JP2003048640A - Cassette and sheet feeder and image forming device equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cassette and a sheet feeder capable of accurately separating sheets, independently of the rigidity of the sheets, and an image forming device equipped therewith. SOLUTION: After delivered by sheet feeding means 107, sheets S stored in sheet storage means 101 are fed while being separated one by one by a separating slope constituted by a separating member 120 provided at the end of the sheet storage means 101 on the downstream side in a sheet delivering direction. A distance between the separating slope and the sheet feeding means 107 is adjusted by distance adjusting means 130, thereby keeping a distance between the separating slope and a feed roller 107 adequate for separating the sheets S.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with the same, and more particularly to a structure for separating sheets fed by a sheet feeding means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine is generally provided with a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to an image forming section. This sheet feeding device is configured to separate the stacked sheets one by one so that the sheets can be continuously supplied, and various types of sheet separating methods are used.

Here, as a method for separating the sheets one by one, there is a so-called slope separation method for separating the sheets by utilizing the rigidity of the sheet by using a slope. As such a slope separation method, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-251955.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication, sheets are stacked on a bottom plate that is biased upward by a spring, and a half-moon shaped sheet feeding means abuts the uppermost sheet to feed the sheet, and the sheet is fed out. There is a configuration in which sheets are separated one by one by a separation slope provided on the side.

In the separation system of this construction, the uppermost sheet moves while flexing along the separation slope, and the rigidity of this sheet holds down the next sheet to prevent the sheet from advancing, so that one sheet is formed. Are separated one by one.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional sheet feeding device, the separation performance of the separation slope is affected by the rigidity of the sheet and the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means. For example, when a sheet having low rigidity is fed out and the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is long, the distance from the sheet feeding means is large even if the sheet reaches the separation slope, The feeding force by the feeding means becomes small, and therefore, a sufficient frictional force for separating the sheets cannot be obtained, resulting in double feeding.

On the other hand, when the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is shortened, a sheet having a small rigidity can be separated, but a sheet having a large rigidity is sent out.
When the sheet reaches the separation slope, it is not far from the sheet feeding means, so that the feeding force is large. For this reason, the frictional force of the separation slope with respect to the sheet becomes large, the sheet cannot move along the separation slope, and feeding failure occurs.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a cassette and a sheet feeding device that can reliably separate sheets regardless of the rigidity of the sheets, and an image forming apparatus including the same. It is intended to be provided.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, after feeding a sheet stored in a sheet storing means by a sheet feeding means, the fed sheets are separated and fed one by one. In the apparatus, a separation slope is provided at a downstream end of the sheet storage means in the sheet feeding direction and separates the sheets fed by the sheet feeding means, and a distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is adjusted. And a distance adjusting means for adjusting the distance.

According to the present invention, the sheet storage means is detachably stored in the apparatus main body, and the distance adjusting means adjusts the position of the sheet storage means when the sheet storage means is stored in the apparatus main body. The distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is adjusted by.

According to the present invention, the distance adjusting means is provided at the downstream end of the sheet storing means so as to project in the sheet feeding direction, and the sheet storing means is accommodated in the apparatus main body so that the inside of the apparatus main body is accommodated. When abutting on the abutting portion provided on the sheet feeding means, the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is adjusted according to the protruding amount.

The present invention is also characterized in that the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means is changed by manual operation.

Further, according to the present invention, the distance adjusting means is provided in the apparatus main body so as to project therefrom, and the sheet storage means is stored in the main body of the apparatus so that the sheet storage means is provided at a downstream end portion in the sheet feeding direction. When abutting, the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means is adjusted according to the protrusion amount.

The present invention is also characterized in that the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means is changed by manual operation.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means is changed by the protrusion amount adjusting means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the protrusion amount adjusting means changes the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means based on a signal from an external device or a signal from an operating portion. .

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the protrusion amount adjusting means has a cam shape.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including an image forming section and a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to the image forming section, the sheet feeding apparatus is one of the above. It is characterized by.

Further, according to the present invention, in a cassette, a main body having a sheet stacking portion for stacking sheets and a separation unit provided at a downstream end of the main body in the sheet feeding direction, for separating the sheets fed by the sheet feeding means. And a distance adjusting means for adjusting a distance between the separating means and the sheet feeding means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the distance adjusting means is provided so as to be capable of projecting in the sheet feeding direction of the main body.

