Patent ID: 6053491
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
An automatic sheet feeder for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising:a pickup roller feeding a plurality of cut sheets of paper into said image forming apparatus and conveying a sheet to a second roller;a tray contained in a frame and supporting said cut sheets of paper, said tray having a first recess near an edge, a first guide contained in said recess and rotably attached to said tray and a second guide rotably attached to said first guide, said first guide forming a second recess when said second guide is recessed in said first recess, said second recess being a smaller portion of said first recess defined by both an inwardly facing edge of said second guide and an inwardly facing edge of said first recess;said first guide having a portion contactable with a shaft supporting said pickup roller when said first guide is rotated and bracing said tray at an increased distance from said pickup roller;a spring positioned between said tray and said frame and applying a separating force to both said tray and said frame;said second guide pivotable to a position perpendicular to said tray when said sheet feeder is operating in an automatic sheet loading mode; andsaid first guide rotatable to a position perpendicular to said tray when said sheet feeder is in a manual sheet loading mode.