Patent ID: 7748320
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding device which loosens sheets for feeding by blowing air to the end portions of the sheets, comprising: a sheet tray provided such that it is capable of lifting up/down with the sheets supported; an air blowing portion which loosens the sheets by blowing air to an upper end portion of the sheets supported by the sheet tray; and a pair of restricting members which restricts both end portions of the sheets supported by the sheet tray in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction at the sheet opposing faces opposing the end portions of the sheets, wherein an upper portion of one of the pair of restricting members has a step portion consisting of a folded portion and a vertical surface above the folded portion, and an upper portion of an other of the pair of restricting members is formed flat as a sheet feeding criterion of the sheet, so that the distance between the sheet opposing ends at the upper portion of the pair of the restricting members adjacent the upper vertical surface is set larger than the distance between the sheet opposing faces below the position in which air is blown to the sheets with the air blowing portion, and wherein the air blowing portion is disposed on the side of the one of the pair of restricting members which has a step portion so as to blow air toward the other of the pair of restricting members.