Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve an operability of a side end guide in a configuration in which blowing means moves integrally with the side end guide.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device includes: a stacking member; feeding means; a first side end guide and a second side end guide regulating a position of a sheet in a sheet width direction; a first interlocking mechanism interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide; a second interlocking mechanism interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide, and disposed upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in a feeding direction; blowing means for blowing air to an edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided on the first side end guide, and configured to move integrally with the first side end guide; and an operating section provided on the first side end guide or the second side end guide, and receiving an operating force for moving the first side end guide and the second side end guide. The operating section and the blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for feeding sheets and an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in electrophotographic image forming devices used in offices, high-quality and high-image-quality products are required even when using special papers such as coated paper and thick paper. However, these special papers are difficult to separate and feed one by one from a stacked sheet bundle compared to general office plain paper and recycled paper because of their high surface smoothness and the tendency of sheets to stick to each other.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technique for assisting sheet separation by blowing air onto the side edge of a sheet bundle set on a manual tray. According to this document, a blower for blowing air onto the side edge of the sheet is arranged on the opposite side of a guide member that regulates the side edge position of the sheet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By configuring the blowing means for blowing air onto the sheet to move integrally with the side guide, it becomes possible to handle sheets of various sizes. However, due to the weight of the blowing means, the side guide is likely to twist when the user operates the side guide, which may reduce the operability.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration that can improve the operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention includes a loading member on which sheets are stacked, a feeding means for feeding the sheets in a feeding direction, a first side end guide and a second side end guide that face each other in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and restrict the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction, a first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, a second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being positioned upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction, and the sheet in the sheet width direction via an outlet provided in the first side end guide in A blowing means for blowing air onto the end, the blowing means configured to move integrally with the first side end guide, and the first side end guide Do The first side end guide is provided. Do It comprises an operating section that receives the operating force for moving, At least a portion of the aforementioned blowing means and The operation The department The sheet feeding device is characterized by being positioned between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. Another aspect of the present invention includes a loading member on which sheets are loaded, a feeding means for feeding the sheets in a feeding direction, a first side end guide and a second side end guide that face each other in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction, a first interlocking mechanism for interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide, a second interlocking mechanism for interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being positioned upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction, and a fan for generating airflow, which is provided in the first side end guide and blows air in the sheet width direction A sheet feeding device comprising: a blowing unit that blows air from a fan onto the end of the sheet in the direction, the blowing unit configured to move integrally with the first side end guide; an operating unit provided on the first side end guide that receives an operating force for moving the first side end guide; and a guide member supported by the loading member and extending in the sheet width direction, the guide member with which a part of the blowing unit is engaged so as to guide the blowing unit in the sheet width direction, wherein the guide member and the operating unit are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve operability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus according to Example 1. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the control system of the image forming apparatus according to Example 1. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of the manual feeding unit according to Example 1, viewed from above. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram (a, b) showing a cross-section of the manual feeding section according to Example 1. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing a cross-section of the manual feeding unit according to Example 1. [Figure 6] Schematic view of the manual feed unit according to Example 1 as seen from above. [Figure 7] Schematic view of the manual feed unit according to Example 1 as seen from above. [Figure 8] Detailed view of the manual feed unit according to Example 1 as seen from above. [Figure 9] Detailed view showing the inside of the feed tray according to Example 1. [Figure 10] Detailed view showing a cross-section of the manual feed unit according to Example 1. [Figure 11] Schematic view of the manual feed unit according to Example 2 as seen from above. [Figure 12] Schematic view (a, b) of the manual feed unit according to the modification as seen from above.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the present disclosure, the "image forming apparatus" refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet as a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, a multifunction peripheral, a commercial printing machine, and the like.

[0012] 《Example (Image Forming Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 201 according to an embodiment (Example 1). The image forming apparatus 201 is a tandem type and intermediate transfer type laser beam printer that uses an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 201 can form and output a full-color or monochrome image on a sheet S based on image data. As the sheet S, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, plastic film, cloth, sheet materials with surface treatment such as coated paper, and special-shaped sheet materials such as envelopes and index paper. <0000<>91>

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 201 includes an apparatus main body 201A that houses an image forming unit 201B, an image reading apparatus 300 that is disposed above the apparatus main body 201A and reads image information from a document, and a control unit 100 (FIG. 2) that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The image forming unit 201B, which is an example of an image forming means, includes four process units PY, PM, PC, PK, an exposure device 210, a transfer belt 216, and a fixing device 201E. A discharge space V for sheet discharge is formed between the image reading apparatus 202 and the apparatus main body 201A.

[0014] Each of the process units PY, PM, PC, PK includes a photosensitive drum 212 as an image carrier, a charging device 213, a developing device 214, a cleaning device, etc., which are process means acting on the photosensitive drum 212. The photosensitive drum 212 is an electrophotographic photoreceptor formed in a drum shape. The developing device 214 houses toner of any one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black as a developer. The exposure device 210, which is an exposure means (process means), is disposed below the process units PY, PM, PC, PK.

[0015] The transfer belt 216 is an example of an intermediate transfer member. The transfer belt 216 is wound around a driving roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. Four primary transfer rollers 219 are disposed inside the transfer belt 216 at positions facing the photosensitive drum 212 with the transfer belt 216 interposed therebetween. The transfer belt 216 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure by a driving roller 216a driven by a driving unit (not shown). A secondary transfer roller 217 is disposed outside the transfer belt 216 at a position facing the driving roller 216a with the transfer belt 216 interposed therebetween. A transfer portion 201D (secondary transfer portion) is formed as a nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 217 and the transfer belt 216.

[0016] A fixing device 201E is positioned above the transfer unit 201D. The fixing device 201E is a thermal fixing type having a heating roller 220b heated by a heating means such as a halogen lamp, and a pressure roller 220a that is pressed against the heating roller 220b. Further above the fixing device 201E are a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-sided reversal unit 201F. The double-sided reversal unit 201F includes a reversible reversible roller pair 222 and a re-conveying path R.

[0017] An operating unit 730 for receiving user input is provided at the top of the image forming apparatus 201. The operating unit 730 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying images, and input devices such as a numeric keypad and a print execution button. For example, the user can input setting information (type, basis weight, size, brand, etc.) for the sheet S set in the cassette feeding unit 230 and the manual feed feeding unit 235 via the operating unit 730.

[0018] A cassette feeding unit 230 is located at the bottom of the main body 201A of the device. A manual feeding unit 235 is located on the side of the main body 201A of the device. The cassette feeding unit 230 and the manual feeding unit 235 are examples of sheet feeding devices that feed sheets.

[0019] The cassette feeding unit 230 includes a cassette 1 as a sheet storage means for storing sheets S, and a pickup roller 2 as a feeding means for feeding sheets S from the cassette 1. The cassette feeding unit 230 also includes a pair of separation rollers consisting of a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 as a separation and transport unit for separating the sheets P sent out by the pickup roller 2. The retard roller 4 applies a frictional force to the sheets S in the opposite direction to the feeding direction at the nip between it and the feed roller 3, thereby allowing only one sheet S in contact with the feed roller 3 to pass through the nip.

[0020] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 201. The control unit 100 is a control means that comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 201 and exchanges information with the host device 900 and the operation unit 730. The control unit 100 also controls the operation of the image forming unit 201B and the feeding and transport of sheets. Here, the host device 900 is a personal computer, image scanner, facsimile, etc. The storage unit 101 stores the programs executed by the control unit 100 and the data necessary for the execution of those programs. The storage unit 101 also provides a workspace for the control unit 100 when executing programs.

[0021] The control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 201 based on setting information input by the user via the operation unit 730 and image data received from the host device 900. For example, the control unit 100 controls the sheet feeding operation by driving the actuator (motor, etc.) of the manual feed unit 235. Also, based on the sheet setting information, the control unit 100 activates the blower fans 15a and 15b described later if it determines that separation by blowing air is necessary (for example, in the case of coated paper).

[0022] (Image formation process) The control unit of the image forming apparatus 201 starts the image forming operation when it receives image data from an external source or when it receives a copy operation instruction and the image reading device 300 receives image data read from the original. In the image forming operation, each process unit PY, PM, PC, PK forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 by an electrophotographic process. That is, when the process units PY, PM, PC, PK are requested to form a toner image, the photosensitive drum 212 is rotated, and the charging device 213 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 212. The exposure device 210 irradiates the photosensitive drum 212 with laser light based on the image data received by the control unit from an external source or the image data read from the original by the image reading device 300. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 is exposed and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 214 supplies a developer containing toner to the photosensitive drum 212 and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.

[0023] The toner images formed by the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK are first transferred to the transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer roller 219. When forming a full-color image, the primary transfer is performed so that the toner images of each color overlap on the transfer belt 216, thereby forming a color image on the transfer belt 216. Any toner or other deposits remaining on the photosensitive drum 151 are removed by the cleaning devices of each process unit PY, PM, PC, and PK.

[0024] In parallel with the operation of the image forming unit 201B, the sheets S are fed one by one from the cassette feeding unit 230 or the manual feeding unit 235 and transported to the registration roller pair 240. After correcting the skew of the sheets S, the registration roller pair 240 transports the sheets S to the transfer unit 201D at a timing synchronized with the operation of the image forming unit 201B. Then, in the transfer unit 201D, the toner image is secondarily transferred from the transfer belt 216 to the sheets S by the secondary transfer roller 217 to which a transfer voltage is applied.

[0025] The sheet S, having passed through the transfer section 201D, is sent to the fixing device 201E. The fixing device 201E heats and pressurizes the toner image on the sheet S while transporting it by sandwiching it between the heating roller 220b and the pressure roller 220a. This results in an image fixed to the sheet S. Due to the adhesive force of the molten toner, a force is generated on the sheet S that causes it to stick to the heating roller 220b. If the rigidity of the sheet S is low (weak), there is a possibility that the sheet S will be wound up by the rotating heating roller 220b, so a separation plate 221 for separating the sheet is provided downstream of the heating roller 220b.

[0026] In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet S that has passed through the fuser 201E is discharged into the discharge space V by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b and loaded onto the discharge tray 223. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet S, which has an image formed on the first surface by passing through the transfer unit 201D and the fuser 201E, is inverted by the reversing roller pair 222 and transported again to the image forming unit 201B via the retransport path R. Then, the sheet S passes through the transfer unit 201D and the fuser 201E again to form an image on the second surface, and is then discharged into the discharge space V by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b and loaded onto the discharge tray 223.

[0027] In the above description, the image forming unit 201B is an example of an image forming means, and a direct transfer type electrophotographic unit, or an inkjet type or offset printing type image forming unit may also be used.

[0028] (Manual feed unit) The manual feed unit 235, which has an air blowing section, will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a schematic view of the manual feed unit 235 from above. Unlike the cassette feed unit 230, which can store a large number of sheets, the manual feed unit 235 is configured to allow the user to set only the amount of sheets they need when using the image forming apparatus 201. Therefore, the cassette feed unit 230 is suitable for using plain paper and standard-sized sheets that are used frequently, while the manual feed unit 235 is suitable for using less frequently used sheets such as coated paper and long paper.

[0029] In the following description, "feeding direction Y" refers to the direction in which the sheet is fed out of the feeding tray 5 by the pickup roller 502. "Sheet width direction X" refers to the direction along the sheet loaded on the feeding tray 5, which is perpendicular to the feeding direction Y.

[0030] The manual feed unit 235 includes a feed tray 5, a pickup roller 502, a feed roller 503, a retard roller 504, side end guides 14a, 14b, and blower fans 15a, 15b.

[0031] The feed tray 5 is a loading member on which sheets are stacked. The feed tray 5 has a support surface 5a (loading surface, placement surface) that supports the lower surface of the sheets. The feed tray 5 is movable (openable and closable) between a position where it is stored in the side of the main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 and a position where it protrudes to the outside of the main body 201A. With the feed tray 5 open, the user can set a sheet in the feed tray 5. The feed tray 5 is also called a manual feed tray or a multi-purpose tray.