Further, the present invention is characterized by comprising a manual operation means for changing the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises means for changing the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means based on a signal from an external device.

The present invention is also characterized in that the protrusion amount adjusting means has a cam shape.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus, an image forming unit, a feeding unit for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit, a sheet storing unit for stacking sheets, and a sheet feeding direction of the sheet storing unit. Provided at the downstream end,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a separating means for separating the sheet sent out by the sheet feeding means, and a distance adjusting means for adjusting a distance between the separating means and the sheet feeding means.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the schematic arrangement of an ink jet printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus having a paper feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 200 is an ink jet printer, and this ink jet printer 200 is
The image forming unit 201 and the sheet S on the image forming unit 201.
Sheet feeding cassette 101, a sheet stacking cassette 101 as a sheet storing means, a tray 104 which is a sheet stacking portion for stacking the sheets S, which is vertically movable on the sheet stacking cassette 101, and a motor (not shown). As the sheet feeding means for rotating the sheet feeding means for feeding the uppermost sheet S1 of the sheets S placed on the tray 104, for example, the sheet feeding roller 107
And a sheet feeding device 100 including the above.

The sheet stacking cassette 101 can be attached to and detached from the ink jet printer 200.
Further, for example, a roller portion 206 is provided as skew feeding correction means, the sheet is skew-fed by the roller portion 206, and in order to curl the sheet, a roller portion 207 is provided as curling means, and the sheet is curled by the roller portion. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit.

Here, the image forming section 201 is arranged in parallel in the sheet conveying direction indicated by the arrow, and the head row 204 in which a large number of ink jet heads 204a are arranged in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and the sheet feeding device 100. And a conveyance belt 213 for placing the sheet S conveyed by the above and passing below the head row 204.

The conveyor belt 213 is connected to the drive shaft 2
12, the driven pulley 215, and the drive pulley 220, and the drive pulley 220 is driven to rotate by the drive motor 219 to make a circular movement in the sheet conveying direction.

Next, the image forming operation of the ink jet printer 200 configured as described above will be described.

When the sheet feeding operation is started, the uppermost sheet S1 of the sheets S stored in the sheet stacking cassette 101 will be described.
Are first fed by the paper feed roller 107 and then separated one by one. Then, after this, the sheets S1 separated one by one are, for example, the roller unit 20 as skew feeding correction means.
After the skew feeding correction is performed by 6, the sheet is curled by the roller unit 207 as a curling unit and conveyed to the image forming unit 201.

Next, the sheet S conveyed to the image forming section 201 in this manner is placed on the conveying belt in a state of being pressed by the front pinch roller 216, the pinch roller 217 and the spur unit 214, and this conveying is carried out. The belt 213 passes under each head row 204 due to the revolving movement of the belt 213.
When the sheet S1 passes below each head row 204 in this way, the control device (not shown)
The ink is ejected by controlling the inkjet head 204a to form an image on the surface of the sheet S1. After the image is formed on the surface of the sheet S1 in this manner, the sheet spur 218 discharges the sheet S1 onto the sheet discharge tray 221 provided on the side wall surface of the apparatus main body 200A.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the sheet feeding device 100. The sheet feeding device 100 includes a sheet stacking cassette 101, a tray 104, a sheet feeding roller 107, and a sheet stacking member for raising and lowering the tray 104. As the elevating means, for example, the elevating mechanism 10 and the separation plate 120 are provided.

Here, the lifting mechanism 10 includes the tray 10
First and second frames 10a, 1 projecting from the lower surface of
0b, and third and fourth frames 10c and 10d that are provided to project from the bottom surface of the sheet stacking cassette 101 and that are parallel to the first and second frames 10a and 10b, and the first and the same lengths that intersect at the center. Second tray arm 102, 103
At least a pair of link mechanisms 14 composed of

The one end 10 of the first tray arm 102
2a is rotatably supported by the third frame 10c, and the other end 102b is slidably held in a slide groove 10e formed in the second frame 10b through a shaft (not shown) protruding from the other end 102b. Meanwhile, the second tray arm 10
One end 103a of 3 is rotatably supported by the first frame 10a, and the other end 103b is slidable in a slide groove 10f formed in the fourth frame 10d via a shaft (not shown) protruding from the other end 103b. Held in.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the link mechanism 14 having such a structure is provided at both ends in the sheet width direction between the sheet stacking cassette 101 and the tray 104 as shown in FIG. ing.

