Abstract: A document conveying apparatus comprises an inlet channel for receiving at least one document. A drive member is positioned for engagement with at least one document in the channel and is operable to move at least one document from the channel. An elongated member is associated with the channel and is movable to a first position towards the drive member which biases the at least one document towards the drive member. One portion of the elongated member is movable to a second position away from the drive member so as to allow insertion of at least one additional document into the inlet channel. Another portion of the elongated member is movable towards the drive member to bias the at least one document in the inlet channel into engagement with the drive member when the one portion of the elongated member is moved to the second position.

Abstract: A feeding device is provided including a stacking portion on which a plurality of recording media are stacked, a feed roller that feeds the recording medium stacked on the stacking portion, biasing means for applying biasing force to either the stacking portion or the feed roller to thereby decrease the distance between the stacking portion and the feed roller, and biasing force adjustment means for adjusting the magnitude of the biasing force of the biasing means.

Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. The sheet feeder can include a supply tray that holds a stack of sheets, a separation element disposed at an end of the supply tray, and configured to contact and apply a resistive force to a sheet in the stack, and a separation roller disposed facing the separation element, and configured to rotate, contact and apply a feeding force to an uppermost sheet in the stack. The sheet feeder may also include a pressing plate pivotally attached to the supply tray at an end remote from the separation element, and configured to move toward the separation element as a number of sheets in the stack decreases, and a pressure applying element that increases a contact surface pressure between the separation element and the uppermost sheet in response to the pressing plate moving toward the separation element.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus includes a pair of transporting rollers, a table and a table drive mechanism. The pair of transporting rollers consist of a driving roller and a driven roller. On the table are stacked a plurality of recording media to be supplied to the pair of transporting rollers. The table drive mechanism moves the table between two positions of a transport position and a standby position. The table drive mechanism descends the table to the standby position, from the transport position, after the uppermost recording medium of the recording media stacked on the table at the transport position is sandwiched between the driving roller and the driven roller.

Abstract: A paper grabbing assembly is provided. The paper grabbing assembly includes: a base with a pivot seat disposed thereon, wherein the shaft is pivotally disposed on the pivot seat; a bearing plate, pivotally disposed on the base corresponding to the paper grabbing roller; a driven member, connected to one end of the shaft; a cam member and an elastic member, rotatablely fitted on the shaft. The elastic member frictionally contacts the cam member and the driven member respectively, such that the driven member rotates the cam member via the elastic member, for pressing the bearing plate away from the paper grabbing roller. Further, when the cam member is stopped, the elastic member slides relative to the cam member, such that the driven member may not be affected by the cam member, but continue driving the paper grabbing roller to rotate.

Abstract: A medium feeding apparatus includes: a pivot unit, supporting a medium and pivoting to cause the medium to come in contact with and to separate from a feeding unit; a first guide unit, guiding one side end of the medium supported on the pivot unit; a second guide unit, guiding the other side end of the medium; a first moving unit, moving the first guide unit to come in contact with and to separate from the one side end of the medium in conjunction with the pivoting motion of the pivot unit; and a second moving unit, moving the second guide unit to come in contact with and to separate from the other side end of the fed medium in conjunction with the movement of the first guide unit.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a paper tray, a pick-up roller and a sheet-lifting mechanism. A plurality of sheets including a first sheet and a second sheet disposed above the first sheet is stored in the paper tray. The paper tray includes a bottom plate in contact with the first sheet, and a stopper for stopping leading edges of the first sheet and the second sheet. The pick-up roller, which is movable and rotatable, picks up the second sheet and enables the leading edge of the second sheet to pass over the stopper. The sheet-lifting mechanism disposed on the paper tray lifts up the leading edges of the second sheet and the first sheet from the bottom plate.

Abstract: A paper feeder of a printer 1 includes a manual feed tray 21, a paper feeder roller 23, and a flapper drive unit 25. The manual feed tray 21 has a flapper 33 which can move up and down in the paper stacking direction. The paper feeder roller 23 is located above the manual feed tray 21, and is able to feed the paper on the flapper 33. The flapper drive unit 25 can move the flapper 33 up and down in the paper stacking direction to contact the paper feeder roller 23 through the paper, and moves the flapper 33 up and down at least from the moment that the paper is placed in the manual feed tray 21 until the paper is fed by the paper feeder roller 23.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus, having detachable and attachable sheet trays, a linkage mechanism between the sheet feeding apparatus and the sheet tray, and that can attach the sheet tray to the sheet feeding apparatus with a reduced force.

