Sheet feeder

Abstract

To provide a sheet feeder which enables a small sheet discharged to a discharge tray to be taken out easily.SOLUTION: A sheet feeder 1 includes: a feeding tray 20; a feeding roller 21; a transport path 22; a discharge tray 3; a restriction part 4; and a position control part 5. The feeding tray 2 stores sheets S. The feeding roller 21 feeds the sheet S. The discharge tray 3 is formed below the feeding tray 2 and stores the sheets S which are fed to the transport path 22 by the feeding tray 2 and then is discharged from the transport path 22. The restriction part 4 may move in a width direction E of the sheets S stored in the feeding tray 2 to restrict ends F in the width direction (ends G in the width direction) of the sheets S stored in the feeding tray 2. The position control part 5 changes a position of the feeding tray 2 relative to the discharge tray 3 according to movement of the restriction part 4 in the width direction E.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device. [Background technology]

[0002] The automatic document feeder disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray. A stack of documents is stored in the paper feed tray. The paper feed tray can be swung up and down relative to the upper surface of the ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and this swinging allows the tilt angle with respect to the horizontal direction to be variable. The paper discharge tray is installed below the paper feed tray and stores the stack of documents discharged from the paper discharge port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-128421 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the automatic document feeder disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, there are cases where an operator wants to feed and process small-sized documents such as A5 size documents. In such cases, the operator needs to hold and lift the feed tray with his / her hands in order to manually remove the small-sized documents discharged to the discharge tray. This causes a problem of low convenience for the operator.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that can easily remove small-sized sheets discharged onto a discharge tray. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sheet feeding device according to the present invention includes a feed tray, a feed roller, a transport path, a discharge tray, a regulating unit, and a posture control unit. The feed tray stores sheets. The feed roller feeds the sheets. The feed roller transports the sheets to the transport path. The discharge tray is formed below the feed tray and stores the sheets that are fed to the transport path by the feed tray and then discharged from the transport path. The regulating unit is movable in the width direction of the sheets stored in the feed tray and regulates the width direction ends of the sheets stored in the feed tray. The posture control unit changes the posture of the feed tray in accordance with the movement of the regulating unit in the width direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding device that can easily take out small-sized sheets discharged onto a discharge tray. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a multifunction peripheral including a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of a feeding tray of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 2 is a bottom view of a feeding tray of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a posture control unit of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating configurations of a converting unit and a teeth unit of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a sheet feeding device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] First, the outline of the configuration of a sheet feeding device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to each drawing.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding device 1 includes a feeding section 2, a discharge tray 3, a regulating section 4, a posture control section 5, a housing 6, a reading device 7, and an operation section 8.

[0012] The feeding section 2 includes a feeding tray 20 , a feeding roller 21 , and a conveying path 22 .

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6, the restriction unit 4 includes a first cursor 40 and a second cursor.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the posture control unit 5 has a rack 50, a transmission unit 51, and a conversion unit 52.

[0015] The rack 50 has consecutive teeth 500 .

[0016] The rack 50 includes a first rack 501 and a second rack 502 .

[0017] The first rack 501 has a first series of teeth 5010 .

[0018] The second rack 502 has second consecutive teeth 5020 .

[0019] The transmission portion 51 includes a pinion gear 510 , a first bevel gear 511 , and an intermediate gear 512 .

[0020] The pinion gear 510 has a third series of teeth 5100 .

[0021] The first bevel gear 511 has first bevel teeth 5110 (FIG. 4).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, an example of the conversion portion 52 is a second bevel gear 520 .

[0023] The second bevel gear 520 has second bevel teeth 5200 .

[0024] The housing 6 has a continuous tooth portion 60 .

[0025] The reading device 7 reads the sheet S fed by the feeding section 2 .

[0026] The reading device 7 includes, for example, a light emitting device, an optical device, and a light receiving device.

[0027] An example of the light-emitting device is a light-emitting diode (LED). The LED emits light that is irradiated onto the sheet S.

