Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200529-A1
Application number	US-201614987095-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There are provided a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming system which can horizontally maintain a posture of a topmost envelope in stored envelopes, by a simple configuration. The sheet feeding apparatus includes: a stacking surface portion 321; a sheet feeding roller 313; a pressing surface portion 362; and a curve forming portion 363. A length of the stacking surface portion 321 in a width direction is shorter than a length of each of envelopes P in a width direction. The pressing surface portion 362 is pressed by the sheet feeding roller 313 via the envelopes P. The curve forming portion 363 is arranged outside the sheet feeding roller 313 in a width direction, projects more upward in a vertical direction than the pressing surface portion 362, and supports the plurality of stacked envelopes P with a predetermined size.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
a stacking surface portion on which a plurality of envelopes with a predetermined size can be stacked, the stacking surface portion having a length in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the envelopes with the predetermined size and also perpendicular to a vertical direction thereof being shorter than a length of each of the envelopes with the predetermined size in a width direction; a sheet feeding roller that comes into contact with the envelope with the predetermined size arranged at a top of the plurality of envelopes with the predetermined size in the vertical direction, the envelopes being stacked on the stacking surface portion, and conveys the envelopes with the predetermined size; a pressing surface portion pressed by the sheet feeding roller via the envelopes with the predetermined size; and a curve forming portion that is arranged outside the sheet feeding roller in the width direction, that projects more upward in the vertical direction than the pressing surface portion, and that supports the plurality of stacked envelopes with the predetermined size.

2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curve forming portion is formed integrally with the pressing surface portion.

3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the curve forming portion is formed of a member having elasticity.

4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising an elevating portion that can elevate the stacking surface portion in the vertical direction, wherein
the stacking surface portion is one surface of a stacking base provided at the elevating portion, and wherein the curve forming portion is supported so as to be able to be housed in the stacking base.

5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the curve forming portion is detachably attached to the stacking surface portion.

6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing surface portion is a concave portion that is formed in the stacking surface portion, and is dented downward in the vertical direction from the stacking surface portion.

7 . An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus that forms an image on envelopes with a predetermined size; and a sheet feeding apparatus that feeds the envelopes to the image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet feeding apparatus includes:
a stacking surface portion on which a plurality of the envelopes with the predetermined size can be stacked, the stacking surface portion having a length in a width direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the envelopes with the predetermined size and also perpendicular to a vertical direction thereof being shorter than a length of each of the envelopes with the predetermined size in a width direction;
a sheet feeding roller that comes into contact with the envelope with the predetermined size arranged at a top of the plurality of envelopes with the predetermined size in the vertical direction, the envelopes being stacked on the stacking surface portion, and conveys the envelopes with the predetermined size to the image forming apparatus;
a pressing surface portion pressed by the sheet feeding roller via the envelopes with the predetermined size; and
a curve forming portion that is arranged outside the sheet feeding roller in the width direction, that projects more upward in the vertical direction than the pressing surface portion, and that supports the plurality of stacked envelopes with the predetermined size.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Kimura Kazuyoshi

Classifications

• B65H1/14

  comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65H2405/15

  Large capacity supports arrangements · CPC title

• B65H2405/1112

  with stepped surface portions · CPC title

• B65H2405/1116

  with means for changing geometry · CPC title

• B65H2405/1113

  with surface portions curved in width-wise direction · CPC title