Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper cassette, a registration roller pair, a first feed roller, and a second feed roller. In the paper feed apparatus, a pick-up unit is provided which is mounted to an image formation apparatus main body, and which has the registration roller pair, the first feed roller; a first guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the first feed roller to the registration roller pair; a second guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the second feed roller to the registration roller pair; and a paper feed base part that holds the registration roller pair, the first feed roller, the first guide part, the second feed roller, and the second guide part on the roller both end sides, respectively, for unitization.

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: An image forming device has: a cassette that accommodates a recording medium and that can be pulled out from a front surface of a device main body; and a lock unit locking the cassette to a rear surface of the device main body. The lock unit may have: a lock hole formed in a peripheral wall of the cassette; a bracket mounted to a rear surface side of the device main body; a lock having a rod, that passes through a hole formed in the bracket and that is inserted in the lock hole, and a hook, that is formed at the rod and that hooks on the lock hole; and a wire connecting the lock and a heavy object.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of container units containing sheets, a sheet feeding device provided for each of the plurality of container units and configured to feed the sheets; and a controller switching between modes including a first mode and a second mode in order to automatically switch a sheet feeding position from a container unit in current use to another container unit. In the first mode, the sheet feeding position is switched to the other container unit in the state in which a prescribed amount of sheets are left in the container unit in current use, and in the second mode, the sheet feeding position is switched to the other container unit after the sheets in the container unit in current use are exhausted.

Abstract: In a conventional printing apparatus with a plurality of paper feed ports, since a paper type limits the paper feed port usable for paper feed, a user must know in advance a paper feed port to set a paper sheet. This arrangement is not user-friendly. A printing apparatus according to the present invention, however, holds table information indicating the correspondence between paper types and paper feed ports usable for paper feed. When a paper type is designated together with input print data, information on a paper feed port usable for paper feed is acquired from the table information. A message is displayed to prompt the user to set a paper sheet on the paper feed port usable for paper feed so that the user can set an appropriate paper sheet.

Abstract: For sheet stacking trays having a lowered sheet stacking position and raised sheet feeding positions, and repositionable stack edge guides, improved visual accuracy for the repositioning of the stack edge guide for different sheet sizes is provided by automatically extending out an elongated visual indicator from the repositionable stack edge guide to closely overlay the correct corresponding stack size visual indicia from a spaced array of such indicia when the tray is in said lowered sheet stacking position, and automatically pivotally lifting this elongated visual indicator up away from any possible obstruction of the raising of the tray for sheet feeding. The indicator may further provide a reading window surrounding the correct indicia.

Abstract: A tray unit can accommodate a stack of recording mediums. A side fence performs alignment of the stack of the recording mediums in one direction and an end fence performs alignment in another direction. A first lever has a first corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the side fence. A second lever has a second corrugated portion and it pivots with the tray unit according to sliding motion of the end fence. A sensor is provided integrally with the tray unit and has portions that are selectively pressed by a composite corrugated portion formed of the first corrugated portion and the second corrugated portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus, includes: a paper feed cassette which is detachably attached to an apparatus body; a conveyance unit which separates and conveys a sheet from the paper feed cassette; a swing member which is swingably supported about a shaft relative to the apparatus body, and whose swing positions are respectively changed in a state where the paper feed cassette is detached from the apparatus body, a state where the paper feed cassette is attached to the apparatus body and where the sheet is not being conveyed, and a state where the paper feed cassette is attached to the apparatus body and where the sheet is not being conveyed; and a detection unit which detects a change of the swing positions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an image forming part configured to form an image on a recording medium, a feed part for feeding the recording medium, a manual feed part for manually feeding the recording medium, and a shutter member configured to open and close a manual feed opening from the manual feed part. The shutter member is provided so as to be swingable.

Abstract: A sheet-supply cassette including a main member which is open upward and which is adapted to store recording sheets that are stacked on each other; an auxiliary member which is open upward and which is adapted to support respective trailing end portions of the recording sheets as seen in a sheet-feed direction in which each of the recording sheets is fed, wherein the auxiliary member is attached to the main member such that the auxiliary member is movable relative to the main member, in each of opposite directions parallel to the sheet-feed direction, so that the auxiliary member is engaged with the main member at an arbitrary one of engagement positions; first engaging portions which are distant from each other in the sheet-feed direction; and an elastically deformable portion including, as an integral portion thereof, a second engaging portion which can engage an arbitrary one of the first engaging portions so as to define a corresponding one of the engagement positions.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium disposed at a lower portion thereof, a device frame that supports the image forming device at the lower portion, having a first attaching portion to which to attach a first storage frame and a second attaching portion to which to attach a second frame. Either a first storage unit or a second storage unit is attached to the image forming unit. The first storage unit includes a first storage tray having a first storage capacity, a first guide member and the first storage frame. The second storage unit includes a second storage tray having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity, the second guide member and the second storage frame.

Abstract: A recording media separating device that separates recording media fed by a feeding roller and a hopper into a top recording medium and next-to-top recording media is provided. The recording media have been held in a feeding tray before being fed. The recording media separating device includes a movable contact separator having a movable contact separation surface that contacts leading ends of the recording media. When the number of the recording media held in the feeding tray becomes less than a predetermined number, the movable contact separation surface of the movable contact separator is moved to a separation position in a transportation path for the recording media.

Abstract: On a center of the front surface of a positioning member 10, positioning projections 25a to 25d are provided in line in such a manner as to project therefrom. On both a left and a right sides of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, scales 27a displaying metric paper sizes and scales 27b displaying inch-based paper sizes are inscribed. The positioning member 10 is horizontally inverted through 180 degrees and a direction indication line 29a on the scale 27a side or a direction indication line 29b on the scale 27b side is aligned with a fitting reference line 30 for fixation to the positioning member 10, thereby permitting switching between positioning for a metric paper size and positioning for an inch-based paper size.

Abstract: Printing sheets (4) are placed on a sheet placing plate (103). A pickup roller (6) contacts a surface of the uppermost printing sheet (4) placed on the sheet placing plate (103) and feeds the printing sheet (4) out of the sheet placing plate (103). A spring (109) resiliently urges the sheet placing plate (103) toward the pickup roller (6). A ratchet (108) moves in accordance with the movement of the sheet placing plate (103). The printing sheets (4) on the sheet placing plate (103) urges the pickup roller (6) upward so that a pickup frame (115) moves upward to a position detected by a position detecting sensor (65). In accordance with the detection signal from the position detecting sensor (65), a solenoid (71) moves a lock lever (110) so that the lock lever (110) engages the ratchet (108) to thereby restrict the movement of the sheet placing plate (103).

Abstract: A detector detects a size of a recording medium stored in a tray of a device. The tray includes a first regulating member that can slide in a width direction of the recording medium, and a second regulating member that can slide in a feed direction of the recording medium. A first movable member engages with the first regulating member, and a second movable member, overlapped by the first movable member, engages with the second regulating member. Both the first and second movable members rotate around a common pivot and include convex members on peripheral edges thereof. Switches are selectively pressed by the convex members when the tray is attached to the device.

Abstract: An image formation device is equipped with a withdrawably provided paper supply cassette. A display portion and a cover-like opening/closing portion are also provided. The display portion is formed at an upper portion of a withdrawal side of the paper supply cassette and shows information relating to the paper supply cassette. The opening/closing portion structures a portion of a side wall of the device at an upper side relative to the paper supply cassette, at the withdrawal side of the paper supply cassette, and includes an openably/closeably attached manual tray. A masking portion, which masks at least some of the display portion when the manual tray is open, is also provided.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a feeding tray; a side end guide provided on the feeding tray along a recording medium feeding direction and being capable of shifting in a direction orthogonal to the recording medium feeding direction; an arm member capable of swinging about a support shaft extending in an apparatus body in the direction orthogonal to the recording medium feeding direction; a feeding roller disposed on a swinging end side of the arm member; a cam portion provided on the side end guide and having a height from a bottom surface of the feeding tray which varies along the recording medium feeding direction; and a driven portion provided on the arm member which is brought into slide contact with the cam portion and displaced when the feeding tray is pulled out from or inserted into the apparatus body to cause a swing movement of the arm member.

Abstract: A versatile paper feeding device of an image forming apparatus includes a pick-up roller, a paper support tray under the pick-up roller to stack paper on, a paper support expansion tray to be able to freely slide toward or away from the paper support tray to support the trailing edge of the paper, a forward positioned paper alignment guide on the paper support tray to align a leading end portion of the paper, and a second paper alignment member formed on the paper support expansion tray to align a following end portion of the paper. When the versatile paper feeding device is used to print images on paper of various sizes, the paper can be properly positioned and straightly fed without skewing.

Abstract: A printing device securing apparatus includes a printing device having a first securing member operable to couple to an external locking device. An input tray includes a second securing member operable to couple to an external locking device, wherein the input tray is operable to couple to the printing device such that the first securing member is adjacent the second securing member. With the input tray coupled to the printing device, an external locking device may be coupled to the first securing member and the second securing member in order to secure the printing device and the input tray if security is an issue.

Abstract: The ADF 11 is a device for feeding an original document toward an original document scanning position R, comprising an original document loading unit 31, paper feeding roller 51, pressure sensor 33 and lift plate drive unit 35. The original document loading unit 31 comprises a lift plate 41 allowing an original document to be loaded and vertically movable in an original document loading direction. The paper feeding roller 51 is disposed above the lift plate 41 disposed at the lowermost position with an interval therebetween, and is capable of moving upwardly in coordination with a force received from below from the lift plate 41. The pressure sensor 33 is capable of detecting upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51. The lift plate drive unit 35 causes the lift plate 41 to be lowered upon detection of upward pressure on the paper feeding roller 51.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette capable of detecting the size of the recording medium loaded on the paper feed cassette, and an image formation device comprising this recording medium size detector. Side fences and an end fence are slidably provided to a cassette body detachably installed in the body case, and a first movable member which moves in synchronization with the sliding motion of the side fences, and a second movable member which moves in synchronization with the sliding motion of the end fence are provided to the cassette body in an overlapping state.

Abstract: A sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit body and a sheet cassette. The sheet feed unit body includes a first frame and a first contact face provided on the first frame. The sheet cassette, which is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, includes a second frame, a second contact face provided on the second frame, and a separator. The second contact face is attached to the first contact face when to set the sheet cassette at a position in the sheet feed unit body. The separator is inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body, and is disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette at the position in the sheet feed unit body.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming body, a locking unit blocking movement of at least one movable object of the image forming body, and a control unit controlling a locking state of the locking unit and a releasing state of the locking unit. The locking unit includes a latching member provided on one of the at least one movable object and provided with a latching depression, a supporting member provided on the image forming body, and a locking member movably supported by the supporting member so as to be insertable into and removable from the latching depression of the latching member.

Abstract: Embodiments of an imaging device are disclosed. In an example embodiment, first and second trays are provided. The second tray is movable. A roller is also provided that is configured to pick media from the first tray and the second tray, depending upon the position of the second tray.

Abstract: An image forming device determines a plurality of conditions in the device. In one embodiment, a signal source positioned downstream from a media input tray emits a signal. The signal reflects off of a reflective member and is received by a detector. Based on the amounts of the signal detected by the detector, a controller can determine a media input tray condition and a media sheet condition.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit according to the invention includes a sheet stacking tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet feeding device which feeds the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking tray, and a unit frame which supports the sheet stacking tray and the sheet feeding portion and is attached to a apparatus main body. In the sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding device is pivotable on the unit frame to change a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of operating a printer recognizes and allocates a unique identification (ID) to each of a plurality of trays, which are mounted in a printer as options. The apparatus includes a signal transmission unit transmitting a recognition signal to trays from a main frame of a printer, and a recognition unit reading the recognition signal from the trays, recognizing unique codes which correspond to the trays, and transmitting the unique codes of the trays to the main frame of a printer. The unique IDs of trays, which are mounted as options, can be recognized without a manual operation by a user, thereby giving convenience to the user and preventing errors from occurring during an operation of the printer.

Abstract: A sheet package which can be loaded in a sheet storage chamber (6) of a printer (1) comprises a stack of sheets (7) as print media for the printer and a package member (8) covering the exterior of the stack of sheets. The package member includes a first portion (53) covering one of upper and lower faces of the stack of sheets, a second portion (52) connecting with the first portion and covering a side face of the stack of sheets, and a third portion (51) connecting with the second portion and covering the other of the upper and lower faces of the stack of sheets. The first portion of the package member includes a first exposing portion exposing part of the stack of sheets to allow the entrance of a sheet feed roller (12) of the printer.

Abstract: An image forming system has a sheet deck assembly, an image forming apparatus, and a feeding buffering apparatus with plural feeding buffer trays for temporarily storing sheets of printing paper fed from plural printing paper decks of the sheet deck assembly. The feeding buffering apparatus feeds the temporarily stored sheets to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: On a relay guide neighboring with a paper supply tray, a guide rib rotated and projected from a guide face is installed, and the width of sheets is controlled, thus an occurrence of skewing of various sheets supplied from a paper supply tray is prevented, and the conveyability of sheets is improved, and the image quality formed on the sheets is improved.

