Patent ID: 7669844

Claim:
A paper feeder comprising: a storage section configured to store therein plural sheet members to be fed to a processing apparatus which is operative to perform processing on the sheet members; a feed path allowing each of the plural sheet members fed from the storage section to pass therethrough in a feed direction toward the processing apparatus; a delivery section located most downstream on the feed path in the feed direction, wherein the feed path is open to exterior; and a receiving section located upstream of the feed path in the feed direction for communication with a delivery section of a first separate paper feeder having an identical construction with the present paper feeder when the first separate paper feeder is disposed upstream of the present paper feeder in the feed direction, said receiving section feeding a sheet member delivered from a delivery section of a first separate paper feeder to contact with the top of the sheet members in the storage section, wherein the feed path is passing on an upper surface of topmost one of the plural sheet members stored in the storage section, and wherein the delivery section has a guide member configured to guide each of the plural sheet members onto an upper surface of topmost one of plural sheet members stored in a storage section of a second separate paper feeder having an identical construction with the present paper feeder when the second separate paper feeder is disposed downstream of the present paper feeder in the sheet feed direction.