# US 2014/0191462 A1 · Sheet feed devices and image recording apparatus comprising such sheet feed devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191462 A1 - Document ID: US20140191462A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/203,486 - Filed: 2014-03-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-31 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tetsuo ASADA; Yukio SHIOHARA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191462A1 ## CPC - B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile - B65H 1/12: comprising spring {(B65H1/022 takes precedence)} - B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/24: by pushers engaging the edges of the articles - B65H 3/26: by separators engaging folds, flaps, or projections of articles - B65H 3/56: Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile {(B65H3/52 takes precedence)} - B65H 5/06: by rollers {or balls, e.g. between rollers (transport by suction rollers B65H5/226)} - B65H 5/16: by pusher, needles, friction, or like devices adapted to feed single articles along a surface or table - B65H 9/00: Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor - B65H 29/54: Article strippers, e.g. for stripping from advancing elements - B65H 37/00: Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations (incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00) - B65H 2405/1132: with stepped surface portions - B65H 2405/1136: inclined, i.e. forming an angle different from 90 with the bottom - B65H 2405/141: Reliefs, projections - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet feed device comprising: a holding surface configured to hold a plurality of sheets; a feed unit configured to contact a particular sheet of the plurality of sheets and to feed at least the particular sheet in a sheet feed direction; and a separation unit disposed downstream of the holding surface in the sheet feed direction and configured to separate the particular sheet from other sheets of the plurality of sheets, the separation unit comprising: a pair of inclined surfaces inclined relative to the holding surface and configured to guide the particular sheet fed by the feed unit; a plurality of first projections arranged in the sheet feed direction and projecting further toward the feed unit than the pair of inclined surfaces; a metal elastic member disposed at a position farther from the feed unit than the pair of inclined surfaces and configured to urge the plurality of first projections toward the feed unit; and a plurality of second projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections and projecting further toward the feed unit than the pair of inclined surfaces, wherein one of the pair of inclined surfaces is interposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second protrusions, and wherein the separation unit has an opening between the pair of inclined surfaces, and the plurality of first projections urged by the metal elastic member project toward the feed unit from the opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of inclined surfaces are stationary relative to the holding surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections and projecting further toward the feed unit than the pair of inclined surfaces, wherein the other of the pair of inclined surfaces is interposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of third projections. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein a most downstream one of the plurality of first projections is positioned downstream of a most downstream one of the plurality of second projections in the sheer feed direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second projections comprise synthetic resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second projections are integrally formed with the one of the pair of inclined surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second protrusions are stationary relative to the pair of inclined surfaces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first projections are arranged at first intervals, and the plurality of second projections are arranged at second intervals which are different from the first intervals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first projections project further than the pair of inclined surfaces by a first distance, and the plurality of second projections project further than the pair of inclined surfaces by a second distance which is different from the first distance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first projections are positioned at a center with respect to a width direction of the holding surface, the width direction being perpendicular to the sheet feed direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sheet feed device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first projections are positioned at a center with respect to a width direction of the holding surface, the width direction being perpendicular to the sheet feed direction, and are arranged to a more downstream position in the sheet feed direction than the plurality of second projections. ### Claim 12 A sheet feed device comprising: a holding surface configured to hold a plurality of sheets; a feed unit configured to contact a particular sheet of the plurality of sheets and to feed at least the particular sheet in a sheet feed direction; and a separation unit disposed downstream of the holding surface in the sheet feed direction and configured to separate the particular sheet from other sheets of the plurality of sheets, the separation unit comprising: a pair of inclined surfaces inclined relative to the holding surface and configured to guide the particular sheet fed by the feed unit; a plurality of first projections arranged in the sheet feed direction and projecting further in a forward direction than the pair of inclined surfaces, the forward direction being toward edges of the plurality of sheets to be held by the holding surface; a metal elastic member disposed backward of the pair of inclined surfaces with respect to the forward direction and configured to urge the plurality of first projections in the forward direction; and a plurality of second projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections and projecting further in the forward direction than the pair of inclined surfaces, wherein one of the pair of inclined surfaces is interposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second protrusions, and wherein the separation unit has an opening between the pair of inclined surfaces, and the plurality of first projections urged by the metal elastic member project in the forward direction from the opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the pair of inclined surfaces are stationary relative to the holding surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of third projections arranged parallel to the plurality of first projections and projecting further in the forward direction than the pair of inclined surfaces, wherein the other of the pair of inclined surfaces is interposed between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of third projections. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein a most downstream one of the plurality of first projections is positioned downstream of a most downstream one of the plurality of second projections in the sheer feed direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of second projections comprise synthetic resin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of second projections are integrally formed with the one of the pair of inclined surfaces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of second projections are stationary relative to the pair of inclined surfaces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of first projections are arranged at first intervals, and the plurality of second projections are arranged at second intervals which are different from the first intervals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of first projections project further than the pair of inclined surfaces by a first distance, and the plurality of second projections project further than the pair of inclined surfaces by a second distance which is different from the first distance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of first projections are positioned at a center with respect to a width direction of the holding surface, the width direction being perpendicular to the sheet feed direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The sheet feed device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of first projections are positioned at a center with respect to a width direction of the holding surface, the width direction being perpendicular to the sheet feed direction, and are arranged to a more downstream position in the sheet feed direction than the plurality of second projections.