Paper feed method and apparatus for a printer

A paper feed unit of a printer comprising:

• a hopper on which a large number of sheets of recording paper can be stacked;
• a paper feed roller capable of coming into contact with a portion of the uppermost sheet of paper on the hopper;
• a separating pad opposed to the paper feed roller, wherein the sheet of paper passes between the paper feed roller and the separating pad when the paper feed roller is normally rotated and the second and after sheets of paper are restricted by the separating pad, means for rotating the paper feed roller forwardly and reversely, means for determining completion of a printing operation, and means for controlling said means for rotating based upon a printing command and the means for determining completion of a printing operation, the means for controlling reversely rotating the paper feed roller by a predetermined number of revolutions when a printing command is not given to the successive sheet of paper after a predetermined period of time has passed from a completion of a printing operation conducted on an arbitrary sheet of paper.