Patent Description:
Regarding to an image forming apparatus, <CIT> discloses a technique of detecting the rear end of an envelope in the tray accommodating the envelope to be an image forming target.

Such an image forming apparatus has a tray that accommodates thinly tabular articles as a bundle of stacked articles. In a case where a thinly tabular article is partially different in thickness such as an envelope, the uppermost thinly tabular article in the bundle is inclined due to stacking of the articles difference in thickness. The inclined thinly tabular article may interfere with the outward supply from the tray. Thus, the number of stacked thinly tabular articles is limited to a small number. <CIT>, disclosing the preamble of claim <NUM>, is concerned with a tilting tray for feeding and stacking specialised forms. <CIT> is concerned with a sheet feeding device. <CIT> is concerned with a method and apparatus for maintaining a predetermined media stack height in a media tray used in an image production device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. An object of the present invention is to provide an article supporter capable of suitably supporting a bundle of a plurality of thinly tabular articles that is stacked and is partially different in thickness, a supply device, and an image forming apparatus.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article supporter for a supply device as defined in claim <NUM>.

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention:.

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the reference drawings, "front and rear" indicates a feeding direction of a thinly tabular article (the downstream side as front and the upstream side as rear), and "left and right" indicates a width direction of the thinly tabular article(a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction and the up-and-down direction).

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a supply device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention is of an air separation type. The supply device <NUM> blows air to a plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> stacked in the up-and-down direction to float and separate each thinly tabular article <NUM>, and then conveys the separated thinly tabular article <NUM> to supply outward. The supply device <NUM> includes, as a basic configuration, a bottom wall <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a lifting plate <NUM>, a position regulator <NUM>, a pair of left and right floaters <NUM> and <NUM>, a front floater <NUM>, and a feeder <NUM>. The supply device <NUM> further includes sensors <NUM> and <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The bottom wall <NUM> extending horizontally (frontward and rearward, and leftward and rightward) serves as a floor face of the supply device <NUM>.

The front wall <NUM> extends upward from the front end of the bottom wall <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> serves as a position regulator that regulates the position of the respective front ends of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> provided on the lifting plate <NUM> (i.e., frontward movement of the thinly tabular article <NUM>).

The lifting plate <NUM> provided above the bottom wall <NUM> extends horizontally, and is a tabular metal member movable upward and downward. The lifting plate <NUM> has, for example, a hole and a cutaway for allowing movement of the position regulator <NUM> and each floater <NUM>.

The position regulator <NUM> protrudes upward the lifting plate <NUM> on the upper side of the bottom wall <NUM>. The position regulator <NUM> regulates the position of the respective rear ends of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> provided on the lifting plate <NUM> (i.e., rear movement of the thinly tabular article <NUM>. ) The position regulator <NUM> manually movable frontward and rearward with respect to the bottom wall <NUM> can correspond to thinly tabular articles <NUM> various in size.

Each of the pair of floaters <NUM> and <NUM> protrudes upward the lifting plate <NUM> on the upper side of the bottom wall <NUM>, and serves as a fan that blows air from the corresponding side to the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> provided on the lifting plate <NUM> to float the thinly tabular article <NUM>. The floater <NUM> manually movable leftward and rightward with respect to the bottom wall <NUM> can correspond to thinly tabular articles <NUM> various in size. The floater <NUM> is accommodated in the corresponding housing serving as a position regulator that regulates the position of the respective ends in the width direction of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> provided on the lifting plate <NUM> (i.e., movement in the width direction of the thinly tabular articles <NUM>).

The floater <NUM> serves a fan that blows air from the front of the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> provided on the lifting plate <NUM> to float the thinly tabular article <NUM>.