The pair of link mechanisms 14 is a shaft (hereinafter referred to as a penetrating shaft) 110 which is a connecting member penetrating the rotation centers of the first and second tray arms 102 and 103.
When the penetrating shaft 110 is moved in the vertical direction, the first and second tray arms 102, 10 are connected.
3 rotates while sliding in the lateral direction along the slide grooves 10e and 10f, whereby the tray 104 is moved up and down while maintaining a horizontal (or substantially horizontal) state.

In FIG. 2, 105 is provided on each of the pair of link mechanisms 14, and the tray 104 is provided.
The tray 104 is always biased upward by the compression spring 105.

The elevating mechanism 10 further comprises a tray cam 109 which is a moving means for moving the penetrating shafts 110 of the first and second tray arms 102 and 103 in the vertical direction. Then, by rotating the tray cam 109, the penetrating shaft 110 can be moved in the vertical direction, and by moving the penetrating shaft 110 in the vertical direction in this manner, the tray 10 is moved by the link mechanism 14 accordingly.
4 moves up and down while maintaining the horizontal state.

Here, the tray cam 109 rotates in synchronization with the paper feed roller 107 by a drive system (not shown), and rotates once when the paper feed roller 107 makes one rotation. The tray cam 109 is at the position shown in FIG. 2 until the paper feeding operation is started. When the tray cam 109 is located at this position, the tray cam 109 causes the penetrating shaft 11 to move.
0 is pushed down, and the tray 104 is lowered while keeping the parallel state. Then, at this time, the sheet S is separated from the sheet feeding roller 107. In this state, by stacking the sheets S, the sheets S can be easily stored.

On the other hand, when the paper feed roller 107 rotates, the tray cam 109 rotates in conjunction with this, and the penetrating shaft 110
Is released from the tray cam 109, the tray 104
Is moved up to the sheet feeding position by the compression spring 105, and the sheet feeding roller 107 and the sheet S come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. When the paper feed roller 107 further sends out the sheet S and then the paper feed roller 107 further rotates, the tray cam 109 pushes down the tray shaft 110 again at a predetermined timing, and the tray 104 descends. .

The separating plate 120 is provided downstream of the sheet stacking cassette 101 in the sheet feeding direction, and has a separating slope for contacting the sheet S fed by the sheet feeding roller 107 to separate the uppermost sheet S1. The separating plate 120 is used for the sheet stacking cassette 10.
1 is provided on the separation guide plate 121 provided on the first plate 1 so that the upper end portion is inclined.

The inclined upper end portion (separation slope) of the separating plate 120 comes into contact with the sheet S sent out by the sheet feeding roller 107 after the tray 104 is raised to the sheet sending position. Here, the separation slope that contacts the sheet of the separation plate 120 is a high friction surface, and the rigidity of the sheet S causes the separation plate 1 to move.
A frictional force is generated between the sheet 20 and the sheet S, and the sheets S are separated one by one by this frictional force.
It is designed to move diagonally upward along 20.

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 130 is provided at the end of the sheet stacking cassette body 101A in the sheet feeding direction, and is used when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is detachably mounted on the body of the ink jet printer 200 (paper feeding device 100). The cassette stopper 130 is a cassette stopper for determining a mounting position, and has a cam shape and is rotatable by a manual operation of a stopper lever 131.

When the cassette stopper 130 rotates in this manner, the cassette stopper 13 is rotated as shown in FIG. 4 or 5.
The cam-shaped portion of 0 projects slightly or largely from the sheet stacking cassette 101. With this configuration, the positional relationship with the feeding roller 107 is adjusted.

Here, the cam-shaped portion of the cassette stopper 130 is operated according to the rigidity of the sheet S. That is, when the rigidity of the seat S is small,
By manually rotating the stopper lever 131 counterclockwise, the stopper shaft 132 is rotated, and the cassette stopper 13 fixed to the stopper shaft 132 is rotated.
I am trying to rotate 0.

