# US 7,412,200 B2 · Sheet feed unit operable with smaller force and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,412,200 B2 - Document ID: US7412200B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/312,383 - Filed: 2005-12-21 - Published: 2006-07-13 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-21 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroyuki Gotoh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412200B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6502: {Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor} - B65H 1/26: with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile - B65H 2401/21: Electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. conductivity or resistance - B65H 2405/12: Parts to be handled by user - B65H 2405/32: Supports for sheets partially insertable - extractable, e.g. upon sliding movement, drawer - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed unit body and a sheet cassette. The sheet feed unit body includes a first frame and a first contact face provided on the first frame. The sheet cassette, which is withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, includes a second frame, a second contact face provided on the second frame, and a separator. The second contact face is attached to the first contact face when to set the sheet cassette at a position in the sheet feed unit body. The separator is inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body, and is disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette at the position in the sheet feed unit body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet feed unit for use in an image forming apparatus and used for storing and feeding a recording medium, the sheet feed unit comprising: a sheet feed unit body, including: a first frame, a first contact face being provided on the first frame; and a sheet cassette configured to be withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, including: a second frame, a second contact face being provided on the second frame and being configured to be attached to the first contact face when the sheet cassette is positioned in the sheet feed unit body; and a separator configured to be inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body when the sheet cassette is withdrawn from being positioned in the sheet feed unit body, and configured to be disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette when positioned in the sheet feed unit body when the sheet cassette is inserted so as to be positioned in the sheet feed unit body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the first contact face includes a magnet to attach the first contact face to the second contact face with a magnetic force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet feed unit according to claim 2, wherein the first contact face is provided with an elastic member placed between the first contact face and the first frame, and the elastic member comprises a shock absorber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the second contact face includes a magnet to attach the second contact face to the first contact face with a magnetic force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sheet feed unit according to claim 4, wherein the second contact face is provided with an elastic member placed between the second contact face and the second frame, and the elastic member comprises a shock absorber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a non-magnetic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the separator includes a separation claw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the separator is pivotabley supported by the second frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet cassette includes a grip configured to withdrawably move the cassette with respect to the sheet feed unit body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sheet feed unit according to claim 9, wherein the grip includes a hollow portion to facilitate holding of the grip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member configured to maintain the sheet cassette in the position in the sheet feed unit body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sheet feed unit according to claim 11, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, wherein the sheet cassette further comprises a pivotable arm connected to the separator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sheet feed unit according to claim 13, wherein the separator is inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face with a first pivot movement of the arm, and the separator is disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face with a second pivot movement of the arm, and wherein the first and second pivot movement are in opposite directions with respect to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sheet feed unit according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet feed device configured to feed the recording medium for image forming. ### Claim 16 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an toner image; a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner image to a recording medium; and a sheet feed unit configured to feed the recording medium to the transfer unit, comprising: a sheet feed unit body, including: a first frame, a first contact face being provided on the first frame; and a sheet cassette configured to be withdrawable from the sheet feed unit body, including: a second frame, a second contact face being provided on the second frame and being configured to be attached to the first contact face when the sheet cassette is positioned in the sheet feed unit body; and a separator configured to be inserted between the first contact face and the second contact face to separate the sheet cassette and the sheet feed unit body when the sheet cassette is withdrawn from being positioned in the sheet feed unit body, and configured to be disengaged from the first contact face and the second contact face to set the sheet cassette at the position in the sheet feed unit body when the sheet cassette is inserted so as to be positioned in the sheet feed unit body.