Cassette-type container for a sheet-like member

Claim 1

An automatic feeding system for a sheet-like member, comprising: a cassette-type container for containing the sheet-like member, wherein said container includes a lower member for carrying the sheet-like member, said lower member having a side wall and an extension formed on said side wall, an upper member engageable with said lower member to define a closed chamber, said upper member having a side wall and an extension formed thereon, a guide channel formed in the side wall of said upper member, for guiding rectilinear movement of said upper member when it is engaged by or disengaged from said lower member, a guide pin formed on the side wall of said lower member, said guide pin being engageable with said guide channel of said upper member so that said upper member is pivotally movable about said guide pin when the latter is at an innermost position in said guide channel, and means for holding said upper member and lower member against separation, said holding means including an engaging element formed on said upper member and another engaging element formed on said lower member and engageable with said engaging member of said upper member; means for holding said extension formed on the side wall of said upper member; means for applying a biasing force to said extension holding means to urge said extension holding means in a direction rotating it about said guide pin; fork means adapted to carry thereon said extension formed on the side wall of said lower member, to separate said lower member from said upper member and to feed said lower member; and elevator means for moving said fork means in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rectilinear movement of said lower member, to disengage said lower member from said upper member.