Then, in this way, the cassette stopper 13
When 0 rotates, as shown in FIG. 4, the cassette stopper 13
No. 0 cam-shaped portion is the sheet stacking cassette body 101A
It comes to project greatly from. When the rigidity of the sheet S is large, the cassette stopper 130 is rotated by rotating the stopper lever 131 in the clockwise direction to reduce the protrusion amount of the cam-shaped portion of the cassette stopper 130 as shown in FIG. .

In the figure, reference numeral 141 denotes a cassette stopper base which is an abutting portion provided on the frame 140 of the ink jet printer 200, and when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted, the cassette stopper 130 is provided.
Is positioned by hitting the cassette stopper base 141. As a result, the position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 with respect to the frame 140 is determined.

Here, as described above, the cassette stopper 1
Sheet stacking cassette 101 in a state in which 30 is largely projected
When the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted, the setting position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is on the front side in the sheet feeding direction, and as a result, the distance between the separating plate 120 fixed to the sheet stacking cassette 101 and the feeding roller 107 is narrowed.

When the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is narrowed in this way, the moving distance from the feeding roller 107 until reaching the separating plate 120 is shortened, so that the sheet S having a small rigidity is obtained. But the separation plate 120
The force of pressing the sheet S against the sheet S becomes almost the same as that of the sheet S having high rigidity, and as a result, the first sheet S rises diagonally upward and surpasses the separating plate 120 and is fed. Become so.

On the other hand, when the rigidity of the seat S is large, by rotating the stopper lever 131 clockwise,
The cassette stopper 130 is rotated to reduce the protrusion amount of the cam-shaped portion of the cassette stopper 130. As a result, the set position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is on the back side in the sheet feeding direction, and as a result, the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is widened.

When the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is widened in this way, the moving distance from the feeding roller 107 until it reaches the separating plate 120 is long, so that the sheet is placed on the separating plate 120. The force pressing the sheet S becomes weaker, so that even the sheet S having a large rigidity rises in the diagonally upward direction and gets over the separating plate 120 to be fed.

Next, the sheet feeding device 10 configured as described above.
The paper feeding operation of 0 will be described.

When the image forming operation is started and the paper feed roller 107 is rotated accordingly, the tray cam 109 is rotated in conjunction with this and the tray 104 is moved up to the sheet feeding position, and as shown in FIG. The paper roller 107 and the sheet S come into contact with each other.

At this time, since the sheet feeding roller 107 is also rotating, the sheets S stacked on the tray 104 are sent out by a frictional force. After this, the paper feed roller 10
When the tray 7 rotates once, the tray cam 109 also rotates once and pushes down the tray shaft 110, so that the tray 304 and the sheet S are separated from the sheet feeding roller 307 again to be in the standby state.

On the other hand, the sheet S thus fed by the sheet feeding roller 107 contacts the separating plate 120. Here, when the sheet S has a small rigidity, the stopper lever 131 is used when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted.
Is rotated counterclockwise to move the cam-shaped portion of the cassette stopper 130 to the sheet stacking cassette 101.
The sheet is further projected in the sheet feeding direction.

As a result, when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted on the frame 140, the setting position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is brought to the front as shown in FIG. 4, and as a result, the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is narrowed. Become.
When the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is narrowed in this way, the moving distance from the feeding roller 107 until reaching the separating plate 120 is shortened, so that the first sheet S1 is bent. The paper is fed obliquely upward, over the separating plate 120 and fed.

At this time, the second and subsequent sheets S are
Since it is not in direct contact with the feeding roller 107, a feeding force for getting over the separating plate 120 cannot be obtained, so that the separating plate 120 cannot be got over, the inclination of the separating plate 120 and the first sheet S1. Is pushed back by the bending of the sheet and is stacked on the tray 104.

On the other hand, when the sheet S has high rigidity,
By rotating the stopper lever 131 in the clockwise direction, the cassette stopper 130 is rotated, and the protrusion amount of the cam-shaped portion of the cassette stopper 130 is reduced.

As a result, when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted on the frame 140, the setting position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is on the front side as shown in FIG. 5, and as a result, the setting position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is on the back side. As a result, the distance between the separation plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 becomes wider.

