A method for transporting spacers for cigarette packs is disclosed, each spacer comprising a substantially rectangular flat body, the spacers being insertable in cartons for cigarette packs to space out packs with dimensions smaller than the standard dimensions, said method comprising the step of arranging the spacers, stacked on one another, on a transport pallet, on each spacer being provided at least two through holes, the through holes of the spacers of a stack being vertically aligned with each other so that a vertical element of the transport pallet is inside the through holes of the spacers of the stack.

A method for transporting spacers for cigarette packs is disclosed, each spacer comprising a substantially rectangular flat body, the spacers being insertable in cartons for cigarette packs to space out packs with dimensions smaller than the standard dimensions, said method comprising the step of arranging the spacers, stacked on one another, on a transport pallet, on each spacer being provided at least two through holes, the through holes of the spacers of a stack being vertically aligned with each other so that a vertical element of the transport pallet is inside the through holes of the spacers of the stack.

A recording medium feeder includes: a first cassette and a second cassette that are disposed side by side in a cross direction and can be pulled out in the same pull-out direction; a housing that houses the first cassette and the second cassette; a transport unit that is disposed above the second cassette in the housing and transports a recording medium sent from the first cassette; and a feeding unit that is disposed in the housing and feeds a recording medium stored in the first cassette toward the transport unit, wherein the transport unit can be pulled out in the same direction as the first cassette and the second cassette, the feeding unit includes a first roller and a second roller that sandwich and transport a recording medium, and the first roller or the second roller releases the sandwiching when the first cassette is pulled out.

A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.

A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.

There is provided a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet. The sheet feeding apparatus includes: a feeding roller that feeds a sheet; and a moving mechanism that moves the feeding roller to a feeding position where the feeding roller contacts the sheet, to a first retracting position where the feeding roller is separated from the sheet, and to a second retracting position lying between the feeding position and the first retracting position.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a casing provided with a first conveying path and a second conveying path; a first feeding tray provided in the casing and having a first supporting surface that supports a sheet; a supporting member that supports the first feeding tray from below in the casing; a first feeding section provided above the first supporting surface; a first guide member having a first guide surface to guide the sheet fed from the first feeding tray; a second feeding tray provided below the supporting member in the casing and having a second supporting surface that supports a different sheet; a second feeding section provided above the second supporting surface; a second guide member having a second guide surface to guide the different sheet fed from the second feeding tray; and a frame made of metal and being installed on a lower surface of the supporting member.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a casing provided with a first conveying path and a second conveying path; a first feeding tray provided in the casing and having a first supporting surface that supports a sheet; a supporting member that supports the first feeding tray from below in the casing; a first feeding section provided above the first supporting surface; a first guide member having a first guide surface to guide the sheet fed from the first feeding tray; a second feeding tray provided below the supporting member in the casing and having a second supporting surface that supports a different sheet; a second feeding section provided above the second supporting surface; a second guide member having a second guide surface to guide the different sheet fed from the second feeding tray; and a frame made of metal and being installed on a lower surface of the supporting member.

A sheet conveying device includes an auxiliary tray, a sheet feeding tray, a roller, a driving mechanism, and a pickup roller. The sheet feeding tray is adjacent to the auxiliary tray on a lateral side of the auxiliary tray. The roller is configured to move in a thickness direction of a sheet bundle placed on the auxiliary tray to contact an end of the sheet bundle facing the sheet feeding tray. The driving mechanism is configured to laterally move the auxiliary tray to be on top of the sheet feeding tray when the sheet bundle placed on the auxiliary tray is transferred to the sheet feeding tray. The pickup roller is configured to pick up a sheet one by one from the sheet bundle transferred to the sheet feeding tray.

A sheet conveying device includes an auxiliary tray, a sheet feeding tray, a roller, a driving mechanism, and a pickup roller. The sheet feeding tray is adjacent to the auxiliary tray on a lateral side of the auxiliary tray. The roller is configured to move in a thickness direction of a sheet bundle placed on the auxiliary tray to contact an end of the sheet bundle facing the sheet feeding tray. The driving mechanism is configured to laterally move the auxiliary tray to be on top of the sheet feeding tray when the sheet bundle placed on the auxiliary tray is transferred to the sheet feeding tray. The pickup roller is configured to pick up a sheet one by one from the sheet bundle transferred to the sheet feeding tray.