Abstract: A system for conveying sheets of corrugated paperboard material or other materials. The system includes a processing module configured for transferring the material in a conveying direction, the processing module having a first nip point. A conveyor is positioned downstream of the processing module and also configured for transferring the material in the conveying direction. The conveyor includes a first support roller and second support roller having a first conveyor belt wound therearound, with the belt defining a deflector section extending from the first support roller to the second support roller. Similar to the processing module, the conveyor includes a second nip point. An adjustment drive can be operatively associated with either or both of the first and second support rollers and configured to adjust the position of the second nip point in or counter to the delivery direction.

Abstract: A printer comprising a media stopper element held in position by a rotatable shaft. The shaft comprises a lever which can be moved in order to rotate the shaft and move the media stopper element out of the way.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet storing portion storing sheets stacked on a stacking surface thereof; a feeding roller feeding each of the sheets by rotating while being in contact with a topmost one of the sheets; a support member having a support surface that supports downstream-side part, in a sheet feeding direction, of the sheets and, at the time of sheet feeding, being movable perpendicularly to the stacking surface while lifting the downstream-side part of the sheets with the topmost sheet kept in contact with the feeding roller; and a stopper member configured to come into contact with leading ends of some sheets to be fed by the feeding roller and to stop sheets other than the topmost sheet. The support surface of the support member slopes upward, with respect to the stacking surface, toward a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: A medium transport device includes a transport unit for transporting a medium, and a guide member disposed on a downstream side of the transport unit in a direction that the medium is transported. The guide member includes a first portion corresponding to the transport unit and a second portion having a shape different from that of the first portion.

Abstract: A paper stopper mechanism for paper-feeding apparatus, which has simplified structure and commonly uses one motor to stop papers. The paper stopper mechanism includes a rotary shaft driven by a drive shaft via a gear assembly, a stopper plate disposed on the rotary shaft, which is movable between a first position and a second position along with the rotation of the rotary shaft, and a resilient member positioned between the rotary shaft and a transmission gear of the gear assembly. There is frictional force between the rotary shaft and the transmission gear, whereby the transmission gear can drive the rotary shaft to rotate. When the stopper plate and the rotary shaft stop at the second position, the transmission gear can still transmit power to a pickup roller to feed a paper into the paper-feeding apparatus without any error.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, for transporting a sheet into a transporting path in an image processing apparatus, includes an elastic pad and a feeding roller for feeding the sheet. The elastic pad is bent and disposed opposite the feeding roller and applies an acting force to the feeding roller to separate the sheet from a stack of sheets by cooperating with the feeding roller. The elastic pad has a first side and an opposite second side. The second side is formed with a groove. The elastic pad is bent at an angle at the groove.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, in which a drive motor rotates a pickup roller, and a drive transmission portion provided between the drive motor and the pickup roller transmits a drive from the drive motor to the pickup roller. During sheet feeding, one of the drive motor and the drive transmission portion causes the pickup roller to perform an intermittent drive of iterating the drive and a stop, so that a sheet is gradually deflected between the pickup roller and separation claws.

Abstract: A paper feed device including a paper feed unit configured to feed sheets; a separation unit configured to separate and feed the sheets fed from the paper feed unit automatically one by one; a sheet guide member provided between the paper feed unit and the separation unit, the sheet guide member provided on a downstream side relative to a sheet feed direction rotatably supported at one edge thereof; and a guide driving member configured to change a sheet guide position of the sheet guide member depending on a sheet type.

