# US 2017/0255153 A1 · Sheet loader and image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet loader

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- Number: US 2017/0255153 A1
- Document ID: US20170255153A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/436,636
- Filed: 2017-02-17
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-02
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yosuke Eguchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170255153A1

## CPC

- B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
- B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)}
- B65H 3/66: Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
- B65H 2404/71: Adaptor, mask, i.e. restricting the working area of the parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H 2405/114: Side, i.e. portion parallel to the feeding / delivering direction
- B65H 2511/10: Size; Dimensions
- B65H 2511/12: Width
- B65H 2511/20: Location in space
- B65H 2511/22: Distance
- B65H 2701/11312: large formats, i.e. above A3
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

A sheet feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a pair of first regulators and a pair of second regulators. The pair of first regulators is disposed movable in a width direction of a recording medium loaded on the sheet loader and is configured to contact a side end of the recording medium and regulate a position of the recording medium in the width direction. The pair of second regulators is configured to be detachably attachable to multiple attachment positions of the sheet tray selectably.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sheet loader comprising:
a pair of first regulators disposed movable in a width direction of a recording medium loaded on the sheet loader and configured to contact a side end of the recording medium and regulate a position of the recording medium in the width direction; and
a pair of second regulators configured to be detachably attachable to multiple attachment positions of the sheet tray selectably.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of second regulators contacts a side end of a training end of the recording medium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1,
wherein respective bodies of the pair of second regulators have a shape identical to each other.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1,
wherein the pair of second regulators includes a claw configured to fit to the sheet loader.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1,
wherein the claw of the pair of second regulators is operational with the pair of second regulators attached to the sheet loader.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1,
wherein at least one of sheet sizes of B4, A3, DLT, and SRA3 is loaded.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sheet loader according to claim 1, further comprising a locking portion configured to be locked to the sheet feeder at both lateral ends of the pair of second regulators.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
the sheet loader according to claim 1; and
an image forming device configured to form an image on the recording medium fed from the sheet loader.