Sheet supply device

Abstract

A sheet supply device has a sheet storing section on which sheets are stacked and stored, a sheet feed unit that feeds the sheets stored in the sheet storing section to a next process, and an air blower that blows air to the sheets stored in the sheet storing section. A force for pushing up the sheets, which is exerted on the sheets by the blown air, is set to be weaker when the sheets are being fed than when they are not being fed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-191549, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a sheet supply device. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers and copying machines generally use cut sheets (copying paper) as a medium on which an image is formed, which cut sheets enable continuous supply. Hitherto, plain paper and woodfree paper specified by manufacturers of copying machines have been used as these sheets (paper). [0006] Plain paper and woodfree paper have low smoothness, and thus have weak adhesion. It is thus relatively easily to prevent so-called double feed wherein when sheets are to be supplied one by one from a sheet stacking section such as a sheet feed tray, a plurality of sheets are fe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances and provides a sheet supply device that does not damage a sheet surface even when it blows air to ease adhesion between sheets and feed the sheets to a next process.

[0019] The force for pushing up the sheets which is exerted on the sheets due to the blowing of the air is weaker when the sheets are being fed than when the sheets are not being fed. Therefore, even when a sheet is fed with the surface thereof rubbing against members above the sheets such as a regulating member that regulates the lift of the sheets, the force pressing the sheet against the regulating member is weak. For this reason, damage to the surfaces of the sheets is minimized, and thus the surfaces of the sheets are unlikely to be damaged.

[0022] Therefore, even when the sheets are fed with the surfaces thereof rubbing against the members above the sheets such as the regulating members that regulate the lift of the sheets, the force pressing the sheets against the regulating members is weak. For this reason, damage to the surfaces of the sheets is minimized, and thus the surfaces of the sheets are unlikely to be damaged.

[0024] According to this aspect, the height of the upper end of the air blocking member is set to be higher when the sheets are being fed than when the sheets are not being fed. As a result, the function of the fifth aspect is effectively achieved.

[0025] In short, according to the present invention, even when the air is blown so as to release the adhesion between the sheets and the sheets are fed to a next process, the force pushing up the sheets or the height of the flow channel for the air in the vertical direction is smaller when the sheets are being fed than they are not being fed. Damage to the surfaces of the sheets is, therefore, minimized. Accordingly, the surfaces of the sheets are unlikely to be damaged.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, even when a sheet is fed with the surface thereof rubbing against members above the sheets such as a regulating member that regulates the lift of the sheets, the force pressing the sheet against the regulating member is weak.

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