Patent ID: 8167299

Claim:
A sheet feeder, comprising: a storing section for storing transfer sheets; a feed roller for feeding the transfer sheets stored in the storing section one by one from an uppermost one; a separation roller arranged to face the feed roller; a transport roller arranged downstream of the feed roller in a transport direction; a lifter plate in the storing section and including a downstream end, the lifter plate being rotatable about an axis upstream of the downstream end, the downstream end being configured to lift up leading edges of the transfer sheets in the storing section to define an upward transport direction in cooperation with the feed roller and the transport roller; a pickup roller that contacts the uppermost surface of the transfer sheets stored in the storing section to feed the uppermost transfer sheet; and transfer sheet guide for guiding the transfer sheet to the transport roller, the transfer sheet guide includes a guide face formed to extend from the storing section along the upward transport direction of the transfer sheet substantially on an extension of a line tangent to the feed roller and the transport roller on the side of transporting the transfer sheet, said guide face being formed in an area between the storing section and the separation roller, an upstream end of the guide face of the transfer sheet guide in the transport direction being positioned below a line tangent to the pickup roller and the feed roller on the side of transporting the transport sheet.