JP2020011850A - Feed device and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a feed device that is configured so that a first separation piece suppresses sheets from being overlappingly fed, which can preferably suppress sheets from being overlappingly fed and suppress sheets from being damaged by contacting of the sheets with the first separation piece, and an image recording device.SOLUTION: A plurality of first separation pieces and a plurality of protruding parts are provided on an inclined surface of a guide member. The first separation pieces have a top part, or a first end part, and a second end part at an upstream in a second feeding direction. The protruding parts have a top part, or a third end part, and a fourth end part at an upstream in the second feeding direction. A height of the third end part of the protruding parts is larger than a height of the first end part of the first separation pieces. When viewed along a direction perpendicular to the second feeding direction and parallel to the inclined surface, the first end part of the first separation pieces does not overlap with the shapes of the protruding parts, where a sharp angle θ1 formed by a first line segment connecting the first end part to the second end part of the first separation pieces and the inclined surface is larger than a sharp angle θ2 formed by a second line segment connecting the third end part to the fourth end part of the protruding parts and the inclined surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet, and an image recording device including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, when a recording sheet is fed from a sheet feed tray to a recording section for recording an image, a plurality of recording sheets are sent in an overlapping state when the recording sheet is fed. May be. In order to prevent overlap feeding, a guide member having a guide surface (inclined surface) for guiding recording paper is provided downstream of the paper support surface of the paper feed tray in the feeding direction, and the recording surface to be fed is provided on the guide surface. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image recording apparatus in which a separating piece for separating a sheet from another recording sheet is provided so as to protrude (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The separating piece functions to separate the uppermost recording sheet from the other recording sheets among the plurality of recording sheets sent in an overlapping state. Generally, the performance of the separating piece separating the uppermost recording sheet from other sheets (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as separating performance) is such that the height at which the separating piece projects from the guide surface of the guide member is large. As high as

  However, for example, in an image recording apparatus, a recording sheet is fed by a frictional force between a peripheral surface of a feeding roller as a feeding unit and a sheet surface. In this case, if the resistance of the uppermost recording sheet received from the separation piece or the like exceeds the feeding force of the recording sheet due to the frictional force, a blank feed in which the recording sheet cannot be fed to the recording unit may occur. is there. In order to prevent the recording paper from being idled, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the separation member provided with the plurality of separation pieces can be moved in a direction parallel to the guide surface and downstream in the feeding direction. Provided. Further, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, a separation member provided with a plurality of separation pieces is provided so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the support surface of the feeding tray and downstream in the feeding direction.

JP 2004-75394 A JP 2011-148622 A

  However, as in Patent Literature 1, it is conceivable that idle feeding cannot be sufficiently suppressed only by providing the separating member in a direction parallel to the guide surface and downstream in the feeding direction. In particular, in the case where the height at which the separation pieces protrude from the guide surface is increased in order to enhance the separation performance of the separation pieces, the recording sheet separated by the separation pieces upstream in the feeding direction is separated from the separation sheets downstream in the feeding direction. , And jumping is likely to occur.

  Further, as in Patent Document 2, when the separation member is provided so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the support surface and downstream in the feeding direction, it is conceivable that the overlap feeding cannot be sufficiently suppressed. The moving direction of the separation member in Patent Document 2 is different from the direction in which the recording sheet fed by the feeding unit actually advances, so that a force is hardly applied to the separation piece from the recording sheet, and the overlap feeding is likely to occur. . In order to avoid this, if the separation piece protrudes sufficiently high from the guide surface, for example, when using hard-to-deform recording paper such as glossy paper, the recording paper tends to catch on the separation piece and suppresses idle feeding. It becomes difficult to do.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a feeding device capable of favorably suppressing both the overlapped feeding and the idle feeding of sheets, and an image recording apparatus including the same. Is to do.

(1) A feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a supporting member having a supporting surface for supporting sheets in a stacked state, and a feeding device for feeding a sheet supported by the supporting surface in a feeding direction. Part, provided on the downstream side in the feeding direction from the support surface, is inclined with respect to the support surface and abuts the sheet fed by the feeding unit, and guides the inclined surface to guide the sheet. A guide member provided on the guide member, a plurality of sheets protruding from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and separating an uppermost sheet among other sheets fed by the feeding unit from other sheets And a separating member having a separating piece, and a unit direction vector v1 is provided in the first direction defined by the following equation and a second direction opposite to the first direction. A supporting portion for movably supporting the separating member; , Is provided.
Formula: v1 = a × v2 + b × v3
Here, v2: a unit direction vector in a third direction parallel to the inclined surface and downstream in the feeding direction, v3: a unit direction in a fourth direction parallel to the support surface and downstream in the feeding direction. Vectors, a and b: constants greater than 0 and less than 1.

  (2) Alternatively, the feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support member having a support surface that supports sheets in a stacked state, and feeds a sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction. A feeding section, and a slope that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction, is inclined with respect to the support surface, and comes into contact with a sheet fed by the feeding section to guide the sheet. A guide member having a surface, a plurality of sheets provided on the guide member, the plurality of sheets protruding from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and being the top sheet among other sheets fed by the feeding section. And a separating member having a separating piece that is separated from the first member. The separating member is provided on the guide member, and is formed at an acute angle θ1 that is parallel to the inclined surface and forms a third direction toward the downstream in the feeding direction. Parallel to the support surface and An acute angle θ2 formed with the fourth direction toward the downstream in the feeding direction is greater than zero, and a first direction smaller than an acute angle θ3 formed between the inclined surface and a plane parallel to the support surface, and a first direction opposite to the first direction. And a support portion for movably supporting the separation member in two directions.

