Abstract: Printing apparatuses include (among other components) a photoreceptor (that is adapted to contact and transfer marking material to a printing side of sheets of media), a transport belt adjacent the photoreceptor, a baffle, and an air outlet. The sheets of media are moved by the photoreceptor across a gap to the transport belt in a “processing direction.” The baffle is adjacent the back side of the sheets of media (the side that is opposite to the printing side of the sheets of media). The air outlet is also positioned adjacent the back side of the sheets of media, and the air outlet is adapted to direct a stream of air along the baffle and between the baffle and the back side of the sheets of media to lift the sheets of media off the photoreceptor without damaging the sheets of media or disturbing the unfused marking material thereon.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, a nip forming member, a preventing member provided in a position opposing an end portion of the film with respect to a generatrix direction of the film and configured to prevent movement of the film in the generatrix direction, a frame, and a separating member configured to separate, from the film, a recording material discharged from the nip. The separating member is rotatable relative to the preventing member at a first portion thereof, and is slidable relative to the frame at a second portion thereof, the second portion being more remote from a surface of the film than the first portion, and a sliding direction of the separating member crossing a plane of the nip. The fixing device fixes, at the nip, a toner image on the recording material while nipping and feeding the recording material on which the toner image is formed.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller, a stripping electrode, and a protective member. The transfer roller transfers a toner image formed on an image bearing member to a sheet in a transfer position. The stripping electrode is arranged downstream from the transfer position to which the sheet is to be carried. The stripping electrode includes a plurality of needle electrodes. The protective member is arranged on the transfer roller side with respect to the stripping electrode and overlaid on the stripping electrode. The protective member includes a cutout provided in a position facing at least one of the needle electrodes.

Abstract: A pickup arm for print media arranged to engage a roller.

Abstract: An air knife for separating media from a roll in an image forming system includes a body; a first air plenum; a first plenum passage fluidly connected to the first air plenum; a first exit passage fluidly connected to the first plenum passage; a first air exit fluidly connecting the first exit passage to an outside of the body such that the first air plenum is fluidly connected to the outside of the body through the first air exit; a second air plenum separated from the first air plenum such that fluid in the second air plenum is separated from fluid in the first air plenum; a second plenum passage fluidly connected to the second air plenum; a second exit passage fluidly connected to the second plenum passage; and a second air exit fluidly connecting the second exit passage to an outside of the body.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing roller, a peeling claw that peels a recording paper from the fixing roller, a peeling claw holder that rotatably supports the peeling claw, and a support member that movably supports the peeling claw holder to enable the peeling claw to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller, wherein not less than two directions are set as retracting directions of the peeling claw holder to be moved when the peeling claw is caused to retract by moving apart from the fixing roller.

Abstract: A sheet separation mechanism includes a separation claw holder, a separation claw, a first coil spring and a second coil spring. The separation claw holder can be provided at a predetermined place in the image forming apparatus. The separation claw includes a separation claw base pivotally supported by the separation claw holder and a separation claw front-end pivotally supported by the separation claw base. The first coil spring is configured to apply a force to rotate the separation claw base toward an intermediate transfer belt. The second coil spring is configured to apply a force to rotate the separation claw front-end toward the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: A peeling device is provided and includes: a rotating body that conveys a recording material; a peeling member capable of changing from a first state in which the peeling member is away from the rotating body to a second state in which the peeling member is closer to the rotating body than the peeling member in the first state is, the peeling member in the second state peeling off the recording material from the rotating body; and a gas spraying unit that sprays a gas to the peeling member to bring the peeling member from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A device for pulling in flat-stock pieces and precisely-aligned transporting of the flat-stock pieces at a work station of a machine for processing the flat-stock pieces has a gripper apparatus that grabs a forward edge of a piece of flat stock and accelerates the flat-stock piece, and a sheet pick-up roller that picks up the accelerated piece of flat stock from the gripper apparatus, whereby the sheet pick-up roller has a roller gripper effective at a circumference thereof for grabbing the accelerated piece of flat stock. The roller gripper can move between a closed position in which the piece of flat stock is held fast and an open position in which the piece of flat stock is released. Suction holes operable to be charged with intake air are disposed in a part of a circumference of the sheet pick-up roller following in a direction of rotation behind the roller gripper.

Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus, including: a supporting member having a supporting surface which supports a sheet; a first electrode provided in the supporting member; an electric field generating portion configured to generate an electric field between the supporting surface and the first electrode; a guide member which is distant from the supporting surface by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface; a moving portion configured to move the sheet supported by the supporting surface by moving at least one of the supporting member and the guide member relatively to each other in a direction parallel to the supporting surface; and an electric field inverting portion configured to invert a direction of the electric field generated by the electric field generating portion, when a leading end portion of the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is moved has reached a vicinity of the guide member.

Abstract: A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a fixing device for fixing toner image on a recording material, the fixing device includes: a heating member which heats a recording material; a pressing member which comes into contact with the heating member with pressure; and an air separator which separates the recording material from the heating member by compressed air blown between a leading edge of the recording material and the heating member, the air separator includes a plurality of nozzles disposed in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material and an air emitting amount distribution setting section which unifies an emitting amount distribution in the width direction of the compressed air which is emitted from the nozzles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing notes, which comprises a plurality of storage compartments for depositing the notes, means for transporting the notes to the storage compartments and for the organized deposit of the same on stacks disposed in the storage compartments. The inventive device comprises one or more parallel revolving belts on which fingers are successively disposed in the longitudinal direction which cooperate with the belts to give receiving pockets for the notes. Every storage compartment is associated with a respective stripping element interposed between the storage compartment and the belts. For depositing a note in the storage compartment the belts and/or the corresponding stripping element can be adjusted relative each other in such a manner that the stripping element projects into the path of a note that is displaced by means of the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes i) two surface moving bodies, at least one of which is driven so that the surface moving bodies come in contact with each other and a nip is formed and ii) a heat source configured to heat at least one of the surface moving bodies. A transfer medium is put in the nip so that the toner image is heat-fixed on the transfer medium. A separation plate is provided and is configured to remove the transfer medium. Rise of temperature of a head end part, at a side of the surface moving body, of the separation plate is given priority over rise of temperature of other parts of the separation plate.

Abstract: A non-gouging sheet stripper assembly is disclosed for stripping copy sheets from a surface of a moving fusing member. The non-gouging sheet stripper assembly includes (a) at least one baffle forming part of a sheet path; (b) a finger shaft having a first end attached to the at least one baffle and a second distal end for forming a sheet directing first angle with the surface of the moving fusing member; and (c) a finger tip located at the second distal end of the finger shaft and having a contour for forming a sheet stripping second angle, that is different from the sheet directing first angle with the surface of the moving fusing member.

Abstract: A removing claw 164 has a width W1 in a cross direction of 5 [mm] and a rectangular cross section with a height reduced toward a tip, and both ends of an upper side of the rectangle are chamfered to have a chamfered portion with a radius of r=1 [mm]. Consequently, a contact area of a toner sheet with the removing claw 164 is large. Therefore, a face pressure of a surface of the removing claw 164 where the toner sheet is to be delivered is reduced. Accordingly, the toner sheet can be delivered while being removed by the removing claw 164 without a material thereof rubbed and shaved by the surface of the removing claw and shaved by both ends of the upper side of the removing claw 164 even if the toner sheet comes in contact with the removing claw.

Abstract: A roller mechanism for separating paper has a fusing roller, a following roller, and at least two paper-separating rings. The fusing roller is formed with at least two annular grooves on a periphery thereof. The two paper-separating rings are respectively mounted in the annular grooves correspondingly. The following roller is contiguous to the fusing roller for heating a paper therebetween and transporting out the paper smoothly.

