Print medium feeding apparatus with electrode in endless belt

Abstract

A print medium feeding apparatus includes an endless belt disposed to face stacked media and configured to rotate, the endless belt divided into sections having electrodes, respectively, fixed terminals configured to be in contact with two or more of the electrodes while the two or more of the electrodes are passing through a position facing the media as the electrodes are moved by rotation of the endless belt, a voltage applying unit connected to the fixed terminals and configured to apply voltage to the two or more of the electrodes that are in contact with the fixed terminals, a connection unit configured to make and break a connection between the voltage applying unit and at least one of the fixed terminals, and a switching unit configured to change a state of the connection of the connection unit in response to size of the media.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A print medium feeding apparatus, comprising:
 an endless belt disposed to face stacked media and configured to rotate, the endless belt divided into sections having electrodes, respectively;   fixed terminals configured to be in contact with two or more of the electrodes while the two or more of the electrodes are passing through a position facing the media as the electrodes are moved by rotation of the endless belt;   a voltage applying unit connected to the fixed terminals and configured to apply voltage to the two or more of the electrodes that are in contact with the fixed terminals;   a connection unit configured to make and break a connection between the voltage applying unit and at least one of the fixed terminals; and   a switching unit configured to change a state of the connection of the connection unit in response to size of the media.   
     
     
         2 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sections of the endless belt are formed by dividing the endless belt in a rotational direction thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sections of the endless belt are formed by dividing the endless belt in a direction perpendicular to a rotational direction thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the switching unit is configured to change the state of the connection of the connection unit in response to basis weight of the media. 
     
     
         5 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a remaining charge removing unit configured to apply alternating voltage to the electrodes to which the voltage applying unit has applied the voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a ground unit configured to connect, to a ground, one or more electrodes among the electrodes of the endless belt, which one or more electrodes are not receiving the voltage applied by the voltage applying unit. 
     
     
         7 . The print medium feeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes is a pair of comb-shaped electrodes, which are arranged such that teeth of one of the comb-shaped electrodes extend in a direction perpendicular to a rotational direction of the endless belt into spaces between teeth of another of the comb-shaped electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . An image forming apparatus, comprising the print medium feeding apparatus claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a print medium feeding apparatus configured to feed a medium; and   an information processing apparatus, wherein the print medium feeding apparatus includes:   an endless belt disposed to face stacked media and configured to rotate, the endless belt divided into sections having electrodes, respectively;   fixed terminals configured to be in contact with two or more of the electrodes while the two or more of the electrodes are passing through a position facing the media as the electrodes are moved by rotation of the endless belt;   a voltage applying unit connected to the fixed terminals and configured to apply voltage to the two or more of the electrodes that are in contact with the fixed terminals; and   a connection unit configured to make and break a connection between the voltage applying unit and at least one of the fixed terminals,   wherein the information processing apparatus includes a switching unit configured to change a state of the connection of the connection unit in response to size of the media.   
     
     
         10 . A method of feeding a medium, comprising:
 rotating an endless belt disposed to face stacked media, the endless belt divided into sections having electrodes, respectively;   applying voltage to one or more of the electrodes while the one or more of the electrodes are passing through a position facing the media as the electrodes are moved by rotation of the endless belt,   wherein a number of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied is changed in response to size of the media.