US5203552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet feeding apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-12-11
•
Granted: 1993-04-20
•
Expires: 2010-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet receiving device includes a first unit having at least one stacking tray for stacking sheets; a first feeder for feeding the sheet from the stacking tray of the first unit; a first guiding member for guiding the sheet from the first feeder to the receiving device; a second guiding member for guiding a side of the sheet opposite from a side guided by the first guiding member to constitute together with the first guiding member a sheet passage; a second unit having at least one stacking tray for stacking sheets; second feeder for feeding the sheet from the stacking tray of the second unit; a third guiding member for guiding the sheet from the second feeder to the receiving device; and a supporting device for supporting the first unit to the second unit for movement between a first position wherein the first guiding member guides the sheet from the first feeder and a second position wherein at least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member are exposed.
Inventors
- 👤 Akimitsu Hoshi
- 👤 Masaaki Sato
- 👤 Takaji Yonemori
- 👤 Hideki Goto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6502; G03G15/6508; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H3/00; B65H3/44; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1619; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; B65H2402/00; B65H2402/10; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00379; G03G2215/00383; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding a sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit to said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first sheet passage guides the sheet from said first feeding means and a second position wherein at least one of said first sheet passage and said second sheet passage are exposed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding a sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit to said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first sheet passage guides the sheet from said first feeding means and a second position wherein at least one of said first sheet passage and said second sheet passage are exposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sheet passage has a first guiding member and a second guiding member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second guiding member is integrally mounted on said first unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said urging means comprises a resilient member for urging said second guiding member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pair of conveying rotatable members for conveying the sheet, and wherein said second guiding member supports one of the rotatable members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one of the rotatable members supported on said second guiding member is urged to the other rotatable member by a resilient member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the rotatable member supported on said second guiding member is released when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said resilient member is elastically deformed between the processing means and said guiding member when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means slidably supports the first unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said supporting means has a guiding member and a roller for sliding the first unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means is image forming means for forming an image on the sheet received from one of said first feeding means and said second feeding means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sheet passage includes a third guiding member and a fourth guiding member, and wherein said third guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
171 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being rotatably supported about an axis crossing with the sheet passage, and opening the sheet passage by rotation thereof; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second member is rotatable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
171 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being rotatably supported about an axis crossing with the sheet passage, and opening the sheet passage by rotation thereof; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second member is rotatable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second guiding member is integrally mounted on said first unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said urging means comprises a resilient member for urging said second guiding member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a pair of conveying rotatable members for conveying the sheet, and wherein said second guiding member supports one of the rotatable members.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein one of the rotatable members supported on said second guiding member is urged to the other rotatable member by a resilient member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the rotatable member supported on said second guiding member is released when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said resilient member is elastically deformed between the processing means and said second guiding member when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said supporting means slidably supports the first unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said supporting means has a guiding member and a roller for sliding the first unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing means is image forming means for forming an image on the sheet from one of said first feeding means and said second feeding means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second sheet passage includes a third guiding member and a fourth guiding member, and wherein said third guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
191 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said first sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being movable to a position for opening said sheet passage; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second guiding member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second guiding member is rotatable; and urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
191 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said first sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being movable to a position for opening said sheet passage; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second guiding member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second guiding member is rotatable; and urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said urging means comprises a resilient member for urging said second guiding member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a pair of conveying rotatable members for conveying the sheet, and wherein said second guiding member supports one of the rotatable members.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein one of the rotatable members supported on said second guiding member is urged to the other rotatable member by a resilient member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the rotatable member supported on said second guiding member is released when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said resilient member is elastically deformed between the processing means and said guiding member when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said supporting means slidably supports the first unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said supporting means has a guiding member and a roller for sliding the first unit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the processing means is image forming means for forming an image on the sheet from one of said first feeding means and said second feeding means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second sheet passage includes a third guiding member and a fourth guiding member, and wherein said third guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
152 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a sheet; a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to said image forming means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the image forming means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit to said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first sheet passage guides the sheet from said first feeding means and a second position wherein at least one of said first sheet passage and said second sheet passage are exposed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
152 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a sheet; a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to said image forming means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the image forming means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit to said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first sheet passage guides the sheet from said first feeding means and a second position wherein at least one of said first sheet passage and said second sheet passage are exposed.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said second sheet passage includes a third guiding member and a fourth guiding member, and wherein said third guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
140 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet receiving means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first passage is capable of guiding the sheet and a second position wherein said first passage is incapable of guiding the sheet.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
140 words
A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet receiving means, comprising: a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit; a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means; a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets; a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit; a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means; and supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first passage is capable of guiding the sheet and a second position wherein said first passage is incapable of guiding the sheet.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said first sheet passage has a first guiding member and a second guiding member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said second guiding member is integrally mounted on said first unit.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said second guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said urging means comprises a resilient member for urging said second guiding member.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising a pair of conveying rotatable members for conveying the sheet, and wherein said second guiding member supports one of the rotatable members.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein one of the rotatable members supported on said second guiding member is urged to the other rotatable member by a resilient member.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the rotatable member supported on said second guiding member is released when said first unit is at the second position.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said resilient member is elastically deformed between the processing means and said guiding member when said first unit is at the first position.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said supporting means slidably supports the first unit.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said supporting means has a guiding member and a roller for sliding the first unit.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the processing means is image forming means for forming an image on the sheet from one of the first feeding means and the second feeding means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said second sheet passage includes a third guiding member and a fourth guiding member, and wherein said third guiding member is movable to an open position when said first unit is at the second position.
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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) | 1996-04-19 | 1996-10-19 | 1997-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-19 | 2000-10-19 | 2001-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-19 | 2004-10-19 | 2005-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |