Abstract: A sheet transport device has a housing member, a sheet tray, a transport path, a dispensing portion, a feeding portion, and a projecting member. Sheets are accommodated in the sheet tray. The sheet tray is detachably attached to the housing member, and is configured to be pulled out of the housing member in a first direction. The transport path is disposed in the housing member, and extends from the sheet tray in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The dispensing portion dispenses the sheets to the transport path. The feeding portion is rotated in contact with the sheet for feeding the sheet toward downstream of the transport path. The projecting member is configured to be projected and retracted with respect to the transport path near the imaginary line extending from a sheet nip portion in the first direction.

Abstract: A sheet feed device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an apparatus body, a cassette, a sheet conveying path, a pickup roller, a feeding portion, a lift plate, and a regulation member. Feeding portion conveys sheet fed from pickup roller downstream in sheet conveying direction while holding sheet at nip portion. Lift plate is changeable in position between first position and second position. When cassette is removed from apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in first position, regulation member protrudes to sheet conveying path on upstream side in sheet conveying direction relative to nip portion to thereby regulate entering of sheet stored in sheet storage portion into nip portion. When cassette is mounted into apparatus body and lift plate is positioned in second position, regulation member retreats from sheet conveying path thereby to cause sheet conveying path to become open.

Abstract: A method of using a separator roll positioner and separator roll rotational speed to correct media feed errors by angularly rotating a separator roll between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust the height of the separator roll with respect to a media contact surface or by varying separator roll rotational speed thereby varying the media sheet separation force.

Abstract: A sheet-handling apparatus is disclosed that reliably separates sheet-like articles and prevents double take-outs, regardless of the thickness of the sheet-like articles that are taken out. The sheet-handling apparatus includes a take-out portion to take out sheet-like articles; a feeding portion to feed the sheet-like articles that have been taken out by the take-out portion; and a separation portion facing the feeding portion across a gap, the separation portion being adapted to separate sheet-like articles that have been taken out by the take-out portion in an overlapping state into individual sheet-like articles; wherein the separation portion is adapted to elastically deform depending on a thickness of the sheet-like articles and vary the size of the gap.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, a pick-up arm, a restriction element, and a document stopper. The pick-up arm is movable between a first position and a second position. A rotating shaft of the restriction element is pivotally coupled to the pick-up arm. A rotating shaft of the document stopper is pivotally coupled to the upper cover. Moreover, the rotating shaft of the restriction element and the rotating shaft of the document stopper are not in parallel with each other. When the pick-up arm is located at the first position, a swinging action of the document stopper is limited by the restriction element. When the pick-up arm is located at the second position, the swinging action of the document stopper is no longer limited by the restriction element, so that the document stopper can be freely swung.

Abstract: A medium transport apparatus includes a transport member configured to transport a medium in a discharge direction or in a drawing direction, a medium loaded member configured to be placed a medium transported in the discharge direction by the medium transport member, and a movement member. The movement member is configured to move in a direction away from the transport member when the transport member transports a medium in the drawing direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of reliably separating and feeding sheets one by one without delay and damage to a sheet for a high speed of a printer or the like. A sheet feeding portion has a nip guide member having a sloped guide surface sloped so as to guide a leading end of a sheet to a separation nip portion such that a guide leading-end is biased to a feed roller with a predetermined distance from the feed roller. A support member supports the nip guide member not to recede from the feed roller when a thickness of a sheet bundle bumping into the sloped guide surface is smaller than a predetermined distance between the feed roller and the guide leading-end and supports the nip guide member to recede from the feed roller when the thickness is larger than the predetermined distance.

Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet tray on which sheets are stacked, a feeding roller which contacts a top sheet on the sheet tray and feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction, and a pair of intermediate conveying rollers which receives the fed sheet and conveys the sheet in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet feeding apparatus further includes a fixed slope portion, a sheet separation member, and an opposite member. The fixed slope portion includes a separation slope which is inclined in downstream of the sheet feeding direction as it is closer to the pair of intermediate conveying rollers, so as to abut against the sheet fed by the feeding roller and separate the sheet one by one. The sheet separation member and the opposite member have a separation nip portion which separates the sheet having passed through the separation slope one by one.

