Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus having sheet container for stacking and supporting sheets, and sheet supplying device for feeding out the sheet contained in the sheet container by applying a feeding force to the sheet. Sheet container includes a shiftable intermediate plate on which the sheets are stacked and a plurality of pressurizing members for biasing the intermediate plate toward the sheet supplying device to urge the sheets stacked on the intermediate plate against the sheet supplying device, and each of the pressurizing members being selected in response to the used amount of the sheets stacked on the intermediate plate to apply a biasing force to the intermediate plate.

Abstract: A hardcopy device has various page processing steps in a printer, fax machine or the like which are actuated by a single motor which connects through a gear mechanism to drive a main drive roller, a pick roller, and automatically move a pressure plate in a feeder slot to and fro between a position of engagement holding a stack of pages against the pick roller and a position of disengagement. A reverse action of the pick roller kicks out partially picked pages into the feeder slot after the pressure plate is moved to a position of disengagement.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a rotatable sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet support, a first biasing mechanism for biasing the sheet support to generate pressure between the sheets and the rotatable sheet supply roller, a separating device for separating the sheets between the separating device and the rotatable sheet supply roller, a second biasing mechanism for biasing the separating device to generate pressure between the separating device and the rotatable sheet supply roller and a pressure releasing mechanism for releasing the pressures generated by the first and second biasing mechanisms after the sheets are separated by the separating device. The present invention further provides an image forming system with the above-mentioned sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming mechanism for forming an image on the sheet separated by the separating device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, a supply device for feeding the sheets supported by the sheet supporting device in a sheet feeding direction, a separating claw device for separating, one-by-one, the sheets fed by the supply device by regulating at least one front corner of the sheets relative to the sheet feeding direction. A switching device selectively switches positions of the separating claw device between a first position where the separating claw device is separated from the sheet supporting device and a second position where the separating claw device is adjacent to the sheet supporting device. A separation device separates, one-by-one, the sheets fed by the supply device in a condition that the separating claw device is in the second position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus with a sheet support for supporting a sheet and shiftable between a supply position and a waiting position, a supply roller for feeding out the sheet from the sheet support means at the supply position, a biasing device for biasing the sheet support means from the waiting position toward the supply position, a shifting device for shifting the sheet supporting means from the supply position to the waiting position in adherence with a biasing force of the biasing device means, and a regulating apparatus for regulating the shifting of the sheet support means with a force weaker than the biasing device force of the biasing device, when the sheet support means shifted to the waiting position by the shifting device is shifted from the waiting position to the supply position by the biasing device.

Abstract: An overlapped transfer-preventing mechanism that is inexpensive, simple in construction, requires no actuator and has a high degree of freedom of layout. The mechanism includes an upper, rotatably driven, separating roll and a pivot integrated with a lower separating roll. The pivot is provided with a one-way clutch which prevents rotation of the pivot in a paper-supplying direction but which permits rotation of the pivot in the direction opposite the paper-supplying direction. The one-way clutch has mounted on it a lever member, which is engaged with a paper-carrying plate by an upward or downward moving operation of the paper-carrying plate so as to rotate the one-way clutch in the direction opposite the paper-supplying direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus including a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, more than one rotary sheet supply device for feeding out the sheets from the sheet supporting device, a separating device for separating the sheets by regulating a front corner of a sheet to be fed out by the rotary sheet supply device, wherein the rotary sheet supply device closest to the separating device as a greater sheet feeding force than the other rotary sheet supply device.

Abstract: A paper feed mechanism is provided for individually supplying recording papers to an imaging apparatus. A plurality of papers are stacked on a tray member of a paper cassette. One end of the tray member is biased toward a feeding roller and presses the stacked papers toward the feeding roller. The papers are fed one by one upon rotation of the feeding roller. A swingable guide member is mounted on the paper cassette to cover the stacked papers. By swinging the guide member, the stacked papers, as well as the tray member, are downwardly moved away from the feeding roller, so that a spacing is formed between the feeding roller and the stacked papers. One or more other recording papers can be inserted into the spacing, to be fed by the feeding roller instead of the stacked papers.