[0032] The pickup roller 502 is an example of a feeding means for feeding sheets. The pickup roller 502 is positioned above the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5. The pickup roller 502 is rotatably supported by a roller holder, which acts as a holding member. The roller holder is pivotable about the rotation axis of the feed roller 503. As the roller holder pivots, the pickup roller 502 moves between a feeding position (contact position, lower position) where it contacts the upper surface of the sheets loaded on the feeding tray 5, and a standby position (separated position, upper position) where it is separated upward from the sheets. As the pickup roller 502 rotates in the feeding position, sheets are fed out of the feeding tray 5 in the feeding direction Y. Instead of the pickup roller 502, a mechanism may be used in which, for example, a negative pressure generated by a fan attracts sheets to a belt, and the sheets are transported by rotating the belt.

[0033] The feed roller 503 further transports the sheet received from the pickup roller 502 in the feeding direction Y. Downstream of the feed roller 503, a transport roller pair 506 is arranged to transport the sheet received from the feed roller 503 toward the registration roller pair 240 (Figure 1).

[0034] The retard roller 504 is pressed against the feed roller 503, forming a separation nip between them. The retard roller 504 is also driven by a torque limiter in the opposite direction to the rotation of the feed roller 503. The retard roller 504 is an example of a separation member that separates the sheet by frictional force, and may be a roller member connected to a fixed shaft via a torque limiter, or a pad-shaped elastic member that contacts the feed roller 503.

[0035] The side edge guides 14a and 14b are regulating members (regulating plates) that restrict the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction X. In this embodiment, a pair of side edge guides 14a and 14b facing each other in the sheet width direction X are used. The side edge guide 14b on the back side is a second side edge guide that faces the sheet width direction X, with the side edge guide 14a acting as the first side edge guide. The side edge guides 14a and 14b have regulating surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 as their inner surfaces in the sheet width direction X. For one side edge guide, the "inside" in the sheet width direction X is the side where the other side edge guide is positioned and where the sheet is loaded, and the "outside" in the sheet width direction X is the side opposite to the side where the other side edge guide is positioned. The regulating surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 are surfaces that extend in the feeding direction Y and rise substantially perpendicular to the feeding tray 5 when viewed in the feeding direction Y. The restricting surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 contact the edges (side edges of the sheets) of the sheets loaded on the feeding tray 5 in the sheet width direction X, thereby restricting the position of the sheets in the sheet width direction X.

[0036] The side end guides 14a and 14b are movable in the sheet width direction X relative to the feeding tray 5. The side end guides 14a and 14b are connected by an interlocking mechanism such as a rack and pinion mechanism, and move in conjunction with each other so that their distance from the central position X0 in the sheet width direction X is equal. The central position X0 is the reference position in the sheet width direction X of the sheet fed by the manual feeding unit 235.

[0037] One of the side edge guides 14a and 14b (the side edge guide 14a on the front side of the image forming apparatus 201) is provided with an operating knob that serves as an operating part 18 (gripping part) for moving the side edge guides 14a and 14b. By operating the operating part 18, the user can release the locking of the side edge guides 14a and 14b from the feed tray 5 and move the side edge guides 14a and 14b. Known mechanisms can be used for locking and releasing the locking. The operating part 18 may not have a function to release the locking of the side edge guides 14a and 14b from the feed tray 5 (for example, it may have a concave shape for gripping). By moving the side edge guides 14a and 14b to a position that matches the size of the sheet being used, the user can prevent the sheet from becoming skewed and misaligned.

[0038] The blower fans 15a and 15b are examples of blower means that provide air to help separate the sheets loaded on the supply tray 5. The blower fans 15a and 15b generate airflow by taking in outside air from an air intake provided on the bottom surface of the supply tray 5, for example. In this embodiment, the blower fans 15a and 15b are positioned below the support surface 5a of the supply tray 5. The blower fans 15a and 15b are fan motors that integrate a fan body that generates airflow by rotation and a motor that drives the fan body.

[0039] In this embodiment, sirocco fans are used as the blower fans 15a and 15b, but propeller fans (axial fans), for example, may be used as the blower. Also, the blower may be positioned above the support surface 5a of the supply tray 5.

[0040] The side end guides 14a and 14b have outlets 16a and 16b for blowing air from the blower fans 15a and 15b onto the side edges of the sheets on the supply tray 5. The outlets 16a and 16b are openings formed in the restricting surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 of the side end guides 14a and 14b. The outlets 16a and 16b are also connected to the exhaust sections of the blower fans 15a and 15b via ducts (air passages) formed inside the side end guides 14a and 14b.

[0041] When the blower fans 15a and 15b are activated, air is blown out from the outlets 16a and 16b toward the inside in the sheet width direction X, as shown by the streamlines A1 and A2.

[0042] The opening heights of the air outlets 16a and 16b are set higher than the maximum sheet loading height in the supply tray 5. The maximum sheet loading height is indicated, for example, by attaching stickers indicating the maximum loading height to the regulating surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 of the side end guides 14a and 14b.

[0043] Furthermore, if the method of applying air blowing is changed depending on the type of sheet, the maximum stacking height for sheets that are subjected to air blowing (e.g., coated paper) may be set lower than the maximum stacking height for sheets that are not subjected to air blowing (e.g., plain paper). In addition, when coated paper is selected in the control unit 730, a message warning about the maximum stacking height may be displayed.

[0044] (Feeding operation of the manual feed unit) Next, the feeding operation in which the manual feed unit 235 feeds the sheets will be explained with reference to Figure 2. The user sets the sheets in the feeding tray 5 in advance and inputs the setting information of the set sheets via the operation unit 730.

[0045] When the user presses the print execution button, the blower fans 15a and 15b activate and begin blowing air, and air is blown from the outlets 16a and 16b onto the side edges of the sheets. This air enters the gaps between the sheets, causing them to float and reducing the adhesion between them. As a result, the manual feed unit 235 can feed the sheets one by one while stably separating them, even when using sheets with a highly smooth surface, such as coated paper, which are prone to sticking together. The control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 201 may also be configured to activate the blower fans 15a and 15b only when it determines, based on the sheet setting information, that separation by blowing air is necessary (for example, in the case of coated paper).

