Feed device, and image reader and image forming apparatus incorporating the same

Abstract

A feed device feeds a sheet of a recording medium, and includes a body, a support shaft, and a pickup mechanism. The pickup mechanism contacts and picks up the sheet, and includes a swingable arm and a pickup unit. The swingable arm is rotatably mounted on a support shaft provided in the body of the feed device, and includes a fulcrum shaft. The pickup unit is rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft of the swingable arm, and includes an endless elastic belt, a first pulley, a supporter, and a second pulley.

1 . A feed device for feeding a sheet of recording media comprising:
 a body, from which the feed device is detachably attachable;   a support shaft provided in the body; and   a pickup mechanism to contact and pick up the sheet, the pickup mechanism comprising:
 a swingable arm including a fulcrum shaft, rotatably mounted on the support shaft provided in the body of the feed device; and 
 a pickup unit rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft of the swingable arm, the pickup unit comprising:
 an endless elastic belt, an outer circumferential surface of which contacts the recording media; 
 a first pulley rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft; 
 a supporter to rotate around the fulcrum shaft and slidable along an outer circumference of the first pulley; and 
 a second pulley supported by the supporter, 
 the belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley, and 
 the belt having an inner circumference smaller than a circumferential length of the first pulley, the supporter, and the second pulley. 
 
   
   
   
       2 . The feed device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the supporter of the pickup unit comprises nails extending from both lateral ends of the supporter,   wherein the pickup mechanism further comprises stoppers provided at both lateral ends of the first pulley and the second pulley to oppose the nails, and   wherein when the nails contact the stopper, the first pulley and the second pulley are disposed substantially parallel to each other.   
   
   
       3 . The feed device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the first and the second pulleys comprises a collar provided at both ends of the pulley to prevent deviation of the elastic belt from a predetermined position,   wherein both sides of the pulley contacting the elastic belt has an outer diameter smaller than that of a central portion of the pulley, and   wherein the supporter comprises a sliding surface having a width equal to that of the both sides of the pulley.   
   
   
       4 . The feed device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pulley comprises a drive input gear, and   the second pulley is provided upstream from the first pulley in a direction of conveyance of the recording media.   
   
   
       5 . The feed device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of feeding members,
 wherein at least one of the plurality of feeding members comprises the pickup mechanism.   
   
   
       6 . An image reader comprising a feed device for feeding a sheet of recording media, the feed device comprising:
 a body, from which the feed device is detachably attachable;   a support shaft provided in the body; and   a pickup mechanism to contact and pick up the sheet, the pickup mechanism comprising:
 a swingable arm including a fulcrum shaft, rotatably mounted on the support shaft provided in the body of the feed device; and 
 a pickup unit rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft of the swingable arm, the pickup unit comprising:
 an endless elastic belt, an outer circumferential surface of which contacts the recording media; 
 a first pulley rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft; 
 a supporter to rotate around the fulcrum shaft and slidable along an outer circumference of the first pulley; and 
 a second pulley supported by the supporter, 
 the belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley, and 
 the belt having an inner circumference smaller than a circumferential length of the first pulley, the supporter, and the second pulley. 
 
   
   
   
       7 . An image forming apparatus comprising a feed device for feeding a sheet of recording media, the feed device comprising:
 a body, from which the feed device is detachably attachable;   a support shaft provided in the body; and   a pickup mechanism to contact and pick up the sheet, the pickup mechanism comprising:
 a swingable arm including a fulcrum shaft, rotatably mounted on the support shaft provided in the body of the feed device; and 
 a pickup unit rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft of the swingable arm, the pickup unit comprising:
 an endless elastic belt, an outer circumferential surface of which contacts the recording media; 
 a first pulley rotatably attached to the fulcrum shaft; 
 a supporter to rotate around the fulcrum shaft and slidable along an outer circumference of the first pulley; and 
 a second pulley supported by the supporter, 
 the belt extended around the first pulley and the second pulley, and 
 the belt having an inner circumference smaller than a circumferential length of the first pulley, the supporter, and the second pulley. 
 
   
   
   
       8 . An image forming apparatus including the image reader according to  claim 6 . 
   
   
       9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus is a multifunction printer having a function of one of a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, and an inkjet recording device.   
   
   
       10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus is a multifunction printer having at least two functions of a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, and an inkjet recording device.