Sheet feeding device

Abstract

To provide a sheet feeding device capable of suppressing deterioration in image quality.SOLUTION: The sheet feeding device incudes a first roller, a pressure member, a bearing and an elastic member. The first roller feeds a sheet to a conveying path. The pressure member is disposed on the opposite side of the first roller across the conveying path and forms a nip between the first roller and the pressure member to apply pressure to the nip. The bearing supports a rotation shaft of the first roller. The conveying direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first direction, and a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the nip is defined as a second direction. The elastic member applies an elastic force in the first direction to the bearing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sheet feeding device.

Background Art

[0002] A sheet feeding device supplies a sheet to an image forming unit. There is a need for a sheet feeding device that can suppress a decrease in the quality of an image formed by the image forming unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that can suppress a decrease in image quality.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The sheet feeding device according to the embodiment includes a first roller, a pressing member, a bearing, and an elastic member. The first roller supplies a sheet to a conveyance path. The pressing member is disposed on the opposite side of the first roller across the conveyance path, forms a nip with the first roller, and presses the nip. The bearing supports the rotation shaft of the first roller. Let the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip be the first direction, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction and the nip be the second direction. The elastic member applies an elastic force in the first direction to the bearing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 is arranged in a workplace such as an office.

[0008] In the present application, the Z direction, X direction, and Y direction in the orthogonal coordinate system are defined as follows. The Z direction is the vertical direction, and the +Z side is the upper side. The X direction and Y direction are the horizontal directions. The X direction is the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and the +X side is the left side toward the image forming apparatus 1. The Y direction is the front-rear direction of the image forming apparatus 1, and the +Y side is the front side.

[0009] The image forming apparatus 1 performs a process of forming an image on the sheet S. The sheet S may be paper. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet feeding device 30, a conveying unit 5, a reversing unit 9, a paper discharge tray 7, a control panel 8, and a control unit 6.

[0010] The scanner unit 2 reads the image information of the copying object as the light brightness and generates an image signal. The scanner unit 2 outputs the generated image signal to the image forming unit 3. The image forming unit 3 forms a toner image based on an image signal from the scanner unit 2 or from the outside. The toner image is an image formed of toner or other materials. The image forming unit 3 transfers the toner image onto the surface of the sheet S. The image forming unit 3 heats and presses the toner image on the surface of the sheet S to fix the toner image to the sheet S.

[0011] The sheet feeding device 30 supplies the sheets S one by one to the conveying unit 5 in accordance with the timing at which the image forming unit 3 forms the toner image. The sheet feeding device 30 includes a cassette 31 and a paper feeding roller 40. The cassette 31 stores sheets S of a predetermined size and type. The paper feeding roller 40 takes out the sheets S one by one from the cassette 31. The paper feeding roller 40 supplies the taken-out sheets S to the conveying unit 5.

[0012] The conveying unit 5 conveys the sheet S supplied from the sheet feeding device 30 to the image forming unit 3. The conveying unit 5 includes a conveying roller 12 and a registration roller 13. The conveying roller 12 conveys the sheet S supplied from the paper feeding roller 40 to the registration roller 13. The conveying roller 12 abuts the leading edge in the conveying direction of the sheet S against the nip RN of the registration roller 13. The registration roller 13 aligns the position of the leading edge of the sheet S in the conveying direction by bending the sheet S at the nip RN. The registration roller 13 conveys the sheet S in accordance with the timing at which the image forming unit 3 transfers the toner image onto the sheet S.

[0013] The image forming unit 3 will be described. The image forming unit 3 includes a plurality of image forming sections F, a laser scanning unit 16, an intermediate transfer belt 17, a transfer section 18, and a fixing device 19. The image forming unit F includes a photoreceptor drum D, a charger 14, and a developing unit 15. The image forming unit F forms a toner image corresponding to an image signal on the charged photoreceptor drum D. A plurality of image forming units FY, FM, FC, FK form toner images using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners on photoreceptor drums DY, DM, DC, DK respectively.

