Quadruple capacity feeder cassette

A method for feeding sheets from separate stacks of sheets positioned in a cassette, the cassette being adapted to be installed within a sheet feed unit of an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of

• (a) positioning four separate stacks of sheets within different areas of the cassette, the stacks being separated by collapsible guide walls,
• (b) collapsing the walls in a timed relationship whereby each of the four separate stacks is free to move within the cassette towards said sheet feeder unit;
• (c) moving each of the four stacks in a timed relationship so that each stack is positioned in a contiguous relation to a sheet feeder unit for feeding individual sheets from a single stack of sheets;
• and
• (d) feeding a sheet from each of the stacks to the apparatus as each stack is positioned at said feeder unit.

A method for feeding sheets from four separate stacks of sheets positioned in a sheet feeding cassette and separated by collapsible guide walls, the cassette being adapted to be installed within a sheet feed unit of an image forming apparatus comprising:

• (a) positioning a first stack of sheets within the cassette whereby individual sheets in the stack can be fed by a feeder unit into the apparatus;
• (b) collapsing a wall separating the first stack of sheets from a second stack of sheets;
• (c) moving the second stack of sheets within the cassette whereby sheets from the second stack can be fed by the feeder unit into the apparatus;
• (d) collapsing a wall separating a third stack of sheets from the original position of the first stack of sheets;
• (e) moving the third stack of sheets within the cassette to a position whereby sheets from the third stack can be fed by the feeder unit into the apparatus;
• (f) collapsing a wall separating a forth stack of sheets from the original position of the second stack of sheets;
• and
• (g) moving the fourth stack of sheets within the cassette to a position in contiguous relation to the feeder unit whereby sheets from the fourth stack of sheets can be fed by the feeder unit into the apparatus.