Sheet-feed device and image recording apparatus equipped with the same

A sheet-feed device, comprising:

• a sheet accommodating portion in which recording sheets are accommodated so as to be stacked on each other;
• a sheet-feed roller which feeds one of the recording sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, which one of the recording sheets is located uppermost among the recording sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion;
• an inclined sheet-separation plate which is disposed at a downstream portion of the sheet accommodating portion in a sheet-feed direction in which the one of the recording sheets is fed, so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction and which is inclined, at a prescribed angle, with respect to the recording sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, the inclined sheet-separation plate having a height larger than a height of a maximum number of the recording sheets that can be accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion;
• a plurality of separation pawls which are arranged on the inclined sheet-separation plate so as to be suitably spaced apart from each other in the sheet-feed direction and which cooperate with the sheet-feed roller to separate the one of the recording sheets from other recording sheets;
• a sheet guide member which is supported on the inclined sheet-separation plate so as to pivot about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the sheet-feed direction, the sheet guide member including:
• a first contact portion which is located on a sheet feeding route on which the one of the recording sheets is fed and which is configured to contact the separated one of the recording sheets;
• and a second contact portion which is located on one of opposite sides of the pivot axis that is remote from the first contact portion and which is configured to protrude from the inclined sheet-separation plate so as to contact the separated one of the recording sheets owing to a pivotal movement of the sheet guide member by a contact of the separated one of the recording sheets with the first contact portion, whereby the separated one of the recording sheets is moved away from the plurality of separation pawls.