Including Pivoted Pack Holder Patents (Class 271/127)
  • Patent number: 4726698
    Abstract: A device for pressing a stack (5) of sheets against a roller drive (2,4) of a papersheet separator, said device compromising a pivotable pressure plate (11) which is biased against the roller drive (2,4) by means of an adjustable leaf spring (12) in order to vary the pressure force. In this way a pressure force is obtained which suits paper sheets of different kinds. The device may be applied for example in printers and copiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Udo I. Weiss, Friedhelm Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 4714243
    Abstract: A paper tray for a printing device is disclosed having a pair of paper supporting members, movable relative to one another, for supporting the lateral sides of a stack of individual sheets of paper. The movability of the paper supporting members relative to one another allows the paper tray to accommodate stacks of individual sheets of paper having different widths or size. The paper supporting members are provided with a concave paper supporting surface such that the stack of individual sheets of paper assumes a concave shape, thereby having sufficient mechanical strength to be self-supporting in the unsupported region between the paper supporting members. The curved shape of the stack is provided, in part, by a forwardly arranged paper pressing plate which is rotatable about an axis spaced from the rotational axis of a control rod which is adapted for rotating the paper pressing plate into a position for replenishing the individual sheets of paper within the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Ziyad Incorporated
    Inventor: Tadeusz Staniszewski
  • Patent number: 4711442
    Abstract: To provide for a single-sheet feeding to an office-type writing apparatus, such as a typewriter, word processor, printer or the like, in form of a separable attachment unit, a unitary assembly is provided including two parallel rockers (2, 12) having lateral sheet guide walls (12) which are located on a common shaft (9) connecting side walls of the attachment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Inventor: Kurt Runzi
  • Patent number: 4699371
    Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a supply tray from which the paper sheets are individually withdrawn from the bottom of the stack. The stack supporting bottom of the tray is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, its angle of inclination being adjustable. The inclination of a supported stack can be adjusted according to stack weight or height. The weight of the sheet stack exerting pressure on stack support and/or the sheet separating device can thereby be controlled such that uniform sheet removal conditions are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Helmut Ettischer, Heinz-G. Bethmann, Rolf Munz, Manfred Radtke, Friedrich Uffinger
  • Patent number: 4697803
    Abstract: A sheet member feeding cassette comprises a main unit wherein sheet members are stored in a stacked manner. A longitudinal hole extending in the direction of feeding sheet member is formed on a supporting plate installed above a bottom plate of the main body, and a pin extending from the bottom plate is inserted into this longitudinal hole so as to be movable along this hole. A bent slit is formed on the long lever supported rotatably by a shaft between the bottom plate and the supporting plate, and the pin is inserted through this slit. By moving a contact plate fixed to the top of the pin along the longitudinal slit, the lever is pushed by the pin, being rotated. A piece to be detected installed outside the main unit and also an indicator panel are fixed to a wire fixed to the free end of the lever. When the position of the contact plate is changed the position of the piece to be detected is changed and also the position of the indicator panel is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kan, Hiroshi Iwaki
  • Patent number: 4685792
    Abstract: A copying paper feed device for an electrostatic copier. A copying paper cassette receiving section is adapted to receive a copying paper cassette having a box-like case with a bottom plate the front end of which is biased upwardly by a spring. Within the cassette receiving section, a feed roller is mounted on a rotatable shaft that is adapted to be connected to a drive source. When the copying paper cassette is properly loaded into the cassette receiving section, the front end of the uppermost sheet of copying paper contacts the feed roller. A clutch in its operating condition links the feed roller with the drive source and in its non-operating condition permits the feed roller to freely rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Iseki, Toshio Yoshiyama, Hiroshi Kajita, Masanori Itakiyo, Hiroshi Kusumoto, Yoshizo Kawamori, Masuo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 4660823
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a business machine includes a cassette and a cassette receiving station which cooperate to move sheets in the cassette toward a sheet feed roll after the cassette has been fully inserted and which also cooperate to move sheets in the cassette away from the sheet feed roll immediately before the cassette is withdrawn. Two projections extend from opposite sidewalls of the cassette and cooperate with grooves in the receiving station for facilitating cassette insertion and removal and for locking the cassette in place. Sheets in the cassette rest on top of a pressure plate. A pressure arm in the receiving station moves in an opening in the bottom of the cassette below the pressure plate to move the latter, thereby raising or lowering the sheets. A lug formed on the cassette engages an operating arm for the pressure arm upon insertion of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sato
