Paper feeding device and method
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorKatsuhiko Miki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paper sheet feeding device in which paper sheets are supplied from above includes a bottom plate for accommodating paper sheets and springs which lift up the bottom plate. The springs are released in response to the removal of the paper sheet feeding device from the image forming apparatus so that the bottom plate assumes a position determined by the weight of the paper sheets thereon.
Claims10
A paper sheet feeding device for receiving paper sheets from above in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a bottom plate for supporting paper sheets;
- lifting-up means for lifting up said bottom plate;
- and
- releasing means for partially releasing said lifting-up means in response to initiation of a paper adding operation such that the bottom plate assumes a raised position determined by the weight of the paper sheets thereon, whereby the bottom plate assumes a desired position during a paper adding operation.
A paper sheet feeding device for receiving paper sheets from above in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a bottom plate for supporting paper sheets;
- bottom plate lifting-up mechanism comprising a pressing arm in contact with said bottom plate, a pressing lever driving said pressing arm, and a pulling spring elastically urging said pressing lever;
- and
- a pressure releasing arm operative in response to initiation of a paper adding operation such that the bottom plate assumes a raised position determined by the weight of the paper sheets thereon.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming device;
- and
- a paper sheet feeding device in which paper sheets are supplied from above, comprising:
- a bottom plate for accommodating paper sheets,
- lifting-up means for lifting up said bottom plate, and
- releasing means for partially releasing said lifting-up means in response to initiation of a paper adding operation such that the bottom plate assumes a raised position determined by the weight of the paper sheets thereon, whereby the bottom plate assumes a desired position during a paper adding operation.
A method of adding paper sheets to a paper sheet feeding device in an image forming apparatus, the paper sheet feeding device having a bottom plate which lifts the paper sheets for feeding, comprising the steps of:
- drawing the paper sheet feeding apparatus out of the image forming apparatus;
- partially releasing the lifting of the paper sheets by the bottom plate in response to said drawing step, such that said bottom plate assumes a raised position based on the weight of the paper sheets thereon;
- and
- adding paper sheets to said paper sheet feeding device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.