Abstract: A single sheet supplier from a plurality of sheets inserted to reach a pair of inclined corner tabs past a resiliently restrained and under a roller. The roller is selectively rotated to force a paper sheet in contact therewith past the pair of inclined corner tabs which partially and temporarily block the progress of the sheet corners thereby causing them initially to buckle and then snap forward to separate the sheet engaged by the rollers from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is disclosed for accommodating cut sheets therein, and is detachably coupled to an apparatus to which the cut sheets are to be fed. The sheet cassette is provided with a cassette housing, and a supporting plate, provided in the cassette housing, for supporting the cut sheets thereon and being movable in a vertical direction transverse to the feeding direction of the cut sheets. The sheet cassette further includes at least one spring for biasing the supporting plate upwardly, and a lever for preventing the movement of the supporting plate upwardly while the cassette housing is being inserted into the apparatus and allowing the movement of the supporting plate when the cassette housing is coupled to the apparatus.

Abstract: Improvements relate to a photocopying machine with an auxiliary sheet feeder including a sheet-separation unit which withdraws sheets disposed on a tray. The improvements enable better separation of the sheets and easier removal of jammed sheets. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A sheet feed cassette capable of preventing a sheet of a sheet stack from diagonal feeding when the sheet is delivered out of the cassette. The sheet feed cassette has sheet guides at lateral sides thereof whose inner surfaces serve as sheet guide surfaces. In the sheet guide, box like portions are provided. In the box-like portions, sub-guides are provided protrudable from upper ends of the sheet guides. The sub-guides have sub-guide surfaces flush with the guide surfaces of the sheet guides. Each lateral side edge of the sheet is abuttable with each of the sub-guide surfaces if the sheet is positioned above the upper ends of the sheet guides for guiding the sheet in a sheet feeding direction. Thus, the diagonal travel of the sheet can be obviated by the sub-guides.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a stack of sheets is supported and stored in a biased base tray. Successive uppermost sheets contained within the biased base tray are caused to move into engagement with a segmented feed roller. A cone shaped roller in combination with edge guides provide cross-track, in-track and skew alignment for the uppermost sheet after is it separated and advanced from the stack by the segmented feed roller. A biased retard pad prevents multiple sheet feeds from the stack.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet supporting device for stacking and supporting sheets, a sheet supplying device for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet supporting device, a separating device for separating the sheets fed by the sheet supplying device one by one, a back tension releasing device for not acting a back tension on the sheet separated by the separating device, and a double feed preventing device, which is insertable into and retractable from a sheet feeding path for the sheet separated by the separating device. When the back tension is released by the back tension releasing device, the double feed preventing device is inserted into the sheet feeding path, thereby preventing the double feed of the sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a recording sheet storage unit disposed within a main body and a feeder for feeding recording sheets from the recording sheet storage unit. Further included is a detector which emits a signal beginning an automatic loading of the recording sheet storage unit into the main body after manual placement of the storage unit at a predetermined position, and the unloading of the recording sheet storage device when such is desired. Further included is a second detector which detects the fully loaded position of the recording sheet storage device, as well as a conveyor for conveying the storage device to the fully loaded position when loaded, and removing the storage device therefrom during unloading.

