US4061328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paper feeder
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-06-15
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Granted: 1977-12-06
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Expires: 1996-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A paper feeder is disclosed comprising a corner separator located on a paper tray on which a plurality of sheets are disposed in a stack and are fed one by one by means of a feed roller. The paper feeder is also provided with a second paper separator which operates, in the event of failure of paper separation by the corner separator to which results in a plurality of sheets being simultaneously fed from the paper tray, to separate the plurality of sheets into single sheets, thus assuring that the sheets are reliably fed into a sheet processing apparatus one by one. The second separator comprises an endless, sheet conveying belt which is disposed above a sheet passageway which connects the paper tray and the sheet processing apparatus, the belt cooperating with a frictional member which is disposed below the sheet passageway in opposing relationship with the sheet conveying belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Sakae Fujimoto
- 👤 Takaji Sue
- 👤 Toshihiko Misawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/04; B65H3/047; B65H1/00; B65H1/04; B65H1/26; B65H1/266; B65H3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A sheet feeder comprising: a first tray means for receiving a transmit original which is inserted inside a sheet carrier formed by a transparent sheet material; a second tray means for receiving a plurality of recording sheets in a stack; means for selectively locating one of the first and second tray means in a paper feeding position; sheet feed means for feeding sheets including: a corner separator; and a feed roller means for respectively feeding a transmit original and recording sheet from the first and second tray means when respectively located in the paper feeding position; an endless sheet conveying belt disposed above a passageway followed by a transmit original inserted in a sheet carrier and a recording sheet as they are respectively fed by the sheet feed means, the conveying belt being disposed for contact with the upper surface of a respective passing sheet carrier and recording sheet for conveying it to a processing station; a frictional member disposed below the passageway and having a frictional surface gently pressed against the surface of the sheet conveying belt; means for supporting the frictional member in a movable manner for movement in a direction normal to the surface of the sheet conveying belt; and means for maintaining said frictional member and its frictional surface away from the sheet conveying belt when the first tray means is located in the paper feeding position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A sheet feeder comprising: a first tray means for receiving a transmit original which is inserted inside a sheet carrier formed by a transparent sheet material; a second tray means for receiving a plurality of recording sheets in a stack; means for selectively locating one of the first and second tray means in a paper feeding position; sheet feed means for feeding sheets including: a corner separator; and a feed roller means for respectively feeding a transmit original and recording sheet from the first and second tray means when respectively located in the paper feeding position; an endless sheet conveying belt disposed above a passageway followed by a transmit original inserted in a sheet carrier and a recording sheet as they are respectively fed by the sheet feed means, the conveying belt being disposed for contact with the upper surface of a respective passing sheet carrier and recording sheet for conveying it to a processing station; a frictional member disposed below the passageway and having a frictional surface gently pressed against the surface of the sheet conveying belt; means for supporting the frictional member in a movable manner for movement in a direction normal to the surface of the sheet conveying belt; and means for maintaining said frictional member and its frictional surface away from the sheet conveying belt when the first tray means is located in the paper feeding position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1 further comprising a conveying roller located nearer the sheet processing station than said feed roller means and downstream of said endless sheet conveying belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1, further comprising means for sheet separating disposed intermediate the sheet feed means and the frictional member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 3 in which the means for sheet separating is formed with a knife edge along its upper edge, the knife edge being disposed in the region of the sheet passageway in a position within the range from gentle abutting relationship with the endless conveying belt to being spaced therefrom by a clearance corresponding to the thickness of a single sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 3 in which the means for sheet separating is mounted for movement with said frictional member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1 further comprising mode switching means for switching between a transmit mode and a receive mode in response to the respective locating of the first and second tray means in the paper feeding position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1 further comprising mode switching means for switching to a multitransmit mode in response to the locating of the first tray means in the paper feeding position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 7 wherein said switching means comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of sheets on said first tray means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1 wherein said maintaining means comprises means movable with said first tray means for holding said supporting means against movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sheet feeder according to claim 1 wherein said sheet feed means further comprises a second corner separator and the two corner separators are respectively mounted on said first and second tray means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |