Patent ID: 7240899
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding device comprising: a sheet tray on which sheets are stacked; an elastic support member that lifts up and supports, with an elastic force of an elastic member, the stack of sheets stacked on the sheet tray; a sheet feeding unit that successively feeds, beginning with an uppermost sheet, the stack of sheets lifted up by the elastic support member; a following movable member which is disposed so as to contact the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the sheet tray and which follows and moves in accordance with a change in the stacking amount of the sheets; a restraining mechanism that restrains the elastic support member in accordance with the stacking amount of the sheets so that the position of the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked on the sheet tray is held at a substantially constant position, the restraining mechanism including an engagement member that is disposed on the elastic support member and moves together with the elastic support member and a restraining member that restrains the movement of the engagement member; and a release mechanism that interlocks with the movement of the following movable member to release the restrained state resulting from the restraining mechanism; wherein the restraining member moves along a straight locus at least in the vicinity of an engaging portion between the engagement member and the restraining member so as to engage with and disengage from the engagement member.