Abstract: A feed device includes a paper tray on which sheets are stacked and a side fence that guides a side edges of a sheet stacked on the paper tray in a sheet feed direction. The feed device feeds an uppermost sheet from the sheets stacked on the paper tray to an image forming apparatus. A plurality of concavities and convexities integrally formed with an identical material to the side fence is formed on a surface of the side fence that is in contact with an edge face of a fed sheet.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet receptacle and a pair of width adjustment guides. A cassette feeder of the image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of rollers, a plurality of roller holders, and a plurality of roller biasing members. When the paper feed cassette is mounted on a feeder housing, an upper end of width adjustment guides is configured to cause at least one of the roller holders to move upward in a height direction of the image forming apparatus such that at least one of the rollers does not come in contact with a topmost sheet of paper.

Abstract: A sheet cassette includes a cassette main body, an intermediate plate, a pressure spring, and a first rear end restriction member provided slidably along a sheet feeding direction and restricting a rear end of a sheet. The sheet cassette also includes a second rear end restriction member provided slidably in the first rear end restriction member along the sheet feeding direction and restricting the rear end of the sheet. The first rear end restriction member includes a first height restriction portion restricting a height of a sheet of a predetermined size loaded in the cassette main body to a first height. The second rear end restriction member includes a second height restriction portion restricting a height of a sheet of a size smaller than the predetermined size loaded in the cassette main body to a second height smaller than the first height.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus that can prevent changes at the time of mounting a sheet cassette, and deformation and changes of the sheets after the sheet cassette is mounted regardless of a sheet size are provided. A movable side regulating plate provided in a frame, regulates positions of width direction side ends of sheets is provided with sheet pressing portions and that press the side ends of the sheets to press the sheets against a fixed side regulating plate in a biasing manner. An indented configuration against which, when short sheets are pressed by the sheet pressing portion are stacked on a sheet stacking plate, upstream ends of the sheets do not abut is formed upward from a bottom end of the sheet pressing portion to a predetermined dimension at a sheet feeding direction center of the sheet pressing portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a placement surface on which a sheet to be transported is placed; a fixed guide which abuts against one side edge of the sheet; a movable guide which abuts against the other side edge of the sheet; a sheet feeding roller which abuts against a surface of the sheet at a position which is at the side of the fixed guide; an abutment member which is provided on the movable guide. The abutment member has a side surface opposed to the fixed guide in the width direction, and the side surface is formed into a slant shape such that as a portion of the side surface is nearer to the fixed guide in the width direction, a distance between the portion of the side surface and the placement surface is increased.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes: a sheet holding unit, which holds a sheet and is pivotally attached to a device main unit so that the sheet holding unit is pivotal between open and closed positions; a sheet feeding roller that is located close to the sheet holding unit and that feeds the sheet to the inside of the device main unit; and a driving shaft that is located on an axis that is different from a rotation shaft for the sheet feeding roller and that drives the rotation shaft.

Abstract: A method for aligning a media sheet in a media path of an image forming apparatus includes aligning the media sheet against a first reference edge of an input tray. The media sheet may then move through an alignment nip which is constructed to laterally move the media sheet against a reference edge. The media sheet moves along the reference edge and becomes aligned prior to moving to a transport belt. The media sheet may then move through one or more transfer nips to receive one or more images.

Abstract: A first rack of a pair of document guides slides in pressing contact against a pinion due to contact with a protrusion. As a result, the first rack is subjected to a larger sliding resistance than when the protrusion is not provided. When one of the document guides is operated, the operating force transmits directly to the first rack. Therefore, if a large force corresponding to the sliding resistance increased by the protrusion is applied, the first rack can be slid. When the other document guide is operated, the operating force transmits to the first rack through the pinion. Therefore, the sliding resistance increased by the protrusion increases due to the gear efficiency of the pinion.

Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus assembled on a shelf includes two guiding members, two adjusting plates, a first spring, two push bars, a second spring and two rotating members. The guiding member has a base board. A front of the base board defines a guiding portion defining a horizontal recess. Each adjusting plate is pivoted to an outside edge of the base board. The push bars are movably received in the horizontal recesses and capable of sliding in the horizontal recesses to drive the corresponding adjusting plates to rotate upward or free the corresponding adjusting plates therefrom. Each rotating member is pivoted to a front of the guiding portion. When the rotating member is turned down, the rotating member touches the push bar and pushes the push bar to move rearward so that further drives the adjusting plate to rotate upward till being perpendicular to the base board.