  According to the above configuration, the sheets supported in a stacked state by the support surface of the support member are fed in the feeding direction by the feeding unit. When a plurality of upper-layer sheets among the sheets supported by the support surface are fed in a state of being overlapped by the feeding unit, the plurality of sheets come into contact with the inclined surface and come into contact with the separation piece. The uppermost sheet of the plurality of sheets is fed in the feeding direction by a feeding force due to a relatively large frictional force between the sheet and a feeding unit, for example, a feeding roller. Other sheets are fed in the feeding direction by a feeding force due to a relatively small frictional force with the uppermost sheet or the like. When the plurality of sheets come into contact with the separation piece, the separation member moves in the first direction, and the plurality of sheets receive the reaction force.

  The first direction is a direction between the third direction and the fourth direction. The third direction is a direction in which the sheet fed by the feeding unit actually advances, and the fourth direction is a direction in which the height of the separation piece projecting from the inclined surface decreases. The reaction force has a component in a direction opposite to the third direction and a component in a direction opposite to the fourth direction. The other sheet is stopped by the component in the direction opposite to the third direction, and only the top sheet fed by the relatively large feeding force is fed in the third direction and separated from the other sheet. Further, since the separating member is also movable in the fourth direction, even if a large reaction force in the opposite direction to the third direction acts on the uppermost sheet, the separating member moves in the first direction. In addition, the height at which the separation piece projects from the inclined surface is reduced. Thereby, the uppermost sheet is prevented from being caught on the separation piece, and the idle feeding is suppressed.

  As described above, when the height of the separation piece protruding from the inclined surface is increased in order to enhance the separation performance of the separation piece, the recording sheet is caught on the separation piece even when a hardly deformable recording paper such as glossy paper is used. Is suppressed, and the idle feeding is suppressed. As described above, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress both the sheet overlap feeding and the sheet feeding. The acute angle θ1, the acute angle θ2, and the acute angle θ3 can be defined as angles in a plane perpendicular to the inclined surface and having a normal perpendicular to the feeding direction.

  (3) Preferably, the feeding device further includes a biasing member provided on the guide member and biasing the separation member supported by the support portion in the second direction.

  According to the above configuration, when the sheet fed by the feeding unit comes into contact with the separation piece, it becomes easy to apply a reaction force of an appropriate magnitude to the sheet from the separation piece, and the sheet is stacked and fed. In addition, it is easy to favorably suppress both the idle feeding and the idle feeding.

  (4) Preferably, the feeding device further includes an adjusting mechanism that is provided on the guide member and that adjusts the urging force of the urging member.

  According to the above configuration, the biasing force of the biasing member is adjusted in accordance with the rigidity of the sheet to be used, and both the overlapped feed and the idle feed of the sheet can be favorably suppressed. Therefore, for example, in the case of an image recording apparatus, when using recording paper having higher rigidity and less deformation than general recording paper such as glossy paper, by appropriately adjusting the urging force of the urging member, it is possible to stack the sheets. Both feed and idle feed can be satisfactorily suppressed.

  (5) Preferably, in the feeding device, the separation member includes a first surface on which the separation piece is disposed, a second surface intersecting with the first surface, and a second surface opposite to the second surface. A plurality of projections provided on each of the second surface and the third surface, and the support is provided on the guide member, and the second surface A first facing portion facing the third member, a second facing portion facing the third surface, and a plurality of the convex portions on the first facing portion and the second facing portion. A plurality of fitting portions are provided correspondingly, extend along the first direction and the second direction, and have a fitting portion to which the convex portion is movably fitted.

  According to the above configuration, the separation member is movably supported by the plurality of protrusions being movably fitted to the plurality of fitting portions, so that the separation member is smoothly moved in the first direction and the second direction. Can be done.

  (6) Preferably, in the feeding device, a height of a first piece of the plurality of separation pieces protruding from the inclined surface is higher in a feeding direction than the first piece of the plurality of separation pieces. The height of the second piece located upstream is greater than the height of the second piece protruding from the inclined surface.

  According to the above configuration, of the plurality of separation pieces, the height at which the first piece located downstream of the second piece in the feeding direction protrudes from the inclined surface is greater than the height of the second piece. By arranging a separation piece having a large height from the inclined surface and having a high separation performance downstream in the feeding direction, it is possible to minimize the idle feeding of the sheet and to improve the separation performance of the plurality of separation pieces as a whole. Can be. Therefore, it is easy to favorably suppress both the overlap feed and the idle feed of the sheet.

  (7) Preferably, in the feeding device, the separation piece has a contact surface that comes into contact with a sheet fed by the feeding unit, and the third piece of the plurality of separation pieces has The acute angle θ4 formed by the contact surface and the inclined surface is an acute angle formed by the contact surface and the inclined surface of a fourth piece located upstream of the third piece in the feeding direction among the plurality of separation pieces. It is larger than θ5.

  According to the above configuration, of the plurality of separation pieces, the acute angle θ4 of the contact surface of the third piece located downstream of the fourth piece in the feeding direction is larger than the acute angle θ5 of the contact surface of the fourth piece. It has become. Thus, the third piece has a higher separation performance than the fourth piece. By arranging the third piece having a high separation performance downstream in the feeding direction, it is possible to minimize the idle feeding of the sheet as in the case where the separation piece having a large height from the inclined surface is arranged downstream in the feeding direction. In addition, the separation performance of the plurality of separation pieces can be improved as a whole. Therefore, it is easy to favorably suppress both the overlap feed and the idle feed of the sheet.

  (8) Preferably, in the feeding device, the separation member is a resin molded product.

  According to the above configuration, the separation member can be formed from a resin that is easy to process and is inexpensive as compared with a metal or the like, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the feeding device and reducing the manufacturing cost.

  (9) Further, an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described feeding apparatus and a recording unit that records an image on a sheet.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, both the overlap feed of a sheet | seat and an idle feed can be suppressed well.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction peripheral 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the feed tray 20 and the guide member 72 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a plan view (a) of a main part of the guide member 72 when the inclined surface 67 of the guide member 72 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 67, and a top view (see FIG. b). FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rear portion of the inclined surface 67 of the guide member 72. FIG. 6 is a right side view (a) of the guide member 72 and a cross-sectional view taken along line VI (b) -VI (b) of FIG. 4 (a). FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the guide member 72 taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 4A, in which the separating member 80 is located at the first position (a) and at the second position. (B). FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle 100 of the inclined surface 67 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7B of a guide member 84 according to a modification. FIG. 10 shows a unit direction vector v1 in the first direction 51A, a unit direction vector v2 in the third direction 51C, and a unit in the fourth direction 51D when viewed from a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the feeding direction 17. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship of direction vector v3.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B are defined based on the state in which the multifunction peripheral 10 is installed so that the multifunction peripheral 10 can be used, and the surface of the multifunction peripheral 10 where the opening 13 is provided is defined as the front (front). A front direction 8A and a rear direction 8B are defined, and a left direction 9A and a right direction 9B are defined when the MFP 10 is viewed from the near side (front side).

[Overall Configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction device 10 has a printer unit 11 that records an image on a recording sheet 12 (an example of a sheet, see FIG. 2) by an ink jet recording method at a lower portion. The multifunction peripheral 10 also has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The printer unit 11 is an example of an image recording device provided with a feeding device.

  The printer unit 11 has a housing 14 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. An opening 13 is formed in the front of the housing 14. A feed tray 20 (an example of a support member) and a discharge tray 21 can be inserted and removed from the opening 13 into the housing 14 in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. Note that the feed tray 20 and the discharge tray 21 may be completely removed from the housing 14, or may not be completely removed from the housing 14, but may be attached to the housing 14. It may be pulled out from the state in which it was placed halfway. On the feed tray 20, recording papers 12 of a desired size such as A4 size or B5 size are placed in a stacked state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a transport roller pair 58 and a discharge roller pair 59 for transporting the recording paper 12, an inkjet recording unit 24 for recording an image on the recording paper 12, and a feeding device. Have. Note that the recording unit 24 is not limited to the ink jet system, and may be, for example, an electrophotographic system.

  The feeder feeds a feed tray 20 (an example of a support member) having a support surface 23 that supports the recording paper 12 in a stacked state, and feeds the recording paper 12 supported by the support surface 23 of the feed tray 20. The feeding unit 15 includes a feeding unit 15 that feeds in a direction 17 (an example of a feeding direction) and a guide member 72 (an example of a guide member). The guide member 72 has an inclined surface 67 (an example of an inclined surface) inclined with respect to the support surface 23. The inclined surface 67 is provided downstream of the support surface 23 in the feeding direction 17, and is in contact with the recording paper 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding unit 15, so that the recording paper 12 advances. In the direction along the inclined surface 67. As a result, the recording paper 12 is guided by the inclined surface 67 to the transport path 65 that transports the recording paper 12 along the transport direction 16 indicated by the dashed line arrow in FIG.

  The transport path 65 extends from the rear end of the feed tray 20. The transport path 65 includes a curved section 33 and a straight section 34. The bending portion 33 extends while bending with the rear direction 8B being the outside bending direction and the front direction 8A being the inside bending direction. The straight portion 34 extends in the front direction 8A. The curved portion 33 is formed by a first guide member 18 and a second guide member 19 facing each other at a predetermined interval. Each of the guide members 18 and 19 extends in a left direction 9A and a right direction 9B which are directions orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. The linear portion 34 is formed by the recording unit 24 and the platen 42 facing each other at a predetermined interval at a position where the recording unit 24 is arranged.

  The first guide member 18 is configured to be rotatable in a direction of an arrow 66 about a shaft 48 formed at a lower portion. The first guide member 18 forms the curved portion 33 at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and exposes the curved portion 33 to the outside at the position shown by the broken line in FIG. The user of the multifunction device 10 can take out the recording paper 12 jammed in the curved portion 33 by rotating the first guide member 18 to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. The state of the first guide member 18 may be changed by means other than the rotation. For example, the first guide member 18 may be configured to be detachable from the printer unit 11.

  The recording sheet 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding section 15 comes into contact with a guide member 72 arranged in the housing 14. Accordingly, the direction in which the recording paper 12 is fed changes from the feeding direction 17 to a direction along the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. Thereafter, the recording paper 12 is transported along the transport direction 16 by the feeding unit 15 and the transport roller pair 58. At that time, the recording paper 12 is guided on the transport path 65 by the first guide member 18 and the second guide member 19. Therefore, the transport direction 16 of the recording paper 12 changes from an intermediate direction between the rearward direction 8B and the upward direction 7A to an approximately upward direction 7A. Thereafter, when the recording paper 12 passes through the curved portion 33 and reaches the linear portion 34, the transport direction 16 of the recording paper 12 changes from the upward direction 7A to the forward direction 8A. The recording unit 24 records an image on the recording paper 12 that is transported on the linear unit 34. The discharge roller pair 59 conveys the recording paper 12 on which the image is recorded in the forward direction 8A and discharges the recording paper 12 to the discharge tray 21.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is provided in the upward direction 7 </ b> A of the linear unit 34. A platen 42 is provided at a position 7B in the downward direction of the recording unit 24 and facing the recording unit 24. The platen 42 is a member that supports the recording paper 12. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 40 and a recording head 38.

