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US 6,585,253 B1Granted
Feeder with vibrating separating device
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorKatsuhiko Miki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The paper feeder applies vibration to paper sheets being paid out together to thereby reduce an adhering force acting between them. The paper feeder therefore reduces the simultaneous feed of two or more papers to a noticeable degree. An image forming apparatus including the paper feeder is also disclosed.
Claims62
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said vibration generating means comprises support means for angularly movably supporting said feed roller and a vibration generating device.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said papers sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said vibration generating means causes the paper sheets to vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance, and wherein vibrations generated by said vibration generating means have a size confined in a width of a paper conveyance path.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said vibration generating means comprises support means for angularly movably supporting said feed roller, said support means comprising an angularly movable portion including a first drive gear that is held in mesh with a second drive gear.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said feed roller comprises a displaceable member and is configured to be eccentric and is cantilevered.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said separating means comprises a displaceable reverse roller that is eccentric and cantilevered.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a paper feeder comprising a feed roller driven to rotate and separating means pressed against said feed roller for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating means;
- and
- vibration generating means for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating means, and
- wherein said vibration generating means causes the paper sheets to vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance, and wherein the vibrations generated by said vibration generating means have a size confined in a width of a paper conveyance path.
2 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- a separating member configured to be pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device constructed to apply vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating member to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said vibration generating device causes the paper sheets to vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance, and wherein the vibrations generated by said vibration generating device have a size confined in a width of a paper conveyance path.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- a separating member configured to be pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device constructed to apply vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating member to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said vibration generating device comprises a support member angularly movably supporting said feed roller, said support member comprising an angularly movable portion including a drive gear that is held in mesh with a second drive gear.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- a separating member configured to be pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device constructed to apply vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating member to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said vibration generating device comprises a support member configured to angularly movably support the feed roller and caused to vibrate by a vibration generating element.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- a separating member configured to be pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device constructed to apply vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating member to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said feed roller comprises a displaceable member and is configured to be eccentric and is cantilevered.
3 more elements
A paper feeder for separating paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, comprising:
- a rotatable feed roller;
- separating means configured to be pressed against said feed roller, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device constructed to apply vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating means to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said separating means comprises a displaceable reverse roller that is eccentric and cantilevered.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a paper feeder comprising a feed roller driven to rotate and a separating member pressed against said feed roller and constructed to separate paper sheets from each other while conveying said paper sheets, wherein the paper sheets are nipped between said feed roller and said separating member;
- and
- a vibration generating device for applying vibration to said feed roller;
- wherein said feed roller causes said separating member to vibrate when caused to vibrate by said vibration generating device, and
- wherein said vibration generating device causes the paper sheets to vibrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of paper conveyance, and wherein the vibrations generated by said vibration generating device have a size confined in a width of a paper conveyance path.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.