Paper feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A paper feeding apparatus includes a rack that stores sheets in a vertically placed state, a first conveying roller that conveys a sheet extracted from the rack in a first direction in an erected state, a scraper that scrapes a surface of the sheet conveyed in the erected state by the first conveying roller, and a second conveying roller that conveys the sheet, the surface of which is scraped by the scraper, in a second direction different from the first direction.

1 . A paper feeding apparatus comprising:
 a rack that stores sheets in a vertically placed state;   a first conveying roller that conveys a sheet extracted from the rack in a first direction in an erected state;   a scraper that scrapes a surface of the sheet conveyed in the erected state by the first conveying roller; and   a second conveying roller that conveys the sheet, the surface of which is scraped by the scraper, in a second direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is a blade brought into contact with the surface of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying roller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is a pair of blades that hold the sheet conveyed by the first conveying roller. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is a cleaning member that cleans the surface of the sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is a rectifying member that rectifies the sheet to a flat state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tray set below a position where the scraper scrapes the surface of the sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a guide that guides the sheet, which is conveyed by the first conveying roller in the erected state and the surface of which is scraped by the scraper, to a stop position where the sheet conveyance in the first direction is stopped, wherein
 the second conveying roller conveys the sheet stopped in the stop position in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide is a pair of plates. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide is a pair of lattices. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide is a combination of one plate and one lattice. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an assist roller that conveys the sheet stopped in the stop position to the second conveying roller. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the rack that supports the sheets in the vertically placed state is inclined to be lower on an extracting side of the stored sheets. 
     
     
         13 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a rack that stores sheets in a vertically placed state;   a first conveying roller that conveys a sheet extracted from the rack in a first direction in an erected state;   a scraper that scrapes the surface of the sheet conveyed in the erected state by the first conveying roller;   a second conveying roller that conveys the sheet, the surface of which is scraped by the scraper, in a second direction different from the first direction; and   a printer that forms an image on the sheet conveyed by the second conveying roller.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a cassette that accumulates the sheet conveyed by the second conveying roller, wherein
 the printer forms an image on the sheet accumulated in the cassette.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising an erasing mechanism that erases an image on the sheet conveyed by the second conveying roller, wherein
 the printer forms an image on the sheet, the image on which is erased by the erasing mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 an erasing mechanism that erases an image on the sheet conveyed by the second conveying roller; and   a cassette that accumulates the sheet, the image on which is erased by the erasing mechanism, wherein   the printer forms an image on the sheet accumulated in the cassette.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a paper feeding unit that houses the rack, the first conveying roller, the scraper, and the second conveying roller and has a hatch for accessing the rack; and   a printer unit that is connected to the paper feeding unit and houses the printer.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a moving mechanism that moves the rack to an outside of the paper feeding unit in a state in which the hatch is opened. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the moving mechanism moves the rack to a front surface of the paper feeding unit in a state in which the hatch is opened. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the moving mechanism moves the rack to a surface on an opposite side of a connection surface with the printer unit in the paper feeding unit in the state in which the hatch is opened. 
     
     
         21 . An image forming method comprising:
 storing sheets in a rack in a vertically placed state;   conveying a sheet extracted from the rack in a first direction in an erected state;   scraping the surface of the sheet conveyed in the erected state;   conveying the sheet, the surface of which is scraped, in a second direction different from the first direction; and   forming an image on the sheet conveyed in the second direction.