Paper sheet feeding device, and image forming device

Abstract

To reduce conveyance load of a paper sheet when pulled out from a multi-tray and conveyed.SOLUTION: A paper sheet feeding device 10 includes: a multi-tray 12; a guide roller 41 provided at a tip end part of the multi-tray 12 and contacting a recording paper P protruding from the tip end part of the multi-tray 12; a spring member 42 that freely movably and elastically supports the guide roller 41 in a vertically direction; and a pick-up roller 21 that is disposed at a position separated from the tip end part of the multi-tray 12 and is moved in the vertical direction, is pressed against the tip end part of the recording paper P protruded via an upper side of a circumferential surface of the guide roller 41 by moving in a down direction, and pulls out the recording paper P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper feeder that draws and supplies paper from a multi-tray or a paper feed cassette, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same, and more particularly to a technique for reducing the load on a pickup roller when paper is drawn from a multi-tray. [Background technology]

[0002] The image forming apparatus forms an image on recording paper, and is provided with a paper feed cassette for feeding recording paper, or a multi-tray for manual paper feed. The multi-tray is provided inside the main body of the apparatus, and when recording paper is manually placed on the multi-tray, a pickup roller pulls the recording paper out of the multi-tray and supplies it.

[0003] In the sheet transport device described in Patent Document 1, a manual feed unit is provided above a cassette, a manual feed transport path that transports a sheet pulled out from the manual feed unit is merged with a cassette transport path that transports a sheet pulled out from the cassette, and a feeding unit provided in the cassette transport path pulls out the sheet from the cassette. This sheet transport device also transports a sheet from the manual feed transport path to the cassette transport path by a transport roller of the manual feed unit, stops the transport roller once based on detection of the leading edge of the sheet by a leading edge detection unit provided between the transport roller and the feeding unit, moves the leading edge of the sheet to a position in front of the paper feed unit, and transports the sheet again by the transport roller, and pulls out the sheet from the manual feed unit by the paper feed unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-203479 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, in the sheet conveying device described in Patent Document 1, the manual feed unit is stacked on top of the cassette, and therefore there is a large drop in the manual feed conveying path and the cassette conveying path at the joining point, and the sheet is conveyed while being significantly bent between the manual feed unit and the paper feeding unit, causing the sheet to come into strong contact with the guide tip of the manual feed unit, increasing the sheet conveying load on the paper feeding unit and making the paper feeding conveying unstable.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to reduce the transport load of paper when the paper is pulled out from a multi-tray and transported. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] a paper feeding device according to one aspect of the present invention comprising a paper feed cassette which feeds stored paper; a multi-tray provided above the paper feed cassette and on which paper to be manually fed is placed; a guide roller provided at the tip of the multi-tray and which contacts the paper protruding from the tip of the multi-tray; an elastic support member provided at the tip of the multi-tray and which elastically supports the guide roller so as to be movable in a direction toward and away from the paper feed cassette; and a pickup roller which is positioned at a position away from the tip of the multi-tray and is moved in the direction toward and away from the paper feed cassette, thereby pulling out the paper while being pressed against the tip of the paper protruding through an upper circumferential surface of the guide roller, and the position at which the pickup roller is pressed against the tip of the paper is closer to the paper feed cassette than the position on the upper circumferential surface of the guide roller.

