Sheet feed devices and image recording apparatus comprising such sheet feed devices

摘要

A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.

主权项

1. A sheet feed device comprising:
a holding surface configured to hold a plurality of sheets; a feed unit configured to contact a particular sheet of the plurality of sheets and to feed at least the particular sheet in a sheet feed direction; and a separation unit disposed downstream of the holding surface in the sheet feed direction and configured to separate the particular sheet from other sheets of the plurality of sheets, the separation unit comprising:
a pair of inclined surfaces inclined relative to the holding surface and configured to guide the particular sheet fed by the feed unit;a plurality of first projections arranged in the sheet feed direction and projecting toward the feed unit relative to the pair of inclined surfaces;a metal elastic member configured to urge the plurality of first projections toward the feed unit from an opening formed between the pair of inclined surfaces;a plurality of second projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections such that one of the pair of inclined surfaces is disposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections, the plurality of second projections projecting toward the feed unit relative to the pair of inclined surfaces; anda plurality of third projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections such that the other of the pair of inclined surfaces is disposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of third projections, the plurality of third projections projecting toward the feed unit relative to the pair of inclined surfaces; wherein the plurality of first projections urged by the metal elastic member are arranged in the sheet feed direction by a first length, and the plurality of second projections and the plurality of third projections are arranged in the sheet feed direction by a second length and a third length, respectively, which are equal to each other and shorter than the first length.