[0046] Subsequently, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of airflow from the blower fans 15a and 15b, the rotational drive of the pickup roller 502 and feed roller 503 is initiated, causing the roller holder to swing and the pickup roller 502 to move from the standby position to the feeding position. Then, the uppermost sheet that has come into contact with the pickup roller 502 is sent to the feed roller 503, where it is separated from the other sheets at the separation nip and further transported, and then sent to the registration roller pair 240 (Figure 1) by the transport roller pair 506. The subsequent flow of sheet transport and image formation is as described above. In addition, the sheet transport timing is monitored by the sheet sensor 505 (Figure 1) detecting the sheet between the feed roller 503 and the transport roller pair 506.

[0047] (Details of the air spray configuration) The details of the configuration for blowing air onto the sheet in Example 1 will be explained below using Figures 3 to 10.

[0048] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the manual feed unit 235 from above. Figure 4(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the IVA-IVA section of Figure 3. Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the IVB-IVB section of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the VV section of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a schematic view showing the side edge guides 14a and 14b moved to their outermost position (the side edge position of the largest size sheet that can be fed from the manual feed unit 235). Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the side edge guides 14a and 14b moved to their innermost position (the side edge position of the smallest size sheet that can be fed from the manual feed unit 235). Figure 8 is a detailed view of the manual feed unit 235 from above. Figure 9 is a view of the support surface 5a of the feed tray 5 as seen through in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the XX section of Figure 8.

[0049] As shown in Figures 4(a, b) and 5, the blower fans 15a and 15b are positioned below the support surface 5a (loading surface) of the feed tray 5. This configuration allows for space saving in the manual feed unit 235 equipped with an air blowing configuration. In other words, if the blower fan 15a were to be positioned above the support surface 5a, the blower fan would have to be positioned to avoid the sheet loading area of ​​the support surface 5a. In this case, the blower fan would protrude beyond the outside of the feed tray 5 in the sheet width direction X, increasing the space occupied by the manual feed unit 235 and ultimately leading to a larger image forming apparatus.

[0050] In contrast, in this embodiment, the blower fans 15a and 15b are positioned using the space below the support surface 5a of the feed tray 5 as a means of blowing air. This allows for space saving in the manual feed unit 235 and enables miniaturization of the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, since the blower fans 15a and 15b do not protrude above the feed tray 5, access to the feed tray 5 is improved, enhancing usability and offering advantages in terms of noise reduction.

[0051] When viewed from above the feeding tray 5, it is preferable that at least a portion of the blower fans 15a and 15b are positioned so as to overlap with the sheet loading area of ​​the feeding tray 5 (Figure 3). This further saves space. The sheet loading area of ​​the feeding tray 5 is the area where the largest size sheet that can be fed from the manual feeding unit 235 is loaded.

[0052] It is preferable to house the blower fans 15a and 15b within the housing of the feed tray 5. That is, it is preferable that the blower fans 15a and 15b are housed in the internal space of the feed tray 5 that extends between the support surface 5a (top surface) and the bottom surface 5b of the feed tray 5, as shown in Figure 10. With this configuration, since the blower fans 15a and 15b are not exposed to the outside, there are advantages such as improved safety, aesthetic appearance, and reduced noise. In addition, the feed tray 5 can be opened and closed relative to the main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 without worrying about interference between the blower fans 15a and 15b and the main body 201A. Therefore, compared to, for example, a case where space is secured to accommodate the blower fans 15a and 15b when the feed tray 5 is closed relative to the main body 201A, there are advantages such as miniaturization of the apparatus and increased design flexibility.

[0053] As shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7, the blower fan 15a is attached to a side edge guide 14a that is movable in the sheet width direction X relative to the supply tray 5, and moves together with the side edge guide 14a. Similarly, the blower fan 15b is attached to a side edge guide 14b that is movable in the sheet width direction X relative to the supply tray 5, and moves together with the side edge guide 14b. By configuring the blower fans 15a and 15b to move together with the side edge guides 14a and 14b, the configuration of the ducts (air passages) that guide the air from the blower fans 15a and 15b to the outlets 16a and 16b can be simplified.

[0054] An intake port is provided on the wall surface of the supply tray 5 facing the intake-side opening of the blower fans 15a, 15b (Figure 9). In this embodiment, an intake port 19a, 19b is provided on the bottom surface 5b of the supply tray 5, with a plurality of slits arranged in the sheet width direction X. The length of the intake ports 19a, 19b may be such that when the side end guides 14a, 14b move from one end of their range of motion to the other, at least a portion of the intake-side opening 15a2 (Figure 10) of the blower fans 15a, 15b faces the intake ports 19a, 19b. This prevents the pressure loss from increasing as the blower fans 15a, 15b move far away from the intake ports 19a, 19b. The length of the intake ports 19a, 19b in the sheet width direction X may be longer than the diameter of the intake-side opening 15a2 (Figure 10) of the blower fans 15a, 15b.

[0055] As shown in Figure 4(a), the front-facing fan 15a draws in air (outside air) from outside the supply tray 5 via the intake port 19a (streamline E1). A duct 141a is formed inside the side end guide 14a. The air exhausted from the fan 15a (streamline D1) is guided to the outlet 16a by the duct 141a. In this embodiment, the duct 141a extends in the supply direction Y inside the side end guide 14a, and the air is distributed by the duct 141a to two outlets 16a (a first outlet and a second outlet) (streamline B1). The air is then blown from the outlet 16a inward in the sheet width direction X towards the side edge of the sheet S (streamline A1; see also Figure 3).

[0056] As shown in Figure 4(b), the airflow path on the rear side is the same as on the front side, except that the position of the blower fan 15b is different. That is, the blower fan 15b takes in air (outside air) from outside the supply tray 5 via the intake port 19b (streamline E1). A duct 141b is formed inside the side end guide 14b. The air exhausted from the blower fan 15b (streamline D1) is guided to the outlet 16b by the duct 141b. In this embodiment, the duct 141b extends in the supply direction Y inside the side end guide 14b, and the air is distributed to the two outlets 16b by the duct 141b (streamlines B1, C1). The air is then blown from the outlet 16b inward in the sheet width direction X towards the side edge of the sheet S (streamline A2 in Figure 3).

