Paper feeding apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming system

摘要

A paper feeding apparatus includes: a sheet loading unit for loading a bundle of sheets; a separation unit that separates a topmost sheet of the bundle of sheets loaded on the sheet loading unit, from the bundle of sheets; a conveyance unit that conveys the separated topmost sheet; an end fence that is movable in a sheet conveyance direction, abuts trailing ends in the sheet conveyance direction, and positions the bundle of sheets in the sheet conveyance direction; and a pressing unit that is provided in such a manner as to protrude from the end fence, and is able to press the trailing ends in the sheet conveyance direction of at least an upper part of the bundle of sheets, wherein the pressing unit has different pressing forces at an upper and a lower portion thereof, and has the lower pressing force stronger than the upper pressing force.

主权项

1. A paper feeding apparatus comprising:
a sheet loading unit on which a bundle of sheets is loadable; a separation unit to separate a topmost sheet of the bundle of sheets from the bundle of sheets, upon the bundle of sheets being loaded on the sheet loading unit; a conveyance unit to convey the separated topmost sheet; an end fence, movable in a sheet conveyance direction, to abut trailing ends in the sheet conveyance direction of the bundle of sheets, and to position the bundle of sheets in the sheet conveyance direction; and a pressing unit, provided to protrude from the end fence, and configured to press the trailing ends in the sheet conveyance direction of at least an upper part of the bundle of sheets, wherein the pressing unit includes a plurality of elastic portions, an elastic force of an elastic portion disposed on a relatively lowest of the plurality of elastic portions of the pressing unit being made relatively stronger than those of other of the plurality of elastic portions, such that the pressing unit is configured to exert different pressing forces at the relatively lowest of the plurality of elastic portions and at the other of the plurality of elastic portions of the pressing unit, a pressing force exertable at the relatively lowest of the plurality of elastic portions being relatively stronger than a pressing force exertable at the other of the plurality of elastic portions.