Abstract: An article conveyor system for handling and conveying articles, pieces, or units of mail comprises first and second conveyor belts which are adapted to have a bite section formed therebetween by means of a pinch roller forcing a portion of the first conveyor belt toward a portion of the second conveyor belt. In order to accommodate different articles, pieces, or units of mail which have different thickness dimensions, the pinch roller is mounted upon a pivot arm, and the pivot arm is operatively connected to a pneumatic actuator. Consequently, as the different articles, pieces, or units of mail are transported through the bite section of the conveyor system, the pinch roller, through means of its pivotal mounting upon the pivot arm, is able to move in a substantially reciprocating fashion or floating manner against the constant bias of the pneumatic actuator so as to accommodate the different articles, pieces, or units of mail.

Abstract: Original cover closer with mounting base and supporting member has bent side plates rotatably mounted to each other. A lifting member with document pressure plate has side plates mounted to the supporting member side plated enabling the lifting member side plates to rotate in a different direction. A pressure bearing pin is mounted between the mounting member side plates and a cam slider is in the supporting member with a cam part in contact with the pin. A spring between the slider and the lifting member urges the supporting member to open the original cover while urging the lifting member in a direction overlapping the supporting member.

Abstract: A paper sorting device for an image forming apparatus is capable of sorting printed paper in a zigzag pattern. The paper sorting device for the image forming apparatus has a rotating shaft which is rotated by a driving force from a driving force source, a hollow shaft into which the rotating shaft is slidably inserted so that the hollow shaft rotates with, and is reciprocated on, the rotating shaft, and reciprocating means for reciprocating the hollow shaft. Since printed paper is ejected by the reciprocating movement, the paper is automatically sorted in a zigzag pattern.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving media along a media path employ an increase in the force with which a gripping surface contacts the media in order to compensate for wear experienced by the gripping surface. The force is increased as a function of a measured variable which can be the number of revolutions of a feed roller on which the gripping surface is defined. The variable can alternatively be elapsed time, or can be a number of sheets of media that pass a given point on the media path. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a wear compensator which is configured to cause the increase in force with which the gripping surface contacts the media.

Abstract: A recording-medium transport device includes a pair of pinch rollers arranged closer to a printing head than to a subordinate roller and pinching and transporting a belt and a sheet of paper toward the printing head. The pair of pinch rollers can pinch the sheet of paper together with the belt, while maintaining the belt flat. As such, an image of high quality can be formed, e.g., printed on the recording medium. Furthermore, the recording medium does not divert from a transporting path. Thus reliable image formation can be achieved.

Abstract: A document transport utilizes a pneumatic pinch force generator in lieu of a conventional spring-loaded pinch roller, thereby minimizing problems associated with pinch roller inertia and debris collection.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet diverter for directing signatures moving in serial fashion along a diverter path to one of a plurality of collation paths. The sheet diverter includes a pair of diverter rolls for directing a signature to one of the plurality of collation paths and a diverter wedge for deflecting the signature to a selected one thereof. The diverter wedge is positioned between the diverter rolls so as to reach high into the diverter path thereby providing increased support to the signature as it travels from between the diverter rolls to the diverter wedge. The diverter rolls are permitted to intermesh with the diverter wedge so as to allow the diverter wedge to be so positioned.

Abstract: A check processing module includes a hardware device disposed along a document track for processing document items moving from an upstream end of the document track to a downstream end of the document track. A number of outer panels covers the hardware device during operation of the check processing module. At least one idler roller is provided for engaging a document item in the document track when the idler roller is in a non-retracted position. When a button is operated by an operator, the idler roller moves from a non-retracted position to a retracted position away from a document item in the document track to allow the operator to more easily gain access to the document track without having to remove any of the outer panels covering the hardware device positioned along the document track.

Abstract: A method of document overlap/gap error detection and correction includes detecting a trailing edge of a first document at a feeder, and detecting a leading edge of a second document at an edge detector between the feeder and a transport stage. An overlap/gap error is determined and the feeder is controlled to correct the overlap/gap error, when the error is present. An overlap may be measured before the first document trailing edge arrives at the edge detector, providing a greater remaining length of the second document left in the feeder with which to perform the necessary feeder motions to correct the overlap/gap error.

Abstract: A circulatory feed system has roller pairs for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet in a substantially horizontal attitude. Each of the roller pairs comprises first and second coupled rollers interconnected by a shaft for rotation in unison with each other, and first and second separate rollers which are independent of each other. The first and second separate rollers are disposed below the first and second coupled rollers, i.e., in a region toward which the stimulable phosphor sheet is flexed.

Abstract: A device for tensioning first and second transport belts in a folder of a rotary printing press including mutually independent transport belt systems wherein the first and second transport belts are disposed, includes a tensioning unit for tensioning the first and second transport belts. The tensioning unit is disposed between the first transport belt and the second transport belt and serves for acting thereon with a force that tensions the first and second transport belts simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a rectangular stimulable phosphor sheet with change of its conveyed course composed of a pair of longitudinal guide plates curved to form an arc, each guide plate being arranged in parallel to each other with a space approximately corresponding to the width of the phosphor sheet; a series of rollers which are so arranged along each of the guide plates to allow advancement of the phosphor sheet between a guide space formed by the guide plate and these rollers; and a pair of driving rollers which are arranged in the vicinity of one ends on imaginary plane extended from the pair of the curved guide plates.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device has a conveyance guide for guiding a sheet conveyed from a photosensitive drum and a transfer roller of a transfer portion to a pressurizing roller and a fixing roller of a fixing device, and the conveyance guide has a second guide surface and a third guide surface, the bending point of the guide surfaces being situated above the intersection of the nip plane of the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller and the nip plane of the pressurizing roller and the fixing roller and in a region on the side opposite to the direction in which the sheet is separated from the conveyance guide with respect to the nip planes.

Abstract: First and second feeding roller pairs are disposed at positions upstream and downstream of a recording position to record an image onto a recording sheet. Each of the first and second feeding roller pairs includes a capstan roller and a pinch roller, which are located below and above a passage of the recording sheet. The capstan roller and the pinch roller has plural orbital grooves arranged along an axial direction, to relax the strain of the recording sheet with respect to the widthwise direction of the recording sheet. The depth of the orbital grooves of the pinch rollers are set to 0.3 mm, which is shallower than that of the orbital grooves of the capstan rollers. The shallow orbital grooves of the pinch rollers are capable of suppress the curl of the recording sheet effectively.

Abstract: A method of detecting a document in a system for feeding and transporting documents includes detecting an acceleration of an accelerator idler indicating when the document trailing edge exits a feeder and a separator. The system includes a feeder stage including the feeder and the separator for receiving a document therebetween and gripping the document with a first grip, and a transport stage downstream of the feeder stage. The transport stage includes an accelerator driver and the accelerator idler for receiving the document therebetween and gripping the document with a second grip that is less than the first grip. When the document is simultaneously gripped by the feeder and separator and gripped by the accelerator driver and accelerator idler, the document slips at the accelerator driver until the document trailing edge exits the feeder and separator. The acceleration of the accelerator idler is detected to indicate when the document trailing edge exits the feeder and separator.

Abstract: The invention provides a discharge mechanism of a sheet which can quickly and securely discharge a sheet without deformation. A discharge mechanism is provided at an end of a transfer path and discharging the paper to a tray is constituted by a pair of discharge rollers and a profiling pusher integrally rotating with the discharge roller. A sponge-like body portion and a plurality of projections, integrally formed on a peripheral surface thereof, are formed in the profiling pusher. The protrusion is brought into contact with a surface of the sheet and deformed in a profiling manner so as to allow the sheet to pass therethrough. When the rear end of the sheet leaves the nip, the deformation of the projection is restored and engaged with the rear end of the sheet, thereby forcibly pushing out the sheet.

Abstract: A star wheel manufacturing process, and a star wheel manufactured thereby, suitable for an ink jet printer. Metal is formed by chemical milling, subtractive etching or the like, into the desired star wheel configuration, including a plurality of radially extending projections having tips. At least a portion of each tip has an electropolished surface. A coating of fluorinated polymer or the like may be applied to at least a portion of the electrolpolished surface on each tip.

Abstract: A roller assembly for a sheet material transport assembly is disclosed, wherein skewing of the transported sheet material relative to the transport assembly is reduced. The roller assembly includes an elongate shaft having a compliant layer disposed about the shaft. A relatively non-compliant layer is disposed about the compliant layer to form a tire, wherein the non-compliant layer has a circumference, which is substantially unchanged upon operable loading of the roller assembly.

Abstract: A snap fit bearing assembly is provided for supporting a rotatable shaft in a wall of a machine. The snap fit bearing assembly includes a support wall portion, of the machine, having a first surface, a wall thickness and a second and opposite surface; a central opening through the support wall portion; a bearing receiving recess formed from the first surface partially into the wall; plural receiving openings formed through the wall thickness and spaced from the central opening; a bearing device having an inner bore and an external surface for inserting into the bearing receiving recess; and an adjustable force applying spring clip for applying a desired normal force to the bearing device.

Abstract: The plate-shaped workpieces are conducted through a treatment cell containing a treatment bath. Vertical slots for the passage of the workpieces are provided in the end walls of the treatment cell. Paired rods or pipes arranged loosely in the treatment bath in a vertical alignment are allocated to the slots as seals. In order to also enable a treatment of thin, non-rigid workpieces, two vertically directed and preferably driven rollers for the guidance of the workpieces are arranged at the admission side outside the treatment cell and immediately preceding the seals.

Abstract: A device for conveying sheets through a printing machine which ensures the safe transport of the sheet exactly in the prescribed transport path, at a low material expense. The device for conveying sheets through a printing machine is provided with continuous conveyor belts running over deflection rollers, between which the sheets are held by frictional forces and guided one after the other, whereby to generate the frictional forces, rollers are provided which press the conveyor belts against each other along the conveyance path. The contact surfaces of the conveyor belts with the sheet have a surface coating made of a material with a high coefficient of friction relative to the material of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device to change the speed of individual flat shipments that are jammed and displaced one behind the other on a two-part conveyance system. In order to carry out any desired speed changes, without subjecting the shipments to pull or strain, a first conveyance device is located in front of a second conveyance device with controllable speed. The first conveyance device is normally driven at the speed of the inputting part of the conveyance system and does not exert a propelling or braking effect on the relevant delivery when it is blocked on the second conveyance device with controllable speed.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feed roller consisting of a rigid roller and an elastic coating covering at least part of the feed roller. A sheet is placed between the pressing member and the feed roller and is pressed tightly by the pressing member. While the feed roller rotates, the sheet is fed by means of the friction between the sheet and the pressing member and between the sheet and the feed roller. The thickness of the elastic coating is preferably much less than the radius of the rigid roller, and is also preferably less than 0.5 millimeter.

Abstract: A media-conveying apparatus in a printing machine is used to convey a printing media. The media-conveying apparatus has a support, a star-wheel having a plurality of tips around its edge, an axle set at a center of the star-wheel and a monolithic elastic apparatus. The elastic apparatus has a first torsion arm and a second torsion arm. The first torsion arm is placed on the support. The second torsion arm presses the axle so the tips of the star-wheel elastically contact the printing media.

Abstract: A conveyor system conveys sheets of different widths in a direction normal to the direction of width with an edge of each sheet held along a reference position. The conveyor system includes a drive roller and a nip roller and conveys the sheet with the nip roller urged toward the drive roller under its gravity and a predetermined urging force. The nip roller is heavier at a part on the side of the reference position than at a part on the side opposite to the reference position and is substantially uniform in weight over a predetermined length between the end on the side of the reference position and a part at a predetermined distance from the end on the side of the reference position, and the predetermined urging force is set stronger on the side opposite to the reference position than on the side of the reference position.

Abstract: A pair of grip rollers forming a slack in a transfer sheet by impinging the transfer sheet against a pair of registration rollers that are at a standstill, includes a one-way rotating clutch. A coil spring biases the one-way rotating clutch such that projections on a flange of the one-way rotating clutch engage with holes on a rear sideboard. When a transfer sheet caught by the pair of grip rollers is pulled out with a predetermined or greater torque in an opposite direction to that in which the transfer sheet is conveyed, the projections are disengaged with the holes, against the coil spring bias. Thereby the one-way clutch is set free and can be rotated in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A sheet transport system comprises a plurality of separately driven transport sections (1, 2; 4, 5, 6), each transport section being driven by a respective motor or motors (7-12). A control system (22-27, 50) controls operation of the motors (7-12). A monitoring system (37) monitors the performance of the motors, the control system being responsive to the monitoring system to maintain correct operation of the motors.

