Sheet feeding device and image forming device

Abstract

To restrict a degree of freedom in arranging a shuffling-air blowing fan and prevent a sheet feeding device from enlarging in size.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device is provided with: a first blowing port for blowing shuffling air to a sheet, formed in a side regulating part for regulating a position in a sheet width direction; a second blowing port for blowing shuffling air to the sheet, formed closer to an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction than the first blowing port of the side regulating part; a shuffling-air blowing fan for supplying shuffling air to the first and second blowing ports, whose blowing ports are formed closer to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction than the first blowing port of the sheet feeding part; a first duct through which the shuffling air is blown from the blowing port to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, toward the first blowing port; and a second duct through which the shuffling air is blown to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, toward the second blowing port, after the shuffling air is blown from the blowing port toward the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction. An image forming device is used together with the sheet feeding device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable of blowing handling air to a stack of sheets for handling the stack of sheets. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles have come to be popularized as colored and high-image-quality devices. Users of image forming apparatuses used in offices are also demanding print products with higher image quality and higher resolution.

[0003] Generally, the paper used in office image forming devices is often plain paper or recycled paper. However, there is a limit to how well plain paper can produce the required beautiful and attractive output. Therefore, in order to produce more beautiful and attractive output, special paper such as coated paper and thick paper is becoming more and more desirable.

[0004] Conventionally, in order to feed special paper in image forming apparatuses, manual feed devices attached to the side walls of the image forming apparatus have been used. This is because the manual feed device can be used for paper sizes that cannot be set in the cassette feed device inside the image forming apparatus (long paper, non-standard size paper, small size paper) and high-rigidity thick paper that has a large transport resistance and cannot be transported unless the transport path is straight.

[0005] Furthermore, it is recommended that only one sheet of coated paper be placed in the feeding tray. This is to prevent the sheets of coated paper from sticking to each other and ensure reliable feeding, but this can result in problems such as reduced productivity.

[0006] Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration for feeding such coated paper, in which loosening air is blown onto the side edges of a sheet stack to reduce sticking between sheets. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a loosening air blowing fan and a loosening air outlet generated by the loosening air blowing fan are provided on a side regulating plate that regulates the position of the sheets in the width direction, so that loosening air is blown onto the side edges of the sheets to eliminate sticking between the sheets. By using such a configuration, it becomes possible to set multiple sheets of special paper and feed them continuously even from a manual feed device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-256819 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] When providing two air outlets for blowing separating air to the side edges of the sheets, one on the upstream side and one on the downstream side of the side regulating plate in the sheet transport direction, the air directions from each air outlet must be aligned in order to blow separating air to the side edges of the sheet stack and separate the sheet stack so that it can be fed appropriately.

[0009] However, to achieve this, the separating air blowing fans must be disposed upstream of the respective blowing ports in the sheet conveying direction, which causes problems such as a significant restriction in the degree of freedom of placement and an increase in the size of the device.

[0010] In particular, when providing a separation air blowing fan on each side of a side regulating plate, if one attempts to position the separation air blowing fans so that they do not interfere with each other due to movement of the side regulating plate, one separation air blowing fan must be positioned further upstream in the sheet transport direction than the air outlet, which further limits the freedom of positioning and leads to an increase in the size of the device.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a sheet feeding device and an image forming device that, even when two air outlets for blowing separating air onto sheets are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the side regulating section in the sheet transport direction, do not significantly limit the freedom of arrangement of the separating air blowing fans or lead to an increase in the size of the device in order to align the air directions from each air outlet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet feeding section capable of feeding a sheet, a side regulating section provided to be movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding section and for regulating a position in the sheet width direction, a first blowing outlet provided in the side regulating section and for blowing loosening air to a sheet placed on the sheet feeding section, a second blowing outlet provided upstream of the first blowing outlet of the side regulating section in the sheet feeding direction and for blowing loosening air to a sheet placed on the sheet feeding section, and a blowing port is provided upstream of the first blowing port in the sheet feeding direction, a separating air blowing fan for supplying separating air to the first blowing port and the second blowing port, a first duct for blowing the separating air from the blowing port toward the first blowing port downstream in the sheet feeding direction, and a second duct for blowing the separating air from the blowing port toward the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and then blowing the separating air downstream in the sheet feeding direction toward the second blowing port. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, even if two air outlets for blowing separating air onto a sheet are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the side regulating section in the sheet transport direction, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding device and an image forming device which avoid significant limitations on the freedom of arrangement of the separating air blowing fans or the enlargement of the device in order to align the air directions from each air outlet. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of a manual feed section according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are top views of the manual feed section showing the open and closed states of the side regulating plate according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the flow of the separation air from the separation air blowing fan to the air outlet according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and various conditions such as the configuration, function, dimensions, materials, shape, and relative arrangement of the device to which the present invention is applied can be appropriately modified or changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and are not limited to the following embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] In Fig. 1, 200 denotes an image forming apparatus, which is a tandem type intermediate transfer type laser beam printer that utilizes an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 200 can form and output a full-color or monochrome image corresponding to print image data output from a host device 900 connected to a control unit 100 shown in Fig. 2, which will be described later, on a sheet S, which is a recording medium.