[0008] In addition, an image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a paper feeding device according to the above-mentioned one aspect of the present invention, and an image forming unit that forms an image on paper pulled out and supplied from the multi-tray or the paper feeding cassette of the paper feeding device. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load of transporting paper when the paper is pulled out from a multi-tray for manual paper feed and transported. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] (A) and (B) are oblique views showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus to which a paper feeding device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, where (A) shows the side wall of the main body device in a closed state, and (B) shows the side wall in the process of being opened. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feed device of the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view showing a multi-tray in the paper feeder of the embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the area around the paper feeding section in the paper feeding device of this embodiment, where (A) shows the state in which the pick-up roller of the paper feeding section is separated from the handling pad, (B) shows the state in which the pick-up roller is pressed against the leading edge of the recording paper transported from the multi-tray, and (C) shows the state in which the pick-up roller is pressed against the leading edge of the recording paper in the paper feeding cassette. [Diagram 5] This is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the area around the paper feeding section in the paper feeding device of this embodiment, where (A) shows the state in which the pick-up roller of the paper feeding section is separated from the handling pad, (B) shows the state in which the pick-up roller is pressed against the leading edge of the recording paper transported from the multi-tray, and (C) shows the state in which the pick-up roller is pressed against the leading edge of the recording paper in the paper feeding cassette. [Figure 6] 1A is an enlarged perspective view of the area around a guide roller provided at the tip of a guide plate of a multi-tray, as viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the area around the guide roller, as viewed from below. [Figure 7] 2 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a drive system for each transport roller, a pickup roller, and a feed roller in the paper feeding device. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a control system of the paper feeder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a rotational direction or a left-right or up-down direction may be indicated, but these directions are shown as examples in each drawing unless otherwise specified. Figs. 1(A) and (B) are perspective views showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus to which a paper feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, Fig. 1(A) shows a state in which the side wall of the apparatus body is closed, and Fig. 1(B) shows a state in which the side wall of the apparatus body is being opened. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feeder of this embodiment. Also, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a multi-tray in the paper feeder as viewed obliquely from above.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1(A), (B) and Fig. 2, an image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a printer. An output tray 3 and the like are provided on the top of an apparatus main body 2, and a paper feeder 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming section (not shown), and a fixing section (not shown) are provided inside the apparatus main body 2. The paper feeder 10 according to this embodiment is configured to include a paper feed cassette 11, a multi-tray 12, and a paper feed section 13. A plurality of recording papers P of standard sizes are stacked and stored in the paper feed cassette 11, and at least one sheet of recording paper P of standard size or non-standard size is placed on the multi-tray 12. The paper feed section 13 draws out the recording paper P from the paper feed cassette 11 or the multi-tray 12 and transports and supplies it.

[0013] The image forming section forms an image represented by image data on recording paper P, which is pulled out and supplied from paper feed cassette 11 or multi-tray 12 by paper feed section 13 of paper feed device 10, by an electrophotographic method using toner. The recording paper on which the image has been formed is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing section and then discharged to discharge tray 3.

[0014] Further, a side wall 2A of the apparatus body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 is supported by a shaft 2B in the vicinity of one side of its lower end so as to be freely opened and closed.

[0015] When the side wall 2A is opened, an opening 2D is opened, which leads to the inside of the device body 2. The side wall 2A is opened in an inclined state so as to be lower on the device body 2 side. The recording paper P is placed on the upper side of the opened and inclined side wall 2A, and is guided from the side wall 2A to the multi-tray 12.

[0016] 2 and 3, the multi-tray 12 includes a generally flat guide plate 14 on which recording paper P to be manually fed is placed, two driven rollers 15 supported rotatably and protruding upward from respective openings 14A of the guide plate 14, and respective transport rollers 16 pressed against the circumferential surfaces of the respective driven rollers 15. Each transport roller 16 is driven to rotate counterclockwise as appropriate.

[0017] The recording paper P is inserted from the side wall 2A by the user for manual transport and placed on the multi-tray 12. The placed recording paper P is introduced from the side wall 2A into the transport path 17 of the multi-tray 12, inserted between each driven roller 15 and each transport roller 16, and transported to the paper feed section 13 via the leading edge of the multi-tray 12 by the rotation of each transport roller 16 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

[0018] 4(A), (B), and (C) are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the periphery of the paper feed unit 13 in the paper feed device 10. As shown in Figs. 4(A), (B), and (C), the paper feed unit 13 includes a pick-up roller 21 that pulls out the recording paper P from the paper feed cassette 11 or the multi-tray 12, a feed roller 22 that transports the recording paper P, and a retard roller 23 that contacts the underside of the circumferential surface of the feed roller 22.

[0019] Further, inside the paper feed cassette 11, a tray 24 on which a plurality of recording papers P are stacked is provided, and a separation pad 25 is fixed to the upper surface of the leading end of the tray 24. The tray 24 is supported inside the paper feed cassette 11 so as to be rotatable about an axis at the rear end of the tray 24 so that the leading end of the tray 24 can be moved in the vertical direction (the direction toward and away from the pick-up roller 21). An arm 28 is provided below the tray 24. The arm 28 is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis at its lower end so that its upper end can move in the vertical direction. When the arm 28 is rotated and raised by a mechanism not shown in the figure and the upper end (leading end) of the arm 28 pushes up the tray 24 from below, the tray 24 rotates about the axis at the rear end of the tray 24, the leading end of the tray 24 approaches the pick-up roller 21, and the tray 24 is inclined.