Abstract: A device for transporting sheetlike material is proposed wherein the material to be conveyed is always held between a conveyer belt (1) and a guide means (20) each lying against one of the opposite sides of the material (23). In order to maintain a reliable transport function even with fluctuating sheet thickness, it is provided that the run of the conveyer belt facing the material (23) is loaded elastically in the direction of the material (23) by pressure elements (14, 16).

Abstract: A configuration for determining the dimensions of printed media, especially of letters or envelopes, is used in a separating apparatus of a mail processing system, in which the printed media are transferred on an output side by an ejector to a following device, such as a scale or a franking machine. The field of use is widened by determining the dimensions of the printed media by using existing elements. A device is provided for scanning and determining the dimensions of the printed media, and the ejector is included in the scanning of the printed media. Sensors are electrically connected to an evaluation circuit which transmits measurement results to the following device.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of a printer is provided. The paper feeding apparatus includes a plurality of paper guide ribs formed by protruding from one side of a rectangular hole of a base frame toward the other side of a rectangular hole and a plurality of rib receiving grooves formed on a feed roller positioned in the rectangular hole and corresponding to the paper guide ribs. With the paper guide ribs and the rib receiving grooves, the paper feeding apparatus prevents paper jam occurring when the upper end of a paper is caught in the rectangular hole and also prevents deterioration of print quality by uniformly maintaining the gap between a nozzle of an ink cartridge and a printable sheet of paper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for feeding a print media through a closed, curved path such that any abrasion of any special coating on the printing surface of the media is prevented. A motor driven pulley subsystem bridging the entrance and exit of the path is selectively adjustable to change the positioning and shape of the media as it passes therethrough.

Abstract: An image recording medium feeding device has a feed system for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet using opposite longitudinal marginal edges thereof, which are an image-free area, and a guide mechanism positioned in a curved feed path for contacting a substantially central area of the stimulable phosphor sheet and guiding the stimulable phosphor sheet along the curved feed path. The guide mechanism comprises a roller and a cushioning damper disposed around the roller. The stimulable phosphor sheet is prevented from bulging at its central area when it is fed into the feed path using the opposite longitudinal marginal edges of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: First and second feeding roller pairs are disposed at positions upstream and downstream of a recording position to record an image onto a recording sheet. Each of the first and second feeding roller pairs includes a capstan roller and a pinch roller, which are located below and above a passage of the recording sheet. The capstan roller and the pinch roller has plural orbital grooves arranged along an axial direction, to relax the strain of the recording sheet with respect to the widthwise direction of the recording sheet. The depth of the orbital grooves of the pinch rollers are set to 0.3 mm, which is shallower than that of the orbital grooves of the capstan rollers. The shallow orbital grooves of the pinch rollers are capable of suppress the curl of the recording sheet effectively.

Abstract: A device for guiding moving articles (10) past at least one ink-jet printing head (3), comprising a conveying belt and a cover belt (2, 4), as well as a guide frame (1) to prevent the depositing of ink drops in the region surrounding the printing heads (3) as a result of air turbulence developing on the edges. The printing heads (3) are located in cutouts in the guide frame (1). In accordance with the invention, flow channels (6) that extend in the article conveying direction are provided at least in the region surrounding the printing heads (3) in the guide frame (1), which flow channels are deep enough so that the flow does not stop. Narrow ridges are positioned between the flow channels (6) and are designed to guide the articles. Narrow guide elements (7) for extending the ridges are located above the ink-jet printing heads (3), in locations where the printing jets (5) are not covered.

