Abstract: A sheet tray device including (a) a first tray and (b) a second tray which is disposed on an upper side of the first tray and which includes (b-1) a support member, (b-2) a supported body pivotably supported by the support member, and (b-3) a hinge through which the supported body is pivotable. The hinge includes (i) a shaft portion, (ii) first and second bearing portions, and (iii) a removal preventer portion for preventing removal of the shaft portion from the first and second bearing portions. The first and second bearing portions are offset from each other in an axial direction of the shaft portion, and are located on respective opposite sides of the shaft portion in a diametrical direction of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion that are contactable with the first and second bearing portions, respectively. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray device.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically registering a stack of media includes a lever device adapted to be secured to a media tray of a printer, and to pivot in relation to the media tray when the media tray is inserted into the printer, and a registration wall mechanically coupled to the lever device such that the registration wall is repositioned toward the stack of media when the media tray is inserted into the printer.

Abstract: A media tray includes a tray body having a first wall. A first media guide is moveably supported along the tray body. A second media guide is moveably supported along the tray body and disposed approximately transverse to the first media guide. First and second brackets are supported along the first wall. The first bracket is operatively connected to said first media guide and the second bracket is operatively connected to the second media guide. A printing system includes a plurality of size-indicating devices, and a media tray is in operative association with the size-indicating devices. A method of operating a printing system includes moving the first or second media guides to reposition the first or second brackets.

Abstract: A sheet cassette is adapted to be detachably attached to a cassette receiver of an information processing apparatus. A cassette body is formed with an opened space adapted to contain sheets therein. A stopper is operable to prevent a sheet from moving in a first direction to enter the opened space when a volume of the sheets contained in the opened space reaches a maximum containing capacity, while allowing the sheets contained in the opened space to move in a second direction to be fed to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A paper tray supporting structure includes a rotating shaft connecting each of lateral portions of a paper tray and a paper tray holding portion, a guide groove provided at the paper tray holding portion and formed to have an approximately circular arc shape whose center is at the center of the rotating shaft, a pair of arms projecting from the lateral portions of the paper tray, respectively, approximately in parallel to a direction of a normal to a plane of the paper tray for carrying paper thereof, and a mating protrusion projecting from a tip of each of the arms toward the guide groove and pressing a bottom of the guide groove and sliding thereof as the paper tray turns. At the bottom of the guide groove are provided a first convex portion and a second convex portion to mate with the mating protrusion to place the paper tray in a retracted position and a released position, respectively.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

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 sheet-supplying device has a sheet-accommodating tray, a raising/lowering unit, a first position sensor, a second position sensor, a controlling unit. The raising/lowering unit raises and lowers the sheet-accommodating tray substantially. The first position sensor detects a first position indicating a position in the stacked direction of one end portion of a topmost sheet stacked in the sheet-accommodating tray. The second position sensor detects a second position indicating a position in the stacked direction of another end portion of the topmost sheet. The controlling unit controls the raising/lowering unit to raise or lower the sheet-accommodating tray based on both the first position detected by the first position sensor and the second position detected by the second position sensor so that one end of the topmost sheet in the stacked status is positioned at a prescribed position in the stacked direction.

Abstract: During transit of media cassettes there is a need to secure stacked media within the cassette to prevent this stack from moving and becoming disarrayed. Previously this has been achieved by using a pusher plate to urge the stack of media items to one end of the cassette by locking that pusher plate during transit. A ratchet bar is provided in the media cassette lid which engages with the pusher plate assembly to lock it during transit. The ratchet bar is coupled to a cam which is arranged to engage a dispenser when the media cassette is loaded into an ATM or similar. When the media cassette is inserted into the dispenser the cam automatically drives the ratchet bar which rotates and in so doing disengages the pusher plate assembly. By housing the ratchet bar in the media cassette lid, space savings are achieved and in addition, users are prevented from using the pusher plate locking mechanism to facilitate overfilling of the media cassette.

