Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion for stacking recording sheets; a feeding roller for feeding the recording sheets from the sheet stacking portion; separating means for separating the recording sheet fed out by the feeding roller; a holder for holding the separating means, the holder being rotatably supported on a main assembly of the apparatus; first urging means for urging the holder toward the feeding roller; a preliminary regulating member, rotatably supported on the holder, for regulating a gap relative to the feeding roller; second urging means for urging the preliminary regulating member toward the feeding roller; a first regulating member, supported by the holder, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the holder; and a second regulating member, provided in the main assembly of apparatus, for regulating rotation of the preliminary regulating member relative to the main assembly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet material conveying apparatus is provided with retard levers for supporting a retard roller shaft, which are rotative centering on the central axis of rotation so as to press the retard roller to a conveying roller. Retard pressing springs are hooked to the spring latches of the retard levers, and the hooks of a slider. When the limiter gear of a torque limiter rotates, the tightening force exerted by a stepped spring against an inner race is caused to change, thus changing the rotating-load torque of the retard roller. A motor enables the limiter gear to rotate, while moving the slider up and down. In this way, it is made possible to change the rotating load torque of the retard roller, while changing the pressurized contact force of the retard roller against the conveying roller. With the structure thus arranged, it is attempted to make the life of rollers longer, and to prevent the occurrence of double feeding of sheet material.

Abstract: At the lower end of a sheet-supporting surface, there is provided a fixed separation plate from and into the upper surface of which a separating device elongated in the sheet feed direction can protrude and retract. On either side thereof, there are provided first movable separation plates that can be inclined below the fixed separation plate. Stopper members are urged by an urging spring so as to pivot to a position below the supper surfaces of the first movable separation plates. When a pivoting operation lever is rotated, an operation arm is pressed by a cam mounted to an operation shaft through an operating portion, a second link, and a first link to upwardly rotate the stopper members, raising the lower edges of the stacked sheets above the upper surfaces of the separation plates to maintain the stacked set state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning media that in an embodiment includes a plate attached to a wall along a pivot axis. A spring is attached to the wall and to the plate, and the spring expands to push the plate and the media to a picking location.

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

Abstract: An inclined separating surface includes an upwardly curved surface that is gradually lowered near the ends, from a middle portion in a sheet width direction as a top. The inclined separating surface holds leading edges of sheets stacked on a sheet holder. At the middle of the inclined separating surface, a sheet separating unit, which extends in a sheet advance direction, is provided so as to protrude from and retract into the inclined separating surface. With this structure, the leading edges of side areas of the sheets do no contact the inclined separating surface before the leading edges of middle areas of the sheets contact the inclined separating surface. Consequently, the leading edges of the middle areas of the sheets are surely applied with separating action by the sheet separating unit.

Abstract: A sheet take-out apparatus includes a pickup roller to send out sheets, a take-out roller to take out sheets sent out by the pickup roller, a separation roller pressure contacting the take-out roller to separate taken out sheets one by one by applying revolving torque in the direction reverse to the sheet take-out direction, a swing arm that is supporting the separation roller and swings according to change in the diameter of the separation roller, a detector to detect the position of the swing arm, and a controller to control revolving torque applied to the separation roller according to the detection result of the detector.

Abstract: The sheet feeding apparatus feeds sheet media between a feed roller and a separating member pressed into contact with the feed roller, and separates and conveys sheet media held between the feed roller and the separating member one by one by utilizing differences in frictional coefficients between the feed roller, the separating member, and the sheet media. The sheet media are separated and conveyed while periodically changing the pressurizing force of the reverse roller against the feed roller.

Abstract: A method and device for facilitating the replacement of a worn out section of a friction roller in a friction feeder with another section. The roller is fixedly mounted on a shaft adjacent to the feeder nip. In operation, the shaft is restricted from turning by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a locking member and a blocking surface. The shaft has an extended shaft section for slideably mounting the locking member, which has a polygonal outer circumference. When the locking member is located adjacent to the blocking surface, it is restricted from rotating. But when the locking member is slid away from the blocking surface, it can be rotated to cause the shaft to rotate, thereby moving another section of the frictional surface on the friction roller to replace the worn out section near the nip.

Abstract: A method for feeding sheet materials is disclosed, which is implemented by forwarding a plurality of sheet materials loaded on a loading plate with a rotating feeding roller toward a separation unit, for the leading edge of the sheet materials to be collided with a tapered face of taper member, and subsequently separating the uppermost of the loaded sheet materials through frictional force from the feeding roller after climbing over the taper member to be forwarded further to an image forming unit by way of a nip forming portion, while other underlying sheet materials are halted by the taper member owning to smaller frictional forces there between, thereby obviating the multiple feeding.