Abstract: A trailing end of a sheet stored in a cassette body is regulated by a first trailing end regulating member and a second trailing end regulating member. the member is provided to be slid in a cassette case where the sheet is stored, and the member is provided in the member to be slid. In addition, at positions according to a size of the sheet that is stored in the cassette case, the member is held by a first holding portion and the member is held by a second holding portion. In addition, holding of the member by the first holding portion and holding of the member by the second holding portion are released by the operation of a trailing end regulating lever.

Abstract: A medium storage device that is covered by a dust cover and that stores a recording medium, includes: a guide member that is extendably and retractably provided in the medium storage device and that restricts a position of an edge part of the recording medium; and a lock member that locks the guide member and that releases the lock status of the guide member when the lock member moves in a first direction so as to allow the guide member to extend and retract, wherein the movement of the lock member in the first direction is restricted by the dust cover so that the guide member is stably locked.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a trailing edge regulation portion is moved to a position according to a sheet contained in a cassette body to regulate a position of the sheet. A positioning lever is swingably provided to the trailing edge regulation portion to be engaged with a rack tooth row provided on the cassette body. The trailing edge regulation portion is held by the positioning lever at a regulation position according to the sheet. When a force in a sliding direction is applied to the trailing edge regulation portion, the trailing edge regulation portion is moved to be brought into pressure contact with the positioning lever, thereby regulating movement in an engagement releasing direction of the positioning lever engaged with the rack tooth row.

Abstract: A sheet size detection device for detecting a size of sheets which are held in a sheet tray is disclosed. The device comprises first and second guide members, first and second brackets, and a plurality of switches. The first guide member is movable in accordance with a first dimension of the sheets. The second guide member is movable in accordance with a second dimension of the sheets. Each bracket is operatively connected to its respective guide member and includes a plurality of slots extending through a solid surface. The plurality of switches is configured for selective engagement by at least one of the brackets. The solid surface and the plurality of slots of each bracket are configured to interact with one another to selectively engage the plurality of switches. The selective engagement of the plurality of switches enables conveyance of two dimensions of the sheet size.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a loading section in which a recording medium is set; a feed roller feeding the recording medium set in the loading section; a first urging mechanism urging one of the loading section and the feed roller to decrease a distance between the set recording medium and the feed roller; an edge guide being movable in a width direction of the recording medium to align lateral edges of the recording medium set in the loading section; a DC motor allowing the edge guide to move; and a determination unit determining whether a current value at the time of driving the DC motor reaches a predetermined threshold value. Here, the driving of the DC motor is stopped when it is determined by the determination unit that the current value reaches the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A sheet supply apparatus is provided with a print medium storage device for storing a print medium. The print medium storage device includes a guide member for guiding the print medium thus stored; an engaging portion for engaging the guide member at a specific position; an engaged portion for engaging the engaging portion; an operation portion disposed to be movable for separating the engaging portion from the engaged portion; and an abutting portion for abutting against the operation portion to move the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a first position, and for separating from the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a second position.

Abstract: The paper feeding cassette 10 has the cassette frame 10 for loading and storing paper, and the width-wise cursor 20 which is disposed in the cassette frame 10 and movably carries out the positioning of paper in the paper-width direction intersecting at right angles with the paper feeding direction, and can be pulled out from a machine main body. Provided are the plurality of engagement holes 14 formed in the cassette frame 10 corresponding to a paper width, the through-holes 23 formed through the width-wise cursor 20, and the lock pins 40 which engage with the engagement holes 14 via the through-holes 23 to prevent the width-wise cursor 20 from deviating in the paper-width direction.

Abstract: A paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet receptacle and a pair of width adjustment guides. A cassette feeder of the image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of rollers, a plurality of roller holders, and a plurality of roller biasing members. When the paper feed cassette is mounted on a feeder housing, an upper end of width adjustment guides is configured to cause at least one of the roller holders to move upward in a height direction of the image forming apparatus such that at least one of the rollers does not come in contact with a topmost sheet of paper.

