Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet includes a sheet support portion, a feeding portion, a sheet support detection portion, a separation portion, and a control portion configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode, wherein in a case where a first type is set as a sheet type of the sheets in a state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion, and wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion and the first type is set as the sheet type in a state where the second mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet support portion located at a side surface of the sheet feeding apparatus and configured to support a plurality of sheets;   a feeding portion configured to feed the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion one by one;   a sheet support detection portion configured to detect that sheets are supported on the sheet support portion;   a separation portion configured to separate the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion by blowing air to the plurality of sheets; and   a control portion configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being a mode in which a sheet type setting operation for the sheets supported on the sheet support portion is executed in advance, the second mode being a mode in which the sheet type setting operation is executable upon detection that the sheets are supported on the support portion by the sheet support detection portion,   wherein in a case where a first type is set as a sheet type of the sheets in a state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion, and   wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion and the first type is set as the sheet type in a state where the second mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein in a case where the first type is set as the sheet type in the state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion after a lapse of a set period after detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control portion is configured to change the set period. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion after completion of air blowing by the separation portion. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in a case where a second type different from the first type is set as the sheet type in the state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion, and   wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion and the second type is set as the sheet type in the state where the second mode is selected, the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a side edge regulating plate movable in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction and configured to regulate a position in the width direction of the sheets supported on the support portion,
 wherein the separation portion includes a fan and a duct configured to blow air to sides of the sheets by guiding air blown from the fan to pass through the side edge regulating plate.   
     
     
         7 . A sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet, the apparatus comprising:
 a sheet support portion located at a side surface of the sheet feeding apparatus and configured to support a plurality of sheets;   a feeding portion configured to feed the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion one by one;   a sheet support detection portion configured to detect that sheets are supported on the sheet support portion;   a separation portion configured to separate the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion by blowing air to the plurality of sheets; and   a control portion configured to perform a sheet type setting operation on the sheets supported on the sheet support portion,   wherein in a case where a first type is set as a sheet type of the sheet, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion after a lapse of a set period after detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion.   
     
     
         8 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and   an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus.