JP2011051684A - Sheet feeder and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feeder and an image forming device capable of surely positioning a rear end regulating member and an extracting member, without impairing usability. <P>SOLUTION: The rear end regulating member 40 for regulating the rear end on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of a sheet stored in a paper feeding tray 20, is slidably supported along the parallel direction to the sheet feeding direction by an extension member 30 extractably arranged along the parallel direction to the sheet feeding direction in the paper feeding tray 20. The paper feeding tray 20 is provided with an extension member locking part 23 for holding the extension member 30 in a storage position or an extracting position. The paper feeding try 20 is also provided with a rear end regulating member locking part 21 for holding the rear end regulating member 40 in a regulating position for regulating the rear end of the sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet storage unit that stores a sheet provided with a drawer member.

  Conventional image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles and the like are provided with a sheet feeding device, and a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding device to an image forming unit to form an image. is doing. As such a sheet feeding device, a sheet stored and supported in a sheet storage unit provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus is generally automatically fed to the image forming unit by a sheet feeding roller. It is.

  Here, in the sheet storage unit, a rear end regulating member that regulates the position of the rear end (hereinafter referred to as the rear end) of the sheet feeding direction of the stored sheet, and a direction (hereinafter referred to as the sheet feeding direction) of the sheet. A side end regulating member for regulating the side end position in the width direction) is provided. In such a sheet storage portion, the side edge of the sheet is regulated by the side edge regulating member, while the trailing edge of the sheet is regulated by the trailing edge regulating member, so that the leading end position of the sheet is always set to a predetermined position. I try to regulate it. Accordingly, when the sheet is stored in the sheet storage unit, it is possible to stably feed the sheet regardless of the size of the sheet.

  By the way, in recent years, the image forming apparatus has been downsized in order to improve space efficiency. However, when the image forming apparatus is downsized in this way, the image forming apparatus main body is smaller than the used sheet. There is. Therefore, in such a case, there is a sheet storage portion provided with a drawer portion that can be pulled out integrally with the rear end regulating member, and the drawer member is pulled out and used according to the size of the sheet (Patent Document). 1). In such a configuration, the drawer member is pulled out and used only when a large-size sheet is stored, that is, the drawer member is pulled out only when the large-size sheet is used. This solves the problem of installation space.

JP-A-9-110191

  By the way, in the conventional sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with such a conventional sheet storage section, the drawer member of the sheet storage section is fixed at the pull-out position or the storage position by a locking mechanism. The rear end regulating member is also positioned with respect to the drawer member by the positioning mechanism. By the way, in a sheet feeding apparatus that feeds a sheet by moving the middle plate supporting the leading edge of the sheet upward and pressing the leading edge of the sheet against the sheet feeding roller, the sheet is fed when the middle plate is raised. Returned in the direction opposite to the feed direction. This is called kickback, and when the intermediate plate is suddenly raised, a large impact force may be applied from the seat to the rear end regulating member by the kickback. Further, when an impact force is applied to the rear end regulating member in this way, an impact force is also applied to the drawer member from the rear end regulating member.

  Here, the magnitude of the rear end regulating member holding force of the positioning mechanism of the rear end regulating member provided on the drawer member is such that the rear end regulating member does not move relative to the drawer member even when an impact force is applied. A size is necessary. In addition, the pulling member holding force of the holding mechanism provided in the sheet storage portion is determined so that the pulling member does not move even when an impact force is applied from the trailing end regulating member. A force greater than force is required.

  When either one of the holding forces does not satisfy this condition, the trailing end regulating member or the drawing member moves in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction due to kickback. If the sheet moves rearward along with this movement, the sheet may deviate from the position of the sheet feeding roller, and the sheet may not be fed. However, if the rear end regulating member holding force and the pulling member holding force are set large in order to prevent this, when the user operates the rear end regulating member and the pulling member, the respective operating forces are large, which impairs usability. There was a risk of it.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and provides a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus capable of reliably positioning the rear end regulating member and the drawer member without impairing usability. It is intended to provide.

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet stored in a sheet storage unit, wherein the sheet storage unit includes a sheet storage unit main body, and an upstream of a sheet stored in the sheet storage unit main body in a sheet feeding direction. A rear end regulating member that regulates the rear end of the side, and is provided in the sheet storage unit main body so that it can be pulled out along a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction, and the rear end regulating member is arranged in a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction A drawer member that is slidably supported along the sheet storage portion body, a first holding portion that is provided in the sheet storage portion main body and holds the drawer member in a storage position or a drawer position, and is provided in the sheet storage portion main body, And a second holding portion that holds the end regulating member at a regulating position that regulates the rear end of the sheet.

