Paper feeding device

A paper feeding device for supplying to a printer a paper formed at both of its side edges with a pair of rows of feed apertures arranged at equal intervals, comprising:

• a frame formed by fixing a pair of side frames to each other, said side frames being arranged in parallel spaced relationship to each other;
• a driving sprocket rotatably supported between said side frames at a first end portion of said frame;
• a pair of first supporting rollers rotatably supported between said side frames at a second end portion of said frame in positions spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting said first end portion with said second end portion;
• a pair of arcuate rib-like guiding members projecting from the opposite inner surfaces of said side frames at said second end portion of said frame in a position opposite to said driving sprocket with respect to said first supporting rollers;
• an endless belt encompassing said driving sprocket, said first supporting rollers and said arcuate guiding members, said endless belt being adapted to run along a first arcuate feed path along the outer periphery of said driving sprocket, a second arcuate feed path along the outer periphery of said first supporting rollers and the outer periphery of said arcuate guiding members, and two straight feed paths connecting said first arcuate feed paths with said second arcuate feed path, said endless belt being formed with a plurality of feed pins projecting perpendicularly from the outer peripheral surface thereof and arranged at the same pitch as said feed apertures of said paper;
• a second supporting roller rotatably supported between said side frames in a position between said driving sprocket and said first supporting rollers, said second supporting roller having an outer circumferential surface for supporting the inner peripheral surface of said endless belt running along said two straight feed paths;
• and
• a driving means for driving said driving sprocket, wherein the outer peripheral surfaces of said driving sprocket and said first supporting rollers have a width substantially equal to that of said endless belt, and said arcuate guiding members have a projection height from the inner surfaces of said side frames smaller than a width from the side edge of said endless belt to the peripheral surface of said feed pin, and the outer peripheral surface of said second supporting roller has a width substantially equal to a diameter of said feed pin of said endless belt.