Abstract: A sheet cassette (1) according to the present invention has a double structure portion (10) including an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12). The lower plate (12) has a first guide groove (13) elongated widthwise of a sheet to be contained in the cassette and having a plurality of inch-based size engagement recesses (17) and a plurality of centimeter-based size engagement recesses arranged longitudinally thereof. The upper plate (11) is movable along the lower plate (12) widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette. The inch-based size engagement recesses (17) are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a first position, and the centimeter-based size engagement recesses are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a second position. The sheet cassette (1) further has a width limiting plate slidable widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette according to the width of the sheet.

Abstract: A high performance printing system includes a paper tray for holding the blank paper prior to printing. The printer engine demands that the paper size be selected from a limited set of allowable paper sizes. A paper guide mechanism installed in the paper tray has a configuration that operates to guide a paper size having a reduced width relative to a particular allowed paper size. The paper guide mechanism allows reduced width paper to be used in the paper tray, essentially without otherwise adjusting the printing system, such that the printer engine sees the paper size as a particular allowed paper size when a reduced width paper is being used for printing.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus that feeds a printable medium from a cassette having a knock-up plate in which the printable medium is loaded and an elastic member that elastically biases the knock-up plate. The apparatus includes a pick-up roller that draws out one printable medium loaded in the knock-up plate while rotating once; a cam member that is installed in the pick-up roller and operates in interlocking with circulation driving of the pick-up roller; a lever that separates the knock-up plate from the pick-up roller by interacting with the cam member at the time of transferring the printable medium drawn out by the pick-up roller and; and a transfer roller that transfers the printable medium drawn out by the pick-up roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising a case that accommodates an image forming unit; a sheet cassette that is capable of moving relative to the case; and a cover disposed above the sheet cassette, wherein the cover covers a side of the case in which the sheet cassette is removably set in the case, the cover is capable of opening and closing, and a slot, through which a sheet is capable of being inserted, is formed between the cover and the sheet cassette with a lower end of the cover defining an upper end of the slot.

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

Abstract: A manual paper supply device is equipped with a paper shear prevention member 35 for preventing shear of the paper 9 loaded into the manual feed paper supply tray. A brush 36 is arranged on the paper shear prevention member 35 to make contact with the paper 9; and the brush 36 is arranged to form an acute angle against the paper 9 in the paper 9 feed direction G. Skewing and floating of the paper 9 are prevented accordingly when the paper 9 is set. Further, the generation of multi-feed and marking of the paper 9 is avoided.

Abstract: A tandem type color image forming machine comprises a plurality of image forming units, a belt mechanism comprising an endless belt including a linear moving area, and a paper feed cassette in its image information machine body. The image forming units are arranged along the linear moving area of the belt with a space therebetween. The belt mechanism is arranged longitudinally so that the linear moving area of the belt extends almost in the vertical direction. The paper feed cassette is arranged longitudinally in the lateral direction of the belt mechanism or below the belt mechanism.

Abstract: A portable media cassette is attached to a printing apparatus. The media cassette includes a loading case for receiving media having an outlet. A pickup device of the printing apparatus can access the media through the outlet. A shutter is installed on the loading case and is movable between a first position for covering the outlet and a second position for opening the outlet.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a body; a supply tray attached to the body for putting a recording sheet thereon; a recording mechanism provided in a middle of a feed path defined in the body for recording an image on the recording sheet; a feeding mechanism which has an arm pivotably supported at one of opposite ends thereof and a feeding roller rotatably provided in the other of the opposite ends of the arm, and which is configured such that the recording sheet is fed toward the recording mechanism by rotating of the feeding roller held in contact with the recording sheet; a discharge opening provided in the body for discharging the recording sheet therethrough; a cover supported by the body to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position; and a cover-arm interlock mechanism which permits the arm to pivot such that the feeding roller contacts the recording sheet when the cover is positioned at the open position, and which positions the arm such that the feeding roller is away from the

Abstract: An automatic pre-printed sheets insertion system integratable into an otherwise conventional printer, without requiring any additional space, yet enabling the feeding of selected pre-printed sheets into the printer output path, bypassing the print engine and fuser, yet integrating collated with the output of regular sheets being regularly fed and printed within the printer. It includes a separate insert sheets feeding system and feeding path for feeding insert sheets from a bi-directional sheet feed tray which can be mounted in the same location as a normal sheet feed tray. The separate path can be through an existing inverter. The special tray can be a dual-mode tray and/or a repositionable tray for feeding blank or other normal sheets in one direction for printing and for feeding insert sheets in the opposite direction to be integrated into the printer output.

