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:
Jan. 02, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 20, 2003
Hideaki Kadowaki, Kyoto, JP;
Tadasu Taniguchi, Nara, JP;
Mitsuyoshi Terada, Osaka, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Osamu Fujimoto, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Hideaki Kadowaki, Kyoto, JP;
Tadasu Taniguchi, Nara, JP;
Mitsuyoshi Terada, Osaka, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Osamu Fujimoto, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A protecting cover and a pickup device, each having a hooking portion, are rotatably provided at the flank of an image forming apparatus. The rotational centers of the protecting cover and the pickup device and the hooking portions are arranged in such geometry that the hooking portions become engaged with each other only in the range from a predetermined trace intersection to the flank of the image forming apparatus when the protecting cover is rotated from its usage position toward its retracted position at the flank of the image forming apparatus. The pickup device is stopped at the starting position of engagement where the hooking portions are positioned at the trace intersection when sheet feed is not made, and is moved to the operating position when sheet feed is to be made. The protecting cover is constructed so as to rotate in linkage with the rotation of a paper feed tray which is rotatably provided at the flank of the image forming apparatus.