Sheet feeding method and device and image forming apparatus using the device
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorKatsuhiko Miki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of feeding sheets includes the step of conveying the sheets between a feed roller and a separation member. The separation member is pressed against and into contact with the feed roller with a pressure applied between the feed roller and the separation member. The method also includes the steps of separating and conveying the sheets conveyed between the feed roller and the separation member one by one, and providing a cyclic change in the pressure between the feed roller and the separation member.
Claims28
A method of feeding sheets, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying the sheets between a feed roller and a separation member, wherein said separation member is pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member;
- separating and conveying the sheets conveyed between said feed roller and said separation member one by one;
- and
- providing a cyclic change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein the cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller.
A sheet feeding device comprising:
- a feed roller;
- a separation member pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein sheets conveyed into a position between said feed roller and said separation member are separated and conveyed one by one;
- and
- a pressing device configured to cyclically provide a change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein a cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller.
The sheet feeding device of claim 10, further comprising a driving system configured to drive said feed roller, and wherein said pressing device includes a driving motor which is independent of said driving system configured to drive said feed roller.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming device;
- a sheet feeding device configured to convey a sheet to said image forming device, wherein said image forming device is configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed from said sheet feeding device, and said sheet feeding device includes a feed roller and a separation member, said separation member being pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein a plurality of the sheets conveyed between said feed roller and said separation member are separated and conveyed one by one to said image forming device;
- and
- a pressing device configured to cyclically provide a change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein a cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller.
A sheet feeding device comprising:
- a feed roller;
- separation means for separating sheets conveyed between said feed roller and said separation means, said separation means being pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation means;
- and
- pressing means for cyclically providing a change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation means, wherein a cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- image forming means for forming an image;
- sheet feeding means for conveying a sheet to said image forming means, wherein said image forming means, for forming the image, forms the image on the sheet conveyed from said sheet feeding means, and said sheet feeding means includes a feed roller and a separation means, said separation means for separating an uppermost sheet from a plurality of sheets conveyed into a position between said feed roller and said separation means, said separation means being pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation means;
- and
- pressing means for cyclically providing a change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation means, wherein a cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller.
A meted of forming an image on a sheet, the method comprising the steps of:
- conveying a plurality of the sheets between a feed roller and a separation member, said separation member being pressed against and into contact with said feed roller with a pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member;
- separating and conveying the sheets conveyed between said feed roller and said separation member one by one to an image forming device;
- providing a cyclic change in the pressure applied between said feed roller and said separation member, wherein the cyclic change in the pressure is provided by vertically oscillating a shaft of said feed roller;
- and
- forming the image on one of the sheets conveyed between said feed roller and said separation member using said image forming device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.