Abstract: A paper feeding device comprising a tray storing case attachable to and removable from a device housing; a rotatable tray, provided in the tray storing case, which rotates copy paper to a longitudinal and lateral feed position; and a mechanism for lifting up a paper-feed end of a paper holding plate provided in the tray when paper is to be fed. The mechanism is composed of a guide member provided in the device housing; a lift-up guide provided on a side face located on a paper-feed end of the tray; a first rotary bar provided in the tray storing case and driven by the guide member when the tray is attached thereon; and a second rotary bar, a spring and a lift plate driven by the lift-up guide when the tray is in the paper-feed position. The first and second bars are driven simultaneously, thus lifting up the paper-feed end of the paper holding plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet accommodation unit for supporting a plurality of sheets, the sheet accommodation unit being movable between waiting and sheet feed positions, an urging device for urging the sheet accommodation unit toward the sheet feed position, a sheet feed device for sending out the sheets supported by the sheet accommodation unit at the sheet feed position, a moving device for moving the sheet accommodation unit between the waiting and sheet feed positions, a driving force transmitting device for transmitting a driving force of moving the sheet accommodation unit to the moving device when engaged with the displacing device, a release device for releasing the engagement of the displacing device with the driving force transmitting device, and a locking device for cancellably restricting the moving device when the engagement of the moving device with the driving force transmitting device is released by the release device.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet containing device for supporting sheets, a sheet supply device for feeding out the sheet from the sheet containing device, and a path surface for deflecting the sheet by abutting the sheet fed from the sheet supply device against the path surface to guide the sheet in a predetermined direction. In such sheet feeding apparatus, a rotary feeding device for applying a feeding force to the sheet by slidingly contacting with a surface of the sheet fed from the sheet supply device, which is opposite to a surface facing the path surface, is provided.

Abstract: A feed cassette apparatus for retaining a loaded feed cassette in a cassette housing space containing a feed roller, wherein the feed cassette is loaded or unloaded in the direction parallel to the axis of the feed roller. The apparatus includes a cassette case and a plurality of positioning devices. The cassette case is movable in the feed-cassette loading direction and is capable of housing feed cassettes of different sizes. The positioning devices are disposed at different positions in the cassette case to suit the different-sized feed cassettes, and position the end of a stack of sheets in a given feed cassette under the feed roller. A feed cassette to be housed in the cassette case is positioned by the positioning device corresponding to the feed cassette size. As a result, when the cassette case is moved in the loading direction in order to load the feed cassette into the cassette housing space, the end of the stack of sheets in the feed cassette is brought precisely into position under the feed roller.

Abstract: An imprinting mechanism includes a sheet tray and comprises a housing and a spring bias device within the housing. A sheet stack support is positioned within the housing and in contact with the spring bias, the spring bias forcing the sheet stack support towards a first position, the sheet stack support being forced (against the spring bias) to a second position when a stack of sheets is positioned thereon. A pivotally mounted indicator is positioned within the housing and includes first and second arm portions, a first portion being in contact with a surface of the sheet stack support and a second portion movable between visible and invisible locations, as viewed by a user. The first portion is movable about the pivot to position the second portion to the visible location when a predetermined size stack of sheets remain in the sheet stack support.

Abstract: This invention discloses a paper supplying device for supplying paper sheets to an image forming portion of an image forming apparatus, which include a cassette attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus for storing the paper sheets therein, an accommodating portion provided at the body of the image forming apparatus for accommodating the cassette thereinto, paper supplying member disposed at an upper portion in said accommodating portion for supplying the paper sheets in the cassette in a direction opposed to a cassette insertion direction toward the image forming portion, and guiding member provided in the accommodating portion for guiding the cassette in a first position through a second position toward a third position, the cassette being completely inserted into the accommodating portion in said first position and an uppermost surface of the paper sheets in the cassette being pressed into contact with the paper supplying member in the third position.

Abstract: An opening is formed in the bottom portion of a paper cassette, and a rockable elevator is opposed to the opening. The elevator is rocked by an elevator operating mechanism, thereby pushing up a tray so that paper sheets in the paper cassette reach a position suited for takeout, or getting out of the cassette. The elevator is continuously moved up and down a plurality of times by means of the elevator operating mechanism after the end of paper feeding operation, whereby the takeout end portions of a second one of the paper sheets P and its subsequent ones, which project from the paper cassette as the sheets are taken out by a takeout mechanism, are vertically oscillated so that those sheets are repeatedly curved and straightened. As a result, the paper sheets projecting from the paper cassette are automatically returned to the cassette by their own elasticity.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism of an image recording apparatus comprises a lifter mechanism movable between a first position in engagement with a cassette that holds a sheet thereon and a second position in disengagement with the cassette, a first urging mechanism for urging the lifter mechanism to the first position with a first urging force, a second urging mechanism for urging the lifter mechanism to the second position with a second urging force that acts opposite to the first urging force, and a control mechanism connected the second urging mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is adapted to engage with the cassette when the cassette is mounted on the image recording apparatus for causing a change in the second urging forces depending on whether the cassette is mounted on the image recording apparatus or the cassette is dismounted from the image recording apparatus, such that the second urging force is smaller than the first urging force when the cassette is dismounted from the image recording apparatus and s