[0028] The optical device reflects the irradiated light and guides it to the sheet S.

[0029] An example of the light receiving device is a photodiode. The photodiode receives light reflected from the sheet S and outputs image data.

[0030] The operation unit 8 is an interface that accepts instructions from an operator.

[0031] The operation unit 8 includes, for example, buttons and a liquid crystal panel.

[0032] Next, the functions and effects of each component in the embodiment of the sheet feeding device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding device 1 includes a feeding section 2, a discharge tray 3, a regulating section 4, a posture control section 5, a housing 6, a reading device 7, and an operation section 8.

[0034] The sheet feeding device 1 feeds a sheet S to a reading device 7. The sheet feeding device 1 can be used in a scanner, a printer, a multifunction device, or other office equipment.

[0035] The feeding section 2 includes a feeding tray 20 , a feeding roller 21 , and a conveying path 22 .

[0036] The feeding section 2 feeds the sheet S so that the image on the sheet S can be read by the reading device 7 .

[0037] The feed tray 20 stores the sheets S to be read by the reading device 7 .

[0038] The position of the feed tray 20 can be controlled in the direction of arrow A.

[0039] The position of the feed tray 20 can be controlled in the direction of the arrow B.

[0040] The position of the feed tray 20 can be controlled in the direction of the arrow C.

[0041] The feed roller 21 picks up the sheet S stored in the feed tray 20, and conveys the sheet S to a conveying path 22. The feed roller 21 is rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the feed roller 21 transports the sheet S in the direction of the arrow D (feed direction D).

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet S is conveyed along a conveying path 22 by a feeding roller 21.

[0044] The transport path 22 is a passage extending from the feed tray 20 to the discharge tray 3. A plurality of feed rollers 21 may be disposed on the transport path 22.

[0045] The discharge tray 3 is formed below the feed tray 20 .

[0046] The discharge tray 3 receives the sheet S that has been fed by the feed tray 20 to the conveying path 22 of the sheet feeding device 1 and then discharged from the conveying path 22 .

[0047] That is, the discharge tray 3 stores the sheet S that has been conveyed along the conveying path 22, had an image read by the reading device 7, and then discharged from the conveying path 22.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the regulating portion 4 is movable in the width direction E of the sheets S stored in the feeding tray 20. As shown in FIG.

[0049] The regulating portion 4 regulates the width direction end F (width direction end G) of the sheet S stored in the feed tray 20.

[0050] The restricting portion 4 restricts the sheet S so as to prevent the sheet S from being skewed.

[0051] The posture control unit 5 changes the posture of the feed tray 20 in accordance with the movement of the regulating unit 4 in the width direction E.

[0052] The posture control unit 5 changes the posture of the feed tray 20 in the direction of the double-headed arrow A in accordance with the movement of the regulating unit 4 in the width direction E.

[0053] The posture control unit 5 changes the posture of the feed tray 20 in the direction of arrow B or the direction of arrow C in accordance with the movement of the regulating unit 4 in the width direction E.

[0054] According to this embodiment, when an operator moves the restricting portion 4 in accordance with the size of the sheet S, the attitude of the feeding tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 changes in response to the movement of the restricting portion 4.

[0055] Therefore, the sheet feeding device 1 can control the attitude of the feeding tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 in accordance with the size of the sheet S.

[0056] As an example, an operator sets a small-sized sheet S, such as an A5 size, in the feed tray 20. The operator moves the regulating unit 4 to the widthwise end G (widthwise end F) of the small-sized sheet S. In response to the movement of the regulating unit 4, the posture of the feed tray 20 changes so that the discharge tray 3 is opened.

[0057] That is, the posture of the feed tray 20 changes depending on the size of the sheet S. Therefore, the operator can easily take out a small size sheet S, such as an A5 size, discharged to the discharge tray 3 without lifting the feed tray 20.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the posture control unit 5 controls the posture of the feed tray 20 in the direction C in which the feed tray 20 moves away from the discharge tray 3, as shown in Figure 1, as the width H of the sheet S, whose width-wise end F (width-wise end G) is regulated by the regulating unit 4, becomes smaller.

[0059] According to this embodiment, as the size of the sheet S becomes smaller, the feed tray 20 moves away from the discharge tray 3. Therefore, the operator can easily remove the small-sized sheet S from the discharge tray 3.

[0060] Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, the restriction portion 4 has a first cursor 40 and a second cursor 41. As shown in FIG.

[0061] The first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 are formed to extend along the feeding direction D of the sheet S shown in FIG.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 are disposed so as to be exposed above the feed tray 20.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 2, the first cursor 40 regulates one end F of the sheet S in the width direction.

[0064] The first cursor 40 comes into contact with one widthwise end F of the sheet S. The first cursor 40 prevents the sheet S from shifting out of alignment with the stack of sheets S. The first cursor 40 prevents the sheet S from being skewed with respect to the feeding direction D when the sheet S is fed in the feeding direction D.

[0065] The second cursor 41 regulates the other end G of the sheet S in the width direction.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the posture control unit 5 changes the posture of the feeding tray 20 in accordance with the movements of the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 in the width direction H.

[0067] More specifically, the posture control unit 5 controls the feed tray 20 so as to change the posture of the feed tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 in accordance with the movement of the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 in the width direction H.

[0068] According to this embodiment, in the sheet feeding device 1 in which the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 regulate both widthwise ends (one widthwise end F and the other widthwise end G) of the sheet S, an operator moves the first cursor 40 or the second cursor 41 in accordance with the size of the sheet S. The attitude control unit 5 changes the attitude (opening angle) of the feed tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 in accordance with the size of the sheet S.

[0069] Therefore, the sheet feeding device 1 can control the attitude (open angle) of the feeding tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 in accordance with the size of the sheet S. Furthermore, by providing the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41, the amount of movement of the first cursor 40 or the second cursor 41 can be further reduced compared to the case where only the first cursor 40 is provided.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding apparatus 1 includes a housing 6. The housing 6 includes a housing 6a.

[0071] The housing 6 covers a part of the feed tray 20 and a part of the discharge tray 3 .

[0072] The housing 6 covers the feed roller 21 and the transport path 22 .

[0073] As shown in FIG. 3, the posture control unit 5 has a rack 50, a transmission unit 51, and a conversion unit 52.

[0074] The rack 50 includes a first rack 501 and a second rack 502 .

[0075] The rack 50 has continuous teeth 500 formed on its circumferential surface. The continuous teeth 500 of the rack 50 mesh with third continuous teeth 5100 of the pinion gear 510.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first rack 501 is formed to extend from the first cursor 40 to one width direction side I of the sheet S (the other width direction side J).

[0077] The first rack 501 is connected to the first cursor 40 and is movable.

[0078] The first rack 501 is movable so as to approach one widthwise side I (other widthwise side J) of the sheet S. The first rack 501 is movable so as to move away from one widthwise side I (other widthwise side J) of the sheet S.

[0079] The transmission unit 51 transmits the driving force generated by the movement of the first rack 501 to the conversion unit 52 .

[0080] The conversion unit 52 receives the driving force generated by the movement of the first rack 501 from the transmission unit 51 and converts it into a driving force that changes the attitude of the feed tray 20 .

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second rack 502 is formed to extend from the second cursor 41 to one width direction side I of the sheet S (the other width direction side J).

[0082] The second rack 502 is movable while being connected to the second cursor 41. The first rack 501 and the second rack are disposed parallel to each other.

[0083] The second rack 502 is movable so as to approach one widthwise side I (other widthwise side J) of the sheet S. The second rack 502 is movable so as to move away from one widthwise side I (other widthwise side J) of the sheet S.

[0084] The first rack 501 and the second rack 502 are linked to each other by the pinion gear 510 of the transmission unit 51, so that they can move synchronously toward each other.

[0085] The first rack 501 and the second rack 502 are linked to the pinion gear 510 of the transmission unit 51, and are thereby able to move synchronously away from each other.

