Sheet feeding apparatus, image forming apparatus and sheet feeding method
US6361038B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2553/61
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An image forming apparatus is capable of detecting the presence or absence of sheets before a bottom plate moves up during a so-called initial operation, such as an operation for setting a sheet loading tray in the apparatus, and preventing the bottom plate from running wildly during, for example, an upward movement thereof. The apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet transferred thereto, a sheet loading tray having a bottom plate which is loaded with sheets to be transferred to the image forming unit, and which is adapted to be vertically moved, a sheet nudging member for feeding the sheets from an upper side of the sheets stacked on the bottom plate toward the image forming unit, a first sensor provided above the sheet loading tray and adapted to detect the presence or absence of the sheets, a second sensor provided on the bottom plate of the sheet loading tray and adapted to detect the presence or absence of the sheets, and a control unit for controlling the vertical movements of the bottom plate of the sheet loading tray. The control unit is adapted to prohibit an upward movement of the bottom plate when the sheets are not detected by the second…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.