Sheet feed device

Claim 2

A sheet feed device for a recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in spaced relation along a width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; and a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein each said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of said first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said guide members are displaceable relative to a support member supporting said guide members.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1, wherein a support member supporting said guide members is displaceable.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of each said guide member upstream of said first guide surface thereof with respect to the sheet feeding direction is disposed inwardly of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, wherein each said second guide surface is flat.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1, wherein each said second guide surface is slightly curved.

Claim 8

A sheet feed device for a recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in spaced relation along a width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein each said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and resilient means opposed to the peripheries of said rotatable members and said first guide surfaces for urging the sheet against the peripheries of said rotating members and said first guide surfaces.

Claim 9

A sheet feed device for a recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in spaced relation along a width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein each said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and resilient means opposed to the peripheries of said rotatable members and said first guide surfaces for urging the sheet against the peripheries of said rotating members and said first guide surfaces.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 7, wherein said guide members are displaceable relative to a support member supporting said guide members.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 7, wherein a support member supporting said guide members is displaceable.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 7, wherein said resilient means extends the width of the sheet feed path.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 7, wherein said resilient means is arranged at two points, upstream and downstream of said first guide surfaces with respect to the sheet feeding direction.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 7, wherein a portion of each said guide member upstream of said first guide surface thereof with respect to the sheet feeding direction is disposed inwardly of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 7, wherein each said second guide surface is flat.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 7, wherein each said second guide surface is slightly curved.

Claim 17

A sheet feed device for a recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in a spaced relation along a width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein each said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of said rotatable members at the position of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and support means displaceably supporting said guide members to enable adjustment of the position of said guide members with respect to said rotatable members.

Claim 18

A sheet feed device for a recording apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in a spaced relation along a width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein each said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of said rotatable members at the position of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and support means displaceably supporting said guide members to enable adjustment of the position of said guide members with respect to said rotatable members.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 15, wherein each said second guide surface is flat.

Claim 20

A device according to claim 15, wherein each said second guide surface is slightly curved.

Claim 21

A device according to claim 15, wherein said guide members are removably mounted on said support means.

Claim 22

A device according to claim 15, wherein said guide members are integrally fixed with said support means.

Claim 23

A recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet fed by a sheet feed device, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in a spaced relation along the width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and recording means for recording an image corresponding to information on the sheet, said recording means being disposed in a facing relation with said second guide surfaces.

Claim 24

A recording apparatus for recording an image on a sheet fed by a sheet feed device, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members arranged in a spaced relation along the width of a sheet feed path for feeding a sheet in a feeding direction; a plurality of guide members separated and disposed between said rotatable members, each said guide member having first and second guide surfaces for guiding the sheet, wherein said first guide surface is disposed to substantially coincide with a predetermined extent of the peripheries of said rotatable members with respect to the sheet feed path and each said second guide surface extends continuously from the corresponding said first guide surface downstream of first guide surface with respect to the sheet feeding direction to provide a recording area where the recording apparatus can record on the sheet supported by said second guide surfaces; and recording means for recording an image corresponding to information on the sheet, said recording means being disposed in a facing relation with said second guide surfaces.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each said second guide surface is flat.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each said second guide surface is slightly curved.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said recording means comprises a recording head for ejecting liquid ink.