JP2007106507A - Separation feeding device, paper feeding device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a separation feeding device capable of securely preventing occurrence of double feeding due to difference in outside diameter dimension of a paper feeding roller and each guide roller and feeding paper satisfactorily and continuously at low cost with high durability and to provide a paper feeding device and an image forming device using it. <P>SOLUTION: This separation feeding device 36 has the paper feeding roller 23 having a circumferential part 23a and a small diameter part 23b, the guide rollers 24, a first friction pad 28 brought into pressure-contact with the paper feeding roller 23 by energizing force of a first energizing means 30, a second friction pad 29 brought into pressure-contact with each guide roller 24 by energizing force of a second energizing means 31, and a regulation part 35 for regulating travel of the first friction pad 28 by the first energizing means 30 to allow pressure-contact with the circumferential part 23a and inhibit pressure-contact with the small diameter part 23b when the paper feeding roller 23 rotates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a separation feeding device using a friction pad as a separation unit, and a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus using the separation feeding device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet separation / feed apparatus using a friction pad is known. This uses a paper feed roller having a high frictional resistance member on the peripheral surface and a friction pad pressed against it, and a friction coefficient μ1 between the paper feed roller and the paper, a friction coefficient μ2 between the friction pad and the paper, and between the papers The friction coefficient μ3 and the relationship of μ1> μ2> μ3 are used to separate and feed the sheets one by one, as compared to other reverse roller type or air separation type separation feeding devices. Since the configuration is simple and the cost is low, it is widely used in general equipment.

  As such a separation feeding device using a friction pad, a device using a half-moon-shaped paper feeding roller and a guide roller having a smaller diameter than the paper feeding rollers disposed on both sides thereof is disclosed in, for example, “Patent Document 1”. , "Patent Document 2" and "Patent Document 3". According to this configuration, it is possible to extend the life of the paper feed roller by minimizing the contact between the paper feed roller and the paper, and to suppress the paper lift during separation by the guide roller. Separation can be performed, and further, when combined with a one-rotation clutch, the paper and the paper feed roller can be contacted and separated during one rotation of the paper feed roller.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-208747 JP 2002-87616 A JP 2005-194082 A

  In the above configuration, since the outer diameter of the paper feed roller and the guide roller has a dimensional difference, the position of the friction pad fluctuates in the vertical direction when the paper feed roller is pressed and when the guide roller is pressed. As a result, problems occur. Hereinafter, it demonstrates concretely using drawing.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a conventional paper feeder. In the figure, a paper feed tray 51 on which a plurality of paper sheets P are stacked is supported by an apparatus main body (not shown) so as to be movable up and down, and a paper feed plate 52 for biasing the paper P upward is disposed on one end side thereof. It is installed. Above the sheet feeding plate 52, a half-moon shaped sheet feeding roller 53 that contacts and feeds the sheet P, and a guide roller 54 having a smaller diameter than the sheet feeding roller 53 disposed on both sides of the sheet feeding roller 53, Is arranged. The paper feed roller 53 is attached to a support shaft 55, and is rotated by one rotation when the paper P is fed by rotating the support shaft 55 by an actuator (not shown). Each guide roller 54 is rotatably provided with respect to the support shaft 55. The sheet feeding plate 52 is moved up and down in synchronization with the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 53 by a lifting unit (not shown). Below the paper feed roller 53 and each guide roller 54, a friction pad 57 attached to a pad receiving base 56 is disposed. The pad cradle 56 is swingably supported by an apparatus main body (not shown) and is urged upward by a compression spring 58. With this configuration, the friction pad 57 comes into pressure contact with the paper feed roller 53 or each guide roller 54. In the above-described configuration, the sheet feeding roller 53, each guide roller 54, the support shaft 55, the pad receiving base 56, the friction pad 57, and the compression spring 58 constitute a separation feeding device 59.

  In the above configuration, when the paper feed roller 53 is driven to rotate and the paper feed plate 52 rises, the paper P on the paper feed tray 51 comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 53 and is pulled out by the frictional force of the paper feed roller 53. It is. FIG. 11 shows the state at this time, and the sheet P is separated and fed one sheet at a time as described above by the clockwise rotation of the sheet feed roller 53 from this state.

