Image forming apparatus, and sheet feeding device

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material, and a feeder that feeds the recording material to the image forming section, wherein the feeder includes a recording material accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials, a suction device that sucks air, forming members that are provided with an opening formed close to the recording materials accommodated in the recording material accommodating unit, and form a negative-pressure space, which has negative pressure due to suction by the suction device, together with the recording material facing the opening, partition members that include edge portions formed close to the opening, are formed so as to extend from the edge portions toward the inside of the negative-pressure space, and partition the negative-pressure space into two or more spaces, and feeding members that feed the recording material pulled toward the forming members when the negative-pressure space has negative pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material; and   a feeder that feeds the recording material to the image forming section,   wherein the feeder includes
 a recording material accommodating unit that accommodates recording materials, 
 a suction device that sucks air, 
 forming members that are provided with an opening formed close to the recording materials accommodated in the recording material accommodating unit, and form a negative-pressure space, which has negative pressure due to suction performed by the suction device, together with the recording material positioned at a position facing the opening, 
 partition members that include edge portions formed close to the opening, are formed so as to extend from the edge portions toward the inside of the negative-pressure space, and partition the negative-pressure space into two or more spaces, and 
 feeding members that feed the recording material pulled toward the forming members when the negative-pressure space has negative pressure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support member, which is provided with suction ports formed close to the forming members, sucks air present in the negative-pressure space through the suction ports when air present in the support member is discharged by the suction device, and supports the forming members, provided on the side opposite to the recording material accommodating unit with the forming members interposed therebetween,   
       wherein
 the forming members are supported by the support member, are provided so as to be movable toward the support member, and are moved toward the support member by being pressed by the recording material that is moved toward the support member as air present in the negative-pressure space is sucked by the support member, and 
 the partition members are also supported by the support member, are provided so as to be movable toward the support member, and are moved toward the support member by being pressed by the recording material that is moved toward the support member as air present in the negative-pressure space is sucked by the support member. 
 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the partition members are received in the support member when being moved toward the support member by being pressed by the recording material.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein gaps are formed between an inner surface of the support member and opposite-side edge portions, which are positioned on the side opposite to the edge portions, of the partition members when the partition members are received in the support member.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the partition members are formed so as to extend from the edge portions toward the inside of the negative-pressure space, and are formed in the shape of a plate, and   through holes, which pass through the partition members in the thickness direction of the partition member, are formed at portions, which are received in the support member, of the partition members.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the partition members are formed so as to extend from the edge portions toward the inside of the negative-pressure space, and are formed in the shape of a plate, and   through holes, which pass through the partition members in the thickness direction of the partition member, are formed at portions, which are received in the support member, of the partition members.   
     
     
         7 . A sheet feeding device comprising:
 a sheet accommodating unit that accommodates sheets;   a suction device that sucks air;   forming members that are provided with an opening formed close to the sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating unit, and form a negative-pressure space, which has negative pressure due to suction performed by the suction device, together with the sheet positioned at a position facing the opening;   partition members that includes edge portions formed close to the opening, are formed so as to extend from the edge portions toward the inside of the negative-pressure space, and partition the negative-pressure space into two or more spaces; and   feeding members that feed the sheet pulled toward the forming members when the negative-pressure space has negative pressure.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a support member, which is provided with suction ports formed close to the forming members, sucks air present in the negative-pressure space through the suction ports when air present in the support member is discharged by the suction device, and supports the forming members, provided on the side opposite to the sheet accommodating unit with the forming members interposed therebetween,   
       wherein
 the forming members are supported by the support member, are provided so as to be movable toward the support member, and are moved toward the support member by being pressed by the sheet that is moved toward the support member as air present in the negative-pressure space is sucked by the support member, and 
 the partition members are supported by the support member, are provided so as to be rotatable about predetermined portions thereof, and are rotated so as to approach the support member by being pressed by the sheet that is moved toward the support member as air present in the negative-pressure space is sucked by the support member. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein recesses in which the partition members rotated so as to approach the support member are received are formed on a surface, on which the partition members are mounted, of the support member.   
     
     
         10 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein a plurality of the suction ports of the support member are formed so that air is sucked from each of the two or more spaces partitioned by the partition members, and   the sheet feeding device further comprises a closing member that closes the suction ports formed so as to correspond to any space of the two or more spaces.   
     
     
         11 . The sheet feeding device according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein a plurality of the suction ports of the support member are formed so that air is sucked from each of the two or more spaces partitioned by the partition members, and   the sheet feeding device further comprises a closing member that closes the suction ports formed so as to correspond to any space of the two or more spaces.