Abstract: An end fence for use in a sheet feeding cassette includes an end fence main body attached to the sheet feeding cassette and movable along a sheet feeding direction, a device that fixes the end fence main body at any desired position in the sheet feeding cassette, and a sheet pressing element that presses against trailing edges of the sheets loaded on a bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette. The sheet pressing element is provided to the end fence main body and movable in the sheet feeding direction and protrudes from the end fence main body forward in the sheet feeding direction when the sheet pressing element moves in the sheet feeding direction. The end fence further includes a biasing device that biases the sheet pressing element forward in the sheet feeding direction, and a bias force switching device that switches between a biasing condition and a non-biasing condition.

Abstract: A packaged stack of dividers comprising a container including front and back covers, at least two dividers oriented in stacked relation to each other and positioned in the container between the front and back covers, and an alignment member coupled to the stacked dividers. In one embodiment, the alignment member is positioned through holes in the dividers.

Abstract: A method for controlling elements for guiding sheet material and for controlling a surface for holding a sheet pile, which comprises registering, by a first sensor element, a lateral position of the sheet material and, based thereon, moving the surface for holding the sheet pile in a lateral direction, and controlling, via a sensor element for sensing a side edge of the sheet pile, independently of a first guide element, the lateral position of a further guide element, which is disposed on a side of the sheet pile, which is opposite to an aligning member for laterally aligning the sheet material and is assigned to an upper pile region; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: An interlocked type paper collection support board of printer includes a paper-out board, an extension board, and a half stroke mechanism. The paper-out board is retractably installed on a main body of a printer. The extension board is also retractably installed on the paper-out board. The half stroke mechanism is installed between the main body of the printer, the paper-out board, and the extension board. Through interlocked motion of the half stroke mechanism, the paper-out board is simultaneously driven when a user draws the extension board. The paper-out board can thus be simultaneously positioned with the extension board with half the speed and displacement of the extension board.

Abstract: A tray for holding a stack of media sheets for feeding into a printing mechanism is provided. The tray has a first media guide movable relative to a first wall of the tray in a first direction to vary a first spacing there between for accommodating different media sizes in the first direction. The tray also has a second media guide manually adjustable relative to a second wall of the tray in a second direction to vary a second spacing there between for accommodating different media sizes in the second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Furthermore, the movements of the first guide are synchronized with movements of the second guide so that adjustment of the first guide is automatically achieved through the manual adjustment of the second guide.

Abstract: A paper cassette holds a stack of print medium therein. A guide member includes first and second members. A medium-supporting plate supports the stack of the paper placed thereon. When the guide member is moved to a predetermined position, the first member abuts the end of the stack of print medium and the second member slides under the edges of the paper placed on the medium-supporting plate. The second member has a tapered forward end portion that allows the second member to smoothly slide under the bottom of the stack of print medium. The guide member is guided in a groove to move to and from the stack of print medium. The second member has a flat portion and the tapered forward end portion extends further away from the flat portion than the bottom of the stack of print medium.

Abstract: A sheet-size detecting mechanism includes a sheet holder composed of a paper tray and a paper guide. The mechanism also includes a logic board and a sensor module. Adjusting the width of the paper guide corresponding to the sheet width may cause a lot of digital information to be generated due to relative motion between the logic board and the sensor module. Then the sheet-size may be determined accordingly.

Abstract: A sheet material guiding mechanism for guiding the edge portion of sheet material comprises a movable side guide capable of sliding corresponding to the sizes of sheet material, and being fixable in any position within the sliding area; a sheet guide section provided for the movable side guide in order to regulate the position of sheet material by butting against the edge of the sheet material; and an inner-side operating section provided for the movable side guide, being capable of releasing the fixed condition of the movable side guide by depression, hence making it possible to provide a sheet material guiding mechanism having a simple structure at lower costs, and producing the suppression effect against the skew of the sheet material with the easy operation that copes with disability.

