Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a sheet feeding device that is configured so that a shuffling-air blowing fan of a sheet feeding part moves together with a side regulating part, which is prevented from deteriorating in operability in moving the side regulating part.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device is provided with: a shuffling-air blowing port for blowing shuffling air to a sheet arranged on a side regulating part of a sheet feeding part; a shuffling-air blowing fan for supplying shuffling air to the shuffling-air blowing port, which can move together with the side regulating part; a shuffling-air blowing fan-side duct, fixed to the shuffling-air blowing fan, which blows shuffling air supplied from the shuffling-air blowing fan to the shuffling-air blowing port of the side regulating part; and a side regulating part-side duct, fixed to the side regulating part, which is connected to the shuffling-air blowing fan-side duct with a predetermined movable space in order to blow shuffling air from the shuffling-air blowing fan-side duct to the shuffling-air blowing port of the side regulating part. 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 that can blow separating air onto a stack of sheets to separate the stack of sheets. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, color and high-resolution image forming devices using electrophotography, such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, have become widespread. Users are also demanding higher image quality and finer print results from image forming devices used in offices.

[0003] Generally, plain paper or recycled paper is used in office image forming devices. However, plain paper has limitations in terms of achieving the required clean and attractive output. Therefore, special paper such as coated paper and cardboard has become more desirable in order to achieve a cleaner and more attractive output.

[0004] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses have used manual feeders attached to the side walls of the apparatus to feed special paper. This is because manual feeders can be used to handle paper sizes that cannot be loaded into the cassette feeder inside the image forming apparatus (long paper, irregular sizes, small size paper), and high-rigidity thick paper that has high 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 feed tray. This is to prevent the coated papers from sticking together and ensure reliable feeding, but this can lead to 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 loosening air outlets for the loosening air generated by the loosening air blowing fan are provided on the side regulation plates that regulate 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. Using this configuration, it is possible to set multiple sheets of special paper and continuously feed them even from a manual feeder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-256819 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] On the other hand, since the side regulating plates move to regulate the width direction of the stacked sheets, when the separating air blower fan is moved together with the side regulating plates, if a guide member that guides the movement of the separating air blower fan in conjunction with the movement of the side regulating plates is provided separately from the guide member that guides the movement of the side regulating plates, the movement positions of the side regulating plates and the separating air blower fan are regulated by separate guide members, and therefore there is a possibility that the movement positions of the side regulating plates and the separating air blower fan will be misaligned with each other. If the movement positions are misaligned in this way, the side regulating plates will be twisted and bent as they move, and a force will act to restore this deformation, creating a large resistance when the user operates the side regulating plates, resulting in a problem of poor operability.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus in which a separating air blowing fan for blowing separating air onto sheets loaded in a sheet feeding section moves together with a side regulating section that regulates the position of the sheet in the width direction, and in which operability is not impaired when moving the side regulating section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides: a sheet placement section for placing sheets; and a sheet feeding section for feeding the sheets placed on the sheet placement section. a sheet feeding unit; provided in the sheet placing section, a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding section; The sheet is movably provided in the sheet width direction. Regulating the position of Rusa a seat regulating portion provided in the side regulating portion, Placement The sheet placed in the section butchering For blowing air butchering an air outlet; butchering At the air outlet The above-mentioned handling together with the side regulating portion for supplying air in the sheet width direction Movable Handling Air The blower fan and the side regulating portion The aforementioned a side regulating portion guide portion that guides the seat so as to be movable in the seat width direction; Handling Air a blower fan guide portion that guides the blower fan together with the side regulating portion so that the blower fan can move; butchering Air blower N fixed and Handling Air Supplied by a blower fan The above-mentioned handling The air is guided to the side regulating portion. butchering For blowing air to the air outlet Handling Air The blower fan side duct and the side regulating portion are fixed to the Handling Air From the duct on the blower fan side The above-mentioned handling The air is guided to the side regulating portion. butchering To blow air to the air outlet of Side Regulation Department Kutto and, a gap is provided at a connection portion between the separation air blowing fan side duct and the side regulating unit duct, the gap being equal to or larger than a deviation between a movement position of the side regulating unit guided by the side regulating unit guide portion and a movement position of the separation air blowing fan guided by the blowing fan guide portion; It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a sheet feeding device and an image forming device can be provided in which a blower fan for blowing air onto sheets loaded in a sheet feeding section moves together with a side regulating section that regulates the position of the sheets in the width direction, and which does not deteriorate operability when moving the side regulating section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a circuit block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of a manual feed unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are top views of the manual feed section showing the open and closed states of the side regulating plates according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a connection state of the air duct according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 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.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] In Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 is a tandem-intermediate transfer laser beam printer that uses an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 200 can form and output a full-color or monochrome image on a sheet S, which is a recording medium, 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.

[0016] Reference numeral 201 denotes the 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 sheet ejection is formed.

[0017] Reference numeral 230 denotes a cassette feeding unit serving as a sheet feeding unit that feeds sheets S from a feeding cassette 1 that is a sheet storage means for storing sheets S. The cassette feeding unit 230 includes a pickup roller 2 that is a sheet feeding means, and a separation unit that includes a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 for separating the sheets S sent out from the pickup roller 2.

[0018] Further, reference numeral 235 denotes a manual feed unit serving as a sheet feed unit capable of feeding a manual sheet S from a manual feed tray 5 that is a means for placing a sheet S. Similar to the cassette feed unit 230, the manual feed unit 235 includes a pickup roller 502 that is a sheet feeding means, and a separation unit that includes a feed roller 503 and a retard roller 504 for separating the sheet S sent out from the pickup roller 502.

[0019] Reference numeral 201A denotes an image forming unit, which is an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and is a four-drum full-color system. The image forming unit 201A is equipped with a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K that 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, or 212K, a charging device 213Y, 213M, 213C, or 213K, and a developing device 214Y, 214M, 214C, or 214K. The image forming unit 201A also includes a secondary transfer unit 201D and a fixing unit 201E, which are disposed above the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K. Reference numeral 215 denotes a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developing units 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, respectively.

[0020] A transfer belt 216 is disposed above the photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, and is wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. 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 primary transfer sections. 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 is disposed opposite the drive roller 216a and transfers the color image formed on the transfer belt 216 to a sheet S, forming a secondary transfer section 201D.

[0021] Furthermore, a fixing unit 201E is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first pair of discharge rollers 225a, a second pair of discharge rollers 225b, and a double-sided reversing unit 201F are disposed above and to the left of the fixing unit 201E. The double-sided reversing unit 201F is provided with a pair of reversing rollers 222 that can rotate forward and backward, and a re-conveying path R that conveys the sheet S, on one side of which an image has been formed, again to the image forming unit 201A.

[0022] An input display device 730 for receiving operations from a user is provided on the top of the image forming apparatus main body 201. The input display device 730 is a touch panel type that not only displays but also allows for input.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram for controlling the image forming apparatus of FIG.

[0024] 2, the control unit 100 is a control circuit that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 200, and exchanges information with 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, image scanner, facsimile machine, etc.

[0025] The control unit 100 also exchanges information with a storage unit 101 that is configured with RAM and ROM. The storage unit 101 stores various control programs and the like.

[0026] The control unit 100 is also connected to separating air blowing fans 15a and 15b, 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 fans 15a and 15b.

[0027] 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 .

[0028] Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described.

[0029] 1 and 2, in the image forming apparatus 200, the control unit 100 first receives image data of an original to be printed from the host device 900, and then 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 photosensitive drums 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K, the surfaces of which have been 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, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K of the process cartridges 211Y, 211M, 211C, and 211K, respectively.

[0030] Thereafter, this electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized with toner of each color by developing devices 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, and the toner images of each color on each photosensitive drum 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K are transferred in order onto the transfer belt 216, superimposed thereon, by a primary transfer bias applied to primary transfer rollers 219Y, 219M, 219C, and 2129. As a result, a toner image is formed on the transfer belt 216.

[0031] In parallel with this toner image forming operation, sheets S are conveyed one by one by cassette feeding unit 230 or manual feeding unit 235 to registration roller pair 240, and skew is corrected by registration roller pair 240. After skew is corrected, sheet S is conveyed by registration roller pair 240 to secondary transfer unit 201D, and at secondary transfer unit 201D, the toner images on transfer belt 216 are transferred all at once onto sheet S by a secondary transfer bias applied to secondary transfer roller 217.

[0032] 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 under heat and pressure in the roller nip formed by the pressure roller 220a and the heating roller 220b, and is fixed onto the sheet S as a color image.

[0033] The sheet S with the image fixed thereon is discharged into 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.

[0034] When forming images on both sides of the sheet S, after the images are fixed in the fixing section 201E, the sheet S is conveyed to a re-conveyance path R by a pair of reversing rollers 222 and conveyed again to the image forming section 201A.

[0035] Next, the manual feed unit 235 having the separating air blowing unit will be described.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a top view of the manual feed section 235. FIG.

[0037] In Figure 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 consisting of a feed roller 503 for separating the sheet S sent out from the pickup roller 502 and the retard roller 504 shown in Figure 1.

[0038] The manual feed tray 5 is provided with side regulation portions 14a and 14b as side regulation plates that regulate the position of the sheet in a sheet width direction X perpendicular to the arrow Y indicating the sheet feeding direction relative to the sheet placement surface.

[0039] Separating air blowing fans 15a and 15b are attached to side regulating portions 14a and 14b so as to be movable together with side regulating portions 14a and 14b, respectively, and are capable of blowing separating air A1 and A2, and A3 and A4 onto the sides of stacked sheets S via blowing nozzles 16a and 17a, and 16b and 17b as separating air outlets. By blowing separating air from separating air blowing fans 15a and 15b toward the edges of the sheets along flow lines A1 and A2, and A3 and A4, the separating air enters gaps in the sheet stack, causing the upper sheets of the sheet stack to float and reducing the adhesive force between the sheets.

[0040] When the start button on the input display device 730 is pressed, sheet feeding begins. If the sheet to be fed is coated paper, before sheet feeding begins, separating air blowing fans 15a and 15b attached to side regulating units 14a and 14b are activated to blow separating air onto the widthwise edges of the sheet via blowing nozzles 16a and 17a, and 16b and 17b. Then, after a predetermined time, pickup roller 502 rotates, and sheet S, the uppermost coated paper in a state in which the adhesive force between the coated paper sheets has been reduced, is sent to a separation unit consisting of feed roller 503 and retard roller 504 shown in FIG. 1. The leading edge of sheet S separated into one sheet is detected by sheet detection sensor 505, and is sent to the aforementioned registration roller pair 240 by conveyance roller pair 506.

[0041] As described above, the subsequent operation is that the toner image is transferred to the sheet S at the secondary transfer unit 201D at the proper timing. Then, the toner image is fixed to the sheet S at the fixing unit 201E, and the sheet S is discharged onto the discharge tray 223 by the first discharge roller pair 225a.

[0042] On the other hand, when forming a double-sided image, the sheet is inverted at 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 the series of image formation steps.

[0043] Fig. 4 is a top view of the manual feed unit 235 showing the open and closed states of the side regulating unit, Fig. 4(A) shows the side regulating unit in an open state corresponding to the maximum width of the sheets to be placed, and Fig. 4(B) shows the side regulating unit in a closed state corresponding to the minimum width of the sheets to be placed. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 4.

[0044] 4 and 5, side regulating portions 14a and 14b are movably guided and supported in a sheet width direction X perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction Y by a slide shaft (not shown) that serves as a side regulating portion guide relative to manual feed tray 5, and their positions are regulated in the other directions, that is, the sheet feeding direction Y and the sheet surface direction Z. Also, by operating side regulating portion 14a, which regulates one position in the sheet width direction X, using a rack and pinion gear (not shown), side regulating portion 14b, which regulates the other position in the sheet width direction X, is interlocked, and the distance between side regulating portions 14a and 14b can be changed.

[0045] 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 that has the characteristics of relatively large airflow, quietness, and good durability, and are arranged sideways to save space due to the shape of the sirocco fan and the configuration of the separating air outlet. The separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are held by a fan holder (not shown) and are movably guided and supported by slide shafts 18a, 18b that extend in the sheet width direction X of the manual feed tray 5 and serve as separating air blowing fan guides that are different from the slide shafts (not shown) that support the side regulation portions 14a, 14b, and their positions are regulated in other directions, that is, the sheet feed direction Y and the sheet surface direction Z.

[0046] Air supply ducts 19 are provided between the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b and the side regulating parts 14a, 14b, respectively, and the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b and the side regulating parts 14a, 14b are connected via the air supply ducts 19, respectively, to form air passages that guide and send the separation air blown from the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b to the side regulating parts 14a, 14b.

[0047] The air duct 19 is made up of a separation air blowing fan side duct 20 fixed to the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b side, and a side regulating part side duct 21 fixed to the side regulating parts 14a, 14b side.

[0048] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the connection state between the separation air blowing fan side duct 20 and the side regulating section side duct 21. As shown in FIG.

[0049] 6, the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 and the side regulating unit-side duct 21 are configured so that the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 is covered by the side regulating unit-side duct 21. As shown in Fig. 6(A), which is a cross-sectional view in the sheet feeding direction Y, the outside of the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 and the inside of the side regulating unit-side duct 21 are relatively movable in the sheet feeding direction Y and the sheet surface direction Z with a predetermined gap that is equal to or greater than the deviation between the movement positions of the side regulating units 14a, 14b guided by slide shafts (not shown) serving as side regulating unit guides and the movement positions of the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b guided by slide shafts 18a, 18b serving as separation air blowing fan guides. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, which is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A taken along the line BB, the movement position in the seat width direction X is restricted by the outside of the separating air blowing fan side duct 20 and the inside of the side restricting unit side duct 21.

[0050] With the above configuration, when side regulating portion 14a is operated to move it, force is transmitted to side regulating portion side duct 21 fixed to side regulating portions 14a, 14b, and the force is transmitted from side regulating portion side duct 21, which regulates the movement position in the seat width direction X, to separation air blowing fan side duct 20, and the force is transmitted to separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b to which separation air blowing fan side duct 20 is fixed, and the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b move together with side regulating portions 14a, 14b.

[0051] Here, the positions of the slide shafts (not shown) that guide and support the side regulating sections 14a, 14b and the slide shafts 18a, 18b that guide and support the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b are each fixed relative to the manual feed tray 5, so there is a possibility that the movement position of the side regulating section side duct 21 that connects the side regulating sections 14a, 14b and the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b will be misaligned from the movement position of the separation air blowing fan side duct 20.

[0052] However, although the movement positions of side regulating portion-side duct 21 fixed to side regulating portions 14a, 14b and air blowing fan-side duct 20 fixed to separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b in the sheet width direction X are restricted, as described above, a predetermined gap is provided in the other directions, that is, the sheet feeding direction Y and the sheet surface direction Z, which is equal to or greater than the amount of deviation in their movement positions. Therefore, even if the connection positions of side regulating portions 14a, 14b and separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b are misaligned, separating air blowing fan-side ducts 20, 21 can be connected without being deformed, such as twisted or bent, by misalignment of the ducts.

[0053] 6(C), which is a cross-sectional view in the sheet feeding direction Y, even if the positions of the separation air blowing fans 15a, 15b are shifted in the direction of arrow M relative to the positions of the side regulating units 14a, 14b, the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 has a predetermined gap in the sheet feeding direction Y and the sheet surface direction Z that is greater than the amount of the shift, so the fans can be connected without deformation such as twisting or bending, thereby preventing a deterioration in operability when moving the side regulating units. Also, because the opening of the side regulating unit-side duct 21 is wider than the opening of the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 moved in the direction of arrow M, separation air can be sent from the separation air blowing fan-side duct 20 to the side regulating unit-side duct 21 without being affected by the shift in position.

[0054] As explained in Fig. 3, when coated paper or the like is set in the manual feed unit 235 and the paper feeding operation is started, the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b start rotating, taking in external air from an air intake (not shown) provided in the exterior part 5b of the manual feed tray 5 shown in Fig. 5 as shown by flow line E1, and sending the separating air to the separating air blowing fan-side duct 20 fixed to the air outlet on the separating air blowing fans 15a, 15b side. The separating air sent to the separating air blowing fan-side duct 20 proceeds to the side regulating part-side duct 21 fixed to the side regulating parts 14a, 14b side as shown by flow lines D1, D2, and is sent from the side regulating part-side duct 21 to the separating air blowing ducts 22a, 22b formed inside the side regulating parts 14a, 14b as shown by flow lines C1, C2. Furthermore, two blowing nozzles 16a and 17a, and two blowing nozzles 16b and 17b are arranged on the sheet regulating surfaces of the side regulating sections 14a and 14b, respectively, and the separating air travels through the separating air blowing ducts 22a and 22b as shown by flow lines B1 and B2, and is blown from the blowing nozzles 16a and 17a, and 16b and 17b onto the edge of the placed sheet S as shown by flow lines A1 and A2, and A3 and A4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 5...Manual feed tray 14a, 14b...Side regulation parts 15a, 15b...Air blower fan 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b...Spray nozzle 18a, 18b...Slide shaft 19, 20, 21...Ventilation duct 100...Control unit 200...Image forming apparatus 235...Manual feed section S...Seat

Claims

1. A sheet placement section for placing a sheet; a sheet feeding section that feeds sheets placed on the sheet placing section; a side regulating portion provided on the sheet placement portion, movable in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding portion, and regulating a position of the sheet in the sheet width direction; a separating air outlet provided in the side regulating section for blowing separating air onto the sheets placed on the sheet placing section; a separation air blowing fan movable in the sheet width direction together with the side regulating portion for supplying the separation air to the separation air outlet; a side regulating portion guide portion that guides the side regulating portion so that the side regulating portion is movable in the seat width direction; a blower fan guide portion that movably guides the separation air blower fan together with the side regulating portion; a separation air blowing fan side duct fixed to the separation air blowing fan for blowing the separation air supplied from the separation air blowing fan to the separation air outlet of the side regulating section; a side regulating portion duct fixed to the side regulating portion for blowing the separation air from the separation air blowing fan side duct to the separation air outlet of the side regulating portion, a gap is provided at a connection portion between the separation air blowing fan side duct and the side regulating unit duct that is equal to or greater than the deviation between a movement position of the side regulating unit guided by the side regulating unit guide portion and a movement position of the separation air blowing fan guided by the blowing fan guide portion; A sheet feeding device characterized by:

2. The gap is formed in the sheet feeding direction and in a sheet surface direction perpendicular to the sheet surface placed on the sheet placing section.

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is a sheet feeding device.

3. The moving position in the seat width direction is restricted at the connecting portion between the separation air blowing fan side duct and the side regulating portion duct.

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is a sheet feeding device.

4. The opening at the connecting portion of the side regulating portion duct covers the separation air blowing fan side duct, leaving the gap.

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is a sheet feeding device.

5. an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is capable of feeding sheets to the image forming unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images