Abstract: A sheet material feeding device includes a send-out means that is pressed to contact with the uppermost surface of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material stacking member to move the contact surface in a predetermined direction for sending out the sheet material, a lift up/down means that moves the sheet material stacking member between a feeding position and a separate position, a member to be detected that can move in the up and down direction when the sheet material stacking member moves, a detecting member that can output a detection signal when the member to be detected moves to a predetermined position, and a cassette that supports the sheet material stacking member and can be attached and detached from an apparatus main body. The cassette has an engaging portion for moving the member to be detected to the predetermined position when being attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A single sheet handling device (14a to 14d, 30, 200, 252, 270, 350) for the input and the output of rectangular single sheets (38) respectively into and out of a container (12a to 12d). These rectangular single sheets can in particular be banknotes (38). The single sheet handling device (14a to 14d, 30, 200, 252, 270, 350) has a feeding device with feeding elements for the sheet-by-sheet feeding of single sheets (38) and for storing these single sheets (38) in a stack (36) of single sheets in the container (12a to 12d). Further, the single sheet handling device has a separating device with separating elements for the sheet-by-sheet removal of single sheets (38) of the stack (36) from the container (12a to 12d). The feeding elements and the separating elements are arranged separately from the container (12a to 12d).

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeder, which includes: a sheet placing table; a rotary body which is movable and sends out sheets; a sheet placement detection portion for detecting placement of sheets; an upper limit detection portion for detecting that the rotary body has reached an upper limit position; a transport detection portion for detecting transport of sheets; and a control part which rotates the rotary body so as to perform sheet feeding operation regardless of a detection state of the upper limit detection portion when sheets are set on the sheet placing table, determines that a non-feed jam has occurred when no sheet arriving is detected, and stops rotating the rotary body by determining that the sheet feeder is brought into a sheet feeding restriction state, when sheets are set again on the sheet placing table and the rotary body is detected to be in the upper limit position.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus includes a feed roller, a sheet receiving plate, a lifting member, an urging member, and a cam. The sheet receiving plate is configured to pivot between a nearby position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed near the feed roller and a remote position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed remote from the feed roller. The lifting member is configured to pivot between a first position where the sheet receiving plate is in the nearby position and a second position where the sheet receiving plate is in the remote position. The urging member is configured to urge the lifting member from the second position toward the first position. The cam is configured to contact and move the lifting member from the second position to the first position when the feed roller feeds a recording sheet, and to move the lifting member to the second position again.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing unnecessary sheet feeding when power is turned on. A state of a drive transmission portion 14A provided to transmit the driving of a drive portion to a feeding roller when a sheet is fed is switched from a second state that the driving of the drive portion is not transmitted to the feeding roller by a solenoid 19 to a first state that the driving of the drive portion is transmitted to the feeding roller and keep it. The controller for controlling the switching of the solenoid 19 and the driving of the drive portion to rotate the feeding roller drives the drive portion for a time necessary to return the drive transmission portion 14A from the first state to the second state to make the drive transmission portion 14A be in the second state when power is turned on.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper housing unit configured to house paper at a first position, a bottom plate provided in the paper housing unit and configured to retain the paper, a moving unit configured to move the bottom plate between the first position and a second position, a paper feed roller configured to feed the paper retained by the bottom plate at the second position, and a paper feed control unit configured to cause the moving unit to move the bottom plate to the second position when a paper feed preparation request for requesting paper feed preparation has been input.

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 recording medium supply device includes a cassette attachable to and detachable from a main body and capable of stacking recording medium thereon, a feeding roller which feeds the uppermost recording medium to the main body from a leading end of the recording medium, a regulating member which is arranged forward in the direction in which the cassette is removed from the main body as seen from the feeding roller, and a projection preventing member attached adjacent to the tip portion of the cassette facing the leading end of the recording medium. The position of the lower end of the regulating member is higher than the cassette attached to the main body, and lower than the lower end of the feeding roller, and the position of the upper end of the projection preventing member is higher than the position of the lower end of the regulating member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a roller to apply conveying force to one of a plurality of stacked sheets, a separator piece to apply conveying resistance to the stacked sheets and to nip the one of the stacked sheets in cooperation with the roller, a movable member being movable with respect to the roller, a pair of spring arms configured to contact the stacked sheets at an upstream position along a conveying direction with respect to a nipping position between the roller and the separator piece, and a bridge to bridge between the pair of spring arms, is provided. The bridge and the movable member are slidably in contact with each other at least when the sheet feeding device is in a conveyable condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet feeding unit capable of feeding sheets stacked on a sheet stacking face of a sheet stack tray, wherein the sheet feeding unit includes a feeding roller configured to feed the sheets, a driving motor configured to rotate the feeding roller, a lifting member configured to move at least edges of the sheets in a direction of the feeding roller, a sheet-shaped member connected to a front end of the lifting member at the downstream side, and a counter member disposed opposite to the feeding roller to pinch the sheet-shaped member, wherein, when the feeding roller is rotated, the sheet-shaped member is moved to the downstream side to cause the lifting member to move, and when the sheets are brought into contact with the feeding roller, the contacted uppermost sheet is fed by the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: an attracting and separating device disposed above a leading end portion in a sheet-feeding direction of a sheet stack, attracting and holding an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack with electrostatic force and separating the uppermost sheet from the sheet stack, a sheet loading device carrying the sheet stack, and including a first bottom plate carrying a rear-side portion of the sheet stack and a second bottom plate separated from the first bottom plate and carrying the leading end portion of the sheet stack below the attracting and separating device; and a lifting device lifting and lowering the sheet loading device, and including a first lifting device lifting and lowering the first bottom plate and a second lifting device lifting and lowering the second bottom plate to move the leading end portion of the sheet stack toward and away from the attracting and separating device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet cassette, a sheet feed roller, and a separating blade. An image forming section and a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet to the image forming section are placed in a position within the width of a cassette body defined in a sheet feeding direction and above the cassette. The tip of the separating blade is placed in a portion of stacked sheets accommodated in the cassette between a front end portion and a rear end portion of the cassette. The sheet feed roller is placed in a position between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the cassette and apart from the tip of the separating blade toward the rear end portion.

Abstract: A medium supplying unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The medium supplying unit includes a cassette frame to be mounted to or detached from a main body frame, a loading plate to load a printing medium, and is disposed adjacent to the cassette frame to move between a supplying position and a standby position, and a locking assembly. The locking assembly includes an engagement unit disposed adjacent to the loading plate and a locking unit, the locking unit including a stationary end extending from the cassette frame, and a free end to lock the engagement unit if the loading plate is positioned in the standby position, and to move the free end in a direction to unlock the engagement unit by applying a pressing force so that the loading plate can move to the supplying position when mounting the cassette frame.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding cassette which lifts up and lifts down a bottom plate each time when a paper is fed, a recording material sensor detects that no recording materials exist when the bottom plate rises over a predetermined position. Accordingly, by measuring a period of time when it is detected that no recording materials exist during a sheet feeding operation, a stacking amount of the recording materials in a sheet feeding cassette can be detected.

Abstract: A sheet feeder mountable to a body of an apparatus includes a bottom plate on which the sheets are placed and a bottom plate lift unit including a bottom plate pusher disposed beneath the bottom plate, a rack member to rotate the bottom plate pusher vertically by moving horizontally, a pinion gear to move the rack member horizontally, a biasing member to pull the bottom plate pusher toward the rack member, attached therebetween, and a position detector to detect positions of the rack member and the pinion gear. The pinion gear is coupled using projection-and-recess engagement to a rotation transmission device provided to the body, and a quantity of tooth Z1 of the pinion gear by which the rack member is moved by the rotation transmission device, a total tooth number Z2 of the pinion gear, and a coupling division number S of the rotation transmission device satisfy Z1=Z2·(1/S)·N.