Abstract: A tray for holding a stack of media sheets for feeding into a printing mechanism is provided. The tray has a first media guide movable relative to a first wall of the tray in a first direction to vary a first spacing therebetween for accommodating different media sizes in the first direction. The tray also has a second media guide manually adjustable relative to a second wall of the tray in a second direction to vary a second spacing therebetween for accommodating different media sizes in the second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Furthermore, the movements of the first guide are synchronized with movements of the second guide so that adjustment of the first guide is automatically achieved through the manual adjustment of the second guide.

Abstract: A tray for holding a stack of media sheets for feeding into a printing mechanism is provided. The tray has a first media guide movable relative to a first wall of the tray in a first direction to vary a first spacing therebetween for accommodating different media sizes in the first direction. The tray also has a second media guide manually adjustable relative to a second wall of the tray in a second direction to vary a second spacing therebetween for accommodating different media sizes in the second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Furthermore, the movements of the first guide are synchronized with movements of the second guide so that adjustment of the first guide is automatically achieved through the manual adjustment of the second guide.

Abstract: A substrate tray includes a tall backstop guide that is attached to the bottom of the feed tray and which rotates about a vertical axis into three positions 45° apart, presenting four different surfaces to a stack of substrates in the tray. Each surface accommodates a different substrate size and thereby accommodates four different widths of substrates. The backstop guide includes a cam member that is flexed against a back wall of the tray when a load is applied to the backstop guide by the stack of substrates shifting inboard if the tray is pushed to forcefully into a machine after loading, in order to prevent skewing of the substrates.

Abstract: A paper feeding cassette includes a frame provided with a bottom plate to support paper and a plurality of walls to define a paper loading size. The paper feeding cassette also includes a loading size adjustment device to pivotally connect at least one of the walls to be hinged on the bottom plate, so that the at least one wall is movable between a vertical position to limit the paper loading size, and a horizontal position to not limit the paper loading size, enabling a variation of the paper loading size. Since the loading size of the paper feeding cassette is varied in accordance with a size of papers to be used, papers of various sizes may be used without having to increase a size of the cassette and an office machine which uses the cassette.

Abstract: A link type paper tray structure includes a base, two movable guides, and a link mechanism. The base is provided for receiving paper. The link mechanism is mounted on the base. The link mechanism may be used to control movable guides mounted on the base to move reciprocally. Thus, the paper tray has a lower cost of fabrication, may efficiently reduce noise during use, and may facilitating operation.

Abstract: A device for detecting a placement position of a document includes at least two sensors mounted on a document feeding device. Each of the sensors is in parallel with the tangential direction of the leading edge of a document feeding roller, and may be moved by the document feeding device to adjust the placing document width.

Abstract: A resonance chamber is provided in a printing device, or in a print medium supply tray of the printing device, to determine the size of the print medium in the printing device. The supply of print medium and the resonance chamber are positioned so that the print medium covers a portion of the resonance chamber. An audio signal system then emits an audio signal to drive the resonance chamber. The frequency of the audio signal is varied until the natural resonance frequency of the chamber, as partially covered by the print medium, is discovered. The resonance frequency of the chamber will correspond to the amount of the chamber that is covered by the print medium and, hence, to the length (or width) of the print medium. In this way, the size of the print medium, whether standard or custom, can be determined.

Abstract: All the constituent members of a tray 1, for example, a side guide 30, a paper separating claw 50, a tray body 10, a drawing handle member 70, a member for regulating an end guide 40, and a holding member for holding a retard roll 60 each have a snap-fit structure. Therefore, the assembling and disassembling of the tray can be easily performed. The tray is formed only from members that enable all the steps of processes of assembling and disassembling the tray to be performed from the same direction without changing the orientation of the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus to guide a printing sheet in an office machine such as a printer. The apparatus includes a sheet guide to guide and set the printing sheet placed in a plate which forms a printing sheet tray or cassette, a slide-fixing part to movably dispose the sheet guide on the plate, a locking part to lock the sheet guide to the plate after the sheet is guided and set by the sheet guide, and a pivot prevention part having a pair of racks formed parallel to each other on the plate, and a pair of pinions rotatably disposed in the sheet guide to engage the respective ones of racks. The pivot prevention part disperses a force imparted to the sheet guide, thereby enabling the sheet guide to move parallel with an edge of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet media handling system suitable for use with a printer is disclosed. The sheet media handling system includes a first support and a second support adjacent the first support. In use, the first support supports first sheet media and second sheet media on the first sheet media. The second support supports a portion of second sheet media that is not supported by the underlying first sheet media. A biasing means biases the second support. The biasing means is collapsible under the portion of up to a predetermined number of sheets of the second sheet media. During a pick cycle when the first support is moved to present supported media thereon to an infeed zone of the printer, the portion topmost of the second sheet media is brought to within a predetermined tolerance of the infeed zone.

Abstract: A sheet size detecting device is provided with the following a tray in which sheets are stored, guides that can be adjusted in position in accordance with the size of sheets stored in the tray, and bit generation sections that are moved in synchronism with movement of the guides. The device detects bits based on the movement of the bit generation sections, and the number of bits detectable is larger than the number of bit generation sections by at least one. The device detects the size of sheets stored in the tray on the basis of the correspondence between the combination of detected bits and the sizes of sheets which can be stored in the tray.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus for supplying stacked sheets includes a standard sheet tray provided with a standard side guide that regulates a position in the width direction of the stacked sheet, and an extension sheet tray extendably disposed upstream of the standard sheet tray in a sheet feeding direction, wherein the extension sheet tray has an auxiliary side guide that regulates a position in the width direction of a sheet feeding direction upstream portion of a long sheet. A sheet handling apparatus using the sheet supply apparatus.

Abstract: A paper tray automatically adjusts to accommodate a variety of media sizes. An array of photodetectors on the support surface of the tray are masked from light by placing media in the tray. A controller determines the size of the media by monitoring which photodetectors have been masked. The controller can then direct tray guides to move to predetermined positions corresponding to the size of the media.

Abstract: A paper tray assembly for providing imaging media to an imaging apparatus, includes a base cassette and an insert cassette. The base cassette defines a first receptacle to receive at least a portion of the insert cassette, and the insert cassette defines a second receptacle to receive the imaging media.

Abstract: A paper whose width is to be detected is placed on a base. Two limiting members that can move towards or away from each other are situated on the two sides of the paper. The limiting members are moved to make a physical contact with the side of the paper. In this state, a rotation angle detection sensor detects an angle based on positions of the limiting members and outputs a signal based on the angle and an auxiliary sensor judges presence or absence of the limiting members in a certain range and outputs a signal. A width detection sensor detects the width of the paper based on the signals output from the rotation angle detection sensor and the auxiliary sensor.

Abstract: A paper tray automatically adjusts to accommodate a variety of media sizes. An array of photodetectors on the support surface of the tray are masked from light by placing media in the tray. A controller determines the size of the media by monitoring which photodetectors have been masked. The controller can then direct tray guides to move to predetermined positions corresponding to the size of the media.

Abstract: A media cassette for an automatic dispenser which can be used easily and solve problems of incorrect operations when a push plate is locked since if the automatic dispenser receives the cassette having a locked push plate, locking is automatically released. The media cassette for an automatic dispenser includes a cassette body having a certain interior space in which media is received, a push plate installed slidably in the cassette body for supporting media, an elastic member positioned between the push plate and the cassette body for urging the push plate, guide members installed between the both sides surfaces of the push plate and the inner sides of the cassette body for guiding the push plate to perform linear movement and a locking mechanism installed between the push plate and the cassette body for locking the push plate and releasing the locking of the push plate in case the media cassette is received in the automatic dispenser.

