SHEET FEED APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE READING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SHEET FEED APPARATUS

摘要

In a sheet feed apparatus, sheet feed roller is provided in casing so as to face downstream side of sheet stacking portion in sheet conveying direction, and conveys sheets in sheet conveying direction. Separation pad is provided facing sheet feed roller, forms, with sheet feed roller, nip portion through which sheets pass, and conveys sheets one by one in sheet conveying direction. Holder fixes and supports separation pad. Mount portion mounts holder. An urging member urges separation pad toward sheet feed roller via the holder. Holder is changeable in its posture between a first posture in which separation pad is spaced apart from sheet feed roller so as to release nip portion having been formed therebetween, and a second posture in which nip portion is formed between separation pad and sheet feed roller. Holder includes a contact part that contacts the mount portion in the second posture.

主权项

1. A sheet feed apparatus comprising:
a casing; a sheet stacking portion provided in the casing, in which sheets are stacked; a sheet conveying path through which the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking portion are conveyed in a predetermined sheet conveying direction; a sheet feed roller provided in the casing so as to face a downstream side of the sheet stacking portion in the sheet conveying direction, and configured to convey the sheets in the sheet conveying direction; a separation pad provided facing the sheet feed roller, and configured to form, with the sheet feed roller, a nip portion through which the sheets pass, and convey the sheets one by one in the sheet conveying direction; a holder configured to fix and support the separation pad; a mount portion provided in the downstream side from the sheet stacking portion in the sheet conveying direction in the casing, to and from which the holder is mountable and removable; and an urging member configured to urge the separation pad toward the sheet feed roller via the holder being in a mounted state where the holder is mounted to the mount portion, wherein the holder is configured to be changeable in its posture between a first posture and a second posture, the first posture being a posture in which the separation pad is spaced apart from the sheet feed roller so as to release the nip portion while the holder is in the mounted state, and the second posture being a posture in which the nip portion is formed between the separation pad and the sheet feed roller while the holder is in the mounted state, and the holder includes a contact part that contacts the mount portion when the holder is in the second posture.