Paper feed apparatus

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, in a paper feed apparatus having a half-moon roller disposed above a plurality of sheets of paper stored in a stacked manner, and an auxiliary roller provided along one end of a half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the half-moon roller being rotated in a state in which a topmost sheet of paper has been put in contact with a height regulating member due to the sheets of paper being biased upward, so that the auxiliary roller and the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller are successively pushed against the topmost sheet of paper, and while the sheets of paper are pushed down by the auxiliary roller or the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the topmost sheet of paper is pulled out by the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller: the one end of the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller is separated from the auxiliary roller, and a curvature of the one end of the half-circumferential face is gradually increased closer to the auxiliary roller.

1 . A paper feed apparatus having a half-moon roller disposed above a plurality of sheets of paper stored in a stacked manner, and an auxiliary roller provided along one end of a half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the half-moon roller being rotated in a state in which a topmost sheet of paper has been put in contact with a height regulating member due to the sheets of paper being biased upward, so that the auxiliary roller and the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller are successively pushed against the topmost sheet of paper, and while the sheets of paper are pushed down by the auxiliary roller or the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the topmost sheet of paper is pulled out by the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller:
 the one end of the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller being separated from the auxiliary roller, and a curvature of the one end of the half-circumferential face being gradually increased closer to the auxiliary roller.   
   
   
       2 . The paper feed apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein before the auxiliary roller separates from the surface of the topmost sheet of paper, the one end of the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller having a large curvature presses against the surface of the topmost sheet of paper.   
   
   
       3 . The paper feed apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller comprises a frictional face.   
   
   
       4 . The paper feed apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the half-moon roller comprises a frame body that has been fixed to a shaft that serves as a rotational center of the half-moon roller, and a friction rubber that has been overlaid on the half-circumferential face of the frame body, the auxiliary roller being rotatably linked to one end of the frame body, and   the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller is the outside surface of the friction rubber, and the one end of the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller is part of the friction rubber.