Abstract: A structure for fixing a roller on a base is disclosed. The structure includes a sheet-like elastomer having a guiding hole for trapping a shaft of the roller, and two fixing elements respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the base, which is located at two lateral sides of the roller, for receiving two ends of the sheet-like elastomer to provide a deformation of the sheet-like elastomer for providing a suppress power for the roller.

Abstract: The sheet guide device for machines that process sheets of printing material, such as a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, has a first guide element which has a supporting face inclined transversely with respect to the transport direction of the sheets of printing material. The supporting face supports side edges of the sheets of printing material. The guide element is mounted such that it can be adjusted with an adjusting device in the form of a motor.

Abstract: An imaging media tray includes at least one adjustable guide operatively connected to an interior surface of the imaging media tray. The guide divides the interior of the tray into a loading section and an unused section. A blocking mechanism is secured in the unused section of the media tray to prevent a user of the tray from loading imaging media into the unused section of the tray. The blocking mechanism can be provided as an adjustable blocking element with a an expandable and contractible mechanical blocker connected between the at least one adjustable guide and an interior wall of the tray. Illustrated embodiments show the blocker as a telescoping member and as a pivoting cross member arrangement.

Abstract: An automatic adjusting device for a bank note holding member is provided. The bank note holding member can be inserted into a safe for the dispensing of bank notes. The holding member can have relatively movable side and end walls which can automatically and mechanically adjust to the particular size of the stack of bank notes that are inserted therein. When the bank note holding member is removed, the walls can be automatically extended to open the space to receive bank notes. When the bank note holding member is inserted into a safe, the respective walls can close on the stack of bank notes and assert a predetermined force to align the bank notes stored therein.

Abstract: A sheet media handling system suitable for use with a printer is disclosed. The sheet media handling system includes a first support and a second support adjacent the first support. In use, the first support supports first sheet media and second sheet media on the first sheet media. The second support supports a portion of second sheet media that is not supported by the underlying first sheet media. A biasing means biases the second support. The biasing means is collapsible under the portion of up to a predetermined number of sheets of the second sheet media. During a pick cycle when the first support is moved to present supported media thereon to an infeed zone of the printer, the portion topmost of the second sheet media is brought to within a predetermined tolerance of the infeed zone.

Abstract: A sheet containing apparatus including: a sheet stacking portion which is provided in an apparatus main body and on which sheets are stacked; and a regulating member provided on the sheet stacking portion so as to be movable according to the size of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion and adapted to abut against edges of the stacked sheets to regulate the position of the sheets, in which there is provided a positioning member for effecting positioning on the regulating member on upper and lower sides with respect to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An adjustable sheet tray for receiving sheets of material from a sheet feeding machine which counts out a number of sheets to be added to a stack. The sheet tray receives the sheets and allows the stacks to be easily removed. The sheet tray is easily adjustable for the length and width of the sheets delivered to it and for the depth of the stack of sheets. The sheet tray has a sensor, which tells the sheet feeder to start sending more sheets to it when it senses that the stack of sheets in the sheet tray has been removed. A spring loaded hanging finger provides a stop on an otherwise open end of the sheet tray and is pushed up and out of the way when a stack of sheets is removed from the sheet tray and returns the fingers to their original position after the stack of sheets is removed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of separator pads each having a particular coefficient of friction with respect to sheets for separating the sheets one by one. An automatic switching mechanism automatically replaces the separator pads. The automatic switching mechanism includes a pad pressure switching section, a pad angle switching section, a ball screw with a worm wheel mounted thereon, a ball nut meshing with the ball screw, a worm meshing with the worm wheel for moving a movable member in the widthwise direction of the sheets via the ball screw, a pad motor for causing the worm to rotate, and a sensor responsive to the position of the movable member. The device automatically selects one of the separator pads and an angle thereof in order to set up optimal sheet feed conditions matching with environmental conditions including temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has an adjustable tray for receiving and storing paper, such as photographic paper, has adjustable sheet width aligning and sheet receiving guide members that can alignably accommodate various sizes of paper. Independent quick release/latch mechanisms enable easy and quick deployment of the adjustable sheet width aligning and sheet receiving guide members.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette having a size detection function has a paper stage formed integrally with a rear end restricting plate for restricting the rear end of paper sheets. On the bottom of the paper stage, a plurality of rib-like detection targets are arranged in the paper feed direction. The detection targets are detected by a plurality of detection switches arranged in the paper feed direction in a paper feed portion inside the main body of an image forming apparatus. A discriminator receives the detection signals from the detection switches and thereby recognizes the paper size and the presence/absence of the paper feed cassette.