Abstract: A removable media tray for an image forming apparatus includes a housing, an exit port in the housing, a primary media stack, and a multi-purpose tray (MPT) input. Within the tray are first and second pick mechanisms operative to select a media sheet from the primary stack or MPT stack, respectively, and move the media sheet to the image forming apparatus through the exit port. A motor is disposed within the tray housing, and first and second drive assemblies operatively connect the motor to the first and second pick mechanisms, respectively. The motor drives the first pick mechanism forward by rotating in one direction, and drives the second pick mechanism forward by rotating in the opposite direction. A media sensor in the exit port senses media sheets from a variety of sources, including the primary media stack, the MPT stack, a duplex return path, or a large-capacity media sheet supply.

Abstract: A sheet feeding unit according to the invention includes a sheet stacking tray on which the sheet is stacked, a sheet feeding device which feeds the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking tray, and a unit frame which supports the sheet stacking tray and the sheet feeding portion and is attached to a apparatus main body. In the sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding device is pivotable on the unit frame to change a sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a recording medium storage container such as a paper supply cassette and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. The paper supply cassette includes an interconnection mechanism for interconnecting a tray and a handle. The interconnection mechanism includes a connection portion having cylindrical protrusions, a connection portion having cylindrical protrusions, and a plurality of locking portions. The connection portions are connected from a upward and downward direction that is different from a direction for drawing the tray from the copying machine, or a direction for inserting the tray into the copying machine.

Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed which includes an open/close switch for detecting the opening and closing of a manual feed tray, and a power control unit for turning on specific power when the open/close switch detects that the manual feed tray has been opened. When the manual feed tray is opened, the use is assumed to be about to use the image forming device, and thus energy conservation becomes possible because the specific power is turned on only at this time. Moreover, the drive power for the bypass unit and the main power of the image forming device is defined to be this specific power.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a sheet-supply tray device, a sheet-supply roller and an image recording device. The sheet-supply tray device includes a first tray which accommodates a plurality of first recording media on a first tray surface thereof such that the first recording media are stacked on each other and a second tray which is placed on the first tray and which accommodates a plurality of second recording media on a second tray surface thereof such that the second recording media are stacked on each other.

Abstract: Storage box for storing stacked recording mediums comprises a two-part structure consisting of in-apparatus mounting portion and out-apparatus mounting portion which are coupled via a rotational support mechanism. In-apparatus mounting portion and out-apparatus mounting portion of storage box are kept integrally coupled via lock mechanisms for locking in-apparatus mounting portion and out-apparatus mounting portion of storage box in normal use. On the other hand, when an improper handling is performed such that the whole image forming apparatus is lifted up by gripping the out-apparatus mounting portion of paper feed cassette, lock mechanisms are released to pivot out-apparatus mounting portion thereby to avoid the improper handling so that paper feed cassette which is exposed outside from the image forming apparatus is prevented from damages and the risk of the whole apparatus falling is avoided beforehand.

Abstract: A media storage apparatus includes a media storing body that stores recording media, a guide member slidably provided in the media storing body for guiding the recording media, a first positioning portion that positions the guide member at a predetermined position where the guide member guides regular-sized recording media, and a second positioning portion that positions the guide member at a position where the guide member guides irregular-sized recording media. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion have different shapes.

Abstract: In an image forming device, at least one optional paper cassette can be vertically mounted below a device main body having an image forming portion. A pickup roller picks up a recording paper from a recording paper storage portion adjacent a recording paper transportation path in the optional paper cassette. A feed roller transports the recording paper through the recording paper transportation path in the optional paper cassette from upstream to downstream. A combination of a power source and a power transmission path, which are used to drive both the pickup roller and the feed roller, can be optionally changed, and consequently, a plurality of operation arrangements can be utilized.

Abstract: On an upper side of a protruding portion provided on a front surface of a paper cassette, a first gripper is disposed so as to enable a user to place a finger on a first pressure portion of the first gripper and pull out the paper cassette easily. Compared to a paper cassette with a first gripper disposed on an underside of a protruding portion, the first gripper is provided on the upper side of the protruding portion in the paper cassette of the present invention such that the user can easily pull out the paper cassette without bending over deeply.

Abstract: A virtual media tray causes a print device to perform one or more operations in response to a request to print a document. The operations may include storing, emailing, or faxing a copy of the document to another location. The operations may also include adding text in the form of a header, footer, or watermark when the document is printed. An operation associated with a virtual print tray may also have an associated condition such that the operation is performed when the associated condition is satisfied.