Patent ID: 6733010
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: B42C,B65H

Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:a sheet reception inlet for receiving a set of first sheets; a tray for storing a stack of second sheets; a sheet set discharge outlet for releasing out a set of the sheets where the second sheet is placed over the first sheets; a first conveying path extending from the sheet reception inlet to the sheet set discharge outlet; a sheet conveying means for conveying the first sheets received at the sheet reception inlet in a sequence along the first conveying path to the sheet set discharge outlet; a second conveying path extending from the tray to the first conveying path and communicated at a junction with the first conveying path; a sheet feeding means for conveying the second sheet along the second conveying path to the junction with the first conveying path and placing the second sheet over the first sheets; a sheet transferring means for transferring each second sheet from the tray to the sheet feeding means; and a controlling means for controlling the action of the sheet conveying means, the sheet feeding means, and the sheet transferring means, wherein the sheet feeding means is changed to a standby mode when the second sheet is transferred from the sheet transferring means to the sheet feeding means and, when the first sheets cross the junction, the sheet feeding means starts sheet feeding operation, thereby the second sheet is conveyed out from the second conveying path and placed over the first sheets.