# US 2017/0283196 A1 · Sheet Conveying Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283196 A1 - Document ID: US20170283196A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/472,423 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yohei Hashimoto; Yuji Tokoro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283196A1 ## CPC - B65H 3/68: immovable in operation - 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 3/06: Rollers or like rotary separators {(B65H3/42 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/46: Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed (control means comprising detectors responsive to double feed B65H7/12) - B65H 5/26: Duplicate, alternate, selective, or coacting feeds - B65H 2404/5211: only a part of the element in contact with the forwarded or guided material - B65H 2405/1136: inclined, i.e. forming an angle different from 90 with the bottom - B65H 2405/325: with integrated handling means, e.g. separating means - B65H 2405/332: Superposed compartments - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first roller, a first guide, a second guide, a second roller, and a third roller. The first guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller and includes a first guide surface and a first edge portion located downstream of the first guide surface in a sheet conveying direction. The second guide, disposed downstream of the first guide, includes a second guide surface and a second edge portion located upstream of the second guide surface. The second roller is disposed downstream of the first roller and above the first roller. The third roller is disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller. When projected on a cut plane orthogonal to an axis of the third roller, at least of a part of the second edge portion overlaps the third roller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet conveying apparatus configured to convey a sheet, comprising: a first roller configured to convey a sheet in a sheet conveying direction while rotating in contact with the sheet; a first guide configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller in the sheet conveying direction, the first guide including a first guide surface and a first edge portion located downstream of the first guide surface in the sheet conveying direction; a second guide disposed downstream of the first guide in the sheet conveying direction and configured to guide the sheet guided by the first guide in the sheet conveying direction, the second guide including a second guide surface and a second edge portion located upstream of the second guide surface, the second guide being spaced apart from the first guide by a gap defined between the first edge portion of the first guide and the second edge portion of the second guide; a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the sheet conveying direction and above the first roller in a vertical direction, the second roller being configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveying direction while rotating in contact with the sheet; and a third roller facing the second roller and disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller, the second roller and the third roller being configured to convey the sheet by nipping the sheet therebetween, wherein a first imaginary tangent plane, which is tangent to a first contact point at which the first roller contacts the sheet, intersects a second imaginary tangent plane, which is tangent to a second contact point at which the second roller contacts the third roller, and the first imaginary tangent plane is located below the second contact point, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is located toward the second roller relative to the second imaginary plane, and wherein, when projected on a cut plane orthogonal to an axis of the third roller, at least of a part of the second edge portion overlaps the third roller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second edge portion of the second guide includes a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction and a thickness direction of the sheet, and the central portion of the second edge portion is located toward the second roller relative to a third imaginary tangent plane including the first guide surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second edge portion of the second guide includes end portions sandwiching the central portion therebetween in the width direction, and each of the end portions of the second edge portion is located toward the third roller relative to the third imaginary tangent plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide includes end portions and a central portion sandwiched between the end portions in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction and a thickness direction of the sheet, and wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is inclined such that the end portions are located upstream of the central portion in the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is inclined such that the central portion is higher than the end portions in the vertical direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the central portion in the width direction has a dimension in the width direction, which is smaller than a minimum width dimension for sheets to be conveyed in the sheet conveying apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second guide includes a plurality of ribs being spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the ribs having respective end surfaces, which define the second guide surface and the second edge portion of the second guide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gap defined between the first edge portion of the first guide and the second edge portion of the second guide forms a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet to be supplied from a sheet supply apparatus attached to the sheet conveying apparatus. ### Claim 9 A sheet conveying apparatus configured to convey a sheet, comprising: a first roller configured to convey a sheet in a sheet conveying direction while rotating in contact with the sheet; a first guide configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller in the sheet conveying direction, the first guide including a first guide surface (9A) and a first edge portion (9B); a second guide disposed downstream of the first guide in the sheet conveying direction and configured to guide the sheet guided by the first guide in the sheet conveying direction, the second guide including a second guide surface and a second edge portion, the second guide being spaced apart from the first guide by a gap defined between the first edge portion of the first guide and the second edge portion of the second guide; a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the sheet conveying direction and above the first roller in a vertical direction, the second roller being configured to convey the sheet in the sheet conveying direction while rotating in contact with the sheet; and a third roller facing the second roller and disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller, the second roller and the third roller being configured to convey the sheet by nipping the sheet therebetween, wherein a first imaginary tangent plane, which is tangent to a first contact point at which the first roller contacts the sheet, intersects a second imaginary tangent plane, which is tangent to a second contact point at which the second roller contacts the third roller, and the first imaginary tangent plane is located below the second contact point, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is located toward the second roller relative to the second imaginary plane, and wherein the second edge portion includes a central portion in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction and a thickness direction of the sheet, the central portion of the second edge portion is located toward the second roller relative to a third imaginary tangent plane including the first guide surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second edge portion includes end portions sandwiching the central portion therebetween in the width direction, and each of the end portions of the second edge portion is located toward the third roller relative to the third imaginary tangent plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide includes end portions and a central portion sandwiched between the end portions in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction and a thickness direction of the sheet, and wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is inclined such that the end portions are located upstream of the central portion in the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first edge portion of the first guide is inclined such that the central portion is higher than the end portions in the vertical direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the central portion in the width direction has a dimension in the width direction, which is smaller than a minimum width dimension for sheets to be conveyed in the sheet conveying apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second guide includes a plurality of ribs being spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the ribs having respective end surfaces, which define the second guide surface and the second edge portion of the second guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the gap defined between the first edge portion of the first guide and the second edge portion of the second guide forms a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet to be supplied from a sheet supply apparatus attached to the sheet conveying apparatus.