Sheet supplier and image forming apparatus incorporating same with friction and electrostatic separators with overlapping planes of projection
US8020851B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 27, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2801/06
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In a sheet separator of a sheet supplier, a friction separator and an electrostatic separator separate an uppermost sheet from other sheets of a plurality of sheets loaded on a sheet tray by a friction force and an attraction force generated by a non-uniform electric field, respectively. A conveyance member is provided downstream from the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in a sheet conveyance direction to feed the uppermost sheet separated by at least one of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in the sheet conveyance direction. The friction separator and the electrostatic separator are arranged in such a manner that planes of projection of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator overlap or coincide in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction in which the conveyance member feeds the uppermost sheet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.