# US 10,865,058 B2 · Sheet feeding device, image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet feeding device, and device attachment body of the sheet feeding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,058 B2 - Document ID: US10865058B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/242,441 - Filed: 2019-01-08 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-02 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Mitsutaka Nakamura; Ikuo Fujii - Inventors: Mitsutaka Nakamura; Ikuo Fujii - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865058B2 ## CPC - B65H 1/06: for separation from bottom of pile - B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/54: Pressing or holding devices - B65H 3/68: immovable in operation - B65H 7/20: Controlling associated apparatus - B41J 11/0045: {Guides for printing material (curl smoothing B41J11/0005; platens B41J11/02, B41J11/06; guiding webs B41J15/046)} - B41J 11/0055: {Lateral guides, e.g. guides for preventing skewed conveyance of printing material} - B65H 7/02: by feelers or detectors - B65H 2404/71: Adaptor, mask, i.e. restricting the working area of the parts for transporting or guiding the handled material - B65H 2405/11425: retractable - B65H 2405/115: Cover - B65H 2511/216: Orientation, e.g. with respect to direction of movement - B65H 2701/1123: Folded article or web - B65H 2701/132: Side portions - B65H 2701/1916: Envelopes and articles of mail - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A sheet feeding device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and includes a device attachment body, includes a sheet container configured to accommodate a sheet, a support configured to support a lower face of the sheet in the sheet container, a sheet width regulator configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a sheet width direction, a conveying force applier configured to apply a sheet conveying force in a sheet conveying direction to the sheet in the sheet container, and a sheet guide disposed above the sheet in the sheet container and configured to regulate movement of the sheet in an upper direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet feed tray including a housing configured to accommodate a flap envelope as a sheet and a side fence configured to regulate a position of the flap envelope in a width direction of the flap envelope; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the flap envelope; and a sheet guide above the flap envelope and configured to regulate movement of the flap envelope in an upper direction, wherein the sheet feed tray is detachably attachable to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus while leaving the sheet guide in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the flap envelope is inclined in the width direction when the housing accommodates the flap envelope. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fold of a flap of the flap envelope extends along a sheet conveying direction when the housing accommodates the flap envelope. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fold of a flap of the flap envelope extends along the side fence when the housing accommodates the flap envelope. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet guide regulates the movement of the flap envelope in the upper direction at an upstream side of a sheet conveying direction relative to a position at which the sheet feed roller feeds the sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a lower face of the sheet guide has a shape to guide the flap envelope in contact therewith to the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lower face of the sheet guide has a shape to guide the sheet in contact therewith to a sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet guide is rotatably supported by the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feed tray is detachably attachable to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus while leaving the sheet feed roller in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming device configured to form an image on the flap envelope fed by the sheet feed roller. ### Claim 10 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet feed tray including a housing configured to accommodate a flap envelope as a sheet and a side fence configured to regulate a position of the flap ennvelope in a width direction of the flap envelope; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the flap envelope; a sheet guide above the flap envelope and configured to regulate movement of the flap envelope in an upper direction; and a separator configured to prevent a subsequent flap envelope other than the flap envelope which is fed by the sheet feed roller, from moving in a sheet conveying direction and to separate the subsequent flap envelope from flap envelope, wherein the sheet feed tray is detachbly attachable to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus while leaving the sheet guide in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the separator is downstream from the sheet guide in the sheet conveying direction and has a face inclined relative to a surface of the flap envelope accommodated in the housing. ### Claim 12 An image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet feed tray including a housing configured to accommodate a flap envelope as a sheet and a side fence configured to regulate a position of the flap envelope in a width direction of the flap envelope; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the flap envelope; and a sheet guide above the flap envelope and configured to regulate movement of the flap envelope in an upper direction, wherein the sheet feed tray is detachably attachable to an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus while leaving the sheet guide in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet guide includes a contact part configured to contact a surface of the flap envelope, wherein the sheet guide is rotatably supported by the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, wherein the contact part is configured to move up and down as the sheet guide rotates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sheet guide is configured to rotate about an axis extending along a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction.