Patent ID: 6139006
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet feeder for feeding each sheet of recording medium comprising:a feed roller comprising a cylindrical roller mass having a cylindrical outer surface that contacts and conveys each sheet of recording medium the cylindrical outer surface having a radius; and a roller shaft supporting the roller mass and defining an axis, the radius being defined between the axis and the cylindrical outer surfacea separating pad opposing the cylindrical outer surface and urged toward the cylindrical outer surface for interposing the sheet, being nipped, between the separating pad and cylindrical outer surface;a space forming member having a contact portion contacting the sheet and the separating pad, the space forming member being formed with a center bearing bore; and having a circular shape with a radius greater than the radius of the cylindrical outer surface of the roller mass, anda support portion provided on the roller shaft and integrally rotated therewith, the center bearing bore being loosely disposed over the support portion and partly contacted therewith to provide a first distance between the axis of the rotation shaft and the contact portion greater than the radius of the roller mass at a predetermined angular rotation range of the feed roller a space being formed between the cylindrical outer surface and the sheet and between the cylindrical outer surface and the separating pad against the urging force of the separating pad toward the cylindrical outer surface at the predetermined angular rotation range of the feed roller for preventing the sheet from being nipped and feed between the cylindrical outer surface and the separating pad.