Abstract:
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes first and second conveyance paths that eventually merge together. A guide member pair constituting the first conveyance path includes a second path guide member disposed on the second conveyance path side among the guide member pair and having a straight portion and a curved portion provided continuously downstream of the straight portion. A downstream end portion of the guide member is positioned in a merging portion of the first and second conveyance paths. The straight portion includes a plurality of ribs and a slope portion formed thereon. The plurality of ribs project perpendicularly from a base portion and are parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. The slope portion is provided between two of the plurality of ribs adjacent to each other and is inclined from the base portion toward the ridges of the plurality of ribs.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a feeding portion configured to feed the sheet, a swing unit configured to swingably support the feeding portion between a feed position and a separation position, a swing shaft configured to swingably support the swing unit, an urging portion configured to urge the swing unit toward the feed position, and a holding portion configured to hold the swing unit at the separation position against an urging force of the urging portion. The swing unit includes a first and second bearing portions configured to slidingly support the swing shaft, a metal member configured to hold the first and second bearing portions, and a resin member including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet supporting portion to support a sheet, a feeding portion to feed the sheet, a swing unit to swingably support the feeding portion between a feed position and a separation position, a swing shaft to swingably support the swing unit, an urging portion to urge the swing unit toward the feed position, and a holding portion to hold the swing unit at the separation position against an urging force of the urging portion. The swing unit includes first and second bearing portions to slidingly support the swing shaft, a metal member to hold the first and second bearing portions, and a resin member including a guide surface to guide the sheet fed by the feeding portion.
Abstract:
An image forming apparatus capable of selectively discharging a sheet having an image formed with toner on one surface thereof and a sheet having images formed with toner on both surfaces thereof includes a fixing unit configured to fix a toner image on a sheet, a sheet stacking portion configured to stack sheets each having the toner image fixed thereon, and a control portion configured to control a maximum sheet stacking amount of sheets stacked in the sheet stacking portion. The control portion controls the maximum sheet stacking amount set when sheets, at least one of which has the toner images formed on both surfaces thereof, are stacked to be smaller than the maximum sheet stacking amount set when sheets each having the toner image formed on one surface thereof are stacked.
Abstract:
In a conveyance operation, a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted against a second conveyance member in a stopped state while a first drive source is driving a first conveyance member at the first speed, and then a second drive source starts to drive the second conveyance member with a target of a second speed while the first drive source is continuously driving the first conveyance member. A speed change processing is executed during the conveyance operation, such that the first drive source changes the first conveyance member from the first speed to a third speed that is smaller than the second speed before the second conveyance member reaches the second speed, and then changes the first conveyance member from the third speed to the second speed.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding unit includes a supporting member configured to rotatably support a rotary feeding member, a first retaining member configured to push the supporting member upward from the underside to retain the rotary feeding member at a waiting position, and a second retaining member protruding on the underside of the supporting member when the first retaining member retains the supporting member. The retention of the supporting member by the first retaining member is released in association with the mounting of a sheet storage portion in the mounting position, and then the retention of the supporting member by the second retaining member is released.
Abstract:
A guide path branched downward from a conveyance path for guiding a sheet having a toner image fixed thereon to a sheet discharge tray, a switchback path, and a inversed discharge path guide the sheet once, and then guide the sheet to the sheet discharge tray with its front and back surfaces and its leading and trailing edges in a sheet conveyance direction reversed. A fan supplies air between a sheet discharged by a sheet discharge roller and a sheet already discharged onto the sheet discharge tray from a supply opening provided below the sheet discharge roller. A control portion for controlling a blowing operation of the fan selectively operates the fan when discharging the sheet after passing the sheet through the guide path, the switchback path, and the inversed discharge path.
Abstract:
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes first and second conveyance paths that eventually merge together. A guide member pair constituting the first conveyance path includes a second path guide member disposed on the second conveyance path side among the guide member pair and having a straight portion and a curved portion provided continuously downstream of the straight portion. A downstream end portion of the guide member is positioned in a merging portion of the first and second conveyance paths. The straight portion includes a plurality of ribs and a slope portion formed thereon. The plurality of ribs project perpendicularly from a base portion and are parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. The slope portion is provided between two of the plurality of ribs adjacent to each other and is inclined from the base portion toward the ridges of the plurality of ribs.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding unit includes a supporting member configured to rotatably support a rotary feeding member, a first retaining member configured to push the supporting member upward from the underside to retain the rotary feeding member at a waiting position, and a second retaining member protruding on the underside of the supporting member when the first retaining member retains the supporting member. The retention of the supporting member by the first retaining member is released in association with the mounting of a sheet storage portion in the mounting position, and then the retention of the supporting member by the second retaining member is released.
Abstract:
A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can reliably feed even sheets having a non-uniform thickness to prevent excessive stacking.An auxiliary tray 1 is swingably provided on the upper surface of a tray 2 which is provided in a cassette body 3a to be lifted and lowered and stacks sheets thereon. When the sheets are stacked, a swing regulating portion 12 regulates the swing of the auxiliary tray 1 when the tray 2 is in a sheet stacking position and releases the regulation of the swing of the auxiliary tray 1 when the tray 2 is lifted.