Patent ID: 7641188
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet separation feeding unit which separates and feeds sheets supported in a sheet supporting unit, the sheet separation feeding unit comprising: a feed roller which feeds out the sheets in a sheet feeding direction; a separating roller which is rotatable in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction and separates the sheets one by one by a separation nip portion which is formed between the separating roller and the feed roller; and a charge eliminating mechanism which is provided on an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction in the separation nip portion and eliminates charges of the separating roller, wherein the charge eliminating mechanism has a guide member which guides the sheets supported in the sheet supporting unit toward the separation nip portion; and the guide member comprises a flexible conductive sheet, and the guide member is arranged in contact with a surface of the separating roller or is arranged in contact with a surface of the separating roller or is arranged with a predetermined gap, and is connected to a ground, thereby eliminating the charges of the separating roller through the guide member.