Feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A feeding device according to the present invention holds a pile of sheets of paper in it. Feed force so acts selectively on a specified region of the upper side of the held top sheet as to feed the held sheets one after one in a feed direction. The feeding device includes a flat press plate and a support. The press plate is not smaller in the feed direction and the cross directions perpendicular to the feed direction than the maximum size of the sheets which can be held in the main body. The press plate is not larger in the feed and cross directions than the inner size of the main body. The press plate has a first opening formed over the specified region. The press plate is supported vertically movably above the held sheets by the support.

1 . A feeding device comprising:
 a main body for holding a pile of sheets of paper therein;   wherein feed force so acts selectively on a specified region of the upper side of the held top sheet as to feed the held sheets one after one in a feed direction;   a press plate being shaped like a flat plate being in length in the feed direction and the cross directions perpendicular to the feed direction, not smaller than the maximum size of sheets capable of being held in the main body and not larger than the inner size of the main body;   the press plate having a first opening formed over the specified region; and   a support so supporting the press plate above the held sheets that the press plate can move vertically.   
   
   
       2 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the press plate can be removed upward from the support. 
   
   
       3 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support is a rear end guide limiting the upstream movement of the held sheets in the feed direction. 
   
   
       4 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front end guide for contact with a front corner of the upper side of the held top sheet on the downstream side in the feed direction;   the press plate having a second opening through which the front end guide passes vertically.   
   
   
       5 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a side edge guide for contact with side edges of the held sheets parallel in the feed direction;   the press plate having a third opening through which the side edge guide passes vertically.   
   
   
       6 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the press plate includes a flexing portion extending thereacross in the cross directions, in the middle part of the press plate in the feed direction. 
   
   
       7 . A feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the press plate is made of a transparent material. 
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus comprising an image former for forming an image on a sheet of paper fed from a feeding device as claimed in  claim 1 .