  The carriage 40 is supported by two guide rails (not shown) spaced apart in a front direction 8A and a rear direction 8B so as to be able to reciprocate in a left direction 9A and a right direction 9B. The recording head 38 is mounted on a carriage 40. The recording head 38 is supplied with ink from an ink cartridge (not shown). On the lower surface of the recording head 38, a nozzle 39 is formed. When the carriage 40 is moving in the leftward direction 9A and the rightward direction 9B, the recording head 38 ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 39 toward the platen 42. Thus, an image is recorded on the recording paper 12 transported in the transport direction 16 and supported by the platen 42.

[Conveying roller pair 58 and discharge roller pair 59]
As shown in FIG. 2, a transport roller pair 58 is disposed upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16 in the linear section 34. A discharge roller pair 59 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 16 in the linear unit 34.

  The transport roller pair 58 is disposed to face the transport roller 60 in the downward direction 7B of the linear portion 34 and to the transport roller 60 in the upward direction 7A of the linear portion 34, and is provided by a coil spring (not shown) or the like. A pinch roller 61 urged toward the transport roller 60; The discharge roller pair 59 is disposed to face the discharge roller 62 in the downward direction 7B of the straight portion 34 and to the discharge roller 62 in the upward direction 7A of the straight portion 34, and is provided by a coil spring (not shown) or the like. And a spur 63 urged toward the discharge roller 62.

  The transport roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 are rotated by a driving force transmitted from a transport motor (not shown). As a result, the recording paper 12 sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 58 and the pair of discharge rollers 59 is transported in the transport direction 16.

[Feeding tray 20]
As shown in FIG. 3, the feed tray 20 is formed in a box shape whose upper part is opened. The feeding tray 20 includes a substantially rectangular bottom plate 81 and a pair of side plates 82 erected in the upward direction 7A and extended in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B at both ends of the bottom plate 81 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. And a front plate 83 erected in the upper direction 7A at the end of the bottom plate 81 in the front direction 8A and extending in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The bottom plate 81 has a plate shape having a plane along the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B and the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The surface of the bottom plate 81 in the upward direction 7A constitutes a support surface 23 for supporting the recording papers 12 in a stacked state.

  A pair of side guides 78 that can move in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B are attached to the bottom plate 81. The side guide 78 is in contact with the left end or the right end of the recording paper 12 placed on the bottom plate 81. When one of the pair of side guides 78 is moved, the other moves in an opposite direction in conjunction. By the side guide 78 as described above, various sizes of recording paper 12 can be placed on the bottom plate 81 with reference to the center of the bottom plate 81 in the left direction 9A and right direction 9B. In addition, in FIG. 3, only the side guide 78 provided in the right direction 9B of the bottom plate 81 among the pair of side guides 78 is visible. A side guide 78 provided in the left direction 9 </ b> A of the bottom plate 81 is hidden by the side plate 82.

  The feed tray 20 has a stacking limiting portion 79 that defines the maximum height of the recording paper 12 stacked on the support surface 23 from the support surface 23. The lamination limiting portion 79 is arranged near the end of each of the pair of side guides 78 in the front direction 8A. The stacking limiting portion 79 has a claw portion 79A at a position corresponding to the maximum height in the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B of the side guide 78. The claw portion 79A protrudes leftward 9A or rightward 9B toward the center of the feed tray 20 in the leftward direction 9A or rightward direction 9B. The user can stack the recording paper 12 on the support surface 23 to a height at which the upper surface of the end of the uppermost recording paper 12 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B contacts the lower surface of the claw 79A.

  Note that the side guide 78 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the side guide 78 may be configured as one instead of a pair, and the recording paper 12 may be aligned with the side guide 78 and one of the pair of side plates 82. In this case, recording papers 12 of various sizes can be placed based on one of the pair of side plates 82, that is, the left end or the right end of the bottom plate 81.

[Discharge tray 21]
A discharge tray 21 can be disposed above the open top of the feed tray 20 (see FIG. 1). The discharge tray 21 is supported by a front plate 83 and a pair of side plates 82 of the feed tray 20. The discharge tray 21 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft (not shown) provided at an end portion in the rear direction 8B by a bearing portion 85 provided at a center portion of the feed tray 20 in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. . Thus, the discharge tray 21 is rotatable so as to open and close the upper part of the feed tray 20. The user can take the recording paper 12 in and out of the feed tray 20 while rotating the discharge tray 21 so that the upper part of the feed tray 20 is opened.

  The feed tray 20 is inserted into the opening 13 of the housing 14 with the end in the rear direction 8B first, and the front plate 83 is flush with the front surface of the housing 14 as shown in FIG. It is moved backward 8B to the state. As a result, the feed tray 20 is in a state of being mounted on the printer unit 11 (the state of FIG. 2). When the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the end of the feeding tray 20 in the rear direction 8 </ b> B transfers the recording paper 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding unit 15 to the transport path 65. It is close to the guiding member 72 for guiding. Further, the feed tray 20 is pulled out of the printer unit 11 by being moved in the forward direction 8A from the state of being mounted on the printer unit 11. In a state where the feed tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11 as shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 12 placed on the feed tray 20 can be fed to the transport path 65 by the feed unit 15. is there.

