Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming system

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus includes an accommodating unit, and a conveyance unit. The conveyance unit includes a first guide member, a second guide member, walls on both sides, a conveyance roller, and a first cover. The walls on both sides are arranged on both sides of the first guide member and the second guide member in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. Together with the first guide member and the second guide member, the walls on both sides forms a space of a conveyance path through which a sheet is conveyed. The conveyance roller is disposed to project toward the conveyance path via a first opening of the first guide member and conveys the sheet in the conveyance path. The first cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the first cover covers the first opening and the conveyance roller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 an accommodating unit including a case forming an enclosed accommodating space configured to accommodate a sheet, a sheet discharge port formed in a part of the case and through which the sheet is discharged outside from the case, and a sheet feed portion configured to feed the sheet accommodated in the case to an outside of the case through the sheet discharge port; and   a conveyance unit connected to the sheet discharge port of the accommodating unit and configured to convey the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port,   wherein the conveyance unit includes a first guide member, a second guide member, walls on both sides, a conveyance roller, and a first cover,   wherein the first guide member includes a first opening,   wherein the second guide member is arranged to face the first guide member,   wherein the walls on both sides are arranged on both sides of the first guide member and the second guide member in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction,   wherein, together with the first guide member and the second guide member, the walls on both sides forms a space of a conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed,   wherein the conveyance roller is disposed to project toward the conveyance path via the first opening and configured to convey the sheet in the conveyance path, and   wherein the first cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the first cover covers the first opening and the conveyance roller.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the conveyance unit includes a rotation shaft configured to rotatably support the conveyance roller,   wherein the walls on both sides are extended in a direction from the second guide member toward the first guide member and support the rotation shaft rotatably and hermetically, and   wherein the first cover encloses the space of the conveyance path with the first guide member and the walls on both sides in such a manner that the first cover covers the first opening, the conveyance roller, and the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first cover includes a first cover portion covering the conveyance roller and formed in sectionally circular arc shape, and a second cover portion covering the rotation shaft and formed in sectionally circular arc shape, and   wherein a diameter of the second cover portion is smaller than a diameter of the first cover portion.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first guide member includes a second opening different from the first opening and configured to communicate with the conveyance path,   wherein the conveyance unit includes a detection portion and a second cover,   wherein the detection portion is configured to detect the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path via the second opening, and   wherein the second cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the second cover covers the second opening and the detection portion.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first cover includes a sensor opening that faces the second opening,   wherein the detection portion is disposed on an outer side of the first cover and configured to detect the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path via the second opening and the sensor opening, and   wherein the second cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the second cover covers the second opening, the sensor opening, and the detection portion.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the conveyance roller is a first conveyance roller,   wherein the conveyance unit includes a second conveyance roller and a third cover,   wherein, the second conveyance roller is disposed to project toward the conveyance path via a third opening formed in the second guide member and configured to form a nip nipping the sheet with the first conveyance roller, and   wherein the third cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the third cover covers the third opening and the second conveyance roller.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a drive unit,
 wherein the first conveyance roller is a drive roller driven by the drive unit, and   wherein the second conveyance roller is a driven roller that is driven and rotated by the drive roller.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member that is interposed at contact area where the first guide member and the walls on both sides are in contact with the first cover. 
     
     
         9 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 an accommodating unit including a case forming an enclosed accommodating space configured to accommodate a sheet, a sheet discharge port formed in a part of the case and through which the sheet is discharged outside from the case, and a sheet feed portion configured to feed the sheet accommodated in the case to an outside of the case through the sheet discharge port; and   a conveyance unit connected to the sheet discharge port of the accommodating unit and configured to convey the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port,   wherein the conveyance unit includes a first guide member, a second guide member, walls on both sides, a detection portion, and a cover,   wherein the first guide member includes an opening,   wherein the second guide member is arranged to face the first guide member,   wherein the walls on both sides are arranged on both sides of the first guide member and the second guide member in a width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction,   wherein, together with the first guide member and the second guide member, the walls on both sides forms a space of a conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed,   wherein the detection portion is configured to detect the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path via the opening, and   wherein the cover encloses the space of the conveyance path in such a manner that the cover covers the opening and the detection portion.   
     
     
         10 . An image forming system comprising:
 the sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and   an image forming apparatus forming an image on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus.