Patent ID: 8118297
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeder with side surface air mechanism comprising: a sheet loading plate configured to store a stack of recording sheets thereon; a sheet feed mechanism configured to perform a continuous sheet feeding operation from an uppermost sheet in the stack; a heated-air mechanism configured to blow heated air toward a side surface of the stack from an air outlet, the side surface being parallel to a sheet feeding direction; a lift mechanism configured to displace the sheet loading plate toward and away from a sheet feed position at which the uppermost sheet in the stack contacts the sheet feed mechanism; and a controller configured to control a sheet separating operation after a predetermined number of the sheets are fed during the continuous sheet feeding operation, the sheet separating operation including, while causing the heated air mechanism to blow heated air toward the side surface of the sheet stack, (i) causing the lift mechanism to displace the sheet loading plate away from the sheet feed position for a first predetermined period, (ii) causing the lift mechanism to maintain its position for a second predetermined period, and (iii) causing the lift mechanism to displace the sheet loading plate towards the sheet feed position.