[Feeding unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 2, a feeding unit 15 is provided above the feeding tray 20. The feeding unit 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 22. The feed arm 26 has a transmission mechanism (not shown) that reaches the feed roller 25 with a driving force of a feed motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the feed roller 25. The transmission mechanism can be composed of a gear, a pulley, a belt, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 22 is provided at one end of the feeding arm 26. As a result, the feeding arm 26 rotates about the shaft 22 in the directions indicated by the arrows 51 and 52. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably supported at the other end of the feeding arm 26. The feeding arm 26 is urged in the direction of the arrow 52 by an urging member such as its own weight or a spring. As a result, the feed roller 25 comes into contact with the uppermost recording sheet 12 among the recording sheets 12 supported in a stacked state by the support surface 23.

[Guiding member 72]
The guide member 72 is attached to the housing 14 inside the housing 14. In a state in which the feed tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the guide member 72 is disposed at a position where the end of the feed tray 20 in the rear direction 8B approaches as shown in FIG. The guide member 72 has an inclined surface 67 inclined with respect to the support surface 23. The inclined surface 67 is located downstream of the support surface 23 in the feeding direction 17. The inclined surface 67 is a surface in the front direction 8A of the guide member 72, and the end in the upward direction 7A is located downstream of the end in the downward direction 7B in the feeding direction 17. As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, the guide member 72 has a substantially rectangular plate-like portion 72A having an inclined surface 67 on one surface (a surface located in the front direction 8A). I have. The guide member 72 has a back surface 72C on the other surface (the surface located in the rear direction 8B) of the plate-shaped portion 72A. The guide member 72 extends perpendicularly to the plate-shaped portion 72A and rearward 8B at ends of the plate-shaped portion 72A in the leftward direction 9A and the rightward direction 9B. Support plate portion 72B.

[First Separation Piece 74]
As shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7A, the first separation piece 74 (of the separation piece) is provided at the center of the inclined surface 67 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. Example) is provided. A plurality of the first separation pieces 74 protrude from the inclined surface 67 along the feeding direction 17. When the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the center of the recording sheet 12 and the center of the guide member 72 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B substantially coincide with each other. The first separating piece 74 separates the uppermost recording paper 12 from the other recording papers 12 by contacting the plurality of recording papers 12 when the plurality of recording papers 12 are overlapped and fed from the feed tray 20. . Thus, only the uppermost recording sheet 12 is guided to the transport path 65 by the inclined surface 67.

  As shown in FIG. 8, among the plurality of first separation pieces 74, the first separation piece 74 (74 </ b> A, an example of the first piece here) that is the most downstream in the feeding direction 17 protrudes from the inclined surface 67. The height H1 at which the other first separation piece 74 (74B, here, an example of the second piece) located upstream of the first separation piece 74 (74A) in the feeding direction 17 projects from the inclined surface 67. It is higher than H2. Each of the first separation pieces 74 has a contact surface 70 that comes into contact with the leading end of the recording sheet 12 in the feeding direction 17. The acute angle θ4 formed by the contact surface 70 and the inclined surface 67 of the first separation piece 74 (74A, here, an example of a third piece) that is the most downstream in the feeding direction 17 among the plurality of first separation pieces 74 is: The acute angle formed by the contact surface 70 and the inclined surface 67 of another first separation piece 74 (74B, here, an example of a fourth piece) positioned upstream in the feeding direction 17 from the first separation piece 74 (74A). It is larger than θ5.

[Separation member 80]
As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5, the first separation piece 74 is formed integrally with a separation member 80 that is arranged to face the back surface 72C of the plate-shaped portion 72A. The separating member 80 has a rectangular first surface 80A (an example of a first surface, see FIG. 6B) arranged parallel to the inclined surface 67, and a first surface at an end of the first surface 80A in the leftward direction 9A. A second surface 80B perpendicular to the first surface 80A (an example of a second surface, see FIG. 4B), and a third surface perpendicular to the first surface 80A at the right end 9B of the first surface 80A. 80C (an example of the third surface). The first separation piece 74 is provided to protrude from the first surface 80A. The first surface 80A is formed as a rectangular plate-shaped member corresponding to the shape. The second surface 80B has a trapezoidal shape, one side of which extends along the left end 9A of the first surface 80A, and the opposite side thereof is parallel to the left end 9A of the first surface 80A. The side in the upward direction 7A is perpendicular to the first surface 80A, and the side in the downward direction 7B is parallel to the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. The second surface 80B is formed as a trapezoidal plate-shaped member corresponding to the shape. The third surface 80C also has the same trapezoidal shape as the second surface 80B, and one side extends along the right end 9B of the first surface 80A, and the opposite side is the right end 9B of the first surface 80A. The side in the upward direction 7A is perpendicular to the first surface 80A, and the side in the downward direction 7B is parallel to the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. The third surface 80C is formed as a trapezoidal plate-shaped member corresponding to the shape.

  The separation member 80 has a reinforcing rib 80D provided in parallel with the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C. The separating member 80 has a cylindrical spring receiving portion 80E opened in the rear direction 8B. The spring receiving portion 80E is provided integrally with the reinforcing rib 80D in a concave portion provided at the center in the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B of the reinforcing rib 80D. One end of a spring 80F, for example, a coil spring, is fitted in the spring receiving portion 80E. The other end of the spring 80F is in contact with a contact portion 80G provided on the housing 14.

  The axis of the spring 80F is parallel to the first direction 51A (an example of the first direction) and the second direction 51B (an example of the second direction). As a result, the spring 80F urges the separation member 80 movably provided in the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B in the second direction 51B. The contact portion 80G is provided on the housing 14 so as to be movable in the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B, and a plurality of pin holes 80H are provided on the peripheral surface along the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. Have been. The housing 14 is provided with a pin 80I so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B and to be fitted into the pin hole 80H. By fitting the pin 80I into one of the plurality of pin holes 80H, the contact portion 80G can be positioned at each position along the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. As described above, the urging force of the spring 80F for urging the separation member 80 in the second direction 51B can be adjusted.