  • Patent number: 4647030
    Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes, in a cassette, a separation plate mounted upright so that it is positioned close to a feed roller slightly forward thereof in the direction of paper feed, and an upper guide plate mounted so that it is positioned above a stack of papers being fed and at a level about even with the upper end of the separation plate when the forward end of the upper guide plate is pivotably moved downward. A guide plate, the position of which is adjustable according to the size of papers, partially guides the papers at one side thereof as seen in paper feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tomita
  • Patent number: 4637601
    Abstract: The cassette comprises a bottom (25) and four side walls (26 to 29) comprising on their upper edge holding elements (14) for the sheets. These sheets are placed on a support plate (41) held near one of the corners (33) in contact with the bottom (25). Three springs (44 to 46) pull the plate (41) in the direction of the holding elements (14). A locking mechanism (50) consists of a sliding part (51) comprising near its ends two openings (54) able to work with two flathead pins (52) solid with the plate (41) to hold the latter against the bottom (25) in the vicinity either of the corner (31), or of the diametrically opposite corner (32). The same cassette can thus be introduced in the lengthwise or widthwise direction, which makes possible a saving in cassettes and in sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Hermes Precisa International S.A.
    Inventors: Jorge Costa, Wolfgang Reichel
  • Patent number: 4635919
    Abstract: There is disclosed an envelope hopper for attachment to a printer requiring envelopes. Spring members provided with adjustable throats for permitting passage of a single envelope are biased downward against the upward force of the supply stack for compensating for changes in relative position of the uppermost envelope and the throats during separation from the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adolph B. Habich, Ronald E. Hunt
  • Patent number: 4632379
    Abstract: In a device for feeding individual sheets to an office machine, in which a stack of sheets stored in a magazine is pressed by a pressure plate (22) against a separating device (20), a switch (30) which is actuated by a lever is provided on the rear of the pressure plate (22). The lever extends through the pressure plate (22) with one arm (36) in order to determine the presence of paper sheets in the magazine. The other arm (38) is actuated by a stop when the pressure plate (22) is moved away from the separating device (20). This causes the switch (30) to indicate whether the device is ready for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Friedhelm Steinhilber
  • Patent number: 4632380
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus comprises a paper-supply roller, a movable plate opposed to the paper-supply roller, carrying thereon a plurality of paper sheets in a pile and urging the paper sheets toward the paper-supply roller, two openings formed in the movable plate so as to substantially face the paper-supply roller, two backup members attached to the openings so as to be movable in a direction crossing a sheet carrying surface of the movable plate, and two springs for urging the backup members toward the paper-supply roller to press the paper sheets placed on the movable plate against the paper-supply roller whereby the paper-supply roller delivers the paper sheets one after another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ono
  • Patent number: 4632376
    Abstract: A drive mechanism is disclosed for a document feeder which is used in supplying documents to-be-copied onto the glass top of a copy machine.The drive mechanism includes a set of feed wheels which remove the document to-be-copied from a document support and by rotating in one direction move the document to-be-copied against a set of drive wheels. The drive wheels, when rotated in one direction, move the document onto the glass top of a document copier against a stop, where the document is copied. Thereupon the drive wheels rotate in the opposite direction to remove the copied document from the glass top of a copying machine and deposit the copied document into a receiving tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: R. Clark DuBois
  • Patent number: 4623137
    Abstract: A paper feeder equipped with copying paper cassettes comprises a cassette-receiving section within the housing of a copying apparatus for mounting thereon a plurality of copying paper cassettes containing sheets of copying paper having different sizes. Each of the paper cassettes includes a main body for holding paper sheets which has an opening formed at the forward end portion of its bottom wall and a bottom plate for placing paper sheets thereon which is mounted on the bottom wall of the main body of the cassette so that it can freely pivot about its rear end portion as a fulcrum. The housing of the coyping apparatus has provided therein a press-contacting mechanism adapted to act on the bottom plate of the cassette through the opening in the main cassette body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Irie, Hiroshi Kimura, Masahiko Hisajima, Kiyoshi Shibata, Yasuhiko Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 4613124
