Manual paper feeding device for image forming apparatus

Abstract

A manual paper feeding device for use with an image forming apparatus, which includes first and second paper trays for storing paper, the first and second paper trays being formed in parallel to each other up and down with a predetermined space therebetween in a body frame of the image forming apparatus; a pickup roller for picking up the paper stacked in the first and second paper trays, the pickup roller being set up to be rotatable in the body frame; a friction pad for separating the paper sheet by sheet, the friction pad being set up in the lower part of the pickup roller; and a paper feeding guide for guiding the feeding of the paper, the paper feeding guide being positioned between the back of paper and the friction pad, when the paper is fed to the image forming apparatus.

1 . A paper feeding device for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 first and second paper trays to stack paper, the first and second paper trays being disposed in parallel to each other with a space therebetween sufficient to accommodate an amount of the paper in a body frame of the image forming apparatus;    a pickup roller to pick up the stacked paper in the first and second paper trays, the pickup roller disposed to be rotatable in the body frame;    a friction pad to separate the stacked paper sheet by sheet, the friction pad disposed in the lower part of the body frame below the pickup roller; and    a paper feeding guide to guide the feeding of the paper, the paper feeding guide being selectively positioned between a back of one sheet of the stacked paper and the friction pad, when the one sheet of the stacked paper is fed to the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first paper tray is used to store general print paper and the second paper tray is used to store special paper, and 
 a line end of the paper feeding guide is movable between a paper using position, which is a position between the pickup roller and the friction pad, and a paper disusing position, which is a position away from the paper using position by a predetermined space.    
   
   
       3 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the paper feeding guide is placed on the bottom side of the second paper tray.  
   
   
       4 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the paper feeding guide is placed on top of the second paper tray.  
   
   
       5 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the width (W 2 ) of the paper feeding guide is the same as a width (W 1 ) of the pickup roller.  
   
   
       6 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the paper feeding guide has a frictional coefficient smaller than a frictional coefficient of the friction pad.  
   
   
       7 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the frictional coefficient of the paper feeding guide is not more than 0.5.  
   
   
       8 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the paper feeding guide is formed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       9 . A paper feeding device for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a first paper tray to store general print paper, the first paper tray being set up in a body frame of the image forming apparatus;    a second paper tray to store special paper, the second paper tray being set up over the first paper tray in parallel to the first paper tray;    a pickup roller to pick up the general or special paper stacked in the first and second paper trays, the pickup roller being set up to be rotatable in the body frame; and    a friction pad to separate the general paper sheet by sheet, the friction pad being set up in the lower part of the pickup roller;    wherein a line end of the second paper tray is formed to be movable between a paper using position, which is a position between the pickup roller and the friction pad, and a paper disusing position, which is a position away from the paper using position by a predetermined space, and    when the special paper is fed, the second paper tray is moved to the paper using position and the special paper is set.    
   
   
       10 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the second paper tray has a smaller frictional coefficient than the friction pad.  
   
   
       11 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the frictional coefficient of the second paper tray is not more than 0.5.  
   
   
       12 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second paper tray is formed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       13 . A paper feeding device for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a paper tray to store general print paper or special paper optionally, the paper tray being formed in a body frame of the image forming apparatus;    a pickup roller to pick up the general or special paper stacked in the paper tray, the pickup roller being set up to be rotatable in the body frame;    a friction pad to separate the general or special paper sheet by sheet, the friction pad being set up in the lower part of the pickup roller; and    a paper feeding guide to guide the feeding of the special paper, such that when the special paper is fed, the paper feeding guide being positioned between a back of the special paper and the friction pad.    
   
   
       14 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a line end of the paper feeding guide is formed to be movable between a paper using position, which is a position between the pickup roller and the friction pad, and a paper disusing position, which is a position away from the paper using position by a predetermined space in the paper tray.  
   
   
       15 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the paper feeding guide is placed on a top side of the second paper tray.  
   
   
       16 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the paper feeding guide is placed on a bottom side of the paper tray.  
   
   
       17 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a width (W 2 ) of the paper feeding guide is the same as a width (W 1 ) of the pickup roller.  
   
   
       18 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a frictional coefficient of the paper feeding guide is smaller than a frictional coefficient of the friction pad.  
   
   
       19 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the frictional coefficient of the paper feeding guide is not more than 0.5.  
   
   
       20 . The paper feeding device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the paper feeding guide is formed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       21 . A paper feeding apparatus for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising: 
 a first paper tray to feed general print paper removably coupled with the image forming apparatus;    a second paper tray to feed special paper disposed above the first paper tray, the second paper tray removably coupled with the image forming apparatus;    a pickup roller disposed in the image forming apparatus to pick up the general or special paper stacked in the first and second paper trays; and    a friction pad which separates the general paper one sheet at a time, the friction pad arranged below and offset with respect to the pickup roller;    wherein at least a portion of the second paper tray is movable between a first position, and a second position such that when in the first position the special paper is feedable to the image forming apparatus without contacting the friction pad, and when in the second position the general paper is feedable to the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       22 . The paper feeding apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein a frictional coefficient of the movable portion of the second paper tray is smaller than a frictional coefficient of the friction pad.  
   
   
       23 . The paper feeding apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the frictional coefficient of the movable portion of the second paper tray is less than or equal to 0.5.  
   
   
       24 . The paper feeding apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the movable portion of the second paper tray is formed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       25 . The paper feeding apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the whole second paper tray is movable between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       26 . The paper feeding apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the movable portion of the second paper tray is a same width as the pickup roller.