[0014] The charger 14 charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum D. The developing unit 15 stores a developer containing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. The developing unit 15 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum D to form toner images of each color on the photoreceptor drum D.

[0015] The laser scanning unit 16 scans the charged photoreceptor drum D with a laser beam L to expose the photoreceptor drum D. The laser scanning unit 16 exposes the photoreceptor drums DY, DM, DC, DK of the respective image forming units FY, FM, FC, FK of each color with separate laser beams LY, LM, LC, LK to form electrostatic latent images.

[0016] The toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum D is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17. The transfer unit 18 transfers the toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 onto the surface of the sheet S at the secondary transfer position. The fixing device 19 heats and presses the toner image transferred onto the sheet S to fix the toner image onto the sheet S.

[0017] The reversing unit 9 reverses the sheet S to form an image on the back surface of the sheet S. The reversing unit 9 reverses the front and back of the sheet S discharged from the fixing device 19 by a switchback. The reversing unit 9 conveys the reversed sheet S toward the registration roller 13. The paper discharge tray 7 places the sheet S on which an image has been formed and discharged. The control panel 8 is part of an input unit for the operator to input information for operating the image forming apparatus 1. The control panel 8 is also a display unit for displaying information. The control panel 8 has a touch panel and various hard keys. The control unit 6 controls the operations of each part of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the periphery of the sheet feeding apparatus 30 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet feeding apparatus 30. The sheet feeding apparatus 30 includes a cassette 31, a tray 34, a paper feed roller 40, and a pressing member (separation pad) 35.

[0019] The cassette 31 stores the sheet S. The cassette 31 has a bottom wall on the -Z side and side walls on the ±X sides and ±Y sides. The cassette 31 is in a box shape with the +Z side open. The cassette 31 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 1 by moving in the Y direction.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the tray 34 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape from a steel plate material or the like. The tray 34 is disposed on the +Z side of the bottom wall of the cassette 31. The tray 34 covers approximately the half of the -X side of the bottom wall of the cassette 31. The sheet S can be placed on the surface on the +Z side of the tray 34. The tray 34 has a rotation axis at the end on the +X side. The rotation axis of the tray 34 is parallel to the Y direction. When the tray 34 rotates around the rotation axis, the end on the -X side of the tray 34 moves up and down in the Z direction. The tray 34 is rotated by a motor or the like.

[0021] The paper feed roller 40 is disposed at the end on the -X side of the cassette 31 and on the +Z side. The rotation axis 41 of the paper feed roller 40 is parallel to the Y direction. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main components of the sheet feeding device 30. The rotating shaft 41 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 60. The pair of bearings 60 are arranged at the ±Y side ends of the cassette 31 (see FIG. 3). The rotating shaft 41 is connected to the motor 45 via a drive coupling 42, a clutch 43, and a gear train 44. When the motor 45 is driven, the rotating shaft 41 and the paper feed roller 40 rotate. The paper feed roller 40 is rotationally driven via the clutch 43. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed roller 40 supplies the sheet S placed on the tray 34 to the conveyance path R.

[0022] The pressing member 35 is arranged on the opposite side of the paper feed roller 40 across the conveyance path R of the sheet S. FIG. 5 is a front view of the paper feed roller 40 and the pressing member 35. The pressing member 35 is arranged on the -Z side and -X side of the paper feed roller 40. The pressing member 35 forms a nip N with the paper feed roller 40. The pressing member 35 is biased toward the +Z side by an elastic member such as a coil spring to press the nip N. The pressing member 35 has a pressing surface 36 for pressing the nip N at its +Z side end. The pressing surface 36 is inclined toward the +Z side over the -X side. The pressing surface 36 is a flat surface or a curved surface. When the pressing surface 36 is a curved surface, the central axis of the pressing surface 36 may be on the same side as the rotating shaft 41 of the paper feed roller 40 with respect to the pressing surface 36. The outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 40 and the pressing surface 36 of the pressing member 35 come into contact to form the nip N. The nip N extends in the Y direction.