Abstract: A modular placement device for a feed station of a mail processing apparatus, wherein the feed station includes an ejection roller, has a housing that is separate for the modular placement device located upstream, in terms of the mail flow, of the feed station. The housing has a cavity therein to receive a stack of mail items, and a pressure element mounted so as to be pivotable and so as to be plugged into the cavity. The pressure element exerts a pressure force on the stack of mail items in the cavity, with a bottommost item of mail being pressed against the ejection roller so that the bottommost item of mail is propelled in the mail flow direction. The weight loss of the stack due to removal of the bottommost item of mail therefrom is counteracted by the pressure element.

Abstract: In a tandem media supply, two vertical stacks of media sheets are stored. The first stack is positioned on a lift plate that rises as top sheets are removed from the stack of media. When the first stack is exhausted, the second stack is moved by an actuator towards a position where the lift plate was loaded with the first stack of media sheets. Movement of the second stack displaces a biased gate to decouple the lift plate from a drive member that elevated the lift plate. The lift plate drops under the effect of gravity to a position where the second stack of media sheets moves onto the lift plate. Once the second stack is on the lift plate, a biasing force returns the biased gate to a position that enables the drive member to elevate the lift plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feed roller for feeding a sheet and a lifting plate for lifting the sheet to be fed to a feeding height of the feed roller. This sheet feeder further includes a wire for raising the lifting plate and a winding member formed with a winding configuration section for winding the wire. This winding configuration section is provided with a high-position winding section for a high-position side in a lifting height of the lifting plate and a low-position winding section for a low-position side. The high-position winding section is larger in winding radius than the low-position winding section. Accordingly, a sheet feeder having a simple structure capable of rapidly moving down the lifting plate and preventing impact of the lifting plate and an image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet feeder can be provided.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet feeding device capable of cleaning a pickup roller satisfactorily, which is downsized and reduced in the number of components. The sheet feeding device rotates the pickup roller under a state in which the pickup roller abuts against a friction body, to thereby clean the pickup roller.

Abstract: Provided are a sheet feeding device capable of preventing the occurrence of failure in sheet feeding and degradation in quality of printed matter with downsizing achieved and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet feeding device. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet storing portion 55 in which sheets are stored, a feeding roller 51 placed above the sheet storing portion, a flexible member 53 placed along part of the peripheral surface of the feeding roller with one end of the flexible member fixed to the sheet storing portion at a position below the stored sheets, and a pulling-up portion 300 that is connected to the other end of the flexible member above the sheet storing portion and that pulls up the flexible member to press the sheet on the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a tray, a driving mechanism disposed above the tray, a separating mechanism rotatably connected to the tray, and at least one resilient element to provide a constant pressure against the separating mechanism. The driving mechanism includes at least one roller to move one of the sheets. The separating mechanism includes at least one retard pad to separate the sheets and create frictional resistance between the separating mechanism and the stack of the sheets. When the tray has only a few sheets left, the separating mechanism is rotated and the frictional resistance is reduced.

Abstract: When a sheet cassette (10a) is pulled out of the body of an image forming apparatus (100), winding pulleys (40a and 40b) are rotated by the weight of a lift plate. An idle gear (47) also is rotated by a predetermined amount, so that the engagement portion (47b) thereof engages with a second arm portion (50c) of a torsion spring (50). Since a force exerted by the torsion spring (50) is set greater than the force that rotates the idle gear (47) by downward movement of lift plate (30), rotation of the idle gear (47) and winding pulley (40a) is regulated, and thus the upper surface of lift plate (30) stops in a substantially constant position with respect to sheet supply opening portions (31a and 31b).

Abstract: At a start of sheet feeding operation, a feed cam starts to rotate in association with rotation of a feed shaft and a feed roller starts to rotate from a time when the feed shaft has passed an idle zone, so as to send out each of sheets on a rising and lowering plate. After that, the feed roller is returned to a feed initial position by a return mechanism including a conveyance roller and a feed rotatable member. A cam curve of the feed cam reduces a rising speed as compared to a rising speed of a conventional rising and lowering plate, and reduces generation of noise at the time of collision between the sheets on the rising and lowering plate and the feed rotatable member. Thus, an image forming apparatus having lower noise level can be provided.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet accommodating unit which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body and configured to accommodate sheets, a sheet stacking unit which is provided in the sheet accommodating unit and can move while supporting the sheet, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, and a lift unit configured to move the sheet stacking unit toward the sheet feeding unit, wherein, before feeding of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit by the sheet feeding unit, the lift unit increases and then reduces press contact force between the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit and the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: A method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus body, a cassette attaching section, a media cassette, a release portion, a first ground conducting route and a second ground conducting route is provided. The cassette attaching section includes a media supplying roller. The media cassette is removably installed in the cassette attaching section. The media cassette includes a loading plate, a pushing up member and a plate holding portion. The release portion engages the plate holding portion. The first ground conducting route conducts static electricity charged on the media and includes a conducting portion. The second ground conducting route conducts static electricity charged on the media when the media is conveyed by the media supplying roller.

Abstract: A system for positioning and feeding media in an image forming device according to one embodiment includes a raisable lift plate having a top surface for receiving a stack of media sheets and a pick mechanism for feeding the media sheets into a media feed path. The system further includes a drive transmission having a single input, a first output connected to the pick mechanism for driving the pick mechanism, a second output connected to the lift plate for raising the lift plate, a first clutched gear connected to the first output of the drive transmission, and a second clutched gear connected to the first clutched gear and the second output of the drive transmission. The second clutched gear has an engagement opposite the first clutched gear. A single motor is connected to the input of the drive transmission for raising the lift plate and driving the pick mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device that feeds sheets by a sheet feeding unit from a sheet feeding cassette storing the sheets, in which positions of rotation centers of a lifting plate and a lifting plate pressing member are varied from each other in such a manner that a rotation track of an edge of an opening of the lifting plate pressing member and a rotation track of a vertical surface of an engaging member provided on the lifting plate intersect with each other, so that the edge is engaged with the vertical surface at the intersection position of the rotation tracks to restrict rotation of the lifting plate when the lifting plate moves upward before a lifting operation of the lifting plate pressing member.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to this invention contains a moving unit for moving a feed unit or a recording medium stacked on a stacking unit in a direction to separate them from one another or in a direction to render one in contact with the other based on a result of comparison between information, relating to the recording medium, included in image information and information, relating to the recording medium, input with an information input unit. With such the printing apparatus, a user can replace the recording medium stacked on the stacking unit in a short time without waiting for a feed unit or a recording medium to be moved, even where the information input with the information input unit differs from the information included in the image information.

Abstract: A paper sheet storage unit 101 is opened upward and forward. Holding members 30, 32 are respectively configured to be reciprocated, between a waiting position and a holding position, by a lifting and lowering mechanism 35. When the respective holding members 30, 32 are in the waiting position, such holding members 30, 32 can serve as a guide surface, on the back side of the paper sheet storage unit 101, for guiding a batch of paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage unit 101. Meanwhile, when the respective holding members 30, 32 are in the holding position, the holding member 32 is in contact with a top face of the paper sheet present at the lowest layer of the paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage unit 101, and serves to press the paper sheet downward.

Abstract: A pick mechanism according to one exemplary embodiment includes transmission housing and a drive transmission engageable with a drive shaft for receiving rotational force from the drive shaft. A pick axle has at least one pick wheel mounted thereon and is operatively connected to the drive transmission for rotating the at least one pick wheel. A first stop extends from the transmission housing for limiting the rotation of the pick mechanism about the drive shaft. A method for feeding compressible media according to one embodiment includes rotating a pick mechanism downward about a drive shaft, limiting the downward rotation of the pick mechanism to convert the pick mechanism from a compliant element to a non-compliant element, and feeding a first compressible media from a top surface of a lift plate in a media process direction with the non-compliant pick mechanism.

