Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus having: a conveyance roller, wherein a surface roughness Ra of a surface layer remains in a range from 8 ?m to 30 ?m, at a stage where a total length of sheets conveyed reaches at 42,000 m.

Abstract: A paper-sheet feeding device including a kicker roller configured to contact a forefront paper-sheet of a plurality of stacked paper-sheets and kick out the forefront paper-sheet; a feed roller to feed-out the paper-sheets to be kicked out by the kicker roller; and a press-fitting roller press-fit against the feed roller to provide a gate unit adapted to separate the paper-sheets to be fed by the feed roller, into one sheet. The kicker roller includes a base part and a high friction part formed in part of the outer circumference of the base part along the circumferential direction and configured to kick out the forefront paper-sheet. The feed roller includes a base part and a high friction part formed over the entire outer circumference of the base part and configured to contact the surface of the paper-sheet to be kicked out by the kicker roller to perform feed-out of the paper-sheet.

Abstract: Provided are a paper pickup device and an image forming apparatus having the same. The paper pickup device and the image forming apparatus having the same include a driving shaft whose end has a first combining portion and a driving shaft having a second combining portion configured to be integrally connected with the first combining portion. When the first combining portion and the second combining portion are combined with each other, the driven shaft bends and separates from the driving shaft. The first combining portion and the second combining portion may be screw-coupled to each other.

Abstract: A paper picking-up unit and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper picking-up unit includes a knock-up plate to stack paper thereon; a shaft disposed at a front end of the knock-up plate to rotate, a pick-up roller engaged with the shaft to rotate and pick-up the paper stacked on the knock-up plate, and a knock-up plate ascending and descending portion to raise and lower the knock-up plate according to the rotation of the pick-up roller. The pick-up roller includes a roller body engaged and rotatable with the shaft, and having a frictional layer to pick-up the paper by causing friction with the paper, a pair of roller housings to support opposite sides of the roller body such that the roller body does not move in a lengthwise direction of the shaft, and a damper disposed at an outer circumference of each roller housing to reduce noise caused by a collision of the roller housings and the knock-up plate.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus including a printing media storage unit configured to store printing media, a pickup unit configured to pick up a printing medium stored in the printing media storage unit, and a cover made of a conductive material and adapted to come into contact with the printing medium picked up by the pickup unit. An effective removal of static charge from the printing medium is possible by having the printing medium picked up by the pickup unit come into contact with the cover.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a kicker are disclosed.

Abstract: Feed rollers, stopper rollers situated on both outer sides with respect to the feed rollers, each of the stopper rollers having part of the periphery being a highly frictional portion compared with other peripheral portions, and a flexible, radial member in a position on an inner side with respect to the stopper rollers are disposed on a feed roller shaft; and the highly frictional portions of the stopper rollers are in positions at which phases of the highly frictional portions are the same as phases of highly frictional portions of the feed rollers in a rotational direction respectively. On a pick roller shaft, pick rollers, which have highly frictional portions for passing a paper sheet to a paper sheet running-out section, and have flexible, radial members in positions at a side opposite to the highly frictional portions, are disposed in the same or inside positions in an axial direction with respect to both the outside stopper rollers disposed on the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, in a paper feed apparatus having a half-moon roller disposed above a plurality of sheets of paper stored in a stacked manner, and an auxiliary roller provided along one end of a half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the half-moon roller being rotated in a state in which a topmost sheet of paper has been put in contact with a height regulating member due to the sheets of paper being biased upward, so that the auxiliary roller and the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller are successively pushed against the topmost sheet of paper, and while the sheets of paper are pushed down by the auxiliary roller or the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller, the topmost sheet of paper is pulled out by the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller: the one end of the half-circumferential face of the half-moon roller is separated from the auxiliary roller, and a curvature of the one end of the half-circumferential face is gradually increased close

Abstract: Automatic sheet feeding apparatus/recording apparatus include a feed roller 11 for feeding sheets out of a stack holding unit, a separation roller 12, in contact with the feed roller 11, for separating the sheets one by one; a return lever 13 for pushing back sheets to the stack holding unit and aligning them; and flanges 14 integrally turning with the feed roller; wherein the feed roller 11 and the return lever 13 do not overlap with each other but the flanges 14 and the return lever 13 do overlap in a side view during one turn of the feed roller 11. With the configuration, the apparatus can utilize the sheet conveying face of the feed roller longer and more effectively, and to eliminate the rush-in phenomenon, namely letting the tips of sheets enter deep into the feeding apparatus inadvertently at the time of setting the sheets into the sheet stack holding unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a sheet feeding roller, having a first circumferential section and a second circumferential section, configured to rotate in a direction from the first circumferential section to the second circumferential section; and a pressure plate provided apart from the sheet feeding roller and configured to mount thereon a recording sheet stack having recording sheets ranging from a maximum number to a minimum number. The first circumferential section includes a first contact point for contacting, when the sheet feeding roller is rotated, a leading top edge of the recording sheet stack having the maximum number of recording sheets; and a second contact point for contacting, when the sheet feeding roller is rotated, a leading top edge of the recording sheet stack having the minimum number of recording sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided with a feed roller that is rotatable to apply a feeding force on a sheet, a separating pad for pressing the sheet against the feed roller and a roller portion provided coaxially with a support shaft of the feed roller to position the feed roller relative to the separating pad. A damping member for suppressing vibration of the sheet is provided on a side surface of the roller portion to prevent an unusual noise from being generated.

Abstract: A feed roller is provided for use in a feed roller assembly for intermittently feeding sheets. The feed roller has a body having a cross-section including an arc portion forming a partially cylindrical configuration. A support member is coupled to the body on at least one side of the body. A distance roller is rotatably supported by the support member relative to the body. The distance roller is spaced apart opposite the arc section parallel to the body.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve separability with respect to other sheet without damaging sheets in a sheet-feeding mechanism used in an image forming apparatus. For the purpose of accomplishing the object, the sheet-feeding mechanism includes: a feeding roller (10) which rotates in a sheet-conveying direction, at least a contact member (12) is made of material having elasticity; and a retard roller (20) having a plurality of press-contact rollers (21) which comes in contact with the feeding roller (10) at a predetermined pressure to form a plurality of press-contact surfaces (311), and a hardness of the contact member (12) of the feeding roller (10) is different from that of the press-contact roller (21) of the retard roller (20).

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus equipped with a pick-up roller to pick up a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray, in which sheets are stacked, and a pick-up roller to pick up sheet from the sheet feeding tray. The pick-up roller includes a pick-up section to pick up the sheet and a feed section to deliver a sheet feeding pressure greater than that of the pick-up section to the sheet, so that a component corresponding to a feed roller can be removed, thereby simplifying the structure of the image forming apparatus and lowering the height of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: This paper feed mechanism includes a paper feed cassette integrally having a paper contact portion on a position deviating from the center of a rear-side inner wall surface in the cross direction by a prescribed distance in the cross direction and an apparatus body mountable with the paper feed cassette, and the apparatus body includes a driving portion rotating a paper feed roller in a paper feed direction and a paper discharge direction and a control portion bringing the rear end of the paper into contact with the paper contact portion for generating torque for the paper and thereafter transporting the paper to the apparatus body in paper feeding.

Abstract: A banknote feeding apparatus for banknote counting machines with the function of verifying the authenticity of banknotes is provided, wherein the banknote feeding apparatus has a feeding mechanism which can ensure very stable banknote feeding even for very worn or damaged banknotes. The banknote feeding apparatus provides of a feeding mechanism for sequentially feeding out banknotes accumulated or stacked within a hopper and guiding each individual banknote to a stacker via a feed roller and then a magnetic head pad roller, the feeding mechanism having a banknote counting means, wherein an elastic belt is wound around both the feed roller and the magnetic head pad roller in a tensioned state and the elastic belt serves as a banknote feeding member and as a member for transmitting power between the respective rollers.