[0018] Reference numeral 201 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, and reference numeral 202 denotes an image reading device installed approximately horizontally above the image forming apparatus main body 201. Between this image reading device 202 and the image forming apparatus main body 201, an ejection space V for ejecting sheets is formed.

[0019] Reference numeral 230 denotes a cassette feeding section serving as a sheet feeding section that feeds sheets S from a feeding cassette 1 that is a sheet storage means for storing sheets S. The cassette feeding section 230 includes a pickup roller 2 that is a sheet feeding means, and a separation section that includes a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 for separating the sheets S sent out from the pickup roller 2.

[0020] Also, reference numeral 235 denotes a manual feed unit serving as a sheet feed unit capable of feeding a manually-fed sheet S from a manual feed tray 5 serving as a means for placing a sheet S. Similarly to the cassette feed unit 230, the manual feed unit 235 includes a pickup roller 502 serving as a sheet feeding means, and a separation unit including a feed roller 503 and a retard roller 504 for separating the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 502.

[0021] 201A is an image forming unit which is an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and is a four-drum full-color type. The image forming unit 201A is equipped with a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K which form toner images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Here, each of the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K is equipped with a photosensitive drum 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, a charger 213Y, 213M, 213C, and 213K which is a charging means, and a developer 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K which is a developing means. The image forming unit 201A also includes a secondary transfer unit 201D and a fixing unit 201E disposed above the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K. Reference numeral 215 denotes a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing devices 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, respectively.

[0022] A transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b is disposed above the photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K. Primary transfer rollers 219Y, 219M, 219C, and 219K are disposed inside the transfer belt 216 and contact the transfer belt 216 at positions facing the photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, respectively, forming a primary transfer section. The transfer belt 216 is rotated in the direction of arrow H by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive section (not shown). A secondary transfer roller 217 that transfers a color image formed on the transfer belt 216 to a sheet S is disposed at a position facing the drive roller 216a, forming a secondary transfer section 201D.

[0023] Furthermore, a fixing section 201E is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-sided reversing section 201F are disposed at the upper left of the fixing section 201E. The double-sided reversing section 201F is provided with a reversible roller pair 222 and a re-conveying path R for conveying the sheet S, on one side of which an image has been formed, again to the image forming section 201A.

[0024] An input display device 730 for receiving operations from a user is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 201. The input display device 730 is of a touch panel type that is capable of not only displaying but also inputting information.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram for controlling the image forming apparatus of FIG.

[0026] 2, the control unit 100 is a control circuit that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 200, and transmits and receives information to and from the host device 900 and the input display device 730. The control unit 100 also performs signal processing and sequence control for various process devices. Here, the host device 900 is a personal computer, an image scanner, a facsimile machine, or the like.

[0027] The control unit 100 also transmits and receives information to and from a storage unit 101 that is configured from a RAM and a ROM. The storage unit 101 stores various control programs and the like.

[0028] The control unit 100 is also connected to a separating air blowing fan, which will be described later, for separating the sheet stack stacked on the manual feed unit 235 with air, and controls the separating air blowing fan.

[0029] Furthermore, the control unit 100 is connected to a sheet detection sensor 505 (described later) for detecting a sheet placed on the manual feed unit 235 .

[0030] Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described.