[0023] In the present application, the T direction, V direction, and Y direction of the orthogonal coordinate system are defined as follows. The T direction (first direction) is the conveyance direction of the sheet S at the nip N. The +T side (first side of the first direction) is the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet S at the nip N. The V direction (second direction) is the direction orthogonal to the T direction and the nip N. The +V side (first side of the second direction) is the direction from the nip N toward the rotating shaft 41 of the paper feed roller 40. The Y direction (third direction) is the same as the Y direction of the XYZ coordinate system and is the direction in which the nip N extends. In the Y direction, the side approaching the center of the sheet feeding device 30 is called the inner side in the Y direction, and the side departing from the center of the sheet feeding device 30 is called the outer side in the Y direction.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, a bundle of sheets S (sheet bundle) is placed on the +Z side surface of the tray 34, and the sheet feeding device 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1. The tray 34 rotates, and the -X side end of the tray 34 rises to the +Z side. The sheet S disposed at the +Z side end of the sheet bundle abuts against the sheet feeding roller 40. The sheet feeding roller 40 rotates and supplies the sheet S to the nip N of the conveyance path R.

[0025] The friction coefficient between the sheet feeding roller 40 and the sheet S shown in FIG. 5 is larger than the friction coefficient between the sheet S and the pressing member 35. When one sheet S is supplied to the nip N, the sheet S is conveyed to the +T side as the sheet feeding roller 40 rotates. The pressing surface 36 of the pressing member 35 relatively slides with respect to the sheet S conveyed through the nip N.

[0026] The friction coefficient between the overlapping sheets S is smaller than the friction coefficient between the sheet S and the pressing member 35. When a plurality of sheets S are overlapped and supplied to the nip N, as the sheet feeding roller 40 rotates, the sheet S disposed on the +V side is conveyed to the +T side. The sheet S disposed on the -V side stays on the pressing surface 36 of the pressing member 35 and relatively slides with respect to the sheet S on the +V side. Thereby, the sheets S are conveyed one by one to the +T side, and double feeding of the sheets S is suppressed.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet feeding device 30 includes a bearing 60 that supports the rotation shaft 41 of the sheet feeding roller 40, and a bearing support portion 50 that supports the bearing 60. The pair of bearings 60 and the bearing support portion 50 are disposed at the ±Y side ends of the cassette 31.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the periphery of the bearing 60. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bearing support portion 50. FIG. 8 is a first perspective view of the bearing 60. FIG. 9 is a second perspective view of the bearing 60. FIG. 10 is a front view of the periphery of the bearing 60. In FIGS. 6 to 8, the -Y side bearing 60a of the pair of bearings 60 and / or its bearing support portion 50 are shown. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the +Y side bearing 60b of the pair of bearings 60 and / or its bearing support portion 50 are shown.

[0029] The bearing 60 is integrally formed of a resin material or the like. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bearing 60 has a first portion 62 and a second portion 67. The second portion 67 is formed in a flat plate shape with the Y direction as the thickness direction. The first portion 62 is disposed on the +T side from the center in the T direction of the second portion 67. The first portion 62 protrudes outward in the Y direction from the second portion 67. Through holes 61 into which the rotating shaft 41 (see FIG. 3) of the paper feed roller 40 is inserted are formed in the first portion 62 and the second portion 67. The through holes 61 penetrate the first portion 62 and the second portion 67 in the Y direction.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 9, the outer surface 63 on the +T side of the first portion 62 is a cylindrical surface. The central axis of the outer surface 63 is the same as the central axis of the through hole 61. The outer surface 64 on the -T side of the first portion 62 is a plane orthogonal to the T direction. A protrusion 65 protruding to the -T side is formed on the outer surface 64 on the -T side. The outer surfaces on the ±V sides of the first portion 62 are planes orthogonal to the V direction. The second portion 67 has a flange portion 68 that protrudes from the outer surface of the first portion 62 in the T direction and the V direction. The flange portion 68 is formed over the entire circumference of the outer surface of the first portion 62.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the bearing support portion 50 is integrally formed with the cassette 31 from a resin material or the like. The bearing support portion 50 may be formed separately from the cassette 31 and attached to the cassette 31. The bearing support portion 50 is formed in a flat plate shape with the Y direction as the thickness direction. The bearing support portion 50 has a support hole 51 in which the first portion 62 of the bearing 60 is accommodated. The support hole 51 penetrates the bearing support portion 50 in the Y direction. The inner surface 53 on the +T side of the support hole 51 is a cylindrical surface. The central axis of the inner surface 53 is parallel to the Y direction. The radius of curvature of the inner surface 53 is equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface 63 of the bearing 60. The inner surface 54 on the -T side of the support hole 51 is a plane orthogonal to the T direction. A protrusion 55 protruding toward the +T side is formed on the inner surface 54 on the -T side. The inner surfaces on the ±V sides of the support hole 51 are planes orthogonal to the V direction.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the first portion 62 of the bearing 60 is inserted into the support hole 51 from the inner side in the Y direction of the bearing support portion 50. As shown in FIG. 10, the length (width) in the V direction of the support hole 51 is equal to the length (width) in the V direction of the first portion 62. The length in the T direction of the support hole 51 is longer than the length in the T direction of the first portion 62. The length in the T direction of the range in which the bearing 60 can move relative to the bearing support portion 50 is longer than the length in the V direction of the said range. The bearing 60 is movable relative to the bearing support portion 50 in the T direction. The flange portion 68 (see FIG. 9) of the second portion 67 of the bearing 60 abuts against the inner surface on the inner side in the Y direction of the bearing support portion 50 at least on both sides in the V direction of the first portion 62. Thereby, the posture of the bearing 60 when the bearing 60 moves relative to the bearing support portion 50 in the T direction is stabilized.

[0033] The sheet feeding device 30 has an elastic member that applies an elastic force in the T direction to the bearing 60. The sheet feeding device 30 has a coil spring 70 as the elastic member. The coil spring 70 is disposed between the outer surface on the -T side of the first portion 62 of the bearing 60 and the inner surface on the -T side of the support hole 51 of the bearing support portion 50. The protrusion 65 of the bearing 60 and the protrusion 55 of the bearing support portion 50 are inserted into the inside of the coil spring 70 from the axial end of the coil spring 70. Thereby, the posture of the coil spring 70 when the coil spring 70 expands and contracts is stabilized. The coil spring 70 is disposed in a compressed state and biases the bearing 60 toward the +T side. The outer surface 63 on the +T side of the first portion 62 is pressed against the inner surface 53 on the +T side of the support hole 51. Both are cylindrical surfaces and are tapered. Therefore, the relative position between the two is accurately realized, and the rotation shaft 41 of the paper feed roller 40 is positioned at a predetermined position.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the pressing member 35 is disposed on the -Z side and the -X side of the paper feed roller 40. The pressing member 35 is biased toward the +Z side by an elastic member such as a coil spring. That is, the pressing member 35 presses the nip N between the +T side and the +V side. A pressing force toward the +T side acts on the paper feed roller 40 from the pressing member 35. This pressing force is transmitted to the bearing 60 shown in FIG. 10 via the rotation shaft 41. The outer surface 63 on the +T side of the bearing 60 is pressed against the inner surface 53 on the +T side of the support hole 51. Thereby, the rotation shaft 41 of the paper feed roller 40 is positioned at a predetermined position.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding roller 40 rotates to convey the sheet S. When the sheet S reaches the conveying roller 12, the control unit 6 (see FIG. 1) disengages the clutch 43 (see FIG. 4) of the sheet feeding roller 40. As a result, the sheet feeding roller 40 idles, and the sheet S is conveyed by the conveying roller 12. The conveying roller 12 pulls the sheet S sandwiched between the nips N shown in FIG. 10 toward the +T side. The sheet S pulls the sheet feeding roller 40, which is pressing itself, toward the +T side. The sheet feeding roller 40 moves toward the +T side, and the rotating shaft 41 of the sheet feeding roller 40 deflects toward the +T side. The flange portion 38 of the second portion 67 protrudes on the +T side of the first portion 62 of the bearing 60. This flange portion 38 abuts against the inner surface of the bearing support portion 50 in the Y direction. Thereby, the posture of the bearing 60 when the rotating shaft 41 of the sheet feeding roller 40 deflects toward the +T side is stabilized.

[0036] When the sheet S is pulled out from the nip N, the sheet feeding roller 40 instantaneously moves toward the -T side. As a result, the deflection of the rotating shaft 41 is eliminated, and the rotating shaft 41 returns to a straight state. When the deflection of the rotating shaft 41 is eliminated, an impact force toward the -T side acts on the bearing 60.

[0037] The bearing 60 of the sheet feeding device 30 of the embodiment is relatively movable in the T direction with respect to the bearing support portion 50. The sheet feeding device 30 has a coil spring 70 that applies an elastic force in the T direction to the bearing 60. The coil spring 70 is disposed between the bearing 60 and the bearing support portion 50 and biases the bearing toward the +T side.

[0038] When an impact force toward the -T side acts on the bearing 60, the bearing 60 moves toward the -T side and compresses the coil spring 70. The coil spring 70 relaxes the impact force acting from the bearing 60 and transmits it to the bearing support portion 50. That is, the impact force acting on the bearing support portion 50 is relaxed.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, a laser scanning unit 16 is disposed adjacent to the +Z side of the sheet feeding device 30. The laser scanning unit 16 scans a laser beam L on a photosensitive drum D (see FIG. 1) to expose the photosensitive drum D. In the embodiment, since the impact force acting on the bearing support portion 50 of the sheet feeding device 30 is alleviated, the positional deviation of the laser beam L of the laser scanning unit 16 is suppressed. Thereby, the decrease in the exposure accuracy of the laser scanning unit 16 is suppressed, and the decrease in the image quality of the image forming apparatus 1 is suppressed.

[0040] As described in detail above, the sheet feeding device 30 of the embodiment includes a paper feed roller 40, a pressing member 35, a bearing 60, and a coil spring 70. The paper feed roller 40 supplies the sheet S to the conveyance path R. The pressing member 35 is disposed on the opposite side of the paper feed roller 40 with the conveyance path R interposed therebetween, forms a nip N with the paper feed roller 40, and presses the nip N. The bearing 60 supports the rotation shaft 41 of the paper feed roller 40. Let the conveyance direction of the sheet S in the nip N be the T direction, and the direction orthogonal to the T direction and the nip N be the V direction. The coil spring 70 applies an elastic force in the T direction to the bearing 60.

[0041] Thereby, when the sheet S is pulled out from the nip N, the impact force acting in the T direction is alleviated. Therefore, the malfunction of the peripheral devices of the sheet feeding device 30 is suppressed, and the decrease in the image quality can be suppressed.

[0042] The pressing member 35 of the embodiment is a separation pad and has a pressing surface 36 that presses the nip N. When only one sheet S is supplied to the nip N and the sheet S is conveyed by the rotation of the paper feed roller 40, the pressing surface 36 slides relative to the sheet S. On the other hand, the pressing member 35 may be a rotatable separation roller. When only one sheet S is supplied to the nip N and the sheet S is conveyed by the rotation of the paper feed roller 40, the separation roller rotates in a driven manner. The outer peripheral surface of the separation roller does not slide relative to the sheet S. When a plurality of sheets S are stacked and supplied to the nip N, the separation roller does not rotate due to the action of the torque limiter. Thereby, the double feeding of the sheet S is suppressed.