Abstract: A paper pick-up unit of an image forming apparatus includes an elliptical pick-up rubber having a first arcuate part and a second arcuate part. The first and second arcuate parts are symmetrical to each other and contact a paper. A pick-up housing supports the pick-up rubber, which are attached around the circumference thereof. A first shaft opening and a second shaft opening are formed opposite to each other in the pick-up housing and are eccentrically disposed with respect to a center of the pick-up housing. A pick-up shaft is engaged with one of the first shaft opening and the second shaft opening of the pick-up housing, and is capable of rotating. The pick-up shaft is engaged with the first shaft opening of the pick-up housing for the first arcuate part of the pick-up rubber to pick up a paper. The pick-up shaft is engaged with the second shaft opening of the pick-up housing for the second arcuate part of the pick-up rubber to pick up a paper.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller has an outer circumferential face which includes a generally flat portion and a curved portion. A first pivotable member is movable between a first position and a second position in accordance with the rotation of the sheet feeding roller. The first pivotable member has a first contact face and an extended member extended from a free end portion of the first pivotable member toward a downstream side of a sheet feeding direction. The first pivotable member is moved to the second position when a sheet medium is placed between the sheet feeding roller and the first pivotable member. The first pivotable member is returned to the first position when a trailing end of the sheet medium faces the flat portion of the sheet feeding roller while the extended member of the first pivotable member comes in contact with the sheet medium.

Abstract: A conveying roller and a paper expelling roller provided upstream and downstream, respectively, of a recording portion in a conveyance direction are connected via an idler gear so as to be able to perform drive transmission, a rotation drive amount of the idler gear is detected, ends of a recording medium in the conveyance direction are detected, driving of a conveying motor is controlled based on detection signals of the rotation drive amount of the idler gear and the ends of the recording medium, and a control constant is made variable according to a position of the recording medium in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A paper supply device for reliably delivering sheets of paper one at a time from a stock of multiple sheets even when the leading ends of the sheets are not neatly aligned together.

Abstract: Feed rollers, stopper rollers situated on both outer sides with respect to the feed rollers, each of the stopper rollers having part of the periphery being a highly frictional portion compared with other peripheral portions, and a flexible, radial member in a position on an inner side with respect to the stopper rollers are disposed on a feed roller shaft; and the highly frictional portions of the stopper rollers are in positions at which phases of the highly frictional portions are the same as phases of highly frictional portions of the feed rollers in a rotational direction respectively. On a pick roller shaft, pick rollers, which have highly frictional portions for passing a paper sheet to a paper sheet running-out section, and have flexible, radial members in positions at a side opposite to the highly frictional portions, are disposed in the same or inside positions in an axial direction with respect to both the outside stopper rollers disposed on the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A sheet feed roller prolonging sustainability of sheet feeding capability even if crushed powders are scattered. The sheet feed roller comprises a hub and an elastic layer provided on an outer peripheral surface of the hub, wherein plural grooves axially extend at specific intervals circumferentially on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer, a textured surface comprising mountain portions and a valley portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer except for the grooves, and on bottom surfaces and wall surfaces of the grooves, a ratio of a total area of the bottom surfaces of the grooves to a total area of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer except for the grooves is 10% to 20%.

Abstract: A paper feeding unit of an image forming apparatus, which includes: a pickup roller; a first feed roller to feed the paper in a required direction; and a reverse roller to prevent a plurality of sheets of paper from being fed by rotating in an opposite direction to the first feed roller and to separate the paper into individual sheets, wherein the first feed roller has a contact section in contact with the reverse roller and a non-contact section where the first feed roller is apart from the reverse roller and the first feed roller feeds the paper by making a one-time rotation and stops rotating with the non-contact section facing the reverse roller. Since the feed roller and the reverse roller are put apart from each other in a waiting mode, the rollers can be protected from abrasion and paper can be fed smoothly.

Abstract: A sheet separator includes an advancing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet forwards along a sheet path, and a reversing roller driven to rotate to move a sheet backwards along the path. The reversing roller and advancing roller are mounted adjacently and are relatively movable between a pinched position and a separated position. The reversing roller has a torque limiter for allowing the reversing roller to slip and counter-rotate with the advancing roller when friction applied by the advancing roller on the pinched reversing roller exceeds a preset value. Overriding roller mounted therein allows a sheet to pass over a roller when the rollers are separated and to remain idle when the rollers are pinched.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate supply unit comprising: carrying rollers rotating while pressing a stacking bundle, in which planographic printing plates and covering papers are stacked alternately, so as to carry the planographic printing plate and covering paper at the top of the stacking bundle, wherein convex portions which are elastically deformed when pressing the stacking bundle and whose contact area with the planographic printing plate is larger after being elastically deformed than before are provided on the outside periphery of the carrying roller.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A device for the delivery or receipt of individual sheets (16), comprises a parallelepiped container (12), in which the individual sheets (16) are stored in the form of a sheet stack (14) and are pressed against the container wall parallel to a stack end face (56), by means of a platen device (58), which comprises a rectangular through opening (50) with first edges with a mutual separation at least the same as a first edge length of the individual sheets (16) and with second edges (52, 54), the mutual separation of which is smaller than the other edge length of the individual sheets, a sheet transport (36), operating in the through opening (50) and contacting with the stack end face (56) for transport of an individual sheet (16), parallel to the stack end face (56) and perpendicular to the second edges (52, 54), two transport rollers (22, 24) arranged with axes (26) parallel to the stack end face (56) and to the second edges (52, 54), forming a roller gap for gripping an individual sheet (16).