Abstract: A fuser stripper baffle exit minimizes differential gloss marks due to paper contacting the fuser exit baffle. Portions of paper that touch the baffle cool differently than portions that don't, resulting in differential gloss in the paper path or spanwise direction. The exit baffle contains a series of axial-direction steps or plateaus in its upper surface, such that the highest step is nearest the fuser roll, while the lowest plateau is furthest from the roll. This reduces the surface area of the fuser stripper baffle exit that contacts the surface of the paper sheet as the paper sheet is stripped from the fuser roll. The paper thus touches the exit baffle for the minimum amount of time, thus minimizing the heat transfer to the baffle. This minimizes differential cooling effects which, in turn, minimizes differential gloss.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus for a printer includes a paper separating unit. The fixing apparatus also includes a heating unit which fixes an image on paper by heating paper passing through a developing unit, a pressing unit which contacts the heating unit, presses paper passing through an interface with the heating unit and helps to fix the image on the paper, and a paper separating unit which includes a separation member having a sharp end contacting the heating unit to separate paper, an arm member having one end to which the separation member is attached and pivots, centering on a hinge shaft at a predetermined angle, and an elastic member which is connected to the other end of the arm member and applies an elastic force so that the arm member is maintained in a correct position.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a skive mechanism for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the said roller. The skive mechanism includes a frame located in spaced relation with one of the rollers of the pair of fuser apparatus rollers. A plurality of skive assemblies, mounted on the frame, each include a skive finger and a support body for supporting such skive finger in operative relation to such one of the rollers. The skive fingers are elongated, thin, flexible members to substantially prevent damage to such associated fuser apparatus roller. Further, an air plenum is provided in operative relation to the other of the pair of rollers of the fuser apparatus rollers.

Abstract: A recording material separating apparatus has a rotary member contacting with a recording material, a separating member for contacting with the rotary member and separating the recording material from the rotary member, and a guide member for guiding that surface of the recording material separated from the rotary member which is adjacent to the rotary member. The guide member is provided for retraction from a guide position by the pressure of the recording material when jammed, and the separating member is retracted from a separating position in operative association with the retracting action of the guide member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that enables to transversely move a sheet separator without a dedicated drive source and with a simplified construction to thereby reduce production cost of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a thrust driving mechanism for reciprocating the sheet separator in an axial direction of a heater roller. The mechanism includes a worm gear which is rotated by a driving force of a drive source for rotating the heater roller, a helical gear which is meshed with the worm gear, and an eccentric cam which is mounted coaxially with an axis of rotation of the helical gear. A guide member for supporting the sheet separator is reciprocated in the axial direction of the heater roller in accordance with rotation of the eccentric cam.

Abstract: A stripper blade assembly for an ink jet offset printer has a thin blade fixedly mounted on a top surface of a blade holder. The blade holder includes at a trailing edge flexible eyelet portions that extend downwards to snap over protuberances on mechanical connectors overmolded onto a rotatable shaft in order to secure the blade holder to the shaft. The thin blade engages the surface of an offset drum of the ink jet offset printer along the width of the drum at an appropriate point in the print process to strip the leading edge of a print medium from the offset drum surface, minimizing damage to the offset drum surface and to the printed image on the print medium while also minimizing the risk of a jam.

Abstract: A fuser apparatus having a pair of rollers in nip relation to transport a receiver member therebetween to permanently fix a marking particle image to such receiver member, and a dual function air skive assembly for stripping a receiver member adhering to a fuser apparatus roller from the roller. The dual function air skive assembly includes a frame engageable with a roller of the pair of rollers of the fuser apparatus. An air plenum is supported by the frame in operative relation to the fuser roller nip. The air plenum has a first nozzle arrangement directed at an angle to the roller so as to provide a positive air flow to strip a receiver member adhering to the roller therefrom. The first nozzle arrangement has a plurality of nozzle heads respectively configured to provide a positive air flow having a substantially oval cross-section.

