Sheet feeding apparatus and image reading apparatus equipped with the same

A sheet transport apparatus for transporting a sheet, comprising:

• a transport path for transporting the sheet,
• a drive roller unit disposed in the transport path and having a drive shaft and at least two drive rollers arranged on the drive shaft in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction that the sheet is transported,
• drive means connected to the drive shaft for driving the drive roller unit,
• a follower roller unit disposed in the first direction in the transport path and having a follower shaft and at least two follower rollers contacting the at least two drive rollers, and
• urging means attached to the follower shaft for pressing the at least two follower rollers to the at least two drive rollers in a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the drive shaft,
• wherein said drive roller unit includes at least three drive rollers spaced in the first direction, and said follower roller unit includes at least three follower rollers spaced in the first direction and two bearing portions disposed at positions away from one of the follower rollers situated at a center of the follower shaft by a substantially equal distance for supporting two ends of the follower shaft so that the follower shaft moves toward the drive shaft, said urging means pressing the follower shaft in a direction different from a direction toward the drive shaft.

An image reading apparatus for reading an image on a sheet, comprising:

• a sheet stacker for storing the sheet,
• a discharge stacker arranged vertically relative to the sheet stacker for storing the sheet,
• a transport path disposed between the sheet stacker and the discharge stacker for guiding the sheet from the sheet stacker to the discharge stacker,
• a processing platen arranged in the transport path and having photoelectric conversion means for reading the image on the sheet,
• separating means for separating the sheet on the sheet stacker,
• register means for temporarily holding the sheet transported from the separating means and transporting the sheet toward a downstream side, said register means including at least two drive rollers mounted on a drive shaft, at least two follower rollers mounted on a follower shaft, and bearings for supporting the follower shaft to be movable toward the drive shaft,
• urging means attached to the follower shaft for pressing the at least two follower rollers to the at least two drive rollers in a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the drive shaft, said urging means including an urging spring acting on the follower shaft in a direction inclined by the predetermined angle relative to the drive shaft so that the at least two follower rollers are pressed onto the at least two drive rollers with a force directed to the at least two drive rollers along the bearings and another force perpendicular to said force,
• sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet from the register means to the processing platen,
• sheet transport means for transporting the sheet from the processing platen toward a downstream side, and
• discharge means for discharging the sheet from the sheet transport means to the discharge stacker.