Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Paper feeder and image forming apparatus
A paper feeder comprises an acquiring device, a driving roller, driven rollers, a driven roller supporter, a driver, and a controller. The acquiring device acquires thickness information on a sheet of paper. The driving roller rotates by being supplied with torque. The driven rollers rotate with the driving roller when in compressive contact with the driving roller. The driven roller supporter so supports the driven rollers that each of them can rotate under a different rotational load. The driver changes the position of the driven roller supporter relative to the driving roller. The controller selects one of the driven rollers on the basis of the thickness information and so activates the driver as to bring the selected roller into compressive contact with the driving roller.
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
B B B B B
B65H B65H B65H B65H B65H
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Masaya Tadasu Yasunobu Yasuhiro Norichika Masahiko
Asakawa Taniguchi Ohkawa Takai Katsura Fujita