Paper feed suction apparatus

Abstract

A paper feed suction apparatus includes a cylindrical guide nozzle, a cylindrical intermediate nozzle with a collar, a tension coil spring, a bottomed-cylindrical suction port member, a compression coil spring, and a stopper. The cylindrical intermediate nozzle is supported on a frame side and has an inner hole connected to an air source. The cylindrical intermediate nozzle with the collar is fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the guide nozzle to be vertically movable. The tension coil spring has an upper end portion fixed on the guide nozzle side and a lower end portion fixed on the intermediate nozzle side, and biases the intermediate nozzle upward. The bottomed-cylindrical suction port member is fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate nozzle to be vertically movable and has a suction hole in its lower end face. The compression coil spring is interposed between the suction port member and the guide nozzle, and biases the suction port member downward. The stopper is supported on the frame side to be vertically movable and located above the collar of the intermediate nozzle, and regulates an upper end limit of the intermediate nozzle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.