A paper guide mechanism that facilitates operation without easily allowing deviation of a wide guide unit. In a paper guide mechanism (10), a position-holding member (13) holds the widthwise position of a widthwise moving member (12) by bringing a first fixing-side locking section (11e) and a first moving-side locking section (13d) into contact with each other on a surface perpendicular to a direction of movement of the widthwise moving member (12) even in a case in which the widthwise moving member (12) is about to move in any direction along the width direction. The position-holding member (13) has a movement-restricting section (13e). The movement-restricting section (13e) restricts the movement of the position-holding member (13) in an orientation in which the first fixing-side locking section (11e) and the first moving-side locking section (13d) are moved away from each other by bringing the position-holding member (13) into contact with a second surface of a supporting member (11) on a side opposite to a first surface.

A paper guide mechanism that facilitates operation without easily allowing deviation of a wide guide unit. In a paper guide mechanism (10), a position-holding member (13) holds the widthwise position of a widthwise moving member (12) by bringing a first fixing-side locking section (11e) and a first moving-side locking section (13d) into contact with each other on a surface perpendicular to a direction of movement of the widthwise moving member (12) even in a case in which the widthwise moving member (12) is about to move in any direction along the width direction. The position-holding member (13) has a movement-restricting section (13e). The movement-restricting section (13e) restricts the movement of the position-holding member (13) in an orientation in which the first fixing-side locking section (11e) and the first moving-side locking section (13d) are moved away from each other by bringing the position-holding member (13) into contact with a second surface of a supporting member (11) on a side opposite to a first surface.

This paper guiding mechanism (110) includes a base member (1) including a placing surface (11) for placing papers (200) thereon and a base-side lock portion (12) and a paper guide member (2), while the paper guide member includes a paper aligning portion (21) coming into contact with the papers, a guide-side lock portion (22) locked to the base-side lock portion, and a lever portion (23) canceling a locked state of the guide-side lock portion with respect to the base-side lock portion and maintaining an unlocked state when the paper aligning portion is slidingly moved.

This paper guiding mechanism (110) includes a base member (1) including a placing surface (11) for placing papers (200) thereon and a base-side lock portion (12) and a paper guide member (2), while the paper guide member includes a paper aligning portion (21) coming into contact with the papers, a guide-side lock portion (22) locked to the base-side lock portion, and a lever portion (23) canceling a locked state of the guide-side lock portion with respect to the base-side lock portion and maintaining an unlocked state when the paper aligning portion is slidingly moved.

A sheet feeder includes a manual feeding tray to stack a sheet, the tray being openable and closable to a main body by rotation about a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction; a sheet width regulating member provided in the manual feeding tray to regulate a side edge of the sheet in a sheet width direction and to have a variable regulating width; an auxiliary tray that does not move with an opening/closing operation of the manual feeding tray and stacks the sheet with the manual feeding tray; a sheet width regulating member provided in the auxiliary tray to regulate the side edge of the sheet and to have a variable regulating width; a link member interlocking the regulating members; and a feeding roller provided in the main body to individually feed the sheet stacked over the manual feeding tray and the auxiliary tray.

A sheet feeder includes a manual feeding tray to stack a sheet, the tray being openable and closable to a main body by rotation about a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction; a sheet width regulating member provided in the manual feeding tray to regulate a side edge of the sheet in a sheet width direction and to have a variable regulating width; an auxiliary tray that does not move with an opening/closing operation of the manual feeding tray and stacks the sheet with the manual feeding tray; a sheet width regulating member provided in the auxiliary tray to regulate the side edge of the sheet and to have a variable regulating width; a link member interlocking the regulating members; and a feeding roller provided in the main body to individually feed the sheet stacked over the manual feeding tray and the auxiliary tray.

A paper feed tray includes a cassette, a regulation plate which is slidably attached to the cassette, a cover provided to the regulation plate, a locking portion which is covered with the cover and engages with the cassette to fix a position of the regulation plate, and a lever. The lever includes a coupling portion coupled with the locking portion, a depression portion configured to be depressed toward one side in a direction of sliding of the regulation plate, and an intermediate portion provided between the coupling portion and the depression portion. The lever operates the locking portion to be disengaged from the cassette upon the depression portion being depressed toward the one side. The cover includes an extension extending while facing the intermediate portion. A space, which is open at a tip to which the extension extends, is formed between the extension and the intermediate portion.

A paper feed tray includes a cassette, a regulation plate which is slidably attached to the cassette, a cover provided to the regulation plate, a locking portion which is covered with the cover and engages with the cassette to fix a position of the regulation plate, and a lever. The lever includes a coupling portion coupled with the locking portion, a depression portion configured to be depressed toward one side in a direction of sliding of the regulation plate, and an intermediate portion provided between the coupling portion and the depression portion. The lever operates the locking portion to be disengaged from the cassette upon the depression portion being depressed toward the one side. The cover includes an extension extending while facing the intermediate portion. A space, which is open at a tip to which the extension extends, is formed between the extension and the intermediate portion.

A paper feeding device of an embodiment includes a paper feed cassette, an alignment component, a fan, and a fan guiding duct component. A paper bundle in which a plurality of sheets of paper are stacked can be placed on the paper feed cassette. The alignment component can align the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan is connected to the alignment component. The fan can generate airflow. The fan guiding duct component is connected to the alignment component. The fan guiding duct component is positioned above the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan guiding duct component generates a negative pressure between the fan guiding duct component and an uppermost sheet of paper in the paper bundle due to the airflow from the fan.

A paper feeding device of an embodiment includes a paper feed cassette, an alignment component, a fan, and a fan guiding duct component. A paper bundle in which a plurality of sheets of paper are stacked can be placed on the paper feed cassette. The alignment component can align the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan is connected to the alignment component. The fan can generate airflow. The fan guiding duct component is connected to the alignment component. The fan guiding duct component is positioned above the paper bundle placed on the paper feed cassette. The fan guiding duct component generates a negative pressure between the fan guiding duct component and an uppermost sheet of paper in the paper bundle due to the airflow from the fan.