Patent ID: 8002267

Claim:
A paper feed apparatus comprising: a pickup roller that performs sheet-by-sheet feeding of originals placed on an original placement tray, the pickup roller located above a location of the originals; a support shaft extending from the pickup roller; and a pressure varying mechanism that varies a load pressure of the pickup roller to the originals, wherein the pressure varying mechanism is located above the pickup roller and the support shaft and includes a pressing unit, wherein the pressing portion includes a first position that contacts and directly presses against the support shaft and a second position which the pressing unit is in a released position so that the pressing unit does not contact the support shaft, the pressure varying mechanism varies the load pressure of the pickup roller to the originals by applying downward pressure on the support shaft so that the pickup roller applies downward pressure on the originals, the pressure varying mechanism applies the downward pressure on the support shaft by the pressing unit contacting and pressing against the support shaft, a same size mode in which a wad of originals having only a same original size is fed continuously and a different size mode in which a wad of originals having different original sizes is fed continuously are selectable, and the pressure varying mechanism increases the load pressure when the different size mode is selected.