JP5391881B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic or ink jet recording type printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multi-function machine having at least two of these functions, on both sides of a recording medium such as recording paper. The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus capable of forming the image. More specifically, the reversal transport path for forming an image on both sides of the recording medium is built in the apparatus, while maintaining good operability and increasing the height and depth of the apparatus with an inexpensive configuration. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can be miniaturized by minimizing and can be installed even in a narrow space.

  In order to realize good operability of the image forming apparatus, so-called front access is preferable in which the recording medium can be replenished from the front of the apparatus and the recording medium after image formation can be taken out from the front of the apparatus. In order to achieve this front access, regardless of whether the image forming method on the recording medium is an ink jet recording method or an electrophotographic method, a conventional recording medium loading such as a paper cassette on which the recording medium is loaded is used. In addition to being configured so that the recording medium can be replenished from the front of the apparatus by arranging the section on the lower side of the apparatus, the recording medium after image formation discharged to the discharge section such as a discharge tray can be taken out from the front of the apparatus Often to do. Further, by providing a second recording medium feeding unit for a temporarily used recording medium, such as a so-called manual sheet feeding port, on the front side of the apparatus, in addition to the recording medium stacking unit that is normally used, the user can be further improved. Can provide an easy-to-use image forming apparatus.

  In such a front-access image forming apparatus, in particular, an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus, the recording medium is turned in the image forming apparatus from the recording medium stacking unit, that is, the image forming unit starts from the recording medium stacking unit. Further, a configuration is often adopted in which the image forming surface is discharged upward through a substantially U-shaped U-turn conveyance path to the recording medium discharge portion. This is demanded in recent years while the recording medium after image formation is discharged to the discharge section with the image forming surface facing upward to ensure time for ink to dry and prevent ink transfer to the discharge section. This is because priority was given to downsizing the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus having such a configuration has a disadvantage that, when performing image formation on a plurality of recording media, the page order of the recording media after the image formation is reversed. In image forming apparatuses for low customers and small offices, there is a tendency to prioritize making the installation space as small as possible. This is because it was hated that the height of the image forming apparatus would be increased by making a U-turn again. There are not a few users who employ this type of image forming apparatus, and it is considered that the need for downsizing the image forming apparatus is very remarkable from these trends and trends.

  Thus, while downsizing of the image forming apparatus is desired, reduction of the recording medium to be used is required in order to cope with environmental problems which have been particularly problematic in recent years. As a result, double-sided image formation is automatically performed. The need to do it at has become very high. In automatic double-sided image formation, after first passing the image forming unit to form an image on the front side or the first side, the recording medium is then switched back so as to reverse the front and back, and again passes through the image forming unit. In general, a recording medium transport path is configured so that an image can be formed on the back surface or the second surface. Various configurations have been conceived for the reverse transport path for recording medium switchback. ing.

  As an example of the reverse conveyance path in the image forming apparatus of the ink jet recording method in which the recording medium is conveyed through the U-turn conveyance path, for example, the reverse conveyance path as schematically shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is well known. ing. First, in the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, there is a recording medium reversing unit in which a reversing conveyance path for reversing the recording medium once image-formed is arranged outside the apparatus, separately from the image forming apparatus main body. It is characterized by being provided. In this image forming apparatus, the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2 is first given a conveying force by a feeding roller 4 or the like to form an image on the surface and passes through a U-turn conveying path 8 to form an image. An image is formed on the surface at the portion 11. Next, the recording medium on which the image is formed is further conveyed by the conveyance roller 15 and / or the discharge roller 18, but is not finally discharged to the sheet discharge tray 19 which is a discharge unit. Further, switchback is performed by reverse rotation driving of the discharge roller 18, and the image forming unit 11 is further reversely fed to the reverse conveyance path 20 provided in the recording medium reversing unit outside the image forming apparatus. Sent in. The recording medium after the front surface image formation passes through the reverse conveyance path 20 so that the front and back sides are reversed, and the image is formed again on the back surface by the image forming unit 11, and then discharged to the discharge unit 19. Although the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 7 has an advantage that the apparatus size does not increase in the height direction, the reverse conveyance path is provided in the recording medium reversing unit outside the image forming apparatus. There is a problem that the device size increases in the direction.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus having the reverse conveyance path as shown in FIG. 8, in order to incorporate the reverse conveyance path 20 in the apparatus, the image forming unit 11 is arranged in the approximate center of the image forming apparatus 1, and the surface The switchback conveyance section from the discharge unit 19 to which the recording medium after image formation is switched back to the image forming unit 11 is also used as the U-turn conveyance path 8. Also in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2 is given a conveying force by a feeding roller 4 or the like to form an image on the surface and passes through the U-turn conveying path 8. The image forming unit 11 forms an image on the surface. Thereafter, the recording medium having an image formed on the surface is further conveyed toward the discharge unit 19 by the conveyance roller 15 and / or the discharge roller 18, but the conveyance roller is not finally discharged to the discharge unit 19. 15 and / or the reverse rotation drive of the discharge roller 18 is switched back to pass back to the image forming unit 11 in the U-turn conveyance path 8. Thereafter, the recording medium that has been fed back to the image forming unit 11 passes through the reverse conveyance path 20 branched in the direction of arrow A ′ in FIG. 8, and in the recording medium conveyance direction more than the feeding roller 4 in the U-turn conveyance path 8. The images are merged on the downstream side, pass through the U-turn conveyance path 8 again, form an image on the back surface by the image forming unit 11, and are discharged to the discharge unit 19. In the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming unit 11 is arranged at the approximate center of the apparatus, and the reverse conveyance path 20 in the section where the switched back recording medium passes through the image forming unit 11 By adopting a configuration that also serves as the U-turn conveyance path 8 for conveying the recording medium from the section 2 to the image forming section 11, it is possible to incorporate the reverse conveyance path 20 in the image forming apparatus. Although the upper apparatus size is smaller than that of the example shown in FIG. 7, in such a configuration, the discharge unit 19 cannot be accommodated in the image forming apparatus, and the discharge unit 19 can be removed from the footprint of the apparatus. It must be provided so as to be far off. Therefore, it seems that a compact configuration can be achieved by folding the discharge unit 19 during installation of the image forming apparatus or during standby when no image is formed. However, in a usage situation where image formation is actually performed. Therefore, the discharge unit 19 protrudes greatly from the image forming apparatus, and the size of the apparatus in the depth direction remains large.

  Next, in the image forming apparatus having the switchback recording medium conveyance path as shown in FIG. 9, the recording medium after being switched back without being discharged to the discharge section is not fed back to the image forming section 11. Further, the reverse conveyance path is configured to join the U-turn conveyance path 8 and the discharge unit 19 is also accommodated within the apparatus size of the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 9 as well, the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2 is first given a conveying force by the feeding roller 4 to form an image on the surface, and the U-turn conveying path 8. The image forming unit 11 forms an image on the surface. After that, the recording medium after the surface image formation is not finally discharged to the discharge unit 19 but is switched back by the reverse rotation driving of the transport roller 15 and / or the discharge roller 18. The discharge conveyance path 17 constituting a part of the path 8 is tilted with one end thereof as a fulcrum and switched to a part of the reverse conveyance path 20 so that the recording is switched back by the reverse rotation driving of the conveyance roller 15 and the discharge roller 18. The medium passes through the reverse conveyance path 20 and joins the U-turn conveyance path 8, and an image is formed again on the back surface by the image forming unit 11 and is discharged to the discharge unit 19. In the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 9, an image is formed on the recording medium switched back to the conveyance path 8 which is a U-turn conveyance path for conveying the recording medium from the recording medium stacking unit 2 to the image forming unit 11. By adopting a configuration in which the recording medium discharge unit 19 can be accommodated in the image forming apparatus by adopting a configuration in which the recording medium discharge unit 19 is accommodated through the reverse conveyance path 20 without being fed back to the section 11, the reverse conveyance path is achieved. 20 is joined to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the feeding roller 4 in the U-turn conveyance path 8, so that the reverse conveyance path 20 and the U-turn conveyance path 8 are at least partly, particularly above the feeding roller 4. There is a problem that the size of the device overlaps in the vertical direction of the device, and the device size in the height direction of the device becomes large. Here, generally, when a recording medium is turned and conveyed, it is necessary to convey the recording medium with a certain degree of curvature so that the recording medium does not bend or bend, and this curvature is particularly suitable for small offices. 9 requires at least a radius of curvature R of 30 to 50 mm or more in order to cope with a recording medium such as a postcard or cardboard, which is required to have a reverse rotation path 20 as shown in FIG. In the configuration in which the feeding roller 4 is merged downstream in the conveyance direction, the curvature of the conveyance path at the junction point of the reverse conveyance path 20 and the U-turn conveyance path 8 must be expanded to a predetermined size. This is because the size increases in the height direction.

  In the image forming apparatus provided with the reverse conveyance path 20 described so far, the image forming apparatus tends to be enlarged as described above, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size. In order to solve this problem, a reverse conveyance path for conveying the recording medium after the surface image formation to the U-turn conveyance path is provided for feeding the recording medium accommodated in the recording medium stacking unit. It has been devised to be configured to be conveyed to a feed roller.

  This type of image forming apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707. In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a paper support unit for supporting the conveyed paper is disposed between the upper and lower sides of the image forming unit and the paper feed cassette. An opening is provided that opens only when the image-formed paper is reversely fed, and the recording medium after the surface image is formed between the opening and the U-turn conveyance path from the paper feed cassette to the image forming unit. A configuration is disclosed in which a reverse conveyance path for re-conveying to an image forming unit is formed. In this image forming apparatus, the feed roller is configured to be movable in the vertical direction of the apparatus, and the surface image formation that has been transported through the reverse transport path by using a dedicated transport roller that cooperates with the feed roller that has moved upward. A configuration is disclosed in which a subsequent recording medium is sent to a U-turn conveyance path. Here, regarding the configuration in which the feeding roller is movable in the vertical direction, the feeding roller separates and conveys the recording medium one by one from the bundle of recording media stored in the recording medium stacking unit. In order to achieve this, the recording medium bundle is usually pressed and biased with the uppermost recording medium, so that the recording medium after the surface image formation is fed as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In order to feed the roller above the roller and configure this roller as a part of the conveying means of the reverse conveying path, the state where the roller is pressed and urged against the recording medium bundle must be released. This is due to the fact that

  However, when trying to adopt a reverse conveyance path configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a detection means for detecting that the recording medium after the surface image formation has been conveyed along the reverse conveyance path, or a feeding roller In addition to a drive member such as a dedicated solenoid for releasing the pressure and biasing force applied to the recording medium stacking unit, it is dedicated to sandwiching the recording medium after the surface image formation in the reverse conveyance path with the feeding roller Since a roller or the like must be provided, there is a problem that the configuration of the image forming apparatus becomes very complicated and the cost becomes high. Furthermore, in the configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the reverse conveyance path is merged with the U-turn conveyance path above the feeding roller, the U-turn conveyance path and the reverse conveyance path are in the vertical direction of the apparatus. There are still overlapping parts, and there is still room for improvement in terms of size reduction in the height direction of the apparatus. In addition, since the recording medium after the surface image formation is transported to the upper side of the feeding roller when viewed in the vertical direction of the apparatus, the curvature at the joining point of the U-turn transport path and the reverse transport path may also be reduced. However, there is still room for improvement in response to various types of recording media.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a recording medium, the depth and height size can be minimized with an inexpensive and simple configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily used without reducing the ability to cope with various types of recording media.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording medium stacking unit on which a recording medium is loaded, a feeding roller for feeding a recording medium from the recording medium loading unit, and a recording fed by the feeding roller. An image forming unit for forming an image on the medium, a discharge unit for discharging the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit, and a recording medium for conveying the recording medium from the recording medium stacking unit to the image forming unit An image comprising: a conveyance path; and a reversal conveyance unit that reverses the front and back of the recording medium by conveying the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit to the recording medium conveyance path again via the feeding roller. In the forming apparatus, the reversing conveyance unit includes a reversing conveyance path for guiding the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit from the upstream side in the feeding direction of the feeding roller to the feeding roller, and the reversing conveyance path. Being transported When the recording medium is guided to the feeding roller and when the feeding roller feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit, the feeding roller and the recording medium stacking unit A guide plate that is selectively inserted and retracted between the uppermost recording medium, and in conjunction with the switching of the transport direction to the reverse transport path in the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit, A guide plate is inserted between the feeding roller and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit ;
The reverse conveyance path is a switching plate disposed on the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction of the image forming unit, the switching plate disposed so as to be tiltable with one end thereof as a tilting fulcrum, and a tilting operation connecting unit. And at least a conveyance guide member interlocked with the tilting operation of the switching plate,
A guide plate disposed at the tip of the transport guide member is attached to the feeding roller and the recording medium stacking portion by the interlocking operation of the switching plate and the transport guide member via the tilt operation connecting means. Inserted between the top-level recording media loaded and
On the back side of the guide plate, the friction-increasing member is proposed an image forming apparatus characterized that you have been provided.