When the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is widened in this way, the moving distance from the feeding roller 107 until it reaches the separating plate 120 is long. The force of pressing the sheet S becomes weak, and the first sheet S comes into contact with the separation plate 120 and bends, and then the sheet S gets over the separation plate 120.

At this time, the second and subsequent sheets S are
Since it is not in direct contact with the feeding roller 107, a feeding force for getting over the separating plate 120 cannot be obtained, so that the separating plate 120 cannot be got over, the inclination of the separating plate 120 and the first sheet S1. Is pushed back by the bending of the sheet and is stacked on the tray 104.

Further, after the first sheet S has passed over the separating plate 120 in this way, the tray cam 109 pushes down the tray shaft 110 again while the feeding roller 107 makes one rotation, so that the tray 104 descends.

As described above, the distance between the separation plate 120 (separation slope) and the feeding roller 107 is adjusted by, for example, the cassette stopper 130 as the distance adjusting means, and the distance suitable for separating the sheet S according to the rigidity of the sheet S. In other words, in other words, the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 can be freely changed according to the rigidity of the sheet S, and the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 10 suitable for separating the sheet S can be obtained.
By obtaining the distance of 7, it is possible to obtain a frictional force suitable for separating the sheet S.

As a result, the sheets S can be reliably separated regardless of the rigidity of the sheets S, and double feeding and defective sheet feeding can be eliminated. Further, since the sheet S can be reliably separated by such a simple configuration, the number of parts can be reduced, and as a result, the cost can be suppressed and the reliability can be improved.

In the above description, the case where the cassette stopper 130 is switched in two stages according to the rigidity of the sheet S has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cam shape of the cassette stopper 130 and the like can be changed. By changing the setting, three or more switchings can be set according to the rigidity of the seat S. As a result, the sheet S can be more reliably separated.

By the way, so far, the cassette stopper 130 is provided in the sheet stacking cassette 101, and the protrusion amount of the cassette stopper 130 is set.
Although the case where the operation is performed manually by 31 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cassette stopper 1
30 is an inkjet printer 200 (paper feeding device 10
0) The position of the cassette stopper 130 may be manually operated or automatically set according to the rigidity of the sheet S while being provided in the main body.

Next, in this way, the cassette stopper 130
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the position of the cassette stopper 130 is automatically set according to the rigidity of the sheet S while the above is provided in the main body of the inkjet printer 200 (paper feeding device 100).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of a sheet feeding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof. 6 and 7, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 indicate the same or corresponding portions.

In the figure, reference numeral 300 denotes a cassette stopper, which has a cam shape and is rotatably attached to a frame 140 provided in the main body of the ink jet printer 200 with a shaft 302 as a fulcrum. .

Further, 301 is a cassette stopper 300.
The protrusion amount adjusting means for rotating the cassette stopper 300 to change the protrusion amount is, for example, a drive unit. The drive unit 301 is a stopper motor 310 and a stopper motor 3.
A worm gear unit 311 for transmitting the rotation of 10 to the shaft 302 of the cassette stopper 300 is provided.

The drive unit 301 is drive-controlled by a control unit (not shown). In addition, the control unit (not shown) is based on a signal from an operation unit (not shown) provided in the inkjet printer 200 or a signal from a PC (personal computer) that is an external device (not shown).
For example, when the sheet has low rigidity, the stopper motor 310 is rotated.

Then, in this way, the stopper motor 310
When the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted in this state, the cassette stopper 300 is rotated and the cassette stopper 300 is largely projected toward the sheet stacking cassette 101. It will be on the front side.

As a result, the distance between the separating plate 120 fixed to the sheet stacking cassette 101 and the feeding roller 107 becomes narrow. Here, when the distance between the separation plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is narrowed in this way, the first sheet S1 is lifted diagonally upward even in the case of a sheet having small rigidity, and the separation plate 1
Beyond 20 and will be fed.

On the other hand, when the seat has a large rigidity,
The stopper motor 310 is rotated in the reverse direction.
By thus rotating the stopper motor 310 in the reverse direction, the amount of protrusion of the cassette stopper 300 is reduced. When the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted in this state, the set position of the sheet stacking cassette 101 is at the back side in the sheet feeding direction. Become.

