US2012133092A1PendingUtilityA1

Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

39
Assignee: FUDA MUNEHISAPriority: Nov 30, 2010Filed: Nov 10, 2011Published: May 31, 2012
Est. expiryNov 30, 2030(~4.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Munehisa FudaMasato Hashimoto
B65H 3/128B65H 3/14B65H 3/64B65H 2801/06B65H 3/48
39
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Claims

Abstract

A sheet feeding device includes: a sheet storage unit that stores a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; and a plurality of nozzles configured to generate air currents blown out to the sheet stack, the air currents separate an uppermost sheet from the rest of stack of the plurality of sheets including a next sheet, the next sheet being situated immediately below the uppermost sheet.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A sheet feeding device comprising:
 a, sheet storage unit that stores a sheet stack of a plurality of sheets; and   a plurality of nozzles configured to generate air currents blown out to the sheet stack, the air currents separate an uppermost sheet from the rest of stack of the plurality of sheets including a next sheet, the next sheet being situated immediately below the uppermost sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of nozzles is configured to generate:
 a first air current that is blown against a side surface of the sheet stack to separate the sheets of the sheet stack; and 
 a second air current that is blown onto a top surface of the next sheet to press down the next sheet. 
   
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second air current is generated from a second nozzle that includes a leading end directed obliquely downward, the second nozzle being provided in the air-current generating device.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sheet feeding device is configured to convey the uppermost sheet, wherein
 the sheet feeding device is located above the sheet storage unit, wherein 
 the second air current changes a direction thereof as the second air current hits an endless sheet feeding belt or the uppermost sheet that is sucked to the endless sheet feeding belt. 
   
     
     
         5 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 ; and   an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet.

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