Sheet feeding apparatus, sheet conveyance apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040652-B2
Application number	US-201615245504-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Sep 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting portion and a feeding unit. The supporting portion supports a sheet and is capable of being drawn out from and being attached to an apparatus body. The feeding unit is provided in the apparatus body and includes a feeding portion, a conveyance portion, a separation unit, and a guide member. The feeding portion feeds the sheet supported by the supporting portion. The conveyance portion conveys the sheet. The separation unit forms a separation nip with the conveyance portion and is detachable from the feeding unit. The guide member includes a guide surface and a lower surface. The guide surface guides the sheet to the separation nip. The lower surface is provided below the guide surface and includes an exposing portion exposing at least a part of the separation unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body;
a supporting portion configured to support a sheet and to be drawn out in a drawing-out direction from the apparatus body and attached to the apparatus body; and
a feeding unit provided in the apparatus body, the feeding unit comprising:
a feeding portion configured to feed the sheet supported by the supporting portion;
a conveyance portion configured to convey the sheet fed by the feeding portion;
a separation portion configured to form a separation nip, in which sheets are separated one by one, with the conveyance portion, the separation portion being detachable from the feeding unit in the drawing-out direction; and
a guide member comprising a guide surface and a lower portion, the guide surface being configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion to the separation nip, the lower portion being provided below the guide surface and defining an exposing area exposing at least a part of the separation portion to a space appearing in a case where the supporting portion has been drawn out from the apparatus body,
wherein the guide surface and the exposing area overlap the separation portion in the drawing-out direction.

2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the exposing area is configured to expose an upstream end portion of the separation portion in the drawing-out direction.

3. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the exposing area is an opening provided in the lower portion.

4. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a length of at least one side of the opening is 10 mm to 30 mm.

5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the exposing area is configured to expose a downstream end portion of the separation portion in the drawing-out direction.

6. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the exposing area is a cutout provided in the lower portion.

7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a length of at least one side of the cutout is 20 mm to 30 mm.

8. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feeding unit comprises an urging unit and a separating mechanism, the urging unit being configured to urge the separation portion toward the conveyance portion, the separating mechanism being configured to move the separation portion away from the conveyance portion against an urging force of the urging unit in a case where the supporting portion is drawn out in the drawing-out direction.

9. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting portion comprises a downstream guide portion that is provided downstream of the separation portion in the drawing-out direction and configured to guide the sheet to the separation nip, and
the guide surface is provided upstream of the downstream guide portion in the drawing-out direction and configured to guide the sheet to the separation nip.

10. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the feeding unit comprises a movable member that is configured to guide the sheet to the separation nip while opposing the downstream guide portion and is movable in the drawing-out direction.

11. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the feeding unit comprises a separation shaft, on which a recessed portion is formed, rotatably supported by the apparatus body,
the separation portion is a roller detachable from the separation shaft, and
the roller comprises a locking claw that is capable of engaging with and disengaging from the recessed portion.

12. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the locking claw is formed on a downstream end portion of the roller in the drawing-out portion.

13. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is an opposing surface that opposes the supporting portion attached to the apparatus body.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus.

15. A sheet conveyance apparatus comprising:
an apparatus body
a cassette configured to support a sheet and to be drawn out in a drawing-out direction from the apparatus body; and
a conveyance unit provided in the apparatus body, the conveyance unit comprising:
a conveyance rotary member configured to convey a sheet;
a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the apparatus body;
a retard roller that is capable of being in contact with the conveyance rotary member and is detachable from the rotation shaft in the drawing-out direction;
a torque limiter provided between the rotation shaft and the retard roller; and
a guide member comprising a guide surface and a lower portion, the guide surface being configured to guide a sheet to a contact portion at which the conveyance rotary member and the retard roller come into contact, the lower portion being provided below the guide surface and defining an exposing area exposing at least a part of the retard roller to a space appearing in a case where the cassette has been drawn out from the apparatus body,
wherein the guide surface and the exposing area overlap the retard roller in the drawing-out direction.

16. The sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the exposing area is an opening provided in the lower portion.

17. The sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein a length of at least one side of the opening is 10 mm to 30 mm.

18. The sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the exposing area is a cutout provided in the lower portion.

19. The sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein a length of at least one side of the cutout is 20 mm to 30 mm.

20. The sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the lower portion is an opposing surface that opposes the cassette attached to the apparatus body.

21. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 15 ; and
an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance apparatus.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Fujita Keiko

Classifications

• G03G2215/004

  Separation device · CPC title

• B65H1/04

  adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile · CPC title

• B65H1/266

  Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G2215/00396

  Pick-up device · CPC title

• B65H1/28

  compartmented to receive piles side-by-side · CPC title