SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet-feeding device and an image-forming apparatus incorporating the same. The sheet-feeding device includes a device body, a sheet storage unit that is detachably mounted in the device body, a tray for mounting sheets, the tray being provided at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down, an air blower for blowing air laterally to the sheets mounted on the tray and floating the sheets, and a sucking and conveying unit for sucking and conveying the sheets floated by the air blower. The sheet storage unit is provided with a sheet regulation member so as to regulate rear ends of the sheets mounted on the tray. An upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable downward.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an image-forming apparatus provided with a sheet-feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration explaining a configuration of a first sheet-feeding unit disposed in the image-forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an arrangement of a first sheet-feeding mechanism and a first sheet-feeding deck disposed in the first sheet-feeding unit.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations each showing a configuration of a rear-end regulation plate provided at the first sheet-feeding deck.

FIG. 5 is an illustration showing a state where a retraction member provided at the rear-end regulation plate is in contact with a frame of the sheet-feeding mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a first diagram explaining a state of the retraction member when the first sheet-feeding deck is mounted to the first sheet-feeding unit.

FIG. 7 is a second diagram explaining a state of the retraction member when the first sheet-feeding deck is mounted to the first sheet-feeding unit.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations each showing another configuration of the rear-end regulation plate.

FIG. 9 is an illustration explaining a configuration of a sheet-feeding device of the related art.

Claims

1. A sheet-feeding device comprising: a device body;a sheet storage unit detachably mounted in the device body;a tray configured to support sheets, the tray being disposed at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down;an air blower configured to blow air to an end portion of the sheets supported by the tray so as to loosen the sheets;a conveying unit configured to convey the sheets supported by the tray; anda sheet regulation member disposed at the sheet storage unit and regulating the end portion of the sheets supported by the tray,wherein an upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable.

2. The sheet-feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit includes a sucking and conveying unit configured to suck and convey sheets that are floated by the air blown from the air blower.

3. The sheet-feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet regulation member includes a regulation member body and a retraction member disposed at an upper portion of the regulation member body and being retractable downward, andthe sheet storage unit is mounted in the device body while the retraction member retracts downward by a member disposed at the device body.

4. The sheet-feeding device according to claim 3, further comprising a resilient member, wherein the retraction member is slidably provided at the regulation member body, and is biased in a protruding direction by the resilient member.

5. The sheet-feeding device according to claim 3, further comprising a resilient member, wherein the retraction member is swingably provided at the regulation member body, and is biased in a protruding direction by the resilient member.

6. An image-forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus body;a sheet storage unit detachably mounted in the apparatus body;a tray configured to support sheets, the tray being disposed at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down;an air blower configured to blow air to an end portion of the sheets supported by the tray so as to loosen the sheets;a conveying unit configured to convey the sheets supported by the tray;a sheet regulation member disposed at the sheet storage unit and regulating the end portion of the sheets supported by the tray; andan image-forming unit configured to form an image on the sheets conveyed by the conveying unit,wherein an upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable.

7. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sheet regulation member includes a regulation member body and a retraction member disposed at an upper portion of the regulation member body and being retractable downward, andthe sheet storage unit is mounted in the device body while the retraction member retracts downward by a member disposed at the device body.