  As in the present invention, by holding the drawer member and the rear end regulating member by the first holding unit and the second holding unit provided in the sheet storage unit main body, respectively, without reducing the usability, The drawer member can be positioned reliably.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding tray that forms a sheet storage unit provided in the sheet feeding apparatus. FIG. 3 is a second diagram illustrating the configuration of the paper feed tray. The figure explaining the structure of the extension member provided in the said paper feed tray, and a rear-end control member. FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating a sheet storing operation with respect to the sheet storing unit. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating a sheet storing operation with respect to the sheet storing unit. FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating a sheet storing operation with respect to the sheet storing unit. FIG. 10 is a fourth diagram illustrating a sheet storing operation with respect to the sheet storing unit. FIG. 10 is a fifth diagram illustrating a sheet storing operation with respect to the sheet storing unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding tray provided in a sheet feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 10A, an image forming unit 10B, and a sheet feeding device 10C that feeds a sheet S such as recording paper to the image forming unit 10B. The image forming unit 10B includes a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 6 and a laser scanner unit 11 that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum.

  The sheet feeding apparatus 10 </ b> C includes a sheet storage unit 3 including a sheet feeding tray 20 that can be opened and closed with a shaft 20 a as a fulcrum with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 10 </ b> A and a middle plate 3 a that can be rotated in the vertical direction. Yes. Further, the sheet feeding apparatus 10C includes a sheet feeding roller 4 that is a sheet feeding member that feeds the sheets S stored in the sheet storage unit 3 one by one from the uppermost sheet S1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a separation pad, and the separation pad 5 is in pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller 4 by a spring 5a. Reference numeral 7 denotes a transfer roller that constitutes a transfer portion together with the photosensitive drum 6, and 8 denotes a fixing roller pair.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. When image information is sent from a personal computer (not shown) and a control unit (controller) (not shown) that performs image formation processing of the image information issues a print signal, the image exposure light from the laser scanner unit 11 causes the photosensitive drum 6 to be exposed. A latent image is formed. Thereafter, the latent image on the photosensitive drum is developed with toner by a developing unit (not shown), and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum.

  On the other hand, when a control unit (not shown) issues a print signal, the intermediate plate 3a rotates upward and the sheet feeding roller 4 rotates to feed the uppermost sheet S1 stored in the sheet storage unit 3. The At this time, even if a plurality of sheets S are fed by the sheet feeding roller 4, the sheet S is rolled by the separation pad 5 pressed against the sheet feeding roller 4, and the uppermost sheet S 1 is the photosensitive drum 6. And a transfer roller 7. In this transfer portion, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet S1, and then the toner image is fixed to the sheet S1 by applying heat and pressure by the fixing roller pair 8. The Thereafter, the sheet S1 on which the image is fixed is discharged to a stacking tray 12 provided on the upper surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus by a discharge roller pair 9.

  By the way, the sheet feeding tray 20 constitutes the sheet storage unit main body of the sheet storage unit 3 together with the middle plate 3a. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding tray 20 includes an extension member 30 that is a drawer member that can be pulled out along the direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction with respect to the sheet feeding tray 20. In addition, the extension member 30 causes the abutment surface 44 to abut the rear end, which is the upstream side end in the sheet feeding direction of the sheet S placed on the paper feed tray 20, so that the rear end of the sheet S The rear end regulating member 40 for positioning is supported so as to be slidable along a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 denotes a side regulating member that regulates the position of the sheet S in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper feed tray 20 includes a rear end regulating member locking portion 21, which is a second holding portion including a plurality of locking holes 21 a, as a configuration acting on the rear end regulating member 40. Have. Moreover, as a structure which acts on the extension member 30, it has the extension member latching | locking part 23 which is a 1st holding part which consists of a some latching hole 23a, as shown in FIG. Further, the extension member 30 has an extension member guide groove 22 extending in the sheet feeding direction as a configuration acting on the extension member 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the extension member 30 has an extension member engaging means 31 as a configuration that acts on the paper feed tray 20. The extension member engaging means 31 is elastically engaged with a predetermined locking hole 23 a of the extension member locking portion 23 of the paper feed tray 20, so that the extension member 30 is positioned with respect to the paper feed tray 20. Retained. The extension member 30 includes an extension member rail 33 that extends in the sheet feeding direction as a configuration that acts on the sheet feeding tray 20. The extension member rail 33 is sandwiched between the extension member guide grooves 22 of the paper feed tray 20 to restrict the vertical movement of the extension member 30 with respect to the sheet stacking surface of the extension member 30. The movement of the extension member 30 is guided while regulating.