The feeder <NUM> provided above the front wall <NUM> conveys the thinly tabular article <NUM> floated by the floater <NUM> with the floated thinly tabular article <NUM> sucked by air to feed the sucked thinly tabular article <NUM> outward (frontward) the supply device <NUM>. The feeder <NUM> includes a driving roller <NUM>, a driven roller <NUM>, a suction belt <NUM> as an endless belt that has a plurality of holes and is wound around the driving roller <NUM> and the driven roller <NUM>, and a sucker <NUM> provided on the inner circumferential side of the suction belt <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> provide at the lifting plate <NUM> detects (presence or absence of) the thinly tabular article <NUM> provided above the sensor <NUM> to output the detection result to the controller <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> provided at the upper part of the front wall <NUM> detects (presence or absence of) the thinly tabular article <NUM> present at the same level as the sensor <NUM> to output the detection result to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and an input/output circuit. In response to detection of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> by the sensor <NUM>, the controller <NUM> controls a mechanism such as a motor (not illustrated) to cause the lifting plate <NUM> to lift. Here, in response to the detection of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> by the sensor <NUM>, the controller <NUM> stops the mechanism (not illustrated) to set the lifting plate <NUM> (i.e., the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM>) to a desired level. The gap C between the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> (the lower face of the suction belt <NUM>) is set to a predetermined value. In such a state, the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> can blow air to the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM>. The suction belt <NUM> locates above the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> by a predetermined level.

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> controls the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> to float the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM>. Further, the controller <NUM> controls the sucker <NUM> to suck the floated thinly tabular article <NUM> such that the floated thinly tabular article <NUM> is sucked onto the suction belt <NUM> (by air suction), and controls, for example, a motor for rotating the driving roller <NUM>, so that the thinly tabular article <NUM> sucked on the suction belt <NUM> is conveyed and supplied outward the supply device <NUM> while being conveyed.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in order for the supply device <NUM> supplying, such as an envelope, a thinly tabular article <NUM> partially different in thickness, the article supporter set <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided on the lifting plate <NUM> to support the bundle <NUM> as a stacked body including a plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM>. The article supporter set <NUM> includes an article supporter <NUM>, and a pair of auxiliary article supporters <NUM> and <NUM>.

The article supporter <NUM> includes a pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM>, a position regulator <NUM>, and a coupler <NUM>. The article supporter <NUM> further includes, for each base <NUM>, a first support <NUM>, a second support <NUM>, an adjuster <NUM>, a raising member <NUM>, and a pair of front and rear third supports <NUM> and <NUM>.

Each of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> is an elongated tabular metal member extending in the feeding direction of the thinly tabular article <NUM>, that is, frontward and rearward. Each of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> is securable to the lifting plate <NUM> by magnetic force. The one of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> and the other are provided in parallel to each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> are two sides that are each a metal member having a rectangular frame shape and that faces each other. That is, the respective front ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> are integrally connected through a front side part <NUM> extending in the width direction, and the respective rear ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> are integrally connected through a rear side part <NUM> extending in the width direction.

The position regulator <NUM> is a resin member coupling the front ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> to each other, and regulates the position of the front end of the bundle <NUM> as the stacked body including the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> supported by the article supporter <NUM>. The position regulator <NUM> integrally includes a bottom wall <NUM>, a front wall <NUM> extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall <NUM>, and an extending wall <NUM> extending upward from an intermediate part in the width direction of the upper end of the front wall <NUM>. The rear end of the bottom wall <NUM> is secured to the front ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> and the front side part <NUM>. The respective rear faces of the front wall <NUM> and the extending wall <NUM> each are arc-shaped about pivotal shafts A1 and A2 in side view.

The position regulator <NUM> includes a plurality of ribs <NUM> each erected rearward from the rear faces of the front wall <NUM> and the extending wall <NUM>. The plurality of ribs <NUM> each extend upward and downward and are disposed at equal intervals in the width direction. The respective leading ends (rear end faces) of the plurality of ribs <NUM> are each arc-shaped about the pivotal shafts A1 and A2 in side view.

