Sheet feeder image forming device

Abstract

A sheet feeder including (1) a sheet storing unit in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, (2) a sheet feed roller that abuts an uppermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit and conveys the sheets in a predetermined conveying direction, (3) a friction member provided in the bottom plate, that abuts a lowermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit, and (4) a rotation suppressing member that suppresses rotation of the friction member. Wherein the friction member is a roller member including a roller portion, and a plurality of fibrous members arranged at an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion. Wherein the bottom plate of the sheet storing unit has an opening that houses the friction member. Wherein the sheet feed roller abuts the friction member when there is no sheet in the sheet storing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-function device to which the invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-function device of FIG. 1 when a document cover of an image reading device of the multi-function device is opened.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a printer unit and a sheet feed unit of the multi-function device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a sheet feed tray according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view of principal parts of a sheet feeder according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the sheet feeder according the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the sheet feeder according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the sheet feeder according to another modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side sectional view of principal parts of a sheet feeder according to a second embodiment (taken along the line X-X in FIG. 6).

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are schematic views illustrating a roller member according to modifications of the second embodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic views illustrating a roller member according to another modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of principal parts of a sheet feeder according to a third embodiment (taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 4).

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of principal parts of a sheet feeder according to a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a sheet feeder according to another modification of the third embodiment.

Claims

1. A sheet feeder comprising: a sheet storing unit having a bottom plate on which a plurality of sheets are stacked;a sheet feed roller that is configured to abut an uppermost one of the sheets stacked on the bottom plate and convey the sheets in a predetermined conveying direction;a friction member that is provided in a position of the bottom plate that faces the sheet feed roller, and is configured to abut a lowermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit; anda rotation suppressing member configured to suppress rotation of the friction member;wherein the friction member is a roller member comprising: a roller portion; anda plurality of fibrous members arranged at an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion;wherein the bottom plate of the sheet storing unit is provided with an opening that houses the friction member; andwherein the sheet feed roller abuts the friction member when there is no sheet in the sheet storing unit.

2. The sheet feeder according to claim 1; wherein the rotation suppressing member is provided in a position abutting the fibrous members; andwherein the rotation suppressing member is provided on a downstream side of the roller portion of the friction member in the predetermined conveying direction.

3. The sheet feeder according to claim 1; wherein the fibrous members are arranged such that the fibrous members make an acute angle with the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion with respect to a rotation direction of the roller portion when the sheets are conveyed in the predetermined conveying direction.

4. The sheet feeder according to claim 1; wherein the fibrous members are arranged such that the fibrous members make an obtuse angle with the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion with respect to a rotation direction of the roller portion when the sheets are conveyed in the predetermined conveying direction.

5. The sheet feeder according to claim 1; wherein a protrusion protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion of the friction member; andwherein the fibrous members are arranged at a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion other than the protrusion.

6. The sheet feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: a foreign substance storage portion that stores foreign substances separated from the sheet feed roller;wherein the foreign substance storage portion is disposed below the opening that houses the friction member.

7. The sheet feeder according to claim 6; wherein the foreign substance storing member is provided detachably.

8. The sheet feeder according to claim 6; wherein a portion of the foreign substance storing member is configured to be opened and closed.

9. An image forming device comprising: a printer unit that forms a desired image on a sheet; anda sheet feeder comprising: a sheet storing unit having a bottom plate on which a plurality of sheets are stacked;a sheet feed roller that is configured to abut an uppermost one of the sheets stacked on the bottom plate and convey the sheets in a predetermined conveying direction;a friction member that is provided in a position of the bottom plate that faces the sheet feed roller, and is configured to abut a lowermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit; anda rotation suppressing member configured to suppress rotation of the friction member;wherein the friction member is a roller member comprising: a roller portion; anda plurality of fibrous members arranged at an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion;wherein the bottom plate of the sheet storing unit is provided with an opening that houses the friction member; andwherein the sheet feed roller abuts the friction member when there is no sheet in the sheet storing unit.

10. A sheet feeder comprising: a sheet storing unit in which a plurality of sheets are stacked;a sheet feed roller configured to abut an uppermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit;a friction member configured to abut a lowermost one of the sheets stacked in the sheet storing unit; anda rotation suppressing member configured to suppress rotation of the friction member;wherein the sheet feed roller abuts the friction member when there is no sheet in the sheet storing unit.

11. The sheet feeder of claim 10; wherein the friction member comprises: a roller portion; anda plurality of fibrous members arranged at an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion.

12. The sheet feeder according to claim 11; wherein the rotation suppressing member is provided in a position abutting the fibrous members;wherein there is a predetermined conveying direction for conveying the sheets; andwherein the rotation suppressing member is provided on a downstream side of the roller portion in the predetermined conveying direction.

13. The sheet feeder according to claim 11; wherein a protrusion protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the roller portion; andwherein the fibrous members are arranged at a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion other than the protrusion.

14. The sheet feeder according to claim 11, further comprising: a foreign substance storage portion that stores foreign substances separated from the sheet feed roller;wherein the foreign substance storage portion is disposed below the friction member.