[0043] (Appendix 1) A first roller that supplies a sheet to a conveyance path, A pressing member that is disposed on the opposite side of the first roller across the conveyance path, forms a nip with the first roller, and presses the nip, A bearing that supports the rotation shaft of the first roller, When the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first direction and the direction orthogonal to the first direction and the nip is defined as a second direction, an elastic member that applies an elastic force in the first direction to the bearing, and having, A sheet feeding device. (Appendix 2) Further having a bearing support portion that supports the bearing, The length in the first direction within the range in which the bearing is relatively movable with respect to the bearing support portion is longer than the length in the second direction of the range, The sheet feeding device according to Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) When the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first side in the first direction, The elastic member biases the bearing toward the first side in the first direction, The sheet feeding device according to Appendix 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) When the direction from the nip toward the rotation shaft of the first roller is defined as a first side in the second direction, When the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first side in the first direction, The pressing member presses the nip toward the first side in the second direction and the first side in the first direction, The sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) The first roller is rotationally driven via a clutch, The sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) The pressing member has a pressing surface that presses the nip, When only one sheet is supplied to the nip and the sheet is conveyed by the rotation of the first roller, the pressure surface slides relative to the sheet. The sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5. (Appendix 7) It further has a bearing support portion that supports the bearing. The bearing has a first portion and a second portion. When the direction in which the nip extends is defined as the third direction, the first portion is accommodated in a support hole that penetrates the bearing support portion in the third direction. The second portion abuts on the surface of the bearing support portion in the third direction. The sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6. (Appendix 8) The second portion abuts on the surface of the bearing support portion in the third direction at least on both sides of the first portion in the second direction. The sheet feeding device according to Appendix 7. (Appendix 9) When the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as the first side in the first direction, The outer surface of the first portion on the first side in the first direction is a cylindrical surface. The inner surface of the support hole on the first side in the first direction is a cylindrical surface. The sheet feeding device according to Appendix 7 or 8. (Appendix 10) When the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as the first side in the first direction and the opposite side of the first side in the first direction is defined as the second side in the first direction, The elastic member is disposed between the outer surface of the first portion on the second side in the first direction and the inner surface of the support hole on the second side in the first direction. The sheet feeding device according to any one of Appendices 7 to 9.

[0044] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, the bearing 60 has a coil spring 70 that applies an elastic force in the T direction. Thereby, a decrease in image quality can be suppressed.

[0045] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] N... nip, R... conveyance path, S... sheet, 30... sheet supply device, 35... pressure member, 36... pressure surface, 40... paper feed roller (first roller), 41... rotating shaft, 43... clutch, 50... bearing support portion, 51... support hole, 53, 54... inner surface, 60... bearing, 62... first portion, 63, 64... outer surface, 67... second portion, 70... coil spring (elastic member).

Claims

1. A first roller for supplying a sheet to a conveyance path, a pressing member disposed on the opposite side of the first roller across the conveyance path, forming a nip with the first roller, and pressing the nip, a bearing for supporting the rotation axis of the first roller, and an elastic member for applying an elastic force in the first direction to the bearing when the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first direction and a direction orthogonal to the first direction and the nip is defined as a second direction. A sheet feeding device.

2. Further comprising a bearing support portion for supporting the bearing, wherein the length in the first direction within the range in which the bearing is relatively movable with respect to the bearing support portion is longer than the length in the second direction of the range. The sheet feeding device according to Claim 1.

3. When the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first side in the first direction, the elastic member biases the bearing toward the first side in the first direction. The sheet feeding device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. When the direction from the nip toward the rotation axis of the first roller is defined as a first side in the second direction, and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet in the nip is defined as a first side in the first direction, the pressing member presses the nip toward the first side in the second direction and the first side in the first direction. The sheet feeding device according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The first roller is rotationally driven via a clutch. The sheet feeding device according to Claim 1 or 2.

Images