Abstract: A currency note storage device (10) for an ATM (50) comprises an endless rubber belt (12) carrying a multiplicity of outwardly-projecting flaps (22), the edges of the flaps attached to the belt being contiguous; the belt (12) runs around a pair of rollers (14,16) of such diameter that as the belt runs over them, the outer edges of the flaps are spread apart to form slots; the belt also runs around a pair of guides (18,20) of such diameter that as the belt runs over them the flaps are barely spaced apart. The number of slots is known, and therefore each slot is addressable; the processor (62) of the ATM (50) records the value of the currency note in a slot, and controls a stepper motor (66) to drive the belt (12) so that a required bank note (34) is positioned adjacent a pick device (38). The device (10) can also be used to deposit currency notes in an ATM.

Abstract: A fuser stripper apparatus for use in a machine which imparts an image to paper being fed therethrough. The apparatus has: a fuser roller rotatably fixed in the machine and having a surface treated with a coating for effecting the impartation of the image to the paper, the fuser roller has at least one slot formed in its surface; an idler roller rotatably fixed in the machine which has a surface in substantial contact with the surface of the fuser roller thereby creating a nip for passage of the paper therein when either of the fuser or idler rollers are rotated; a motor for rotating one of the fuser or nip rollers; and a wire member disposed in each of the at least one slot formed on the surface of the fuser roller, the wire member has first and second ends fixed to the machine such that the paper is prevented from wrapping around the fuser roller by the wire member.

Abstract: A stripping finger, for use in an electrophotographic apparatus, formed by molding a glass polymer consisting of phosphate glass and resin. The stripping finger does not attack the peripheral surface of a roller of the electrophotographic apparatus. The material of the stripping finger can be molded precisely by injection molding; has a sufficient degree of heat load resistance, heat deformation property, and heat fatigue resistance; and is capable of maintaining the original shape of its tip.

Abstract: An electrophotographic development system preventive of a rolling of paper on a photosensitive drum includes a charging roller for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum with high voltage by a rotation with the photosensitive drum, an exposure unit for producing an electrostatic latent image on the charged part of the photosensitive drum, a developing roller having a thin and uniform toner layer through which the latent image on the photosensitive drum passes to be developed into a visible image, and a transfer roller for transferring the image on a paper, whereby to compulsorily separate the paper rolling up the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which comprises an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a transfer charger for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material, and an electricity removing member for removing electricity from the transfer material to separate the transfer material from the image bearing member, and wherein, when the electricity is removed from the transfer material by the electricity removing member, a potential level applied to the electricity removing member is selected so that the potential level at end portions of the transfer material becomes greater than the potential level at a central portion of the transfer material along a transfer material shifting direction, thereby improving separation of the transfer material from the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable member carrying a recording sheet bearing a non-fixed image and a separation device for separating the recording sheet from the movable member. The separation device includes a peel member made from resin and having a resistance between 10.sup.3 and 10.sup.11 .OMEGA.) and an electricity removing charger. The peel member is supported by a support member and is positioned such that a part of the resin peel member is within the discharge area of the electricity removing charger and the support member is disposed outside the discharge area and is electrically grounded.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing labels having a tacky side and a non-tacky printable side. The apparatus comprises a print head for printing indicia on the printable side of the labels, and a print roller disposed in close proximity to the print head. The print head is thus enabled to print indicia on the labels when the labels are supported by the print roller, the print roller having at least one annular recess in its surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises at least one elongated stripper element retained in and extending from the recess such that upon rotation of the roller, the label is transported to the stripper element. The stripper element thereby lifts the label from the surface of the roller and the label is removed from the print roller.

Abstract: A device for holding substrates on a printing-press transport belt successively transporting the substrates closely past an impression cylinder includes at least one stripping device disposed in an exit part of a nip between the impression cylinder and the transport belt, the at least one stripping device being movable in synchronism with a printing-press cycle towards and away from the impression cylinder; and a method of operating the device.

Abstract: The invention relates a sheet separation apparatus including a sheet carrying member which is capable of holding a sheet thereon, a device positioning a sheet on the surface of the sheet carrying member, a device separating the held sheet from the sheet carrying member by predetermined sheet separating power, said separating means capable of changing the sheet separating power, and a device selecting sheet separating power of the separating device according with the surface of the sheet positioned by the positioning device. The object of the invention is to provide a reliable separation of the sheet from said sheet carrying member.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the type developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by using toner having a softening point of 80.degree. C. or below and transferring the resulting toner image to a sheet, a sheet separator separates, after the image transfer, the sheet from the surface of the image carrier while making sliding contact therewith at an edge portion thereof. The edge portion has a tip contacting the surface of the image carrier and has a particular radius of curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating a leading end stacked position in a stacker for successively stacking thin sheet materials.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus in which when separating a recording material from a recording-material conveying sheet, the recording-material conveying sheet is pressed and deformed by a pressing member, the pressing member has a convex curved portion contacting the recording-material conveying sheet in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the recording-material conveying sheet. It is thereby possible to sufficiently deform the recording-material conveying sheet while preventing it from being permanently deformed or broken.

Abstract: Stripping fingers for use in a copying machine, molded of a liquid crystal polyester resin composition made up of a liquid crystal polyester having a flow temperature of 340.degree. C. or higher and titanium oxide whiskers. The stripping fingers have excellent heat deflection resistance, heat aging resistance, thermal shock resistance, heat load resistance, low attack on the counter roller, good shape retainability of the finger edges, and good non-stick property against toner. Coating with PFA at 330.degree. C. or higher on the stripping finger increases non-tackiness.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus 14 for fusing toner onto paper includes a heater roller 2 and a separating unit 15 with a separation claw 16. The separation claw 16 is provided with a paper guide member 17 having a curvature in a direction opposite to the curvature from a point a to a point c on the heater roller 2. After fusing, the front end 10a of the separated paper 10 is guided by the paper guide member 17. The paper guide member 17 reforms a curl imparted by the heating roller 2 curl into the original state, even if the paper 10 sticks to the heater roller 2 until the point c.

Abstract: A development process and a fixing process are carried out on a front side of a recording paper. The paper recorded on the first side is transported toward a returning transportation device. The development process and the fixing process are then carried out on a back side of the paper. A nozzle for blowing out an air flow, an inverter roll for inverting the paper and the returning transportation device are arranged between the fixing station and a reversal station. The paper is deformed by the local cooling due to the air for peeling by the nozzle, the inverter roll and the returning transportation device. The portions (working regions) which receive the local cooling are arranged such that at most two of the working regions occur at any point of the recording medium paper. The inferiority of the local images in the defects in transfer and the local lowering degree in the density of the images are decreased.

Abstract: A skive for a pressure roller fuser separates a receiving sheet that has a tendency to stick to one of the rollers in the fuser. The skive includes a finger having a tip which is spring urged against the roller. A mount for the finger permits the tip to move along the periphery of the roller in response to a difficult-to-separate sheet. The skive continues to attempt to separate the sheet without further pushing the tip into the roller. A guide surface on the finger continues to be directed by the mount toward a desired post-fuser path for the receiving sheet despite movement of the tip along the roller.

Abstract: A labeling machine in which pressure sensitive adhesively backed labels are releasably adhered to a backing strip moving along a path from a dispensing roll to a take-up roll. The labels are removed from the backing strip onto a rotating applicator drum at a first station along said path, and the thus removed labels are transferred from the applicator drum to articles being successively presented at a second station. The improvement comprises a scanning unit, a comparator unit, and a removal unit. The scanning unit is positioned in advance of the first station for reading indicia appearing on the labels adhered to said backing strip. The comparator unit is associated with the scanning unit for comparing the indicia on the labels with a preselected standard and for generating a control signal in the event of a mismatch between the standard and the indicia appearing on an incorrect label.

