IP Library Granted Patent US 9,114,944
Granted Patent B2
US 9,114,944 · App. 14/491,087 · Granted Aug 25, 2015

Sheet supply device and image forming apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,114,944
App. No.
14/491,087
Granted
Aug 25, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet supply device includes a medium loading part that includes a medium loading surface on which medium is loaded; and a medium supply part that is arranged facing the medium lading surface, and sandwiches the medium with the medium loading part applying a pressure to the medium, and sends the medium loaded in the medium loading part in a predetermined carrying direction. The medium loading part includes a first friction member arranged in a position facing the medium supply part so that the first friction member contacts the medium supply part when there is no medium on the medium loading part, and a second friction member arranged on an upstream side of the first friction member in the carrying direction, and a friction coefficient (μd) between the second friction member and the medium is larger than a friction coefficient (μc) between the first friction member and the medium.

Claims (60)

1. A sheet supply device, comprising:

a medium loading part that includes a medium loading surface on which medium is loaded; and

a medium supply part that is arranged facing the medium surface, and sandwiches the medium with the medium loading part applying a pressure to the medium, and sends the medium loaded in the medium loading part in a predetermined carrying direction, wherein

the medium loading part includes

a first friction member that is arranged in a position facing the medium supply part so that the first friction member contacts the medium supply part when there is no medium on the medium loading part, and

a second friction member that is arranged on an upstream side of the first friction member in the carrying direction and

a friction coefficient (μd) between the second friction member and the medium is larger than a friction coefficient (μc) between the first friction member and the medium, and

assuming that friction force generated between the medium and the first friction member is first friction force (Fd) and friction force generated between the medium and the second friction member is second friction force (Fc), the second friction force (Fc) is larger than the first friction force (Fd).

2. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a medium carrying part that is arranged on a downstream side of the medium supply part in the carrying direction; and

a third friction member that is arranged between the medium carrying part and the first friction member in the carrying direction, and that is physically separated from the medium carrying part.

3. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein

the medium is an envelope formed by a pair of the sheets that are accumulated on the medium loading surface, and

both edges of the sheets in the medium carrying direction are connected, and

the envelope is arranged such that one of the edges is at the downstream side and the other of the edges is at the upstream side.

4. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

the sheet supply device according to claim 1 .

5. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second friction member protrudes by a predetermined height (b) in a direction perpendicular to the medium loading surface above the first friction member.

6. The sheet supply device according to claim 5 , wherein

the loaded medium is configured of plural sheets, and

a formula below is satisfied:

Fa>Fc+Fd>Fb

where Fa, Fb, Fc and Fd mean friction forces that are generated at the moment that the medium supply part supplies one of the sheets,

Fa is generated between the medium supply part and the medium, Fb is generated between the sheets.

7. The sheet supply device according to claim 5 , wherein

the loaded medium is configured of plural sheets, and

inter-sheet friction force (Fb), which is generated between the loaded plural sheets of the medium while one of the sheets is carried, is smaller than the second friction force (Fc).

8. The sheet supply device according to claim 5 , wherein

the second friction member is arranged with a predetermined distance (a) from the first friction member in the carrying direction, the predetermined distance (a) being determined from a downstream edge of the second friction member to an upstream edge of the first friction member in the carrying direction.

9. The sheet supply device according to claim 8 , wherein

the second friction member protrudes from the medium loading surface with a predetermined height (b) so that a ridge part is formed on the medium loading surface.

10. The sheet supply device according to claim 9 , wherein

a ratio of the height (b)/the distance (a) ranges within 0.04 to 0.15.

11. The sheet supply device according to claim 8 , wherein

the second friction member is arranged at a spot where the second friction member does not contact the medium supply part when there is no medium on the medium loading part.

12. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first friction member is embedded in the medium loading part, and

an upper surface of the first friction member is flush with the medium loading surface.

13. A sheet supply device, comprising:

a medium loading part that includes a medium loading surface on which medium is loaded; and

a medium supply part that is arranged facing the medium loading surface, and sandwiches the medium with the medium loading part applying a pressure to the medium, and sends the medium loaded in the medium loading part in a predetermined carrying direction, wherein

the medium loading part includes

a first friction member that is arranged in a position facing the medium supply part so that the first friction member contacts the medium supply part when there is no medium on the medium loading part, and

a second friction member that is arranged on an upstream side of the first friction member in the carrying direction,

a friction coefficient (μd) between the second friction member and the medium is larger than a friction coefficient (μc) between the first friction member and the medium, and

the second friction member protrudes by a predetermined height (b) in a direction perpendicular to the medium loading surface above the first friction member.

14. The sheet supply device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a medium carrying part that is arranged on a downstream side of the medium supply part in the carrying direction; and

a third friction member that is arranged between the medium carrying part and the first friction member in the carrying direction, and that is physically separated from the medium carrying part.

15. The sheet supply device according to claim 13 , wherein

the second friction member is arranged with a predetermined distance (a) from the first friction member in the carrying direction, the predetermined distance (a) being determined from a downstream edge of the second friction member to an upstream edge of the first friction member in the carrying direction.

16. The sheet supply device according to claim 15 , wherein

the second friction member is arranged at a spot where the second friction member does not contact the medium supply part when there is no medium on the medium loading part.

17. The sheet supply device according to claim 13 , wherein

a ratio of the height (b)/the distance (a) ranges within 0.04 to 0.15.

18. The sheet supply device according to claim 13 , wherein

the medium that is supplied from the medium supply part is an envelope.

19. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

the sheet supply device according to claim 13 .

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: OKI DATA CORPORATION
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059365/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2014
From: KANZAWA, NAOKI
To: OKI DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033777/0157 →