Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
US8424865B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1311
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sheet feeding device that is incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes an endless belt disposed facing an upper surface of a sheet stack to convey sheets of the sheet stack forward in a first moving direction of a surface thereof, an attraction unit to attract an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack to the endless belt, a contact and separation unit to contact and separate the endless belt relative to the sheet stack, and a controller to cause the endless belt to contact or substantially contact the upper surface of the sheet stack to attract the uppermost sheet to the endless belt, perform a pre-separation operation in which the endless belt moves in a reverse direction that is opposite the sheet conveyance direction, and then perform a separating operation in which the endless belt separates from the sheet stack.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.