Abstract: A coating film separating device includes a substrate holding device for holding a substrate, at least one side of which is covered with a coating film, a roller unit equipped with a roller and a device for pressing the roller against an end portion of the surface of the coating film, a roller unit driving device for moving the roller unit on the end portion of the surface of the coating film in the widthwise direction of the substrate, a guide device for enabling the roller unit to move along an end portion of the substrate, and a device for spraying pressurized fluid at the interface between the substrate and the coating film at the edge portion of the substrate along which the roller unit moves.

Abstract: An image fixing device includes a fixing roller, a bearing for rotatably supporting the fixing roller, and a backup member to form a nip between them. The bearing extends to reach within a maximum recording material passage area of the fixing roller.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus having a series of process stations and a logic and control unit for controlling the operations of the process stations includes a fuser and pressure roller-type fusing apparatus. The fusing apparatus includes a member for oiling the fuser roller, and a fuser skive device with finger portions that contactably ride on the fuser roller for stripping copy sheets. The finger portions are mounted to a flexible member that is connected to strain gauges which sense actual sheet stripping forces on the finger portions. The strain gauges are connected to the logic and control unit which contains a preprogrammed stand for sheet stripping forces on the finger portions on ideal process station conditions. The logic and control unit compares the sensed actual sheet stripping forces from the finger portions for any deviations from such stand, and then use such deviation to adjust an operating condition of at least a process station.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for transporting print media with wet ink out of a printer without smearing the ink or requiring the user to adjust the margins of the document to avoid the smearing of the ink. The apparatus comprises a platen for holding the print media prior to ejection from the printer, an ejection bar having flexible, resilient fingers for catching the bottom of the print media when flexed and then kicking the paper out of the printer. The ejection bar is actuated by an eccentric cam drive to move it away from the print media when the fingers are traveling toward the bottom edge of the print media, then moving it toward the paper bottom edge to flex the fingers and then upward to eject the paper out of the printer. The upward movement also causes the fingers to spring to an unflexed configuration, thereby kicking the paper out of the printer.

Abstract: A symmetrically flexible separator device is placed immediately after and removed, by a pair of pads, from the nip between the fuser roller and the pressure roller in order to intercept the leading edge of an image-bearing receiver and thus reduce the risk that the latter would remain stuck to the surface of either the fuser roller or the pressure roller.

Abstract: An electrophotographic recording apparatus including a light-sensitive drum for carrying toner images developed thereon, and a transfer unit arranged at a prescribed distance from the light-sensitive drum for transferring the toner images from a light-sensitive drum to the image recording paper. The transfer unit has a charging wire electrode for electrically charging the paper and a generally inverted U-shaped housing having spaced sidewalls with respective bottom edges. A separator is provided for separating the paper from the light-sensitive drum as the paper travels along a conveying path and comprises a paper separating plate extending from the downstream one of the bottom edges of the housing of the transfer unit in the downstream direction of the travel of the paper along the conveying path side thereof, with and the housing of the transfer unit is grounded. The paper separating plate has a distal end having a saw tooth shape along the length thereof, as measured transversely to the conveying path.

Abstract: A diverter (10) for a printing press having a cylinder (14) for sequentially carrying printed matter (22), a device (16) for rotating the cylinder (14) a device (42) for passing the printed matter (22) along a first usual path (32) when the printed matter (22) is in a proper arrangement, and for diverting the printed matter (22) along a second different path (54) when the printed matter (22) becomes jammed along the first path (32).

Abstract: A jam prevention mechanism is provided, adapted to be positioned in a device including a pair of rollers through which a sheet is to be fed, for preventing the sheet from being caught around one of the pair of rollers. The jam prevention mechanism comprises at least one contact member arranged to be located at the downstream side of the pair of rollers along a sheet feeding direction, and contacted with a circumferential surface of one of the pair of rollers by a predetermined force. The contact member is further arranged so as not to be moved along the sheet feeding direction. Thus, the recording sheet can be prevented from being caught around the roller without an excessive resistance applied against the rotation of the roller, and jamming of the recording sheet can be prevented before it happens.