Abstract: A printing device has at least one printing engine, at least one media path adjacent the printing engine, and a paper tray adjacent the media path. The paper tray stores media and supplies the media to the media path. Further, at least one sheet guide is attached to the paper tray, and at least one rectangular member is attached to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a sheet guide opening, and the sheet guide opening attaches to the sheet guide. The rectangular member has a first planar surface that is coplanar with a second planar surface of the sheet guide. Also, the first planar surface is at least twice the two-dimensional size of the second planar surface. The first planar surface and the second planar surface contact media stored within the paper tray.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing unit in which sheets are stacked, and a regulator in the housing unit including a body that has surfaces at which ends of the sheets are regulated. The apparatus further includes a stopper in the regulator, a retainer in the housing unit configured to engage with the stopper to lock the regulator to the housing unit, and a movement mechanism configured to move, when the body is pushed in a direction in which the regulator is to be moved, the stopper away from the retainer to disengage the stopper from the retainer.

Abstract: A tray assembly for a print production resource may include a tray and a guide assembly. The guide assembly may include a first width guide configured to contact a first side of a media stack at a first location below a top sheet of the media stack such that a first distance exists between the top sheet and the first width guide. The guide assembly may include a second width guide configured to contact a second side of the media stack at a second location below the top sheet of the media stack such that a second distance exists between the top sheet of the media stack and the second width guide. The first side may be opposite the second side, and the tray assembly may be configured to be utilized with a top sheet feeder mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can obtain high operability and productivity when a tabbed sheet is conveyed. In the representative configuration thereof, a trailing edge regulation plate is abutted on tab portions of some of tabbed sheets stacked and supported on a tray to regulate the position of the tabbed sheet. Tab portion regulation portions of a tabbed sheet regulation unit provided at the upper end of the trailing edge regulation plate are abutted on the tab portion of the tabbed sheet formed in the position where the tab portion is not abutted on the regulation portion and regulate the position of the tabbed sheet. The tab portion regulation portions of the tabbed sheet regulation unit can be moved. The tab portion regulation portions are moved with the lifting of the tray when being abutted on the lifting tray.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body and a paper holding device. The main body is capable of printing and outputting paper. The paper holding device is secured to the main body and includes a paper tray, a connecting mechanism, and a sliding mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving the outputted paper. A driving gear member is located on the paper tray. The connecting mechanism is located on the paper tray and connected to the driving gear member. The sliding mechanism is located on the paper tray and connected to the connecting mechanism. The driving gear member controls the sliding mechanism by the connecting mechanism to shape a space to fit the size of the outputted paper.

Abstract: A paper tray of printer is provided, which includes a paper tray body, a slide shaft, a first pick arm, a second pick arm and a paper width guide. The first pick arm is fixed on the slide shaft, and the second pick arm is slidely disposed on the slide shaft. The paper width guide is disposed on the paper tray body and is connected to the second pick arm through a linkage device to drive the second pick arm, so that a position of the second pick arm varies along with a position of the paper width guide. Accordingly, an interval between the first pick arm and the second pick arm can be varied along with a size of a paper, so as to avoid paper skew when the paper is fed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: edge guides which move in a width direction of the recording target medium and align side edges of the recording target medium which is stacked; a motor which moves the edge guides; a determining section which determines whether an electric current value when the motor is driven reaches a predetermined threshold value; and a position detecting section which detects a position of the edge guides in the width direction. Here, when the side edges of the recording target medium are aligned, the edge guides move close to the recording target medium and it is determined whether a difference between a position of the edge guides at the time when the electric current value reaches the predetermined threshold value and a position of the edge guides corresponding to the size of the recording target medium is equal to or smaller than a predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: A paper holding device includes a paper tray, a sliding plate, and a driving mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving printed paper. A shaft is secured to the paper tray. The sliding plate is slidably attached to the paper tray. A main gear member is disposed on the sliding plate. The driving mechanism is secured to the sliding plate and capable of sliding the main gear member along the shaft to slide the sliding plate on the paper tray.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeder apparatus in which a regulating member can securely be fixed without generating lateral slip of a sheet and an image forming apparatus. The regulating member regulates a sheet position in a width direction, and a fixing portion fixes the regulating member to a position according to a sheet size. The fixing portion includes plural rack gears which are provided in a surface opposite a surface abutting on the sheet of the regulating member; plural relay gears which engage the plural rack gears; a rotating shaft on which the plural relay gears are provided; and a lock mechanism which regulates rotation of the rotating shaft when the regulating member is moved away from the regulated sheet, the lock mechanism permitting the rotation of the rotating shaft when the regulating member is moved in a direction in which the regulating member contacts the regulated sheet.