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a support for supporting stacked sheets, a rotary sheet feed device for feeding out the sheets supported by the support, and a separating device for separating the sheets fed out from the rotary sheet feed device one by one. The support is shiftable between a feed position where the stacked sheets are abutted against the rotary sheet feed device and a waiting position where the stacked sheets are separated from the rotary sheet feed device. There is provided a switch connected to a rotary drive source for driving the rotary sheet feed device and adapted to shift the support to the feed position through a rotation of the rotary drive in one direction and to shift the support to the waiting position through a rotation of the rotary drive in the other direction.

Abstract: A device for restraining abrupt pouring of the papers for paper supply cassette. The device comprises a pair of turning members each disposed about each front side portion of a box-shaped housing of said paper supply cassette, and tension coil spring. The turning member comprises a supporter having a horizonal part and a vertical part, and an actuating lever having a horizontally extending connecting part and a downwardly extending actuating part integrally formed with said connecting part. The tension coil spring is disposed between the side wall of the housing and the connecting part in order to bias said turning member counterclockwise. The device according to this invention provides advantage in that it supports the front ends of the papers in the cassette, thereby preventing the abrupt pouring of the papers efficiently.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet containing tray adapted to support a plurality of sheets and being shiftable between a sheet supplying position and a waiting position, a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet containing tray at the sheet supplying position, a driving force transmitting device connected to the sheet supply roller and adapted to transmit a driving force from a drive source, and a holding device connected to the driving force transmitting device so that the sheet containing tray is shifted to the sheet supplying position by the driving force transmitted to the sheet supply roller and capable of holding the sheet containing tray at the sheet supplying position while the plurality of sheets are being supplied by the sheet supply roller.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding sheet materials is equipped with a container body in which two sheet material-holding devices are arranged in parallel in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices includes a pair of width restriction members which are so disposed that their positions can be freely adjusted in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices further includes a rear end restriction member that is so disposed that its position can be freely adjusted in the feeding direction.

Abstract: A paper feeding system that eliminates a mechanism for interrupting driving force to picking rollers to lower the cost of the system and to secure the feeding of papers. Corner nails are supported in a manner displacable up and down on the both sides of the front end portion of a paper cassette and the front corner portions of papers stored within the paper cassette can be anchored by the corner nails. A projecting part of the corner nails abuts to a stopper to restrict its upper limit position. When the paper is not fed, the picking rollers are in an up position and are separated from the paper and the corner nails retain the paper at a certain height position engaging with the front corner portion of the paper. When the paper is fed, the picking rollers go down to a down position to press the paper against biasing force of a bias spring and the corner nails are separated from the stopper and contact with the front corner portion of the paper in the down position.

Abstract: An adjustable cassette for use in an envelope printing system. The cassette includes an elevator for maintaining the top envelope in a stack of envelopes in contact with a take-up roller in the printing system. The cassette also includes lateral guides positioned adjacent to the extreme forward portion of the envelope stack. The lateral guides are resiliently mounted to depress and pass beneath the take-up roller as the cassette is inserted into the printing system.

Abstract: When a sheet feeding cassette (10) is mounted on an image forming apparatus or the like, a forward portion of a mounting plate (13) is urged upward so that an upper surface of the forward portion of the mounting plate (13) is brought into contact with a feed roller (11). A pair of non-slip pads (14a) and (14b) is affixed to the upper surface of the forward portion of the mounting plate (13). The non-slip pads (14a) and (14b) are members each having a plane shape of approximately L or its reversed shape and made of, for example, a rubber plate.The non-slip pads (14a) and (14b) are affixed to such a position that they do not come into direct contact with the feed roller (11). Consequently, when sheets are fed, the last sheet is not directly nipped strongly by the feed roller and the non-slip pads, to produce no buzzing noise. In addition, the non-slip pads (14a) and (14b) are in the vicinity of the feed roller (11).

