Patent ID: 7913994
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A feeding device comprising: a tray on which sheet-like conveyance-target media are stacked; a pick roller configured to apply a conveyance force onto one conveyed target medium of the stack of conveyance-target media, the pick roller configured to send the conveyed target medium toward a conveyance destination with a pressing force applied to a circumferential surface of the pick roller in a rotating state, wherein the pick roller is circular in shape without eccentricity, when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller; a first pressing unit, configured to face and apply a first pressing force onto the circumferential surface of the pick roller and to make contact with one of the conveyed target medium or a separation-target medium disposed on the conveyed target medium, the first pressing force being a first separation force smaller than the conveyance force applied by the pick roller, the first pressing force being in a direction opposite to a direction of the conveyance force; a second pressing unit disposed on a downstream side of the first pressing unit along a direction in which the pick roller rotates, the second pressing unit facing the pick roller and configured to make contact with the circumferential surface of the pick roller and to make contact with either the conveyed target medium or the separation-target medium, the second pressing unit configured to press the conveyance-target medium against the circumferential surface of the pick roller to apply a second pressing force onto the circumferential surface of the pick roller, the second pressing force being a second separation force smaller than the conveyance force and in the direction opposite to the direction of the conveyance force; and a rotation driving unit for rotating the pick roller, wherein the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit are disposed along the direction in which the pick roller rotates, wherein a first contact area is defined in which the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other, and a second contact area is defined in which the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other, and wherein the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit are disposed so that the first contact area and the second contact area appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.