According to an embodiment, a paper feed device includes: a tray that has a support surface on which a sheet is placed and is capable of entering a first state and a second state. The first state is a state for placing the sheet on the support surface. The second state is a state for taking out the sheet from the support surface toward a downstream side in a conveying direction and for putting the sheet in an inclined posture heading upward on the downstream side in the conveying direction than an upstream side in the conveying direction.

A sheet supporting apparatus includes a body, a supporting portion configured to be held in an elevating manner by the body and to support a sheet, a sheet regulation portion regulating a position of the sheet supported on the supporting portion, a movement portion capable of moving between a first position where the sheet regulation portion regulates the position of the sheet supported on the supporting portion, and a second position where the supporting portion is regulated from elevating with respect to the body, and a movement regulation unit regulating the movement portion from moving to the second position.

A barbed wire installation apparatus for easily installing barbed wire includes a hitch bracket to selectively engage a hitch receiver of a vehicle. A horizontal cross member is coupled to the hitch bracket. A plurality of cradle arms is coupled to the cross member. A pair of spindles is coupled to the plurality of cradle arms to secure a roll of barbed wire. A pair of upright members is coupled to the cross member. A winch is coupled to the hitch bracket and has a cable in operational communication with a topmost pulley of a plurality of pulleys coupled to the pair of upright members. A control box is coupled to the pair of upright members. A wire gripper is coupled to the winch. The wire gripper is in operational communication with a distal end of the cable to secure the barbed wire.

A robotic document feeder system may comprise a robotic arm coupled to a Bernoulli cup assembly powered by a vacuum source; a base disposed over an imaging surface of a document scanner, wherein the base comprises a designated scan area through which a document may be imaged by the document scanner; an input bin for storing at least one document to be imaged by the document scanner; and an output bin for storing the at least one document after it has been imaged by the document scanner. The system may further comprise an alignment mechanism in proximity to the designated scan area and configured to align the document substantially over the imaging surface of the document scanner; at least one automated door configured to close the designated scan area after the document has been placed in the designated scan area; and a camera positioned above the designated scan area for imaging a second side of the document.

It is an object of the present invention to provide method for receiving sheets for a sheet supplying apparatus. The method includes converting an up and down motion of a tray to a rotational motion of a rotary member by a movement conversion mechanism, converting the rotational motion of the rotary member around a rotational axis to a linear motion of a cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis by the rotary member and a cam and slider mechanism, and elastically pressing an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism in the rotational axis direction to lift the tray by a compression spring.

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 paper feed apparatus in accordance with the present invention feeds printing paper stored in a printing paper storage unit. The printing paper storage unit includes: a paper stacking table on which the printing paper is stacked; and an erected member erected along a side of the paper stacking table. The erected member includes a low erected portion formed lower in a height direction than a surrounding portion of the erected member. The paper stacking table has a top face thereof located at a position as high as, or higher than, the low erected portion in the height direction.

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 sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet tray configured to hold sheets, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed sheets from the sheet tray, and a lift unit configured to move the sheet tray up and down. When the type of sheets to be held on the sheet tray is to be changed to another type, the lift unit moves the sheet tray up or down to a sheet holding position set for sheets of the other type. Thus, the position where the sheet tray can hold sheets is changed in accordance with the material or size of the sheets. The largest number, in which sheets can be mounted on the sheet tray, can thereby be changed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide method for receiving sheets for a sheet supplying apparatus. The method includes converting an up and down motion of a tray to a rotational motion of a rotary member by a movement conversion mechanism, converting the rotational motion of the rotary member around a rotational axis to a linear motion of a cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis by the rotary member and a cam and slider mechanism, and elastically pressing an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism in the rotational axis direction to lift the tray by a compression spring.