The coupler <NUM> is a resin member coupling the rear ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> to each other. The coupler <NUM> integrally includes a bottom wall <NUM> and a rear wall <NUM> extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall <NUM>. The front end of the bottom wall <NUM> is secured to the rear ends of the pair of bases <NUM> and <NUM> and the rear side part <NUM>. The rear wall <NUM> has an upper part provided with a handle <NUM>. The handle <NUM> having a hole penetrating the rear wall <NUM> frontward and rearward is grippable by the user.

The coupler <NUM> includes a lower protrusion extending downward from the bottom wall <NUM>. The lower protrusion is internally fitted into a groove extending frontward and rearward at a central part in the width direction of the lifting plate <NUM>, thereby regulating movement of the coupler <NUM> in the width direction and positioning the article supporter <NUM> in the width direction.

Such a first support <NUM> as described above is a resin member integrally including a bottom wall <NUM> and a pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM> extending upward, one-to-one, from both ends of the bottom wall <NUM> in the width direction. The bottom wall <NUM> is substantially the same in width dimension as the base <NUM>, and is attached to an intermediate part in the longitudinal direction of the base <NUM>. The first support <NUM> supports a portion where the respective thinner parts 2X of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> are superimposed on the respective upper faces of the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Each side wall <NUM> integrally includes a lower part 42a, an inclined part 42b, and an upper part 42c. The lower part 42a is wide in width in the front-and-rear direction. The inclined part 42b extends upward from the upper end of the lower part 42a, narrows upward in width, and has a front side inclining rearward. The upper part 42c extends upward from the inclined part 42b and is narrower in width than the lower part 42a in the front-and-rear direction. The inclined part 42b is a part provided for avoiding interference with an intermediate part <NUM> of the second support <NUM>. The upper part 42c is a part to which the raising member <NUM> to be described later is attached.

Such a second support <NUM> described above extends frontward and rearward and is a resin member integrally including a base end <NUM>, the intermediate part <NUM>, and a leading end <NUM> in this order from the rear. The base end <NUM> is accommodated between the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM>, and is journaled pivotally around the pivotal shaft A1 to the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM>. With no bundle <NUM> supported, the base end <NUM> inclines upward from rear to front in side view. With no bundle <NUM> supported, the intermediate part <NUM> inclines upward from rear to front in side view. The intermediate part <NUM> inclines inward in the width direction from rear to front in plan view. With no bundle <NUM> supported, the leading end <NUM> extends almost horizontally in side view. The second support <NUM> supports a portion where the respective thicker parts 2Y of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> are superimposed on the upper face of the leading end <NUM> (see <FIG>). Further, at least either the first support <NUM> or the second support <NUM> is provided with a pivotal regulator that regulates, with no bundle <NUM> supported, pivoting of the second support <NUM> such that the leading end <NUM> does not move upward from its horizontal position.

The leading end <NUM> includes a sensor holder 53a as a recess capable of holding a sensor <NUM>, and a through hole 53b with which the bottom face of the sensor holder 53a is provided. The sensor <NUM> is detachably attached to each of the lifting plate <NUM> and the sensor holder 53a of the leading end <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> accommodated and held in the sensor holder 53a is connected to the controller <NUM> through a wired line passing through the through hole 53b.

The adjuster <NUM> adjusts the level of the leading end <NUM> of the second support <NUM> such that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> is set within a predetermined range R (see <FIG>) in the vertical direction. That is, the difference in level between the positions in the plane of the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is set within the predetermined range R, and thus the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is in a substantially horizontal posture. On the other hand, the lowermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is supported by the first support <NUM> (raising member <NUM>) and the second support <NUM> different in level. The difference in level between the positions in the plane of the lowermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is out of the predetermined range R, and thus the lowermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is in an inclined posture. In the present embodiment, the adjuster <NUM> serving as an urging member that elastically urges the second support <NUM> upward is, for example, a wound spring with which the pivotal shaft A1 of the second support <NUM> is provided.

