The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1999
Tadashi Kusumi, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A paper feed apparatus which is capable of avoiding an erroneous transfer of recording sheets includes a plurality of selectable paper handling mechanisms and a controller. The paper handling mechanisms include a base plate storing recording sheets, an elevator moving the base plate, a first detector detecting whether an uppermost-positioned paper sheet of the recording sheets is positioned at a predetermined paper feed position, a feed roller rotating in a paper feed direction, a separation roller in contact with the feed roller with a reverse driving force, a pick-up roller transferring an uppermost-positioned sheet to a nip portion between the feed and separation rollers, a pushing member pushing the separation roller to contact the feed roller, and a release member releasing the separation roller from contact with the feed roller. The controller controls the elevator of a selected paper handling mechanism to move the recording sheets stacked thereon so that an uppermost-positioned paper sheet of recording sheets is at the predetermined paper feed position using the first detector, and controls each elevator other than the elevator of the selected paper handling mechanism to move recording sheets stacked thereon so that an uppermost-positioned paper sheet of the recording sheets is away from the predetermined paper feed position using the first detector.