Patent ID: 6540219
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A paper feed apparatus having a paper-sheet pickup mechanism to pick up a plurality of paper sheets stacked on a chute one by one from the bottom and carrying the paper sheets to a predetermined standby position, the apparatus comprising:a gate disposed facing a pickup roller almost vertically with respect to the direction of paper feed to form a predetermined clearance; a paper-sheet separating pad disposed in sliding contact with the pickup roller to pick up the paper placed on the standby position one by one; and a pickup arm that can be driven to be moved upward when setting paper sheets and downward when feeding paper sheets to push from above the paper sheets stacked on a chute near a paper-sheet feed port; wherein the pickup arm is driven by a clutch mechanism using a planetary gear and a paper feed motor that is used in common as a drive source in such a manner that the pickup arm is moved downward as the forward rotation of the motor disengages the planetary gear from a drive power transmission system, and upward as the reverse rotation of the motor engages the planetary gear with the drive power transmission system; and wherein, in a case that the pickup arm brought into free state as the planetary gear disengages from the drive power transmission system, the pickup arm pushes paper sheets with a pushing force that increases with increases in the number of paper sheets stacked on the chute.