Sheet feeding device with concave suction belt

1. A sheet feeding device comprising:

a sheet mounting tray that holds sheets;

a chamber that has an opening formed therein and that generates a negative pressure thereinside;

a suction belt that suctions a first sheet from the sheets and conveys the first sheet and that is configured to be rotatable along with the chamber and deformable into a concave shape along with the opening;

a regulating member that is disposed inside the opening to regulate a concaving amount of the suction belt;

a sheet gate that is disposed in a sheet feeding passage so as to be opposed to the suction belt and that is configured to retreat when contacted by the suction belt; and

a nozzle that includes:

first blowing ports that are disposed in both end portions with respect to the suction belt to blow air toward the sheets; and

a second blowing port that is disposed in a central portion with respect to the suction belt to blow air toward the suction belt.

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the sheet gate includes a claw that is configured to move when contacted by the suction belt, and

wherein the claw is positioned so that a gap is formed between the claw and the suction belt where deformed into the concave shape to pass the first sheet therethrough.

3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the sheet gate is configured to be adjustable in a vertical direction to change a distance between the sheet gate and the suction belt.

4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the suction belt is controlled to rotate in a reverse direction of a sheet feeding direction after a printing process is stopped.

5. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the suction belt has holes punched therein, and

wherein an area of the opening is larger than a total area of the holes.