Abstract: A paper sheet cassette includes a paper sheet containing part for loading and containing paper sheets, a pair of side edge positioning members provided so as to move toward or away from each other in a width direction of the paper sheets for determining a position of the paper sheets in their width direction, an interlock mechanism for synchronously moving the pair of side edge positioning members toward or away from each other, a latch member which is movable along with a first member of the pair of side edge positioning members and is provided with a lock tooth portion formed thereon, and a lock member which has a latch claw which can be brought into or out of engagement with the lock tooth portion and is movable along with a second member of the pair of side edge positioning members.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet support, a restricting portion, a displacement section, and a link section. The restricting portion slides along a line passing through restricting points. The restricting portion restricts the position of the sheet when the restricting portion is positioned at each of the restricting points. The link section interlinks the restricting portion and the displacement section. The position of the displacement section is detected. The link section, which interlinks the restricting section and the displacement section, is configured to change a ratio of a distance that the displacement section travels as the restricting section travels a fixed distance, wherein the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively large spacing therebetween becomes longer than the ratio of the distance between those restricting points which define a relatively small spacing therebetween.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a paper feeding cassette includes a sheet storing section, side guides, and a sheet tray. The sheet storing section stores a sheet to be fed. The side guides move in the width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction from the sheet storing section and regulate movement of a sheet end at least to one side in the width direction. The sheet tray lifts a downstream side end in the sheet feeding direction from the inside of the sheet storing section on the lower surface of the sheet stored in the sheet storing section. A through-hole including at least a passing area in the width direction of the side guides is provided in the sheet tray. At least a part of an edge that is present on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, faces the through-hole, and extends in the width direction moves closer to the sheet feeding direction as the part of the edge moves further away from the sheet center in the width direction to an end side.

Abstract: A first engaging member makes a first engagement with a first locking member to lock an edge guiding unit. A second engaging member makes a second engagement with a second locking member to lock the edge guiding unit. The first locking member is movable to a first retract position and a second retract position. When the first locking member moves to the first retract position, the second engagement is released in conjunction with a release of the first engagement, and when the first locking member moves to the second retract position, the first engagement is released while maintaining the second engagement.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet holding device including a guiding member that defines a sheet position in a sheet width direction which is perpendicular to a sheet movement direction, a rack gear that assists a movement in the sheet width direction of the guiding member, a pinion gear that assists the movement in the sheet width direction of the guiding member in cooperation with the rack gear, and a holder that supports the rack gear and the pinion gear movable in the sheet width direction in a state of maintaining a positional relation between the rack gear and the pinion gear, and provides an effect on a load applied to the guiding member from a direction which is perpendicular to each of the sheet movement direction and the sheet width direction.

Abstract: A media storage apparatus includes a media storing body that stores recording media, a guide member slidably provided in the media storing body for guiding the recording media, a first positioning portion that positions the guide member at a predetermined position where the guide member guides regular-sized recording media, and a second positioning portion that positions the guide member at a position where the guide member guides irregular-sized recording media. The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion have different shapes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transporting device that includes: a transport unit that transports a document placed on a document tray; a detector that detects the width of the document placed on the document tray; a controller that controls the transport unit to transport the document when the width of the document detected by the detector is a predetermined definite size, and prohibits the transport unit from transporting the document when the width of the document detected by the detector is a predetermined size that is different from the definite size; and a cancellation unit that cancels the prohibition on the document transportation imposed by the controller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus body, a printing engine installed in the image forming apparatus body and used to print an image on a printing medium supplied to the printing engine, a printing medium supply device having a loading plate to load printing media thereon and a frame to support the loading plate, the printing medium supply device being coupled to the image forming apparatus body to supply the printing media to the printing engine, and a pickup device to pick up the printing media loaded in the printing medium supply device one by one and to convey each picked-up printing medium to the printing engine. The printing medium supply device includes a printing medium aligning unit to push a lateral portion of the printing media when the printing media is loaded on the loading plate, so as to align the loaded printing media. With this configuration, the printing media loaded on the loading plate is automatically aligned by the printing medium aligning unit.