  When the paper feed roller 53 further rotates from the state shown in FIG. 11, the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 53 is retracted from the friction pad 57, and each guide roller 54 is positioned on the friction pad 57. However, since the outer diameter of each guide roller 54 is smaller than the outer diameter of the paper feed roller 53, the paper P that has entered the friction pad 57 with the rotation of the paper feed roller 53 is between each guide roller 54. As shown in FIG. 12, the peripheral surface of each guide roller 54 does not press against the friction pad 57 and the sheet P on the friction pad 57 is in a free state. In such a case, double feed occurs.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can reliably prevent the occurrence of double feed due to the difference in outer diameter between the feed roller and each guide roller, and can continue to provide good feed at low cost and high durability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a separating / feeding apparatus that can be used in the first place, a paper feeding apparatus using the same, and an image forming apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed roller having a circumferential part involved in feeding and a small diameter part smaller than this, and coaxial with the paper feed roller and disposed on both sides of the paper feed roller. In the separation feeding apparatus having a guide roller having a smaller diameter than a roller, and a friction pad that press-contacts the paper feed roller and each guide roller, the friction pad includes a first friction pad that press-contacts the paper feed roller, and the friction pad A second friction pad that presses against each guide roller, the first friction pad is pressed against the paper feed roller by the biasing force of the first biasing means, and the second friction pad is the second friction pad. The pressure roller is pressed against each guide roller by a biasing force, and when the paper feed roller rotates, pressure contact with the circumferential portion is allowed and pressure contact with the small diameter portion is prohibited. It characterized in that it has a regulating portion for regulating according to one of the urging means to move the first friction pad.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the separation and feeding apparatus according to the first aspect, the first friction pad and the second friction pad are respectively a first support member that is swingably supported by the apparatus main body, and It is arranged on the second support member.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the separation / feeding apparatus according to the second aspect, the first support member and the second support member are characterized in that their swing centers are coaxial.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the separation and feeding apparatus according to the third aspect, the first support member and the second support member are configured to be fitted to each other.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the separation feeding device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the device main body, the first support member, and the second support member are each made of a resin material, The first support member and the second support member are attached to the apparatus main body using their respective elasticity.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the separation and feeding apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the urging force of the first urging means is made larger than that of the second urging means. It is characterized by that.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the separation feeding device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the frictional resistance of the first friction pad is further made larger than that of the second friction pad. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the separation feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the width of the first friction pad is further made larger than that of the second friction pad. And

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feeding device having the separation feeding device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

  The invention described in claim 10 is an image forming apparatus having the sheet feeding device described in claim 9.

  According to the present invention, the friction pad that press-contacts the paper feed roller and the friction pad that press-contacts each guide roller are configured to press-contact each independently, and further, the restriction that prevents the friction pad from pressing against the small-diameter portion. Since the friction pad is always in pressure contact with each guide roller and a gap into which the paper enters can be formed, the double feeding of the paper is surely prevented and good separation feeding is continuously performed. Can be done.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus employing the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 has an image forming section 2 at the center of the apparatus main body 1a, and a sheet feeding section 3 is disposed below the image forming section 2. Above the image forming unit 2, an image reading unit 4 having an ADF unit 4 a is disposed above the image forming unit 2, and on the left side of the image forming unit 2, a paper discharge tray 5 on which the image-formed paper P is stacked. However, on the right side of the image forming unit 2, a paper feed unit 20 having a manual feed tray 6 for manually feeding paper P is provided.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a plurality of yellow images (Y), red images (M), blue images (C), and black images (K) above the intermediate transfer belt 7 that is an endless belt. An image portion 8 is provided. In each image forming unit 8, an electrophotographic process device such as a charging device 10, a developing device 11, and a cleaning device 12 is disposed along the outer periphery of the photoconductor 9 provided for each color. The charging device 10 performs a charging process on the surface of the photoconductor 9, and the portion subjected to the charging process is irradiated with a laser beam from the exposure device 13, and electrostatic charging based on image information read by the image reading unit 4 is performed. A latent image is formed. The developing device 11 visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 9 with toner, and the cleaning device 12 removes and collects the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 9 after transfer.

  The paper feed unit 3 has a plurality of paper feed trays 14a to 14d. Each of the paper feed trays 14 a to 14 d for storing the paper P is supported by the apparatus main body 1 a so as to be freely drawn out, and is located downstream of the paper feed path 15 from each of the paper feed trays 14 a to 14 d and the manual feed tray 6. A registration roller pair 16 is disposed inside the main body 1a. The paper P fed from any of the paper feed trays 14a to 14d or the manual feed tray 6 is transported to the registration roller pair 16 via the paper transport path 15 and is temporarily stopped at the registration roller pair 16 and then has a predetermined timing. It is sent by.

  With the above-described configuration, the toner images formed on the respective photoreceptors 9 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7 and four color images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 to form one color image. . The formed color image is transferred by the transfer device 17 to the paper P sent from the paper supply unit 3 via the registration roller pair 16, fixed on the paper P by the fixing device 18, and then the paper discharge roller 19. Is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 5.

