(19)
(11) EP 0 615 937 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
30.11.1994 Bulletin 1994/48

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.09.1994 Bulletin 1994/38

(21) Application number: 94103936.4

(22) Date of filing: 14.03.1994
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B65H 3/06, B65H 3/46, B65H 1/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 15.03.1993 JP 52789/93

(71) Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Matsumori, Shigemitsu, c/o NEC Corporation
    Minato-ku, Tokyo (JP)
  • Nakamura, Hironori, c/o Toshin Electric Co., Ltd.
    Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa (JP)

(74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER 
Siebertstrasse 4
81675 München
81675 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Sheet feeder


    (57) A sheet feeder according to the invention comprises a housing (100) provided with a sheet accommodation space in which a plurality of sheets are to be stacked and held; a separation plate (11) which is arranged against the forward edge of the sheets held in the housing and whose surface in contact with the forward edge of the sheets is substantially perpendicular to the sheet face; a feed roller (1), arranged close to the separation plate, for feeding the uppermost one of the sheets held in the housing in the forward direction while in contact with the face of that sheet; and pressurizing means (9,10) for applying pressure to the sheets toward the feed roller. The separation plate has a tapered face (11a) at its forward end inclined in the sheet feeding direction, so that the forward edge of the top sheet in contact with the feed roller run against the tapered face. This arrangement facilitates separation of the top sheet from the next even if the sheets are thicker than usual because the top sheet, as its forward edge runs against the tapered face, slides down in the sheet feeding direction. The close position of the feed roller to the separation plate causes the face of the top sheet, while it is being fed, to be firmly in contact with the tapered face of the separation plate and thereby prevents the forward edge of the next sheet from going over the tapered face.






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