Sheet feed device

Abstract

A sheet feed device is provided which can feed sheets with good accuracy even if the sheets are formed with a crease near the front or rear end of the sheet. A plurality of roller units 3 each having an upper feed roller 1 and a lower feed roller 2 are arranged perpendicularly to the sheet feed direction with spaces left therebetween, and adjacent ones of the roller units 3 are offset with respect to the sheet feed direction. Upper feed roller driving means for rotating the upper feed rollers 1 of the roller units simultaneously and lower feed roller driving means for rotating the lower feed rollers 2 of the roller units simultaneously are provided to feed sheets 5 with each sheet 5 clamped between the upper feed rollers 1 and the lower feed rollers 2 which are rotating.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said upper feed roller driving means comprises an upper driving shaft provided parallel to said upper feed rollers and a torque transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said upper driving shaft to said upper feed rollers. 
   
   
       3 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of roller units are arranged in a staggered fashion with alternate ones of said roller units offset in the sheet feed direction and said upper driving shaft is arranged over an intermediate point between said upper feed rollers on the upstream side and said upper feed rollers on the downstream side. 
   
   
       4 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said lower feed roller driving means comprises a lower driving shaft provided parallel to said lower feed rollers and a torque transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said lower driving shaft to said lower feed rollers. 
   
   
       5 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said plurality of roller units are arranged in a staggered fashion with alternate ones of said roller units offset in the sheet feed direction and said lower driving shaft is arranged under an intermediate point between said lower feed rollers on the upstream side and said lower feed rollers on the downstream side. 
   
   
       6 . A sheet feed device comprising a plurality of roller units each having an upper feed roller and a lower feed roller and arranged in a perpendicular direction to the sheet feed direction with spaces left therebetween, adjacent ones of said roller units being offset from each other with respect to the sheet feed direction, upper feed roller driving means for rotating said upper feed rollers of said plurality of roller units simultaneously, lower feed roller driving means for rotating said lower feed rollers of said plurality of roller units simultaneously, and an upper stay vertically movably provided for supporting said upper feed rollers and said upper roller driving means together, said upper stay being vertically movable to adjust the gap between said upper feed rollers and said lower feed rollers, thereby feeding the sheets with each sheet clamped between said upper feed rollers and said lower feed rollers which are rotating. 
   
   
       7 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said lower feed roller driving means comprises a lower driving shaft provided parallel to said lower feed rollers and a torque transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said lower driving shaft to said lower feed rollers. 
   
   
       8 . The sheet feed device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said lower feed roller driving means comprises a lower driving shaft provided parallel to said lower feed rollers and a torque transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said lower driving shaft to said lower feed rollers.