Sheet feeding devices and image recording apparatus including the same

Abstract

A sheet feeding device having a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed. A first sheet-guiding member is disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path. The first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position. A second sheet-guiding member is disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path. The second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position. A connecting member is configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sheet feeding device comprising:
 a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed; 
 a first sheet-guiding member disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, wherein the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is in the first position, the first sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along at least one of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, and when the first sheet-guiding member is in the second position, the first sheet-guiding member is separated from the first sheet feeding path on a second-sheet-feeding-path side; 
 a second sheet-guiding member disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path, wherein the second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, wherein when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, the second sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along the second sheet feeding path, and when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the second sheet feeding path; and 
 a connecting member configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is coupled to the second sheet-guiding member, the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move from the first position to the second position when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, 
 wherein when the sheet is in the second sheet feeding path, the sheet prevents the first sheet-guiding member from moving, and wherein when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, the first sheet-guiding member remains in the first position. 
 
     
     
       2. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is configured to allow the first sheet-guiding member and the second sheet-guiding member to be separated when a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force is applied to the connecting member, and the connecting member is configured to maintain the first sheet-guiding member coupled to the second sheet-guiding member when a force less than the predetermined force is applied to the connecting member. 
     
     
       3. The sheet feeding device of  claim 2 , wherein the force equal to or greater than the predetermined force is applied in a direction which increases a separation of the first sheet-guiding member from the second sheet-guiding member. 
     
     
       4. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the sheet is in the second sheet feeding path, the sheet prevents the first sheet-guiding member from moving, and wherein when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, the first sheet-guiding member remains in the first position. 
     
     
       5. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet-feeding section disposed downstream of the second sheet-guiding member in a sheet feeding direction, wherein the sheet-feeding section is configured to feed and hold the sheet in the second sheet feeding path. 
     
     
       6. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet-guiding member covers an opening formed through a wall of a body of the sheet feeding device when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, and the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the opening when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position. 
     
     
       7. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first sheet-guiding member and the second sheet-guiding member is pivotably mounted on a body of the sheet feeding device. 
     
     
       8. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 7 , wherein a fulcrum of the first sheet-guiding member is different from a fulcrum of the second sheet-guiding member, and when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member disconnects from the first sheet-guiding member at a predetermined position. 
     
     
       9. A sheet feeding device comprising:
 a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed; 
 a first sheet-guiding member disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, wherein the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is in the first position, the first sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along at least one of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, and when the first sheet-guiding member is in the second position, the first sheet-guiding member is separated from the first sheet feeding path on a second-sheet-feeding-path side; 
 a second sheet-guiding member disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path, wherein the second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, wherein when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, the second sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along the second sheet feeding path, and when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the second sheet feeding path; 
 a connecting member configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member; 
 a first rib which is disposed on the first sheet-guiding member and extends toward the second sheet-guiding member; and 
 a second rib which is disposed on the second sheet-guiding member and extends toward the first sheet-guiding member, wherein the connecting member is disposed on each of the first rib and the second rib, 
 wherein a first portion of at least one of a connection surface of the first rib and a connection surface of the second rib comprises a friction member having a first friction coefficient which is greater than a second friction coefficient of a second portion of at least one of a connection surface of the first rib and a connection surface of the second rib. 
 
     
     
       10. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein the connecting member comprises:
 a first projection disposed on a first end of the second sheet-guiding member in a width direction;   a second projection disposed on a second end of the second sheet-guiding member in a width direction;   a first engagement member disposed on a first end of the first sheet-guiding member in a width direction;   a second engagement member disposed on a second end of the first sheet-guiding member in a width direction and wherein the first engagement member is configured to engage with the first projection and the second engagement member is configured to engage with the second projection.   
     
     
       11. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein a first portion of at least one of a connection surface of the first rib and a connection surface of the second rib comprises a friction member having a first friction coefficient which is greater than a second friction coefficient of a second portion of at least one of a connection surface of the first rib and a connection surface of the second rib. 
     