[0057] As shown in Figure 5, when viewed in the supply direction Y, the exhaust direction of the blower fan 15a and the air outlet direction of the outlet 16a are arranged to be opposite with respect to the sheet width direction X. That is, the blower fan 15a is arranged to exhaust air outward with respect to the sheet width direction X (streamline F1). The outlet 16a is arranged to blow air inward with respect to the sheet width direction X (streamline A1). In this configuration, the blower fan 15a is provided integrally with the side end guide 14a, and the blower fan 15a as a means of air supply is positioned by utilizing the space inside the side end guide 14a in the sheet width direction X. This configuration makes it possible to save space in the manual feeding section 235 with respect to the sheet width direction X. Furthermore, it is preferable that the entire rotating blade, which is the main body of the blower fan 15a, is located inside the sheet width direction X from the restricting surface 14a1 of the side end guide 14a.

[0058] Figure 5 illustrates the arrangement of the front-side blower fan 15a, but the arrangement for the rear-side blower fan 15b is similar, except that the positional relationship in the sheet width direction X is reversed. That is, when viewed in the supply direction Y, the exhaust direction of the blower fan 15b and the air outlet direction from the outlet 16b are arranged to be opposite with respect to the sheet width direction X (see Figure 3). This configuration makes it possible to save space in the manual feeding unit 235 in the sheet width direction X.

[0059] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, in this embodiment, sirocco fans, a type of centrifugal fan, are used as the blower fans 15a and 15b, and the rotation axes 15a1 and 15b1 of the rotating blades are arranged to intersect with the support surface 5a of the feed tray 5. Preferably, the rotation axes 15a1 and 15b1 are arranged to be approximately perpendicular to the support surface 5a (approximately parallel to the normal direction Z of the support surface 5a). This makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the feed tray 5.

[0060] A centrifugal fan is a fan that draws in air from one side of the axial direction of its rotating blades and exhausts it in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (centrifugal direction), such as a sirocco fan or a turbo fan. Among centrifugal fans, the sirocco fan is superior in that it balances quietness, durability, and the static pressure necessary for sheet separation, and a sirocco fan is used in this embodiment. However, it is also possible to use centrifugal fans other than sirocco fans or axial fans as the means of air supply.

[0061] Incidentally, as shown in Figure 5, the duct 141a penetrates the support surface 5a from bottom to top so as to connect the blower fan 15a located below the support surface 5a of the supply tray 5 and the outlet 16a located above the support surface 5a. The same applies to the duct 141b on the rear side. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, a notch 5d (slit, opening) is formed in the support surface 5a to allow the ducts 141a and 141b to move in the sheet width direction X as the side end guides 14a and 14b move. The position and shape of the notch 5d can be changed to match the ducts 141a and 141b. In addition, a notch is also formed in the support surface 5a near the interlocking mechanism M1, which will be described later, through which a part of the side end guides 14a and 14b penetrate vertically.

[0062] The configuration of the side end guides 14a, 14b and the blower fans 15a, 15b, and the positional relationship of the blower fans 15a, 15b will be explained. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pair of side end guides 14a, 14b move in conjunction with each other in the sheet width direction X.

[0063] As shown in Figure 9, the side end guides 14a and 14b are connected to each other inside the feeding tray 5 by interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2. In this embodiment, the interlocking mechanism M1 is a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack 143a (first rack), a rack 143b (second rack), and a pinion gear 142 (first pinion gear) that meshes with racks 143a and 143b. The interlocking mechanism M2 is a rack and pinion mechanism having a rack 145a (third rack), a rack 145b (fourth rack), and a pinion gear 144 (second pinion gear) that meshes with racks 145a and 145b. The interlocking mechanism M2 (second interlocking mechanism) is positioned upstream of the interlocking mechanism M1 (first interlocking mechanism) in the feeding direction Y.

[0064] As shown in Figure 6, the blower fans 15a and 15b, which move together with the side end guides 14a and 14b, are positioned inward in the sheet width direction X relative to the side end guides 14a and 14b. This allows for miniaturization of the manual feeding unit 235 in the sheet width direction X.

[0065] In this embodiment, the positions of the blower fan 15a (first blower) and the blower fan 15b (second blower) are arranged differently in the supply direction Y. This makes it less likely for the blower fans 15a and 15b to interfere with each other even when the side end guides 14a and 14b are moved in the sheet width direction X, and allows narrow sheets to be restricted by the side end guides 14a and 14b.

[0066] In particular, as shown in Figure 7, when the side edge guides 14a and 14b are moved to a position that matches the smallest size sheet, the positions of the blower fans 15a and 15b overlap when viewed in the feeding direction Y. In other words, when the first and second side edge guides are moved to their innermost positions in the sheet width direction, the first and second blower means overlap when viewed in the feeding direction. This allows for effective use of the space inside the feeding tray 5 to accommodate narrower sheets.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, when the side edge guides 14a and 14b are moved to a position that matches the smallest size sheet, the front side edge guide 14a overlaps with the rear blower fan 15b when viewed from above. Also, the rear side edge guide 14b overlaps with the front blower fan 15a. In other words, when the first and second side edge guides are moved to their innermost positions in the sheet width direction, the first side edge guide and the second blower overlap when viewed from above, and the second side edge guide and the first blower overlap. This allows for effective use of the space inside the supply tray 5 to accommodate narrower sheets.

[0068] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 10, the blower fans 15a and 15b are guided by slide shafts 17a and 17b held by the feed tray 5. The slide shafts 17a and 17b are axial members extending in the sheet width direction X. The blower fan 15a has a fitting portion 15a3 that engages with the slide shaft 17a and moves in the sheet width direction X guided by the slide shaft 17a. The blower fan 15b has a fitting portion 15b3 that engages with the slide shaft 17b. As a result, the weight of the blower fans 15a and 15b is supported by the slide shafts 17a and 17b, improving the operability of the side end guides 14a and 14b.

[0069] The position of the operating part 18 on the side end guide 14a in the feeding direction Y may be aligned with the position of the slide shaft 17a in the feeding direction Y. This reduces the rotational force applied to the side end guide 14a relative to the slide shaft 17a when the side end guide 14a is moved, resulting in smoother movement of the side end guide 14a and improved operability.

