Patent ID: 7618036
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A paper feed unit, comprising: a paper feed roller disposed such that an outer circumferential surface thereof contacts stacked sheets of paper so as to feed each sheet of paper by rotating; a separating pad having elasticity configured to press a sheet of paper being forwarded by the paper feed roller against the outer circumferential surface of the paper feed roller from a side of the sheet of paper opposite to the other side contacting the outer circumferential surface of the paper feed roller; a holder that supports the separating pad; and a biasing device that biases the holder so as to press the separating pad against the outer circumferential surface of the paper feed roller, for separating each sheet of paper from the stacked sheets by the rotation of the paper feed roller in cooperation with the separating pad and thus feeding the sheet of paper; wherein the holder includes: a first holder memberthat supports at least a part of a region on the separating pad from a predetermined position shifted by a predetermined distance from a contact position, at which the separating pad contacts the outer circumferential surface of the paper feed roller, toward a downstream side in a paper feed direction, to an end portion on the downstream side in the paper feed direction, and a second holder member, including a supporting portion and a pair of arms that extend in a downstream direction from the supporting portion, that supports at least an end portion of the separating pad on an upstream side in the paper feed direction or the vicinity of the upstream-side end portion of the separating pad on a side of the separating pad opposite a side of the separating pad that contacts the paper feed roller, wherein the biasing device biases the first holder member, the holder includes a space positioned between the first holder member and the separating pad and between the arms of the second holder and the separating pad, in which a predetermined region of the separating pad from the upstream-side end portion to the predetermined position is disposed so as to float, when the separating pad is attached to the holder, and the second holder member is configured to be elastically deformable so as to support elastically the separating pad.