  The extension member 30 has a rear end regulating member guide groove 32 as a configuration acting on the rear end regulating member 40. Further, the extension member 30 is configured to act on the trailing edge regulating member 40, and when the sheet feeding direction length is stored in a sheet having a predetermined length, for example, LTR paper, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is arranged in the sheet feeding direction. When operated in the reverse direction, it has a lock portion 34 that comes into contact with the rear end regulating member 40.

  Here, by having the lock portion 34 which is such a contact portion, when storing a sheet having a length exceeding the length in the sheet feeding direction of the LTR paper, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is set in the sheet feeding direction. When the slide operation is performed in the reverse direction, the rear end regulating member 40 first comes into contact with the lock portion 34. Thereafter, the extension member 30 is pulled out from the paper feed tray 20 integrally with the rear end regulating member 40.

  When the LTR paper is stored in the sheet storage unit 3, when the rear end regulating member 40 is slid in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction, the rear end regulating member 40 comes into contact with the lock unit 34. By abutting on the lock portion 34, the movement of the rear end regulating member 40 is regulated. That is, in the present embodiment, when the LTR paper and a sheet having a longer sheet feeding direction length than the LTR paper are stored, the extension member 30 locks the position of the rear end regulating member 40 by the lock portion 34. On the other hand, the extension member 30 has a configuration that does not affect the movement of the trailing edge regulating member 40 in the sheet feeding direction when storing a sheet having a shorter sheet feeding direction length than the LTR paper. Yes. As a result, when storing a sheet whose length in the sheet feeding direction is shorter than that of the LTR paper, the rear end regulating member 40 can move independently of the extension member 30.

  Further, the rear end regulating member 40 has a rear end regulating member engaging means 41 as a configuration acting on the paper feed tray 20. The rear end regulating member engaging means 41 is positioned with respect to the paper feeding tray 20 by elastically engaging with the engaging hole 21 a of the rear end regulating member engaging portion 21 of the paper feeding tray 20. . Further, as a configuration that acts on the extension member 30, a rear end regulating member rail 43 is provided. Then, the rear end regulating member rail 43 is sandwiched by the rear end regulating member guide groove 32 of the extension member 30, whereby the vertical position of the rear end regulating member 40 is regulated and the sliding movement of the rear end regulating member 40 is guided. Is done. Furthermore, as a configuration that acts on the extension member 30, a rear end regulating member stopper means 42 is provided. When the trailing edge regulating member 40 is to be moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction from the position in contact with the trailing edge of the LTR paper, the trailing edge regulating member stopper means 42 of the extension member 30 constituting the third holding portion is used. The movement of the rear end regulating member 40 is locked by engaging with the lock portion 34. Note that, as described above, in the present embodiment, the trailing end regulating member 40 is not affected by the movement in the sheet feeding direction from the extension member 30 except for the lock portion 34.

  By configuring the paper feed tray 20, the extension member 30, and the rear end regulating member 40 in this way, the vertical position of the extension member 30 is regulated by the paper feed tray 20, and the vertical position of the rear end regulating member 40 is extended. It is regulated by the member 30. The sheet feeding tray 20 directly positions the extension member 30 in the sheet feeding direction. Further, the position of the trailing edge regulating member 40 in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the sheet feeding tray 20 is directly positioned in the range downstream of the position where the trailing edge regulating member 40 contacts the rear end of the LTR.

  Further, in the range upstream from the rear end of the LTR, the extension member 30 positions the position of the rear end regulating member 40 in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the paper feed tray 20 via the lock portion 34. That is, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is selectively held at the regulating position by the trailing edge regulating member locking portion 21 or the lock portion 34 in accordance with the length of the stored sheet in the sheet feeding direction. In the present embodiment, matters relating to the position in the width direction of the extension member 30 and the rear end regulating member 40 are not related to the gist of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a sheet storing operation for the sheet storing unit 3 including the sheet feeding tray 20, the extension member 30, and the trailing end regulating member 40 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. 5 to 8, (a) is a diagram mainly showing the relationship between the extension member 30 and the trailing edge regulating member 40, and (b) is mainly showing the relationship between the paper feed tray 20 and the trailing edge regulating member 40. FIG. 4C is a diagram mainly showing a relationship between the paper feed tray 20 and the extension member 30. 5 to 8, T indicates the rear end position of the LTR paper.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the extension member 30 and the rear end regulating member 40 shown in FIG. 9A are located on the most downstream side with respect to the paper feed tray 20, that is, the extension member 30 is in the stored state. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of the paper feed tray 20 at the time. When in this stored state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is not affected by the extension member 30 in the sheet feeding direction. Thereby, the rear end regulating member 40 can be freely slid according to the sheet size. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rear end regulating member 40 has the rear end regulating member engaging means 41 in the predetermined locking hole 21 a of the rear end regulating member locking portion 21 of the paper feed tray 20. By being locked, positioning in the sheet feeding direction is performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the extension member 30 also has the extension member engagement means 31 locked in the predetermined locking hole 23 a of the extension member locking portion 23 of the paper feed tray 20. Thus, positioning in the sheet feeding direction is performed.