Abstract: When the setting of sheet P is completed, a lift motor is actuated to raise the sheet P at Speed A×2. When a first light-blocking plate raised in association with the rise of the sheet P is detected by a PI sensor, the lift motor reduces its rotational speed to switch its lifting speed from high Speed A×2 to Speed A which is a half of the high speed. The Speed A does not cause the lift motor to overrun.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet supplying unit that accommodates a sheet and has a bottom surface on which the sheet is placed and a supporting portion disposed above the bottom surface, the bottom surface having an auxiliary support unit; a transport unit that transports the sheet from the sheet supplying unit while turning over the sheet; and a recording unit that performs recording on the sheet transported by the transport unit. The auxiliary support unit is extendable and retractable with respect to the bottom surface along a traveling direction of the sheet and is capable of supporting the sheet transported from the recording unit in cooperation with the supporting portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is adapted to be placed beside a sheet processing apparatus by being lifted on a side close to the sheet processing apparatus for engagement with the sheet processing apparatus. The sheet feeding device includes a housing, casters, and an elastic member. The housing stores therein sheets to be supplied to the sheet processing apparatus. Provided for supporting the housing, the casters are mounted on a bottom portion of the housing and include a first caster and a second caster. The first caster is located close to the sheet processing apparatus so as to be movable upward and downward. The second caster is located far from the sheet processing apparatus. The elastic member applies a downward force to the first caster.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette to be inserted into a paper feed port of an image-forming apparatus includes a bottom case, a top cover, a catch tray, and a connecting mechanism. The main case has a paper extraction port from which the pre-printed paper is fed to the paper feed port. The top cover slides relative to the main cover from a closed position to an open position to open the paper extraction port as the main case is inserted into the paper feed port. As the top cover slides toward the open position, the connecting mechanism pivots the catch tray from a flat position to a raised position. An upper surface of the catch tray and an upper surface of the cover member together form a bent-shaped printed paper receiving surface when the catch tray is in the raised position.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of a printer having: a paper feeding tray, which is installed on a rear side of the printer, and on which a paper is placed at an inclination; a paper feeding guide, which is positioned along a paper feeding path from a first part of the paper feeding tray, and guides the paper to a feed roller; a pickup roller which, contacts a first side of the paper in the paper feeding tray, is rotated, and transfers the paper; and a pickup roller driving shaft, which rotates and supports the pickup roller. The paper feeding guide is rotated away from the paper feeding path when a first portion of the paper feeding tray is moved in a direction of the paper feeding path.

