Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a control unit; a pair of side plates; a feed module having two or more separate feed rollers; a transport module having two or more separate transport rollers; a pusher module having a belt assembly and at least one pusher roller disposed under the belt assembly, the belt assembly further having two or more parallel shafts and two or more belts each having a protrusion and fitted on the shafts, the protrusions corresponding to each other; a first driving mechanism having a first motor and a first transmission mechanism, the first motor being connected to the first transmission mechanism which is in turn connected to at least one of the feed rollers; a second driving mechanism having a second motor and a second transmission mechanism, the second motor being connected to the second transmission mechanism which is in turn connected to at least one of the pusher rollers; a third driving mechanism having a third motor and a third transmission mechanism, the third motor being connected to

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism for a digitizing scanner particularly adapted to feed transparent and translucent film sheets provides two pairs of feed rollers each located on an opposing side of the scanner camera's image line. A tray for supporting a feed stack is provided. The tray pivots into and out of engagement with a pick roll at predetermined times during the feed cycle. The pick roll rotates to feed the top sheet of the stack into the feed rollers. The top sheet must climb a curved stripper that resists downstream movement of the next sheets in the stack. A pair of edge sensors are located upstream of the upstream feed rollers and downstream of the downstream feed rollers. The sensors sense, respectively, the trail edge and the lead edge of the sheet, respectively and enable a central processing unit to automatically determine the length of the sheet. The sheet can, thereby, be reversed and scanned fully over its entire length.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided with a sheet feeding unit for feeding sheets supported on a sheet support means, and sheet separator means provided downstream of the sheet feeding unit with respect to the sheet feeding direction, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being separated one by one by the sheet separator and fed. The sheet separator is comprised of an inclined surface against which the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit abuts, a dash member provided downstream of the inclined surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction and against which the leading end of the sheet riding over the inclined surface abuts, and a resilient member for displaceably supporting the dash member when the sheet abuts against the dash member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus comprising a sheet stacking means for stacking a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply means for feeding out the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, a separation means for separating the sheets one by one by abutting the sheets against the separation means to cause elastic angular change in the sheet thereby to ride the sheet over the separation means, and a guide means having a guide surface for guiding the sheet separated by the separation means toward a downstream side, and wherein the sheet stacking means is provided at its downstream end with a projection which protrudes toward downstream sides of the separation means and of the guide surface of the guide means.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper supply apparatus for an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus with a paper supply apparatus and a paper supply apparatus which can be used suitably with an image scanner wherein a large amount of paper sheets can be taken out one by one with certainty and read successively and rapidly. The paper supply apparatus successively supplies paper sheets accommodated therein to a paper transport mechanism along which an optical image reading mechanism is disposed, and comprises a paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller located above the paper supply hopper for forwarding the paper sheets accommodated in the paper supply hopper, a paper supply roller driving mechanism for rotating the paper supply roller, and a paper separation mechanism for preventing two or more paper sheets forwarded by the paper supply roller from being sent to the paper transport mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeder unit capable of separately supplying cut sheets of any thickness or characteristics without causing any residual deformation. The pile of cut sheets 11 are advanced one by one with a pair of feeding rollers 31 contacting thereto from one side thereof. A friction member 33 of various configurations is disposed at various positions for separating the outermost cut sheet 11 from the other sheets by the frictional force of contact generated therebetween when the friction member is backed away by the advancing cut sheet 11.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism including a pick apparatus for selectively moving a sheet of media from a stack. The invention is a counter rotating roll design that uses staggered and nested rolls to achieve separation. The invention includes a separator roll mounted on a first shaft between first and second `D` shaped pick tires mounted on a second shaft. A kicker is mounted on the first shaft along with the separation roll. The kicker flexes as it engages the stack when the shaft is rotated and, after it has rotated around, pushes media remaining on the separation roll back onto the stack.