[Protrusion 75]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the separation member 80 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped protrusion 75 protruding from the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C. A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of the convex portion 75 is provided on each of the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C. As shown in FIG. 7, the convex portion 75 has a pair of surfaces S1 and S2 parallel to the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. The two convex portions 75 are arranged on the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C, respectively, at two different positions in a direction perpendicular to the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. Accordingly, when a rotational force about an axis parallel to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B acts on the separation member 80, the rotation of the separation member 80 can be suppressed, and the separation member 80 is moved in the first direction 51A and the first direction 51A. It can be moved smoothly in two directions 51B. Therefore, when three or more projections 75 are provided on each of the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C, at least two of them are in a direction perpendicular to the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. It is preferable to provide them at different positions.

[First opposing portion 71A, second opposing portion 71B]
The guide member 72 is erected vertically on a back surface 72C of the plate-shaped portion 72A, and is erected vertically on a first opposing portion 71A of a rectangular plate shape facing the second surface 80B and on a back surface 72C of the plate-shaped portion 72A. , And a second opposing portion 71B having a rectangular plate shape facing the third surface 80C.

[Mating part 71C]
As shown in FIG. 7A, the first facing portion 71A has a long hole-shaped fitting portion 71C extending in the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B (an example of the second direction). The fitting portion 71C has surfaces S3 and S4 that can be in sliding contact with the surfaces S1 and S2 of the convex portion 75. When the convex portion 75 is fitted to the fitting portion 71C, the separation member 80 It is movable in a first direction 51 and a second direction 51B. The first facing portion 71A is provided with a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of fitting portions 71C corresponding to the plurality of convex portions 75 provided on the second surface 80B. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the second facing portion 71B similarly has a long hole-shaped fitting portion 71C extending in the first direction 51 and the second direction 51B. The second opposing portion 71B is also provided with a plurality (two in the illustrated example) of fitting portions 71C corresponding to the plurality of convex portions 75 provided on the third surface 80C.

  FIG. 7A illustrates a first state in which the convex portion 75 has moved along the fitting portion 71C until the first surface 80A of the separation member 80 contacts the rear surface 72C of the plate-shaped portion 72A (first position). P1 is shown. FIG. 7B illustrates the second state P2 in which the separating member 80 moves the convex portion 75 along the fitting portion 71C until the first separating piece 74 does not project from the inclined surface 67 (second position). Is shown.

As schematically shown in FIG. 10, the first direction 51A is a direction between the third direction 51C and the fourth direction 51D. The unit direction vector v1 in the first direction 51A can be defined by Expression 1 below. Here, v2: a unit direction vector in the third direction 51C that is parallel to the inclined surface 67 and goes downstream in the feeding direction 17, v3: a unit in the fourth direction 51D that is parallel to the plane 23A and goes downstream in the feeding direction 17 Direction vectors, a and b: constants greater than 0 and less than 1.
v1 = a × v2 + b × v3 (1)

  Alternatively, as schematically shown in FIG. 10, an acute angle θ1 formed by the first direction 51A with the third direction 51C and an acute angle θ2 formed by the first direction 51A with the fourth direction 51D are larger than zero and have an inclined surface. It is smaller than the acute angle θ3 formed by the plane 67 and the plane 23A. The acute angles θ1, θ2, and θ3 are angles in a plane that is parallel to the inclined surface 67 and whose normal is perpendicular to the feeding direction 17. The acute angles θ1 and θ2 change correspondingly when the values of the constants a and b in Equation 1 change. The third direction 51 </ b> C is a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and directed downstream in the feeding direction 17, and is a direction in which the recording paper 12 is actually sent along the inclined surface 67. The fourth direction 51D is a direction parallel to the plane 23A parallel to the support surface 23 and directed downstream in the feeding direction 17, and when the separation member 80 moves in this direction, the first separation piece 74 is moved from the inclined surface 67. This is a direction in which the protruding height decreases.

  The first direction 51A may be any direction between the third direction 51C and the fourth direction 51D. For example, the first direction 51A is set in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface 70 of the first separation piece 74. be able to. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when there is a first separation piece 74 (74A) having a particularly large acute angle (θ4) formed by the contact surface 70 with the inclined surface 67, the first separation piece 74 (74A) is formed. 74A), the first direction 51A can be set in the same direction as the direction D1 that is perpendicular to the contact surface 70 and downstream in the feeding direction 17. Further, the acute angle formed by the contact surface 70 of the first separation piece 74 with the inclined surface 67 can be made equal in all the first separation pieces 74. In this case, if the acute angle between the contact surface 70 and the inclined surface 67 is θ11 (see FIG. 8), the first direction 51A is changed to a direction D2 perpendicular to the contact surface 70 and downstream in the feeding direction 17. Can be set. As described above, in the embodiment, when optimizing the angle formed by the contact surface 70 with the inclined surface 67 and the first direction 51A in which the separating member 80 is moved, the two can be optimized in association with each other.

[Roller 76]
As shown in FIG. 4, a roller 76 is rotatably attached to the guide member 72 at a predetermined position in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74. Two rollers 76 are provided along the feeding direction 17 at predetermined positions in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74. The roller 76 is arranged such that a part of the peripheral surface protrudes from an opening formed on the inclined surface of the guide member 72. The roller 76 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 76B perpendicular to the feeding direction 17 and parallel to the inclined surface 67 in a state where a part of the roller 76 is exposed from the inclined surface 67. As a result, the roller 76 rotates in contact with the recording paper 12 fed by the feeding unit 15. A rib 73 for guiding the recording paper 12 to the rollers 76 is provided protruding from the inclined surface 67 upstream of each of the rollers 76 in the feeding direction 17.