[0020] 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams showing the periphery of the paper feed unit 13 in the paper feeder 10. As shown in FIG. 5A, the shaft 21A of the pick-up roller 21 and the shaft 22A of the feed roller 22 are supported by a support unit 31 so as to be rotatable about their respective axes. In addition, the shaft of the gear 32 (not shown) is also supported by the support unit 31 so as to be rotatable. A gear 33 is fixed to the shaft 21A of the pick-up roller 21, and a gear 34 is fixed to the shaft 22A of the feed roller 22, and the gear 32 is meshed with each of the gears 33 and 34. The shaft 22A of the feed roller 22 is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, so that the feed roller 22 and the gear 34 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and the rotation of the gear 34 is transmitted to the gear 33 through the gear 32, and the gear 33 and the pick-up roller 21 rotate in the counterclockwise direction similar to the feed roller 22.

[0021] In addition, the support portion 31 is supported rotatably around the shaft 22A of the feed roller 22, and is rotated within a certain angle range by a mechanism (not shown). When the support portion 31 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 21A as shown in Figures 4(A) and 5(A), the pick-up roller 21 moves away from the separation pad 25 on the top surface of the leading end of the tray 24, and when the support portion 31 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 21A as shown in Figures 4(B), (C), 5(B), and (C), the pick-up roller 21 is pressed against the separation pad 25.

[0022] A shaft 23A of the retard roller 23 is rotatably supported at a fixed position on the frame of the paper feeder 10. The retard roller 23 is in contact with the lower side of the circumferential surface of the feed roller 22 at all times.

[0023] Meanwhile, a guide roller 41 is provided at the leading end of the guide plate 14 of the multi-tray 12, and the guide roller 41 protrudes from the leading end of the guide plate 14 toward the paper feed section 13 side.

[0024] Fig. 6(A) is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of guide roller 41 as viewed from above, and Fig. 6(B) is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of guide roller 41 as viewed from below. As shown in Figs. 6(A) and (B), a rectangular cutout portion 14B is formed at the tip of guide plate 14 of multi-tray 12, guide roller 41 is disposed inside this rectangular cutout portion 14B, and shaft 41A of guide roller 41 is rotatably supported by spring member 42.

[0025] The spring member 42 has two arm portions 42A, a connecting portion 42B connecting the rear ends of the arm portions 42A, and bearing portions 42C formed by bending the tip side of each arm portion 42A into a ring shape.

[0026] The connecting portion 42B of the spring member 42 is fitted into a groove between two protrusions 14C provided on the back side of the guide plate 14 of the multi-tray 12, and each arm portion 42A of the spring member 42 is passed through the inside of two small wall portions 14D provided on the back side of the guide plate 14 of the multi-tray 12 and hooked onto each of the claw portions 14E formed on the inside of each small wall portion 14D, thereby attaching the spring member 42 to the tip portion of the guide plate 14 of the multi-tray 12.

[0027] Both ends of shaft 41A of guide roller 41 are inserted into bearings 42C bent into rings at the tip ends of arm portions 42A of spring member 42, so that guide roller 41 is rotatably supported.

[0028] Also, each arm portion 42A elastically deforms in the vertical direction in the range from the point of each arm portion 42A hooked on the claw portion 14E of each small wall portion 14D to the bearing portion 42C at the tip side of each arm portion 42A, so that the guide roller 41 is rotatable, vertically movable, and elastically supported by the spring member 42. That is, each arm portion 42A, as an example of an elastic support member in the claims, elastically supports the guide roller 41 so as to be movable in the direction toward and away from the paper feed cassette 11.