Abstract: A sheet supply unit for use in an image forming device. The sheet supply unit includes a sheet supply roller rotatable in a rotational direction. The sheet supply roller has a circumferential surface both made of a resilient member. The circumferential surface has a first contacting portion and a last contacting portion. The first contacting portion has a width which increases in the rotational direction, and the last contacting portion has a width which decreases in the rotational direction. This enables a sheet to smoothly come into contact with and separated from the circumferential surface. Therefore, the sheet is prevented from being damaged by a sharp increase of pressing force. Also, redundant supply of sheets can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drive controlling apparatus used in a sheet supplying apparatus including a lift/lower sheet supporting device for supporting a sheet, a sheet supply mechanism for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device, a biasing mechanism for biasing the sheet supporting device toward the sheet supply mechanism, and a separating mechanism for separating the sheet supporting device from the sheet supply mechanism in opposition to a biasing force of the biasing mechanism, and wherein the sheet urged against the sheet supply mechanism by the biasing mechanism is fed out by the sheet supply mechanism, said drive controlling apparatus adapted to transmit a driving force for operating the separating mechanism from a drive source and comprising a drive side device connected to the drive source, a driven side device connected to the separating mechanism, and a play setting device for providing a play for not transmitting the driving force within a predetermined range between

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a support for supporting sheets, a feed roller disposed at a downstream side of the supported sheets and adapted to feed out the sheet by rotating while contacting with the sheet, and a separation roller disposed at a downstream side of the sheet supporting device in the sheet feeding direction and in a confronting relation to the sheet feed device. A slip device generates slip between the feed roller and the sheet within a predetermined range when the feed roller starts to rotate, thereby preventing the feeding of the sheet and rotating the separation roller in the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: The feed device includes: a feed tray for stacking a multiple number of sheets thereon; a feed roller for feeding sheets from the feed tray; and a frictional plate which is pivotally supported on a pivotal axle and urged by a pressure spring in order to prevent multiple delivery of sheets from being caused by feed roller. The pivotal axle of the frictional plate is disposed on the downstream side, with respect to the sheet feeding direction, of the pressure nip between the feed roller and frictional plate, and on the feed roller side with respect to the tangent line of the frictional plate to the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a sheet supporting unit for supporting a plurality of sheets, a sheet supply device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, and a separator which can be elastically flexed to change an inclination angle thereof when the separator is urged by a sheet fed out by the sheet supply device for separating the sheet which rides over the separator from the other sheets. The separator is disposed in an inclined condition so that a tip end of an abutment surface, against which the sheets are to be urged and over which the sheet rides, of the separator before flexed is inclined with respect to a normal plane perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction by a predetermined angle toward the sheet supporting unit.

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

Abstract: A paper feed unit of a printer which includes a hopper on which a large number of sheets of recording paper can be stacked. A paper feed roller comes into contact with a portion of the uppermost sheet of paper on the hopper. A separating pad is opposed to the paper feed roller wherein the sheet of paper passes between the paper feed roller and the separating pad when the paper feed roller is normally rotated and the second and after sheets of paper are restricted by the separating pad. A mechanism is provided for rotating the paper feed roller forwardly and reversely. The printer determines completion of a printing operation and controls the mechanism for rotating based on a printing command. The reverse rotating is controlled to rotate the paper feed roller by a predetermined number of revolutions when the printing command is not given to the successive sheet of paper after a predetermined period of time has passed from completion of the printing operation conducted on an arbitrary sheet of paper.

Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus includes a sheet receiver for receiving a plurality of sheets, and a transfer mechanism for successively transferring each of the sheets from the sheet receiver along a predetermined transfer path. The sheet receiver has an openable member which is movable between an open position and a closed position. The sheet transfer apparatus further includes a detecting device provided at a predetermined position in the transfer path for detecting a transfer state of each transferred sheet and for detecting an open/closed state of the openable member, and a controller for determining whether the detecting device is detecting the transfer state of each transferred sheet or the open/closed state of the openable member.

