Disclosed is a loading unit for use in loading a bundle of objects to be conveyed, the loading unit being installed on a lifting member of a feeding device. The loading unit includes a first movable base on which a downstream side in a conveying direction of a bundle of objects to be conveyed is loaded, the first movable base being rotatable; and a second movable base on which an upstream side in the conveying direction of the bundle of objects is loaded, the second movable base being rotatable and disposed on a more upstream side in the conveying direction than the first movable base.

A paper feeding device has a paper feed tray, a device body, a fan, a rectifying member, and a retreat mechanism. A paper bundle in which a plurality of sheets of paper are stacked can be placed on the paper feed tray. The rectifying member is positioned above the paper bundle placed on the paper feed tray in a state in which the paper feed tray is accommodated in an accommodating part of the device body. The rectifying member generates a negative pressure between the rectifying member and an uppermost sheet of paper of the paper bundle using airflow from the fan in a state in which the paper feed tray is accommodated in the accommodating part. The retreat mechanism displaces the rectifying member in conjunction with the paper feed tray so that the rectifying member retreats from the paper feed tray in at least one of a pull-out operation and a push-in operation of the paper feed tray.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a storage part that stores a sheet, and a feeding part that has a feeding roller for feeding the sheet. The storage part and the feeding part are configured to be integrally inserted/withdrawn into/from an apparatus enclosure. The feeding roller is moved from a feeding position to a retracting position before the storage part and the feeding part are withdrawn from the enclosure.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet accommodating portion, an image forming portion, an accommodating portion opening portion, a lifter plate, a lifter plate lifting and lowering mechanism, a lower-limit detecting portion, a control unit lowering the lifter plate and opening the accommodating portion in accordance with an operation in a set mode of a plurality of modes when the control unit receives an instruction to open the accommodating portion, wherein the modes includes a first mode in which the accommodating portion is opened irrespective of whether or not the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position and a second mode in which the accommodating portion is opened after the lifter plate lowers to the lower-limit position; and an operating portion operable by an operator for changing setting of the mode, between the modes, executed when the control unit receives the instruction to open the accommodating portion.

A sheet stacking device includes a sheet accommodating unit, a pair of wall portions and a loading plate. The sheet accommodating unit has an open upper surface part and accommodates sheets therein. The sheets have a pair of first side edges extending in a first direction and a pair of second side edges perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of wall portions stands to face the first side edges of the sheets. The loading plate is arranged in the sheet accommodating unit. Each of the pair of wall portions includes a first observation port for exposing one end of the first side edges of the sheets in the first direction and an one area of the inner part outer than the one end in the first direction to outside of the sheet accommodating unit.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a tray that stores a recording medium in a closed state in which the tray is placed in an apparatus body, the tray being capable of being pulled out from the apparatus body in a predetermined pulling direction; a transport unit that is provided on the apparatus body and that transports the recording medium in a direction crossing the pulling direction when the tray is in the closed state; a first contact portion provided on the tray and having a contact surface spaced from the transport unit when viewed in the pulling direction, the first contact portion being located upstream of the transport unit in the pulling direction and the contact surface being in contact with an upstream end portion of the recording medium stored in the tray in the pulling direction when the tray is in the closed state; a second contact portion disposed at a position that is upstream of the transport unit in the pulling direction and at which the second contact portion overlaps the transport unit when viewed in the pulling direction, the second contact portion having a contact surface that is in contact with the end portion when the tray is in the closed state; a first overlapping portion provided on the first contact portion and disposed downstream of the second contact portion in the pulling direction, the first overlapping portion overlapping the second contact portion when viewed in the pulling direction; and an urging portion that urges the second contact portion downstream in the pulling direction so that the second contact portion abuts against the first overlapping portion when the tray is in the closed state.

A dish cart includes a top with a slot for receiving a lift arm that may be lifted up through the slot to raise or lower dishes. Lobe openings emanating from the slot receive lobes of a lift paddle secured to the lift arm. The cart may define a gap below the top for permitting insertion of the lift paddle and the lift arm. The cart may be adjusted to receive differently sized dishes by means of rails of different sizes or adjustable vanes. A dish drop station includes the lift arm and lift paddle and a lift mechanism for raising and lower the lift arm. The dish drop station may include a cart present sensor and include a lock for retaining the cart. The controller may be programmed to the lower the lift arm to an unlock position that disengages the cart lock.

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet includes a first lift tray configured to move up or down in a first lift range and to support a sheet; a sheet feeding unit configured to feed a sheet supported by the first lift tray; and a second lift tray configured to move up or down in a second lift range and to support a sheet in cooperation with the first lift tray. A lowest position in the second lift range is a position above a lowest position in the first lift range, and the second lift range is a range which is narrower than the first lift range.

A module, the module including: a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom; an output port on the first side to feed medium to a side port of an imaging device; a communication port to communicate with the imaging device; and an intake port on the bottom of the module to receive medium from a first medium storage tray.

A sheet accommodating apparatus includes a main body portion, a loading portion that is provided in the main body portion and supports a portion of a sheet loaded thereon from below, a lifting unit that lifts the loading portion, and a supporting portion that is connected to the main body portion and supports another portion of the sheet from below during a process in which the loading portion is lifted.