Patent ID: 6168146
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet feeding rotatable member rotated in a forward feeding direction and a sheet separating rotatable member rotated in a reverse feeding direction, said sheet feeding rotatable member and said sheet separating rotatable member being disposed in opposed relationship with each other and rotated at the opposed portion, and separating and conveying sheets one by one between both said rotatable members, said sheet feeding apparatus comprising: inter-shaft distance changing means for at least one of both said rotatable members to change the inter-shaft distance thereof relative to the other rotatable member; sheet detecting means provided near both said rotatable members for detecting the passage of the sheets; and means for controlling so that with the start of feeding, at least one of both said rotatable members may start the operation of spacing its inter-shaft distance relative to the other rotatable member, and when a sheet is detected by said sheet detecting means, the operation of spacing said inter-shaft distance may be stopped, and when the feeding of said sheet is completed, at least one of both said rotatable members may bring the inter-shaft distance thereof relative to the other rotatable member close to a position in which feeding is impossible.