a worm wheel mounted thereon, a ball nut meshing with the ball screw, a worm meshing with the worm wheel for moving a movable member in the widthwise direction of the sheets via the ball screw, a pad motor for causing the worm to rotate, and a sensor responsive to the position of the movable member. The device automatically selects one of the separator pads and an angle thereof in order to set up optimal sheet feed conditions matching with environmental conditions including temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A sheet separation unit comprises a separation/conveyance roller, a separation member to be brought into contact with the roller so as to separate paper sheets drawn by the roller, an elastic member configured to bring the separation member into pressure contact with the roller, and a pair of elastic holding members that apply axial forces to respective opposite end sections of the separation member from the outside. The axial forces press the opposite end sections toward a central portion of the separation member, and the elastic holding members press and hold the separation member in a state in which the separation member can swing to and away from the roller.

Abstract: A movable sheet separating unit is pushed all the time by a lifting spring in a direction toward a feeding roller. In a non-feeding state, a sheet lifting plate is engaged with an operating fraction so that the movable sheet separating unit is held in a standby position where a separating pad is separated from the feeding roller. In a feeding state, the sheet lifting plate rises and disengages from the operating fraction so that the movable sheets separating unit moves to a pressing position where the separating pad is pressed against the feeding roller. In the pressing position, the separating pad is pressed against the feeding roller via a rotatable support base by a pressing spring, and is displaced by rotation in a direction away from the feeding roller in accordance with a thickness of a sheet S passing through between the separating pad and the feeding roller. Thus, durability of the separating pad can be improved, and a feeder suitable for a fixing type feeding cassette can be provided.

Abstract: In a paper feeder, after a set of the documents has been fed, a lifting member transmits the rotation of a separation roller shaft to a frame member, as the separation roller shaft is rotated opposite to the direction to feed documents, by a predetermined amount. Accordingly, the frame member is turned upwardly, so as to lift a pick-up roller away from a paper feed slope where the documents are to be stacked. With this structure, another set of the documents can be readily set with the leading edges thereof placed under the pick-up roller after the first set of the documents has been fed. Further, when the documents are fed, a force such that the pick-up roller is lifted up away from the paper feed slope is not externally applied to the frame member leaving the pick-up roller in contact with the documents. Consequently, the documents can be stably fed out.

Abstract: A paper feeder has a sheet stacking surface for stacking sheets, a paper feeding roller which is in contact with the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking surface to feed sheets, a movable separation slope surface against which the stacked sheets abut and which is rotatable between a first position and a second position that differ in the inclination angle made between it and the sheet stacking surface, and a separation control cam for rotating the movable separation slope surface between the first position and the second position. The angle made by the movable separation slope surface and the sheet stacking surface is set to be smaller than the angle when the sheets are separated so that the forward end portion of the pile of sheets stacked will not deform and when the sheets are fed by the paper feeding roller, the angle is set to be the angle when the movable separation slope surface separates the sheets by using the separation control cam.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with the same, which are capable of maintaining a conveying force of a sheet feeding unit without using a further part.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet support for supporting sheets, a feed roller pressingly contacted with the sheets supported on the sheet support, the feed roller rotating in a sheet conveying direction for feeding the sheets, a separation rotator pressingly contacted with the feed roller and the separation rotator rotating in a direction of restoring the sheets so as to separate, sheet by sheet, the sheets fed out. The sheet feeding apparatus further has a pressure switch for switching pressure of the separation rotator with respect to the feed roller during rotating operation of the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of a sheet at the top of a stack of sheets supported on a sheet support and an inclined separation plane separates a sheet, fed forward by the sheet feed roller, from the other sheets of the stack of the sheets. A rotatable separation roller is disposed between the inclined separation plane and the sheet feed roller such that the separation roller is urged into contact with the upper surface of the sheet fed forward by the sheet feeding roller. The separation roller is movable depending on the rigidity of the sheet so that when the sheet being fed forward has low rigidity, the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the separation roller, but when the sheet being fed forward has high rigidity, the separation roller is moved upward thereby allowing the sheet is bent starting from a line where the sheet is in contact with the sheet feed roller.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) comprising a dispenser (20) having a pick unit (44) for picking media items (64) is described. The dispenser (20) includes a drive wheel (72) for engaging with one surface of a media item and mounted on a drive wheel shaft (78), and a retard wheel (74) for engaging with an opposite surface of the media item and mounted on a retard wheel rotatable shaft (80) for rotating in the same direction as the first rotatable shaft. The drive and retard wheel shafts (78, 80) are coupled to a common drive component (98). The drive wheel (72) and the retard wheel (74) are resiliently biased together, and at least one of the shafts (78 or 80) is pivotally coupled to the common drive component (98) whereby the distance between the at least one shaft (78 or 80) and the drive component (98) remains constant as the at least one shaft (78 or 80) is displaced by a media item passing between the wheels (72, 74).

Abstract: A resilient friction pad is pushed by a spring against a conveying roller for feeding paper automatically in a printer. The friction pad is placed in a recess at the end of the paper tray. A flat auxiliary spring may be used to share the pressure of a heavy paper load and to prevent the separation of the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. A support block may be placed underneath the resilient friction pad to prevent sagging of the resilient friction pad. A corrugated arm may be inserted between the push-up spring and the resilient friction pad to provide wider contact between the resilient friction pad and the conveying roller. Two springs are located at the tail end of the resilient friction pad: one to lift to paper tray when the paper stack is light and the other to depress the paper stack so that paper in the upper section of the remaining paper stack does not push the paper being fed so hard that more than one sheet of paper are fed.

