# US 2023/0056979 A1 · Paper feeding device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056979 A1 - Document ID: US20230056979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/406,342 - Filed: 2021-08-19 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-19 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takafumi Amano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056979A1 ## CPC - B65H 3/0669: {Driving devices therefor} - G03G 15/6508: {Automatic supply devices interacting with the rest of the apparatus, e.g. selection of a specific cassette (matching the image with the size of the copy material G03G15/5095)} - B41J 13/103: {for the sheet feeding section} - B65H 3/0684: {on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile} - B65H 7/02: by feelers or detectors - G03G 15/6502: {Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor} - G03G 15/6511: {Feeding devices for picking up or separation of copy sheets} - B65H 2511/20: Location in space - B65H 2511/414: of mode of operation - B65H 2511/416: of material - B65H 2515/10: Mass, e.g. mass flow rate; Weight; Inertia - B65H 2515/81: Rigidity; Stiffness; Elasticity - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A first conveying unit is allowed to be in contact with a print medium loaded on an uppermost portion of the one or more print media loaded on a print medium loading unit to convey the print medium from the uppermost portion. The first moving unit moves at least one of the one or more print media and the first conveying unit in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying unit are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying unit are far away from each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A paper feeding device, comprising: a print medium loading component configured hold with one or more print media; a first conveying component configured to be in contact with a print medium held on an uppermost portion of the one or more print media loaded on the print medium loading unit and convey the print medium from the uppermost portion; a first moving component configured to move at least one of the one or more print media and the first conveying component in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are far away from each other; and a second moving component configured to move the first conveying component so that a position of a contact portion that contacts with the uppermost portion among the portions of the first conveying component coincides with the first position in a conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed by the first conveying component if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a first strength and to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the second position on the upstream side of the first position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a second strength higher than the first strength, wherein, if the one or more print media is a print medium having the bending strength of the first strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the first position, the first moving component allows the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other, and if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the second strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the second position, the first moving component allows the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first moving component moves the first conveying component if the first conveying component and the print medium of the uppermost portion are not in contact with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls the second moving component to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the first position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the first strength and controls the second moving component to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the second position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the second strength. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding device is mounted on an image forming apparatus, wherein the controller acquires type information indicating a type of one or more print media from the image forming apparatus and controls the first moving component and the second moving component based on the acquired type information, wherein a first type of the print medium among the types of the one or more print media is a print medium having the bending strength of the first strength, and wherein a second type of the print medium among the types of the one or more print media is a print medium having the bending strength of the second strength. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a second conveying component that conveys the print medium conveyed by the first conveying component to a conveyance path; and a guide component having an inclined plane that guides the print medium conveyed by the first conveying component to the second conveyance path, wherein a height of the inclined plane increases along the conveying direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the second moving component comprises an electromagnet and moves the first conveying component according to generation of a magnetic force by the electromagnet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying component comprises a pickup roller and one or more gears that rotate the pickup roller, and wherein the paper feeding device comprises: a first gear that rotates the one or more gears of the first conveying component if a position of the first conveying component is the first position; and a second gear that rotates the one or more gears of the first conveying component if the position of the first conveying component is the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying component moves the one or more print media in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are far away from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a support member that supports the first conveying component, wherein, if the first conveying component is rotatably supported around the support member and is in contact with the uppermost portion, the uppermost portion is pressed in a direction of gravity by its own weight of the first conveying component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a height of the first position and a height of the second position are equal. ### Claim 11 A paper feeding method, comprising: contacting a first conveying component with a print medium held on an uppermost portion of one or more print media loaded on a print medium loading unit and conveying the print medium from the uppermost portion; moving at least one of the one or more print media and the first conveying component using a first moving component in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are far away from each other; moving the first conveying component using a second moving component so that a position of a contact portion that contacts with the uppermost portion among the portions of the first conveying component coincides with the first position in a conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed by the first conveying component if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a first strength and moving the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the second position on the upstream side of the first position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a second strength higher than the first strength; if the one or more print media is a print medium having the bending strength of the first strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the first position, allowing the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other; and if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the second strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the second position, allowing the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: moving the first conveying component if the first conveying component and the print medium of the uppermost portion are not in contact with each other. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: controlling the second moving component to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the first position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the first strength and controlling the second moving component to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the second position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the second strength. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: acquiring type information indicating a type of one or more print media from the image forming apparatus and controlling the first moving component and the second moving component based on the acquired type information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: conveying the print medium conveyed by the first conveying component to a conveyance path; and guiding the print medium conveyed by the first conveying component to the second conveyance path, wherein a height of an inclined plane increases along the conveying direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: moving the first conveying component according to generation of a magnetic force by an electromagnet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: rotating one or more gears of the first conveying component if a position of the first conveying component is the first position; and rotating one or more gears of the first conveying component if the position of the first conveying component is the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The paper feeding method according to claim 11, further comprising: moving the one or more print media in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are far away from each other. ### Claim 19 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming component; and a paper feeding device, comprising: a print medium loading component configured hold with one or more print media; a first conveying component configured to be in contact with a print medium held on an uppermost portion of the one or more print media loaded on the print medium loading unit and convey the print medium from the uppermost portion; a first moving component configured to move at least one of the one or more print media and the first conveying component in each of directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are close to each other and directions in which the uppermost portion and the first conveying component are far away from each other; and a second moving component configured to move the first conveying component so that a position of a contact portion that contacts with the uppermost portion among the portions of the first conveying component coincides with the first position in a conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed by the first conveying component if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a first strength and to move the first conveying component so that the position of the contact portion coincides with the second position on the upstream side of the first position in the conveying direction if the one or more print media is a print medium having a bending strength of a second strength higher than the first strength, wherein, if the one or more print media is a print medium having the bending strength of the first strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the first position, the first moving component allows the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other, and if the one or more print media is print media having the bending strength of the second strength, after the second moving component moves the contact position to the second position, the first moving component allows the uppermost portion and the first conveying component to be close to each other so that the first conveying component and the uppermost portion are in contact with each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a height of the first position and a height of the second position are equal.