Patent ID: 8733755

Claim:
A sheet separation transport mechanism comprising: a sheet feed member that feeds a sheet in a transport direction; a separation member that is pressed onto the sheet feed member; a support member that includes: a carriage return and indent a separation member retaining portion which retains the separation member; and a line return and indent a guide portion which is formed in a shape of an inclined surface protruding beyond a surface of the separation member on an upstream side of the separation member retaining portion in the sheet transport direction and which guides lead edges of a plurality of sheets to a downstream side along the inclined surface; a sheet member that is adhered from the guide portion so as to overlap the separation member and that has a frictional coefficient lower than the separation member; and a concave portion that is formed in a shape of a groove which extends long-ways in the transport direction in a position of the guide portion where the sheet member is adhered such that a depth of the concave portion is greater than a thickness of the sheet member, wherein only an uppermost one of the stacked sheets being separated and transported in a nip portion between the sheet feed member and the separation member, a carriage return and indent wherein the sheet feed member is above the separation member.