  The separation feeding device of the present invention is applied to the paper feeding unit 3 as the paper feeding device having the paper feeding trays 14 a to 14 d and the paper feeding unit 20 as the paper feeding device having the manual feed tray 6. Although possible, this embodiment will be described as an application example to the sheet feeding unit 20.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the paper feeding unit 20. The sheet feeding unit 20 includes a sheet feeding tray 21, a sheet feeding plate 22, a sheet feeding roller 23, a guide roller 24, a support shaft 25, pad receiving bases 26 and 27, friction pads 28 and 29, compression springs 30 and 31 and the like. is doing.

  The paper feed tray 21 on which a large number of sheets P are stacked is supported by the apparatus main body 1a so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by operation of a lifting means (not shown). A paper feed plate 22 that urges the end of the paper P upward is disposed on the downstream side of the paper feed tray 21 in the paper transport direction. The sheet feeding plate 22 is moved up and down by a driving means (not shown) and is biased by a biasing force of a compression spring 22a disposed below.

  The paper feed roller 23 disposed above the paper feed plate 22 is made of a member such as rubber, which is a high friction resistance member, and is a circle that contacts and feeds the paper P pushed up by the paper feed plate 22. It has a peripheral portion 23a and a small diameter portion 23b that is smaller in diameter than the circumferential portion 23a and is not involved in the feeding of the paper P. As shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed roller 23 is fixed to a support shaft 25 that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 1a, and the support shaft 25 is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) such as a solenoid or a cam. Thus, the sheet P is rotated once when the sheet P is fed. A driving means (not shown) that moves the sheet feeding plate 22 up and down is driven in synchronization with the rotation operation of the sheet feeding roller 23, and the sheet feeding plate 22 is biased upward only when the sheet P is fed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, guide rollers 24 are disposed on both sides of the paper feed roller 23. The resin guide roller 24 has a diameter smaller than that of the circumferential portion 23 a and larger than that of the small diameter portion 23 b, and is rotatably attached to the support shaft 25 by bearings 32. Each guide roller 24 is configured such that its width is smaller than the width of the paper feed roller 23. Retaining rings 33 are provided on both side portions of each guide roller 24, and the position of each guide roller 24 in the width direction is prevented by each retaining ring 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pad support 26 as a first support member is provided below the paper feed roller 23, and a pad support 27 as a second support member is provided below each guide roller 24. Are arranged respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the pad cradle 26 and each pad cradle 27 are rotatably supported at their base ends by a support shaft 34 attached to the apparatus main body 1 a, and the free end side of the pad cradle 26. A friction pad 28 as a first friction pad is fixed, and a friction pad 29 as a second friction pad is fixed to the free end side of each pad receiving base 27. The friction pads 28 and 29 are made of a high friction resistance member such as rubber, rubber cork, foamed urethane, or thermoplastic elastomer, and the width thereof corresponds to the width of the corresponding paper feed roller 23 and each guide roller 24. The friction pads 29 are formed so that the width of each friction pad 29 is smaller than the width of the friction pad 28. A compression spring 30 as a first urging means is disposed below the pad cradle 26, and a compression spring 31 as a second urging means is disposed below each pad cradle 27. One end of each of the compression springs 30 and 31 is in contact with a part of the apparatus main body 1 a, and the other end is in contact with the bottom surfaces of the pad receiving bases 26 and 27. With this configuration, the friction pads 28 and 29 are pressed against the circumferential portion 23 a and the peripheral surfaces of the guide rollers 24 with a predetermined pressing force.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a hook-shaped locking piece 26a is integrally formed on the bottom surface of the pad base 26, and a hook-shaped hook is formed on the apparatus body 1a side to engage with the locking piece 26a. A locking portion 1b is formed. The pad base 26 is restricted from moving upward by the engaging piece 26a engaging the engaging portion 1b. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the friction pad 28 from coming into pressure contact with the small diameter portion 23b when the paper supply roller 23 rotates and the small diameter portion 23b occupies a position corresponding to the pad receiving base 26. This prevents the paper P from entering between the roller 23 and the friction pad 28. The locking piece 26a and the locking portion 1b constitute a restricting portion 35, and the position of the pad receiving base 26 restricted by the restricting portion 35 is set to be substantially the same as each pad receiving stand 27. Has been.

  In the above-described configuration, the paper feed roller 23, each guide roller 24, the support shaft 25, the pad bases 26 and 27, the friction pads 28 and 29, the compression springs 30 and 31, the bearing 32, the retaining ring 33, the support shaft 34, and the restriction A separation feeding device 36 that separates and feeds the paper P from the paper feed tray 21 is configured by the unit 35 and the like.

