# US 6,296,243 B1 · Sheet supply apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,296,243 B1 - Document ID: US6296243B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/519,620 - Filed: 2000-03-06 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-18 - Assignees: Riso Kagaku Corporation - Inventors: Yasuhiro Nishimura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296243B1 ## CPC - B41J 13/103: {for the sheet feeding section} - B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile - B65H 1/14: comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)} - B65H 7/10: responsive to incorrect side register (controlling transverse register of webs B65H23/032) - B65H 9/00: Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor - B65H 2220/01: indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input - B65H 2301/363: of material in pile - B65H 2511/20: Location in space - B65H 2513/41: Direction of movement - B65H 2551/10: Command input means - B65H 2801/21: Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet supply apparatus for supplying record sheets to an image forming apparatus, the sheet supply apparatus including a sheet supply table for supporting the record sheets stacked thereon, sheet supply means provided above the sheet supply table and contacting a topmost face of the record sheets for supplying the one record sheet to the image forming apparatus during one period comprising a sheet supply executing time period for supplying the record sheet to the image forming apparatus and a sheet supply nonexecuting time period for not supplying the record sheet thereto, left and right movement instructing means for instructing to move the sheet supply table in a direction orthogonal to a transfer direction of the record sheet, left and right moving means for moving the sheet supply table in response to an instruction from the left and right movement instructing means, and control means for executing a control of moving the sheet supply table when a sheet supply operation by the sheet supply means is stopped in the sheet supply nonexecuting time period in the case in which the control means is instructed to move the sheet supply table by the left and right movement instructing means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet supply apparatus for supplying record sheets to an image forming apparatus, said sheet supply apparatus comprising: a sheet supply table for supporting the record sheets stacked thereon; sheet supply means provided above the sheet supply table and contacting a topmost one of the record sheets for supplying the one record sheet to the image forming apparatus during each period comprising a sheet supply executing time period for supplying the record sheet to the image forming apparatus and a sheet supply nonexecuting time period for not supplying the record sheet thereto; left and right movement instructing means for instructing to move the sheet supply table in a direction orthogonal to a transfer direction of the record sheet; left and right moving means for moving the sheet supply table in response to an instruction from the left and right movement instructing means; and control means for executing a control of moving the sheet supply table when a sheet supply operation by the sheet supply means is stopped in the sheet supply nonexecuting time in the case in which the control means is instructed to move the sheet supply table by the left and right movement instructing means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transfer means which is provided on a side of the image forming apparatus and to which the sheet supply means delivers the record sheet; wherein the sheet supply means includes a sheet supply roller and a sheet supply clutch for transmitting a drive force to the sheet supply roller; and wherein the control means moves the sheet supply table in a left and right direction during a time period in which the sheet supply roller is driven to rotate by the record sheet transferred by the transfer means by cutting the sheet supply clutch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means executes a control of moving the sheet supply table by a constant amount in a corresponding direction each time of operating the left and right movement instructing means by one time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means executes a control of moving the sheet supply table in a left and right direction by a constant amount in a corresponding direction only once in the sheet feed nonexecuting time period within the one period of the sheet supply means regardless of a duration time period of operating the left and right movement instructing means by one time and by an operation of the one time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the sheet supply means executes to supply the record sheet during a time period of operating the left and right movement instructing means by one time, the control means controls to move the sheet supply table by a remaining moving amount of a constant amount of moving the sheet supply table in a left and right direction at a time point at which the period of the sheet supply means is switched to the sheet supply nonexecuting time period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left and right movement instructing means includes a left and right moving key for moving the sheet supply table in either desired direction of left and right directions; and wherein the control means is constituted to control to move the sheet supply table in the left and right direction by detecting a state of depressing the left and right moving key.