Abstract: The sheet material feeding apparatus according to this invention comprises a sheet material stacking unit selectively located at a feeding position for feeding a sheet material and at a standby position for non-feeding a sheet material; a first holding force applying unit configured to apply a first holding force and a second holding force applying unit configured to apply a second holding force for holding the guide member to the sheet material stacking unit; and a restraining unit configured to restrain the second holding force applying unit from applying the second holding force when the sheet material stacking unit is in the standby position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including: a regulating member movable so as to regulate a position of a sheet in a sheet regulated position corresponding to the sheet to be contained in a cassette main body; a holding mechanism for holding the regulating member; and an operating portion disposed at the regulating member for releasing the regulating member from being held by the holding mechanism, wherein when the regulating member is moved in one direction or the other direction opposite to the one direction for regulating the sheet, the operating portion is press-operated in the direction intended to move so that the regulating member is released from being held by the holding mechanism.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a transporting unit that transports a sheet; guiding members that regulate side portions, in a sheet transporting direction, of the sheet, and that guide the sheet being transported; a distance changing member that is configured to be movable, that is coupled with the guiding members, and that changes a distance between the guiding members; and a restricting unit that restricts movement of the distance changing member in conjunction with a transporting operation of the transporting unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided with a fixed member and a movable member, which regulate positions in a width direction of the sheet that is stacked on the dedicated cassette detachably attached to an intermediate plate, are provided while facing each other. The fixed member and the movable member moved to a position that regulates the sheet are regulated by side regulating members. The side regulating members that are movable in the width direction regulate the positions in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate.

Abstract: There is provided a feeding guide unit that slides according to a width size of the feeding material in a receiving unit that receives a plurality of feeding materials, and a separation unit having an inclined surface structure that abuts on a tip of the fed feed material so that a separating load is exerted, and separates the following feed material to feed only the feed material at the uppermost position. The separating load of the separation unit is changed to at least two stages in conjunction with a movement in a width direction of the feeding guide unit.

Abstract: A media tray includes a housing and a media restraint assembly mounted in the housing having a position selection mechanism for placing respective floor portions of the housing in a selected one position of a multiplicity of closely spaced apart positions. The position selection mechanism includes an actuator adapted for undergoing movement relative to the floor portions along a first direction between extended and retracted positions and a position securement arrangement adapted for undergoing conversion along a second direction transverse to the first direction between engaged and disengaged conditions in response to movement of the actuator between the extended and retracted positions to correspondingly select and de-select the selected one position of the floor portions and accordingly set the floor portions at and release the floor portions from the selected one position thereof. The media restraint assembly also includes an actuation lever and a lock mechanism for the lever.

Abstract: A sheet size detecting mechanism includes an adjustable module, a sensing module and a controlling unit. The adjustable module includes a first sheet guide, a second sheet guide, an adjustable part and a circular gear. The adjustable part is a moved to a position where the first sheet guide and the second sheet guide are respectively in contact with two parallel edge sides of a sheet. The circular gear is rotated as the adjustable part is moved. The sensing module includes a sustaining element and a circuit board. The sustaining element is connected to an underside of the circular gear, and synchronously rotated with the circular gear. When the circular gear is rotated by an angle, the sustaining element is in contact with a specified one of the plural sensing regions, so that the circuit board generates a sensing signal. According to the sensing signal, the sheet size is acquired.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments there is provided a printing system such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine having an automatic print media size determining apparatus. At least one side guide is coupled with a linear encoder and an external sensor to determine the size of media received on a support surface. According to one implementation, the support surface is provided by a paper tray. The paper tray includes a support surface configured to receive media, at least one side guide, and an encoder that moves with the side guide. The side guide is movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray to conform dimensionally with print media received in the tray. The print media size determining apparatus includes an external position-detecting sensor associated with the encoder and the side guide that is operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding with a detected position of the side relative to the tray.

Abstract: A jogging device for a feeder of a mail handling machine, which jogging device comprises a side jogging abutment mounted to move, under the action of a drive motor, along a guide rail that is disposed perpendicularly to a referencing wall, said side jogging abutment being provided with at least: a first sensor that is fastened to its base and that, when unmasked, causes said side jogging abutment to move towards said referencing wall, and, when masked, causes this movement to stop; and a second sensor that is fastened to the top of said side jogging abutment and that, when masked, causes said side jogging abutment to move away from said referencing wall, and, when unmasked, causes this movement to stop.