    Abstract: Single sheet feeding from a stack is provided by placing the stack onto flat bars defining a stack bottom and being part of a pivotable frame. That frame includes holddown fingers engaging the top sheet at its front edges, and, two separating rollers are provided laterally offset and at a higher level; the rollers are reversibly driven to pull the top sheet out from under the fingers, and upon reversing the rollers slide that sheet towards a platen drum being selectively drivingly coupled to the separating rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Lohrmann, Kurt Roehrer
  • Patent number: 4610445
    Abstract: There is illustrated and described a printing device having an integrated paper feeding apparatus adapted for supplying individual sheets of paper to the printing device to effect printing thereon. The integrated printer and paper feeding apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in word processing systems where the information to be printed in hard copy is contained in a memory device such as a floppy disk or the like. The apparatus may be directly linked to word processing equipment to receive the text of material to be printed. In addition to having the capability of automatically feeding individual sheets of paper from one or more paper trays to the printing device, the apparatus includes an automatic envelope supply mechanism for supplying individual envelopes to the printing device, as well as a manual paper feed option. After effecting printing on the paper or envelope, an ejector mechanism ejects the printed paper from the apparatus and into a receptacle in collated form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Ziyad Incorporated
    Inventors: Helmut A. Schneider, Dominick Fazio
  • Patent number: 4591141
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeder for supplying single sheets of paper to a printer's paper feeding mechanism. The sheet feeder is pivotably mounted so that the paper supply is maintained in contact with a fixed position feed roller. The feed roller is actuated when a sheet of paper is to be fed into the printing mechanism. The sheet feeder's pivot point is chosen to provide constant feed pressure to the paper supply regardless of the size of the remaining paper supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Wentzel, Walter E. Tallman
  • Patent number: 4585224
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for a printing device, comprising a rotational shaft connected through a one way spring clutch to a forward and reverse rotatable driving motor supported by the printing device, feed rollers mounted on the rotational shaft so as to be in pressure contact with the uppermost surface of pieces of printing paper stacked on a holder table, and a coil spring wound around the rotational shaft and supported at one end thereof by a frame for preventing the rotation in the other direction of the rotational shaft induced by the reverse rotation of the driving motor. The holder table is supported by the frame pivotally through an adjusting means utilizing an eccentric shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Kuzuya
  • Patent number: 4582314
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for a printer, comprising feed rollers to feed sheets of paper in a direction across a line of printing, a paper stacker holding the sheets in a stack and movable between an advanced and a retracted position, a biasing device for biasing the paper stacker toward its advanced position to urge a top sheet of the paper stack into contact with the feed rollers, a manually operated member movable between a first and a second position, a retract-and-latch device for moving the paper stacker to the retracted position against a biasing force of the biasing device and locking the paper stacker at the retracted position when the manually operated member is moved from the first to the second position, and an unlatch device for releasing the retract-and-latch device to allow the paper stacker to return to the advanced position when the manually operated member is moved toward its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takemi Yamamoto, Susumu Kuzuya, Isao Kagami, Yuuichi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 4579328
    Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine comprises a copy paper feeding device for serving for an automatic paper feeding mode and a manual paper feeding mode. The automatic paper feeding mode is such that a great number of papers as stored in the device are automatically inserted into the copying machine. The manual paper feeding mode is such that a manually inserted paper different from the papers stored in the device is inserted into the copying machine. A cover of the device is slided for selecting either the automatic paper feeding mode or the manual paper feeding mode. Responsive to the slide position of the cover, a stopper is seesawed for opening or closing an opening through which the manually inserted paper is to be transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Hagihara, Mitsuru Mizutani
  • Patent number: 4577850
    Abstract: A cam and abutment surface cooperate to urge apart a paper stack and roller as a paper cassette is inserted into the feeding station of a reproducing machine, thereby providing temporary clearance for the paper stack to pass by the roller during insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kokichi Takeyama, Kiyoshi Sugawara, Yasuyuki Fukagawa
  • Patent number: 4566684
    Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus (20) for feeding sheets in a forward direction to a scanner device (22) or the like is disclosed. Sheet feeding apparatus (20) includes a frame including side plates (34, 36) a hopper table (40) pivotally mounted at a back edge, and transversely extending frame members (38). A lift mechanism (44) is interconnected to the hopper table (40) for raising the same. A pick roller (26) is utilized to advance the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets (28) toward the scanner device (22). In addition, the pick roller (26) is operatively interconnected to the lift mechanism (44) to activate the lift mechanism (44) upon being lowered below a predetermined height such that the hopper table (40) is raised by the lift mechanism (44). Sheet separator rollers (30, 32) are positioned forwardly of the pick roller (26) for separating the uppermost sheet from any of the sheets inadvertently moved forwardly therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: National Computer Systems
    Inventor: Walter Gysling
  • Patent number: 4565360
    Abstract: To permit attachment of a single-sheet feeding and separating unit to various types and variously dimensioned office machines of different manufacturers, the sheet-feeding and guiding unit (1) is releasably attached (11, 17; 23) to a connecting frame (2) which is made specifically adapted to match a specific type model or manufacture of office machine (3). The frame (2) has a positive engagement latch (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Inventor: Kurt Runzi
  • Patent number: 4558858
    Abstract: To provide for single-sheet feeding to an office-type writing apparatus, such as a typewriter, word processor, printer or the like, in form of a separable attachment unit, a unitary assembly is provided including two parallel rockers (2, 12) having lateral sheet guide walls (12) which are located on a common shaft (9) connecting side walls of the attachment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Inventor: Kurt Runzi
  • Patent number: 4540169
    Abstract: An improved sheet feeding apparatus for use in printers, typewriters, facsimile equipment and copying machines. The apparatus comprises a cassette loading system wherein the cassette may be automatically loaded into operative position, and locked therein, in a sequence of two substantially transverse movements which prevent sheet misfeed and require a minimum of operator activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Leo Levinson
  • Patent number: 4535982
    Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette latching system for latching on to a main body of a copying apparatus and the like a sheet feeding cassette including a sheet support plate for supporting a stack of sheets thereon, and an upper cover capable of being brought to an open position by flipping upwardly a rearward end thereof even when the cassette is in a latched position. When the cassette is in the latched position, the sheet support plate is moved upwardly by a lifter to bring a sheet pickup roller into pressing engagement with the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the sheet support plate to feed one sheet after another to a copying station. The sheet feeding cassette is inserted into and withdrawn from the main body in a tilting position in which a rearward end thereof is located in a higher level than when the cassette is in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Mochimaru
  • Patent number: 4516764
    Abstract: A paper feeding device comprises a paper feeding member feeding out paper from a cassette on a stand, and a lifting member for lifting the paper loaded on a bottom plate of the cassette against the paper feeding member. The improvement includes a driving system having a first spring clutch and a locking member deterring the spring clutch which is operated by a paper feeding command, a lift-operating member coupled with the locking member and including a second spring clutch engaged with the driving system, and an energizing member connected between the lift-operating member and the lifting member for providing a lifting force to the lifting member only during operation of the lift-operating member during paper feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 4509738
    Abstract: A universal paper feed cassette wherein the lift of a bottom plate adapted to be raised by a spring lift member provided on a paper feed base is regulated by a paper-pressure regulator slidable in the widthwise direction of the recording paper along the inner surface of the bottom plate and having a thickness varying in the widthwise direction thereof, so that an equal paper pressure can be obtained irrespective of the size of the recording paper. The thickness of the paper-pressure regulator varies in a stepped manner in the widthwise direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Aoki
  • Patent number: 4508332
    Abstract: A sheet feeder is adapted to feed sheets, received in a stack within a sheet cassette, one by one by a feed roller which rocks in response to a feed signal. The sheet feeder includes a detecting member for detecting the number of sheets left within the cassette, and means responsive to a signal from the detecting member for controlling the timing when the feed signal is produced. In this manner, an amount of flexure produced in the sheet being fed before it reaches resistor rollers is maintained constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nishio
  • Patent number: 4506877
    Abstract: An automatic biasing mechanism for a paper cassette support plate for use in an electrophotographic copier in which a removable paper cassette is provided with a plate upon which a supply of copy sheets is placed. A feed roller assembly within the copier is adapted to remove the uppermost sheets of paper from the cassette and activate a sensor when the top of the stack of sheets falls below a predetermined level. The sensor provides an output energizing a motor to rotate a shaft having a roller adapted to pivot the plate to move the stack of sheets to a position at which the uppermost sheet engages the feed roller assembly. The shaft, normally biased so as not to be in driven engagement with the motor, is moved into operative relationship with the motor by the cassette upon its insertion in the copier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Savin Corporation