[Second separation piece 77]
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 72 is provided with a second separation piece 77 at a predetermined position in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74. The second separating piece 77 also has a function of separating the uppermost recording sheet 12 from the other recording sheets 12 among the recording sheets 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding section 15, similarly to the first separating piece 74. are doing. A plurality of the second separation pieces 77 project from the inclined surface 67 along the feeding direction 17 at the predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 7, the interval between the second separating piece 77 parallel to the inclined surface 67 disposed on the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B is determined by the first separating piece 74. It is smaller than the interval in a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 disposed on the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. As shown in FIG. 7, the height of the second separation piece 77 projecting from the inclined surface 67 is smaller than the height of the first separation piece 74 projecting from the inclined surface 67.

[Feeding operation]
Hereinafter, a feeding operation of feeding the recording paper 12 stacked on the feeding tray 20 by the feeding unit 15 will be described in detail.

  When a plurality of upper-layer recording papers 12 among the recording papers 12 supported in a state of being stacked on the support surface 23 of the feeding tray 20 are moved in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding operation of the feeding roller 25, The leading ends of the recording sheets 12 abut on the first separation pieces 74. These recording papers 12 press the separation member 80 in the first direction 51A, and move the separation member 80 in the first direction 51A against the urging force of the spring 80F.

  At this time, those recording papers 12 receive a reaction force from the first separation piece 74 in the second direction 51B. The reaction force includes a component in a direction opposite to the third direction 51 </ b> C which is a direction in which the recording paper 12 is actually fed. It is separated from the paper 12. This prevents overfeeding. The first direction 51A is a direction between the third direction 51C and the fourth direction 51D in which the height of the first separation piece 74 protruding from the inclined surface 67 decreases. As the separation member 80 moves in the first direction 51A, the height of the first separation piece 74 protruding from the inclined surface 67 decreases. Therefore, the leading end of the recording paper 12 is prevented from being caught on the first separation piece 74, and the idle feeding is suppressed.

  Further, even when the uppermost recording sheet 12 is not separated by one first separating piece 74, the uppermost recording sheet 12 is separated by another first separating piece 74 downstream of the first separating piece 74 in the feeding direction 17. Separated. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8, among the plurality of first separation pieces 74, the first separation piece 74 (74 </ b> A) that is the most downstream in the feeding direction 17 has a height H <b> 1 protruding from the inclined surface 67. It is getting bigger. Thereby, the uppermost recording paper 12 is more reliably separated from other recording papers 12. In addition, the acute angle θ4 formed by the contact surface 70 and the inclined surface 67 of the first separation piece 74 (74A) is relatively large. Thereby, the uppermost recording paper 12 is further reliably separated from other recording papers 12. Further, the plurality of second separating pieces 77 are separated from the leading ends of the other recording sheets 12 slightly in the feeding direction 17 of the uppermost recording sheet 12, for example, by the first separating pieces 74. It assists in separating the recording paper 12.

  The uppermost recording sheet 12 separated as described above moves while the leading end in the feeding direction 17 contacts the inclined surface 67. As a result, the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper 12 is deformed from the shape along the feeding direction 17 to the shape along the inclined surface 67, and the direction in which the recording paper 12 is fed changes, and the recording paper 12 moves along the conveyance direction 16. To start.

  When the uppermost recording paper 12 further moves along the inclined surface 67 and reaches the rollers 76, the recording papers 12 are smoothly fed in the transport direction 16 by the rotation of the rollers 76, and travel along the transport path 65 and the curved portion 33. Is sent to the linear portion 34 via the

[Effects of Embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, in order to enhance the separation performance of the first separation piece 74, when the height of the first separation piece 74 protruding from the inclined surface 67 is increased, for example, a recording paper such as glossy paper that is not easily deformed. Is used, it is possible to suppress the recording paper 12 from being caught on the first separation piece 74, and to suppress the idle feeding. As described above, both the overlap feed and the idle feed of the recording paper 12 can be favorably suppressed.

[Modification]
FIG. 9 shows a modification of the above embodiment. In the guide member 84 of this modification, a plurality of columnar protrusions 75A are provided on the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C of the separation member 80 so as to protrude, instead of the plate-like protrusions 75. . Since the convex portion 75A has a cylindrical shape, the sliding resistance between the convex portion 75A and the fitting portion 71C can be reduced, and the separating member 80 can be smoothly moved in the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B. be able to. This is expected to increase the effect of suppressing the idle feeding of the recording paper 12 in particular.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the transport device is used in the inkjet recording device as the image recording device has been described. However, the transport device of the present invention is not limited to an inkjet recording device, and can be used for other image recording devices such as a laser printer. Further, the transport device of the present invention is not limited to use in an image recording device, but can be used in all devices that use sheets. Further, the guide member 72 is supported by the housing 14 of the printer unit 11 in the embodiment, but may be supported by an end of the feed tray 20 in the rear direction 8B.

  In the above embodiment, the height H1 at which the first separation piece 74 (74A), which is the most downstream in the feeding direction 17 among the plurality of first separation pieces 74, projects from the inclined surface 67 is different from the other first separation pieces 74. The height of the separation piece 74 protruding from the inclined surface 67 (for example, H2) is higher. However, the height at which the first separation pieces 74 protrude from the inclined surface 67 may be the same for all the first separation pieces 74. In the case where the heights of all the first separation pieces 74 protruding from the inclined surface 67 are equal, the acute angle formed by the contact surface 70 with the inclined surface 67 may be the same in all the first separation pieces 74, for example, The acute angle formed by the contact surface 70 of the first separation piece 74 located downstream and the inclined surface 67 may be larger than the acute angle formed by the contact surface 70 of the other first separation piece 74 and the inclined surface 67.