The predetermined range R corresponds to a value set in advance on the basis of, for example, the thickness of the thinly tabular article <NUM> as a target or the dimension in the up-and-down direction of the passage to which the thinly tabular article <NUM> as the target is supplied. At the article supporter <NUM>, for example, the urging force of each adjuster <NUM> and the distance between the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of each first support <NUM> and the leading end <NUM> of the corresponding second support <NUM> are appropriately set such that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> is set within the predetermined range R.

The adjuster <NUM> adjusts the level of the leading end <NUM> of the second support <NUM> such that the difference in level between the thinner part 2X and the thicker part 2Y of the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> is smaller than the difference in level between the thinner part 2X and the thicker part 2Y of the lowermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the bundle <NUM>.

The raising member <NUM> is a resin member detachably attached to the upper ends of the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the first support <NUM>. The raising member <NUM> integrally includes an upper wall <NUM>, a front wall <NUM> extending downward from the front end of the upper wall <NUM>, and a rear wall <NUM> extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall <NUM>. The raising member <NUM> is fitted to the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> such that the raising member <NUM> is disabled from moving frontward and rearward.

Such a third support <NUM> described above is a resin member integrally including a bottom wall <NUM>, a pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM> extending upward, one-to-one, from both ends of the bottom wall <NUM> in the width direction. The bottom wall <NUM> is substantially the same in width dimension as the base <NUM>, and is detachably attached to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the base <NUM>. The third support <NUM> is provided behind the first support <NUM>, and supports a portion where the respective thinner parts 2X of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> are superimposed on the upper face of the side wall <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Such an auxiliary article supporter <NUM> as described above is provided outside in the width direction of the article supporter <NUM>, and includes a base <NUM>, a support <NUM>, and an adjuster <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is a resin member integrally including an elongated tabular bottom wall <NUM> extending frontward and rearward, a pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM> extending upward, one-to-one, from both ends in the width direction at an intermediate part of the bottom wall <NUM> in the front-and-rear direction, and a handle <NUM> extending upward at the rear of the bottom wall <NUM>. The bottom wall <NUM> has a lower face on which, for example, a metal piece securable to the lifting plate <NUM> by magnetic force may be attached.

The support <NUM> extends frontward and rearward, and integrally includes a base <NUM> and a leading end <NUM> in this order from the rear. The base <NUM> has a rear end accommodated between the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM>, and is journaled pivotally around the pivotal shaft A2 to the pair of side walls <NUM> and <NUM>. With no bundle <NUM> supported, similarly to the base end <NUM> and the intermediate part <NUM> of the second support <NUM>, the base <NUM> inclines upward from rear to front in side view. With no bundle <NUM> supported, similarly to the leading end <NUM> of the second support <NUM>, the leading end <NUM> extends almost horizontally in side view. The support <NUM> supports a portion where the thicker parts 2Y of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> are superimposed on the upper face of the leading end <NUM> (see <FIG>). Further, at least either the base <NUM> or the support <NUM> is provided with a pivotal regulator that regulates, with no bundle <NUM> supported, pivoting of the support <NUM> such that the leading end <NUM> does not move upward from its horizontal position.

The adjuster <NUM> adjusts the level of the leading end <NUM> of the support <NUM> such that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> is set within the predetermined range R (see <FIG>) in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the adjuster <NUM> is as an urging member that elastically urges the support <NUM> upward and is, for example, a wound spring with which the pivotal shaft A2 of the support <NUM> is provided.

