A sheet storage device includes a sheet positioning member that is movable in a first direction, and positions a sheet by abutting on a side end portion of the sheet at a side in the first direction. The sheet positioning member includes a moving body, an abutting portion, a first and a second biasing member, and a bias removing portion. The moving body is configured to move in the first direction. The abutting portion is supported by the moving body to be movable in the first direction and configured to abut on the side end portion when the sheet positioning member positions the sheet. The first biasing member biases the abutting portion toward the side end portion. The second biasing member biases the abutting portion against a biasing force of the first biasing member. The bias removing portion removes a bias applied by the second biasing member.

A sheet storage device includes a sheet positioning member that is movable in a first direction, and positions a sheet by abutting on a side end portion of the sheet at a side in the first direction. The sheet positioning member includes a moving body, an abutting portion, a first and a second biasing member, and a bias removing portion. The moving body is configured to move in the first direction. The abutting portion is supported by the moving body to be movable in the first direction and configured to abut on the side end portion when the sheet positioning member positions the sheet. The first biasing member biases the abutting portion toward the side end portion. The second biasing member biases the abutting portion against a biasing force of the first biasing member. The bias removing portion removes a bias applied by the second biasing member.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a lift plate, an actuating segment, driving unit, a sheet feeding portion, a first detecting portion, a remaining amount detection portion. The remaining amount detection portion includes a detection piece, a link mechanism, a second detecting portion, a controller. The link mechanism couples together the driving shaft and the detection piece at a coupling position attained by pivoting the lift plate through a predetermined angle from a lower limit position in rotation direction, so as to let the driving shaft and the detection piece rotate together. The second detecting portion senses whether or not the detection piece is present. The controller determines the remaining quantity level of the stacked sheets according to whether or not the second detecting portion is detecting the detection piece being present.

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion, a lift plate, an actuating segment, driving unit, a sheet feeding portion, a first detecting portion, a remaining amount detection portion. The remaining amount detection portion includes a detection piece, a link mechanism, a second detecting portion, a controller. The link mechanism couples together the driving shaft and the detection piece at a coupling position attained by pivoting the lift plate through a predetermined angle from a lower limit position in rotation direction, so as to let the driving shaft and the detection piece rotate together. The second detecting portion senses whether or not the detection piece is present. The controller determines the remaining quantity level of the stacked sheets according to whether or not the second detecting portion is detecting the detection piece being present.

According to one embodiment, a manual sheet feeding device includes a pressure plate, a first displacement member, a first input member, a second displacement member, a second input member, a coupling member, a restricting member, and an elastic member. The first displacement member displaces the plate from a first side to a pressure and a release position. The first input member displaces the first displacement member to a first and a second position. The second displacement member displaces the plate from a second side to the pressure and the release position. The second input member displaces the second displacement member to a third and a fourth position. The coupling member gives the second input member a second displacement amount larger than a first displacement amount. The restricting member restricts a displacement amount of the second input member. The elastic member elastically deforms when the amount of displacement is restricted.

According to one embodiment, a manual sheet feeding device includes a pressure plate, a first displacement member, a first input member, a second displacement member, a second input member, a coupling member, a restricting member, and an elastic member. The first displacement member displaces the plate from a first side to a pressure and a release position. The first input member displaces the first displacement member to a first and a second position. The second displacement member displaces the plate from a second side to the pressure and the release position. The second input member displaces the second displacement member to a third and a fourth position. The coupling member gives the second input member a second displacement amount larger than a first displacement amount. The restricting member restricts a displacement amount of the second input member. The elastic member elastically deforms when the amount of displacement is restricted.

A feeding device includes a receptacle, a conveyor, an elastic member, and a load adjuster. The receptacle is vertically movable and holds a stack of sheets. The conveyor feeds an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle in a feeding direction in which a sheet of the stack of sheets is fed. The elastic member biases the receptacle to press the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle against the conveyor. At least when a height of the stack of sheets on the receptacle is equal to or greater than a given value, the load adjuster applies a reduced magnitude of load downward to the stack of sheets on the receptacle in response to a decrease in the height of the stack of sheets.

A feeding device includes a receptacle, a conveyor, an elastic member, and a load adjuster. The receptacle is vertically movable and holds a stack of sheets. The conveyor feeds an uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle in a feeding direction in which a sheet of the stack of sheets is fed. The elastic member biases the receptacle to press the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the receptacle against the conveyor. At least when a height of the stack of sheets on the receptacle is equal to or greater than a given value, the load adjuster applies a reduced magnitude of load downward to the stack of sheets on the receptacle in response to a decrease in the height of the stack of sheets.

A sheet feeding device includes a storage, a discharger, an angle adjuster, and an urging body. The storage stores a sheet bundle. The discharger contacts and discharge an uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle from the storage in a sheet conveying direction in which the uppermost sheet is conveyed. The angle adjuster changes an angle according to a remaining amount of the sheet bundle in the storage. The urging body urges a trailing end of the uppermost sheet in the sheet conveying direction toward the discharger in stages according to the remaining amount.

A sheet feeding device includes a storage, a discharger, an angle adjuster, and an urging body. The storage stores a sheet bundle. The discharger contacts and discharge an uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle from the storage in a sheet conveying direction in which the uppermost sheet is conveyed. The angle adjuster changes an angle according to a remaining amount of the sheet bundle in the storage. The urging body urges a trailing end of the uppermost sheet in the sheet conveying direction toward the discharger in stages according to the remaining amount.