[0070] Incidentally, as shown in Figure 6, the rotation axis 15a1 of the front-side blower fan 15a is located near the outlet 16a, while the rotation axis 15b1 of the rear-side blower fan 15b is located upstream of the outlet 16b of the side end guide 14b in the supply direction Y. In this case, the blower fan 15b is positioned such that the exhaust port 15b2 is located downstream of the supply direction Y with respect to the rotation axis 15b1. This shortens the air passage from the exhaust port 15b2 to the outlet 16b, reducing pressure loss and allowing air to be efficiently blown onto the sheet.

[0071] As shown in Figures 4(a, b), a door 601, which is an opening and closing member for jamming the cassette feeding unit 230 (Figure 1), is provided below the manual feeding unit 235. The door 601 is rotatably supported by a hinge 602 on the main body 201A (Figure 1) of the image forming apparatus 201, and is rotatable about an axis extending in the sheet width direction X. The trajectory 603 in the figure is the trajectory traced by the tip of the door 601 (the end furthest from the hinge 602) when the door 601 is opened and closed.

[0072] In this embodiment, the bottom surface 5b of the supply tray 5 has a tapered inclined portion 5c that approaches the support surface 5a (loading surface) as it moves downstream in the supply direction Y (see also Figure 10). This makes it possible to house the thick blower fans 15a and 15b inside the supply tray 5 while avoiding interference with the door 601. In addition, as long as the arrangement avoids interference with the door 601, for example, the blower fan 15b may be positioned in a location that overlaps with the trajectory 603 when viewed in the sheet width direction X, but is different from the front end of the door 601 in the sheet width direction X.

[0073] (Twisting when operating the side end guide) In this embodiment, a heavy blower fan 15a is attached to the side end guide 14a, and the blower fan 15a is configured to move together with the side end guide 14a. With such a configuration, there is a concern that the weight of the blower fan 15a may cause the side end guide 14a to twist when the user moves the side end guide 14a.

[0074] Let's assume that the operating unit 18, which receives operating force from the user, and the heavy blower fan 15a are positioned far apart with respect to the feeding direction Y. Normally, the point of application of the resistance force when the side end guide 14a moves (the resultant force of the frictional resistance that the side end guide 14a receives from the feeding tray 5 and the slide shaft 17a) is near the center of gravity of the heavy blower fan 15a, and therefore far from the operating unit 18. As a result, when the user tries to move the side end guide 14a, the operating force that the side end guide 14a receives via the operating unit 18 and the resistance force received from the feeding tray 5, etc., create a moment of force that, when viewed from above, tries to rotate the side end guide 14a.

[0075] If the side end guide 14a twists or tilts due to this force moment, the operability of the side end guide 14a may decrease. Furthermore, to increase the rigidity of the side end guide 14a in order to suppress twisting, it is conceivable to reinforce the side end guide 14a with metal members or to increase the wall thickness of the side end guide 14a during resin molding, but this would lead to an increase in weight and size.

[0076] In contrast, in this embodiment, the operating unit 18 and the blower fan 15a (blowing means) which moves integrally with the side end guide 14a are arranged between two interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 with respect to the supply direction Y (Figure 9). In other words, the operating unit and the blower means in this embodiment are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism (M1) and the second interlocking mechanism (M2) in the supply direction Y.

[0077] This configuration ensures that the operating unit 18, which receives operating force from the user, and the heavy blower fan 15a are positioned close together with respect to the supply direction Y. As a result, twisting of the side end guide 14a is less likely to occur when the user moves the side end guides 14a and 14b. Consequently, the operability when moving the side end guides 14a and 14b is improved.

[0078] Furthermore, since it does not involve reinforcement with metal components or increasing the wall thickness during resin molding, it is possible to improve operability without hindering weight reduction and miniaturization.

[0079] To accommodate long paper in the manual feed unit 235, the side edge guides 14a and 14b need to have a certain length in the feed direction Y to suppress the skewing of the long paper. In this embodiment, long paper refers to a sheet that is longer in the feed direction Y than the maximum size of a standard size, which is 13 inches (sheet width direction) x 19 inches (feed direction). If the side edge guides 14a and 14b are made longer to accommodate long paper, twisting is more likely to occur, but according to this embodiment, twisting can be reduced, thereby improving operability.

[0080] The position of the operating section 18 in the supply direction Y is preferably such that it overlaps with the range Yr (Figure 9) corresponding to the diameter of the rotating blade Rt (Figure 10) of the blower fan 15a, and more preferably such that it overlaps with the position of the rotation axis 15a1 of the rotating blade Rt. This allows the position of the operating section 18 to be brought closer to the center of gravity of the heavy blower fan 15a, further reducing the likelihood of twisting of the side end guide 14a.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the blower fan 15a and the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 are both positioned below the support surface 5a (loading surface) of the supply tray 5. As a result, the blower fan 15a, which is an electrical component, and the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2, which are movable components, are not exposed on the upper side of the supply tray 5, thus providing advantages such as improved safety and aesthetics, and reduced noise. It is even more preferable to position the blower fan 15a and the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the internal space that extends between the support surface 5a and the bottom surface 5b of the supply tray 5 (Figure 10).

[0082] In this embodiment, the feeding tray 5 is provided with a slide shaft 17a as a guide member, and the blower fan 15a is provided with a fitting portion 15a3 that fits with the slide shaft 17a (Figure 10). The slide shaft 17a is also positioned between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y. As a result, a portion of the weight of the blower fan 15a is supported by the slide shaft 17a between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2, which further reduces the likelihood of twisting of the side end guide 14a. Note that the slide shaft 17a is just one example of a guide member, and a rail-shaped guide member may also be used, for example.

[0083] In this embodiment, the blower fan 15a and the operating unit 18 are positioned between the racks 143a and 145a in the supply direction Y (Figure 9). Since the side end guides 14a of these racks 143a and 145a are the parts that receive load from the opposite side end guide 14b (first load-receiving part, second load-receiving part), the twisting of the side end guides 14a can be further suppressed by positioning the blower fan 15a and the operating unit 18 in between.