Abstract: An air blowing apparatus includes: a paper stack accommodating section which forms a paper stack accommodating space for accommodating a stack of paper; and an air blowing device which blows air toward an edge of each sheet of paper of the stack of paper accommodated in the paper stack accommodating space, wherein the paper stack accommodating section includes a curved surface which faces a paper surface of the stack of paper, and the curved surface extends in an air blowing direction of the air blowing device and has a curvature in a direction perpendicular to the air blowing direction of the air blowing device.

Abstract: A sheet guide apparatus including a sheet tray in which a sheet is placed and a side guide having an abutting portion that abuts the sheet placed in the sheet tray. The sheet tray includes a groove formed along a direction perpendicular to an abutting surface of the abutting portion against the sheet. The side guide includes a sliding portion having slidable portions slidable on side walls of the groove, and is capable of moving along a groove direction when the sliding portion is slid on the side walls. The groove includes at least one first groove area and at least one second groove area. The second groove area has a groove width smaller than a groove width of the first groove area and allows the slidable portions of the sliding portion to be slid in the second groove area.

Abstract: A paper feeding device to sense various sizes of paper according to a sensing voltage output from a sensor and an image forming apparatus having the same includes a body to receive paper in which an image is printed thereon. The image forming apparatus further includes a paper feeding device to feed paper into the body. The paper feeding device includes a paper tray in which paper is loaded, and paper guides that are slidably installed to the paper tray to guide left and right ends of paper loaded in the paper tray in a paper feeding direction. A light reflector is installed to be moved in linkage with the paper guides and includes a stepped reflection surface. A sensor emits light to the light reflector and receives the light reflected by the light reflector to determine the sizes of paper.

Abstract: To achieve high conveying accuracy by reducing back tension on a recording medium being conveyed. A feeding device includes a pressure plate on which recording media are loaded; feeding means for feeding the recording media; a regulating member configured to regulate a position of a side edge of the recording media; supporting means for supporting the regulating member, the supporting means having a bottom portion on which the recording media are partially loaded; and moving means for separating the regulating member from the side edge of the recording media. The feeding means starts to feed the recording medium while the position of the side edge of the recording media is being regulated by the regulating member, and the moving means separates the regulating member from the side edge of the recording media after a conveying means starts to convey the recording medium fed by the feeding means.

Abstract: A sheet-supply apparatus, including a sheet accommodating portion which includes a support portion that supports, on a support surface thereof, a plurality of cut sheets such that the cut sheets are stacked on each other; a sheet-supply roller which is adapted to supply the cut sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, one by one in a sheet-supply direction; a main side guide which is slidably movable on the support portion in a widthwise direction of the sheet accommodating portion perpendicular to the sheet-supply direction and which guides a side edge of each of the cut sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, the side edge being parallel to the sheet-supply direction; and a sub-side guide which is located inside of the main side guide in the widthwise direction and which is pivotable about a pivot axis between a standing position and a lying position based on the widthwise sliding movement of the main side guide.

Abstract: A sheet adjusting device applicable to a sheet holding receptacle, an image forming mechanism, and an image reading mechanism includes a sheet setting plate to place a sheet thereon; first and second regulating member to slidably move in a given direction, and a friction-reducing unit disposed on the sheet setting plate to reduce a frictional force on an underside of the sheet. Alternatively, a sheet adjusting device includes a sheet setting plate, a sheet contact face disposed downstream of the sheet setting plate to cause the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the sheet contact face, first and second regulating member, and a friction-reducing unit disposed on the sheet contact face to reduce a frictional force on the sheet contact face and the leading edge of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which a sheet can stably be fed with a simple configuration without decreasing strength of an intermediate plate. A fixed member 19 and a movable member 13, which regulate positions in a width direction of the sheet that is stacked on the dedicated cassette 30 detachably attached to an intermediate plate 6, are provided while facing each other. The fixed member 19 and the movable member 13 moved to a position that regulates the sheet are regulated by side regulating members 7 and 8. The side regulating members 7 and 8 that are movable in the width direction regulate the positions in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate 6.