Examples of alignment fins for output trays of media dispensing devices are disclosed. In an example, an alignment fin is coupled to a support surface of an output tray of a media dispensing device. The alignment fin is to transition between a first position wherein the alignment fin is disposed below the support surface, and a second position wherein the alignment fin is exposed through an aperture in the support surface. When the alignment fin is in the second position, the alignment fin is to align the media dispensed from the dispensing device into a stack on the support surface.

The present invention relates to a cover member for a storing means, a respective storing means and a gripping system, comprising said storing means. Further, the present invention relates to a method for gripping and separating stacked flat elements. The cover member is adapted for being installed on a top side of a storing means for storing a stack of multiple flat elements 100 having a predefined size. The cover member 1 defines a first opening 13 having a rim portion 13a, 13b, wherein the first opening 13 is adapted to be associated with at least one gripping unit 30, so that the gripping unit 30 can access the storing means for gripping and removing a flat element 102 through the first opening 13, when the cover member 1 is installed on the top side of the storing means 10. The first opening is sized so that a gripped flat element 102 abuts the rim portion 13a, 13b when being removed through the first opening 13 from the storing means, so as to be bend and separated from an underlying flat element 104.

A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.

A document conveying apparatus is provided with a document tray, a feeding member, and a discharge tray disposed below the document tray. The document tray includes an upper tray member, a lower tray member, a movable tray member movable in a width direction orthogonal to a feeding direction of a document, a tray cover disposed to cover an underside of the movable tray member, and a driving portion. The driving portion moves the upper tray member and the movable tray member integrally to a raised position and a lowered position. The movable tray member and the tray cover are configured to be moved integrally in the width direction between a first position in which the movable tray member supports the document together with the upper tray member and a second position in which the movable tray member is retracted from the first position into below the upper tray member.

A sheet feeder includes an ejection tray, an ejector, an aligner, a pressing member, a friction member, and a switching device. The ejection tray stacks sheets. The ejector ejects a sheet to the ejection tray. The aligner is disposed downstream of the ejector in a direction of ejection of the sheet. The aligner is rotatable in a normal direction and a reverse direction. The pressing member applies pressure between the sheet and the aligner to enable the aligner to convey the sheet by rotation in the normal direction and the reverse direction. The friction member contacts the sheet ejected on the ejection tray to prevent conveyance of the sheet. The switching device switches contact and separation of the friction member with respect to the sheet.

A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.

A sheet feeder including: a housing including a mount portion that receives recording media; an open-close portion that is disposed on an upper surface of the housing to close the mount portion and rotates about a first hinge to open or close a mount space over the mount portion; and a manual insertion portion at least part of which is disposed on the open-close portion to receive manually inserted recording media, the manual insertion portion being rotatable about the first hinge or a second hinge disposed parallel to the first hinge to rotate upward from a position where the manual insertion portion overlaps the open-close portion.

A medium discharging apparatus includes a first tray in which a medium is received and placed, a second tray in which the medium discharged from the first tray is received, a discharging mechanism, a curl suppressing member, a link mechanism, a movement mechanism and a cam mechanism. The discharging mechanism discharges the medium from the first tray toward the second tray. The curl suppressing member suppresses curling of the medium discharged from the first tray to the second tray by the discharging mechanism. The curl suppressing member is provided in the link mechanism. The movement mechanism is configured to move the link mechanism and the curl suppressing member in both the discharge direction and a return direction opposite to the discharge direction. The cam mechanism guides movement of the link mechanism.

A recording apparatus includes a lower unit having a recording section configured to perform recording on a medium, and an upper unit disposed on the lower unit, the upper unit including a reading section configured to read an image of the document, in which the lower unit includes a medium discharge section configured to discharge the medium toward the rear of the apparatus, and a medium receiving section disposed on the apparatus rear side with respect to the medium discharge section, the medium receiving section being configured to receive the medium discharged, and the upper unit is shorter than the lower unit in the apparatus front-rear direction and the upper unit is closer to the apparatus front with respect to the lower unit such that an end portion of the medium receiving section in the medium discharging direction is exposed at the rear of the upper unit.

An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding device having a plurality of sheet feeding units, an opening and closing controlling unit, and a receiving unit. The opening and closing controlling unit controls opening and closing of the sheet feeding unit. Where the receiving unit receives an instruction for assigning a sheet having selected one attribute to designated one sheet feeding unit, the opening and closing controlling unit opens the designated one sheet feeding unit.