Patent ID: 7692825
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet supplying apparatus, comprising: a sheet accommodating portion which has a support surface and which accommodates a plurality of stacked recording sheets including an uppermost recording sheet, such that the recording sheets are supported by the support surface; a frame which supports the sheet accommodating portion; a sheet supplying arm which is supported by the frame such that the sheet supplying arm is pivotable about a first axis line, and which is biased toward the support surface of the sheet accommodating portion; at least one sheet supplying roller which is supported by an end portion of the sheet supplying arm such that said at least one sheet supplying roller is rotatable about a second axis line parallel to the first axis line, and which is pressed on the uppermost recording sheet, so that when said at least one sheet-supply roller is rotated, the uppermost recording sheet is supplied from the sheet accommodating portion; a receiving portion which is provided in the support surface of the sheet accommodating portion and which is covered by the recording sheets and is opened when a trailing end of a last one of the recording sheets passes over the receiving portion; and a moving device including a detecting portion which is supported by the recording sheets and which moves, when the trailing end of the last recording sheet passes over the receiving portion, into the receiving portion and thereby detects the passing of the last recording sheet, and further including a detection-movement converting device which converts a movement of the detecting portion into the receiving portion, into a pivotal movement of the sheet supplying arm about the first axis line in a first direction to move said at least one sheet supplying roller away from the support surface of the sheet accommodating portion.