A main tray can be exposed from and stored in an image forming apparatus main body by being pivotably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and when the main tray is exposed from the image forming apparatus main body, a sheet can be placed on the main tray and a sheet can be supplied from the main tray into the image forming apparatus main body. The main tray includes a sheet placing portion and a width alignment cursor. The width alignment cursor is disposed on the sheet placing portion to align the width of a sheet. The width alignment cursor moves in the width direction of the sheet in conjunction with the main tray being stored in the image forming apparatus main body.

A main tray can be exposed from and stored in an image forming apparatus main body by being pivotably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and when the main tray is exposed from the image forming apparatus main body, a sheet can be placed on the main tray and a sheet can be supplied from the main tray into the image forming apparatus main body. The main tray includes a sheet placing portion and a width alignment cursor. The width alignment cursor is disposed on the sheet placing portion to align the width of a sheet. The width alignment cursor moves in the width direction of the sheet in conjunction with the main tray being stored in the image forming apparatus main body.

A system for robotic manipulation of objects having various shapes and sizes. The system includes a robot having an end effector, and an independent tag. The independent tag may have an object attachment interface to grasp an object, and an end effector attachment interface to mechanically interface with the end effector. Upon actuation of the robot, the end effector may move the object via the independent tag. A corresponding method is also disclosed and claimed herein.

A system for robotic manipulation of objects having various shapes and sizes. The system includes a robot having an end effector, and an independent tag. The independent tag may have an object attachment interface to grasp an object, and an end effector attachment interface to mechanically interface with the end effector. Upon actuation of the robot, the end effector may move the object via the independent tag. A corresponding method is also disclosed and claimed herein.

The present invention includes a sheet transmission system, comprising: a sheet stacking unit, a sheet position adjusting unit, a sheet processing unit, and a sheet collection unit, arranged in series along a transmission path of a sheet; and one or more independent transmission units, each transmission unit provided between two adjacent units among above units; wherein the sheet stacking unit is configured to store the sheet to be processed; the sheet position adjusting unit is configured to adjust the position of the sheet; the sheet processing unit is configured to conduct a predetermined process to the sheet transmitted therein; the sheet collection unit is configured to collect the processed sheet; wherein when a sheet is transmitted along the transmission path, the sheet is subjected to at least one transition between the first-direction transmission state and the second-direction transition state; and wherein the sheet will not deflect in a vertical direction.

The present invention includes a sheet transmission system, comprising: a sheet stacking unit, a sheet position adjusting unit, a sheet processing unit, and a sheet collection unit, arranged in series along a transmission path of a sheet; and one or more independent transmission units, each transmission unit provided between two adjacent units among above units; wherein the sheet stacking unit is configured to store the sheet to be processed; the sheet position adjusting unit is configured to adjust the position of the sheet; the sheet processing unit is configured to conduct a predetermined process to the sheet transmitted therein; the sheet collection unit is configured to collect the processed sheet; wherein when a sheet is transmitted along the transmission path, the sheet is subjected to at least one transition between the first-direction transmission state and the second-direction transition state; and wherein the sheet will not deflect in a vertical direction.

A sheet conveyer, having a sheet supporting plate, a feed roller, a lifting device to move the sheet supporting plate between a separated position and a contacting position, a motor, a sheet guide disposed on the sheet supporting plate to extend orthogonally to an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the feed roller to be movable in the axial direction on the sheet supporting plate, and a contact member disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet guide, is provided. The sheet guide includes a retractable member movable between a first position, in which the retractable member is located when the sheet supporting plate is in the separated position, and a second position, in which the retractable member is placed by a reaction force from the contact member produced by contact between the sheet supporting plate and the feed roller.

A sheet conveyer, having a sheet supporting plate, a feed roller, a lifting device to move the sheet supporting plate between a separated position and a contacting position, a motor, a sheet guide disposed on the sheet supporting plate to extend orthogonally to an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the feed roller to be movable in the axial direction on the sheet supporting plate, and a contact member disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet guide, is provided. The sheet guide includes a retractable member movable between a first position, in which the retractable member is located when the sheet supporting plate is in the separated position, and a second position, in which the retractable member is placed by a reaction force from the contact member produced by contact between the sheet supporting plate and the feed roller.

A paper feeding unit of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is provided with a base portion, a guide, a protruding portion, and a roller. The base portion is capable of having the sheet placed thereon. The guide erects with respect to the base portion. The guide regulates a position of the sheet in a width direction which intersects with a transporting direction of the sheet. The protruding portion is provided on the guide. The protruding portion faces an end portion of the sheet in the width direction from a side opposite to the base portion. The roller is provided on the protruding portion. The roller is provided with a circumferential surface facing the end portion of the sheet. The roller is rotatable in the transporting direction of the medium.

A paper feeding unit of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is provided with a base portion, a guide, a protruding portion, and a roller. The base portion is capable of having the sheet placed thereon. The guide erects with respect to the base portion. The guide regulates a position of the sheet in a width direction which intersects with a transporting direction of the sheet. The protruding portion is provided on the guide. The protruding portion faces an end portion of the sheet in the width direction from a side opposite to the base portion. The roller is provided on the protruding portion. The roller is provided with a circumferential surface facing the end portion of the sheet. The roller is rotatable in the transporting direction of the medium.