Patent ID: 6173951
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet feeder for feeding each sheet of recording medium, comprising:a feed roller having a roller shaft defining an axial center and a roller body provided with a circumferential surface portion having a first radius for contacting and conveying a sheet of a recording medium, and a cutout surface portion formed by cutting out a portion of the circumferential surface portion;a separating pad opposing the feed roller and urged toward the feed roller for interposing the sheet between the separating pad and the feed roller;a space forming member having a contact portion contacting the sheet and the separating pad and forming a space between the cutout surface portion and the separating pad when the cutout surface portion is facing the separating pad, the space forming member being provided around the roller shaft; andmeans for changing a distance from the axial center to the contact portion, the changing means being provided in association with the space forming member and the roller shaft, the distance being a constant distance between the cutout surface portion and the separation pad when the cutout surface portion is facing the separating pad, and the distance being selected by the changing means in accordance with a thickness and weight of the sheet.