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

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention includes: a feed rotary member rotationally driven in a sheet feeding direction; a retard rotary member in contact with the feed rotary member under a predetermined pressure and rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction with a predetermined torque; and a pressure fluctuation restraining device for diminishing a change in a contact pressure of the retard rotary member for the feed rotary member generated at the time of drive transmission to the retard rotary member.

Abstract: A friction sheet feeding machine having (i) a tray for holding a stack of sheets, (ii) a driven friction feed roller for contacting a downward facing major surface of a lowermost sheet in a stack retained within the tray and pulling the lowermost sheet in a machine direction from underneath the stack, (iii) a reversibly driven friction retard roller vertically spaced in parallel relationship above the friction feed roller for contacting a leading edge and any exposed upward facing major surface of a sheet immediately overly the lowermost sheet so as to retard advancement of the overlying sheet, (iv) a first motor operably connected to the friction feed roller for driving the friction feed roller, and (v) a second motor operably connected to the friction retard roller for driving the friction retard roller, wherein the first and second motors are operably associated such that the second motor is operational only when the first motor is operated.

Abstract: A duplicate let off prevention device for sheets includes a first exit guide, a second exit guide which is spaced from the first exit guide at a distance that is larger than the thickness of one sheet and is smaller than the thickness of two sheets, and a pre-exit guide which is movably located adjacent a sheet storing device. Stacked sheets are segregated in a wedge-like configuration as they contact the respective guides. A stopper can stop the sheets when the pre-exit guide moves. The pre-exit guide is biased to exert a force to assist in the segregation of the sheets.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus, provided with a simple-structure and low-cost multifeeding prevention mechanism, comprises a sheet stacker for stacking sheets, a feeding roller for feeding the stacked sheets, a separation roller, rotating according to the feeding roller, for separating the sheet, a separation roller holder for rotatably holding the separation roller and rotating to cause the separation roller to move to a position being in contact with the feeding roller and to a position being released from the feeding roller, and a urge unit for urge the sheet stacker to the feeding roller to cause the stacked sheets to come into contact with the feeding roller, wherein, after the separation roller came into contact with the feeding roller, it causes the stacked sheets to come into contact with the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet separator. The sheet separator includes a main body, a frictional member, and an elastic member. The main body is rotatable with a slot being longitudinally parallel to the moving direction of the medium. The frictional member is disposed in the slot and contacts the medium. When feeding, the medium exerts a first force on the main body through the frictional member. Moreover, the elastic member connects to the main body and exerts a second force thereon. According to the first force and the second force, the angle between the main body and the medium is adjusted.

Abstract: A paper feeding cassette for an image forming apparatus includes an inclined supporter including an inclined plate fixedly disposed in a cassette body and a support plate for reciprocating, a separation guide including a fixing guide fixedly supported on the inclined plate and a moving guide movably supported on the support plate, and a reciprocating unit reciprocating the support plate. Accordingly, the moving guide selectively comes into contact with a sheet such that a friction resistance generated at a front end of the sheet varies in a degree in accordance with a type of the sheet.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a sheet material feed apparatus comprising sheet material stacking means for stacking sheet materials; a feed roller for feeding the sheet materials stacked on the sheet material stacking means; a drive source for driving the feed roller; a separation roller rotated according to the feed roller to separate a sheet material; a separation roller holder for rotatably holding the separation roller, the separation roller holder being rotated to thereby move the separation roller to a position in contact with the feed roller and a position apart from the feed roller; and return means for returning the sheet materials other than the sheet material separated by the separation roller to the sheet material stacking means, the return means being controlled by one-direction rotation for driving the feed roller of the drive source. Furthermore, a recording apparatus for recording on the sheet material by the recording head is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets supported on a sheet supporting portion one by one is provided with a separating and feeding portion having a sheet feed roller provided downstream of the sheet supporting portion for feeding the sheets, and a separation roller brought into pressure contact with the sheet feed roller, and designed to be rotatable in the same direction as or a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the sheet feed roller, and separating and feeding the sheets one by one, and a transport restriction guide provided near the separation roller so as to protrude toward the sheet feed roller for restricting the number of sheets coming into the pressure contact portion between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller, and the transport restriction guide is formed by a flexible member, and is provided so as to be pressed by the sheets coming into between the sheet feed roller and the separation roller and be flexible toward the separation roller side, and the

Abstract: Two belt type singulators are used in apparatus which feeds and singulates stacked articles which have varying thickness and shape. The singulators form tandem, spaced apart singulator nips with a transport belt. Each singulator belt has a downwardly sloped underside and moves incrementally around its rollers over time, overcoming certain applied resistive forces. The singulator belt has intermittent contact with the transport belt, when articles are being processed, and there is a resultant scuffing of belts which helps remove debris. Preferably, on off the forces which resists singulator belt motion is created by having a singulator pair with upper rollers, which are rotationally coupled but which have different diameters. The upper ends of the singulator belts project into the hopper which holds the stack and aid in the feeding of articles toward the singulating nips.

