Patent ID: 7549624
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet supplying apparatus for supplying a plurality of recording sheets, one by one, along a sheet-supply path, the apparatus comprising: a first accommodating portion which has a first supporting surface, which accommodates a plurality of first recording sheets stacked on each other on the first supporting surface, and from which the first recording sheets are supplied, one by one, along the sheet-supply path; a second accommodating portion which has a second supporting surface, which accommodates a plurality of second recording sheets stacked on each other on the second supporting surface, and from which the second recording sheets are supplied, one by one, along the sheet-supply path; at least one supplying member which contacts an uppermost one of the first recording sheets accommodated by the first accommodating portion, so as to supply the uppermost first recording sheet from the first accommodating portion, and additionally contacts an uppermost one of the second recording sheets accommodated by the second accommodating portion, so as to supply the uppermost second recording sheet from the second accommodating portion; a separating device which cooperates with said at least one supplying member to separate the first recording sheets from each other and separate the second recording sheets from each other, wherein the separating device includes (A) an inclined guide plate which is provided at an upstream-side end portion of the sheet-supply path such that the inclined guide plate extends in a widthwise direction of the sheet-supply path, which is inclined relative to each of the first and second supporting surfaces such that the inclined guide plate is opposed to respective leading ends of respective greatest possible numbers of the first and second recording sheets that can be accommodated by the first and second accommodating portions, and which guides a movement of each of the first and second recording sheets along the sheet-supply path, and (B) a sheet-separate body which is supported by the inclined guide plate and which includes a plurality of sheet-separate portions arranged in at least one array along the sheet-supply path such that the sheet-separate portions project from the inclined guide plate toward the first and second recording sheets accommodated by the first and second accommodating portions; and at least one contact preventing portion which projects toward the first and second recording sheets, beyond respective free ends of the sheet-separate portions, and which is provided at a position corresponding to an intermediate portion of said at least one array of sheet-separate portions with respect to the sheet-supply path, and assuring that said at least one contact preventing portion prevents each of the first recording sheets supplied from the first accommodating portion, from contacting at least one sheet-separate portion of a downstream portion of said at least one array of sheet-separate portions that is located on a downstream side of said at least one contact preventing portion with respect to the sheet-supply path, and allows each of the second recording sheets supplied from the second accommodating portion, to contact the downstream portion of said at least one array of sheet-separate portions.