  With the above-described configuration, the friction pad 28 that is pressed against the paper feed roller 23 and the friction pad 29 that is pressed against each guide roller 24 are independently pressed, and the friction pad 28 is further pressed against the small diameter portion 23b. Since the restricting portion 35 for preventing the sheet P from being pressed is provided, the friction pad 29 is always pressed against each guide roller 24 and a gap through which the sheet P enters can be formed. Therefore, good separation and feeding can be continuously performed. Further, since the width of each friction pad 29 is narrower than the width of the friction pad 28, the resistance of the paper P entering each guide roller 24 can be reduced, and the paper P can be satisfactorily entered. In addition, since the friction pads 28 and 29 are configured to be swingable around the axial center provided coaxially, the positional accuracy of the friction pads 28 and 29 can be improved.

  In the above-described configuration, when the paper P is fed, the paper feed roller 23 is a friction force between the pressure contact force of the paper feed plate 22 and the friction pad 28 and the paper P due to its own frictional resistance. The sheet P is fed downstream by overcoming the frictional resistance between each guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29. For this reason, compared with the conventional feeding system using the friction pad, the friction coefficient between the guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29 is reduced, so that the friction coefficient of the friction pad 28 is lowered, or the paper feeding roller 23 is used. It is desirable to increase the friction coefficient of the guide roller 24 and to reduce the resistance of each guide roller 24 as much as possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the friction pads 28 and 29 are attached to the pad receiving bases 26 and 27, respectively, and the friction pads 28 and 29 are moved with respect to the paper feed roller 23 and the guide rollers 24 by the swinging of the pad receiving bases 26 and 27. 29, the configuration in which the friction pads 28 and 29 are in pressure contact with the paper feed roller 23 and the guide rollers 24 is not limited to swinging. For example, the friction pads 28 and 29 are supported so as to be movable up and down. For example, a configuration in which pressure is pressed linearly by a biasing means may be employed.

  FIG. 7 shows pad bases 37 and 38 used in the second embodiment of the present invention. A pad support 37, which is a first support member used in place of the pad support 26, has a friction pad 28 at its free end, and its width is formed corresponding to the width of the paper feed roller 23. Yes. A pad support 38 as a second support member used instead of the pad support 27 has a friction pad 29 at its free end, and the width thereof is formed corresponding to the width of each guide roller 24. ing. Concave portions 37a are formed coaxially on both sides of the base end of the pad cradle 37. On the same axis on both sides of the base end of each pad cradle 38, the recesses 37a can be fitted and the apparatus main body 1a is illustrated. Convex portions 38a that are rotatably supported by the engaging portions that are not formed are respectively formed.

  With the above-described configuration, the pad receiving bases 37 and 38 are swingably supported with respect to the apparatus main body 1a by attaching the convex portions 38a to the apparatus main body 1a. It can be simplified, and it becomes possible to reduce cost and improve assembly.

  8 and 9 show a pad cradle 39 as a first support member used in the third embodiment. The pad base 39 made of a resin material has a friction pad 28 at its free end, and its width is formed corresponding to the width of the paper feed roller 23. Engagement protrusions 39a are integrally formed on both sides of the base end of the pad cradle 39, and each engagement protrusion 39a engages with a resin engagement portion 1c formed on the apparatus main body 1a. The elastically deformable engaging portion 1c has a loosely fitting portion 1d in which the engaging protrusion 39a is rotatable and a holding portion 1e that prevents the engaging protrusion 39a from falling off. As shown in FIG. When the projection 39a is elastically deformed when engaged in the arrow direction, the engagement projection 39a is held by the holding portion 1e when the engagement projection 39a is pushed into the loose fitting portion 1d. The protrusion 39a is rotatably supported. Although not shown in the drawings, it can also be used as a support system for each pad cradle (pad cradle 27 in the first embodiment) that has a friction pad 29 and is arranged corresponding to each guide roller 24. .

  With this configuration, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the first embodiment, and the cost can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. In addition, the assemblability can be further improved by holding the convex portions 38a shown in the second embodiment with the engaging portions 1c. In the third embodiment, the resin engagement portion 1c may be integrally formed with the resin device main body 1a or may be integrally attached to the metallic device main body 1a.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the urging force of the compression spring 30 is made larger than the urging force of each compression spring 31 to reduce the resistance when the paper P enters between each guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29. However, this is not limited depending on the type of paper P to be used and environmental conditions. However, the separation performance of the paper P is mainly related to the pressure force of the friction pad 28. By increasing the pressure force, the separation performance is improved, the wear of the paper feed roller 23 is increased, the separation noise is generated, and the load torque is increased. Such a phenomenon occurs. Further, the double feed prevention performance of the paper P is mainly related to the pressurizing force of the friction pad 29. By increasing the pressurization force, the double feed prevention performance is improved, the paper ingress property is deteriorated when feeding thin paper, and the load torque. Phenomenon such as increase of the occurrence occurs.