With no bundle <NUM> supported, the upper face of the upper wall <NUM> of the raising member <NUM> externally fitted to the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of each first support <NUM>, the upper face of the leading end <NUM> of the corresponding second support <NUM>, the upper faces of the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the corresponding third support <NUM>, the upper face of the leading end <NUM> of the corresponding support <NUM>, and the upper edge of the extending wall <NUM> are set at the same level. The leading end <NUM> of the second support <NUM> and the leading end <NUM> of the support <NUM> are at the same position in the front-and-rear direction and are arrayed in the width direction. The interval between the leading ends <NUM> of the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM> is smaller than the interval between the inner side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM> and the interval between the inner side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the pair of third supports <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, the interval between the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM> and the interval between the pair of third supports <NUM> and <NUM> are set at a dimension in which the position regulator <NUM> can be disposed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, a longitudinally-long open-end envelope 2A as an exemplary thinly tabular article <NUM> has, as a thicker part 2Y, a bottom closed due to an overlapping margin and a part as a thinner part 2X different from the bottom.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, a center-seam elongated open-end envelope 2B as an exemplary thinly tabular article <NUM> has, as a thicker part 2Y, a bottom closed portion due to an overlapping margin and a part as a thinner part 2X different from the bottom. The center-seam elongated open-end envelope 2B further has, as a thicker part 2Y, a central part in the width direction closed due to an overlapping margin and the remaining part as a thinner part 2X different from the thicker part 2Y.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, a single-side-seam elongated open-end envelope 2C as an exemplary thinly tabular article <NUM> has, as a thicker part 2Y, a bottom part closed due to an overlapping margin and a part as a thinner part 2X different from the bottom. The single-side-seam elongated open-end envelope 2C further has, as a thicker part 2Y, one end in the width direction closed due to an overlapping margin and the remaining part as a thinner part 2X different from the thicker part 2Y.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a bundle <NUM> of longitudinally-long open-end envelopes 2A stacked is supported by the article supporter set <NUM>, and is positioned by each first support <NUM>, and the position regulator <NUM> and the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> with the positions adjusted in response to the size of the longitudinally-long open-end envelopes 2A. Of the bundle <NUM> of the longitudinally-long open-end envelopes 2A stacked, a portion with the thinner parts 2X superimposed is placed and supported on the upper wall <NUM> of the corresponding raising member <NUM> provided on the first support <NUM> and the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of each of the corresponding pair of third supports <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, of the bundle <NUM> of the longitudinally-long open-end envelopes 2A stacked, a portion with the thicker parts 2Y superimposed is placed and supported on the leading end <NUM> of each second support <NUM> and the leading end <NUM> of the corresponding support <NUM>. Here, due to the weight of the thicker parts 2Y, the second support <NUM> pivots around the pivotal shaft A1 such that the leading end <NUM> is lowered while resisting the urging force of the corresponding adjuster <NUM>. Further, due to the weight of the thicker parts 2Y, the support <NUM> pivots around the pivotal shaft A2 such that the leading end <NUM> is lowered while resisting the urging force of the corresponding adjuster <NUM>. In such a state, (the respective upper faces of) the leading ends <NUM> and <NUM> inclining downward from rear to front in side view support the portion with the thicker parts 2Y superimposed of the bundle <NUM>.

In such a state, of the lowermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM>, the thicker part 2Y is lower in position than the thinner part 2X. Of the uppermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM>, the thicker part 2Y is substantially the same in level as the thinner part 2X. That is, in the uppermost open-end envelope 2A, the positions of the thinner part 2X and the thicker part 2Y in the vertical direction fall within a predetermined range R (almost horizontal). That is, with the bundle <NUM> supported by the article supporter set <NUM>, the difference in level between the thinner part 2X and the thicker part 2Y of the uppermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM> is smaller than the difference in level between the thinner part 2X and the thicker part 2Y of the lowermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM>. The gap C between the uppermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> is set at a predetermined value.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a case where the bundle <NUM> becomes thinner due to outward supply of the open-end envelopes 2A of the upper part of the bundle <NUM>, the controller <NUM> (see <FIG>) causes the lifting plate <NUM> to lift. Each second support <NUM> (see <FIG>) pivots around the pivotal shaft A1 such that the corresponding leading end <NUM> rises as the bundle <NUM> becomes lighter. Similarly, as the bundle <NUM> becomes lighter, the corresponding support <NUM> pivots around the pivotal shaft A2 such that the leading end <NUM> rises. At that time, the respective front ends of the remaining open-end envelopes 2A of the bundle <NUM> slide with respect to the rib <NUM>. As a result, the gap C between the uppermost open-end envelope 2A of the bundle <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> is maintained at a predetermined value.

