Patent ID: 7073786

Claim:
A method for moving a paper carrying tray when paper is supplied to a paper feed apparatus which successively feeds paper on a top portion of the paper carrying tray and raises the tray as the paper is fed, said method comprising: a first sensing step of sensing whether paper is present at a first position which is lower than a paper feed position by a predetermined number of paper sheets; a second sensing step of sensing whether paper is present at a second position which is lower than the first position by a predetermined number of paper sheets; a first lowering step of lowering the paper carrying tray to a position where the first sensing step ceases to sense the presence of paper when paper is supplied; a second lowering step of lowering the paper carrying tray to a position where the second sensing step ceases to sense the presence of paper if the first and second sensing steps have sensed the presence of paper; a determining step of determining when the paper supply ends so that raising of the paper carrying tray is permissible; and a raising step of raising the paper carrying tray so that the uppermost one of paper sheets on the tray is situated in the paper supply position when the determining step determines that the paper ends after the tray is lowered in the first or second lowering step.