Abstract: A media handling system, comprising: a media pick means; a media holder that interacts with the media pick means; and a selectable, lockable, automatically movable media tray located substantially adjacent to the media holder, wherein the movable media tray is engageable/disengageable with the media pick means.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including: a sheet feeding roller for sending sheets out one-by-one; a sheet stacking section in which a plurality of sheets can be stacked, and which pushes a sheet against the sheet feeding roller; an upper guide member able to move between a guiding position at which, at a time of double-sided printing, the upper guide member re-feeds to the image forming section an inverted sheet which is sent-in by a sheet re-feeding section, and a withdrawn position, at which sheet feeding of the sheet stacking section is possible; and a lower guide member which is rotatable and which abuts leading ends of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking section, wherein a guide path, which guides a sheet which is re-fed at the time of double-sided printing, is formed due to the upper guide member and the lower guide member rotating interlockingly.

Abstract: When a paper feed cassette is again mounted, a pressing portion of a pressing member is brought into contact from the front side on a second surface of an extending portion of a contacting member, and the contacting member is pressed by the pressing member to be displaced from the retract position to the contact position. At this time, the pressing portion of the contacting member presses a pressed portion of a disc member to rotate a third cam itself in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing. Accordingly, the lift lever locked by the third cam is released, and an end portion of an arm member is allowed to move upward.

Abstract: A bypass tray to be used in an image forming apparatus, the bypass tray including a knock-up plate resiliently biased in an upward direction; and at least one stopper provided at least one side of the knock-up plate, rotatably provided so as to restrict a position of the knock-up plate while moving up and down.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a base, a roller adjacent to the base, a holder for holding a paper, and a torsional element. The holder has a pivot end and a movable end, wherein the pivot end is pivoted to the base. The torsional element is disposed at a position where the holder is pivoted to the base, and provides torsion to move the movable end of the holder to be pressed against the roller, such that a front edge of the paper is raised to be in contact with the roller. As the roller rotates, the paper is fed into a paper feed track by a frictional force.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device, which supplies a sheet to an image forming section, has a sheet feeding roller, a sheet stacking section, and a guiding member. The sheet feeding roller sends sheets out one-by-one. The sheet stacking section can be stacked with plural sheets and pushes a sheet against the sheet feeding roller. The guiding member is able to move between a guiding position and a withdrawn position. At the guiding position, at a time of double-sided printing, the guiding member re-supplies to the image forming section an inverted sheet which is sent-in by a sheet re-supplying section. At the withdrawn position, the guiding member is moved toward the sheet feeding roller and feeding of the sheet of the sheet stacking section is possible.

Abstract: A paper feeing cassette of an image forming apparatus includes a paper stacking plate on which a sheet of paper is stacked; a lift unit placed under the paper stacking plate, lifting by a rotating pivot, the rotating pivot being connected to a driving motor using a connection portion and rotated, and ascending the paper stacking plate; and a release unit separating the connection portion from the rotating pivot, disconnecting the driving motor from the rotating pivot, descending the paper stacking plate by its weight, and separating the sheet of paper from a pickup roller.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus capable of effectively suppressing double paper feeding and reducing the number of components is obtained. This image generating apparatus comprises a paper feed roller feeding papers, a push-up member pressing the papers against the paper feed roller and a control portion controlling driving of the paper feed roller and the push-up member. The control portion carries the papers in a paper feed direction by rotating the paper feed roller, thereafter carries the papers oppositely to the paper feed direction by a prescribed distance while lifting the push-up member, and thereafter lowers the push-up member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a paper pickup unit includes a power unit to drive a shaft of the paper pickup unit, wherein the paper pickup unit includes a pressing plate at which a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper, is stacked, a paper feed unit body to receive the pressing plate, a shaft rotatably mounted on a front end of the pressing plate, a pickup roller to rotatably engage the shaft to pick up the recording medium stacked on the pressing plate, and a guide cam installed at least one side of the shaft and having a shock absorbing part engaged with a guide part installed at the paper feed unit body.

Abstract: A medium feeder is adapted to feed a target medium to a liquid ejecting section in which liquid is ejected toward the target medium. A feeding roller is adapted to come in contact with the target medium, thereby feeding the target medium in a first direction. A first supporter opposes the feeding roller and has a first supporting face adapted to support the target medium. A second supporter is disposed in an upper side of the first supporter and has a second supporting face adapted to support the target medium. A first edge guide is provided on the first supporter so as to be movable in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and has a first guiding face adapted to come in contact with a first side edge of the target medium. A second edge guide is provided on the second supporter so as to be movable in the second direction, and has a second guiding face adapted to come in contact with the first side edge of the target medium.

Abstract: To reduce the number of components and further to provide a downsized sheet feeder, a shaft is arranged to a lower side of a sheet receiver stacking sheets, and gears are respectively attached to each opposite end of the shaft to mesh with rack portions. The gears move, upon gear's rotating, up and down along the rack portions. Another gear in mesh with the gear is further formed to transmit a torque from a driving source to the gear.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to use of a retard roller opposite a driven roller are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for providing a media pick assembly with a motorized carriage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a chassis, a paper feed roller, a lifting member, and a biasing member. The chassis has a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface that connects the first and second side surfaces. The bottom surface has one of a first L-shaped projecting portion and a first coupling hole unitarily formed thereon. The paper feed roller is rotatably supported by the first and second side surfaces of the chassis and configured to convey paper. The lifting member is pivotably supported by the bottom surface of the chassis, and has a main portion and the other of the first L-shaped projecting portion and the first coupling hole unitarily formed on the main portion. The first L-shaped projection is pivotably coupled to the first coupling hole, such that the lifting member is pivotably coupled to the bottom surface.

Abstract: A coil spring 103 is wound around a rotational shaft 15 with its one end portion 103a being inserted into an engagement groove 100a formed in a side wall of a direct-coupled gear 100 and with its other end portion 103b being inserted in an engagement groove 93a provided in a front wall 93 of a paper cassette 6. The elastic force generated by the coil spring 103 functions as a pressing force for restraining the torque of the rotational shaft 15 that is generated by the driving force from a DC motor 70. The amount of the elastic force increases as the height of a paper pressing plate 8 increases. Accordingly, a variation in the height of the topmost sheet 3, which will possibly occur due to changes in the amount of recording medium 3 placed on a mounting plate 8, can be restrained.

Abstract: Sheet feeding device including: a tray unit having a feeding tray for supporting a loaded-on document's trailing end, and a tilting tray for supporting its leading end; a feeding unit that feeds loaded-on documents from off the feeding and tilting trays; and an elevating mechanism that raises/lowers the tilting tray between the positions where documents are set onto and fed from it. The tilting tray is elevated by a lever that comes out of an opening in a feeding-unit cover, in which state the tray unit, which is pivotable with respect to the sheet feeding unit, is kept from pivoting. Otherwise, when the tray unit is pivoted upward from or returned to the load-on document position, tilting-tray movement, in conjunction with the pivoting action, with respect to the feeding tray is restrained, preventing negative impact on the tilting tray, and thus improving device manageability.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image-forming section, a separating/feeding section that separates and feeds sheets of paper from a stack into the image-forming section one sheet at a time, a pressing plate disposed on the opposite side of the stacked paper from the separating/feeding section, and a drive section that drives the pressing plate. The drive section drives the pressing plate toward the separating/feeding section when the separating/feeding section is in contact with the paper and driving of the separating/feeding section has stopped.

Abstract: A medium supplying apparatus is assembled to an image forming apparatus. A medium tray supports a medium thereon, and is pivotal about a first axis and extends from the first axis. The medium tray has a guide path that extends in the first radial direction. A feeder frame has a pickup roller rotatablly mounted to the feeder frame, and is pivotal about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis. The medium tray and the feeder frame are drivingly coupled via a link. When the medium tray pivots to its open position or closed position, the link transmits the motion of the medium tray to the feeder frame in such a way that the feeder frame drivingly pivots to its open position or closed position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a cassette configured to accommodate recording media, and a recording media feeding member configured to feed out the recording media accommodated in the cassette. The cassette includes a tray main body part including a stacking plate configured to have the recording media stacked thereon, and a recording media conveying guide part configured to detachably connect to the tray main body part. The recording media conveying guide part includes a raising member configured to raise the stacking plate toward the recording media feeding member, and a raising and lowering member connected to the raising member and configured to raise and lower the stacking plate.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes a base, a roller adjacent to the base, a holder for holding a paper, and a torsional element. The holder has a pivot end and a movable end, wherein the pivot end is pivoted to the base. The torsional element is disposed at a position where the holder is pivoted to the base, and provides torsion to move the movable end of the holder to be pressed against the roller, such that a front edge of the paper is raised to be in contact with the roller. As the roller rotates, the paper is fed into a paper feed track by a frictional force.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium is disclosed which includes: a first drive source; a photoreceptor driven for movement by a driving force applied thereto from the first drive source; a support member supporting the recording medium to be fed toward the photoreceptor, displaceable between a receiving position allowing reception of the recording medium on the support member, and a feeding position allowing feeding of the recording medium from the support member toward the photoreceptor; and a drive mechanism operable by a driving force applied thereto from the first drive source to displace the support member from the receiving position to the feeding position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a paper feeding cassette to stack a print medium, wherein the paper feeding cassette includes a plate to support the print medium and which elevates substantially straight, and a supporting unit to support the elevation of the plate.

Abstract: A sheet supplying/feeding device includes a sheet placing plate that receives at least a tip of a sheet, a feeding unit that feeds the sheet while being in contact with the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate, and a driving unit that drives the feeding unit. Preferably, cam members are provided at both ends of a rotating shaft of the feeding unit, displacement changing members are swingably provided in engagement with the cam members, the sheet placing plate is shifted synchronously with the swing of the displacement changing members through first elastic members, and the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate and the feeding unit are contacted and separated by the synchronous movement of the sheet placing plate and the displacement changing members.

Abstract: A sheet feeder apparatus is controlled for sequentially feeding sheets to a predetermined processing position. A detection signal of a sheet stacked in a rise and lower tray located at a lower limit position is received before receiving a feed signal to start feeding of the sheet. Upon receiving the feed signal to start feeding of the sheet, the rise and lower tray is moved from the lower limit position to an upper limit position, and the sheet is supplied.

Abstract: A detecting device for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet contained in a sheet containing portion includes a rotatable arm portion brought into contact with the sheet contained in the sheet containing portion, a stopper portion rotatable in association with the arm portion for determining the position of the arm portion when there is no sheet in the sheet containing portion and whose rotation is regulated when there is no sheet in the sheet containing portion. And when the sheet in a conveying path is to be pulled out, the arm portion is retreated from a position determined by the stopper portion due to the pressure of the sheet being pulled out.

Abstract: The feeding apparatus includes a pressure plate cam gear which contacts and separates a pressure plate with and from a feeding roller rubber in a forward rotation of a stepping motor, then interrupts the drive power transmission to the pressure plate, then transmits the driving power again to the pressure plate by a reverse rotation of the stepping motor to return the pressure plate to a separated state and terminates the drive power transmission to the pressure plate, a gear portion provided at an end of a feeding roller shaft for transmitting the driving power from the stepping motor to the feeding roller rubber, and a control circuit for reversing the stepping motor after a leading end of a recording medium is detected by a PE sensor lever.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a paper feeder wherein single sheets of paper can be set, a paper delivery device for transporting paper fed from the paper feeder to a recorder, and a control unit for controlling operation of the paper feeder and the paper delivery device. The control unit has a skew removal execution mode of only the first sheet of paper where the paper tip is bitten into a paper delivery roller forming a part of the paper delivery device and then the paper delivery roller is reversely rotated for ejecting the paper tip for the first sheet of paper at the start of recording and then forward rotating the paper delivery roller for delivering the sheet of paper whose skew is removed to the recorder and delivering the second and later sheets of paper to a record area without executing the skew removal.