  6B, when the sheet shorter in the sheet feeding direction than the LTR paper is stored on the sheet feeding tray 20 as shown in FIG. 9B, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is moved from the stored state of FIG. It is the figure which showed the state moved to the sending direction upstream. In this state, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is not affected by the extension member 30 with respect to the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The end regulating member 40 can be moved to the rear end regulating position of the storage sheet. Further, at this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, the rear end regulating member 40 has a rear end regulating member engaging means 41 that engages with a locking hole 21 a of the rear end regulating member engaging portion 21 of the paper feed tray 20. And move with repeated engagement. Finally, the trailing edge regulating member engaging means 41 is elastically locked in the locking hole 21a at the optimum position, whereby the trailing edge regulating member 40 is positioned in the sheet feeding direction. Further, the extension member 30 does not receive a force in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction from the rear end regulating member 40 even when the rear end regulating member 40 moves upstream in the sheet feeding direction. As shown in c), it remains in the same position as the position shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows that when the LTR paper shown in FIG. 9C is placed on the paper feed tray 20, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is moved further upstream from the state of FIG. 6 in the sheet feeding direction. It is the figure which showed the state. Then, when the trailing edge regulating member 40 is moved in this way and reaches the trailing edge regulating position where the trailing edge regulating member 40 regulates the trailing edge of the LTR paper, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is moved as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), it comes into contact with the lock portion 34. As a result, the trailing edge regulating member 40 is locked so as not to move further upstream in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the extension member 30. Further, at this point, the extension member 30 still remains in the same position as in the storage state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as shown in FIG.

  8 shows a state in which the trailing edge regulating member 40 shown in FIG. 9D is placed in the state shown in FIG. 7 when a sheet having a longer sheet feeding direction length than the LTR paper is placed on the sheet feeding tray 20. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet is further moved upstream in the sheet feeding direction. When moving from the state of FIG. 7 to the state of FIG. 8, the movement of the rear end regulating member 40 is locked with respect to the extension member 30, and the position with respect to the extension member 30 is not changed. Therefore, when the rear end regulating member 40 is further moved to the upstream side, the force at this time is changed to a force for moving the extension member 30, and the extension member locking portion 23 that holds the extension member 30 is locked. The engagement between the hole 23a and the extension member engaging means 31 is released.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rear end regulating member 40 that has been moved separately from the extending member 30 until then is integrated with the extending member 30 in the sheet feeding direction. Move upstream. Then, after moving integrally with the rear end regulating member 40 in this way, the extension member 30 is, as shown in FIG. 8C, the extension member engaging portion 31 in which the extension member engaging means 31 is on the upstream side. The extension member 30 is positioned by being elastically locked to the other locking holes 23a of the 23. As a result, since both the sheet extension member 30 and the trailing edge regulating member 40 protrude from the sheet feeding tray 20, the trailing edge of the sheet having a longer length in the sheet feeding direction than the LTR sheet protruding from the sheet feeding tray 20 is also positioned. Is possible.

  As described above, when feeding the sheet S having a length that can be stored in the state where the extension member 30 is in the storage position, the extension member 30 is stored in the paper feed tray 20 as shown in FIG. Only the trailing edge regulating member 40 moves in the state where it is in contact with the trailing edge of the sheet. Further, when feeding the sheet S having a length that allows the extension member 30 to be pulled out and stored, the extension member 30 and the rear end regulating member 40 are interlocked with each other as shown in FIG. By pulling out from the rear end regulating member 40, the rear end regulating member 40 can be brought into contact with the rear end of the sheet.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the extension member 30 can be reliably positioned by the extension member locking portion 23 provided in the paper feed tray 20. Further, the rear end regulating member 40 can be reliably positioned by holding the rear end regulating member 40 in the rear end regulating member locking portion 21 provided in the paper feed tray 20. The extension member 30 is held on the paper feed tray 20 and the rear end restriction member 40 is held at the restriction position by the paper feed tray 20 in this way, so that the rear end restriction member 40 and the extension member are not impaired. 30 positioning can be performed reliably.

