Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

摘要

In a sheet feeding device, when a leading end of a recording sheet is guided to a nip region along a leading end portion of a sheet guide member in contact with a surface of a separation roller, the leading end of the recording sheet slides and moves on surfaces of projected end portions to be guided to the vicinity of the nip region, and the leading end of the recording sheet passes through the nip region quickly. Hence, a sheet feed error is much less likely to occur. Since a distance from recessed end portions to the nip region is longer and the leading end of the recording sheet is in contact with the separation roller for a longer time right after passing the recessed end portions until reaching the nip region, even though a plurality of recording sheets is stacked, the recording sheets are separated one by one by the separation roller, preventing a multi-sheet feed of the sheets.

主权项

1. A sheet feeding device comprising:
a sheet feed tray configured to be loaded with sheets; a sheet guide member; a sheet feed roller configured to convey the sheets; and a separation member configured to separate the sheets to prevent a multi-sheet feed of the sheets, the sheets being guided from the sheet feed tray along the sheet guide member to a nip region between the sheet feed roller and the separation member such that the sheets are forwarded through the nip region onto a sheet conveying path; wherein projected end portions and recessed end portions are alternately arranged on a leading end portion of the sheet guide member in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a direction of conveyance of the sheets; the sheet guide member is directed toward a downstream side in the direction of conveyance; the projected end portions project toward the downstream side in the direction of conveyance; the recessed end portions are recessed from the projected end portions toward an upstream side in the direction of conveyance; the projected end portions are provided at a position opposite to a first end of the separation member, at a position opposite to a second end of the separation member, and at a position opposite to a central portion of the sheet feed roller, and the first end, the central portion, and the second end are spaced apart in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of conveyance; and the projected end portions arranged in the positions opposite to the first end and the second end of the separation member overlap the first end and the second end of the separation member in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of sheets when viewed in the direction of conveyance.