[0086] The transmission unit 51 transmits the driving force generated by the movement of the second rack 502 .

[0087] The conversion unit 52 converts the driving force generated by the movement of the second rack 502 into a driving force that changes the attitude of the feed tray 20 .

[0088] According to this embodiment, the operator moves the restriction unit 4 (the first cursor 40 or the second cursor 41), whereby the rack 50 (the first rack 501 and the second rack 502) moves.

[0089] As the rack 50 moves, the transmission unit 51 transmits to the conversion unit 52 the driving force generated by the movement of the rack 50 (the first rack 501 and the second rack 502).

[0090] As the rack 50 (first rack 501 and second rack 502) moves, the transmission unit 51 (pinion gear 510) and the intermediate gear 512 may transmit the driving force generated by the movement of the rack 50 (first rack 501 and second rack 502) to the conversion unit 52.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 4, the conversion unit 52 converts the transmission direction of the driving force generated by the movement of the rack 50 (the first rack 501 and the second rack 502) into the vertical direction K.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 5, the conversion portion 52 (the second bevel tooth 5200 of the second bevel gear 520) meshes with the continuous tooth portion 60 of the housing 6, thereby allowing the orientation of the feed tray 20 relative to the discharge tray 3 to be moved up and down in the direction of the double arrow M.

[0093] Therefore, the operator can easily move the feed tray 20 up and down in the direction of the double arrow M relative to the discharge tray 3.

[0094] Next, the first rack 501 has a first series of teeth 5010 .

[0095] A first continuous set of teeth 5010 is formed on the surface of the first rack 501 facing the second rack 502 .

[0096] The second rack 502 has second consecutive teeth 5020 .

[0097] A second continuous set of teeth 5020 is formed on the surface of the second rack 502 facing the first rack 501 .

[0098] The transmission unit 51 has a pinion gear 510 .

[0099] The pinion gear 510 has a third series of teeth 5100 .

[0100] The pinion gear 510 has a circumferential surface formed with third continuous teeth 5100 .

[0101] The third continuous tines 5100 mesh with the first continuous tines 5010 and the second continuous tines 5020 .

[0102] That is, the third consecutive teeth 5100 mesh with the first consecutive teeth 5010. The third consecutive teeth 5100 mesh with the second consecutive teeth 5020.

[0103] According to this embodiment, as an example, when an operator operates the first cursor 40 to move the first cursor 40 in the width direction E (one side I in the width direction) of the sheet S, the first rack 501 moves in the width direction E (one side I in the width direction) of the sheet S.

[0104] Specifically, the movement of the first rack 501 in the width direction E (one side I in the width direction) of the sheet S is transmitted to the second rack 502 by the transmission unit 51 (pinion gear 510).

[0105] The second rack 502 moves in the opposite direction to the first rack 501 (the other widthwise side J).

[0106] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the operator moves the first cursor 40 in the width direction E (one width direction side I) of the sheet S to match the width H of the sheet S, the second cursor 41 moves in conjunction with the first cursor 40 via the transmission unit 51 in the width direction E of the sheet S (the other width direction side J opposite to the one width direction side I).

[0107] Therefore, both side edges (widthwise end F and widthwise end G) of the sheet S can be regulated by the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41.

[0108] Furthermore, the attitude of the feed tray 20 with respect to the discharge tray 3 can be controlled in accordance with the movement of the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 .

[0109] The driving force generated by the movement of the first cursor 40 and the first rack 501 to one widthwise side I of the sheet S due to operation by the operator is transmitted from the first continuous tooth 5010 of the first rack 501 to the third continuous tooth 5100 of the pinion gear 510, and further transmitted from the third continuous tooth 5100 of the pinion gear 510 to the second continuous tooth 5020 of the second rack 502.

[0110] Through the above operation, the transmission unit 51 transmits the movements of the first cursor 40 and the first rack 501 to the second cursor 41 and the second rack 502.

