Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a supporting unit, a feeding unit, a side regulating portion, an air nozzle, and an air supplying unit. The air nozzle is movably provided at the side regulating portion and blows air in the sheet width direction toward at least an uppermost sheet of a sheet bundle supported on a support surface. The air nozzle is positioned at a first nozzle position for blowing the air to a first blowing position when the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at a first sheet position. The air nozzle is positioned at a second nozzle position for blowing the air to a second blowing position below the first blowing position when the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at a second sheet position below the first sheet position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:
 a supporting unit pivotably provided at an apparatus body, configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus body, and having a support surface that supports a sheet in a state where the supporting unit is opened;   a feeding unit configured to feed the sheet supported on the support surface;   a side regulating portion configured to regulate a position of an end portion in a sheet width direction of the sheet supported on the support surface;   an air nozzle movably provided at the side regulating portion and configured to blow air in the sheet width direction toward at least an uppermost sheet of a sheet bundle supported on the support surface; and   an air supplying unit configured to supply the air to the air nozzle,   wherein the air nozzle is configured to be positioned at a first nozzle position for blowing the air to a first blowing position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at a first sheet position, and   wherein the air nozzle is configured to be positioned at a second nozzle position for blowing the air to a second blowing position below the first blowing position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at a second sheet position below the first sheet position.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the supporting unit includes a fixing member, and   wherein the support surface has a fixed region fixed to the fixing member in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the air nozzle is configured to blow the air toward the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the fixed region. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a movement unit configured to move the air nozzle with respect to the side regulating portion; and   a control unit configured to control the movement unit,   wherein the control unit is configured to control the movement unit such that   the air nozzle is positioned at the first nozzle position in the case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the first sheet position, and
 the air nozzle is positioned at the second nozzle position in the case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the second sheet position. 
   
     
     
         5 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the feeding unit is configured to be lifted and lowered according to a position of the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface,
 wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further comprises a first interlocking portion configured to move the air nozzle in conjunction with lifting and lowering of the feeding unit, and 
 wherein the first interlocking portion
 is configured to position the air nozzle at the first nozzle position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the first sheet position and the feeding unit is positioned at a first feeding position, and 
 is configured to position the air nozzle at the second nozzle position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the second sheet position and the feeding unit is positioned at a second feeding position below the first feeding position. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the supporting unit includes a lifting and lowering member configured to be lifted and lowered with respect to the fixing member,   wherein the support surface has a lifting and lowering region that is disposed on the lifting and lowering member, is continuous to the fixed region, and supports the sheet together with the fixed region, and   wherein the lifting and lowering region
 is configured to be positioned at a first lifting and lowering position in a case where a thickness of the sheet bundle supported on the lifting and lowering region is a first thickness, and 
 is configured to be positioned at a second lifting and lowering position above the first lifting and lowering position in a case where the thickness of the sheet bundle supported on the lifting and lowering region is a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. 
   
     
     
         7 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the air nozzle is a fixed region side air nozzle configured to blow the air toward the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the fixed region, and   wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further comprises a lifting and lowering region side air nozzle fixedly supported by the side regulating portion and configured to blow the air in the sheet width direction toward at least the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the lifting and lowering region.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the lifting and lowering region is configured to be lifted and lowered according to a position of the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface,   wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further comprises a second interlocking portion configured to move the air nozzle in conjunction with the lifting and lowering of the lifting and lowering region, and   wherein the second interlocking portion
 is configured to position the air nozzle at the first nozzle position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the first sheet position and the lifting and lowering region is positioned at the first lifting and lowering position, and 
 is configured to position the air nozzle at the second nozzle position in a case where the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is positioned at the second sheet position and the lifting and lowering region is positioned at the second lifting and lowering position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the supporting unit includes a fixing member and a lifting and lowering member configured to be lifted and lowered with respect to the fixing member,   wherein the support surface is entirely formed on the lifting and lowering member, and   wherein the support surface
 is configured to be positioned at a first support position in a case where a thickness of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is a first thickness, and 
 is configured to be positioned at a second support position above the first support position in a case where the thickness of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface is a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. 
   
     
     
         10 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the air supplying unit includes:   a fan supported by the supporting unit and configured to blow the air; and   a coupling duct connecting the fan and the air nozzle, configured to allow the air to flow through the coupling duct, and configured to extend and contract to maintain coupling in a case where a distance between the fan and the air nozzle changes due to movement of the air nozzle.   
     
     
         11 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the side regulating portion has a regulating surface configured to come into contact with an end portion in the sheet width direction of the sheet supported on the support surface, and an opening formed in the regulating surface, and   wherein the air nozzle is exposed from the opening toward the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface.   
     
     
         12 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the air nozzle is configured to be lifted and lowered with respect to the side regulating portion, and   wherein the second nozzle position is positioned below the first nozzle position.   
     
     
         13 . The sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the side regulating portion is a first side regulating portion,   wherein the air nozzle is a first air nozzle, and   wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further comprises:
 a second side regulating portion configured to regulate a position of an end portion, that is opposite to the first side regulating portion in the sheet width direction, of the sheet supported on the support surface; and
 a second air nozzle movably provided at the second side regulating portion and configured to blow the air in the sheet width direction toward at least the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle supported on the support surface. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 the sheet feeding apparatus according to  claim 1 ; and   an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet.