Media stocker, paper feeding device, and method of controlling posture of recording media

Abstract

A media stocker includes: a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table; a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction; and a control section configured to make an angle of the bottom plate adjustable such that a surface of the recording medium at the top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media stocker comprising:
 a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state;   a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table;   a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction; and   a control section configured to make an angle of the bottom plate adjustable such that a surface of the recording medium at a top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table.   
     
     
         2 . The media stocker according to  claim 1 , wherein the control section includes a pair of urging members configured to elastically support the bottom plate on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording media across substantially a center portion of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         3 . The media stocker according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the bottom plate includes a shaft attached to the paper feeding table between the pair of urging members, and   the control section includes urging members configured to respectively urge the bottom plate upward on both the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording media across the shaft.   
     
     
         4 . The media stocker according to  claim 3 , wherein the shaft of the bottom plate is arranged in a vertical surface passing substantially a center portion in upstream and downstream directions in the conveying direction of the recording media placed on the bottom plate. 
     
     
         5 . The media stocker according to  claim 1 , wherein the control section is a deflecting member formed by an elastic member formed to be bent in a U shape, a piece on a lower side of which is fixed to the paper feeding table and a piece on an upper side of which is the bottom plate configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media. 
     
     
         6 . A paper feeding device comprising:
 a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state;   a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table;   a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction;   a control section configured to make an angle of the bottom plate adjustable such that a surface of the recording medium at a top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table; and   a pickup roller configured to pick up the recording medium at the top placed on the paper feeding table and convey the recording medium at the top in a predetermined conveying direction.   
     
     
         7 . The paper feeding device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a separating mechanism configured to separate only the recording medium at the top from the recording media picked up and conveyed by the pickup roller. 
     
     
         8 . The paper feeding device according to  claim 6 , wherein the pickup roller is located on one end side in the conveying direction of the recording media. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a posture of recording media in a media stocker including: a paper feeding table configured to support plural recording media in a stacked state; a lifting and lowering mechanism configured to lift and lower the paper feeding table; and a bottom plate attached to the paper feeding table and configured to receive the recording media placed thereon and support the recording media such that a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the recording media on the paper feeding table moves up and down relatively to an upstream side end in the conveying direction, the method comprising adjusting an angle of the bottom plate such that a surface of the recording medium at a top extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to a lifting and lowering direction of the paper feeding table.