[0031] 1 and 2, first, in the image forming apparatus 200, when the control unit 100 receives image data of an original to be printed from the host device 900, the image information is subjected to image processing and then transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201A. In the image forming unit 201A, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, the surfaces of which are uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the chargers 213Y, 213M, 213C, and 213K, are sequentially exposed by the laser scanner 210. As a result, electrostatic latent images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially formed on the photoconductor drums Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K of the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K, respectively.

[0032] Thereafter, the electrostatic latent images are developed and visualized with toners of the respective colors by the developers 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, and the toner images of the respective colors on the photoconductor drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K are transferred in sequence onto the transfer belt 216 in a superimposed manner by a primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer rollers 219Y, 219M, 219C, and 2129. As a result, a toner image is formed on the transfer belt 216.

[0033] In parallel with this toner image forming operation, the sheets S are conveyed one by one by the cassette feeding unit 230 or the manual feeding unit 235 to the pair of registration rollers 240, and skew is corrected by the pair of registration rollers 240. After skew is corrected, the sheets S are conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 201D by the pair of registration rollers 240, and in the secondary transfer unit 201D, the toner images on the transfer belt 216 are transferred all at once onto the sheets S by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217.

[0034] Then, the sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing section 201E, where the toner of each color melts and mixes with heat and pressure in the roller nip portion formed by the pressure roller 220a and the heating roller 220b, and is fixed onto the sheet S as a color image.

[0035] The sheet S with the image fixed thereon is discharged to the discharge space V by a first discharge roller pair 225a and a second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing section 201E, and is loaded onto a discharge tray 223 protruding from the bottom surface of the discharge space V.

[0036] When images are formed on both sides of the sheet S, after the images are fixed in the fixing section 201E, the sheet S is transported to a re-transport path R by a pair of reversing rollers 222 and transported again to the image forming section 201A.

[0037] Next, the manual feed section 235 having the separating air blowing section will be described.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a top view of the manual feed section 235. FIG.

[0039] In FIG. 3, the manual feed section 235 includes a manual feed tray 5 which is a means for placing sheets as described above, a pickup roller 502 which is a sheet feeding means, and a separation section which includes a feed roller 503 for separating the sheet S sent out from the pickup roller 502 and the retard roller 504 shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] The manual feed tray 5 is provided with side regulating plates 14a and 14b as side regulating portions that regulate the position of the sheet in a sheet width direction X perpendicular to an arrow Y indicating the sheet feeding direction with respect to the sheet placement surface.

[0041] The side regulating plates 14a, 14b are respectively fitted with separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b so as to be movable together with the side regulating plates 14a, 14b, and are capable of blowing separating air A1, A2, A3, A4 onto the sides of the stacked sheets S via separating air blowing sections 16a, 17a, 16b, 17b. By blowing separating air from the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b toward the ends of the sheets as in the flow lines A1, A2, A3, A4, the separating air enters the gaps in the sheet stack, causing the upper sheets in the sheet stack to float, thereby reducing the adhesive force between the sheets.

[0042] When the start button on the input display device 730 is pressed, sheet feeding is started. If the sheet to be fed is a coated sheet, the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b attached to the side regulating plates 14a, 14b are operated before the sheet feeding is started, and separating air is blown to the end of the sheet in the width direction via the separating air blowing units 16a, 17a, 16b, 17b. Then, after a predetermined time, the pickup roller 502 rotates, and the sheet S, which is the top coated sheet in a state in which the adhesive force between the coated sheets is reduced, is sent to a separation unit consisting of the feed roller 503 and the retard roller 504 shown in FIG. 1, and the leading edge of the separated sheet S is detected by the sheet detection sensor 505 and sent to the registration roller pair 240 by the conveying roller pair 506.

[0043] As described above, the subsequent operation is such that the toner image is transferred to the sheet S at the secondary transfer section 201D at a timed interval. Then, the toner image is fixed to the sheet S at the fixing section 201E, and the sheet S is discharged onto the discharge tray 223 by the first discharge roller pair 225a.

[0044] On the other hand, when forming a double-sided image, the sheet is inverted in the double-sided inversion section 201F and transported again to the pair of registration rollers 240 via the re-transport path R. Thereafter, the toner image is transferred and fixed in the same manner as for the first side, and the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 223, completing a series of image formation processes.

[0045] Fig. 4 is a top view of the manual feed section 235 showing the open and closed states of the side regulating plate, Fig. 4(A) shows the side regulating plate in an open state corresponding to the maximum size width of the sheet to be placed, and Fig. 4(B) shows the side regulating plate in a closed state corresponding to the minimum size width of the sheet to be placed. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the flow of the separating air from the separating air blowing fan to the connecting duct and the air outlet.

[0046] 4, the side regulating plates 14a and 14b are supported by a slide shaft (not shown) as a side regulating plate guide portion so as to be movable in a sheet width direction X perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction Y with respect to the manual feeding tray 5. In addition, by operating the side regulating plate 14a that regulates one position in the sheet width direction X by a rack and pinion gear (not shown), the side regulating plate 14b that regulates the other position in the sheet width direction X is interlocked, and the distance between the side regulating plates 14a and 14b can be changed.

[0047] In FIG. 5, the side regulating plates 14a, 14b each have two separating air blowing sections 16a, 17a, and 16b, 17b, which are arranged to accommodate sheets of different sizes. In order to accommodate sheets of different sizes, first air outlets 19a, 19b (not shown) are arranged upstream of about half of the A3 size in the sheet feeding direction, and second air outlets 20a, 20b (not shown) are arranged upstream of about a quarter of the A3 size in the sheet feeding direction, at positions away from each other in the sheet feeding direction, and separating air is blown toward the sheet ends from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction Y.

[0048] The separating air blowing sections 16a, 17a are provided with a first regulating plate duct 21a connected to the first outlet 19a and a second regulating plate duct 22a connected to the second outlet, and the first regulating plate duct 21a has a first opening 23a provided on the sheet stacking surface 5a upstream of the first outlet 19a in the sheet feeding direction, and the second regulating plate duct 22a has a second opening 24a provided on the sheet stacking surface 5a upstream of the second outlet 20a in the sheet feeding direction.

[0049] 4 and 5, the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are provided inside the housing of the manual feed tray 5 below the sheet stacking surface 5a which is the sheet placement position of the manual feed tray 5, and are equipped with a sirocco fan which has a comparatively large air volume, is quiet and has good durability, and are arranged sideways to save space due to the shape and outlet configuration of the sirocco fan. The separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are held by a fan holding base (not shown), and are supported movably on slide shafts 18a, 18b which serve as separating air blowing fan guides extending in the sheet width direction X of the manual feed tray 5, and move together with the movement of the side regulating plates 4a, 14b, respectively.

[0050] The separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are disposed between the side regulating plates 14a, 14b at a position of the side regulating plates 14a, 14b corresponding to the maximum sheet size width shown in FIG. 4(a), and at a position of the side regulating plates 14a, 14b corresponding to the minimum sheet size width shown in FIG. 4(b), the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are disposed between the side regulating plates 14a, 14b at positions shifted upstream and downstream with respect to the sheet feeding direction Y so that the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b do not interfere with each other.

[0051] Furthermore, at least a part of the separating air blowing fan 15a is disposed between the first outlet 19a and the second outlet 20a. Moreover, at least a part of the separating air blowing fan 15a is not disposed upstream of the first outlet 19a in the sheet feeding direction.

[0052] 5, a connecting duct 25 is provided between the separation air blowing fan 15a and the first outlet 19a and second outlet 20a. The separation air blowing fan 15a and the first outlet 19a and second outlet 20a are connected via the connecting duct 25, and this connecting duct 25 forms an air passage for sending the separation air blown from the separation air blowing fan 15a to the first outlet 19a and second outlet 20a.

[0053] The connecting duct 25 forms two air passages, a first connecting duct 26a and a second connecting duct 27a, which are divided into two parts, with an opening connected to the air outlet of the separating air blowing fan 15a perpendicular to the rotation axis of the separating air blowing fan and approximately parallel to the sheet stacking surface 5a of the manual feed tray 5. The first connecting duct 26a communicates with the first restricting plate duct 21a through a first opening 23a, and the second connecting duct 27a communicates with the second opening 24a, which is provided in the second restricting plate duct 22a.

[0054] 5 and 6, the flow of the separating air by the separating air blowing fan 15a will be described. When a sheet such as coated paper is set and the paper feeding operation is started, the separating air blowing fan 15a starts rotating. The separating air blowing fan 15a takes in outside air from an air intake port (not shown) provided on the exterior part 5b of the manual feed tray 5 as shown by the flow line E1, and sends the air from the air outlet of the separating air blowing fan 15a to the connecting duct 25.

[0055] Since the connecting duct 25 has an opening connected to the blowing port of the separating air blowing fan 15a, which is divided into two, the blowing separating air is branched into a first connecting duct 26a connected to the first blowing port 19a and a second connecting duct 27a connected to the second blowing port 20a. At least a part of the separating air blowing fan 15a is disposed between the first blowing port 19a and the second blowing port 20a, and since the first opening 23a is located upstream in the sheet feeding direction and the second opening 24a is located downstream in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the blowing port of the separating air blowing fan 15a, the separating air branched into the first connecting duct 26a flows upstream in the sheet feeding direction as shown by the flow line D1, and the separating air branched into the second connecting duct 27 flows downstream in the opposite sheet feeding direction as shown by the flow line D2. In this way, the separating air flows in the opposite directions to the upstream and downstream in the sheet feeding direction, but since it is divided into two by the opening connected to the blower port of the separating air blowing fan 15a, the separating air does not interfere with each other and loss is small.

[0056] The separating air that branches off and flows upstream in the sheet feeding direction through the first connecting duct 26a as shown by flow line D1 flows toward the first opening 23a as shown by flow line C1, and the separating air that branches off and flows downstream in the sheet feeding direction through the second connecting duct 27a as shown by flow line D2 flows toward the second opening 24a as shown by flow line C2. Each separating air then proceeds downstream in the sheet feeding direction through the first regulating plate duct 21a and the second regulating plate duct 22a as shown by flow lines B1 and B2, and is blown from the first blowing outlet 19a and the second blowing outlet 20a toward the edge of the placed sheet S, both downstream in the sheet feeding direction, as shown by flow lines A1 and A2.

[0057] As described above, even if at least a part of the separating air blowing fan 15a is disposed between the first outlet 19a and the second outlet 20a, the separating air branched from the outlet of the separating air blowing fan 15a and sent to the first outlet 19a is once sent upstream in the sheet feeding direction by the first connecting duct 26a, and then sent downstream in the sheet feeding direction like the separating air sent to the second outlet 20a. Therefore, regardless of the arrangement of the separating air blowing fan, separating air can be blown toward the sheets S from both outlets toward the downstream in the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, even if two air outlets for blowing separating air to the sheets are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the side regulating section in the sheet feeding direction, it is not necessary to arrange the air outlet of the separating air blowing fan upstream of the air outlets in the sheet feeding direction in order to align the air direction from each air outlet to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and this avoids significant restrictions on the freedom of arrangement and an increase in the size of the device.

[0058] 5 and 6, the separating air blowing fan 15a has been described, but as for the separating air blowing fan 15b, since the separating air blowing fan 15a prevents the size from becoming large, the separating air blowing fan 15b will not become large even if it is disposed upstream of the separating air blowing fan 15a in the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, for the separating air blowing fan 15b, the blowing port of the separating air blowing fan 15b is disposed upstream of the two blowing ports in the sheet feeding direction, and both of the blowing ports have a duct configuration that blows separating air directly downstream in the sheet feeding direction like the above-mentioned second connecting duct 27a.

[0059] However, depending on a desired arrangement, the duct for blowing air from the outlet on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction out of the two outlets of the separation air blowing fan 15b may be configured similarly to the above-mentioned first connecting duct 26a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 5. Manual feed tray 14a, 14b...Side control plate 15a, 15b...Air blowing fan 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b...Air blowing section 18a...Slide shaft 18b...Slide shaft 19a…First air outlet 20a…Second air outlet 21a…First restricting plate duct 22a…Second restrictor plate duct 23a...first opening 24a…Second opening 25…Connecting duct 26a…First connecting duct 27a…Second connecting duct 100...Control unit 200...Image forming apparatus 235...Manual feed section S…Seat

Claims

1. a sheet feeding section capable of feeding a sheet; a side regulating portion that is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion and that regulates a position in the sheet width direction; a first blowing port provided in the side regulating portion for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a second blowing outlet provided upstream of the first blowing outlet of the side regulating portion in a sheet feeding direction, for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a blowing fan having an air outlet provided upstream of the first blowing outlet in a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding unit, the blowing fan supplying blowing air to the first blowing outlet and the second blowing outlet; a first duct for blowing the cleaning air from the air blowing port toward the first blowing port downstream in a sheet feeding direction; a second duct for blowing the cleaning air from the air blowing port toward an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction, and then blowing the cleaning air toward the second blowing port toward a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; A sheet feeding device comprising:

2. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the separation air blowing fan is provided inside a housing below a sheet placement position of the sheet feeding section.

3. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the separating air blowing fan is movable together with the side regulating portion.

4. 2 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the separation air blowing fan is not disposed upstream of the second blowing outlet in the sheet feeding direction.

5. 2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding section is a manual feeding section.

6. a sheet feeding section capable of feeding a sheet; a first side regulating portion that is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion and that regulates one side position in the sheet width direction; a second side regulating portion that is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion and that regulates the other position in the sheet width direction; a first blowing port provided in the first side regulating portion for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a second blowing outlet provided upstream of the first blowing outlet of the first side regulating portion in a sheet feeding direction, for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a third blowing port provided in the second side regulating portion for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a fourth blowing outlet provided upstream of the third blowing outlet of the second side regulating portion in a sheet feeding direction, for blowing loosening air to the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a first blowing air blowing fan that is provided with an air outlet on an upstream side of the first blowing outlet of the sheet feeding section in a sheet feeding direction and that supplies blowing air to the first blowing outlet and the second blowing outlet; a second separation air blowing fan disposed upstream of the first separation air blowing fan in the sheet feeding direction, the second separation air blowing fan having an air outlet provided upstream of the third air outlet of the sheet feeding section in the sheet feeding direction, for supplying separation air to the third air outlet and the fourth air outlet; a first duct for blowing the cleaning air from an air outlet of the first cleaning air blowing fan toward the first outlet downstream in a sheet feeding direction; a second duct for blowing the cleaning air from an air outlet of the first cleaning air blowing fan toward an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction, and then blowing the cleaning air toward the second blowing outlet toward a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a third duct for blowing the separation air from a blowing port of the second separation air blowing fan toward the third blowing port downstream in a sheet feeding direction; a fourth duct for blowing the separation air from a blowing port of the second separation air blowing fan toward the fourth blowing port downstream in a sheet feeding direction; A sheet feeding device comprising:

7. 7. The sheet feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the first separating air blowing fan is movable together with the first side regulating portion, and the second separating air blowing fan is movable together with the second side regulating portion.

8. 7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sheet feeding section is a manual feeding section.

9. a sheet feeding section capable of feeding a sheet; a first side regulating portion that is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion and that regulates one side position in the sheet width direction; a second side regulating portion that is movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion and that regulates the other position in the sheet width direction; a first blowing port provided in the first side regulating portion for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a second blowing outlet provided upstream of the first blowing outlet of the first side regulating portion in a sheet feeding direction, for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a third blowing port provided in the second side regulating portion for blowing loosening air onto the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a fourth blowing outlet provided upstream of the third blowing outlet of the second side regulating portion in a sheet feeding direction, for blowing loosening air to the sheets placed on the sheet feeding portion; a first blowing air blowing fan that is provided with an air outlet on an upstream side of the first blowing outlet of the sheet feeding section in a sheet feeding direction and that supplies blowing air to the first blowing outlet and the second blowing outlet; a second separation air blowing fan disposed upstream of the first separation air blowing fan in the sheet feeding direction, the second separation air blowing fan having an air outlet provided upstream of the third air outlet of the sheet feeding section in the sheet feeding direction, for supplying separation air to the third air outlet and the fourth air outlet; a first duct for blowing the cleaning air from an air outlet of the first cleaning air blowing fan toward the first outlet downstream in a sheet feeding direction; a second duct for blowing the cleaning air from an air outlet of the first cleaning air blowing fan toward an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction, and then blowing the cleaning air toward the second blowing outlet toward a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a third duct for blowing the separation air from a blowing port of the second separation air blowing fan toward the third blowing port; a fourth duct for blowing the cleaning air from a blowing port of the second cleaning air blowing fan toward an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction, and then blowing the cleaning air toward a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction toward the fourth blowing port; A sheet feeding device comprising:

10. 9. The sheet feeding device according to claim 8, wherein the first separating air blowing fan is movable together with the first side regulating portion, and the second separating air blowing fan is movable together with the second side regulating portion.

11. 11. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sheet feeding section is a manual feeding section.

12. an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , which is capable of feeding a sheet to the image forming unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images