  The protrusions 75 and 75A may be arranged at the same position on the second surface 80B and the third surface 80C, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction 51A and the second direction 51B.

10 Multifunction machine 11 Printer unit (image recording device)
12 Recording paper (sheet)
16: conveying direction 17: feeding direction 20: feeding tray (supporting member)
23 support surface 24 recording part 67 inclined surface 71A first opposing part 71B second opposing part 71C fitting parts 72 and 84 guide member 74 first separation piece (separation piece)
75 convex part 80 separating member 80A first surface
80B: 2nd surface
80C: third surface 80E: spring receiver 80F: spring (biasing member)

Claims (9)

A support member having a support surface for supporting the sheets in a stacked state,
A feeding unit that feeds the sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction,
A guide member that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction and has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the support surface and abuts on a sheet fed by the feeding unit to guide the sheet; When,
A separating piece provided on the guide member, a plurality of which protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets fed by the feeding unit; A separating member having,
A support unit provided on the guide member, the unit direction vector v1 comprising a first direction defined by the following equation, and a support unit movably supporting the separation member in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Prepared,
The height at which the first piece of the plurality of separation pieces protrudes from the inclined surface is such that the second piece of the plurality of separation pieces located upstream of the first piece in the feeding direction protrudes from the slope. Feeding device that is higher than the required height.
Formula: v1 = a × v2 + b × v3
Here, v2: a unit direction vector in a third direction parallel to the inclined surface and downstream in the feeding direction, v3: a unit direction in a fourth direction parallel to the support surface and downstream in the feeding direction. Vectors, a and b: constants greater than 0 and less than 1 A support member having a support surface for supporting the sheets in a stacked state,
A feeding unit that feeds the sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction,
A guide member that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction and has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the support surface and abuts on a sheet fed by the feeding unit to guide the sheet; When,
A separating piece provided on the guide member, a plurality of which protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets fed by the feeding unit; A separating member having,
A support unit provided on the guide member, the unit direction vector v1 comprising a first direction defined by the following equation, and a support unit movably supporting the separation member in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Prepared,
The separation piece has a contact surface that comes into contact with a sheet fed by the feeding unit,
The acute angle θ4 formed by the contact surface of the third piece of the plurality of separation pieces and the inclined surface is equal to that of the fourth piece of the plurality of separation pieces located upstream of the third piece in the feeding direction. A feeding device that is larger than an acute angle θ5 formed by the contact surface and the inclined surface.
Formula: v1 = a × v2 + b × v3
Here, v2: a unit direction vector in a third direction parallel to the inclined surface and downstream in the feeding direction, v3: a unit direction in a fourth direction parallel to the support surface and downstream in the feeding direction. Vectors, a and b: constants greater than 0 and less than 1 A support member having a support surface for supporting the sheets in a stacked state,
A feeding unit that feeds the sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction,
A guide member that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction and has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the support surface and abuts on a sheet fed by the feeding unit to guide the sheet; When,
A separating piece provided on the guide member, a plurality of which protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets fed by the feeding unit; Having a separating member,
An acute angle θ1, which is provided on the guide member and is parallel to the inclined surface and forms a third direction toward the downstream in the feeding direction, and a fourth direction parallel to the support surface and downstream toward the feeding direction. In the first direction smaller than the acute angle θ3 formed by the inclined surface and the plane parallel to the support surface, and in the second direction opposite to the first direction. And a supporting portion movably supported,
The height at which the first piece of the plurality of separation pieces protrudes from the inclined surface is such that the second piece of the plurality of separation pieces located upstream of the first piece in the feeding direction protrudes from the slope. Feeding device that is higher than the required height. A support member having a support surface for supporting the sheets in a stacked state,
A feeding unit that feeds the sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction,
A guide member that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction and has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the support surface and abuts on a sheet fed by the feeding unit to guide the sheet; When,
A separating piece provided on the guide member, a plurality of which protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction and separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets fed by the feeding unit; Having a separating member,
An acute angle θ1, which is provided on the guide member and is parallel to the inclined surface and forms a third direction toward the downstream in the feeding direction, and a fourth direction parallel to the support surface and downstream toward the feeding direction. In the first direction smaller than the acute angle θ3 formed by the inclined surface and the plane parallel to the support surface, and in the second direction opposite to the first direction. And a supporting portion movably supported,
The separation piece has a contact surface that comes into contact with a sheet fed by the feeding unit,
The acute angle θ4 formed by the contact surface of the third piece of the plurality of separation pieces and the inclined surface is equal to that of the fourth piece of the plurality of separation pieces located upstream of the third piece in the feeding direction. A feeding device that is larger than an acute angle θ5 formed by the contact surface and the inclined surface.   The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an urging member provided on the guide member and urging the separation member supported by the support portion in the second direction.   The feeding device according to claim 5, further comprising an adjusting mechanism provided on the guide member, the adjusting mechanism adjusting an urging force of the urging member. The separation member has a first surface on which the separation pieces are arranged, a second surface intersecting the first surface, and a third surface opposite to the second surface. A plurality of projections provided on the third surface,
The support section is
A first facing portion provided on the guide member and facing the second surface;
A second facing portion provided on the guide member and facing the third surface;
The first opposing portion and the second opposing portion are each provided with a plurality corresponding to the plurality of protrusions, extending along the first direction and the fourth direction, and The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a fitting portion that fits movably.   The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the separation member is a resin molded product. A feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording unit that records an image on a sheet.

Images