In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a cassette for paper feed configured to contain a tray capable of stacking papers stored in a packaging member of which one end portion is opened, together with the packaging member; a paper feed section configured to contain a pickup roller which picks up the papers stored in the packaging member from the opened end portion of the packaging member; a regulating member configured to regulate that the packaging member is conveyed from the tray of the cassette; and a protrusion configured to be formed and protrude from the regulating member to cover the opened end portion of the packaging member.

In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a cassette for paper feed configured to contain a tray capable of stacking papers stored in a packaging member of which one end portion is opened, together with the packaging member; a paper feed section configured to contain a pickup roller which picks up the papers stored in the packaging member from the opened end portion of the packaging member; a regulating member configured to regulate that the packaging member is conveyed from the tray of the cassette; and a protrusion configured to be formed and protrude from the regulating member to cover the opened end portion of the packaging member.

A sheet storage device includes: an accommodation unit that accommodates a sheet in a manner stacking on a certain surface; a sheet sliding unit that is positioned on a first end side of a sheet accommodated in the accommodation unit and sequentially slides a sheet from a sheet positioned in a lowermost layer; and a supporting unit that is positioned on a second end side opposite to the first end side of a sheet accommodated in the accommodation unit and supports an area around the second end of the sheet in a manner separating from the certain surface by being pressed by a weight of the sheet and an own weight.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes an opening and closing portion including a supporting portion, the opening and closing portion configured to move to a closed position and to an opened position that is a sheet feeding position, a sheet feeding portion, an opening and closing detection portion configured to detect the sheet feeding position, a separating portion configured to blow air toward the plurality of sheets supported on the supporting portion to separate the sheets, and a control portion configured to execute a separating mode of performing an air blowing operation by the separating portion in feeding the sheets by the sheet feeding portion. In the separating mode, the control portion is configured to stop the air blowing operation in a case where movement of the opening and closing portion from the sheet feeding position toward the closed position has been detected by the opening and closing detection portion.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes an opening and closing portion including a supporting portion, the opening and closing portion configured to move to a closed position and to an opened position that is a sheet feeding position, a sheet feeding portion, an opening and closing detection portion configured to detect the sheet feeding position, a separating portion configured to blow air toward the plurality of sheets supported on the supporting portion to separate the sheets, and a control portion configured to execute a separating mode of performing an air blowing operation by the separating portion in feeding the sheets by the sheet feeding portion. In the separating mode, the control portion is configured to stop the air blowing operation in a case where movement of the opening and closing portion from the sheet feeding position toward the closed position has been detected by the opening and closing detection portion.

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first roller, a first guide, a second guide, a second roller, and a third roller. The first guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller and includes a first guide surface and a first edge portion located downstream of the first guide surface in a sheet conveying direction. The second guide, disposed downstream of the first guide, includes a second guide surface and a second edge portion located upstream of the second guide surface. The second roller is disposed downstream of the first roller and above the first roller. The third roller is disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller. When projected on a cut plane orthogonal to an axis of the third roller, at least of a part of the second edge portion overlaps the third roller.

A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first roller, a first guide, a second guide, a second roller, and a third roller. The first guide is configured to guide the sheet conveyed by the first roller and includes a first guide surface and a first edge portion located downstream of the first guide surface in a sheet conveying direction. The second guide, disposed downstream of the first guide, includes a second guide surface and a second edge portion located upstream of the second guide surface. The second roller is disposed downstream of the first roller and above the first roller. The third roller is disposed at a position more proximate to the second guide surface than the second roller. When projected on a cut plane orthogonal to an axis of the third roller, at least of a part of the second edge portion overlaps the third roller.

In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises a cassette for paper feed configured to contain a tray capable of stacking papers stored in a packaging member of which one end portion is opened, together with the packaging member; a paper feed section configured to contain a pickup roller which picks up the papers stored in the packaging member from the opened end portion of the packaging member; a regulating member configured to regulate that the packaging member is conveyed from the tray of the cassette; and a protrusion configured to be formed and protrude from the regulating member to cover the opened end portion of the packaging member.