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: A multi-axis moveable sheet separator for separating media sheets on a media dam having a mount having a plurality of pairs of opposed openings and a spring mount. The sheet separator comprises a spring mounted on the spring mount and a base including a sheet receiving surface having a plurality of lateral detents. Depending from the base are a first plurality of pairs of opposed legs and a second plurality of pairs of opposed legs that are shorter than the first plurality of pairs of opposed leg. When mounted in the media dam, the base compresses the spring. The moveable sheet separator may move with respect to a media receiving surface of the media dam in one of a translational direction, a rotational direction or a combination of both.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium discharge unit in a standing position; and a medium pressing unit that protrudes to the holding unit with respect to a virtual surface in the feeding-out direction of the recording medium by the nip roller of the medium discharge unit, opposite to the holding unit, and presses the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium discharge unit against the holding unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding member, a friction separation member, a retaining member, a downstream guiding member, and a biasing member. The downstream guiding member is arranged downstream of a sheet conveyance direction than the friction separation member such that its guide surface is inclined at a predetermined angle to a front surface of the friction separation member towards the sheet feeding member. A line joining an apex of a sheet guiding member arranged upstream of the sheet conveyance direction than the friction separation member and an apex of the downstream guiding unit is positioned towards the sheet feeding member than a contact portion of the sheet feeding member and the friction separation member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a media separating device of an automatic media dispenser. According to the present invention, when a skew of a medium is detected when the medium is separated and conveyed, a pick-up bracket mounted with a pick-up roller is rotated in a direction away from the push plate, so that the pick-up bracket is separated from the medium which is ready to be received in the media box.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided such that a pad pressing means for pressing a separation pad against a pick roller is formed in a reverse U-shape, and a pressing spring for pressing the pad pressing means to press the separation pad against the pick roller is provided on a central portion of the pad pressing means. The pad pressing means is structured so as to have a rotating fulcrum to be rotatable back and forth with respect to a rotating direction of the pick roller about a connecting portion of the pad pressing means for connection to the pressing spring. To ensure that a large load will not be applied to the entire pad pressing means when thick paper or the like is fed, a rotating arm may be provided so that the entire pressing means including the pad pressing means is rotatable about a predetermined position set at the rotating fulcrum which is the connecting portion for connection to the pressing spring.

Abstract: A paper-stopping mechanism of an automatic document feeder is provided. The paper-stopping mechanism comprises an auxiliary gear, a traction member and a paper-stopping arm. As a paper pick-up arm of the automatic document feeder is moved upwardly or downwardly, the auxiliary gear is rotated in different directions. Upon rotation of the auxiliary gear, the auxiliary gear is engaged with a rack of the traction member to drive movement of the traction member. Consequently, a transverse rod of the traction member is sustained against the paper-stopping arm or raises the paper-stopping arm. When the transverse rod is sustained against the paper-stopping arm, the paper-stopping arm fails to be rotated in the paper-feeding direction, so that the function of stopping the paper is achieved.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding sheet items has at least one circulatable feeding surface for frictionally engaging a sheet item from a stack and at least one separation surface for frictionally engaging the sheet item or an entrained next sheet item from an opposite side. In a lateral direction transverse to the feeding direction, the at least one feeding surface is located between two of the separation surfaces and/or the at least one separating surface is located between two of the feeding surfaces. At least the feeding surface or the separating surface has a resilient zone and a stiff zone more remote from a laterally adjacent separating surface or surfaces or, respectively feeding surface or surfaces than the resilient zone.

Abstract: A method of feeding media in an inkjet printer including moving a media stopper element for selectively allowing a sheet of media to advance along a media advance path in a media advance direction. A shaft is connected to the media stopper element for moving the media stopper element by rotating the shaft. The media stopper element can be moved via biasing to a first position for preventing the sheet of media from advancing and to a second position for allowing the sheet of media to advance along the media advance path.

Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into awaiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.

Abstract: A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.

Abstract: A recording device includes a feed tray for storing sheets, a first conveying path, an arm having one end attached to a pivot, and a roller attached to the other end of the arm. The roller feeds the sheet to the first conveying path. A recording unit is positioned in the first conveying path, and records an image onto the sheet. The recording device also includes a second conveying path between the pivot and the feed tray, and a path changing unit. The path changing unit moves between a first position, where it discharges the sheet, and a second position, where it conveys the sheet to the second conveying path. The arm moves between a third position where the roller contacts the sheets in the feed tray, and a fourth position where the roller is above the second conveying path.

Abstract: An information processing device includes an opening and closing member that is configured to be movable between open and closed positions, and an interference member that is positioned in a middle of an opening and closing trajectory of the opening and closing member. The opening and closing member takes the open position after the opening and closing member moves in a direction away from the interference member and takes the closed position after the opening and closing member moves in a direction toward the interference member.