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 method for indexing a lift plate in an image forming device according to one exemplary embodiment includes driving a motor in a first direction to drive a pick mechanism for feeding media from a stack of media sheets on a raisable lift plate such that as media is fed the height of the pick mechanism decreases. When the height of the pick mechanism falls below a predetermined level, the motor is driven a predetermined amount of rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction to raise the lift plate in order to raise the pick mechanism to a desired pick height.

Abstract: A pressing projection of a paper feeding cassette presses a push-back mechanism to thereby release urging of a cam gear in a direction opposite to a direction of the paper feeding cassette. The cam gear moves in the direction of the paper feeding cassette. A cam of the cam gear rotates a rotation lever. The rotation lever rotates a pickup roller lifting and lowering shaft. The pickup roller lifting and lowering shaft lowers a pickup roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeding method includes supporting a media stack on an elevator, initiating operation of a pick roll in conjunction with a top most sheet, sensing whether or not the pick roll is operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, and moving the elevator, in response to the pick roll not operating in conjunction with the top most sheet, to overcome occurrence of a media handling failure mode between the pick roll and the top most sheet. The elevator is lowered, in response to the pick roll rotating but the top most sheet not arriving at a sheet arrival sensor, to increase a normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘fails to feed’ failure mode. The elevator is raised, in response to the pick roll not rotating, to decrease the normal force imposed on the top most sheet to overcome the occurrence of a ‘pick roll stall’ failure mode.

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: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming system that suppresses an increase in number of signal lines between an image forming apparatus and optional units, curtails communication time period and alleviates communication load. To accomplish this, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and one or more optional units removably attached to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus transmits a specifying command and an instruction command to all of the optional units by outputting the commands on a single common signal line. Each optional unit outputs acknowledgement status on a single common signal line in a case where an identifier appended to the instruction command is the same as an acquired identifier. If the identifiers are different, on the other hand, each optional unit outputs a value indicating whether it itself is currently performing an operation in response to acknowledgement status transmitted by another optional unit.

Abstract: A media delivery apparatus includes a media insertion portion and a media delivery port. A media guide surface is configured to guide media toward the delivery port. The feed roller is configured to feed the media toward the delivery port. The first pressing member is configured to press the media against the feed roller and the second pressing member is configured to press the media against the media guide surface. A driving mechanism is configured to drive the first pressing member. The first pressing member is moved from a waiting position and toward the feed roller and the second pressing member is moved from a retreating position to a side of the media guide surface interlockingly with the first pressing member. The second pressing member reaches a position at which the second pressing member presses the media against the media guide surface after the first pressing member reaches a position at which the first pressing member presses the media against the feed roller.

Abstract: An improved document feeder flag assembly is disclosed. The improved document feeder flag assembly allows single handed, on the fly loading of a document sorter. A method for loading a document sorting machine with a single hand, while the method of operating the machine is also disclosed. The document feeder flag assembly includes a baseplate and a pivot post attached to the baseplate. Further, the assembly includes a flag arm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the flag arm is attached to the pivot post. There is also a feeder flag having a first side and a second side, the first side of the feeder flag being attached to a second side of the flag arm. The document feeder flag assembly also includes a resistance device attached between the feeder flag and the flag arm.

