Sheet supply apparatus for controlling sheet feeding with reversing of conveyance direction

摘要

A sheet supply apparatus includes a sheet supporting device for supporting sheets, a sheet supply for positively contacting the sheet supported by the sheet supporting device and for feeding out the sheet, a release mechanism for releasing contact between the sheet supply and the sheet, a separation device for separating the sheets fed by the sheet supply one by one, a pair of convey rotary devices for conveying the separated sheet, and a controller. The controller effects control such that, after the sheet separated by the separation device is conveyed by a predetermined amount by the convey rotary devices, in a condition that the contact between the sheet supply and the sheet is released by the release mechanism, the sheet is conveyed in a reverse direction by the convey rotary devices until a tip end of the sheet leaves a nip of the convey rotary devices, and then the sheet is sent toward the nip of the convey rotary devices by the sheet supply to urge the tip end of the sheet against the nip of the convey rotary devices, which are now rotated in a reverse direction.