[0111] As the width between the first cursor 40 and the second cursor 41 becomes smaller, the posture control unit 5 controls the posture of the feed tray 20 in a direction in which the feed tray 20 moves away from the discharge tray 3 (the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 1).

[0112] According to this embodiment, as the size of the sheet S becomes smaller, the feed tray 20 moves away from the discharge tray 3 (the opening angle becomes larger). Therefore, the operator can easily take out the small-sized sheet S from the discharge tray 3.

[0113] The transmission part 51 further includes a first bevel gear 511 .

[0114] The first bevel gear 511 has a tapered surface on which first bevel teeth 5110 are formed.

[0115] The first bevel gear 511 is connected to the pinion gear 510 .

[0116] The first bevel tooth 5110 of the first bevel gear 511 meshes with the third continuous tooth 5100 of the pinion gear 510 .

[0117] The first bevel gear 511 may be connected to the pinion gear 510 via an intermediate gear 512 .

[0118] 3, a continuous tooth portion (not shown) may be formed on the circumferential surface of the intermediate gear 512. A plurality of intermediate gears 512 may be arranged to interlock with one another. The continuous teeth of the multiple intermediate gears 512 may mesh with each other to transmit the driving force of the rack 50 to the conversion portion 52.

[0119] The conversion portion 52 has a second bevel gear 520 .

[0120] The second bevel gear 520 is formed on the tapered surface of the second bevel gear 520 .

[0121] The rotation of the first bevel gear 511 is transmitted to the second bevel gear 520 .

[0122] That is, the first bevel teeth 5110 of the first bevel gear 511 mesh with the second bevel teeth 5200 of the second bevel gear 520 .

[0123] The driving force generated by the rotation of the first bevel gear 511 is transmitted to the second bevel gear 520 .

[0124] The rotation axis of the pinion gear 510 and the rotation axis of the second bevel gear 520 are perpendicular to each other.

[0125] The taper angle of the tapered surface on which the first bevel teeth 5110 of the first bevel gear 511 are formed is, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the rotation axis of the first bevel gear 511.

[0126] The taper angle of the tapered surface on which the second bevel teeth 5200 of the second bevel gear 520 are formed is, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the rotation axis of the second bevel gear 520.

[0127] Therefore, when the first bevel teeth 5110 of the first bevel gear 511 and the second bevel teeth 5200 of the second bevel gear 520 mesh with each other, the rotation axis of the first bevel gear 511 and the rotation axis of the second bevel gear 520 are perpendicular to each other.

[0128] According to this embodiment, by combining the pinion gear 510, the first bevel gear 511, and the second bevel gear 520, the feed tray 20 can be suitably moved up and down (in the direction of the double arrow A) relative to the discharge tray 3, as shown in FIG.

[0129] Next, the relationship between the conversion portion 52 and the continuous teeth portion 60 of the housing 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0130] The driving force generated by the rotation of the pinion gear 510 described with reference to FIG. 4 is transmitted to the first bevel gear 511 of the transmission portion 51 via the intermediate gear 512, for example.

[0131] As shown in Figure 5, the first bevel gear 511 of the transmission unit 51 and the second bevel gear 5200 of the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion unit 52 mesh with each other, so that the driving force generated by the rotation of the first bevel gear 511 is transmitted to the second bevel gear 520.

[0132] As described above, the rotation axis of the first bevel gear 511 and the rotation axis of the second bevel gear 520 are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the driving force by the horizontal rotation of the first bevel gear 511 is converted into the vertical rotation of the second bevel gear 520.

[0133] As an example, second bevel teeth 5200 are formed on the tapered surface of the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion portion 52 .

[0134] A continuous tooth portion 60 is formed at a position facing the second bevel gear 520 of the housing 6 .

[0135] The second bevel teeth 5200 of the second bevel gear 520 mesh with the continuous tooth portion 60 .

[0136] Therefore, the second bevel gear 520 rotates clockwise on the paper surface of FIG. 5 (the right-handed direction of the double-headed arrow M).

