Patent ID: 8556257

Claim:
A sheet loading device that includes a tray having a sheet loading surface, that transports a plurality of recording sheets one by one to the tray along a transport path, and that loads the recording sheets one by one onto the sheet loading surface, the sheet loading device comprising: a guide member configured to be moveable between a first position and a second position, the guide member (i) guiding a recording sheet transported along the transport path to the sheet loading surface when in the first position and (ii) pressing a rear end portion of the recording sheet loaded on the sheet loading surface against the sheet loading surface when in the second position; a drive member that selectively causes the guide member to move between the first position and the second position; a restriction member that is arranged between a surface facing the transport path of the guide member in the first position and the sheet loading surface and that is configured to be moveable between a third position and a fourth position, the restriction member (i) restricting the rear end portion from departing from the sheet loading surface and thus preventing the rear end portion from blocking the transport path when in the third position and (ii) releasing the restriction when in the fourth position; and a bias mechanism configured to apply a bias force to bias the restriction member towards the third position from the fourth position, wherein along a course of movement of the guide member from the first position to the second position, the guide member causes the restriction member to move from the third position to the fourth position by an engaging portion of the guide member engaging with an engaged portion of the restriction member, the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released before the guide member arrives at the second position, and when the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion is released, the restriction member is caused to return to the third position by the bias force applied by the bias mechanism.