Abstract: A separator device for separating flat articles one-by-one from a stack of flat articles and for conveying them downstream, said separator device comprising at least one flexible bag provided with a plurality of balls and co-operating with a drive member so that, by deforming while said flat articles are being conveyed downstream, it separates said flat articles one-by-one. A particular application lies in separating mailpieces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus enabling to prevent generating a dent at a retard roller. When a sheet feeding operation is started, a driving motor normally rotates, and a swing arm is moved to a first position to cause a retard roller to press to a feed roller by a C input gear and a C gear. Also, when the sheet feeding operation is finished, the driving motor reversely rotates, and the swing arm is moved to a second position to cause the retard roller to separate from the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feeding device and a detector. The feeding device is configured to feed a sheet to a destination. The detector is configured to detect the sheet at the destination. If the detector does not detect the sheet within a predetermined time after the start of preparation for a feeding operation by the feeding device, it is determined that the sheet is misfed. Further, the start of the feeding operation of a sheet is changed in accordance with the result of detection by the detector of the presence or absence of a sheet standing by at the destination.

Abstract: A feed assembly including: feed roller; support element for supporting feed roller; separating mechanism for facilitating separation of first and second sheets; and base with guide surface for guiding sheets and positioning wall for positioning separating mechanism; wherein engaging portion for engaging with separating mechanism is formed in positioning wall; separating mechanism includes: separator for separating sheets; first biasing element including first and second ends; seat including first and second walls; positioning element installed on first wall to be moved between first and second positions; and shifter for shifting positioning element; first biasing element biases separator; shifter holds positioning element in first position; and when feed roller is removed from support element, shifter moves positioning element to second position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, for transporting a sheet into a transporting path in an image processing apparatus, includes an elastic pad and a feeding roller for feeding the sheet. The elastic pad is bent and disposed opposite the feeding roller and applies an acting force to the feeding roller to separate the sheet from a stack of sheets by cooperating with the feeding roller. The elastic pad has a first side and an opposite second side. The second side is formed with a groove. The elastic pad is bent at an angle at the groove.

Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a separation member having a plurality of first separation portions that separate fed sheets one by one, and a turning member having an inclined surface, holes formed therethrough, and a plurality of second separation portions. The inclined surface is positioned to contact the fed sheets and turn a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of holes are arranged along a first direction that is a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of second separation portions contact the fed sheets and separate them one by one. Each of the second separation portions is positioned between a corresponding two holes, and each of the first separation portions is positioned to protrude from a corresponding one of the holes.

Abstract: A system for feeding and separating media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a pick mechanism having at least one rotatable pick roller for feeding a topmost media sheet from a stack of media sheets in a media storage location in a media process direction from an initial pick position into a media feed path. The system further includes at least one rotatable separator roller positioned opposite and spaced away from the at least one pick roller downstream from the initial pick position. The separator roller forms an open nip with the at least one pick roller. The at least one separator roller is rotatable counter to the media process direction for separating the topmost media sheet from an adjacent media sheet and returning the adjacent media sheet to a separation point upstream from the at least one separator roller.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus of the present invention having stable performance without occurrence of double-feeding and non-feeding regardless of a type of sheet, a sheet holding portion which distorts a sheet as restricting sheet movement in a sheet drawing direction by pressing the upper face of sheets stacked on a bottom plate of a sheet cassette is disposed to the downstream in the sheet drawing direction of a feeding roller which is capable of performing forward and reverse rotation and a sheet holding position by the sheet holding portion is set to be closer to the feeding roller with decrease of sheet stiffness.

Abstract: A sheet media feeding device comprising a media feed path for feeding sheet media; and a media separator for separating sheet media that are overlapping when advanced into the media feed path. The media separator includes a separation roller, a retard roller that is pressed against the separation roller and applies a torque load, and a media offsetting member for feeding the sheet media to a nipping part of the separation roller and the retard roller with the sheet media offset to the separation roller side.

