A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide member configured to guide a sheet in a first direction in a first state, and in a second direction in a second state; a driving source configured to generate a driving force; a transfer member configured to change the state of the guide member from the first state to the second state by being moved by the driving force; and a control unit configured to control the driving force. The control unit is further configured to set the driving force to a value smaller than a force necessary to move the transfer member to change the guide member from the first state to the second state, and subsequently cause the driving force to increase to a value larger than the force necessary to move the transfer member.

A handling bar for laminated or film supports, such as paper, is disclosed, including a hollow tubular body provided with an inner cavity and an outer side surface, a plurality of through holes, arranged on the tubular body to put the inner cavity in contact with the outer side surface. The handling bar also includes at least one connection to a compressed air source or a suction device, where the connection is shaped for the inflow of compressed air or to suction air into the cavity and at least one filtering element arranged inside the tubular body where at least at one portion of the holes filters the air passing between the inner cavity and the holes.

A feeding apparatus includes a feeding member, first and second conveying members, a separation member, and drive and control units. The feeding member feeds a recording material placed on a tray. The separation member and the first conveying member form a nip portion and separates recording materials at the nip portion. The second conveying member conveys a conveyed recording material. The drive unit drives at least the feeding member. The control unit controls to feed first and second recording materials such that a second recording material front edge passes the nip portion before a first recording material rear edge passes the nip portion, and controls to stop the second recording material after the second recording material front edge has passed the nip portion such that the first recording material rear edge reaches the second conveying member before the second recording material front edge reaches the second conveying member.

An automated product dispenser for dispensing a product from a supply of product is provided. The automated product dispenser includes a chassis assembly, a drive assembly, and an isolation member. The chassis assembly includes a chassis frame, and the drive assembly includes a motor, a drivetrain, and a drivetrain housing. The isolation member mounts the drive assembly to the chassis assembly such that the drive assembly is substantially spaced apart from the chassis frame. A related method of inhibiting vibration transmission in an automated product dispenser also is provided.

A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus and an optional device attachable to the image forming apparatus, includes a sheet container, a sheet feeder, a separator, a guide, and a projection. The sheet container loads multiple sheets. The sheet feeder feeds a sheet out of the multiple sheets in the sheet container. The separator separates the sheet from another sheet fed together with the sheet. The guide having a guide surface to guide the sheet passing the separator such that the sheet is fed in a predetermined sheet conveying direction. An upstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the guide surface of the guide is located lower than a downstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the separator. The projection is disposed facing the separator at the upstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the guide surface.

An apparatus for singling sheet goods which comprises a suction device with a stator and a rotor movable relative to the stator. The stator has at least one first opening and the rotor at least one second opening which overlap upon a rotation of the rotor and thereby define an opening area with a first end and a second end. The opening area extends starting from the first end up to the second end, wherein a section of the opening area between the first end and the second end forms a suction area in which sheet goods to be singled can be sucked by the suction device. The first end of the opening area is arranged spaced from the suction area so that arising noise can be dampened.

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes an inner main unit, a guiding portion, a conveyance roller pair, a mounting portion, and an urging member. A pair of bearing portions supports a shaft portion of a driven roller. A supporting portion is located on an upstream side or a downstream side in a conveyance direction in the pair of bearing portions and supports a pair of extending portions from below. A pressing portion abuts on the pair of extending portions, from above, between the pair of bearing portions and the supporting portion to elastically deform the pair of extending portions. A regulating portion is located between the pair of bearing portions and the supporting portion in the conveyance direction and regulates an interval between the pair of extending portions such that the interval becomes wider than a length of a roller portion in a width direction.

A sheet discharging device has a discharge roller pair and a sheet discharge tray arranged selectively either in a first position where the sheet discharge tray is stowed along a side surface of an apparatus main body or in a second position where the sheet discharge tray, swung downward from the first position, protrudes beyond the side surface. The sheet discharge tray has a hook member holding, with one of rotation shafts of the discharge roller pair acting as an engagement shaft, the sheet discharge tray in the first position by engaging with the engagement shaft. As a result of the discharge roller pair being rotated with the sheet discharge tray located in the first position, an engagement releasing member fixed to the engagement shaft releases the engagement of the hook member with the engagement shaft, and the sheet discharge tray moves to the second position.

A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide member configured to guide a sheet in a first direction in a first state, and in a second direction in a second state; a driving source configured to generate a driving force; a transfer member configured to change the state of the guide member from the first state to the second state by being moved by the driving force; and a control unit configured to control the driving force. The control unit is further configured to set the driving force to a value smaller than a force necessary to move the transfer member to change the guide member from the first state to the second state, and subsequently cause the driving force to increase to a value larger than the force necessary to move the transfer member.

An electronic dispenser comprising a housing; a feed roller rotatably mounted within the housing; a motor operable to drive rotation of the feed roller, and wherein the motor is at least partially within the feed roller; and wherein actuation of the motor results in a noise level, external to the housing, of less than 53 A-weighted decibels.