US 5,326,089 A · Rotatable-cassette-type feeding device for use in image forming apparatus

Abstract

A rotatable-cassette-type feeding device, for use in an image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets of paper, has a paper cassette for housing sheets of paper. This paper cassette can be rotated either to the longitudinal feeding station or to the lateral feeding station of the sheets of paper by a driving motor. The rotatable-cassette-type feeding device is provided with drive control means for controlling the driving motor in its rotation speed in such a manner that, during a state in which no copying process is required, the paper cassette is rotated at a speed that is lower than that marked during an copying operation. Thus, when the rotatable cassette is driven during the stand-by state, the motor is rotated at a low speed. Thus, it is possible to reduce noise that is generated from the driving system and the motor of the rotatable cassette, thereby making the device quieter.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A rotatable-cassette-type feeding device for use in an image forming apparatus comprising:

paper accommodation means for housing sheets of paper, which is rotated either to a longitudinal feeding station for feeding sheets of paper to the image forming apparatus in a length-wise direction or to a lateral feeding station for feeding sheets of paper thereto in a width-wise direction;
rotation driving means for rotating the paper accommodation means between the longitudinal feeding station and the lateral feeding station of the sheets of paper;
drive control means for controlling the rotation driving means in its rotation speed in such a manner that, during a state wherein no image forming process is required, the paper accommodation means is rotated at a speed that is lower than that marked during an image forming operation.

A method whereby the rotatable-cassette-type paper feeding device controls the rotation of the paper accommodation means, comprising the steps of:

once a feeding operation has been specified by selecting the size and feeding direction of sheets of paper, making a judgement as to whether or not the feeding operation is executed by a rotatable paper accommodation means;
if the feeding operation is executed by a rotatable paper accommodation means, making a judgement as to whether or not the paper accommodation means is set in the selected feeding direction;
if the paper accommodation means is not set in the selected feeding direction, making a judgement as to whether or not the paper accommodation means is set in the direction different from the selected feeding direction;
and
if the paper accommodation means is set in the direction different from the selected feeding direction, starting to count using a timer as well as rotating the paper accommodation means at a speed lower than a normal speed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotatable-cassette-type feeding device for use in image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Rotatable-cassette-type feeding device for use in image forming apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14