For a small number of stacked thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM>, the left and right raising members <NUM> as described above may be removed. In such a case, the portion with the thinner parts 2X superimposed of the bundle <NUM> is placed and supported on the side walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the corresponding first support <NUM>.

Note that, in a case where all the open-end envelopes 2A of the bundle <NUM> are supplied outward, the controller <NUM> can stop the lifting of the lifting plate <NUM>, due to detection of the extending wall <NUM> by the sensor <NUM>.

Next, a technique of supporting a center-seam elongated open-end envelope 2B will be described focusing on differences from the case of supporting a longitudinally-long open-end envelope 2A. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> are omitted appropriately. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a bundle <NUM> of center-seam elongated open-end envelopes 2B stacked is supported by the article supporter <NUM>, and is positioned by the position regulator <NUM>, and the position regulator <NUM> and the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> with the positions adjusted in response to the size of the open-end envelopes 2B. Of such a center-seam elongated open-end envelope 2B as described above, the central part in the width direction as the thicker part 2Y locates between the leading ends <NUM> and <NUM> paired in the width direction. Thus, the influence on the posture of the uppermost open-end envelope 2B is small. In the example of <FIG>, the pair of front and rear third support <NUM> and <NUM> on the right are removed. The pair of front and rear third supports <NUM> and <NUM> on the right, however, are provide on the corresponding base <NUM>.

Next, a technique of supporting a single-side-seam elongated open-end envelope 2C will be described focusing on differences from the case of supporting a center-seam elongated open-end envelope 2B. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a bundle <NUM> with single-side-seam elongated open-end envelopes 2C stacked is supported by the article supporter <NUM>, and is positioned by the position regulator <NUM>, and the position regulator <NUM> and the floaters <NUM> and <NUM> with the positions adjusted in response to the size of the open-end envelopes 2C. Of the article supporter <NUM>, the raising member <NUM> and each third support <NUM> corresponding to the one end in the width direction as the thicker part 2Y of such an open-end envelope described above 2C are removed. Such a configuration allows the article supporter <NUM> to cope with not only the difference in thickness of the open-end envelope 2C in the feeding direction but also the difference in thickness of the open-end envelope 2C in the width direction, so that the uppermost open-end envelope 2C can be substantially horizontal.

The supply device <NUM> described above is suitably used as a device that supplies a thinly tabular article <NUM> to an image forming apparatus. Examples of such an image forming apparatus include a copier, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, a printing apparatus, and a multifunction peripheral. Hereinafter, a case where an image forming apparatus including the supply device <NUM> is applied to a copier will be described as an example.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an image forming apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM>, an image reader <NUM>, an automatic document feeder <NUM>, and the supply device <NUM>.

The image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM> includes a storage <NUM>, a supplier <NUM>, an image former <NUM>, and a discharger <NUM>. The storage <NUM> stores a bundle of a plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> stacked. The supplier <NUM> takes out a thinly tabular article <NUM> from the thinly tabular articles <NUM> stored in the storage <NUM> and conveys the thinly tabular article <NUM> to the image former <NUM>.

The image former <NUM> forms an image onto the thinly tabular article <NUM> conveyed from the supplier <NUM>, on the basis of an image signal transmitted from the image reader <NUM>. As an image forming type of the image former <NUM>, for example, an electrophotographic type or an inkjet type can be adopted. As an example, in a case where the electrophotographic type is adopted for the image former <NUM>, the image former <NUM> includes a toner-image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, and a fixer, and forms a toner image onto one main face of the thinly tabular article <NUM>. In a case where the inkjet type is adopted for the image former <NUM>, the image former <NUM> includes an inkjet head and forms an ink image onto one main face of the thinly tabular article <NUM>.

The discharger <NUM> discharges the thinly tabular article <NUM> with an image formed by the image former <NUM>, outward the image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM>.

The image reader <NUM> optically reads an image from a document conveyed from the automatic document feeder <NUM>, processes a read image signal, and transmits the processed image signal to the image former <NUM>.