  Further, by reducing the friction coefficient of each friction pad 29 as compared with the friction coefficient of the friction pad 28, the resistance when the paper P enters between each guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29 is reduced. Is possible. In this case, the friction coefficient can be adjusted by mixing a cork material, a nylon fiber, a resin material or the like with a rubber material which is a base material and has a high friction coefficient.

  Further, the urging force of the compression spring 30 is made larger than the urging force of each compression spring 31 and the friction coefficient of each friction pad 29 is made smaller than the friction coefficient of the friction pad 28, so that The conveyance force of the paper P by the pad 28 can be sufficiently increased with respect to the resistance force by each guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29, and the margin for non-feed of the paper P can be improved.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration has been shown in which the pad receiving bases 26 and 27, the pad receiving bases 37 and 38, the pad receiving base 39, and the pad receiving base (not shown) are swung on the same axis. Depending on the type of P and the environmental conditions, the respective swing center positions are made different so that the paper P easily enters between the paper feed roller 23 and the friction pad 28 and between each guide roller 24 and each friction pad 29. It is good.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the sheet feeding unit 3 and the sheet feeding unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 are shown as examples to which the separation feeding device 36 can be applied. For example, the present invention can be applied to any part as long as it is a part for separating and feeding paper such as the ADF unit 4a.

1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a paper feeding device that employs a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic front view of a separation and feeding apparatus that employs a first embodiment of the present invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the support mechanism of the friction pad used for the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic explaining the control part used for the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the support mechanism of the friction pad used for the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the support mechanism of the friction pad used for the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic for demonstrating attachment of the friction pad in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the separation feeding apparatus of the conventional friction pad system. It is the schematic for demonstrating the problem of the separation feeding apparatus of the conventional friction pad system. It is the schematic for demonstrating the problem of the separation feeding apparatus of the conventional friction pad system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1a Apparatus main body 3,20 Paper feeding apparatus (paper feeding part)
23 Feed roller 23a Circumferential portion 23b Small diameter portion 24 Guide roller 26, 37, 39 First support member (pad base)
27, 38 Second support member (pad cradle)
28 First friction pad (friction pad)
29 Second friction pad (friction pad)
30 First biasing means (compression spring)
31 Second urging means (compression spring)
35 Regulatory Unit 36 Separation Feeder

Claims (10)

A paper feed roller having a circumferential part involved in feeding and a small diameter part smaller than this, and a guide roller coaxial with the paper feed roller and disposed on both sides thereof and having a smaller diameter than the paper feed roller In the separation feeding device having the friction roller that press-contacts the paper feed roller and the guide rollers,
The friction pad has a first friction pad that presses against the paper feed roller and a second friction pad that presses against each guide roller, and the first friction pad is driven by the biasing force of the first biasing means. The second friction pad is pressed against the guide rollers by the urging force of the second urging means, and is allowed to press against the circumferential portion when the paper feed roller rotates. And a separating / feeding device comprising a restricting portion for restricting the movement of the first friction pad by the first urging means so as to inhibit the pressure contact with the small diameter portion. The separation feeding apparatus according to claim 1,
The first and second friction pads are respectively disposed on a first support member and a second support member that are swingably supported by the apparatus main body. . The separation feeding apparatus according to claim 2,
The separating and feeding device, wherein the first support member and the second support member have coaxial centers of swing. The separation feeding device according to claim 3,
The separation feeding device, wherein the first support member and the second support member are configured to be fitted to each other. In the separation feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The apparatus main body, the first support member, and the second support member are each made of a resin material, and the first support member and the second support member are attached to the apparatus main body using their respective elasticity. Separating and feeding device. In the separation feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A separating and feeding apparatus characterized in that the urging force of the first urging means is larger than that of the second urging means. In the separation feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A separation feeding apparatus characterized in that the frictional resistance of the first friction pad is larger than that of the second friction pad. In the separation feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A separation feeding device characterized in that the width of the first friction pad is made larger than that of the second friction pad.   A sheet feeding device comprising the separation feeding device according to claim 1.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet feeding device according to claim 9.

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