[0029] Here, when the recording paper P is placed on the multi-tray 12 as shown in Fig. 4(A) and Fig. 5(A), in the case of transporting the recording paper P as a manually-fed paper, the recording paper P is transported by each transport roller 16 to the paper feed section 13 via the circumferential surface of the guide roller 41 on the leading end side of the multi-tray 12, and the leading end of the recording paper P is stopped below the pickup roller 21, and the pickup roller 21 faces the leading end of the recording paper P. In this state, when the support section 31 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 21A as shown in Fig. 4(B) and Fig. 5(B), the pickup roller 21 is pressed against the leading end of the recording paper P on the multi-tray 12. Then, the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 are rotated counterclockwise, and the recording paper P on the multi-tray 12 is pulled out by the pickup roller 21, and the recording paper P is transported to the transport roller 27 through between the feed roller 22 and the retard roller 23.

[0030] As shown in Figs. 4A, 4B and 5A, 5B, the position where the pickup roller 21 presses against the leading edge of the recording paper P is closer to the paper feed cassette 11 than the position of the upper side of the circumferential surface of the guide roller 41. That is, there is a difference in height between the upper side of the circumferential surface of the guide roller 41 and the position where the leading edge of the recording paper P is pressed by the pickup roller 21. Therefore, when the pickup roller 21 presses against the leading edge of the recording paper P, the recording paper P tilts downward in the range from the upper side of the circumferential surface of the guide roller 41 to the pressing position. The thus tilted recording paper P pushes the guide roller 41 downward against the biasing force of each arm portion 42A of the spring member 42 and retreats, and at this time, each arm portion 42A is bent in a bow shape and elastically deformed. Then, when the pickup roller 21 pulls out the recording paper P on the multi-tray 12, the recording paper P slides against the upper side of the circumferential surface of the guide roller 41, and the guide roller 41 rotates.

[0031] In this way, guide roller 41 is pushed downward and retracted in response to the downward inclination of recording paper P, recording paper P slides against the upper circumferential surface of guide roller 41, and guide roller 41 rotates, thereby reducing the pressing force of recording paper P against multi-tray 12 and reducing the frictional force that recording paper P exerts on multi-tray 12 when recording paper P is transported by pickup roller 21. As a result, the transport of recording paper P on multi-tray 12, the drawing of recording paper P from multi-tray 12 by pickup roller 21, and transport of recording paper P by feed roller 22 are all performed smoothly, and the load on pickup roller 21 and feed roller 22 when transporting recording paper P, and further the load on recording paper P, are reduced.

[0032] If guide roller 41 were not provided, when pickup roller 21 was pressed against the leading edge of recording paper P, recording paper P would tilt downward and come into direct contact with the leading edge of guide plate 14 of multi-tray 12, and when pickup roller 21 pulled out recording paper P from multi-tray 12, recording paper P would come into direct contact with the leading edge of guide plate 14, and the transport of recording paper P on multi-tray 12, the pull-out of recording paper P by pickup roller 21, and the transport of recording paper P by feed roller 22 would not be smooth, the load on pickup roller 21 and feed roller 22, and even the load on recording paper P would increase, and the feeding and transport of recording paper P would become unstable.

[0033] When no recording paper P is placed on the multi-tray 12, the pickup roller 21 faces the leading edge of the topmost recording paper P on the tray 24 of the paper feed cassette 11. In this state, when the support portion 31 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 21A as shown in Fig. 4(C) and Fig. 5(C), the pickup roller 21 is pressed against the leading edge of the topmost recording paper P on the tray 24. The pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 are rotated counterclockwise, and the topmost recording paper P on the tray 24 is pulled out by the pickup roller 21, and the recording paper P is transported to the transport roller 27 through between the feed roller 22 and the retard roller 23. The retard roller 23 serves to prevent double feeding of the recording paper P transported by the feed roller 22.

[0034] Next, a drive system and a control system of the paper feeder 10 will be described. Fig. 7 is a block diagram conceptually showing an example of a drive system for each transport roller 16, pickup roller 21, and feed roller 22 in the paper feeder 10. As shown in Fig. 7, the drive source for each transport roller 16, pickup roller 21, and feed roller 22 is a single transport motor 50. The output shaft of the transport motor 50 is connected to a first one-way clutch 51 and a second one-way clutch 52. The first one-way clutch 51 and the second one-way clutch 52 correspond to the transmission section in the claims.

[0035] The first one-way clutch 51 transmits the forward rotation of the output shaft of the transport motor 50 to the first gear unit 53, which rotates each of the transport rollers 16 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2. The first one-way clutch 51 does not transmit the reverse rotation of the output shaft of the transport motor 50 to the first gear unit 53, and stops each of the transport rollers 16.