Abstract: This invention relates to an aligning device for a feeder of a mailing machine, comprising a first rear aligning guide mobile in one direction of advance of the mailpieces and a second lateral aligning guide mobile in a direction perpendicular to this direction of advance, each aligning guide being adapted to be displaced in a respective groove. The groove associated with the rear aligning guide is inclined by a determined angle &agr; with respect to the direction of advance of the mailpieces, with the result that the rear aligning guide remains substantially centered on the small dimension of the mailpiece whatever the format of this piece. The rear aligning guide preferably presents the shape of a wedge having at least two successive slopes, a first slope of slight inclination and a second slope of steep inclination.

Abstract: Springs 34 and 35 are located on the back face of a paper cassette, between a movable plate 32 and a bar 31, coupled with a side edge aligner 27. A slot extending in the direction in which a spring load is generated is formed in the movable plate, and a hook portion is formed at the end of the spring in the direction in which the spring is extended or contracted. The length of the slot and the length of the spring end in the direction in which the spring load is generated differ for the individual springs, and correspond to the distance the movable plate is displaced. That is, a size difference is defined for each spring until the spring load is applied. During the insertion of the paper cassette, the movable plate is displaced by the mechanism constituted by the groove cam 41 and the boss 36a, and in accordance with the displacement, different spring loads are multiply applied the paper side edge aligning member via the bar.

Abstract: All the constituent members of a tray 1, for example, a side guide 30, a paper separating claw 50, a tray body 10, a drawing handle member 70, a member for regulating an end guide 40, and a holding member for holding a retard roll 60 each have a snap-fit structure. Therefore, the assembling and disassembling of the tray can be easily performed. The tray is formed only from members that enable all the steps of processes of assembling and disassembling the tray to be performed from the same direction without changing the orientation of the tray.

Abstract: A link type paper tray structure includes a base, two movable racks, and a link mechanism. The base is provided for receiving paper. The link mechanism is mounted on the base. The link mechanism may be used to control movable racks mounted on the base to move reciprocally. Thus, the paper tray has a lower cost of fabrication, may efficiently reduce noise during use, and may facilitating operation.

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

Abstract: An adjustable tray for receiving and storing sheets of web material, such as photographic paper and film, has adjustable sheet width aligning and sheet receiving guide members that can alignably accommodate various sizes of paper. Independent quick release/latch mechanisms enable easy and quick deployment of the adjustable sheet width aligning and sheet receiving guide members.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheetlike material from a stack, with a holder for receiving a stack for supporting the stack and opposed side guides for guiding sheetlike material of the stack in a feeding direction. One of the side guides is displaceable relative to the other one. As, further, one of the side guides is movable between a working position projecting relative to the platform for guiding sheets in a working area and a filling position in which the working area is at least partly cleared for passing therethrough sheets to be placed in the bolder, filling of the apparatus is facilitated and this can be carried out faster.

Abstract: The invention allows an amount by which restricting members should be moved to be grasped accurately and easily, prohibits movement of the restricting members in time of fastening the restricting members, and allows positions of the restricting members to be adjusted accurately and just by a necessary amount. A set screw is meshed with a boss of a retaining member through an eccentric cam mounted in a cam guide formed in an upper surface of a main body, the eccentric cam being supported to have an axis of rotation aligned to an axis of rotation of a pinion. A rotation of the eccentric cam varies positions of contact between peripheral surface of the eccentric cam and side surfaces of the cam guide to vary a distance from the positions of contact to the center of rotation of the eccentric cam.

Abstract: Each rear edge of an upper plate that receives a portion of a front edge side of a sheet is engaged with each slit provided to a sheet support member that receives a portion of a rear edge side of the sheet. Further, an end guide where the rear edge of the sheet contact is provided to the sheet support member. Therefore, the end guide moves back and forth in synchronization with a vertical swing of the upper plate. Even though the upper plate is vertically swung, a distance between a front edge of the upper plate and the end guide is maintained at substantially the same distance. Consequently, a deviation of the sheet caused by swinging only the upper plate can be prevented.

Abstract: A method for controlling elements for guiding sheet material and for controlling a surface for holding a sheet pile, which comprises registering, by a first sensor element, a lateral position of the sheet material and, based thereon, moving the surface for holding the sheet pile in a lateral direction, and controlling, via a sensor element for sensing a side edge of the sheet pile, independently of a first guide element, the lateral position of a further guide element, which is disposed on a side of the sheet pile, which is opposite to an aligning member for laterally aligning the sheet material and is assigned to an upper pile region; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit for forming an image on either a free-size sheet of an arbitrary size other than a regular size or a regular-size sheet, a controlling unit for controlling, when the image forming unit forms the image on the regular-size sheet, a controlling target unit according to a size of the regular-size sheet, an inputting unit for inputting a size of the free-size sheet, and a converting unit for converting the size inputted by the inputting unit, to suit the converted size to the controlling performed by the controlling unit to the regular-size sheet, wherein the controlling unit performs the different controlling for each group of the sheet sizes, and the converting unit performs the converting to suit the size of the free-size sheet to the group.

Abstract: An auto sheet feeder has sheet supporting means provided on the frame of the main body of the apparatus and supporting sheets thereon, and sheet feeding means for feeding out the sheets supported on the sheet supporting means. A reference surface for regulating one side edge of the sheets fed out by the sheet feeding means is formed on each of the frame and the sheet supporting means.

Abstract: A paper cassette for an image forming device includes a cassette body having a receiving section for receiving paper and a guide lever movably disposed on a bottom of the cassette body for slant arranging sides of the received paper. The guide lever includes a guiding portion, a base member, and a hinge shaft for hingedly connecting the guiding portion and the base member. A stopping portion on the base member restricts hinged movement of the guiding portion.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a paper-stacking mechanism having a paper-stacking plate on which the papers are to be stacked, and a width-limiting member for limiting the position of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking plate in the direction of width of the papers; a suction/feed mechanism disposed above the paper-stacking mechanism to feed by suction the uppermost paper stacked on the paper-stacking plate; and an air-blowing mechanism disposed on the front side of the paper-stacking means in the direction in which the papers are conveyed and including an air duct extending in a direction at right angles with the direction in which the paper is conveyed, said air duct having plural nozzles for jetting out the air against an upper portion at the front end of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking means, and a fan connected to an end of said air duct.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus has a fixed-side paper guide 5 and a movable-side paper guide 6. A tubular portion 7 of the movable-side paper guide 6 is slidably attached to a guide shaft 4. The guide shaft 4 is rotated by the power for feeding the paper to a paper processing section. The guide shaft 4 is provided with a helical groove 42, and a movable piece 71 having a pawl for engagement with the helical groove 42 is provided on the movable-side paper guide 6. When the guide shaft 4 rotates the movable-side paper guide 6 pushes and moves the paper to a proper position. When the paper is set in the proper position, the pawl is pushed up by a helical projection forming the helical groove 42, and is disengaged from the helical groove 42.