Abstract: A sheet feeder is provided with a storing section for storing transfer sheets, a feed roller for feeding the transfer sheets stored in the storing section one by one from the uppermost one; a separation roller arranged to face the feed roller; a transport roller arranged downstream of the feed roller in a transport direction; and a transfer sheet guide for guiding the transfer sheet to the transport roller, wherein the transfer sheet guide includes a guide face formed to extend from the storing section along the transport direction of the transfer sheet on or in a vicinity of an extension of a line tangent to the feed roller and the transport roller on the side of transporting the transfer sheet, the guide face being formed in an area between the storing section and the separation roller.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, the linear coefficients of expansion of conveyance drive rollers and a linear coefficient of expansion of the holding unit are determined such that the amount of change in the outer diameter of each of the conveyance drive rollers due to a change in temperature environment is substantially the same as the amount of change in the interval between the first reading unit and the second reading unit due to a change in the temperature environment. The conveyance drive rollers are attached to a rotary shaft such that the positions of head portions of screws are alternately located along the axis direction of the rotary shaft on opposite sides of the outer circumference surface in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A sheet pick-up device of an automatic document feeder is provided. The sheet pick-up device includes a two-way clutch transmission mechanism, a sheet pick-up arm, a stopper and a linking assembly. When the two-way clutch transmission mechanism is operated to have the sheet pick-up arm move to a standby position, the stopper is moved with the linking assembly to be in a stopping position. Whereas, when the two-way clutch transmission mechanism is operated to have the sheet pick-up arm move to a sheet pick-up position, the stopper is in a non-stopping position. The sheet pick-up device has enhanced operating stability.

Abstract: A torque limiting roller includes a shaft, a frictional unit, a roller assembly, a fixing unit and an elastic unit. The shaft includes a first end and a second end. The frictional unit is mounted on the first end of the shaft. The roller assembly is rotatably mounted on the shaft and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the roller assembly is in frictional contact with the frictional unit. The fixing unit is mounted on the second end of the shaft. The elastic unit is mounted on the shaft, disposed between the fixing unit and the roller assembly, and contacts with the second end of the roller assembly and the fixing unit to provide a normal force between the roller assembly and the frictional unit and thus to provide limiting torque. A medium separating mechanism using the torque limiting roller is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: a friction pad held by a pad holder; and a separation roller that is in contact with the friction pad while in rotation. A separation nip formed between the friction pad and the separation roller separates a recording medium from a plurality of recording media fed into the separation nip, and the pad holder includes a convex portion that is provided downstream of the friction pad in a sheet feeding direction and at a middle portion in a first width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction and that is capable of coming into contact with the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording media separating device that separates recording media fed by a feeding roller and a hopper into a top recording medium and next-to-top recording media is provided. The recording media have been held in a feeding tray before being fed. The recording media separating device includes a movable contact separator having a movable contact separation surface that contacts leading ends of the recording media. When the number of the recording media held in the feeding tray becomes less than a predetermined number, the movable contact separation surface of the movable contact separator is moved to a separation position in a transportation path for the recording media.

Abstract: A removable media dam structure for a media input tray. The removable media dam structure is mountable in a front wall of a media tray and may contain one or more rollers for feeding media from the media input tray. The removable media dam structure allows for different roller configurations and media contact surfaces to be used for different types of media to be fed from the media input tray. In one form the removable media dam structure is mountable by a user without the use of tools.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an upper paper feeding frame that is pivotally rotated in linkage with a paper feeding tray pivotally rotatably installed to a body of the apparatus, resulting in a size reduction of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A medium delivery device comprising a medium insertion section into which a sheet-shaped medium to be delivered is inserted in a stacked state, first and second medium guide surfaces that are opposed to each other to guide the sheet-shaped medium to the medium delivery port, a feed roller that is disposed at a side of the first medium guide surface and delivers the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section, to the medium delivery port, a first pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the feed roller, a second pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the first medium guide surface at a position deviating from the feed roller, and a driving mechanism that drives the first pressing member in directions in which the first pressing member moves close to and away from the feed roller.

Abstract: A paper feeding device having a paper cassette configured to support a plurality of the papers in a stacked manner, a separating bevel having an inclined plane inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a supporting surface of the paper cassette and configured to separate the paper coming into abutment with the inclined plane, a pickup roller configured to feed the paper toward the separating bevel by coming into contact with the topmost paper from among the papers supported by the paper cassette and being rotated thereon, and a space forming unit configured to form a space S for letting part of the paper to escape in the feeding direction on part of the inclined plane in the area opposing the pickup roller in the feeding direction is employed.