[0036] The second one-way clutch 52 transmits the reverse rotation of the output shaft of the transport motor 50 to the second gear unit 54, and the second gear unit 54 rotates the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2. In addition, the second one-way clutch 52 does not transmit the reverse rotation of the output shaft of the transport motor 50 to the second gear unit 54, and stops the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22.

[0037] Therefore, when the output shaft of the transport motor 50 rotates in the forward direction, each transport roller 16 rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 2 and the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 stop, and when the output shaft of the transport motor 50 rotates in the reverse direction, the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 2 and each transport roller 16 stops. This makes it possible to use a single transport motor 50 to drive and rotate each transport roller 16 and the pick-up roller 21 and the feed roller 22 separately.

[0038] As described above, the support section 31 supports the shaft 21A of the pickup roller 21, the shaft 22A of the feed roller 22, and the shaft of the gear 34, and is supported rotatably around the shaft 22A of the feed roller 22, and rotates within a certain angle range. When the support section 31 rotates clockwise around the shaft 22A as shown in Fig. 4(A) and Fig. 5(A), the pickup roller 21 moves away from the separation pad 25 on the top surface of the tip of the tray 24, and when the support section 31 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 22A as shown in Fig. 4(B) and Fig. 5(B), the pickup roller 21 is pressed against the separation pad 25. For example, the support section 31 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 22A by the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and the pickup roller 21 is pressed against the separation pad 25. Furthermore, the support portion 31 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 22A by a mechanism including a cam against the biasing force of the spring, and the pick-up roller 21 moves away from the handling pad 25. As shown in Fig. 7, a cam motor 56 and a gear unit 57 for rotating the cam 58 are provided, and the rotation angle of the cam motor 56 is controlled to press the pick-up roller 21 against the handling pad 25 by the biasing force of the spring, and to move away from the handling pad 25 against the biasing force of the spring.

[0039] Fig. 8 is a block diagram conceptually showing an example of a control system of the paper feeder 10. As shown in Fig. 8, a control unit 60 inputs the detection output of a first paper sensor 61 and the detection output of a second paper sensor 62, and drives and controls a transport motor 50 that rotates the transport rollers 16, the pickup roller 21, and the feed roller 22, and drives and controls a cam motor 56 that presses the pickup roller 21 against the separation pad 25 and separates it from the separation pad 25.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the first paper sensor 61 is provided upstream of each transport roller 16 of the multi-tray 12 in the transport direction of the recording paper P, and detects the leading edge of the recording paper P introduced into the transport path 17 of the multi-tray 12.

[0041] The second paper sensor 62 is provided between the guide roller 41 of the multi-tray 12 and the pickup roller 21 of the paper feed section 13 as shown in FIG.

[0042] When in a standby state, the control unit 60 stops the transport motor 50, stops each transport roller 16, the pickup roller 21, and the feed roller 22, and also controls the rotation angle of the cam motor 56 to stop the cam motor 56 when the pickup roller 21 is separated from the separation pad 25.

[0043] When the recording paper P is introduced into the transport path 17 of the multi-tray 12, the first paper sensor 61 detects the leading edge of the recording paper P. The control unit 60 rotates the transport motor 50 in the forward direction in response to the detection output of the first paper sensor 61 that has detected the leading edge of the recording paper P, thereby rotating each transport roller 16. Therefore, when the leading edge of the recording paper P reaches one of the transport rollers 16, the recording paper is transported by this one transport roller 16, and when the leading edge of the recording paper P reaches the other transport roller 16, the recording paper is transported by each transport roller 16 to the paper feed unit 13.

[0044] When the leading edge of the recording paper P reaches between the guide roller 41 of the multi-tray 12 and the pickup roller 21 of the paper feeder 13, the leading edge of the recording paper P is detected by the second paper sensor 62. In response to the detection output of the second paper sensor 62 that detected the leading edge of the recording paper P, the control unit 60 rotates the transport motor 50 in the forward direction by a certain rotation angle from the point in time when the second paper sensor 62 detected the leading edge of the recording paper P, and then stops the motor, thereby stopping each transport roller 16. As a result, the leading edge of the recording paper P is stopped below the pickup roller 21, and the pickup roller 21 faces the leading edge of the recording paper P that has been transported from the multi-tray 12.