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet feeding roller for feeding a sheet by rotation in pressed contact with stacked sheets by an outer peripheral surface of the roller. A distance from a rotary center to the outer peripheral surface is changeable according to the state of feeding of the sheet.

Abstract: A picking member (72) rotates to cause a sheet to be picked from a stack (42) of sheets. The picking member includes movable engaging portions supported on arcuate segments (128, 144). The engaging portions move radially outward to apply additional moving force to an end sheet bound in the stack responsive to movement of the picking member exceeding the movement of the end sheet.

Abstract: A paper identification counter comprises a counter body, a hopper which is formed to the counter body and to which papers to be identified and counted are fed, a paper conveyance unit including a conveyance passage along which the papers such as currency notes from the hopper is conveyed one by one in a direction of a short width side of the papers, a paper identification unit disposed on a way of the conveyance passage for identifying and counting the papers; and a stacker in which the papers delivered from the conveyance passage are stacked. The conveyance passage includes a U-shaped curvilinear conveyance region on a way between the hopper and the stacker.

Abstract: A banknote dispenser is constructed to include a housing adapted to hold banknotes in a stack for dispensing, a power module, a transferring wheel set driven by the power module to spread a stack of banknotes into a stepped stack of banknotes and then to dispense banknotes individually by a respective push block being rotated with a respective wheel of the transferring wheel set, an output wheel set adapted to transfer banknotes individually from the transferring wheel set to a banknote outlet, and a sensor adapted to control the operation of the power module subject to the presence of banknotes in the housing.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus for use with a document processing device. The document feeding apparatus comprises an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of documents and at least one feeding wheel adapted to strip documents, one at a time, from the stack of documents. The feeding wheel includes a moveable insert having a high friction surface adapted to engage and to advance each of the documents.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes at least one of sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40, 210). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72, 212). The picking member rotates, and with each rotation generally causes an end note to be picked from a stack (42, 264) of sheets. The picking member (212) includes an arcuate projecting portion (258) that reduces the risk of damage to the leading edge areas of sheets due to opposed picking and stripping forces.

Abstract: A stack accessory for a printer attaches as a module to a printer and provides a source of media. Media originates from a stack within the module passing media from the bottom of the stack to the printer. The top of the stack remains open to replenish the media stack without interrupting printing operations. The stack accessory serves particularly well as an envelope feed mechanism supporting a large inventory of envelopes therein. Large scale and continuous envelope printing operations result. Overall, a stack accessory under the present invention converts a generally conventional printer into a high-volume printing device enjoying uninterrupted printing operations associated with replenishing a supply of media fed therethrough.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72). The picking member rotates, with each rotation generally causing one sheet to be picked from a stack (42) of sheets. The picking member includes movable engaging portions supported on arcuate segments (128, 144). The engaging portions move radially outward to apply additional moving force to an end note bound in the stack responsive to movement of the picking member exceeding the movement of the end note. Sheets are carried in the machine by a transport (54) including a plurality of belt flights (174, 176, 178). Sheets are carried between the belt flights and projecting member portions (180, 182). At least one of the belt flights includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections (194, 200, 204, 207) on a sheet engaging surface thereof.

Abstract: To provide a sheet conveying apparatus of low cost and high durability and also to provide an image forming apparatus having the same. A sheet S1 is pinched and conveyed by a metal driving roller having roughness provide on its surface and a pinch roller coming in pressure contact with the driving roller and thereby driven to rotate. And the pinch roller is formed of synthetic resin, so that the pinch roller can be manufactured less costly and the durability of the same can be increased.

