Sheet-feeding device and image-forming apparatus

Abstract

A sheet-feeding device and an image-forming apparatus incorporating the same. The sheet-feeding device includes a device body, a sheet storage unit that is detachably mounted in the device body, a tray for mounting sheets, the tray being provided at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down, an air blower for blowing air laterally to the sheets mounted on the tray and floating the sheets, and a sucking and conveying unit for sucking and conveying the sheets floated by the air blower. The sheet storage unit is provided with a sheet regulation member so as to regulate rear ends of the sheets mounted on the tray. An upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable downward.

1 . A sheet-feeding device comprising:
 a device body;   a sheet storage unit detachably mounted in the device body;   a tray configured to support sheets, the tray being disposed at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down;   an air blower configured to blow air to an end portion of the sheets supported by the tray so as to loosen the sheets;   a conveying unit configured to convey the sheets supported by the tray; and   a sheet regulation member disposed at the sheet storage unit and regulating the end portion of the sheets supported by the tray,   wherein an upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet-feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveying unit includes a sucking and conveying unit configured to suck and convey sheets that are floated by the air blown from the air blower. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet-feeding device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sheet regulation member includes a regulation member body and a retraction member disposed at an upper portion of the regulation member body and being retractable downward, and   the sheet storage unit is mounted in the device body while the retraction member retracts downward by a member disposed at the device body.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet-feeding device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a resilient member, wherein the retraction member is slidably provided at the regulation member body, and is biased in a protruding direction by the resilient member. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet-feeding device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a resilient member, wherein the retraction member is swingably provided at the regulation member body, and is biased in a protruding direction by the resilient member. 
     
     
         6 . An image-forming apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus body;   a sheet storage unit detachably mounted in the apparatus body;   a tray configured to support sheets, the tray being disposed at the sheet storage unit and being movable up and down;   an air blower configured to blow air to an end portion of the sheets supported by the tray so as to loosen the sheets;   a conveying unit configured to convey the sheets supported by the tray;   a sheet regulation member disposed at the sheet storage unit and regulating the end portion of the sheets supported by the tray; and   an image-forming unit configured to form an image on the sheets conveyed by the conveying unit,   wherein an upper end of the sheet regulation member is retractable.   
     
     
         7 . The image-forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the sheet regulation member includes a regulation member body and a retraction member disposed at an upper portion of the regulation member body and being retractable downward, and   the sheet storage unit is mounted in the device body while the retraction member retracts downward by a member disposed at the device body.