Feed apparatus capable of feeding image forming media by relatively small drive power

摘要

A feed apparatus for feeding paper to a copy machine is disclosed. Paper on a paper table is vertically moved by a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is made up of a coupling mechanism, a transmitting mechanism, and a mounting mechanism. This mechanism transmits a drive force from a motor and a motor drive to the paper table, to vertically move the table. The table has an elastic member attached thereto. The elastic member has a predetermined elastic force to move the table upwardly. The table is lifted by cooperation of the lift mechanism and the elastic member. A controller applies a command to the motor to drive a transport mechanism. The driven transport mechanism picks up paper sheet by sheet and feeds it to the copy machine.