Abstract: A two-way paper pickup system in which both a feed tray and a feed cassette can be used, and a printer adopting the same. The paper pickup system includes a feed tray on which paper or a feed cassette is placed, a first pickup assembly that moves the paper placed on the feed tray, a resistance plate that allows the moved paper to be separately transferred, and a second pickup assembly that is moved to a paper exit of the feed cassette so as to move paper included in the feed cassette when the feed cassette is placed on the feed tray. When the feed cassette is inserted into the printer, the first pickup assembly is moved on the feed cassette while being rotated.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a loading portion configured to be loaded with a sheet, a lifting mechanism that lifts the loading portion in an operating state and stops the loading portion in an stopped state, a cam configured to be rotated alternately to a first rotational position for setting the lifting mechanism to the operating state and to a second rotational position for setting the lifting mechanism to the stopped state, a detecting unit having a contact portion movable up and down while contacting the sheet on the loading portion, which detects whether the sheet reaches a first height based upon the movement of the contact portion thereof, and a control unit configured to rotate the cam before the detecting unit detects that the sheet reaches the first height and to stop the cam in the second rotational position in response to the detection by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device of an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same include a paper-feeding cassette detachably mounted to a mounting section of a paper-feeding cassette in a body of the image forming apparatus, including a loading portion with plural sheets of paper and a front panel connected to the loading portion by a sliding member, a pick-up device provided at one side of the mounting section of the paper-feeding cassette, a pick-up bracket rotatably connected to a frame at an upper side of the mounting section and rotating around a rotating shaft, with one end of the pick-up bracket being connected to the pick-up device, and a pick-up controller operating in cooperation with the front panel when the paper-feeding cassette is mounted and removed to and from the mounting section, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus, which comprises a sheet feed cassette adapted to be insertingly mounted in a sheet feed section of an apparatus body in such a manner that it can be pulled out frontward, a cover member attached to an upper edge of an opening which is formed in a rear portion of the apparatus body to allow a rear portion of the sheet feed cassette mounted in the sheet feed section to protrude rearward therefrom, and adapted such that, when the rear portion of the sheet feed cassette is located to protrude from the opening, it covers an upper surface of the protruded rear portion of the sheet feed cassette, and a noise absorbing material attached onto a surface of the cover member adapted to be located in opposed relation to the sheet feed cassette.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding cassette includes: a stacking member including first engaging sections and second engaging sections provided at intervals which are smaller than those of the first engaging sections; and a regulatory member regulating the position of sheets, the regulatory member including an operation section that is operated at the time of movement of the regulatory member and is capable of being displaced, a first engaged section that is capable of engaging with the first engaging sections and is elastically deformable, and a second engaged section that is capable of engaging with the second engaging sections. The second engaged section is displaced in a direction so as to be disengaged from the second engaging sections in accordance with displacement of the operation section, and the first engaged section is elastically deformed as a result of being interlocked with the second engaged section according to displacement of the operation section.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding mechanism wherein a spring can be used to properly regulate a sheet feeding position, sheets are not deformed in spite of the urging force of the spring, and a required conveying force is prevented from being increased after sheet feeding. Specifically, immediately before a sheet is fed, a driving mechanism is used to move a slide plate leftward. A driving portion of the slide plate pushes an arm of a lever to rotate the lever counterclockwise against a tension spring. Thus, a connecting portion of the lever pushes an interlocking portion of a biasing plate downward. That part of the biasing plate rotates clockwise against the force exerted as a set spring portion is urged counterclockwise. In conjunction with this rotation, a biasing portion rotates clockwise to urge printing sheets to press them against a reference surface of a case.

Abstract: A paper feeder includes: a first paper feed cassette in which to store a recording medium with a lock state; a locking portion that determines whether to bring the lock state of the first paper feed cassette into the unlocked state or the locked state; a second paper feed cassette in which to store a recording medium, capable of selectively entering an unlocked state and a locked state; and a lock state transmitting portion that transmits the lock state of the first paper feed cassette to the second paper feed cassette to bring the second paper feed cassette into the unlocked state or the locked state in accordance with the lock state of the first paper feed cassette.

Abstract: A lifting plate provided in a sheet accommodating member is locked at a position, to which the lifting plate is downwardly turned against a pushing force of a spring, by a locking mechanism having a locking member configured to lock the lifting plate, and also having a lock releasing lever configured to release locking of the lifting plate by the locking member. When the sheet accommodating unit is mounted, the lock releasing lever is made to abut against a lock release member. Thus, the lock releasing lever is moved integrally with the locking member in a lock release direction. When the sheet accommodating unit is drawn out, the lock releasing lever is made to abut against the lock release member. Thus, the lock releasing lever is singly moved in a direction opposite to the lock release direction to maintain the locking of the lifting plate by the locking member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a guiding member having an upper guiding surface for guiding the upper surface of a document and a lower guiding surface for guiding the lower surface of the document to guide the document to a support portion. The guiding member is movable to a set position for guiding the document to the support portion without causing the document to come into contact with a feeding roller, a recording-sheet separation position withdrawn for separating one sheet from the other recording sheets and feeding the separated sheet, a document separation position for guiding the document to the feeding roller, and a sheet return position for returning the recording sheet or the document to a corresponding support portion using a return lever. The guiding member is held via a spring such that the guiding member can be returned by itself from the sheet return position to the set position.