As a result, the distance between the separating plate 120 fixed to the sheet stacking cassette 101 and the feeding roller 107 becomes wide. Here, if the distance between the separating plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is widened in this way, the first sheet S1 of the sheet having high rigidity rises diagonally upward and the separating plate 1
Beyond 20 and will be fed.

In this way, the projection amount of the cassette stopper 300 is automatically changed, and the ink jet printer 200 is
By changing the entering amount of the sheet stacking cassette 101 when the sheet stacking cassette 101 is mounted, the position of the separation plate 120 is changed and the distance between the separation plate 120 and the feeding roller 107 is changed. As a result, it becomes possible to obtain a frictional force suitable for separating the sheet S. As a result, the sheet S can be reliably separated regardless of the rigidity of the sheet S, and double feeding and feeding failure Can be eliminated.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, the distance between the separation slope and the feeding roller suitable for separating the sheet by adjusting the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding means by the distance adjusting means. Thus, the sheet can be reliably separated regardless of the rigidity of the sheet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the sheet with low rigidity of the sheet feeding device is being fed.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state where the sheet with high rigidity of the sheet feeding device is being fed.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a paper feeding device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 paper feeder 101 sheet loading cassette 101A sheet loading cassette body 107 paper feed roller 120 separation plate 130 cassette stopper 131 Stopper lever 141 cassette stopper base 300 cassette stopper 301 drive unit 200 inkjet printer 201 Image forming unit S sheet

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Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device configured to feed a sheet stored in a sheet storing means by a sheet feeding means, and then separate the fed sheets one by one to feed the sheets. A separation slope that is provided at an end portion on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction and that separates the sheets that have been fed by the sheet feeding unit; and a distance adjusting unit that adjusts the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding unit. A paper feeder characterized in that 2. The sheet accommodating means is detachably accommodated in the apparatus main body, and the distance adjusting means adjusts the position of the sheet accommodating means when the sheet accommodating means is accommodated in the apparatus main body. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a slope and the sheet feeding unit is adjusted. 3. The distance adjusting means is provided so as to project at an end portion of the sheet storing means on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and the sheet storing means is provided in the apparatus main body by being stored in the apparatus main body. When contacting the contact part
The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding unit is adjusted according to the amount of protrusion. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the amount of protrusion of the distance adjusting means is changed by manual operation. 5. The distance adjusting means is provided so as to project from the apparatus main body, and when the sheet accommodating means is accommodated in the apparatus main body, the distance adjusting means comes into contact with a downstream end of the sheet accommodating means in the sheet feeding direction. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the separation slope and the sheet feeding unit is adjusted according to the amount of protrusion. 6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means is changed by a manual operation. 7. The sheet feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting unit is changed by the protrusion amount adjusting unit. 8. The feed according to claim 7, wherein the protrusion amount adjusting unit changes the protrusion amount of the distance adjusting unit based on a signal from an external device or a signal from an operation unit. Paper equipment. 9. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion amount adjusting means has a cam shape. 10. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit; and a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit, wherein the sheet feeding device is any one of claims 1 to 9. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that 11. A main body having a sheet stacking section for stacking sheets, and a main body provided at a downstream end of the main body in a sheet feeding direction,
A cassette comprising: a separating unit that separates the sheets sent by the sheet feeding unit; and a distance adjusting unit that adjusts the distance between the separating unit and the sheet feeding unit. 12. The cassette according to claim 11, wherein the distance adjusting means is provided so as to project in the sheet feeding direction of the main body. 13. The cassette according to claim 12, further comprising a manual operation means for changing a protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means. 14. The cassette according to claim 11, further comprising means for changing a protrusion amount of the distance adjusting means based on a signal from an external device. 15. The cassette according to claim 11, wherein the protruding amount adjusting means has a cam shape. 16. An image forming unit, a feeding unit for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit, a sheet storing unit for stacking sheets, and a downstream side end of the sheet storing unit in the sheet feeding direction, An image forming apparatus comprising: a separating unit that separates the sheets sent by the sheet feeding unit; and a distance adjusting unit that adjusts a distance between the separating unit and the sheet feeding unit. 17. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit; and a feeding unit that feeds sheets stacked in a cassette to the image forming unit, wherein the cassette is any one of claims 11 to 15. An image forming apparatus according to item 1.