Abstract: A wide-width format printer having detachable and replaceable paper feed unit components includes an automatic sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media, a manual sheet feeder having a feeding width corresponding to standard width print media plus an additional width, paper feed unit for feeding print media fed from either the automatic sheet feeder or the manual sheet feeder through a paper path which passes a print position to a media ejection portion, the paper feed unit comprising at least first and second detachable print roller sections, first and second detachable spur wheel sections, at least two detachable friction wheels and a drive roller, wherein the first detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other, the second detachable print roller section and spur wheel section oppose each other and wherein the first and second detachable printer roller segments are aligned coaxially and the first and second detachable spur wheel segments are a

Abstract: This invention involves an apparatus which is able to payout surly and speedily sheet bodies one by one, while minimizing the overall dimensions of the apparatus and with a simplified structure. This present invention is an apparatus for paying out a sheet body which comprises at least a suction device which has an opening to absorb a sheet body, and a sending out device to send out the sheet body which is absorbed on this suction device, resisting to the absorption.

Abstract: A chemical composition comprising selected surfactants, dispersants, and degreasers that liquefy, disperse, demulsify, degrease, inhibit corrosion and scale formation, and lower the pour point of a petroleum, coal, Fischer-Tropsch synthesized, or naturally occurring paraffin-based wax and asphaltene. The composition preferably contains (1) a mixture of oil soluble, surface active polyethoxylated compounds; (2) a mixture of organic solvents (non-hydrocarbon) used as degreasing agents, pine oil, and butyl cellusolve; (3) a mixture of oil- and water-soluble dispersing copolymers of partially sulfonated, maleic anhydride and polystyrene with a molecular weight ranging from about 2,000 to about 2,000,000; and (4) a mixture of saturated higher fatty acids and an alkyl-phenolic based compound acting as corrosion inhibitors.

Abstract: A device for transporting sheets in a region of a selectively usable sheet pile feeder includes a crosscutter of a sheet-fed processing machine having conveyor belts and contact-pressure devices cooperating therewith for feeding the sheets from the crosscutter, and a separating device of the sheet pile feeder, whereon contact-pressure devices are disposed.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet diverter for directing signatures moving in serial fashion along a diverter path to one of a plurality of collation paths. The sheet diverter includes a pair of diverter rolls for directing a signature to one of the plurality of collation paths and a diverter wedge for deflecting the signature to a selected one thereof. The diverter wedge is positioned between the diverter rolls so as to reach high into the diverter path thereby providing increased support to the signature as it travels from between the diverter rolls to the diverter wedge. The diverter rolls are permitted to intermesh with the diverter wedge so as to allow the diverter wedge to be so positioned.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for guiding a paper for printing, which includes guide arms for guiding the paper carried between a transferring device and a fixing device. In the apparatus for guiding the paper for printing, the guide arms are mounted and spaced at a width of the paper from each other between the transferring device and the fixing device so as to guide the paper with being in contact with non-image portions of which a surface of the paper has an image formed thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a paper feeding mechanism making it possible to reliably prevent deflection of the paper feeding roller and perform a stable paper feeding free from feeding deviation even when the paper feeding roller is formed as an elongated member. There is arranged a paper feeding roller and a plurality of press contact rollers held in press contact with the paper feeding roller, and there is arranged on the opposite side of the press contact rollers with respect to the paper feeding roller a support block which is held in contact with the peripheral surface of the paper feeding roller to support the paper feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes an endless belt for conveying a sheet, at least two stretching shafts arranged to revolvably stretch the endless belt, a rotatable pressing roller arranged to push the stretched endless belt from outside, the sheet being arranged to be conveyed in a state of being pinched between the endless belt and the pressing roller, and springs for pressing the pressing roller so as to make the pressing roller movable in a direction of being pushed to the endless belt and in a direction of being released from being pushed to the endless belt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets contained in sheet containing means one by one that has separating and feeding means including a feeding rotary member and a separating rotary member brought into pressure contact with the feeding rotary member and a torque limiter provided between the separating rotary member and a driving shaft wherein a coefficient of friction of the separating rotary member is set so that relations that &mgr;BC N>T/r, &mgr;BP>&mgr;CP, and T/r>&mgr;CP N>&mgr;PP N may be established among a coefficient of friction &mgr;BC between the feeding rotary member and the separating rotary member, a coefficient of friction &mgr;BP between the feeding rotary member and the sheet, a coefficient of friction &mgr;CP between the separating rotary member and the sheet, a coefficient of friction &mgr;PP between the sheets, a pressure contact force N of the separating rotary member, an idling torque T of the torque limiter and an effective

Abstract: Featured is a sheet feed unit including a first transport path in which is transported a first sheet, a second transport path and a protrusion. A second sheet is transported in the second transport path and guided at a prescribed angle relative to the first transport path. The protrusion is located or fixed at a confluence of the first transport path and the second transport path. The protrusion also has a guide surface that is placed to allow the second sheet to be guided along the first transport path.