Abstract: The device for the introduction of sheets makes it possible to introduce a stack of sheets through an auxiliary input or by-pass in addition to or as an alternative to the normal cassettes for sheets, with which the machine is fitted. A roll (57) rotating on a shaft (58) separates sheets from a stack inserted into a tray (54). A lever (68) is movable from a rest position to a function position. When the lever is moved to the functional position it causes a unidirectional clutch (86) mounted on the shaft to reverse the direction of rotation of the roll thereby moving sheets back to the tray. The lever also moves a cam (76) such that when the lever moved to the functional position, the tray is moved away from the roll such that additional sheets can be inserted.

Abstract: A paper feeder including a driven platen which receives paper fed from a paper feed roller mounted on a shaft. Also mounted on the shaft is a freely rotatable gear which cooperates with a one-way clutch by way of interengaging protrusions, to rotate the shaft mounting the paper feed roller. When the paper reaches the platen, the paper is fed at a faster rate than the feed rate of the paper feed roller so that the roller and shaft are rotated by the action of the paper. Whereupon, the protrusions disengage and the gear does not cause rotation of the one-way clutch until after the first sheet of paper has been completely fed.

Abstract: A paper feeding device comprising a tray storing case attachable to and removable from a device housing; a rotatable tray, provided in the tray storing case, which rotates copy paper to a longitudinal and lateral feed position; and a mechanism for lifting up a paper-feed end of a paper holding plate provided in the tray when paper is to be fed. The mechanism is composed of a guide member provided in the device housing; a lift-up guide provided on a side face located on a paper-feed end of the tray; a first rotary bar provided in the tray storing case and driven by the guide member when the tray is attached thereon; and a second rotary bar, a spring and a lift plate driven by the lift-up guide when the tray is in the paper-feed position. The first and second bars are driven simultaneously, thus lifting up the paper-feed end of the paper holding plate.

Abstract: A feeding device including a cassette removably mounted in the main body of a copying machine to which the feeding device is adapted, a pivotal paper holding plate which is disposed within the cassette and capable of being raised, a lift member for raising the pivotal paper holding plate to an inclined dispensing position, disposed under the pivotal paper holding plate so as to pivot on a vertical plane, a rotary lift-up member for allowing the lift member to pivot thereon, the lift member being secured to the rotary lift-up member, a driving device for transmitting a driving force to the rotary lift-up member, a coupling device interposed in the driving device, for effecting and suspending the transmission of the driving force for rotating the rotary lift-up member, wherein when the cassette is taken out from the main body, the lift member pivots downward due to its own weight, thereby releasing the pivotal paper holding plate from its raised condition.

Abstract: The invented printer includes a paper drive and mechanisms which hold paper in proper alignment in the drive. Specifically, it includes a pressure plate capable of bringing a sheet of paper into contact with a drive roller so that the paper is properly aligned, a wrapper which keeps paper in proper contact with the drive roller, a media edge contactor that presses against paper, a carriage guide support which helps to insure proper alignment of the paper during printing, and a back-out restraint to prevent paper from backing out of the printer.

Abstract: A feeding device for enabling continuous copy paper feed from a first and second cassette. When copy material of the same size is stored in a first cassette and an absence of copy material is detected in the first cassette, orientation of the second rotatable cassette is altered, if necessary to coincide with that of the first cassette, and paper feed continues from the second rotatable cassette. Still further, the second rotatable cassette may be selected for continuing copy paper feed if copy material within the first cassette is detected to be less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a paper sheet on a platen by a thermal head with a three color image includes a feeding device and a paper ejecting device. The paper feeding device includes feeding rollers, a feeding tray, a feeding lever and a two-stage discharge bay. With the paper feeding device, a receiving plate for receiving a stack of paper sheets is lifted upwardly toward the feeding rollers so as to keep the leading paper sheet in contact with the feeding rollers; at the same time, a discharged sheet is moved from the first to second discharge stage. The feeding lever is adapted for moving the receiving plate slightly downwardly so as to separate the printing paper sheet from the feeding rollers before the rear edge of the sheet passes under the feeding rollers. Shock is thereby avoided when the leading edge of the sheet passes under the roller.

Abstract: A feeding device in accordance with the present invention includes an arm mounted such that one edge thereof is rotatably supported and is capable of moving freely in the horizontal plane, a rotating section rotatably supported by the other edge of the arm and is capable of rotating freely in the horizontal plane to at least two paper feed positions, i.e. longitudinal and lateral feed positions, and a pivotal paper holding plate that is capable of rising. A rotating device is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of a corner of the rotating section and moves back and forth in a straight line in a direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction and permits the rotating section to rotate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manually sending a sheet of paper to the sheet handling machine (i.e., a feeding mechanism inside of a copying machine or printer) equipped with an automatic sheet-feeding cassette. The sheet sending apparatus is composed of an upper chute and a lower chute articulated by gears. When the apparatus is used, the chutes make a flat angle to smoothly pass a sheet to the feed roller and the lower chute press down the stacked sheets of the sheet cassette. When the apparatus is not used, the chutes rotate and the lower chute leaves the feed roller. A sheet guide is attached at the lower end of the lower chute to prevent the sheet sliding on the chutes from falling in the sheet cassette, and the parts of the sheet guide corresponding to the separator of the sheet cassette is removed to allow natural flipping action of the sheet when the sheet is drawn out of the sheet cassette.

Abstract: A paper-supplying device in an image-forming apparatus includes a paper-supplying portion to be charged with a paper-housing vessel by moving the latter in a direction of a rotary axis of a shaft of a paper-supplying roller. The vessel is provided with paper-separating clicks for pressing paper at opposite corners thereof on a downstream side thereof in a paper-supplying direction of the paper and an energizing structure for lifting a carrier plate supporting the paper thereon upwardly toward the paper-separating clicks. The roller is movable in the direction of the rotary axis of the shaft thereof. Transfer structure lifts the vessel in an upwardly inclined direction to press the paper against the roller when the paper-supplying portion is charged with the vessel. A member, brought into contact with the vessel before a surface of the paper is brought into contact with the roller and moved in the direction of charging the vessel, is connected with the roller in a relatively rotatable manner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus wherein a recording paper receiving cassette can be moved to a first position where the cassette is stored in the apparatus body and a second position where one portion of the cassette is withdrawn from the apparatus body so that the paper feed can be carried out, wherein when the cassette is withdrawn further from the apparatus body the cassette can be removed from the apparatus body. A process cartridge including a photosensitive belt and a plurality of developing devices are arranged around the photosensitive belt. The process cartridge is disposed above the recording paper receiving cassette, wherein the process cartridge can be withdrawn in the same direction as that of the recording paper receiving cassette when the recording paper feed path is opened.

Abstract: A detection piece is held movably, and the size of recording paper being accommodated in a cassette case is detected in correspondence with a positional pattern of a detecting tongue provided on the detection piece. Even in cases where the number of paper sizes to be detected is large, the apparatus is capable of coping with that detection without an increase in the number of detection pieces, and contributes to the simplification of the mounting and demounting operation of the detection piece, prevention of loss or erroneous mounting of the detection piece, and so on.

Abstract: A supply magazine (1) for a sheet stack (8) comprises a lower portion (2) which is open at the top and a cover (3) which covers the lower portion (2) at least in its sheet-removal area (roller 9) and can be opened. A pressure plate (4) pivotally mounted in the lower portion (2) is urged by springs (10) which spring-urge a sheet stack (8) arranged on the pressure plate (4) in the sheet-removal area against the inner side (3d) of the closed cover (3). As a result of the sheet stack (8) being pressed against the inner side of cover (3), it is so held by spring pressure that even if the supply magazine (1) is brought into an extremely inclined position during insertion into the copier or removal therefrom, the sheet stack (8) cannot be displaced and no sheets can drop out.