Abstract: A medium-feeding device includes: a feeding unit for feeding a fed medium in a feed direction, a first separating unit provided downstream in the feed direction relative to the feeding unit to separate a multi-fed medium; a second separating unit provided downstream relative to the first separating unit to switch between a compressive holding state in which the multi-fed medium is compressively held, and a released state in which compressive holding is released; and a contact part provided downstream relative to the second separating unit to switch between a protruding state and a retracted state relative to a feed path for guiding the fed medium. The medium-feeding device has a first separating mode, in which separation of the multi-fed medium is performed using the first separating unit, the second separating unit, and the contact part, and a second separating mode, in which separation is performed using the first separating unit.

Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a sheet-like medium accommodation unit; a supply member that carries a sheet-like medium; a pair of separation members that separate the sheet-like medium one by one; an image formation unit; a carrying path; a re-carrying unit to move inversely the sheet-like medium whose top face has been subjected to printing; a moving mechanism to move the supply member close to or away from the sheet-like medium and to move the pair of separation members close to or away from each other so that a path for the inversely carried sheet-like medium is formed; and a control unit to control the moving mechanism such that, when back-face printing is performed, the supply member is in a state of being moved away from the sheet-like medium and the pair of separation members are in a state of being moved away from each other.

Abstract: A sheet supply device includes a first separation unit for applying a transportation load to a medium supplied from a stored state with a sheet supply member to separate the medium, and a second separation unit disposed on a downstream side of the first separation unit for separating the medium passing through the first separation unit. The first separation unit is disposed outside an extension area of the second separation unit in a medium transportation direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a vacuum absorption variable-speed paper feeding mechanism and a vacuum absorption constant-speed paper feeding mechanism, two edge pressing wheels are installed on a edge pressing paper feeding shaft arranged above a constant-speed paper feeding wheel in the middle, the gaps between the edge pressing wheels and the constant-speed paper feeding wheel in the middle are smaller than the thickness of a paper board, and the distance between the two edge pressing wheels is adjusted by moving on the edge pressing paper feeding wheel shaft.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding apparatus includes a passage, a sheet-feeding roller disposed at an entrance of the passage, and a paper pressing mechanism including a paper pressing device and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism drives the paper pressing device to move towards and away from the sheet-feeding roller. The driving mechanism includes a power source, a rotating shaft connected to the power source, and an arm attached to the rotating shaft. As the rotating shaft rotates in a first direction, the arm actuates the paper pressing device to move away from the sheet-feeding roller. As the rotating shaft rotates in a second direction, the arm releases the paper pressing device, so the paper pressing device moves towards the sheet-feeding roller and presses a paper sheet upon the sheet-feeding roller.

Abstract: An image displaying apparatus includes a control unit and a display unit. The image displaying apparatus is connected to an image reading apparatus that includes a multifeed detecting mechanism. The control unit includes a display control unit that displays (i) an image of a medium which is read by the image reading apparatus and in which multifeed is detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism and (ii) a multifeed detected portion detected by the multifeed detecting mechanism on the display unit.

Abstract: A paper feeding mechanism includes a paper cassette, a feeding roller, a baffle, and a paper separating apparatus. The paper cassette stores stacks of paper. The feeding roller pulls a sheet of paper from the paper cassette and feeds the sheet of paper into a paper transport path. The baffle is located at a side of the paper cassette. The paper separating apparatus is mounted to the baffle and prevents more than one sheet of paper from being fed into the paper transport path at a time.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit to acquire an interval of the document between a trailing edge of a preceding document and a leading edge of a next document conveyed through the conveyance path, and a reading unit to execute a first reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and a second reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a second conveyance speed that is lower than the first conveyance speed, wherein the reading unit executes the second reading mode after the first reading mode when the interval of the document is less than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A feed assembly configured to feed a sheet, including: a feed roller configured to convey the sheet; a support element configured to rotatably and detachably support the feed roller; a base including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet; a frictional element configured to generate a frictional force on the sheet guided by the guide surface; and an elastic member provided between the frictional element and the base; wherein a recess is defined in the guide surface to accommodate the frictional element; and the elastic member causes the frictional element to project from the guide surface when the feed roller is detached from the support element.

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

Abstract: A paper tray for a printer includes a bottom plate and a rear plate. A plurality of papers is placed on the bottom plate. The plurality of papers includes a first paper and a second paper. The first paper is located on a topmost portion of the plurality of papers, and the second paper is located adjacent to the first paper and below the first paper. A plurality of bent pieces is secured on the rear plate. Each bent piece includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is placed on the rear plate. An obtuse angle is defined between the first piece and the second piece. The second pieces of the plurality of bents pieces are configured to allow the first paper sliding there over, and block the second paper sliding there over.

Abstract: A conveyor device includes a conveyor including a conveyor roller to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a cover movable between a closed position where the cover covers the conveyor roller and an open position where the cover is separated from the conveyor roller. The conveyor further includes a pinch roller urged toward the conveyor roller when the cover is in the closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, the conveyor roller and the pinch roller define a nip point along the conveyance path. The conveyor device includes a holder supported by the cover and to rotatably support the pinch roller and an urging member disposed between the cover and the holder to move the holder away from the cover to urge the pinch roller toward the conveyor roller when the cover is in the closed position.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes: a cassette including a sheet container; a sheet conveyance path along which a sheet is conveyed in a sheet conveyance direction extending along a direction of loading/unloading of the cassette into/from an apparatus body; a paper feed roller configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction; an opposed member, opposite to the paper feed roller, forming together with the paper feed roller a paper feed nip where the sheet enters; and a restricting member configured to, in a first state where the cassette is unloaded, close off a portion of the sheet conveyance path upstream of the paper feed nip in the sheet conveyance direction to restrict the sheet in the sheet container from entering the paper feed nip and, in a second state where the cassette is loaded and the paper feed roller is ready to convey the sheet, open the sheet conveyance path.

Abstract: A sheet separation transport mechanism according to the present disclosure includes a sheet feed member, a separation member, a support member, a sheet member and a concave portion. The sheet feed member feeds a sheet in a transport direction. The separation member is pressed onto the sheet feed member. The support member includes: a separation member retaining portion; and a guide portion which guides lead edges of a plurality of sheets to the downstream side along the inclined surface. The sheet member is adhered from the guide portion so as to overlap the separation member and has a frictional coefficient lower than the separation member. The concave portion is formed in the shape of a groove in a position of the guide portion where the sheet member is adhered such that the depth of the concave portion is greater than the thickness of the sheet member.

Abstract: Sheet conveying path extends from sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed roller is disposed, in sheet conveying path, facing sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed pad is disposed facing circumferential surface of sheet feed roller, and has pad surface that forms, between pad surface and circumferential surface, nip portion into which sheet is conveyed. Support member has support surface to which sheet feed pad is fixed and contact surface located upstream of support surface in sheet conveying direction so as to be higher than pad surface, and configured to make contact with leading end of sheet fed from sheet stacking portion. Rib portions are disposed in support member. Rib portions are disposed on both side portions, in sheet width direction intersecting sheet conveying direction, of support surface, and have inclined surfaces that extend so as to lower front end portions thereof, respectively, from contact surface toward downstream side in sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a grounding member arranged to a housing and electrically grounded, a sheet loading part arranged to the housing and loading a sheet, a sheet conveying path extending from the sheet loading part and conveying the sheet in a conveying direction, a sheet feeding part and a swinging member. The sheet feeding part is arranged facing to the sheet loading part and conveys the sheet on the sheet loading part in the conveying direction. The electro-conductive swinging member is swingably supported to the housing and swung in a first direction by bring the sheet from the sheet loading part into contact with the swinging member. The swinging member includes a first contact part receiving the contact of the sheet and a second contact part coming into contact with the grounding member accompanying to the swing in the first direction of the swinging member.

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

Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.

Abstract: A mechanism enables efficiently reducing the size of a check feeding device for separating and feeding checks one at a time. In one embodiment, a check separating and feeding mechanism uses a single drive motor to drive a feed roller, pressure member, and separation roller. When the drive motor turns in a second direction, torque is transferred through a second one-way clutch mechanism to both rollers. When the drive motor turns in this direction, the first one-way clutch mechanism disengages the drive motor from the drive power transfer path to the pressure member, and a tension spring pulls the pressure member in the direction pressing the checks to the feed roller. When the drive motor turns in an opposite first direction, the torque of the drive motor returns the pressure member to the standby position, drive power is not transferred to the rollers, and the rollers do not turn.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus including: a first member having a first sliding surface formed into a comb shape along the direction of movement of an object; a second member having a second sliding surface formed into a comb shape opposing the first sliding surface of the first member with the intermediary of a viscous member, the second member sliding between a first position which causes a restricting member to be positioned at a restricting position and a second position which causes the restricting member to be positioned at the releasing position in a state of engaging the restricting member; and a urging device configured to apply an urging force which causes the second member to slide from the first position to the second position, the urging device being arranged at least partly between tips and roots of teeth of the comb shape of the second sliding surface.

Abstract: A paper conveying device includes an intermediate transfer member and a paper conveying member driven so as to rotate at the same rotational speed, and an adjusting device. On an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member, an elastic layer is provided. An axes distance between the intermediate transfer member and the paper conveying member is adjusted by the adjusting device so that drive torque for rotating the intermediate transfer member and the paper conveying member at the same rotational speed becomes smaller than a target set value. Accordingly, occurrence of the shear is suppressed without changing a rotational speed ratio of rollers arranged opposite to each other.

Abstract: An automatic feeding apparatus includes a body and a sheet passage, a sheet-separation mechanism and a sheet-input assisting mechanism in the body. The sheet-separation mechanism is configured to separate sheets. The sheet-input assisting mechanism includes a frame, a presser, a clutch gear and a driving device. The clutch gear, driven by the driving device, is displaceable on a guide groove of the frame between a first position and a second position. The clutch gear is rotated rearward to be engaged with a gear rack of the presser at the first position and thereby drive the presser to move in a first direction. The clutch gear is rotated forward to move to the second position and disengaged from the gear rack of the presser. After being released, the presser moves in a second direction to press a sheet in front of a nip portion of the sheet-separation mechanism.

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

Abstract: A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a structure to prevent print defects caused by residual paper. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a paper feeding cassette separably mounted to the main body, a pickup member to pick up paper from the paper feeding cassette, and a paper separating member including a plurality of links to apply pressure to the pickup member when the paper feeding cassette is mounted to the main body and to release the pressure applied to the pickup member when the paper feeding cassette is separated from the main body. The paper separating member includes a first link to be pressed by the paper feeding cassette, a second link provided with a separating unit to press the pickup member, and an elastic member between the first link and the second link to allow the first link to press the second link.

Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a feed tray that has a loading surface and is swingable around a first swing axis parallel to a width direction of a document sheet placed on the feed tray between a first position where the loading surface is directed downward above a housing and a second position where the loading surface is directed upward at an upstream side relative to the housing in the feeding direction, a first opening formed between the housing and the feed tray placed in the second position, the first opening being configured such that an inside of the housing communicates with an outside of the housing therethrough, a second opening formed in a position higher than a power supply unit and lower than the first opening inside the housing, and a communication path through which the first opening communicates with the second opening.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device to convey a sheet in a sheet path is provided. The sheet conveying device includes a separator roller, which is arranged to be rotatably in contact with the sheet to apply conveying force to the sheet, a pad assembly including a separator pad, which is arranged to be in contact with the sheet stack to apply convey resistance to the sheet stack, and a holder, which is swingably attached to a base member and holds the separator pad, the base member being in a fixed position with respect to the separator roller, a spring, which urges the pad assembly toward the separator roller, and a slidable member, which is attached to the pad assembly to be integrally movable with the pad assembly and to be slidably in contact with a first slidable section in the base member.

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

Abstract: A sheet feeder, including; a sheet holding portion; a sheet supply portion; an inclined member having an inclined surface and configured to guide each sheet in a sheet feed direction; and separation protrusions which are provided on the inclined member and each of which protrudes from the inclined surface such that a distal end thereof is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than a proximal end thereof, wherein each separation protrusion has a contact surface and said each sheet comes into contact with one or more contact surfaces of the separation protrusions, and wherein each separation protrusion protrudes from the inclined surface such that the distal end of one of the separation protrusions is located more downstream in the sheet feed direction than the proximal end of another of the separation protrusions that is located immediately downstream of the one of the separation protrusions in the sheet feed direction.

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

Abstract: A sheets-separating module and a multifunction printer using the same are provided. The sheets-separating module includes a body, an elastic element and a plurality of sheets-separating structures, in which the body has an opening, the elastic element is disposed in the opening of the body and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the elastic element connects the body, the second end thereof is a free end, and a section modulus of the elastic element is gradually descending from the second end to the first end. The sheets-separating structures are disposed on the elastic element.

Abstract: A cut-sheet feeder has a feed belt, a belt contact amount adjuster, and an inclined guide member. The belt makes contact with the lowermost cut sheet of a stack of cut sheets and feeds forward the cut sheet. The belt contact amount adjuster supports the stack of cut sheets while lifting the read portion thereof from the feed belt. The inclined guide member protrudes further upward than the belt contact amount adjuster and has a guide surface inclined forwardly downward. The guide surface lifts up the rear end portion of the stack of cut sheets and shifts forward the lowermost cut sheet. The position of the adjuster in the front-rear direction and the position of the guide member in the front-rear direction can be adjusted individually.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device that conveys a sheet includes a sheet conveying path, a conveying mechanism, and a guiding plate. The sheet conveying path is set to include a nonlinear portion. The conveying mechanism is arranged in the sheet conveying path to convey a sheet. The guiding plate is arranged in the nonlinear portion of the sheet conveying path and has a guiding plane along which the sheet is guided. The guiding plate includes a thinned portion in an area of the guiding plane against which a leading end of the sheet being conveyed along the sheet conveying path collides so that the thinned portion suppresses high frequency components of an impulsive sound produced by the collision.

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

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

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a holder, a friction member, a rotary conveyance member having an outer circumferential surface and forming a nip area between the outer circumferential surface thereof and the friction member, the rotary conveyance member configured to rotate while contacting the friction member, and separate and convey multiple sheet-like materials one by one at the nip area, and a pair of guides configured to lift an underside of each of the sheet-like materials at a portion facing the friction member, the pair of guides disposed upstream from the nip area in a sheet conveying direction, outside both ends in an axial direction of the rotary conveyance member, separate from the nip area from the axial direction of the rotary conveyance member, and being overlaid with the outer circumferential surface of the rotary conveyance member.

Abstract: A separator assembly is disclosed herein. An example includes a base to mount to a printing device and a wall supported by the base. The example also includes a singulation assembly adjacent the wall to separate a medium from a media stack and a ramp adjacent the singulation assembly to guide the medium from the media stack to a feed assembly. The example further includes a corner relief feature on either side of and below the ramp into which corners of the medium may drop and travel below a remainder of the medium as the medium is guided from the media stack to the feed assembly and a guide adjacent each corner relief feature to lift the corners of the medium out of the corner relief features before the medium enters the feed assembly. A media handling assembly is also disclosed herein as is a method of media handling.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet housing unit that houses sheets in a stacked manner; a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to a predetermined conveyance target position; a sheet pick-up unit that picks up outermost one of the sheets housed in the sheet housing unit for conveying to a sheet conveying unit side; a separating and conveying unit that separates the next sheet from the outermost sheet, and conveys only the outermost sheet to the sheet conveying unit; and a sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit that detects presence or absence of movement of a sheet in the conveying direction. The sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit is arranged at a position at which the outermost sheet and the next sheet may overlap each other, and a separation portion is located downstream of the pick-up position and is an area where a separation action of the separating and conveying unit works.

Abstract: The feeding device includes a storage unit, a feeding roller which rotates while contacting the uppermost sheet stored in the storage unit to move the uppermost sheet forward, a separation plate disposed forward in the movement direction of the uppermost sheet and provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the movement direction, and a separation auxiliary member is disposed along the inclined surface of the separation plate and operated by a force received when the uppermost sheet comes in contact. The separation auxiliary member includes a rotation shaft parallel with the inclined surface, and a first resistance part rotating about the rotation shaft as the center from an initial position projecting from the inclined surface to an embedded position embedded in the inclined surface as a friction coefficient of the first resistance part is higher than that of the inclined surface and the received force is increased.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a sheet tray, a conveying unit, a reading unit, a detecting unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys the sheet along a conveying path in a conveying direction. The reading unit reads the sheet at a reading position in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The control unit controls the reading unit to start reading the sheet when the detection unit detects that a leading edge of a sheet reaches a position upstream of the reading position by a first distance. The control unit controls the reading unit to stop reading the sheet when the detection unit detects that a trailing edge of the sheet reaches a position downstream of the reading position by a second distance. The first distance and the second distance are determined according to the size of the sheet.

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

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