Abstract: A kicker in a printing device is mounted adjacent to an entrance of a feed zone where a pick roller is located for picking a top sheet from an input tray in a pick process. A plurality of next-to-top sheets next to the top sheet move out of the input tray and stop approximately at the entrance of the feed zone during the pick process. The kicker includes a relatively rigid base part for kicking a first portion of the next-to-top sheets back to the input tray and a flexible top part attached to the base part for kicking a second portion of the next-to-top sheets back to the input tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing media through a hardcopy device includes a cylindrical guide wheel having a first radius mounted on a shaft having an axis transverse to a media feed path axis. A guide surface is spaced apart from the guide wheel and defines a media feed path between the guide wheel and the guide surface. A drive wheel having an extended portion that is concentric with the guide wheel, and which has a greater radius than the first radius is fixed to the shaft. A pinch roller communicates with the media feed path.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes sheet dispensing mechanisms (34, 36, 38, 40). Each sheet dispensing mechanism includes a picking member (72). The picking member rotates, with each rotation generally causing one sheet to be picked from a stack (42) of sheets. The picking member includes movable engaging portions supported on arcuate segments (128, 144). The engaging portions move radially outward to apply additional moving force to an end note bound in the stack responsive to movement of the picking member exceeding the movement of the end note. Sheets are carried in the machine by a transport (54) including a plurality of belt flights (174, 176, 178). Sheets are carried between the belt flights and projecting member portions (180, 182). At least one of the belt flights includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections (194, 200, 204, 207) on a sheet engaging surface thereof.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: A self-adaptive sheet feeding roll for reliably feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, sheets of various and different sheet weights along a sheet path. The self-adaptive sheet feeding roll includes (a) a cylindrical core having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface; (b) a compliant surface layer formed over the outer surface of the cylindrical core and having an external surface and a given layer thickness; and (c) a series of spaced apart, non-radial slots formed from the external surface into the compliant surface layer and defining a series of spaced apart blade portions within the compliant surface layer for adaptively compressing and deforming against, and responsively to, sheets of various and different sheet weights, thereby self-adjusting a normal force Fn as well as a sheet driving force Fd thereof and enabling reliable feeding, within a sheet feeding apparatus, of such sheets of various and different sheet weights.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for containing a plurality of stacked sheets, a holding member for holding sheets from above, a pickup roller which contacts the uppermost sheet from above during one rotation, thereby feeding and transporting the uppermost sheet, a rotatable subsidiary holding member which is rotated in synchronization with a rotation of the pickup roller and in the same rotating direction as the pickup roller, and contacts and holds the sheets from above during each rotation before the pickup roller contacts the uppermost sheet. The distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the rotatable subsidiary holding member which contacts the uppermost sheet is equal to, or greater than the distance between a rotation axis and that surface of the pickup roller which contacts the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet feeding roller for feeding a sheet by rotation in pressed contact with stacked sheets by an outer peripheral surface of the roller. A distance from a rotary center to the outer peripheral surface is changeable according to the state of feeding of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding roller is brought into contact with an uppermost sheet stacked on a hopper, and rotates to feed the uppermost sheet to the recording apparatus. A separation pad presses the uppermost sheet against the feeding roller so that the upper most sheet is separated from a next uppermost sheet. A first sheet returner pushes back a first part of the next uppermost sheet situated on the separation pad to the hopper. A second sheet returner pushes back a second part of the next uppermost sheet situated on the separation pad to the hopper. The sheet feeding roller, the separation pad and the first sheet returner are incorporated in a single unit which is disposed at a first position of a sheet feeding passage formed on the hopper. The second sheet returner is solely disposed at a second position of the sheet feeding passage.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a cassette for storing a stack of sheets and pushing up the sheets, a main body case having a port through which the cassette is detachably attached, and a feeding mechanism for feeding each sheet in a feeding direction. The feeding mechanism includes a roller shaft disposed above the cassette attached to the internal place of the port and extending perpendicularly to the feeding direction from a side wall of the case, a pickup roller rotated for taking out the uppermost sheet, and a rise-spoiling member attached to the roller shaft, for spoiling a rise of the sheets when the cassette is withdrawn from the port. Particularly, the rise-spoiling member extrudes downward to a position below an upper edge of the port and extends from the pickup roller to the vicinity of the side wall of the case.