  Furthermore, with this configuration, as long as the extension member 30 and the rear end regulating member 40 satisfy the holding force that does not shift due to the impact force, the mutual force relationship need not be considered. Therefore, the conditions for realizing the configuration can be relaxed. As a result, the configuration of the paper feed tray 20 can be simplified, and the operating force for moving the extension member 30 and the rear end regulating member 40 can be set to the same magnitude.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding tray that constitutes a sheet storage unit provided in a sheet feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the paper feed tray 200 has a rear end regulating member locking portion 201 formed of a plurality of locking holes 201a. Then, the rear end regulating member engaging portion 41 is engaged with the engaging hole 201a of the rear end regulating member engaging portion 201, thereby positioning the rear end regulating member 40 in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the paper feed tray 200. Is called. Further, in the present embodiment, the extension member 300 positions the extension member 300 with respect to the paper feed tray 200 by locking the extension member positioning means 301 to the rear end regulating member locking portion 201. That is, in the present embodiment, the extension member 300 and the rear end regulating member 40 are positioned by the rear end regulating member latching portion 201 which is the same latching portion.

  The extension member 300 and the trailing edge regulating member 40 are thus positioned in the sheet feeding direction by the same portion (the trailing edge regulating member locking portion 201) of the feeding tray 200, thereby simplifying the feeding tray 200. It becomes possible to comprise in various shapes. As a result, it is possible to simplify the mold structure and improve the maintainability of the mold, thereby reducing the cost.

  In the above description, the paper feed trays 20 and 200 are rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 10A. However, as the paper feed tray, for example, a detachable type may be used. Further, until now, the position where the extension members 30 and 300 lock the movement of the trailing edge regulating member 40 is set to the position where the trailing edge regulating member abuts against the trailing edge of the LTR paper. Not necessarily. For example, if the rear end regulating member 40 can come into contact with the lock portion 34 in a position where the extension members 30 and 300 are stored, that is, the extension members 30 and 300 do not protrude outward from the image forming apparatus main body, the lock position is set to A4. It can be set at any other position such as the trailing edge of the paper.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Sheet storage part, 4 ... Sheet feeding roller, 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 10A ... Image forming apparatus main body, 10B ... Image forming part, 10C ... Sheet feeding apparatus, 20 ... Paper feed tray, 21 ... Rear end regulation Member locking part, 23 ... Extension member locking part, 30 ... Extension member, 31 ... Extension member engagement means, 34 ... Lock part, 40 ... Rear end regulation member, 41 ... Rear end regulation member engagement means, 200 ... Paper feed tray, 201 ... trailing edge regulating member locking portion, 300 ... extension member, S ... sheet

Claims (7)

In a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet stored in a sheet storage unit,
The sheet storage portion
A sheet storage unit body;
A rear end regulating member for regulating a rear end on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the sheet stored in the sheet storage unit body;
A drawer member provided in the sheet storage unit main body so as to be capable of being pulled out along a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction, and supporting the rear end regulating member so as to be slidable along a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction;
A first holding portion that is provided in the sheet storage portion main body and holds the drawer member in a storage position or a drawer position;
A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a second holding unit that is provided in the sheet storage unit main body and holds the trailing end regulating member at a regulating position that regulates the trailing end of the sheet. A third holding portion that is provided on the drawer member and holds the trailing edge regulating member at a regulating position that regulates the trailing edge of the sheet;
The rear end restricting member is held at the restricting position by the second holding portion when the pulling member is held at the storing position by the first holding portion, and the pulling member is pulled out by the first holding portion. 2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the sheet is held at the position, the third holding unit holds the sheet at the restriction position.   The third holding unit is configured to slide in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction when the sheet storage unit stores a sheet having a length exceeding a predetermined length in the sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet feeding device is a contact portion that contacts the rear end regulating member and pulls out the pullout member integrally with the rear end regulating member.   The rear end regulating member is held at the regulation position by contacting the contact portion when storing a sheet having a predetermined length in the sheet feeding direction in the sheet storage portion. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3.   The movement of the drawer member in the direction perpendicular to the sheet stacking surface of the sheet storage unit body is regulated by the sheet storage unit body, and the trailing end regulating member is perpendicular to the sheet stacking surface of the sheet storage unit body. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein movement in a direction is restricted by the pull-out member.   The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first holding unit and the second holding unit are the same.   An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit; and a sheet feeding device according to claim 1 for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit.

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