[0084] In this embodiment, the rear-side blower fan 15b is positioned upstream of the interlocking mechanism M2 in the supply direction Y, but both blower fans 15a and 15b may be positioned between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the supply direction Y. An advantage of this embodiment is that, since the positions of the blower fans 15a and 15b are different in the supply direction, the side end guides 14a and 14b can be moved to a position where the positions of the blower fans 15a and 15b overlap in the supply direction Y, as described above (Figure 7). This makes it easier to accommodate narrower sheets.

[0085] Example 2 In the above-described Example 1, a configuration using rack and pinion mechanisms as interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 was illustrated. In Example 2, as shown in Figure 11, interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 including belts 242 and 245 are used.

[0086] The interlocking mechanism M1 includes pulleys 243 and 244, which are rotatably supported on the feeding tray 5, and a belt 242 stretched in the sheet width direction X by the pulleys 243 and 244. The belt 242 is connected to the front side end guide 14a at the connecting portion 242a and to the rear side end guide 14b at the connecting portion 242b.

[0087] The interlocking mechanism M2 includes pulleys 246 and 247 that are rotatably supported on the feeding tray 5, and a belt 245 stretched in the sheet width direction X by the pulleys 246 and 247. The belt 245 is connected to the front side end guide 14a at the connecting portion 245a and to the rear side end guide 14b at the connecting portion 245b.

[0088] When the user operates the control unit 18 to move the side end guide 14a in the seat width direction X, the belts 242 and 245 rotate in conjunction with the side end guide 14a due to the connecting parts 242a and 245a. In addition, the opposite side end guide 14b moves in the seat width direction X in conjunction with the rotation of the belts 242 and 245 due to the connecting parts 242b and 245b. The directions of movement of the side end guides 14a and 14b are opposite to each other.

[0089] In this embodiment as well, the operating unit 18 and the blower fan 15a are positioned between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2. Therefore, similar to Embodiment 1, twisting of the side end guide 14a can be reduced, thereby improving operability.

[0090] Furthermore, the connecting portions 242a and 245a in this embodiment are the parts (first load-receiving portion and second load-receiving portion) where the side end guide 14a receives a load from the opposite side end guide 14b. Therefore, by arranging the blower fan 15a and the operating portion 18 between these connecting portions 242a and 245a, it is possible to suppress the twisting of the side end guide 14a due to the load from the opposite side end guide 14b.

[0091] Variant form As shown in Figure 12(a), a blower fan 25b, which is attached to the side end guide 24b opposite to the side end guide 24a on which the operating unit 18 is provided, may be positioned between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the supply direction Y. In this case, the resistance of the side end guide 24b to movement caused by the weight of the blower fan 25b is divided between the upstream interlocking mechanism M1 and the downstream interlocking mechanism M2 and transmitted to the side end guide 24a. Therefore, by positioning the operating unit 18 in addition to the blower fan 25b between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2, twisting of the side end guide 24a can be reduced, thereby improving operability.

[0092] In this modified example, unlike embodiments 1 and 2, the rear side end guide 24b becomes the first side end guide, the front side end guide 24a becomes the second side end guide, and the rear side blower fan 25b becomes the blowing means. In other words, as long as the operating unit and the blowing means provided on the first side end guide are arranged between the first and second interlocking mechanisms, the operating unit may be provided on either the first or second side end guide. Alternatively, the operating unit may be provided on both the first and second side end guides.

[0093] As shown in Figure 12(b), the blower fans 35a and 35b may be positioned above the supply tray 5, on the back surface (opposite the regulating surface) of the side end guides 14a and 14b. Here, an example using axial flow fans as the blower fans 35a and 35b is shown. Even in this case, by positioning the operating unit 18 and the blower fans 35a and 35b between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the supply direction Y, twisting of the side end guide 14a can be reduced, thereby improving operability.

[0094] Other embodiments In each of the embodiments described above, two air outlets 16a are provided on one side end guide 14a. The airflow from each air outlet 16a may be equal, or the airflow from one may be stronger than the other. Furthermore, the airflow may be turned ON / OFF depending on the type and size of the sheet. For example, the air blowing mechanism may be activated and the airflow turned ON only when the sheet size is greater than or equal to a predetermined size. The number of air outlets 16a may be one or three or more per side end guide 14a.

[0095] In the embodiments described above, a configuration was illustrated in which a blower is provided for each of the pair of side end guides 14a and 14b. However, the system is not limited to this configuration, and a blower may be provided for only one of the side end guides.

[0096] In the embodiments described above, the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5 does not move up or down, and the pickup roller 502 moves up or down (a so-called lifterless configuration) was illustrated as an example. However, a configuration in which the loading member that supports the sheet moves up or down is also possible. For example, in the cassette 1 (Figure 1), a support plate (middle plate) that can swing relative to the bottom of the cassette 1 and a lifter plate that moves the support plate up or down may be arranged. Furthermore, in a sheet feeding device equipped with a larger storage capacity, a lifter mechanism may be used that vertically moves a support plate suspended from a wire up or down by winding and unwinding the wire.

[0097] Furthermore, the embodiments described above primarily described manual sheet feeding devices provided on the side of image forming machines used in offices. However, the technology may also be applied to cassette feeding units 230 (Figure 1). In addition, the technology may be applied to manual sheet feeding devices or sheet feeding devices (optional feeders) used in larger commercial image forming machines, either as part of the image forming machine itself.

[0098] (Summary of this disclosure) This disclosure includes at least the following components:

[0099] (Composition 1) A loading component on which the sheets are loaded, A feeding means for feeding the sheet in the feeding direction, A first side end guide and a second side end guide are positioned opposite each other in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and restrict the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction, A first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, A second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being positioned upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction, A blowing means for blowing air onto the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction via an outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blowing means configured to move integrally with the first side end guide, An operating part provided on the first side end guide or the second side end guide, which receives an operating force for moving the first side end guide and the second side end guide, Equipped with, The operating unit and the blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the supply direction. A sheet feeding device characterized by the following features.

[0100] (Configuration 2) The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are arranged below the loading surface of the loading member on which the sheet is loaded. A sheet feeding device according to configuration 1, characterized by the above.