Abstract: A paper discharge device which can temporarily stock paper in the device before the paper is discharged from a discharge port, without a fear of wrinkling or folding the paper during the stock, and without a limitation on the kind and length of paper which can be stocked is disclosed, a paper discharge device comprises a first conveyance path (31) for guiding paper from an input side (16) to between a driving roller (2) and a driven roller (3), a second conveyance path (32), an initiating end thereof being joined to the first conveyance path (31) at a point nearer to the input side than the driving roller (2) and a terminating end thereof being connected to a discharge port (17), a paper stock space (8) provided on an opposite side to the input side (16) with a contact point (P1) of the driving roller (2) and the driven roller (3) being sandwiched therebetween, and a third conveyance path (33) for guiding the paper (60) from the contact point (P1) of the driving roller (2) and the driven roller (3 to the pape

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for plotting on sheets of different widths, such as by cutting and/or printing, a tool support holding a plotting tool, such as a pen or knife blade, is spaced apart from a laterally-extending sheet-supporting surface and movable in the y-coordinate direction over the sheet-supporting surface for plotting on the sheet. A first drive roller defining an abrasive surface is rotatably mounted adjacent to the sheet-supporting surface for engaging a first marginal portion of the sheet and driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction. A second rotatably-mounted drive roller is spaced laterally relative to the first drive roller, and defines an abrasive surface for engaging a second marginal portion of the sheet and further driving the sheet in the x-coordinate direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet material conveying apparatus comprising first conveying means for conveying a sheet, material second conveying means for conveying, on a downstream side in a sheet material conveyance direction of the first conveying means, the sheet material and a plurality of guide members for forming a curving conveyance route located between the first conveying means and the second conveying means. The guide member forms the curving conveyance route located on an inner side among the guide members is a rotary body rotatably, which is arranged with no pressing member for pressing the sheet material to the rotary body.

Abstract: A card inverter or “flipper” is used in connection with card printers and laminators for inverting cards which are to be printed and/or laminated on two sides, so that after operations on one side have been completed, the card can be inverted and fed back to the processing stations for processing the second side of the card. This can be done with cards that are being programmed, for example, “Smart Cards” that will be moved to different stations for processing, and also can be used in connection with lamination stations where the card will be printed on two sides, and then a laminate film layer placed over both sides of the card The card inverter or flipper is supported about a central axis that bisects the plane of the card, and the inversion is about this axis so that the card plane is maintained in the first position of the card as well as the inverted position of the card.

Abstract: The present invention is useful in a nip-forming apparatus including a first roll and a second roll, wherein one of the rolls is displaceable toward the other to control the position of the first roll relative to the second roll, and wherein one of rolls is driven and the other is rotatable. The invention defines a setup procedure that includes rotating the driven roll and sensing a rotational speed of the rotatable roll. While the driven roll is rotating, the displaceable roll is displaced to a home displacement position relative to the other roll, wherein the home displacement position corresponds to a displaced position of the displaceable roll where the rotatable roll rotates at a select speed in response to contact with the driven roll. This home displacement position is then recorded. The invention is particularly well-suited for setup of a sheet decurler in an image forming apparatus. Change in the home displacement position over time due to roll wear is monitored and used to predict roll failure.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a first feeding rotary body for feeding sheets, a second feeding rotary body located in facing to the first feeding rotary body for feeding the sheets between the second feeding rotary body and the first feeding rotary body upon pressing the sheets, an elastic shaft serving as a rotary center of the second feeding rotary body for urging the second feeding rotary body toward the first feeding rotary body and restricting means for restricting movements of the second feeding rotary body in multiple directions by contacting with the second feeding rotary body.