Patent ID: 8496241

Claim:
A sheet feeder configured to feed sheets in a predetermined direction sequentially on a sheet-by-sheet basis, comprising: a loading portion configured to be loaded with a stack of sheets to be fed; a separation roller configured such that a circumferential surface thereof contacts a leading end of a first sheet to be fed first among the stack of sheets on the loading portion in a contact point and picks up the first sheet and one or more second sheets adjacent to the first sheet from the stack of sheets; a separation arm configured to become closer to the circumferential surface of the separation roller downstream in the predetermined direction so as to nip the first sheet and the second sheets picked up by the separation roller in a nipping point between the separation arm and the circumferential surface of the separation roller, the separation arm adapted to apply higher frictional resistance to the second sheets than that to the first sheet near the nipping point so as to feed the first sheet separately ahead of the second sheets in cooperation with the separation roller, wherein the separation arm comprises a through hole positioned upstream from the nip point in the predetermined direction; an urging member configured to urge the separation arm toward the separation roller; and a guide member comprising a guide portion with a lower-friction surface than the separation arm, the guide portion configured to extend from the through hole of the separation arm with a distal end of the guide portion positioned downstream from and extending beyond the through hole in the predetermined direction, such that the distal end of the guide portion is in contact with or close to the circumferential surface of the separation roller, the guide portion adapted to contact the first sheet and the second sheets picked up by the separation roller and guide the first sheet and the second sheets to proceed along the circumferential surface of the separation roller between the contact point and the nipping point, when the contact point is disposed upstream in the sheet feeding direction from a position at which the distal end of the guide portion is configured to contact or to approach the circumferential surface of the separation roller, wherein the guide member further comprises an intermediate portion disposed in contact with or closer than the guide portion to an upper surface of the separation arm, and the guide member comprising a bend between the intermediate portion and the guide portion, such that the distal end of the guide portion is spaced from the upper surface of the separation arm.