Patent ID: 6308946
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An image forming machine with a foreign material removal apparatus comprising:a sheet feeding table which is vertically movable and supports printing sheets thereon;sheet feeding means situated adjacent to said sheet feeding table and feeding said printing sheets stacked on said sheet feeding table one by one;image forming means situated near said sheet feeding means and forming an image on said printing sheet fed by said sheet feeding means;detecting means situated adjacent to said sheet feeding means and detecting said printing sheets fed by said sheet feeding means; andforeign material removal means for removing foreign material covering said detecting means, said foreign material removal means including a pump attached to the sheet feeding means and driven by vertical movements of said sheet feeding table to flow air, and a nozzle situated adjacent to the detecting means and attached to the pump, said pump, when the sheet feeding table moves vertically, allowing air to flow through the nozzle to remove the foreign material covering the detecting means.