Abstract: A document feeder of the invention is formed of a sheet feeding tray for receiving sheets or documents thereon; a feeding device for feeding the sheets on the sheet feeding tray in order; and a feeding roller for feeding the sheets transferred from the feeding device in a sheet feeding direction and having at least one space extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The document feeder further includes at least first and second separating devices. The first separating device is formed of a frictional member having a frictional coefficient relative to a sheet greater than that between the sheets. The first separating device contacts the feeding roller and permits one sheet to pass therebetween. The second separating device is formed of an elastic member and has at least one tongue piece with a forward end. The forward end is located in the space of the feeding roller for separating the sheets between the forward end and the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet-by-sheet paper feeding structure includes a sheets separating plate and a pressure plate. When a pile of paper is fed into the paper feeding structure, a front end of the pile urges against the sheets separating plate, which is in turn pressed by a press leg of the press plate above so that the sheets of paper are checked from displacing forwardly. The press plate further includes elastic plates having elastic plate press legs that help keep the sheets of paper flat and stable during feeding. A lowermost sheet of the pile is in direct contact with a roller of a facsimile machine or printer or the like. When the roller rolls forwardly, it will only bring the lowermost sheet to advance forwardly while the rest of the pile is being checked by the sheets separating plate.

Abstract: An automatic bag-dispenser which includes a supply of bags (30) arranged flat in a stack (3), and two rotary devices (1, 2) which have parallel axes, are located adjacent each other and are covered with a non-slip material. The rotary devices (1, 2) rotate in counter-rotation at linear speeds which differ at their periphery. At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) can come into contact with one of the two end bags (30) in the stack (3) in the region of the bottom (32) of the bag (30) such that it can be driven between the rotary devices (1, 2). At least one of the rotary devices (1, 2) has a central part which is not rotated and opposite which devices (4) for gripping the center part of the bag (30) are active.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder mounted removably to a computer input device having a medium receiving and supporting surface includes a plurality of interconnectable modular assemblies for defining a medium path that extends from a medium input tray to a medium output tray via the medium receiving and supporting surface of the computer input device. One of the modular assemblies is a main chassis assembly includes an integrally formed main chassis shell having a substantially planar base. The input tray extends upwardly from the base and has a document receiving surface with a concave shape in both the vertical and horizontal planes to help facilitate proper sheet stiffening and alignment for sheet loading purposes onto the receiving and supporting surface of the computer input device. A paper pick and transport mechanism is housed in the main chassis and protrudes through a set of apertures in the output tray.

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

Abstract: A device for producing a scaled stream with a controllable scaled-stream thickness has a sheet guiding device for receiving therein a stack of sheets, a first transport means, which has a selectively operable or controllable drive, which engages only the lower surface of the stack of sheets and which is arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that the stack of sheets rests thereon with at least a first part of its weight, a second transport means, which is arranged behind the first transport means when seen in the direction of the stream of sheets, which is arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that, when the second transport means is operated without operating the first transport means, it will transport only sheets which have already been drawn out of the stack of sheets by the first transport means, and which is also arranged relative to the stack of sheets in such a way that the stack of sheets rests thereon only with a second part of its weight, the second part of its weig

Abstract: A sheet feeder, or a printer incorporating the sheet feeder, has separation pads for separating a sheet to be fed by sheet feed rollers from the next sheet and a roller spring which produce urging force smaller than that produced by a spring of the separation pad. Idle rollers are brought into contact with the separation pads by means of the roller spring, thereby preventing the lowering of the next sheet. A sheet reset lever is pivoted so as to return the next sheet to a hopper. As a result, the sheet sheets stacked on the hopper in an inclined state is fed one by one through use of a separation pad method without increasing force for driving rollers and a back tension.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having an edge aligned system always maintains a nip between an intermittently driven pick roll and a friction or separator pad. When a top sheet of a stack is being advanced by the pick roll, a first spring exerts a first force on the friction or separator pad to enable advancement and separation of the top sheet. When the pick roll is stopped, a second spring exerts a second force substantially smaller than the first force on the friction or separator pad but sufficient to maintain the nip between the pick roll and the friction or separator pad to retard.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus has a separation member which is elastically flexible to change an angle thereof when the separation member is urged by a sheet fed out by a sheet supply unit, thereby separating the sheet which rides over the separation member from the other sheets, and a load releasing device for removing a load from the separation member to permit the separation member to return to its original state after the sheet is separated by the separation member and a guide for guiding the sheet separated by the separation member in the state where the separated sheet is not contacted with the separation member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a feeding roller for feeding a sheet, a support shaft forwardly and reversely rotatable integrally with the feeding roller and a stopper disposed upstream of the feeding roller in the sheet feeding direction for temporarily regulating the feed of a sheet to the feeding roller. When the rotation in one direction of the feeding roller is transmitted to a locking member through a one-way clutch, the locking member is rotated to lock the stopper. When the feeding roller is rotated in the opposite direction, the locked state of the stopper is released.

Abstract: In a moving documents imaging system in which documents are separated and sequentially fed from a stack thereof to an imaging platen surface by a separator-feeder system comprising an elastomeric document feeding roller and a frictionally engaging retard member producing elastomeric wear particles optically contaminating the imaging platen surface, an electrostatically attractive shield member is closely spaced from and closely partially surrounding the elastomeric document feeding roller surface to attract and retain these elastomeric wear particles to the interior surface of the shield member so that these particles are not transported by documents to the imaging surface and may be removed by removal of the shield or the entire separator-feeder system. The same shield member may extend to be additionally closely spaced around an elastomeric nudger wheel upstream of the sheet feeding roller. The system may further include a simple triboelectric charging member engaging the document feeding roller surface.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism holds a stack of print paper in pressure contact with a paper pick-up roller. The paper pick-up roller feeds the print paper out of the tray one page at a time when the paper pick-up roller is rotated. The paper feeding mechanism has first and second supporting surfaces. The first supporting surface holds the stack of print paper from behind a back surface of the print paper. The first supporting surface is at a second angle .theta. 2 with the horizontal direction such that the print paper slides along the first supporting surface to the second supporting surface with the aid of the gravity of the print paper. The second supporting surface supports the stack of print paper thereon. The second supporting surface is inclined at a first angle .theta. 1 with a horizontal direction such that a leading edge of each page of the print paper abuts the second supporting surface and slides toward the rotating paper pick-up roller with the aid of a gravity of the print paper.

Abstract: Each sheet of a stack of media is aligned with a fixed alignment surface prior to being fed towards a process station of a printer by a single pick roll. During the first portion of its cycle of operation, the sheet advancing force of the pick roll, which is offset from the axis or centerline of the sheet, exerts a torque on at least the uppermost sheet of the stack to have one of its sides engage the alignment surface if it is skewed. When the one side of the sheet is not engaging the alignment surface when the pick roll is initially energized, the uppermost sheet's leading edge engages a resilient projection of an insert of a rib, which is offset from the axis of the sheet but farther from the alignment surface than the pick roll. The skewed sheet pivots about the projection, which is formed of a high coefficient of friction material, extending beyond the surface of the rib. During the remainder of its energization, the pick roll advances the sheet towards the process station of the printer.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided having a pressure plate for supporting sheets on a sheet supporting surface, a pick-up roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the pressure plate, a plate member for separating the sheets fed out by the pick-up roller one by one, and a separation pad provided on the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate opposite the pick-up roller. The separation pad protrudes from the sheet supporting surface toward the sheets to contact frictionally the lower surface of the bottom-most sheet supported by the pressure plate. The separation pad has an upper surface which is higher at a portion opposing the pick-up roller than a portion downstream thereof, in a sheet feeding direction, relative to the sheet supporting surface of the pressure plate, to urge an end of a sheet fed out by the pick-up roller toward the pressure plate.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a stacker on which a plurality of sheets can be stacked as a sheet stack, a supply system for supplying the sheet on the stacker, and an adjusting system for adjusting a supplying force of the supply system in response to a shifted amount of the stacker. The stacker may be shifted dependent on a weight of the sheet stack, but independent of the thickness of the sheet stacker. Alternatively, the stacker may be shiftable in a stacking direction in response to sheet size and weight. The adjusting system may adjust the supplying force irrespective of the size of the sheets.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus for low profile printer including a rotatable paper feed drive shaft which is mounted for rotation in a printer housing which supports a first belt drive pulley or roller. The belt drive pulley engages a continuous belt mounted thereon of rubber or other flexible belt material. A paper supply tray having paper is selectively biased against the belt with the paper in contact therewith. The opposite end of the continuous belt is mounted to a idler roller or roller on a rotatable idler shaft which supports the continuous belt such that the 1 portion of said belt between the drive pulley and the idler roller which is in contact with the paper is disposed generally, (the belt run) to a paper path. On motion of the belt at least one sheet of paper is moved out of the paper supply tray. An inclined paper separator is mounted below the termination belt shaft and is selectively biased against the continuous belt at a point on the belt between the drive roller and the idler roller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a replaceable media guide for use with a sheet feeding mechanism. The media guide includes a support plate, an edge guide projecting substantially at right angles from the support plate, and a first sheet engaging friction pad engaged with the support plate. The guide is designed so that the first friction pad faces a friction roller of a sheet feeding mechanism when the guide is mounted on the sheet feeding mechanism. A sheet feeding apparatus is also provided in which the media guide is inserted into the sheet feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet support, on which sheets of paper can be stacked with their front ends aligned on the bottom surface of the support. The feeder also includes two feed rollers for feeding one by one the sheets stacked on the support. An inclined surface extends downstream in the feeding direction from the front end of the bottom surface of the support, and inclines downstream with respect to the bottom surface. The rollers are positioned out of symmetry with respect to the width of the bottom surface. A side end portion of the inclined surface which is far from the rollers is less resistant to sheets of paper than the portions of this surface which face the rollers. Even a wide sheet can be fed without inclining with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a sheet container which contains sheets and is removably mounted to a main body of the sheet feeding apparatus, a separation device including a conveyer and a separation member are urged against the conveyer with a predetermined separating pressure to separate the sheets fed out from the sheet container one by one, and a pressure increasing unit for increasing contact pressure between the conveyer and the separation device above the predetermined separating pressure. The pressure increasing unit increases the contact pressure until the mounting of the sheet container to the body of the sheet feeding apparatus is completed so that, even if the sheet container is inserted into the sheet feeding apparatus vigorously, the sheets are prevented from entering between the conveyer and the separation member, thus preventing poor sheet separation.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus and a printer wherein an idle roller is brought into contact with a separation pad by a roller spring for generating urging force smaller than that of a separation pad for separating a paper sheet to be fed by a paper feeding roller having a D-shape side cross section from a next paper sheet; a restraining pin for restraining movement of the separation pad toward the paper feeding roller when the paper sheet is not held between the separation pad and the paper feeding roller is provided; a pair of conveying rollers are temporarily and inversely rotated after the leading end of the paper sheet has passed through a nipping portion between the pair of the conveying rollers and in a state where the paper sheet is not held between the separation pad and a circular-arc portion of the paper feeding roller so as to arrange the leading end of the paper sheet along the nipping portion so that diagonal conveyance of the paper sheet is smoothly prevented and the load acting on the fed paper shee

Abstract: A sheet feeding device (2) for separating an outermost sheet (4) from a stack (6). The sheet feeding device (2) comprises a stack support means (8) positioned in a first portion (10) of a housing (12), and a feed module (14) detachably mounted to a second portion (16) of the housing (12) and adapted to be positioned in contact with the stack (6). The feed module (14) includes an urging means (18) mounted on the feed module (14) by an infeed shaft (20) and a feed means (22) mounted on the feed module (14) by a feed roller shaft (24). A separation means (26) is detachably and pivotally mounted to the second portion (16) of the housing (12) by a support means (28). The separation means (26) is positioned adjacent to the feed means (22) so as to define a nip therebetween. A drive means (32) for driving the feed module (14) is mounted to the second portion of the housing (12). A clutch means (90) attached to the drive means (32) transmits an intermittent drive force to the feed module (14).

