Patent ID: 8684351
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeder comprising: a sheet tray configured to hold one or more sheets; a pair of sheet guides including a first sheet guide and a second sheet guide, the first and second sheet guides provided on an upper surface of the sheet tray and configured to slide along an axis perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction on the upper surface of the sheet tray, wherein sliding the first and second sheet guides causes a distance therebetween to change; and an interlock mechanism configured to move the first sheet guide in a first direction in response to movement of the second sheet guide in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the interlock mechanism comprises a first rack extending from the first sheet guide toward the second sheet guide and a second rack extending from the second sheet guide toward the first sheet guide, wherein the first sheet guide is configured to have a first operating load, the first operating load being required to move the first sheet guide, wherein the second sheet guide is configured to have a second operating load, wherein the second operating load is required to move the second sheet guide and is greater than the first operating load, wherein the sheet tray includes a protrusion extending in the sheet conveying direction toward the first rack and configured to continuously contact the first rack, and wherein the protrusion is fixed relative to the sheet feed tray so as to be immovable relative to the sheet feed tray.