Abstract: A sheet separating mechanism is disclosed, which comprises a frame (380), at least one set of transferring rollers (110), a separating roller (120), a reverse rotating roller (130), an eccentric adjusting means (310), a driving component, and an elastic component (320). The at least one set of transferring rollers and the separating roller are connected to the frame through a first rotating shaft (210,220), respectively. The eccentric adjusting means includes an eccentric plate (311) and an eccentric adjusting plate (312). The eccentric plate has an outer ring (315) and an inner ring (314) adapted to move inside the outer ring. The inner ring is connected with a second rotating shaft (230) that is connected with the reverse rotating roller. The reverse rotating roller is separated from the separating roller to form a separation gap. The driving component drives the first and the second rotating shafts to rotate.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a sheet picking mechanism (210). The sheet picking mechanism includes a rotatable picking member (212). With each rotation an end sheet (266) can be picked from a stack (264) of sheets. The picking member (212) has an outer surface section that includes a high friction portion (256) axially adjacent to a low friction portion (258). The low friction portion comprises an arcuate projecting portion that reduces risk of damage to a leading edge area of the end sheet due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A printer comprising a media stopper element held in position by a rotatable shaft. The shaft comprises a lever which can be moved in order to rotate the shaft and move the media stopper element out of the way.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus is provided, including a separation roller configured to apply a feeding force to a sheet, a pad assembly configured to pivot about a pivot axis in a direction close to or away from a supporting unit, and an elastic member configured to press the pad assembly toward the separation roller. The pad assembly includes a separation pad disposed facing the separation roller configured to apply a resistive force to a sheet, a holder holding the separation pad, and a first engaging portion disposed on a side of a distal end. The supporting unit includes a second engaging portion. The first and second engaging portions are configured to engage each other to restrict the pad assembly such that the distal end is not separated from the supporting unit more than a specified distance when the separation roller is separated from the separation pad.

Abstract: A manual sheet feeder including a pickup roller; a pickup arm; a sheet stopper; a rotation regulation member; a solenoid including a movable core having a straight line motion; a solenoid link rotatively coupled to the movable core; and a first spring to bias the pickup arm in a direction in which the pickup arm is rotated downward. At start of sheet feeding operation, the pickup arm is rotated by the first spring in a direction in which the pickup roller is moved downward in conjunction with rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in one direction, and the rotation regulation member is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the solenoid link caused by the straight line motion of the movable core in the one direction to release regulation of rotation of the sheet stopper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable a convenient removal a paper jammed between a pickup unit and a multi-sheet feeding prevention unit. The multi-sheet feeding prevention unit may be moveable in cooperation with a detachable paper cassette such that the multi-sheet feeding prevention member supported on the moveable multi-sheet feeding prevention unit moves toward and away from the pickup unit so that the pressing force between the pickup unit and the multi-sheet feeding prevention unit may be released to allow the jammed paper to be removed.

Abstract: As a guide member provided on a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed toward a separation device, a guide member having a sloping guide surface is used, and the aforesaid guide member is arranged so that an uppermost stream point of the sloping guide surface may be positioned at the upstream side of a separation point of the aforesaid separation device and a lowermost stream point of the aforesaid guide surface may be positioned at the downstream side of the aforesaid separation point.

Abstract: An open/close mechanism of a media feed path for feeding a sheet medium from a media insertion unit allowing for a reduced parts count and minimal installation space is disclosed. In an embodiment, an open/close lever and paper pressure member of a check feeding device pivot horizontally on first and second vertical support shafts. When the pressure member pivots and presses against the delivery roller, the back end of the lever is pushed by the pressure member, pivoting the lever thereby retracting the front end of the lever from the check feed path. Because the lever is urged in a pivot direction causing the front end to enter the check feed path, when the paper pressure member returns to the position not pressed against the delivery roller, the open/close lever pivots in this urging direction returning to the position where the front end closes the check feed path.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet receptacle and a pair of width adjustment guides. A cassette feeder of the image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of rollers, a plurality of roller holders, and a plurality of roller biasing members. When the paper feed cassette is mounted on a feeder housing, an upper end of width adjustment guides is configured to cause at least one of the roller holders to move upward in a height direction of the image forming apparatus such that at least one of the rollers does not come in contact with a topmost sheet of paper.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and device for singulating mail pieces during mail processing and sorting. A double inhibit mechanism, mounted opposite a feed belt assembly and having at least two degrees of freedom at its downstream end, can maintain contact with mail in the mail path while separating overlapping mail pieces and allowing only single pieces to pass thereby.