Abstract: A frictional separating member is provided corresponding to a position at which sheets loaded on a stacking plate are fed by a pickup roller. Formed in the position where the frictional separating member is mounted is a hollowed portion for embedding this frictional separating member. The frictional separating member is adhesively attached to the hollowed portion, with adhesive via a flexible sheet-like support. The sheet-like support is extended further from where the frictional separating member is provided. This extended portion is held as a free end which is not adhered but is positioned in a second cavity adjacent to the hollowed receptacle of the frictional separating member. A projection is formed in order to partition the receptacle cavity to which the frictional separating member is mounted and the second cavity so as to keep the handle portion free within the second cavity.

Abstract: A printer which records an image on a cut paper sheet must normally assure a margin region at the trailing end side of a record paper sheet in terms of the mechanism of the printer. Conventionally, the margin has a considerably large size. However, this invention aims at reducing the margin size as much as possible and increasing the image record region as much as possible.When a printer of this invention is used in a facsimile apparatus, a problem experienced with a conventional printer, which has a narrow image record region on a record paper sheet, can be prevented. Conventionally, when an image is recorded on a record paper sheet having the same size as that of a received original, the received image is determined as an elongated original image and is divisionally recorded on two record paper sheets, or is recorded on a record paper sheet larger than the received original. This invention prevents this problem.

Abstract: A sheet support tray has its bottom support wall formed with a lower level planar portion and an upper level planar portion. The upper level planar portion extends from a reference edge a distance so that only one of two feed rollers can engage its sheet support surface, which has a last sheet restraint pad on it for engaging the one feed roller after the last sheet has been fed. The other feed roller cannot engage a last sheet restraint pad on the lower level planar portion so that narrow width sheets can be fed without skewing by the one feed roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus which has a sheet supporting unit for supporting a sheet, a first abutment member for regulating a tip end of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit, a displaceable second abutment member for regulating the tip end of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit, and a sheet supply for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit An angle between a surface of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit and a sheet abutment surface of the second abutment member is smaller than an angle between the surface of the sheet and a sheet abutment surface of the first abutment member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus with a sheet stacking plate on which a plurality of sheets can be stacked, a sheet supply unit for successively supplying the sheets rested on the sheet stacking plate one by one, and a sheet regulating device for regulating a tip end of the sheet stack rested on the sheet stacking plate. The sheet supply unit has a rotary member and the rotary member has a cooperation portion for switching regulation and release of the tip end of the sheet stack by the sheet regulating device. Further, when the rotary member is rotated in a sheet conveying direction, the sheet regulating device is shifted by the cooperation portion to a position where the regulation of the tip end of the sheet stack is released.

Abstract: A device for separating flat objects includes an endless conveyer belt on which the flat objects are supplied standing on edge and forming a stack. A conveying device including a rotating conveying element picks up the objects individually on the flat side from a front of the stack by a run of the rotating conveying element which removes the flat objects crosswise relative to the stack. The conveying device includes a guide arrangement for displacing the conveying device through a stroke approximately parallel to a direction in which the stack is formed while bearing on the front end of the stack.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet support, and a separating unit against which the sheet fed by the sheet supply roller abuts to cause elastic angular displacement of the sheet and adapted to permit the separation of the sheet when the sheet rides over the separating unit. The separating unit is formed from a thin plated-shaped member which includes at least one aperture or one notch.

Abstract: A dam has a plurality of substantially parallel ribs with recesses therebetween. At least one of the recesses has a pad therein with its sheet engaging surface being interior of the sheet engaging surfaces of the ribs. The rib surfaces, which are engaged first by the sheets being fed, have a lower coefficient of friction with the sheets than the sheet engaging surface of the pad. If more than one sheet is fed from a stack to the dam, the sheets will strike the rib surfaces first and then the pad surface if not separated from each other by the rib surfaces. Since the pad surface has a coefficient of friction substantially equal to the sheet to sheet friction, this step function in friction helps to separate the top sheet from the next adjacent sheet.

