IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,619,185
Granted Patent B2
US 12,619,185 · App. 18/980,514 · Granted May 5, 2026

Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Inventor: Akihiro Kawakita (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G15/6511G03G15/50G03G15/6558G03G21/1638
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,619,185
App. No.
18/980,514
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus including: an air blowing portion configured to blow air to sheets stacked on a sheet stacking member; a feeding portion configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking member; a conveying path through which the sheets fed by the feeding portion pass; a first opening and closing member configured to be openable and closable such that first opening and closing member takes a closed state in which the first opening and closing member forms the conveying path through which the sheets pass and an opened state in which the first opening and closing member is opened for removing a stagnating sheet on the conveying path; and a controller configured to stop air blowing by the air blowing portion in response to the opened state of the first opening and closing member while the air blowing portion blows air.

Claims (23)

1 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

a sheet stacking member in which sheets are stacked;

an air blowing portion configured to blow air to the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking member;

a feeding portion configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking member;

a conveying path through which the sheets fed by the feeding portion pass;

a first opening and closing member configured to be openable and closable in a closed position in which the first opening and closing member forms the conveying path through which the sheets pass and an opened position in which the first opening and closing member is opened for removing a sheet on the conveying path;

a first opening and closing detection portion configured to detect the closed position and the opened position of the first opening and closing member; and

a controller configured to stop air blowing by the air blowing portion in response to a detection result of the first opening and closing detection portion in a state in which the air blowing portion is blowing air.

2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the first opening and closing detection portion detects a movement from the opened position to the closed position of the first opening and closing member, the controller resumes the blowing of air by the air blowing portion.

3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the controller resumes the blowing of air by the air blowing portion based on an elapsed time period from a start of the blowing of air by the air blowing portion.

4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein when a predetermined time period has not elapsed since a start of the blowing of air by the air blowing portion and the first opening and closing detection portion detects the opened state, the controller resumes the blowing of air by the air blowing portion after the first opening and closing detection portion detects the closed position.

5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the blowing of air by the air blowing portion based on a size and a type of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking member.

6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state in which the opening and closing member is in the closed position, the air is being blown by the air blowing portion, and the first opening and closing detection portion detects the movement of the opening and closing member from the closed position to the open position, the controller stops the blowing of by the air blowing portion.

7 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming portion configured to form an image on the sheets fed by the sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

the sheet stacking member rotatably provided on a side surface of a main body of the image forming apparatus.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a second opening and closing member provided on a front surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus in an openable and closable manner; and

a second opening and closing detection portion configured to detect an opened position and a closed position of the second opening and closing member,

wherein the first opening and closing member is provided on the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:

when the first opening and closing detection portion detects the opened position of the first opening and closing member while the air blowing portion is blowing air, the controller stops the blowing of air by the air blowing portion, and

when the second opening and closing detection portion detects the opened position of the second opening and closing member while the air blowing portion is blowing air, the controller does not stop the blowing of air by the air blowing portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2024
From: KAWAKITA, AKIHIRO
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 069671/0652 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2024-014648 · Feb 2, 2024 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250251689A1 · Aug 7, 2025
References Cited (5)
US 5908188A · Katamoto et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 20230322509A1 · Ando · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240300762A1 · Inoue · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP H0423747A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP H08179573A · 1996 [cited by applicant]