[0045] The control unit 60 rotates the transport motor 50 in the reverse direction to rotate the pickup roller 21 and the feed roller 22. At the same time, the control unit 60 rotates the cam motor 56 to move the pickup roller 21 closer to the separation pad 25 and press the pickup roller 21 against the leading edge of the recording paper P.

[0046] The recording paper P is picked up by a pickup roller 21 and transported to a transport roller 27 through between a feed roller 22 and a retard roller 23 .

[0047] The second paper sensor 62 detects the rear end of the recording paper P. In response to the detection output of the second paper sensor 62 that detected the rear end of the recording paper P, the control unit 60 rotates the transport motor 50 in the reverse direction for a fixed period of time from the point in time when the second paper sensor 62 detected the rear end of the recording paper P, and then stops the transport motor 50, stops the transport rollers 16, the pickup roller 21, and the feed roller 22, and also controls the rotation angle of the cam motor 56 to move the pickup roller 21 away from the separation pad 25, stops the cam motor 56, and returns to the standby state.

[0048] In this manner, in this embodiment, a guide roller 41 is provided at the tip of the multi-tray 12, and the guide roller 41 is elastically supported by the spring member 42 so that it can move freely in the vertical direction. When the pickup roller 21 pulls out the recording paper P on the multi-tray 12, the recording paper P pushes the guide roller 41 downward against the biasing force of each arm portion 42A of the spring member 42, and the guide roller 41 retracts, and the recording paper P slides against the upper peripheral surface of the guide roller 41, causing the guide roller 41 to rotate. Therefore, the transport of the recording paper P on the multi-tray 12, the pulling out of the recording paper P by the pickup roller 21, and the transport of the recording paper P by the feed roller 22 are all carried out smoothly, and the load on the recording paper P and the load on the pickup roller 21 and the feed roller 22 are reduced.

[0049] In the above embodiment, a printer is exemplified as one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but this is merely an example and the image forming apparatus may be a multifunction machine, a copier, a facsimile machine, or the like.

[0050] Moreover, the configuration of the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is merely one example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to this configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Image forming device 2. Device body 3 Output tray 10 Paper feeder 11 Paper feed cassette 12 Multi-tray 13 Paper feed section 14 Guide plate 15 Driven roller 16 Transport roller 17 Transport Path 21 Pickup roller 22 Feed roller 23 Retard roller 25 Handling Pad 41 Guide roller 42 Spring member

Claims

1. a paper feed cassette for feeding the stored paper; a multi-tray provided above the paper feed cassette and on which paper to be manually fed is placed; a guide roller provided at a front end of the multi-tray and in contact with the paper protruding from the front end of the multi-tray; an elastic support member provided at a front end of the multi-tray for elastically supporting the guide roller so as to be movable in a direction toward and away from the paper feed cassette; a pickup roller that is disposed at a position spaced apart from the leading end of the multi-tray and moved in the approaching and separating direction, and that moves toward the paper feed cassette and pulls out the paper while being pressed against the leading end of the paper that protrudes through an upper circumferential surface of the guide roller; A paper feeding device, wherein the position at which the pickup roller is pressed against the leading edge of the paper is closer to the paper feed cassette than an upper side position of the circumferential surface of the guide roller.

2. a transport roller provided on an upper surface side of the multi-tray and configured to transport the paper on the multi-tray in a direction toward the tip of the multi-tray; 2 . The paper feed device according to claim 1 , wherein the paper is transported by the transport roller, the paper protrudes past the circumferential surface of the guide roller, and the leading edge of the paper moves to a position against which the pickup roller presses the leading edge of the paper.

3. The paper feeding device described in claim 1, wherein the pickup roller is moved toward the paper feed cassette and pressed against the leading edge of the paper that has been transported along the upper peripheral surface of the guide roller to pull out the paper from the multi-tray, or against the leading edge of the paper contained in the paper feed cassette to pull out the paper from the paper feed cassette.

4. a driving source for rotating the transport roller and the pickup roller; 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission section that switches between transmitting the driving force of the driving source to either the transport roller or the pick-up roller.

5. A paper feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an image forming unit that forms an image on the paper that is pulled out and fed from the multi-tray or the paper feed cassette of the paper feed device.

Images