    Inventor: Oded Sagiv
  • Patent number: 4505571
    Abstract: A transfer type electrostatic copying apparatus is disclosed in which the area of a photosensitive member cleaned by a cleaning device reaches an exposure zone simultaneously or prior to the arrival of a movable portion of an optical system or an original carrier at an exposure starting position from a home position thereof. This results in clear and definite copied images being obtained. At the earlier stage at which the movable portion of the optical system or the original carrier starts moving, the photosensitive member is subjected to the cleaning process, and then the exposure process is effected when the movable portion or the original carrier is running stably. Thus, the electrostatic latent image obtained by the exposure are clear and definite and free from undesirable blurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kimura, Masahiko Hisajima, Yutaka Shigemura
  • Patent number: 4491312
    Abstract: A sheet item reloader-feeder wherein a pivoted item receiving tray is arcuately-angularly movable from a load position in which the tray is empty to a feed position in which the tray is full. A coiled spring biases the item tray vertically to bring the top most sheet item into the nip of a feeding device. A cable connected to the tray is interconnected to an over-center spring biased cam and an external tray handle whereby movement of the handle causes the tray to automatically move against the tension of the biasing spring from the empty position to the loaded position bring the top most sheet item into the nip of the feeding device for automatic feeding. Two such reloader-feeder devices are stacked in vertical offset relation to one another permitting operator reloading during feeding without stopping the operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventor: William F. Voecks, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4488718
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an electrophotographic copying machine and the like has a flapping up member which protrudes through the bottom of a sheet feeding cassette to bring the sheets thereon into contact with a sheet feeding roller. The flapping up member is moved by a driven lever which is in turn moved by a low-tension biasing member in the direction of flapping the bottom plate up upon receipt of a sheet feeding commencement signal. A restrain member energized by a high-tension biasing member is provided to restrain the flapping up member to the retreated position upon termination of the sheet feeding commencing signal whereby the sheet feeding cassette is not affected by any resistance at the time of insertion or removal of the cassette and the bottom plate of the cassette is automatically flapped up only while sheet feeding is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Konishirku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tamura
  • Patent number: 4487406
    Abstract: A cassette type apparatus, for feeding papers from a cassette insertable into a copier having a feed roller, has a pressing member which automatically engages and presses a bottom of the cassette towards the feed roller when the cassette is inserted into the copier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Kabashima
  • Patent number: 4483528
    Abstract: A manual paper sheet feeding device in a paper sheet feeding apparatus of a copying machine, which apparatus also has an automatic paper sheet feeding device, is provided with a detector for detecting the manual feeding of a paper sheet and the automatic paper sheet feeding device is provided with means responsive to an output from the detector for disengaging paper sheets from a feeding roll thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kokichi Takeyama, Kiyoshi Sugawara, Yasuyuki Fukagawa
  • Patent number: 4482146
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separating and dispensing a single film sheet from a stack of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Willem A. Hoorn
  • Patent number: 4478401
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus comprises a sheet cassette which stores and supports sheets P therein so that the sheets P can move between a feeding position and a non-feeding position, and is inserted into a housing of a copying machine, coil springs provided in the sheet cassette for biasing the sheets P from non-feeding position toward the feeding position, sheet feeding rollers provided in a fixed position and engaging a sheet P brought to the feeding position by the coil spring to feed the sheet P in the sheet cassette to the housing, engaging rollers at a fixed position in the housing, and levers defining cam surfaces which cooperate with the engaging rollers to move and thus isolate the sheets P from the sheet feeding rollers as the cassette is inserted into the housing, by engaging the cam section with the engaging roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihiro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 4456238
