Patent ID: 7581728

Claim:
A paper feeder for an image forming device, comprising: a paper placing unit having a flapper being configured to contact paper from the bottom and to move up and down in the paper stacking direction; a paper feeder roller positioned above the paper placing unit being configured to feed paper on the flapper; a flapper drive unit being configured to move the flapper up and down in the paper stacking direction, and the flapper drive unit moving the flapper up at least from the moment that paper is placed on the paper placing unit until paper is fed by the paper feeder roller; and a detector being located downstream from the paper placing unit and configured to detect paper fed from the paper placing unit, the detector detecting whether paper is supplied after the flapper has been moved up and while the flapper is in an up position, and a controller controlling the flapper drive unit to lower the flapper from the up position in accordance with the detector detecting that paper has not been supplied after the flapper has been moved up, and the flapper drive unit subsequently and immediately raising the flapper again after lowering the flapper.