Patent ID: 7121542

Claim:
A paper feed device, comprising: a setting plate on which a plurality of sheets of paper are placed; a support unit which elevatably supports the setting plate, and elevates the setting plate when the support unit receives a driving force; a power transmission mechanism engageable with the support unit to transmit the driving force to the support unit; a driving unit operatively connected to the power transmission mechanism to provide the driving force via the power transmission mechanism to the support unit so that a uppermost sheet of paper placed on the setting plate is positioned at a predetermined height for feeding the sheets of paper; a link mechanism that includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion connected to the power transmission mechanism to cut off the transmission of the driving force to the support unit; and an operation lever operatively connected to the second portion of the link mechanism, the operation lever being switched between a first state and a second state, wherein: when the operation lever is in the first state, the power transmission mechanism transmits the driving force to the support unit; when the operation lever is in the second state, the link mechanism disconnects the power transmission mechanism from the support unit to cut off the transmission of the driving force to the support unit.