Patent ID: 8196918

Claim:
A feed assembly for feeding a sheet including a first sheet and a second sheet following the first sheet comprising: a feed roller configured to convey the sheet; a support element configured to detachably and rotatably support the feed roller; a separating mechanism configured to separate the second sheet from the first sheet when the second sheet is conveyed and overlapped with the first sheet; and a base including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet and a positioning wall configured to position the separating mechanism; wherein an engaging portion configured to engage with the separating mechanism is formed in the positioning wall; and the separating mechanism includes: a separator configured to cause a resistance force against conveyance of the sheet by the feed roller to separate the second sheet from the first sheet when the second sheet is conveyed and overlapped with the first sheet; a first biasing element including a first end connected to the separator and a second end opposite to the first end; a seat including a first wall confronting the positioning wall and a second wall connected to the second end of the first biasing element; a positioning element installed on the first wall so that the positioning element moves between a first position where the positioning element is engaged with the engaging portion and a second position where the positioning element is disengaged from the engaging portion; and a shifter configured to shift the positioning element between the first position and the second position; the first biasing element biases the separator apart from the second wall; the shifter holds the positioning element in the first position while the support element supports the feed roller; and when the feed roller is removed from the support element, the first biasing element projects the separator from the guide surface while the shifter shifts the positioning element to the second position.