Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and sheet feeding apparatus capable of effectively feeding sheets
US7497430B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2551/20
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes image forming and sheet feeding mechanisms. The sheet feeding mechanism includes a bottom plate, a first roller, a separator including second and third rollers, and a sensor. The bottom plate loads sheets. The first roller feeds an uppermost sheet of the sheets loaded on the bottom plate. The separator separates the uppermost sheet from the other sheets when a plurality of sheets are fed by the first roller. The sensor is disposed between heads of the sheets loaded on the bottom plate and the separator and detects the uppermost sheet fed by the first roller. The image forming apparatus further includes a controller for driving the first roller to feed a next uppermost sheet loaded on the bottom plate when the sensor does not detect the next uppermost sheet when a tail portion of the previous sheet passes the separator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.