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: 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 member feeding and conveying apparatus has a tray having a tray main body capable of displacement in directions close to and away from a pickup section for taking out a document in the take-out position. There is a tray driving section for driving the tray main body to be displaced in the directions close to and away from the pickup section. A control section is provided for controlling the tray driving section so as to, in a feeding state, drive the tray main body to be displaced so that a document closest to the pickup section held on the tray is placed in the take-out position, and in a waiting state, drive the tray main body to be displaced in a waiting position closer to the pickup section than a position where the maximum holding amount of documents are held on the tray.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, sheet feeding unit, and a sheet support member. Sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet feeding unit is placed to be movable in the widthwise direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit and feeds the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet support member is placed at a position different from the position of the sheet feeding unit within an area where the sheet feeding unit can move, and supports the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. The sheet support member can move in the widthwise direction of the sheet independently of the sheet feeding unit.

Abstract: The paper feeder of the present invention includes paper supply cassettes to house sheets of paper; friction paper pickup rollers to take out sheets of paper one by one by contacting a paper placed at the top of paper in the paper supply cassettes; openings formed on the paper supply cassettes to pass the air to the side of the paper at the downstream position from the friction pickup rollers; and air blowing mechanisms to blow the air into the openings. This paper feeder is used for supplying paper for an image forming apparatus.

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 feeder has a sheet tray for storing sheets, a moving bottom plate being disposed on the bottom of the sheet tray for stacking the sheets, the moving bottom plate being elastically urged by an elastic member, a sheet delivery unit having a sheet delivery member being placed in contact with the sheet stored in the sheet tray for delivering the sheets in order from the top through the sheet delivery member, and an interlock mechanism for regulating a move of the moving bottom plate in response to the sheet stack amount so as to keep constant the contact relationship between the top sheet position of the sheets stored in the sheet tray and the sheet delivery member.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding device for sending out sheet materials mounted on a sheet material mounting portion one by one by a feeding roller, includes an elastic member with the angle changed elastically by being abutted against by the sheet materials sent out, for separating the sheet materials by being moved over by the sheet materials, and a return assisting unit to be contacted with the elastic member for facilitating the return of the angle change of the elastic member to the original state.

Abstract: The manual sheet feeding apparatus according to the conventional art employing a retard separating system requires a pick-up roller for feeding sheets one by one from the bundle of sheets, a mechanism for detaching the pick-up roller, a shutter, and a shutter solenoid for controlling the shutter. Consequently, these requirements cause need of a large space, a complex system, and high cost. In order to improve the above issue, they are provided, a sheet feeding apparatus for use in image forming apparatuses and image reading apparatuses which have the following features. A sheet supported by a displaceable sheet supporting unit of the sheet feeding apparatus is fed by a feeding rotation body. A separating rotation body is pressed against the feeding rotation body and is operated to force an extra sheet in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A pallet for supporting media such as papers is disposed on a parallel motion mechanism. As the media is loaded, the pallet is shifted from an initial site toward a predetermined site in parallel, and therefore the media supported by the pallet is sequentially scrubbed and transmitted to a printing device by a scrubbing device.

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 thermal printer includes a thermal printer component for image recording to a thermosensitive recording sheet. There is a loading opening through which the thermal printer component is supplied with the recording sheet. Plural guiding projections position the recording sheet in the loading opening. A recording sheet package includes a packaging case for containing a loose stack of plural recording sheets. The loading opening is loadable with the packaging case. A package outlet is formed in the packaging case for passage of each recording sheet, and set directed toward the thermal printer component. Plural cutouts are formed in a periphery of the packaging case, and receive the guiding projections. Blocking portions of a blocking frame are disposed inside the packaging case, and close the cut-outs. The blocking portions are shiftable inwards from the cutouts by the guiding projections.

Abstract: In order to provide a paper feeding apparatus which is miniaturized by inclining a conveying passage and can quickly feed a manuscript even if the manuscript is thick, there is provided a paper feeding apparatus in which a conveying passage for a manuscripts is formed so as to continuously connected with a hopper on which the manuscripts are placed, and the manuscripts placed on the hopper are picked up one by one from an uppermost one thereof and fed to the conveying passage, wherein the conveying passage is inclined in the height direction so that the hopper side thereof is downward, and the angle of the hopper can be set so as to be arranged in a straight line in accordance with the inclination of the conveying passage.

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.