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: The subject invention provides a sheet feeding device which can be easily attached to an image forming apparatus. The sheet feeding device includes an adapting part and a lock section. When the sheet feeding device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the adapting part is hooked to a catch section provided in the image forming apparatus. Then, the sheet feeding device is lifted up by the adapting part, which serves as a fulcrum, so as to attach lock section to an attachment board of the image forming apparatus. In this method, it is not necessary to lift up the entire body of the sheet feeding device, and therefore the sheet feeding device can be installed on the image forming apparatus with a little effort. After installation, the sheet feeding device transfers recording sheets to the image forming apparatus via a sheet feeding opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a sheet to a processing device processing the sheet is disclosed that includes: a feeder tray displaceable to a selected one of a retracted position and an unfolded position relative to the processing device, and having a sheet-loaded plane on which the sheet to be fed is to be loaded; a pair of edge guides disposed at the sheet-loaded plane, having a pair of corresponding respective side walls co-extending along a feeding direction of the sheet in opposed relation with each other, to thereby guide lateral edges of the sheet; and a supporting device supporting each of the edge guides pivotably about a pivot axis perpendicular to the feeding direction, to thereby allow the each edge guide to be displaced to a selected one of a standing position on the sheet-loaded plane and an inclined position inclined to the standing position,

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.

Abstract: A printer has a paper rest on which one or more paper sheet is placed, feed rollers for feeding the paper sheet placed on the paper rest, and a printing head for printing an image on the paper sheet. The paper rest has a fixed rest portion, the inclination of which is fixed and a movable rest portion rotatably supported on the fixed rest portion and a torsion spring is interposed between the fixed rest portion and the movable rest portion for generating elastic force according to rotation of the movable rest portion. Due to self-weight of the paper sheets placed on the paper rest and the elastic force of the torsion spring, the movable rest portion is inclined more steep when the number of the paper sheets placed on the paper rest smaller and is inclined more gentle when the number of the paper sheets is larger.

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 multipurpose tray includes a first tray having a first loading surface and a second tray provided to be freely slidable along a predetermined direction with respect to the first tray. The second tray has a second loading surface with an area continuous to the first loading surface changing according to its slide movement. The first tray is provided with a first lever opening and the second tray is provided with a second lever opening with a changing distance L from the first lever opening along a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The multipurpose tray further includes a lever having one end guided by the first lever opening and the other end guided by the second lever opening, and a sheet pressing part provided at the one end of the lever and regulating the sheet position in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. With this configuration, usability of the multipurpose tray can be improved while it can be made sufficiently small.

Abstract: A sheet feed tray is openably/closably (or foldably) attached to the main body of a recording apparatus, and a separator, which separates recorded media to be discharged above the sheet feed tray from unrecorded media loaded on the sheet feed tray, is provided so as to be displaceable relative to the sheet feed tray. When the sheet feed tray is pivoted a predetermined distance or more in the direction indicated by an arrow A, the separator is turned in the direction indicated by an arrow B and enters the inside of the sheet feed tray. With the arrangement, the interference between a separator and the main body of a recording apparatus is avoided, without causing a reduction in the permissible number of unrecorded media to be loaded and an increase of the size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a housing having a cavity therein, a linkage arm disposed within the cavity, an input media tray movably latched to the housing, and an input media tray latch coupled to the linkage arm and releasably engaged with the input media tray. Moving the linkage arm places the imaging apparatus in an operational mode, and releases the input media tray latch and unlatches the input media tray from the housing.