Abstract: The picking roller successively picks a plurality of sheets of paper stacked on the shooter from the bottom of the paper stack. The gate extends substantially perpendicular to a paper transport direction and forms a predetermined clearance between the picking roller. The separation pad is disposed in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the picking roller and adapted to draw inside a single sheet of paper. The picking arm is driven to move to an upper position when sheets of paper are placed on the shooter, and to a lower position when the sheets of paper are fed in order to press the sheets of paper placed on the shooter toward the outer circumferential surface of the picking roller. The paper guide is disposed above the picking roller and has an opening and a bridge portion. The bridge portion extends across the opening and is fitted in a circumferential groove formed in an axially center portion of the picking roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a stocking plate on which a plurality of sheets are stackable, a separating device for separating the sheets stacked on the stocking plate one by one by a pair of pressure contact members, a feeding device for feeding the sheets, and a pressure releasing device for releasing the pressure contact of the pair of pressure contact members has a returning device for acting on the pressure releasing device to thereby return the pair of pressure contact members to their pressure contact state after a single-sheet feeding is terminated when the sheets are fed with the pair of pressure contact members pressure-released by the pressure releasing device.

Abstract: A media feeding system has a pick arm with a pick roller, a media tray, a media restrainer, a motor and a drive train. The pick arm is rotatably installed above the media tray so that it can lift the pick roller away from the media tray, and lower it onto the media tray. The media restrainer can be in an up or a down position. When in the up position, it prevents media from moving out of the media tray. When in the down position, media can move out of the media tray past the media restrainer. The drive train delivers torque from the motor to the pick arm, pick roller and media restrainer. The motor can operate in two directions. When operating in the first direction, the media restrainer moves into the down position, the pick roller lowers onto stacked media and pushes a sheet out of the media tray past the media restrainer. When the motor operates in the second direction, the media restrainer moves into the up position, and the pick arm lifts the pick roller away from the stacked media.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeding system has a paper-grabbing device and paper-separating device, with a paper tray having a front end that can move up and down. A paper-feeding channel is in front of the front end of the paper tray. The paper-grabbing device is installed on the paper tray and moves paper in the paper tray into the paper-feeding channel. The paper-separating device has a paper-separating roller and a paper-separating friction disk which are respectively installed above and below the paper-feeding channel. These elements together permit only a single sheet of paper to move forward. An actuator mechanism installed under the paper-feeding channel lifts up or pulls down the front end of the paper tray and the paper-separating friction disk. Finally, a driving device drives the paper-grabbing device, the paper-separating device and the actuator mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller is brought into contact with an uppermost sheet stacked on a hopper, and rotates to feed the uppermost sheet to the recording apparatus. A separation pad presses the uppermost sheet against the feeding roller so that the upper most sheet is separated from a next uppermost sheet. A first sheet returner pushes back a first part of the next uppermost sheet situated on the separation pad to the hopper. A second sheet returner pushes back a second part of the next uppermost sheet situated on the separation pad to the hopper. The sheet feeding roller, the separation pad and the first sheet returner are incorporated in a single unit which is disposed at a first position of a sheet feeding passage formed on the hopper. The second sheet returner is solely disposed at a second position of the sheet feeding passage.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding roller that is driven to rotate, and a base plate to stack sheets thereupon. The sheet feeding device is configured to rotate around a supporting axis thereof in directions to contact and separate from the feeding roller. A base plate pressing member is configured to press the base plate toward the feeding roller, such that an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the base plate contacts the feeding roller in order to be fed by the feeding roller. A first friction device is arranged in a vicinity of a first part of an upper surface of the base plate so as to oppose the feeding roller. The first friction device is configured to provide a bottom sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the base plate with a first frictional resistance greater than a predetermined value.

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: A singulator for feeding documents one at a time onto the transport of a processing machine. The singulator includes a pick-off means and a stripper means for preventing multi-feeds of documents. The stripper means is comprised of two independent stripper assemblies which are mounted one above the other. Each assembly is comprised of an arm which is rotatably mounted to the machine at one end and which has a means at the other end for engaging any multi-fed documents. Each stripper assembly has basically the same structure except the arm of one stripper assembly is shorter than the arm of the other assembly whereby the assemblies contact a multi-fed document at different points.

Abstract: A device for separating sheets (10) of a recording medium stored in a horizontally disposed stack includes an advance roller (16) resting on the stack and following the decreasing height of the stack. The advance roller (16) is drivable in order to acquire the topmost sheet (10.1) of the stack under frictional closure and to slide it for separation with its leading edge up on an obliquity (14). In order to be able to separate sheets (10) of different stiffness, the advance roller (16), while it is driven on the topmost sheet (10.1), drifts from the obliquity (14) until the leading edge of the sheet (10.1) runs up on the obliquity (14). The advance roller (16) is movable vertically. The counter force acting during the driving of the advance roller (16) is additionally supported in a rocker in order to increase the contact pressure against the topmost sheet (10.1) in case of the sheets of great stiffness.