Sheet feed apparatus for image forming system

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus including means for feeding a sheet, means for conveying a fed sheet to an image forming section, and means for delivering the sheet processed by said image forming section, comprising: means' for partially supporting said conveying means and said delivering means openable relative to an image forming apparatus housing; and means for guiding sheet storing means so as to detach said sheet storing means from said feeding means in the same direction as a direction of the opening, wherein said feeding means feeds the sheet in a direction opposite to a direction for mounting said sheet storing means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein part of said sheet conveying means also serves as another feeding means for feeding the sheet.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sheet conveying means comprises a roller which opposes another roller at a convey section thereof and a frictional member at a feed section thereof.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, further including a sheet path for guiding a sheet separated by said frictional member to said convey section, said sheet path being located in a downstream side of said feed section.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, further including a sheet delivery tray in an upstream. side of said feed section.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said feeding means and said guiding means are constituted by a unit structure with respect to a housing of said image forming apparatus.

Claim 8

A sheet feed apparatus used in an image forming apparatus including means for conveying a sheet fed by feeding means to an image forming section, and means for delivering the sheet processed by said image forming section, comprising: a sheet feed unit as a single unit comprising said feeding means and means for guiding sheet storing means; and sheet storing means comprising means for stacking the sheets and means for conveying the sheet, said conveying means being located in a downstream side of said stacking means, and said sheet storing means being detachable from said sheet feed unit.

Claim 9

A sheet feed apparatus used in an image forming apparatus including means for conveying a sheet fed by feeding means to an image forming section, and means for delivering the sheet processed by said image forming section, comprising: a sheet feed unit as a single unit comprising said feeding means and means for guiding sheet storing means; and sheet storing means comprising means for stacking the sheets and means for conveying the sheet, said conveying means being located in a downstream side of said stacking means, and said sheet storing means being detachable from said sheet feed unit.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said feeding means feeds the sheet in a direction opposite to a direction for mounting said sheet storing means.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said conveying means guides the sheet to said image forming apparatus housing through an opening formed in a bottom portion of a housing of said image forming apparatus.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 7, further including spring means for biasing said stacking means toward said feeding means, and means for biasing said spring means upon mounting of said sheet storing means in said sheet feed unit.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sheet feed unit comprises a cam surface, said sheet storing means comprises a cam follower which is engaged with said cam surface of said sheet feed unit when said sheet storing means is mounted in said sheet feed unit, and said spring means for biasing said stacking means upward has one end coupled to said cam follower and the other end coupled to said stacking means through a transmission member, so that said stacking means is moved vertically upward through said transmission member by a charged force of said spring means which is obtained by engagement of said cam follower with said cam surface when said sheet storing means is mounted in said sheet feed unit.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said sheet storing means comprises a one-sheet separation pawl engaged with a leading end of an uppermost one of the sheets, said one-sheet separation pawl being provided with an engaging portion interlocked with said cam follower, and said stacking means is located in a lowermost position by its own weight when said sheet storing means is not mounted in said sheet feed unit, so that said one-sheet separation pawl is moved upward to an uppermost position from said stacking means through said transmission member, said spring member, and said cam follower.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a maximum distance 1, for inserting said sheet storing means into said sheet feed unit is larger than a size t 2 of said sheet feed unit in a direction for inserting said sheet storing means into said sheet feed unit, and a front surface of said sheet storing means is substantially aligned with a front surface of a housing of said image forming apparatus when said sheet storing means is perfectly inserted and normally mounted into said sheet feed unit.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet fed from said sheet storing means by said feeding means of said sheet feed unit is conveyed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet stored in said sheet storing means.