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: A paper feeding apparatus of a printer is provided and includes a double feed prevention unit. The paper feeding apparatus includes a finger unit for generating a curl at a front edge portion of the paper picked up by the pick-up roller. The finger unit presses the front edge portion of the paper that is mounted on the knock-up plate. A ventilation device is also provided to form an air gap under the picked paper by injecting air in the air chamber toward the front edge portion of the paper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an input unit of a letter sorting system which comprises separable first and second conveyor lines. The first line is positioned proximate to an isolating device which processes letters. The first line comprises a conveyor surface and supporting wall along with a linear guide which extends beyond the surface. On the linear guide runs a separating blade. The second line also comprises a conveyor surface and supporting wall along with a linear guide, however this linear guide does not run beyond the length of the second conveyor line supporting surface. At least one second separating blades run on the second conveyor line linear guide. In operation, letters are placed on the second conveyor supporting surface from bins. The placement may be in a select order. The second conveyor line is then brought proximate to the first conveyor line where the two are then coupled.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a print media bin are illustrated and described.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device is operable to feed a sheet medium to an image forming apparatus. A cassette chamber has an inner face. A cassette member is adapted to accommodate the sheet medium therein, and to be withdrawably inserted into the cassette chamber in a first direction. The cassette member has an outer face adapted to oppose the inner face of the cassette chamber when the cassette member is inserted into the cassette chamber. At least one recess is formed on one of the inner face of the cassette chamber and the outer face of the cassette member. At least one protrusion is formed on the other one of the inner face of the cassette chamber and the outer face of the cassette member, and adapted to be fitted with the recess when the cassette member is plenarily inserted into the cassette chamber.

Abstract: A printer body of a printer apparatus is provided with paired bearing portions such that the paired bearing portions face each other, while a paper support for supporting a paper sheet is provided with paired rotating shaft portions, which are rotatably journaled by the paired bearing portions. Each of the rotating shaft portions includes a shaft body and a shaft support portion for supporting the shaft body. The shaft support portion is provided at a flat plate portion of the paper support. A tab portion is formed at the shaft support portion. Each of the paired bearing portions includes a bearing body provided with an opening for receiving the shaft body. At the bearing body, an engaging portion is formed to receive the tab portion to restrict axial movement of the rotating shaft portions. As a result, it is possible to provide a printer apparatus having a paper support less likely to detach from the printer body.

Abstract: A paper tray for use with a printer. The paper tray includes a sidewall, a door plate, a rotating member and a resilient element. The sidewall has a through hole. The door plate pivots on the sidewall and rotates around an X-axis. The rotating member is disposed in the through hole and pivots on the sidewall. The rotating member has an engagement portion and selectively rotates between a first position and a second position around a Y-axis. The resilient element is disposed between the rotating member and the sidewall, providing resilience to the rotating member to rotate to the first position. The rotating member rotates to the second position when exerted to overcome the resilience. The rotating member rotates to the first position by the resilience in the absence of external pressure, such that the engagement portion abuts the door plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a document includes a chassis, a copying device coupled to the chassis, a feed tray coupled to the chassis and moveable between a first position and second position, a first feed mechanism operable to accept a document from the feed tray and feed the document to the copying device by way of a substantially arcuate path, and a second feed mechanism operable to accept the a document from the feed tray and feed the document to the copying device by way of a substantially linear path. Paper documents may be fed to the copying device from the feed tray in the first position and photographs may be fed to the copying device from the feed try in the second position.

