Sheet conveying device and image processing apparatus having a tray resistance member

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• an image forming device;
• and
• a sheet conveying device comprising:
• a tray configured to accommodate a stack of a plurality of sheets;
• an elevating mechanism configured to lift and lower the tray in a stacking direction of the plurality of sheets;
• a conveyance roller configured to convey one sheet at a time from the plurality of sheets in the conveyance direction from the upper side in the stacking direction;
• and
• a resistance member in contact with a leading end of the plurality of sheets in the conveyance direction and configured to impart a sliding resistance larger than a sliding resistance of a sheet stacking surface of the tray to the leading ends of the plurality of sheets that are lifted and lowered by the elevating mechanism, wherein
• the resistance member comprises a surface layer portion that comes into contact with the plurality of sheets and the surface layer portion is non-smooth in the stacking direction, the resistance member has a napped material comprising a plurality of fibers extending toward the plurality of sheets on the surface layer Portion.

A sheet conveying method, comprising:

• lifting and lowering a tray configured to accommodate a stack of a plurality of sheets in a stacking direction of the plurality of sheets using an elevating mechanism;
• conveying one sheet at a time from the plurality of sheets in the conveyance direction from the upper side in the stacking direction;
• and
• contacting a resistance member with a leading end of the plurality of sheets in the conveyance direction and imparting a sliding resistance larger than a sliding resistance of a sheet stacking surface of the tray to the leading ends of the plurality of sheets that are lifted and lowered by the elevating mechanism,
• wherein
• the resistance member comprises a surface layer portion that comes into contact with the plurality of sheets and the surface layer portion is non-smooth in the stacking direction, and
• the resistance member has a napped material comprising a plurality of fibers extending toward the plurality of sheets on the surface layer portion.