The automatic document feeder <NUM> includes a document table and conveys a document placed on the document table to the image reader <NUM>.

The supply device <NUM> is connected to the image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM> and supplies a thinly tabular article <NUM> to the image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of such supply devices <NUM> as described above. Each supply device <NUM> separates the thinly tabular articles <NUM> one by one, and supplies each separated thinly tabular article <NUM> to the supplier <NUM> of the image-forming-apparatus main body <NUM>.

The thinly tabular article <NUM> supported by the article supporter set <NUM> or the article supporter <NUM> is supplied to the supplier <NUM>, with the thicker part 2Y facing frontward. The supply of the thinly tabular article <NUM> with the thicker part 2Y facing frontward is suitable for, for example, roller conveyance at the supplier <NUM> or sensor detection.

An article supporter <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention supplies a bundle <NUM> of a plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> that is stacked and is partially different in thickness, and includes: a first support <NUM> that supports respective thinner parts 2X of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM>; a second support <NUM> that supports respective thicker parts 2Y of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> and is movable upward and downward; and an adjuster <NUM> that adjusts a level of the second support <NUM> such that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> is set within a predetermined range R in a vertical direction.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable supporting of the bundle <NUM> with the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> that is stacked and is partially different in thickness, so that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> can take a suitable posture even for a large number of stacked thinly tabular articles <NUM>.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the adjuster <NUM> includes an urging member that urges the second support <NUM> upward.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables lowering of the second support <NUM> downward due to the weight of the bundle <NUM>, so that the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> can take a suitable posture.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the second support <NUM> is pivotally journaled to the first support <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable setting of an angle of the face of the second support <NUM> supporting the bundle <NUM>.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the second support <NUM> includes a sensor holder 53a capable of a sensor <NUM> that detects presence or absence of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable detection of the presence or absence of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> supported by the article supporter <NUM>.

The article supporter <NUM> further includes a raising member <NUM> detachably attached to an upper part of the first support <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables changing of the support level of the thinner parts 2X in response to the number of stacked thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM>.

Further, in a case where the article supporter <NUM> includes first supports <NUM> paired in the width direction, the article supporter <NUM> can also suitably support a thinly tabular article <NUM> different in thickness in the width direction, such as a single-side-seam elongated open-end envelope 2C.

The article supporter <NUM> further includes a position regulator <NUM> that regulates, at a position lower than a position of the second support <NUM> not supporting the bundle <NUM>, a position of an end of the bundle <NUM>, the end being closer to the second support <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable prevention of the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> from downstream displacement from the second support <NUM>.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the position regulator <NUM> has a face that is opposite the bundle <NUM> and is provided with a rib <NUM> extending upward and downward.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables reduction of friction generated between the bundle <NUM> and the position regulator <NUM>, so that the thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> can smoothly slide to the position regulator <NUM>.

The article supporter <NUM> further includes a third support <NUM> that supports the bundle <NUM> and is opposite the second support <NUM> across the first support <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable supporting of the bundle <NUM> of thinly tabular articles <NUM> large in size in the feeding direction.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the first support <NUM> includes a pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM>, the second support <NUM> includes a pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM>, the adjuster <NUM> includes a pair of adjusters <NUM> and <NUM>, the first support <NUM>, the second support <NUM>, and the adjuster <NUM> are in a pair of combinations, one of the pair of combinations includes one of the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM>, one of the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM>, and one of the pair of adjusters <NUM> and <NUM>, another of the pair of combinations includes another of the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM>, another of the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM>, and another of the pair of adjusters <NUM> and <NUM>, and the pair of combinations are arrayed in a width direction of the bundle <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables prevention of interference with a position regulator <NUM> that regulates the position of the end on the first support <NUM> side of the bundle <NUM> and prevention of warpage of the bundle <NUM> between the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM>, resulting in suitable supporting of the bundle <NUM>.

In the article supporter <NUM>, the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM> have respective parts that support the bundle <NUM>, the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM> have respective parts that support the bundle <NUM>, and an interval between the respective parts of the pair of second supports <NUM> and <NUM> is smaller than an interval between the respective parts of the pair of first supports <NUM> and <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable positioning of the bundle <NUM> with the position regulator <NUM> large in size in the width direction.

The article supporter <NUM> further includes a coupler <NUM> that couples the pair of combinations and is provided with a handle <NUM>.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables facilitation of detachably attachment to a supply device <NUM> to which the article supporter <NUM> is applied.

According to the article supporter <NUM>, each of the plurality of thinly tabular article <NUM> is as an envelope.

Thus, the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable supporting of an envelope partially different in thickness.

A supply device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: the article supporter <NUM>; and a feeder <NUM> that supplies, by air suction, an uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> from a bundle <NUM> of a plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> that is stacked and is partially different in thickness, the bundle <NUM> being supported by the article supporter <NUM>.

Thus, the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> as a feeding target is supported suitably, so that the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable feeding of the thinly tabular article <NUM>.

The supply device <NUM> further includes floaters <NUM> and <NUM> that float the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> from the bundle <NUM> supported by the article supporter <NUM>, and the feeder <NUM> feeds the floated thinly tabular article <NUM>.

Thus, the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> as a feeding target is supported in a suitable posture, so that the article supporter <NUM> enables suitable floating and supplying of the thinly tabular article <NUM>.

In the supply device <NUM>, the second support <NUM> is disposed downstream of the first support <NUM> in the feeding direction of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM>.

Thus, the supply device <NUM> enables supplying of each thinly tabular article <NUM> with the thicker part 2Y facing frontward.

The supply device <NUM> further includes a lifting plate <NUM> movable upward and downward, and the article supporter <NUM> is provided on the lifting plate <NUM>.

Thus, the supply device <NUM> can move the lifting plate <NUM> in response to the number of stacked thinly tabular articles <NUM> of the bundle <NUM> to disposed the uppermost thinly tabular article <NUM> at a position suitable for feeding.

An image forming apparatus <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present embodiment includes: the supply device <NUM>; and an image former <NUM> that forms an image on each of the plurality of thinly tabular articles <NUM> supplied from the supply device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An article supporter (<NUM>) for a supply device (<NUM>) including a feeder (<NUM>) that supplies, by air suction, an uppermost thinly tabular article (<NUM>) from a bundle (<NUM>) of a plurality of thinly tabular articles (<NUM>) that is stacked and is partially different in thickness, the article supporter (<NUM>) for supporting the bundle (<NUM>) with a gap (C) between the uppermost thinly tabular article (<NUM>) and the feeder (<NUM>), the article supporter (<NUM>) comprising:
a first support (<NUM>) that supports respective thinner parts (2X) of the plurality of thinly tabular articles (<NUM>);
a second support (<NUM>) that supports respective thicker parts (2Y) of the plurality of thinly tabular articles (<NUM>) and is movable upward and downward; and
an adjuster (<NUM>) that adjusts a level of the second support (<NUM>) such that the uppermost thinly tabular article (<NUM>) of the bundle (<NUM>) is set within a predetermined range in a vertical direction, characterized in that:
the first support (<NUM>) includes a pair of first supports (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the second support (<NUM>) includes a pair of second supports (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the adjuster (<NUM>) includes a pair of adjusters (<NUM>, <NUM>),
the first support (<NUM>), the second support (<NUM>), and the adjuster (<NUM>) are in a pair of combinations,
one of the pair of combinations includes one of the pair of first supports (<NUM>, <NUM>), one of the pair of second supports (<NUM>, <NUM>), and one of the pair of adjusters (<NUM>, <NUM>),
another of the pair of combinations includes another of the pair of first supports (<NUM>, <NUM>), another of the pair of second supports (<NUM>, <NUM>), and another of the pair of adjusters (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
the pair of combinations are arrayed in a width direction of the bundle (<NUM>).