Abstract: For replacing a cassette 9 in an automatic loader section 4, an operation of retracting the cassette 9 to a cassette accommodation section 3 is performed in parallel with an operation of inserting a new cassette 9 from the cassette accommodation section 3 to the automatic loader section 4. Accordingly, the time required by the automatic loader section 4 for the cassette replacement operation is the same as the longer time among the time for retracting the cassette and the time for inserting the cassette. Thus, the time in which the automatic loader section 4 must stop the transportation of the image recording materials can be shortened.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking and unloading system in which sheets are stacked on a stacking tray which is then moved from its sheet stacking position to an unloading position for removing the sheet stack from the stacking tray, and the stacking tray has a sheet stacking surface partially interrupted by at least one handhold area for allowing manual lifting access underneath a portion of a stack, there is automatically inserted into the handhold area at least one supplemental sheet stack supporting member to provide supplemental sheet stacking support, preventing the sheets from sagging in those areas, which supplemental sheet stack supporting member is automatically removed from the handhold area when the stacking tray is moved to its unloading position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, a lock mechanism that locks the sheet feeding tray, a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets from the sheet feeding tray one by one, an opening and closing unit that opens and closes a conveyance path, a sheet detecting sensor that detects presence of a sheet at a position at which the opening and closing unit is arranged, and a state detecting unit that detects a state of the opening and closing unit. When the sheet detecting sensor detects that a sheet is stuck during conveyance of the sheet, the lock mechanism locks the sheet feeding tray not to be drawn out, and unlock the sheet feeding tray after the opening and closing unit opens the conveyance path.

Abstract: A media input system for an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The media input system includes an input tray for holding a stack of media sheets, a scissor picking assembly for picking individual media sheets from the stack, and a transport roller assembly for transporting the picked media sheets to a media path in the image forming apparatus. The scissor picking assembly includes a pair of guide rails pivotally linked to a roller support frame. One end of the roller support frame is coupled to a pick roller shaft having at least one pick roller rigidly mounted thereon, while the other end is configured to pivotally mount to the housing of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Various embodiment and methods relating to a media tray are disclosed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feed tray, which is attached to the apparatus body so as to be freely opened and closed with respect to the apparatus body, and a paper pressing plate disposed inside the apparatus body. The paper feed tray has a pair of protrusions on the inner surfaces of the side walls thereof. The paper pressing plate has a pair of notches formed by partially cutting the side portions of the plate so that, when the paper feed tray is in the closed position, the protrusions of the paper feed tray are received in the notches and the side faces of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed face the protrusions in a manner that are almost in contact with the protrusions. When a force acts on the paper feed tray in the closed position to bend inward the side walls of the paper feed tray, the protrusions are pressed against the portions of the paper pressing plate where the notches are formed so as to stop the inward bending of the side walls.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including an automatic feeding mechanism for picking up one of recording media placed on a feed tray one by one and feeding the recording medium is provided. The automatic feeding mechanism includes: the feed tray on which a predetermined number of recording medium can be placed; a hopper for pushing the recording media on the feed tray toward a feed roller; and a separator located in a downstream of the hopper near the hopper. The automatic feeding mechanism picks up the recording media one by one in an order from an uppermost recording medium to a lowermost recording medium and feeds the recording medium thus picked to its downstream by an action of the feed roller and the hopper to sandwich and transfer the recording medium and a separating action of the separator. The automatic feeding mechanism can be rotated around a fulcrum of rotation so as to be foldable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.

Abstract: A media supply is provided for use in an imaging device having an entry port. The media supply has a housing defining a media storage area to hold media, an opening to receive media, and a device engagement surface shaped for insertion into the entry port A media enclosure is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position wherein the media storage area can be accessed through the opening and a closed position blocking the opening. Wherein the media storage area, media enclosure, and engagement surface are arranged so that the media enclosure can be moved between the closed position and the open position when the engagement surface is inserted into the entry port.

Abstract: A sheet tray device including (a) a first tray and (b) a second tray which is disposed on an upper side of the first tray and which includes (b-1) a support member, (b-2) a supported body pivotably supported by the support member, and (b-3) a hinge through which the supported body is pivotable. The hinge includes (i) a shaft portion, (ii) first and second bearing portions, and (iii) a removal preventer portion for preventing removal of the shaft portion from the first and second bearing portions. The first and second bearing portions are offset from each other in an axial direction of the shaft portion, and are located on respective opposite sides of the shaft portion in a diametrical direction of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion that are contactable with the first and second bearing portions, respectively. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray device.