[0101] (Composition 3) The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are housed in the internal space of the loading member that extends between the loading surface and the bottom surface of the loading member. The sheet feeding device according to configuration 2, characterized in that

[0102] (Composition 4) The aforementioned blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating, The position of the operating unit in the feeding direction overlaps with the range corresponding to the diameter of the rotating blade in the feeding direction. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

[0103] (Composition 5) The aforementioned blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating, The position of the operating unit in the feeding direction coincides with the position of the rotation axis of the rotating blade in the feeding direction. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

[0104] (Composition 6) The loading member further comprises a guide member that is supported by the loading member and extends in the width direction of the sheet, The blowing means has a fitting portion that fits with the guide member so as to be guided in the sheet width direction by the guide member, The guide member is positioned between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized by the above.

[0105] (Composition 7) The aforementioned blowing means is the first blowing means, A blowing means for blowing air onto the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction via an outlet provided in the second side end guide, further comprising a second blowing means configured to move integrally with the second side end guide. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized by the above.

[0106] (Composition 8) The second air supply means is positioned downstream of the first interlocking mechanism or upstream of the second interlocking mechanism in the supply direction. The sheet feeding device according to configuration 7, characterized by the features described above.

[0107] (Composition 9) When moved to the innermost position in the sheet width direction, the first air blower and the second air blower overlap when viewed in the supply direction. A sheet feeding device according to configuration 8, characterized by the above.

[0108] (Composition 10) The first interlocking mechanism includes a first rack integrally provided with the first side end guide and extending in the seat width direction, a second rack integrally provided with the second side end guide and extending in the seat width direction, and a first pinion gear that meshes with the first rack and the second rack. The second interlocking mechanism includes a third rack integrally provided with the first side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, a fourth rack integrally provided with the second side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, and a second pinion gear that meshes with the third rack and the fourth rack. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, characterized by the above.

[0109] (Composition 11) The first side end guide has a first force-receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the first interlocking mechanism, and a second force-receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the second interlocking mechanism, The operating unit and the blowing means are arranged between the first force receiving unit and the second force receiving unit in the supply direction. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, characterized by the above.

[0110] (Composition 12) The aforementioned blowing means is a sirocco fan. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, characterized by the above.

[0111] (Composition 13) The aforementioned loading member is a manual feed tray provided on the side of the image forming apparatus. A sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, characterized by the above.

[0112] (Composition 14) A sheet feeding device as described in any one of configurations 1 to 13, Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: [Explanation of Symbols]

[0113] 5...Loading component (feed tray) / 14a...First side end guide (side end guide) / 14b...Second side end guide (side end guide) / 15a...Air blowing means (blower fan) / 16a...Air outlet / 18...Operating unit / 502...Feeding means (pickup roller) / M1...First interlocking mechanism (interlocking mechanism) / M2...Second interlocking mechanism (interlocking mechanism) / Y...Feeding direction

Claims

1. A loading component on which the sheets are loaded, A feeding means for feeding the sheet in the feeding direction, A first side end guide and a second side end guide are positioned opposite each other in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction, A first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, A second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being positioned upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction, A blowing means for blowing air onto the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction via an outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blowing means configured to move integrally with the first side end guide, An operating part provided on the first side end guide and receiving an operating force for moving the first side end guide, Equipped with, At least a portion of the blowing means and the operating unit are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the supply direction. A sheet feeding device characterized by the following features.

2. The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are arranged below the loading surface of the loading member on which the sheet is loaded. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

3. The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are housed in the internal space of the loading member that extends between the loading surface and the bottom surface of the loading member. The sheet feeding device according to feature 2.

4. The blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating, The position of the operating unit in the feeding direction overlaps with the range corresponding to the diameter of the rotating blade in the feeding direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

5. The aforementioned blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating, The position of the operating unit in the feeding direction coincides with the position of the rotation axis of the rotating blade in the feeding direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

6. The loading member is supported by the aforementioned loading member and further comprises a guide member extending in the width direction of the sheet, The blowing means is engaged with the guide member so as to be guided in the sheet width direction by the guide member, The guide member is positioned between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

7. A loading member on which sheets are loaded, A feeding means for feeding the sheet in the feeding direction, A first side end guide and a second side end guide are positioned opposite each other in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction, A first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, A second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being positioned upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction, A blower unit having a fan that generates airflow, which blows air from the fan to the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blower unit configured to move integrally with the first side end guide, An operating part provided on the first side end guide and receiving an operating force for moving the first side end guide, A guide member supported by the loading member and extending in the sheet width direction, wherein a part of the air blower unit is engaged with the guide member so as to guide the air blower unit in the sheet width direction, Equipped with, The guide member and the operating unit are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. A sheet feeding device characterized by the following features.

8. The blower unit includes a duct that guides the air from the fan to the outlet, The sheet feeding device according to feature 7.

9. The operating part is a concave shape provided on the outer surface of the first side end guide. A sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The aforementioned blowing means is the first blowing means, A blowing means for blowing air onto the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction via an outlet provided in the second side end guide, further comprising a second blowing means configured to move integrally with the second side end guide. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

11. The second air supply means is positioned downstream of the first interlocking mechanism or upstream of the second interlocking mechanism in the supply direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 10.

12. With respect to the sheet width direction, the first side end guide and the second side end guide are moved to their innermost positions, and the first air blowing means and the second air blowing means overlap when viewed in the feeding direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 11.

13. The first interlocking mechanism includes a first rack integrally provided with the first side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, a second rack integrally provided with the second side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, and a first pinion gear that meshes with the first rack and the second rack. The second interlocking mechanism includes a third rack integrally provided with the first side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, a fourth rack integrally provided with the second side end guide and extending in the direction of the sheet width, and a second pinion gear that meshes with the third rack and the fourth rack. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

14. The first side end guide has a first force-receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the first interlocking mechanism, and a second force-receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the second interlocking mechanism, At least a portion of the blowing means and the operating unit are arranged between the first force receiving unit and the second force receiving unit in the supply direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

15. The aforementioned blowing means is a sirocco fan. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

16. The aforementioned loading member is a manual feed tray provided on the side of the image forming apparatus. A sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

17. A sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising:

Images