Patent ID: 7419152
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a sheet tray capable of moving up and down; a sheet feeding device capable of a sheet feeding operation for feeding a top sheet of a sheet stack supported on said sheet tray; an air blowing device capable of blowing air toward an end portion of said sheet stack at adjustable velocities; and a sheet detecting device capable of detecting the top sheet of the sheet stack supported on said sheet tray when the top sheet is blown upward by air blown by said air blowing device, wherein said apparatus is controlled so that said sheet tray is lifted up until the top sheet of the sheet stack reaches a predetermined position, then air is blown toward an end portion of said sheet stack by said air blowing device to blow the sheets upward, and thereafter a quantity of air blown by said air blowing device is adjusted so that an amount of air blowing toward the top sheet becomes a predetermined amount based on the detection of the sheet detecting device, and wherein said air blowing device blows air toward the sheet stack based on the adjusted quantity of air blown while said sheet feeding device feeds the sheet during the sheet feeding operation.