Abstract: A sheet-feed device including: a hopper having a surface on which sheets are stacked; at least one sheet-feed roller for abutting a surface of an uppermost sheet of the sheets so that rotation of the at least one sheet-feed roller feeds the uppermost sheet in a sheet-feed direction; a wall portion formed at a front edge, with respect to the sheet-feed direction, of the hopper, the wall portion including: a slanting surface gradually slanting in the sheet-feed direction with increasing distance from the surface of the hopper; and an indentation portion formed at a position corresponding to position of the at least one sheet-feed roller and receded away from the slanting surface in the sheet-feed direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a sheet feeding table on which sheets are stacked, the sheet feeding table being vertically movable; a sheet feeding roller mechanism provided in a vertical movement path of the sheet feeding table, the sheet feeding roller mechanism having a roller for feeding the sheets from the sheet feeding table one at a time, the roller being vertically displaceable; a spring for urging the sheet feeding roller mechanism in a direction of downward movement of the sheet feeding table; a detector for detecting when, during the upward movement of the sheet feeding table, the sheet feeding roller mechanism is lifted to a predetermined position against the spring, to stop the upward movement of the sheet feeding table; and a movable member movable and lockable for operating a change-over mechanism for changing the raised position of the sheet feeding roller mechanism which is obtained when the sheet feeding roller mechanism is detected by the detector.

Abstract: A sheet-supply device including: a hopper for supporting a stack of sheets on a surface thereof and including a sheet guide for aligning a side of the stack of sheets into alignment with a sheet-feed direction; a rotational shaft disposed confronting the hopper and extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction; a first sheet-feed roller and a second sheet-feed roller provided on the rotational shaft and for abutting a surface of an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets so that rotation of the first sheet-feed roller and the second sheet-feed roller feeds the uppermost sheet in the sheet-feed direction, the first sheet-feed roller being disposed nearer the sheet guide than is the second sheet-feed roller; and a first collar and a second collar provided freely rotatable around the rotational shaft, the first collar being positioned substantially centered between the pair of sheet-feed rollers, the second collar being disposed between the first collar and the first sheet-feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism including a pick apparatus for selectively moving a sheet of media from a stack. A kicker is disclosed in several embodiments and serves to retain media on the stack. A cam is coupled to the pick apparatus for deflecting the kicker from the first position at which it retains media on the stack to a second position at which paper is allowed to move through the mechanism. The mechanism includes a frame and a shaft mounted on the frame for rotational movement relative thereto. The pick apparatus includes a pick tire mounted on the shaft and adapted to rotate therewith. The kicker is mounted on the frame for retaining media on the stack in a first position. The cam is adapted to deflect the kicker during a first portion of a rotational cycle and to release the kicker when the cam is in a second rotational position.

Abstract: In a paper feeding device capable of separately transporting paper without reversely rotating a retard roller being provided with feed rollers and retard rollers which separately transport, sheet by sheet, paper fed from paper feed trays by pickup rollers, a rotary drive unit for rotating the feed rollers in a paper transporting direction, and a pressing unit for pressing the retard rollers against the feed rollers. In the paper feeding device, a retard roller braking unit which supports the retard rollers so as to rotate together with the rotation of the peripheral surface of the feed rollers when the retard rollers are pressed against the rotating feed rollers, and which applies a braking force to the rotating retard rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus for an imaging device. The apparatus includes a drive roller, plurality of sheets of photosensitive material, a photographically inert liner having upper and lower surfaces and a container for storing the sheets of photosensitive material. Proper feeding of the sheets of material and a stable location of the liner are ensured by appropriate coefficients of friction between the respective components. The top surface (19b) of the liner (19) to the bottom surface (18B) of the sheets (18) has a first coefficient of friction and the bottom of one sheet (18) to the top of another sheet (18) has a second coefficient of friction, the second coefficient friction being less than the first coefficient of friction, whereby multiple feeds of the sheets are reduced.