Abstract: A sheet media feed mechanism including a sheet media tray, the sheet media tray having a lower tray for holding a stack of automatic-feed cut sheet media and an upper tray for holding individual sheets of manual-feed sheet media. The lower tray has a pair of corner-pick separators for separating the top sheet of sheet media from the stack. The upper tray has a frame positioned over a rear portion of the lower tray leaving a front portion of the lower tray exposed, and pair of flexible sidekicks extending out over the exposed portion and having a sheet media separator at the front tips of the sidekicks. A pair of D-rollers mounted on a shaft pick the top sheet of sheet media from the lower tray when no sheet media is present at the upper tray, the D-rollers also adapted to pick the top sheet of sheet media from the upper tray when at least one sheet of sheet media is present thereat. The picked sheet media is then fed to a feed path.

Abstract: A platen, supplemental feed rollers and a paper feed roller are driven by a motor, feeding a stack of sheet papers on a hopper one by one to the platen. When a predetermined period of time elapses after the sheet paper has reached a photosensor, the motor rotates in the reverse direction to reversely rotate the platen. The paper feed roller and the supplemental feed rollers however keep rotating to execute an oblique compensation of the paper. Then, an electromagnetic clutch is disengaged to permit the paper feed roller to freely rotate, feeding the paper to a print position by the rotation of the platen. When the power of a printer is turned off and an operational lever is moved to a paper releasing position, a switching lever oscillates, disengaging a planetary gear mechanism from other gears. This sets the supplemental feed roller free.

Abstract: A first sheet stacker in which first sheets are stacked and retained by sheet separation claws is formed by a pair of first stacker forming members, and otherwise, a second sheet stacker free from the sheet separation claws is formed by placing second stacker forming members in between the first stacker forming members. Thus, the sheets different in size and thickness can be properly stacked in a single sheet stacker and selectively sent one by one to a printing apparatus such as a general purpose printer without use of any auxiliary sheet cassette or stacker.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a member for depressing a pair of rollers to feed the top sheet off a stack of papers in a case. The depressing member is only operated when the case is positioned in an associated device. The spacing between the feed rollers is variable and controlled in accordance with the width of the stacked sheets.

Abstract: A paper feeding device for image forming equipment effectively uses the space available in the equipment and thereby accommodates a greater number of paper sheets in successive paper storing stages without the equipment being increased in height. A first paper storing section is loaded with a stack of paper sheets in a position where a paper feeding arrangement is capable of feeding the paper sheets. A second paper storing section adjoins the first paper storing section on the side opposite to the paper feed side of the first paper storing section. A paper end sensor senses paper sheets stacked on the first paper storing section. A paper shifting mechanism shifts paper sheets stacked in the second paper storing section collectively to the first paper storing section.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device, includes a lift down sensor for detecting a rotating plate of a rotatable cassette lowered down to a planar position, a lift up sensor for detecting the rotating plate lifted up to a sheet feeding position, a lateral feed position detecting sensor for detecting the rotatable cassette situated in the lateral feeding position, a longitudinal feed position detecting sensor for detecting the rotatable cassette situated in the longitudinal feeding position, and control means for controlling the drive mechanisms of the sheet feeding device. In the rotating operation of the rotatable cassette, if the lift down sensor is not turned on, the rotating plate is lowered so as to turn on the lift down sensor, thereafter the rotatable cassette is rotated to the predetermined longitudinal or lateral feeding position, and after the lateral or longitudinal feed position detecting sensor is turned on, the rotating plate is lifted up until the lift up sensor is turned on.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cassette loading device for an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding portion within which a cassette for accommodating sheets is loaded, and a sheet feeding device arranged in the sheet feeding portion and adapted to feed the sheet from the cassette loaded within the sheet feeding portion. The cassette loading device has a guide for guiding the cassette to be loaded; a cassette shifting device rotatable along the guide means and having pins engageable with the cassette inserted into the sheet feeding portion; a driver for driving the cassette shifting device; vertical surfaces formed in the cassette and against which the pins are abutted to shift the cassette; and horizontal recesses formed in the cassette and adapted to direct the pins toward the vertical surfaces. The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus which includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the sheet being fed, and the above-mentioned cassette loading device.