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

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

Abstract: A card hopper for holding a stack of identification cards that are to be printed or in other ways processed has an outlet opening on one end through which the cards are fed. The outlet opening is adjustable in size to accommodate cards of different thicknesses by using a control gate that is slidably mounted relative to the hopper and can be adjusted through the use of a cam actuator to change the opening size of the outlet opening. Manual operation is shown using both rotating and sliding cams.

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

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

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

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

Abstract: An inexpensive paper folding machine includes a paper feeder that reliably propels sheets one at a time in a downstream direction. The feeder includes a paper supply station that biases a stack of sheets against a pickoff wheel. The pickoff wheel propels the topmost sheet to a gate tip. The gate tip is comprised of a singulator that is biased against the pickoff wheel. A clearance is set between a singulator screw and the singulator. The clearance is greater than the sheet thickness, but less than two times the sheet thickness. As a sheet is propelled by the pickoff wheel from the paper supply station, the sheet leading edge enters the nip between the pickoff wheel and the singulator. The singulator pivots to take up part of the clearance. If a second sheet is propelled with the topmost sheet, the second sheet cannot pass between the nip. The paper folding machine further comprises a skew compensator that compensates for sheets that are misoriented relative to the downstream direction.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus for feeding microfilm jackets to a printer, one at a time from a stack of jackets. The feeder apparatus comprises a tray-like housing, a weight assembly and a brake assembly. The weight assembly includes a pair of pivotally mounted weights which rest on the stack of jackets to create friction between the bottom jacket and a printer feed roller. The brake assembly is used to hold back all but the bottom jacket, as the bottom jacket is transported by the printer feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device of the present invention includes a feeding mechanism including a belt and a reverse roller, and circular collars or similar spacing members adjoining the belt for spacing the reverse roller and belt. When a single sheet is conveyed from a nip between the belt and the reverse roller to a preselected position downstream of the nip in the direction of sheet feed, the spacing member spaces the belt and reverse roller with the drive of only the belt or the drive of both of the belt and reverse roller being interrupted.

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

Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.

Abstract: A paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The paper feeder applies vibration to paper sheets being paid out together to thereby reduce an adhering force acting between them. The paper feeder therefore reduces the simultaneous feed of two or more papers to a noticeable degree. An image forming apparatus including the paper feeder is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sheet feed apparatus including a scuff feed for reliably transporting sheets from different types of sheet stacks and different types of sheets within the stack. The apparatus comprises a sheet feed roller and a retard device in contact with the feed roller. A nudging device, contacting a paper stack, is used to feed single or multiple sheets into the nip between the feed roller and retard device. The feed roller, retard device, and nudging device all have a surface layer of 35-28092-N-GY-A, which gives them a much longer useful lifetime. A method for maximizing the efficent use of these rollers and of testing and using these rollers is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeder for an image-scanning device with a pressure-adjustable mechanism for adjusting the paper feeding roller of the automatic paper feeder is disclosed. A pressure from paper sheets stacked on a paper tray of the automatic paper feeder is detected by a paper tray pressure detecting mechanism and transferred to a roller pressure adjusting mechanism to change a pressure between the paper feeding roller and a paper separating plate and adjust a feeding angle of the movable paper tray.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically and adjustably feeding sheets is provided. The mechanism includes a paper dividing plate, a roller for picking the sheets, wherein a channel is formed between the paper dividing plate and the roller, and the sheets are driven by friction between the roller and the sheets to pass through the channel, and a controller having a first end engaged with the paper dividing plate and a second end as a fulcrum for the paper dividing plate, wherein when an unbalanced force from the roller is applied on the paper dividing plate, the paper dividing plate pivots on the fulcrum to adjust the unbalanced force.

Abstract: A device (10) for feeding sheets from a ream (22) comprising a main feeding roller (24) subdivided into a plurality of sleeves (32) which rotate in contact with an uppermost sheet (23a), coming from the ream, to feed it along a path (30), and an auxiliary separating roller (26) adapted for separating the uppermost sheet (23a) from the other sheets of the ream (22), wherein the feeding and separating rollers (24, 26) are both arranged on the same side with respect to said path (30) and therefore rotate in contact with one and the same side of the uppermost sheet (23a). The separating roller (26) is accommodated in a central seat (34) made between the sleeves (32) of the main feeding roller (24) and is arranged prevalently inside the radial working envelope of the sleeves (32) of the main feeding roller (24), so that the feeding device (10) has an extremely compact structure.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeder for an image-scanning device with a pressure-adjustable mechanism for adjusting the paper feeding roller of the automatic paper feeder is disclosed. A pressure from paper sheets stacked on a paper tray of the automatic paper feeder is detected by a paper tray pressure detecting mechanism and transferred to a roller pressure adjusting mechanism to change a pressure between the paper feeding roller and a paper separating plate and adjust a feeding angle of the movable paper tray.

Abstract: An inexpensive paper folding machine includes a paper feeder that reliably propels sheets one at a time in a downstream direction. The feeder includes a paper supply station that biases a stack of sheets against a pickoff wheel. The pickoff wheel propels the topmost sheet to a gate tip. The gate tip is comprised of a singulator that is biased against the pickoff wheel. A clearance is set between a singulator screw and the singulator. The clearance is greater than the sheet thickness, but less than two times the sheet thickness. As a sheet is propelled by the pickoff wheel from the paper supply station, the sheet leading edge enters the nip between the pickoff wheel and the singulator. The singulator pivots to take up part of the clearance. If a second sheet is propelled with the topmost sheet, the second sheet cannot pass between the nip. The paper folding machine further comprises a skew compensator that compensates for sheets that are misoriented relative to the downstream direction.

Abstract: An auxiliary roller is disposed in the proximity of sides of feed rollers and in the proximity upward from a separation pad. At the print time, the auxiliary roller is slightly projected toward the side of print sheet from roller faces of the feed rollers. The auxiliary roller is displaced as paper is displaced in a stack direction of the paper, and can be freely rotated. A hopper is moved up, paper is pressed against the feed rollers, and the separation pad abuts the feed rollers. Then, the feed rollers and a transport roller are rotated forward for feeding the paper to the transport roller. Further, the paper is sent from the transport roller at a distance equal to or greater than the length along the feeding path between the position of the front end of paper placed in a paper feed tray and the abutment center point of the separation pad and the feed rollers. Subsequently, the feed rollers and the transport roller stop, the hopper is moved down, and the separation pad is brought away from the feed rollers.

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

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

Abstract: A paper feeding system has a housing, a paper tray, a paper path positioned before a front end of the paper tray, a paper engaging mechanism installed above the paper tray, a paper separating mechanism, and a driving device. The paper engaging mechanism comprises an engaging arm and an engaging roller. The engaging arm comprises a first fixing shaft rotatably installed on the housing, and a second end installed with the engaging roller. When the engaging arm swings down to the paper tray, the engaging roller pushes at least a sheet of paper from the paper tray to the paper path. The paper separating mechanism comprises a separating roller and a friction pad installed respectively above and below the paper path. When two sheets of paper pass between a gap between the friction pad and the separating roller, the separating roller will move only the top sheet forward. The driving device is used to drive the engaging arm, the engaging roller, and the separating roller.

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

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus in which double-feeding of thin sheets can be prevented positively and a thick sheet can be fed positively. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus comprising sheet feeding means abutting against a sheet contained in sheet containing means to feed out the sheet, and a separating inclined surface for separating and feeding the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means one by one, wherein the separating inclined surface can be shifted along a sheet advancing direction with the sheet fed out by the sheet feeding means.

Abstract: There is here disclosed a manual paper feeder attached to an image forming apparatus including at least an image data receiving portion and an image forming device, and the manual paper feeder comprises a manual feed unit for supplying a paper sheet by mounting the paper sheet by a user; and a paper sheet release unit including at least a paper feed roller for carrying the paper sheets mounted in the manual feed unit; a frictional separation member for carrying the paper sheets by the frictional force while holding the manually supplied paper sheets between the frictional separation member itself and the paper feed roller; and a frictional force variable mechanism for changing the frictional force for holding the paper sheet between the paper feed roller and the frictional separation member.

Abstract: A sheet separating device having a mechanism for buckling or humping a top sheet of a stack and thereby separating the top sheet from an underlying sheet that may be adhering to the underside of said top sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism including a singulating assembly and mechanism for accumulating sheets in a stack adjacent the singulating assembly. The singulating assembly comprises a retard roller and a guard adjacent thereto. The retard roller has a first bearing surface at a lower position. A mechanism is provided for feeding single sheets from the stack past the bearing surface of the retard roller and beneath it. The retard roller is adjustable to move the first bearing surface away from its lower position and replacing it with a second bearing surface at the lower position.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically and adjustably feeding sheets is provided. The mechanism includes a paper dividing plate, a roller for picking the sheets, wherein a channel is formed between the paper dividing plate and the roller, and the sheets are driven by friction between the roller and the sheets to pass through the channel, and a controller having a first end engaged with the paper dividing plate and a second end as a fulcrum for the paper dividing plate, wherein when an unbalanced force from the roller is applied on the paper dividing plate, the paper dividing plate pivots on the fulcrum to adjust the unbalanced force.

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