[0137] Then, due to a reaction force of the meshing between the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion unit 52 and the continuous tooth portion 60 of the housing 6, the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion unit 52 moves in the clockwise direction on the paper of Figure 5 (the rightward rotation direction of the double arrow M).

[0138] 5 (the right-handed direction of the double-headed arrow M), the feeding tray 20 moves upward in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG.

[0139] Similarly, the second bevel gear 520 rotates counterclockwise on the page of FIG. 5 (the left rotation direction of the double-headed arrow M).

[0140] Then, due to a reaction force of the meshing between the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion unit 52 and the continuous tooth portion 60 of the housing 6, the second bevel gear 520 of the conversion unit 52 moves counterclockwise on the paper surface of Figure 5 (the left rotation direction of the double arrow M).

[0141] 5 (the left rotation direction of the double-headed arrow M), the feeding tray 20 moves downward in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG.

[0142] As a result, the feed tray 20 can move up and down around the continuous teeth portion 60 disposed on the housing 6 as the center of rotation.

[0143] The embodiments of the invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings are mainly schematic illustrations of the respective components for ease of understanding, and the number of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual number due to the convenience of drawing. Furthermore, the components shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0144] The present invention can be used in the field of sheet feeding devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0145] 1 Sheet Feeding Device 2 Feeding section 20 Feeding Tray 21 Feeding roller 22 Transport Path 3 Output tray 4. Regulatory Department 40 First Cursor 41 Second Cursor 5 Attitude control unit 50 racks 500 consecutive teeth 501 1st Rack 5010 First quadrant 502 2nd Rack 5020 Second consecutive tooth 51 Transmission section 510 Pinion Gear 5100 3rd set of teeth 511 First bevel gear 5110 First bevel tooth 52 Conversion section 520 2nd bevel gear 5200 2nd bevel tooth 6. Chassis 60 Continuous teeth

Claims

1. A feed tray for storing sheets; A feed roller for feeding the sheet; a conveying path along which the sheet is conveyed by the feeding roller; a discharge tray formed below the feed tray and configured to receive the sheet fed to the conveying path by the feed tray and then discharged from the conveying path; a regulating portion that is movable in a width direction of the sheets stored in the feed tray and that regulates width direction ends of the sheets stored in the feed tray; a posture control unit that changes a posture of the feed tray in accordance with the movement of the regulating unit in the width direction; A sheet feeding device comprising:

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the posture control unit controls the posture of the feed tray in a direction away from the discharge tray as the width of the sheet, the width direction end of which is regulated by the regulating unit, becomes smaller.

3. The regulating portion is a first cursor for restricting one end of the sheet in the width direction; a second cursor for restricting the other end of the sheet in the width direction; having The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the attitude control unit changes the attitude of the feeding tray in accordance with movements of the first cursor and the second cursor in the width direction.

4. a housing for covering a part of the feed tray and a part of the discharge tray, The attitude control unit is a first rack that is formed to extend from the first cursor toward one side in the width direction of the sheet and is connected to the first cursor and is movable; a transmission unit that transmits a driving force generated by the movement of the first rack; a conversion unit that converts the driving force into a driving force that changes the posture of the feed tray; The sheet feeding apparatus of claim 3 .

5. The attitude control unit is a second rack that is connected to the second cursor and movable along the other width direction of the sheet, the second rack being formed to extend from the second cursor; the first rack has a first series of teeth; the second rack has a second series of teeth; The sheet feeding device according to claim 4 , wherein the transmission portion includes a pinion gear having a third continuous set of teeth that meshes with the first continuous set of teeth and the second continuous set of teeth.

6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 4 , wherein the attitude control unit controls the attitude of the feed tray in a direction in which the feed tray moves away from the discharge tray as the width between the first cursor and the second cursor becomes smaller.

7. The transmission unit further includes a first bevel gear connected to the pinion gear, the conversion unit has a second bevel gear to which rotation of the first bevel gear is transmitted, The sheet feeding device according to claim 5 , wherein a rotation axis of the pinion gear and a rotation axis of the second bevel gear are perpendicular to each other.

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