# US 11,077,678 B2 · Image recording device having a compact form factor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,678 B2 - Document ID: US11077678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/544,340 - Filed: 2019-08-19 - Published: 2020-04-09 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-29 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tetsuo Asada; Hirotaka Aoki; Satoru Nakakita; Shota Iijima; Kenji Samoto; Yuji Koga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077678B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/0045: {Guides for printing material (curl smoothing B41J11/0005; platens B41J11/02, B41J11/06; guiding webs B41J15/046)} - B41J 3/60: for printing on both faces of the printing material - B41J 11/58: Supply holders for sheets or fan-folded webs, e.g. shelves, tables, scrolls, pile holders - B41J 13/0045: {concerning sheet refeed sections of automatic paper handling systems, e.g. intermediate stackers (printing on both faces B41J3/60)} - B41J 13/103: {for the sheet feeding section} - B41J 29/023: {with reduced dimensions} - B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile - B65H 1/08: with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device {(B65H1/02 takes precedence)} - B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/0684: {on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile} - B65H 5/26: Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds - B65H 5/38: immovable in operation - B65H 85/00: Recirculating articles, i.e. feeding each article to, and delivering it from, the same machine work-station more than once - B65H 2301/33312: forward reverse rollers pairs - B65H 2402/441: movable for facilitating access to area inside the housing, e.g. pivoting or sliding - B65H 2402/46: Table apparatus - B65H 2404/1521: rotating, pivoting or oscillating around an axis, e.g. parallel to the roller axis - B65H 2404/612: and shaped for curvilinear transport path - B65H 2405/1136: inclined, i.e. forming an angle different from 90 with the bottom - B65H 2405/31: Supports for sheets fully removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette - G03G 2215/00396: Pick-up device - G03G 2215/004: Separation device - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image recording device is provided, having a recording unit configured to record an image on a sheet, and a tray disposed below the recording unit. The tray includes a sheet holding surface configured to hold the sheet. Additionally, the image recording device includes a sheet feeder disposed between the recording unit and the tray. The sheet feeder includes a roller for feeding the sheet from the tray. The roller is configured to move between a first roller position in which the roller contacts the sheet holding surface of the tray and a second roller position in which the roller is separated from the sheet holding surface. A return guide, disposed between the recording unit and the sheet feeder, defines a second conveying path to guide the sheet having an image recorded on one side thereof back to the feed guide. The return guide has a first opening configured to accommodate the roller of the sheet feeder when the roller is in the second roller position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image recording device comprising: a tray configured to hold a sheet thereon; a sheet feeder configured to feed the sheet on the tray, the sheet feeder comprising an arm and a roller rotatably supported by the arm, the arm being configured to pivot about a pivot axis such that the roller moves between a first roller position and a second roller position which is above the first roller position; a recording unit configured to record an image on the sheet fed by the roller of the sheet feeder; and a return guide comprising an upper surface, a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, and a portion defining an opening, the upper surface being configured to guide the sheet having the image recorded thereon back toward the recording unit in a return direction, where the pivot axis of the sheet feeder is located between a portion of the upper surface of the return guide and the tray, the portion of the upper surface being located upstream of the opening and downstream of the pivot axis, and wherein the roller and the portion defining the opening are located downstream of the pivot axis with respect to the return direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the sheet feeder overlaps the portion defining the opening in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the arm when the roller is in the second roller position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the roller overlaps the portion defining the opening in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the arm when the roller is in the second roller position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the arm overlaps the portion defining the opening in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the arm when the roller is in the second roller position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeder further comprising a projection configured to, when the roller reaches the second roller position, contact the lower surface of the return guide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image recording device according to claim 5, wherein the projection of the sheet feeder is located between the pivot axis of the arm and the roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the roller of the sheet feeder is configured to feed the sheet in a sheet feeding direction from the tray, and the pivot axis is located upstream of the opening in the sheet feeding direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein another portion of the return guide is located above the pivot axis of the arm of the sheet feeder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeder further comprises a plurality of gears configured to transmit a rotating force to the roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the return guide further comprises an inclined portion having an inclined guide surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeder is entirely outside the opening defined by the portion of the return guide when the roller of the sheet feeder is in the first roller position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the roller of the sheet feeder is entirely outside the opening defined by the portion of the return guide when the roller is in the first roller position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is located at one end of the arm and the roller is rotatably supported by another end of the arm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the return guide is pivotable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the portion defining the opening is located above the roller when the roller of the sheet feeder is in the first roller position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The image recording device according to claim 1, wherein when the roller moves from the first roller position toward the second roller position, the roller moves towards the opening.