     
       12. The sheet feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein the connecting member comprises a magnet configured to attract the first sheet-guiding member toward the second sheet-guiding member. 
     
     
       13. An image recording apparatus comprising a sheet feeding device, the sheet feeding device comprises:
 a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed;   a first sheet-guiding member disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, wherein the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is in the first position, the first sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along at least one of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, and when the first sheet-guiding member is in the second position, the first sheet-guiding member is separated from the first sheet feeding path on a second-sheet-feeding-path side;   a second sheet-guiding member disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path, wherein the second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, wherein when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, the second sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along the second sheet feeding path, and when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the second sheet feeding path; and   a connecting member configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is coupled to the second sheet-guiding member, the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move from the first position to the second position when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position.   
     
     
       14. A sheet feeding device comprising:
 a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed;   a first sheet-guiding member disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, wherein the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is in the first position, the first sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along at least one of the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path, and when the first sheet-guiding member is in the second position, the first sheet-guiding member is separated from the first sheet feeding path on a second-sheet-feeding-path side;   a second sheet-guiding member disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path with respect to the first sheet-guiding member, wherein the second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position, wherein when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, the second sheet-guiding member guides the sheet along the second sheet feeding path, and when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the first sheet-guiding member; and   a connecting member configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member, wherein when the first sheet-guiding member is coupled to the second sheet-guiding member, the first sheet-guiding member is configured to move from the first position to the second position when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, the connecting member comprising an elastically-deforming portion configured to be elastically deformed, the elastically-deforming portion being deformed while the first sheet-guiding member is coupled to the second sheet-guiding member via the connecting member.   
     
     
       15. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein elastically-deformation of the elastically-deforming portion is reduced when the second sheet-guiding member reaches a predetermined position. 
     
     
       16. The sheet feeding device according to claim 15, wherein when the elastically-deformation of the elastically-deforming portion is reduced, the second sheet-guiding member disconnects from the first sheet-guiding member. 
     
     
       17. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein the connecting member comprises a first contacting portion and a second contacting portion which are configured to contact each other, and the first contacting portion is configured to be separated from the second contacting portion when the second sheet-guiding member reaches a predetermined position. 
     
     
       18. The sheet feeding device according to claim 17, wherein when the first contacting portion is separated from the second contacting portion, elastically-deformation of the elastically-deforming portion is reduced. 
     
     
       19. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein when the elastically-deforming portion is plate-shaped. 
     
     
       20. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein the connecting member is configured to allow the first sheet-guiding member and the second sheet-guiding member to be separated when a force equal to or greater than a predetermined force is applied to the connecting member, and the connecting member is configured to maintain the first sheet-guiding member coupled to the second sheet-guiding member when a force less than the predetermined force is applied to the connecting member. 
     
     
       21. The sheet feeding device of claim 20, wherein the force equal to or greater than the predetermined force is applied in a direction which increases a separation of the first sheet-guiding member from the second sheet-guiding member. 
     
     
       22. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, further comprising a sheet-feeding section disposed downstream of the second sheet-guiding member in a sheet feeding direction, wherein the sheet-feeding section is configured to feed and hold the sheet in the second sheet feeding path. 
     
     
       23. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein the second sheet-guiding member covers an opening formed through a wall of a body of the sheet feeding device when the second sheet-guiding member is in the third position, and the second sheet-guiding member is separated from the opening when the second sheet-guiding member is in the fourth position. 
     
     
       24. The sheet feeding device according to claim 14, wherein each of the first sheet-guiding member and the second sheet-guiding member is pivotably mounted on a body of the sheet feeding device. 
     
     
       25. The sheet feeding device according to claim 24, wherein a fulcrum of the first sheet-guiding member is different from a fulcrum of the second sheet-guiding member, and when the second sheet-guiding member moves from the third position to the fourth position, the second sheet-guiding member disconnects from the first sheet-guiding member at a predetermined position. 
     
     
       26. The sheet feeding device according to claim 24, wherein a fulcrum of the first sheet-guiding member and a fulcrum of the second sheet-guiding member differ in height.