    Abstract: A duplex tray is provided for an automatic duplex copying machine, or the like, for receiving and stacking thereon one-side-copied and for re-feeding those sheets into the machine in order to perform printing on the other side of each sheet, having, a gate for switching the sheet transportation directions from a sheet path for discharging sheets outside the machine to a sheet path for discharging sheets onto the duplex tray, and vice versa; a tray pressure application member means for moving the tray between (i) a reference position and (ii) a position deviated outwards from the reference position; an inclined roller which is movable upwards and downwards and can line up the sheets discharged onto the tray; whereby, at the time of sheet discharging, the gate is moved to the side of the sheet discharging path of the tray, and the tray pressure application member is moved to a non-pressure application position, and the tray is moved to a position deviated from the reference position and the inclined roller is m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Mizuma
  • Patent number: 4444386
    Abstract: An electrostatic copying apparatus in which the paper is fed from a cassette. The cassette has a casing for a stack of sheet-like copying papers of at least two different sizes, said casing being a box-like housing having an open top, a closure plate mounted detachably on the top surface of the housing and having at least one display window, and at least two restricting members mounted in spaced-apart relation in the longitudinal direction of the cassette casing so that they can pivot about the axial line of the cassette casing extending in the transverse direction of the cassette casing, each of the restricting members having a restricting portion for restricting the rear end of copying papers to be accommodated in the housing and a display portion having an indication of the size of copying papers, the display portion being positioned adjacent to the display window when the restricting portion is brought to its operative position beneath the closure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoaki Murata, Masahiro Yoshioka, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Yasusuke Tohi
  • Patent number: 4437656
    Abstract: This specification discloses a device for feeding sheet-like image-bearing members (hereinafter simply referred to as sheets) cut into a predetermined size and used with copying machines, recording apparatuses, printing machines and the like. More particularly, it discloses improvements in a sheet feeding device having a feed roller for feeding one by one sheets piled on a paper feed bed or in a cassette or the like, said roller having a cross-section in which part of the circumference thereof is cut away so that, during the non-feeding, the uppermost surface of the piled sheets and said roller maintain a non-contact condition with the aid of said cut-away part. The sheet feeding device is characterized in that it has a member for depressing the piled sheets substantially to a predetermined position before said roller contacts the sheets, in order to always maintain constant the position whereat said feed roller first contacts the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Onoda, Tateki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 4429863
    Abstract: A copying machine includes a single paper supply roller for selectively conducting the paper supply in a manual supply mode wherein a copy paper is introduced through a manual inlet and in an automatic supply mode wherein a copy paper is supplied from a copy paper cassette. A copy paper biasing member is associated with the copy paper cassette so that the copy paper is depressed toward the operating region of the paper supply roller. A manual paper supply guide plate is rotatably secured to the copying machine so that the manual paper supply guide plate takes a first position wherein the manual paper supply guide plate is located under the paper supply roller for conducting the manual paper supply, and a second position not to interfere with the automatic paper supply from the copy paper cassette. A correlation mechanism is connected to the copy paper biasing member to disable the copy paper biasing member when the manual paper supply guide plate is located at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fukusaburo Itoh, Kazushige Mizumoto, Yoshikazu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 4429865
    Abstract: A paper feed device for a copying machine has plate member for supporting a stack of sheets thereon, and separating pawls turnably supported for movement toward and away from the top sheet of the stack and for lightly pressing on each of the forward end corners of the stack when moved toward the stack to the limit of turning movement. The mounting structure for the separating pawls causes them to be displaced in a direction laterally away from the edge of the stack during the turning of the pawls away from the stack to a lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Okada
  • Patent number: 4422631
    Abstract: A copier machine is provided with two or more paper feeder racks loaded with special recording paper cassettes, cooperating with a paper feeding device. The cassettes may contain paper of respectively different sizes. The paper feeding device is provided with a manual lever which not only selects the desired cassette to be fed but permits accurate and quick loading and unloading of one selected cassette while preventing the feeding of the nonselected cassette or cassettes. The manual lever is locked in its selected position but a sensor provides for unlocking the same and return of the manual lever to a neutral position when a paper feeding rack is completely loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsugio Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 4406448
    Abstract: A removable paper cassette for feeding different lengths of cut paper sheets seriatim to a machine operatively associated with the cassette. The cassette includes a chutelike base having a bottom panel, and a pair of sidewalls contiguous with the front wall and extending only along a portion of the bottom panel. The cassette further includes an upwardly biased paper elevating plate pivotably secured at its rearward section to the base, the plate having a pair of detents situated in the forward section thereof adjacent the sidewalls, and a cassette cover pivotably secured to the sidewalls of the base. The cover includes a pair of inwardly projecting camming fingers integral therewith, one on each side of the forward section thereof. The detents engage the fingers when the cover is raised to the open position whereby the cover is held in the open position and the elevating pate is maintained in a depressed position ready for paper loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Kulpa, Leo Wologodzew
  • Patent number: 4405123
    Abstract: An automatic paper sheet feeding device for a copying machine has a cassette with a base plate made of magnetic material which is secured by a magnet to a bottom plate of the cassette against a biasing force of a spring. The device has a cam member which enters a slot in the cassette after the cassette has been inserted into the device. This raises the base plate upwardly which releases the base plate from the magnetic holding force allowing the base plate to rotatingly move upwardly and contact a feeding roll due to the force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kokichi Takeyama, Kiyoshi Sugawara, Yasuyuki Fukagawa
  • Patent number: 4394010
    Abstract: A sheet feeder for feeding sheets from a stack thereof, which feeder automatically fans or separates the uppermost sheets within the stack to facilitate their feeding. The feeder includes a feed roll brake releasably coupled to a feed roll which brake rotates with the feed roll until a pre-determined force is applied on the brake by a spring that has been compressed by the normal feeding rotation of the feed roll, causing the feed roll to rotate in the opposite direction to the normal feed direction, thereby fanning the uppermost sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Raymond A. Hogenson
  • Patent number: 4387889
    Abstract: A copying apparatus provided with a cassette-type paper feeding mechanism. The paper feeding mechanism includes a cassette-receiving section disposed at an upstream end of a paper transfer passage defined within a housing and a copying paper cassette to be mounted to the cassette-receiving section through an opening formed in a side wall of the housing and is constructed such that when the paper cassette is inserted into the cassette-receiving section through the opening of the housing to set it at an inoperative position and further moved in a predetermined direction to set it at an operative position, a paper feeding member provided in the cassette-receiving section acts on a copying paper in the paper cassette to render it ready for feeding into the paper transfer passage. A pair of paper transfer rollers are provided at that position of the paper transfer passage which is in proximity to the cassette-receiving section, and at least one of these transfer rollers is mounted movably relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Koyama, Ryutaro Yamagata, Nobuhiko Kozuka, Hiromi Sakata
  • Patent number: 4372547
    Abstract: A stack of sheets (59) are placed on a movable bottom plate (53) of a cassette (52) and aligned with a leading edge and a side edge of the cassette (52). A corner separator (66) is provided at the corner of the leading and side edges. The bottom plate (53) is raised so that the top sheet (59) engages with a single feed roller (61) which is disposed adjacent to the corner separator (66). A skew preventing roller (68) engages with the top sheet (59) upstream of the feed roller (61)in a feed direction of the sheet (59). A manual lever (88) is provided to move the skew preventing roller (68) and an arm (56) for raising the bottom plate (53) clear of the cassette (52) for the purpose of detaching or inserting the cassette (52) in a frame (94). In a released position of the lever (88), a portion (122) of the lever ( 88) blocks insertion and detachment of the cassette (52) while the skew preventing roller (68) and raising arm (56) are in operative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yanagawa, Kenichi Mizuma
  • Patent number: 4363477
    Abstract: An extra sheet feeder in a copying machine includes a positioning member associated with an extra sheet which is to be located in substantial alignment with the leading edge of normal copy sheets disposed in a stack within an associated container of the machine, in a path formed above the stack and along which an extra sheet is inserted. A simple operation of causing one side or the leading edge of the extra sheet to abut against the positioning member permits an extra sheet to be loaded in place and fed using the usual feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Miyashita
  • Patent number: RE32281
    Abstract: A copy sheet-feeding apparatus comprises a switch and control mechanism. The switch detects an open state of a sheet cover capable of exposing a stack of copy sheet and a closed state of the cover sheet capable of enclosing the stack, and generates signals denoting the open and closed states of the sheet cover. The control mechanism controls a drive mechanism for moving a sheet rest supporting the stack of copy sheets between a first position capable of receiving the copy sheets and a second position capable of supplying the sheet to a copying press. Receiving the signal denoting the open state of the sheet cover from the switch, the control mechanism causes the sheet rest to be moved to the first position, and, receiving the signal denoting the closed state thereof, causes the sheet rest to be moved to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuzo Tsubo