Patent ID: 7976015

Claim:
A feed device comprising: a loading unit in which a plurality of sheet members is loaded in a stacked state; a delivery member which performs a feed operation in a state in which a contact surface thereof is in contact with the uppermost sheet member of the sheet members loaded on the loading unit and delivers the sheet member in a feed direction using a feeding force, wherein the feeding force comprises a friction force generated between the contact surface and the uppermost sheet member; a gate member which is configured to move in a direction to and from the contact surface of the delivery member and has an inclined surface with which the front end of the sheet member delivered by the delivery member collides with; and a gate energizing member which energizes the gate member in a direction approaching the contact surface of the delivery member, wherein, the uppermost sheet member is delivered by the delivery member such that the front end thereof collides with the inclined surface of the gate member, and a gap is formed through which only the uppermost sheet member passes between the delivery member and the gate member by moving the gate member against energizing force of the gate energizing member in the direction separating from the delivery member, and wherein a pressing force applying unit is included which applies a pressing force along a stacked direction of the sheet members at an upstream side of the inclined surface on a feed path of the sheet member to the sheet member underlying the uppermost sheet member over the uppermost sheet member, wherein the pressing force applying unit applies the pressing force to the sheet member underlying the uppermost sheet member only after a portion of the uppermost sheet member passes through the gap.