# US 11,440,763 B2 · Automatic document feeder and image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,763 B2 - Document ID: US11440763B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/898,615 - Filed: 2020-06-11 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-28 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masashi Akiyama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440763B2 ## CPC - B65H 29/60: diverting the stream into alternative paths (B65H29/62 takes precedence) - B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates - B65H 31/24: multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling - 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 2301/4212: of articles substantially horizontal - B65H 2404/632: Wedge member - B65H 2405/11162: Front portion pivotable around an axis perpendicular to transport direction - B65H 2405/115: Cover - B65H 2405/32: Supports for sheets partially insertable - extractable, e.g. upon sliding movement, drawer - B65H 2405/332: Superposed compartments - B65H 2405/3321: Feed tray superposed to discharge tray - B65H 2511/10: Size; Dimensions - B65H 2801/39: Scanning - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract According to one embodiment, provided is an automatic document feeder including a conveying unit, a first tray, a storage unit, and a paper discharge guide. The conveying unit is configured to convey paper to the paper discharge tray. The first tray is a paper discharge tray on which paper discharged by the conveying unit is stacked. The storage unit is a groove-shaped hole provided below the first tray. The paper discharge guide is a member for guiding paper having a predetermined size discharged by the conveying unit to the storage unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic document feeder, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet to a path to and above a reading unit; a first tray on which the sheet discharged by the conveying unit is stacked; a storage unit provided below the first tray; a discharge guide configured to guide the sheet discharged by the conveying unit to the storage unit; and a second tray storable in the storage unit, wherein the sheet having a predetermined size is stacked on the second tray, and wherein the second tray is drawable out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged by the conveying unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the sheet having a business card size is stacked on the second tray, and the second tray is drawable out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged by the conveying unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the discharge guide is openable and closable at a first position where the discharge guide opens the storage unit and a second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit, respectively, and at the second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit, the discharge guide is a part of a stacking surface of the first tray. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the second tray is smaller than the first tray. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the automatic document feeder is a dual scan document feeder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein the automatic document feeder is a reversing automatic document feeder. ### Claim 7 An image processing apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet; a first tray on which the sheet discharged by the conveying unit is stacked; a storage unit provided below the first tray; a discharge guide configured to be openable and closable at a first position where the discharge guide opens the storage unit and a second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit, respectively; an opening and closing detection sensor configured to detect the first position where the discharge guide opens the storage unit and the second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit; a display configured to display predetermined information; and a controller configured to cause the display to display a screen showing a defect regarding the opening and closing of the discharge guide based on a detection result of the opening and closing detection sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second tray storable in the storage unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sheet having a predetermined size is stacked on the second tray, and the second tray is drawable out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged by the conveying unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sheet having a business card size is stacked on the second tray, and the second tray is drawable out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged by the conveying unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second tray is smaller than the first tray. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a dual scan document feeder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a reversing automatic document feeder. ### Claim 14 A document processing method, comprising: conveying a sheet; stacking the sheet discharged by the conveying to a first tray; detecting a first position where a discharge guide opens a storage unit provided below the first tray and a second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit, wherein the discharge guide is configured to be openable and closable at the first position where the discharge guide opens the storage unit and the second position where the discharge guide covers the storage unit, respectively; and displaying a screen showing a defect regarding the opening and closing of the discharge guide based on a detection result. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The document processing method according to claim 14, wherein the storage unit has a second tray storable in the storage unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The document processing method according to claim 15, further comprising: stacking a sheet having a predetermined size on the second tray, and moving the second tray out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The document processing method according to claim 15, further comprising: stacking a sheet having a business card size on the second tray, and moving the second tray out from the storage unit in a direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheet discharged. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The document processing method according to claim 15, wherein the second tray is smaller than the first tray.