Cassette type sheet feed apparatus for copying machine or the like

摘要

Cassettes containing different sizes of sheets are selectively insertable below a feed roller. Each cassette has a bottom wall formed with a hole and a plate having a front edge aligned with the front of the cassette and a rear edge tiltably connected to the bottom wall. An actuator is insertable through the hole to tilt the plate and sheets upwardly so that the top sheet engages with the feed roller. Each cassette is designed to contain stacks of sheets of a predetermined width and various lengths. For sheets of less than maximum length a rear edge guide is mounted on the plate or bottom wall to align the front edges of the sheets with the front edge of the plate. The length of each plate is no greater than the length of the shortest sheet of the respective width. The length of the plates are predetermined in such a manner that the weight of the sheets of any size transmitted to the actuator through the respective plate is equal and the pressure between the sheets and the roller is the same regardless of the sheet size.