Abstract: A remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus includes a loading unit that loads a sheet; a driving unit that lifts up the loading unit to a feed position of a loaded sheet; a feeding unit that feeds a sheet from the loading unit that has reached the feed position; a load thickness detecting unit that detects a load thickness of sheets within the loading unit based on a movement amount of the loading unit until the loading unit reaches the sheet feed position; a sheet thickness detecting unit that detects a thickness of a sheet fed by the feeding unit from the loading unit that has reached the feed position; and a remaining sheet volume calculating unit that calculates remaining sheet volume within the loading unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lifting an elevator plate of a media tray in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to print a print job using stacked media from one of one or more media trays, initiating lifting of the leading edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers, initiating printing of the requested print job from the one of one or more media trays, determining if the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than a predetermined amount, wherein if it is determined that the amount of stacked media in the one of the one or more media trays is less than the predetermined amount, initiating lifting of both of the leading and trailing edge of the elevator plate so that the stacked media may be received by the one or more feeder rollers.

Abstract: A media fixing device includes a stationary plate, a bar linking member, a main pressure plate, an elastic member, an auxiliary plate and a pivot rod. The bar linking member is configured for movably connecting the main pressure plate. The elastic member is configured for movably connecting the main pressure plate to the stationary plate. The pivot rod is configured for pivoting the auxiliary plate on the main pressure plate.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette capable of inhibiting a paper from being warped in a direction substantially perpendicular to a paper feed direction while minimizing increase in the number of component and inhibiting the paper from being plastically deformed into a curved shape is obtained. The paper feed cassette includes a cassette body storing the paper, a first lift member for lifting up the paper so as to bring the paper into contact with a paper feed roller in printing, and a second lift member for lifting up the paper so as to produce bending caused by droop of the rear in the paper feed direction of the paper due to the paper's own weight in printing.

Abstract: To provide a media separator including a lumped-media conveyer mechanism which receives lumped media to convey the lumped media in a predetermined direction, and a picker roller which separates the lumped media conveyed by the lumped-media conveyer mechanism, the lumped-media conveyer mechanism including an auxiliary conveyer body for conveying the lumped media to the picker roller. That makes it possible to reliably separate and send out the lumped media, when having shorter media mixed, and to achieve downsizing of the media separator.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a middle plate, a lifter mechanism, and a sheet-feed roller. The sheet-feed roller can move to a first position retracted from the sheet, a second position lower than the first position for feeding the sheet, and a third position lower than the second position. The sheet feeding apparatus has a position control mode in which when a sheet is fed, the sheet-feed roller is moved from the first position to the third position and stopped there, the middle plate is moved toward the sheet-feed roller by the lifter mechanism, the sheet stacked on the middle plate is brought into abutment against the sheet-feed roller, the middle plate is moved until a position detection sensor outputs the detection signal that the sheet-feed roller is in the second position, and a height of the sheet is controlled.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus for storing a plurality of sheets is disclosed having a storage chamber having a first transverse dimension, a platform located within the storage chamber for storing a plurality of sheets in a substantially vertical stack thereon, a feeder for feeding a top sheet from the stack, and means for moving the platform upwards to hold the stack in operative contact with the feeder, wherein the platform comprises a support portion having a second transverse dimension which is less than the first transverse dimension, for allowing sheets stacked on the platform to droop below the support portion in at least one overhanging region.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is provided. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet holder to hold a sheet in a position to be fed, a feed roller to pick up the sheet, a first lifter to move a closer portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, a second lifter to move a further portion of the sheet holder by one of a front end and a rear end thereof, and a coordinating system to move the first lifter and the second lifter in cooperation with each other to move the overall sheet holder in a direction to be closer to the feed roller, wherein an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the first lifter is greater according to a constant rate with respect to an amount of the sheet holder to be moved by the second lifter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of a media stack in an image production device is disclosed that may include detecting the position of an unfluffed media stack, setting a desired media stack height by changing a media elevator position using a media elevator control unit based on the detected unfluffed media stack position, determining if printing and fluffing has started, wherein if it is determined that printing and fluffing has started, detecting the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack using the one or more sensors, determining if the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below a predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the position of the transition between the fluffed and unfluffed portions of the media stack is below the predetermined threshold, setting the desired media stack height by changing the media elevator position based on the detected position of the tr

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.