Sheet feeding apparatus

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus has: a sheet feeding unit configured to transport, in a feed direction, a sheet arranged at a sheet feeding position; a sheet bundle loading unit configured to load a sheet bundle including multiple sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit; a lift mechanism configured to move the sheet bundle loading unit vertically so that the uppermost sheet loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit is arranged at the sheet feeding position; and a transfer mechanism configured to hold and transfer the externally supplied sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit. The transfer mechanism has a sheet bundle holding unit configured to hold the externally supplied sheet bundle and a transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit to establish a state where the sheet bundle is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 a sheet feeding unit configured to transport, in a feed direction, a sheet arranged at a sheet feeding position;   a sheet bundle loading unit configured to load a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit;   a lift mechanism configured to move the sheet bundle loading unit in a height direction so that the uppermost sheet loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit is arranged at the sheet feeding position; and   a transfer mechanism configured to hold the sheet bundle supplied from outside and transfer the sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit,   wherein the transfer mechanism has   a sheet bundle holding unit configured to hold the sheet bundle supplied from outside, and   a transfer unit configured to transfer the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit so as to establish a state where the sheet bundle is loaded on the sheet bundle loading unit.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer mechanism has a position adjusting unit configured to adjust a position in the feed direction of the sheet bundle holding unit relative to the sheet bundle loading unit. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect that an end of the sheet bundle reached a predetermined position in the feed direction,
 wherein the position adjusting unit moves the sheet bundle holding unit in the feed direction based on a detection result from the detecting unit so that a position in the feed direction of the sheet bundle matches a target position. 
 
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the transfer mechanism has a direction adjusting unit configured to rotate the sheet bundle holding unit about an axis running in the height direction to adjust a direction relative to the feed direction of the sheet bundle held by the sheet bundle holding unit. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sheet bundle loading unit has a plurality of loading members arranged with spacing in the feed direction, each extending in a width direction orthogonal to the feed direction, and configured to support the sheet bundle,   wherein the sheet bundle holding unit has a plurality of holding members arranged with spacing in the feed direction, each extending in the width direction, and configured to support the sheet bundle, and   wherein the transfer unit transfers the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle holding unit onto the sheet bundle loading unit by switching a first state to a second state, the first state being a state where the plurality of holding members are arranged spaced apart in the width direction from the plurality of loading members, and the second state being a state where the holding members and the loading members are arranged alternatingly in the feed direction and arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sheet bundle loading unit has a loading member extending in a width direction orthogonal to the feed direction and configured to support the sheet bundle,   wherein the sheet bundle holding unit holds a plate-like part at a predetermined height, the sheet bundle being placed on the plate-like part, and   wherein the transfer unit transfers the sheet bundle onto the sheet bundle loading unit by switching a first state to a second state, the first state being a state where the sheet bundle holding unit is arranged spaced apart in the width direction from the loading member, and the second state being a state where the plate-like part and the loading member are arranged overlapped with each other in the width direction and the loading member is arranged below the plate-like part.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the sheet bundle holding unit holds a pallet having the plate-like part and a plurality of leg parts, the plurality of leg parts being configured to hold the plate-like part at the predetermined height with respect to the sheet bundle holding unit.