IP Library Granted Patent US 11,703,790
Granted Patent B2
US 11,703,790 · App. 17/152,315 · Granted Jul 18, 2023

Supply device and image forming apparatus

Inventors: Shoichi Maeda (Kanagawa, JP); Teruki Naganuma (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
G03G15/6511B65H3/14G03G15/6558G03G2215/004
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,703,790
App. No.
17/152,315
Granted
Jul 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A supply device includes: a loading portion where recording media are loaded; a transport unit to transport the media; a contact portion provided on the loading portion, the contact portion being in contact with a side end portion of the media having a first size in a direction intersecting with a transport direction, the contact portion having a blowing portion to blow air to the side end portion; a guide portion detachably attached to the contact portion when media having a second size smaller than the media having the first size are loaded, the guide portion being configured to guide a side end portion of the media having the second size; and a duct provided in the guide portion, the duct including a discharge port to blow the air from the blowing portion to an upper end portion of the media having the second size loaded on the loading portion.

Claims (42)

1. A supply device comprising:

a loading portion on which recording media are loaded;

a transport unit configured to transport the recording media loaded on the loading portion;

a contact portion provided on the loading portion, the contact portion being in contact with a side end portion of the recording media having a first size in a direction intersecting with a transport direction, the contact portion having a blowing portion configured to blow air to the side end portion;

a guide portion detachably attached to the contact portion when recording media having a second size smaller than the recording media having the first size are loaded, the guide portion being configured to guide a side end portion of the recording media having the second size; and

a duct provided in the guide portion, the duct comprising a discharge port configured to blow the air from the blowing portion to an upper end portion of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion, wherein the duct further includes an upper inclined portion at an upper portion in an upper and lower direction, the upper inclined portion being continuously linearly inclined downward to the discharge port, wherein:

the guide portion is provided with a shutter portion supported so as to be movable in the upper and lower direction, the shutter portion being configured to change an area of the discharge port according to a position of an uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion,

the shutter portion comprises a pawl riding on the uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion, and

the pawl is moved depending on the position of the uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size, and the shutter portion is moved in the upper and lower direction.

2. A supply device comprising:

a loading portion on which recording media are loaded;

a transport unit configured to transport the recording media loaded on the loading portion;

a contact portion provided on the loading portion, the contact portion being in contact with a side end portion of the recording media having a first size in a direction intersecting with a transport direction, the contact portion having a blowing portion configured to blow air to the side end portion;

a guide portion detachably attached to the contact portion when recording media having a second size smaller than the recording media having the first size are loaded, the guide portion being configured to guide a side end portion of the recording media having the second size; and

a duct provided in the guide portion, the duct comprising a discharge port configured to blow the air from the blowing portion to an upper end portion of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion, wherein

the guide portion is provided with a shutter portion supported so as to be movable in an upper and lower direction, the shutter portion being configured to change an area of the discharge port according to a position of an uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion,

the shutter portion comprises a pawl riding on the uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion, and

the pawl is moved depending on the position of the uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size, and the shutter portion is moved in the upper and lower direction.

3. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the duct has a shape in which a cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the discharge port.

4. The supply device according to claim 3 , wherein

the duct comprises

a lower inclined portion at a lower portion in the upper and lower direction, the lower inclined portion being inclined upward toward the discharge port.

5. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein

the contact portion comprises

another blowing portion configured to blow air to an upper side end portion of the recording media having the first size in a state where the recording media having the first size is loaded on the loading portion, and

the guide portion comprises a closing portion configured to close the other blowing portion in a state of being attached to the contact portion.

6. The supply device according to claim 3 , wherein

the contact portion comprises

another blowing portion configured to blow air to an upper side end portion of the recording media having the first size in a state where the recording media having the first size is loaded on the loading portion, and

the guide portion comprises a closing portion configured to close the other blowing portion in a state of being attached to the contact portion.

7. The supply device according to claim 4 , wherein

the contact portion comprises

another blowing portion configured to blow air to an upper side end portion of the recording media having the first size in a state where the recording media having the first size is loaded on the loading portion, and

the guide portion comprises a closing portion configured to close the other blowing portion in a state of being attached to the contact portion.

8. The supply device according to claim 5 , wherein the blowing portion is disposed downstream of the other blowing portion in the transport direction of the recording media.

9. The supply device according to claim 6 , wherein the blowing portion is disposed downstream of the other blowing portion in the transport direction of the recording media.

10. The supply device according to claim 7 , wherein the blowing portion is disposed downstream of the other blowing portion in the transport direction of the recording media.

11. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the shutter portion is provided with a bar portion configured to close a lower side of the discharge port in the upper and lower direction when moved upward according to the position of the uppermost surface of the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion.

12. The supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the transport unit comprises a transport roller configured to transport the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion on an uppermost surface.

13. The supply device according to claim 12 , wherein the transport unit comprises a suction unit configured to suction the recording media having the second size and loaded on the loading portion on the uppermost surface from above.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the supply device according to claim 2 , wherein the recording media are transported from the supply device to an image forming unit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
To: FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 056078/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2021
From: MAEDA, SHOICHI; NAGANUMA, TERUKI
To: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054957/0742 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-153092 · Sep 11, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220082977A1 · Mar 17, 2022