Patent ID: 6273414
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising:a plurality of sheet containing means for containing sheets, the plurality of sheet containing means being disposed in a substantially aligned vertical direction, a topmost sheet containing means of said plurality of sheet containing means for containing sheets having a rigidity greater than a rigidity of sheets contained by all other sheet containing means of said plurality of sheet containing means;a plurality of sheet feeding means for feeding the respective sheets contained in the plurality of sheet containing means, each of the plurality of sheet feeding means feeding the respective sheets in a same direction;a vertically disposed common conveying route adjacent the plurality of sheet containing means; anda plurality of curving conveying routes for guiding the respective sheets fed by the plurality of sheet feeding means to the common conveying route, each of said plurality of curved conveying routes connected to the common conveying route at a distinct location,wherein a radius of curvature of the curving conveying route that conveys sheets fed from the topmost sheet containing means is larger than a radius of curvature of the curving conveying route of the other sheet containing means, whereby the topmost sheet containing means is capable of containing sheets of high rigidity.