Patent ID: 8157257
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding device, comprising: a sheet holder to hold multiple sheets including an uppermost sheet placed on top thereof; an endless belt of multilayer construction including an outer layer formed of a dielectric material, the endless belt configured to attract the uppermost sheet to separate the uppermost sheet from the multiple sheets and feed the uppermost sheet in a sheet conveyance direction; a charging member to charge the outer layer of the endless belt with an alternating voltage; a belt supporting unit including a drive roller having a drive roller shaft to rotatably support the endless belt and a driven roller having a driven roller shaft to rotatably support the endless belt with the drive roller; a roller position detection sensor to detect a position of the driven roller and generate output regarding the position of the driven roller; a moving mechanism movable between a proximal position where the sheet holder approaches the endless belt and a distal position where the sheet holder moves away from the endless belt, the moving mechanism being configured to translate the sheet holder vertically between the proximal position and the distal position; and a controller to control operation of the moving mechanism, the controller configured to alternately