Patent ID: 8500115

Claim:
An image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, comprising: a feed assembly configured to feed the sheet; and an image forming unit configured to form the image on the sheet conveyed from the feed assembly; wherein the feed assembly includes: a feed roller configured to convey a sheet; a support element configured to detachably and rotatably support the feed roller; a base including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet; a frictional element including a frictional piece that presses the sheet against the feed roller to generate a frictional force on the sheet guided by the guide surface; and a coil spring provided between the frictional piece and the base; and wherein a recess is defined in the guide surface to accommodate the friction element; the frictional element projected from the guide surface when the feed roller is detached from the support element becomes detachable from the base; a groove is formed in a surface of the base that defines a side surface of the recess and has a longitudinal extension direction extending toward a rotational axis of the feed roller; and the frictional element includes: a rib complementary with the groove, the rib is engaged with the groove to guide the frictional element toward the rotational axis of the feed roller, a holder including a main plate that supports the frictional piece, a side plate that rotatably supports the main plate, and a back-up plate that supports the coil spring including a first spring end connected to the main plate and a second spring end connected to the back-up plate; the coil spring causes the main plate to rotate with respect to the side plate when the feed roller is detached from the support element.