  Further, in the present invention, the reverse conveying path is a switching plate arranged on the downstream side in the recording medium conveying direction of the image forming unit, and a switching plate arranged to be tiltable with one end thereof as a tilting fulcrum; A conveying guide member that is interlocked with the tilting operation of the switching plate via a tilting operation connecting means, and is configured by an interlocking operation between the tilting operation of the switching plate and the transporting guide member via the tilting operation connecting means. The guide plate disposed at the tip of the transport guide member is inserted between the feeding roller and the uppermost recording medium stacked on the recording medium stacking unit.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the tilting operation connecting means is configured as a link mechanism, and the link mechanism includes a link rotation center that is a rotation fulcrum, and a switching plate that extends from the link rotation center and is connected to the switching plate. It is comprised by the link and the conveyance guide member link extended from the said link rotation center and connected with the said conveyance guide member, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the tilting operation coupling means may be configured as a gear coupling mechanism, wherein the gear coupling mechanism is a switching plate gear connected to the switching plate, A switching plate gear rotatable by a tilting operation; and a conveyance guide member gear connected to the conveyance guide member, the conveyance guide member gear transmitting the rotational force of the switching plate gear. It is characterized by being configured.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that a friction increasing member is disposed on the back side of the guide plate. As the friction increasing member, a member having a high friction coefficient such as rubber can be adopted.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the recording medium stacking unit is disposed below the image forming apparatus, the image forming unit is disposed above one side of the recording medium stacking unit, and the recording medium stacking unit and the image The recording medium conveying path and the reverse conveying means are provided between the forming section and the reverse conveying means above the recording medium stacking section and on the side opposite to the side where the image forming section is provided. It is preferable that the discharge unit is disposed adjacent to the image forming unit, and a driving unit for driving the image forming unit is disposed adjacent to the image forming unit and above the discharge unit.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, a second recording medium feeding unit is provided between the recording medium stacking unit and the image forming unit, and the second recording medium feeding unit is directed to the image forming unit. It is preferable that a second recording medium conveyance path for conveying the recording medium is connected to the reverse conveyance path.

  In the present invention, since the recording medium that has been transported through the reverse transport path after passing through the image forming unit is guided to the feed roller from the upstream side in the feed direction of the feed roller, the recording medium is transported through the reverse transport path. The recording medium is re-conveyed to the image forming section through the same conveyance path as the recording medium conveyance path for conveying the recording medium from the recording medium stacking section to the image forming section. In addition to being able to make the recording medium handling capability the same as that of the original image forming apparatus, the recording medium conveying path and the reversing conveying path are arranged in the vertical direction of the apparatus while accommodating the reversing conveying path in the image forming apparatus. It is possible to eliminate overlapping portions, and it is possible to reduce the apparatus size in the depth direction and the height direction of the apparatus as much as possible. Furthermore, when the recording medium conveyed through the reverse conveyance path is guided to the feeding roller, and when the feeding roller feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit, The recording medium that has been transported through the reverse transport path is formed between the feeding roller and the guide plate only by selectively inserting and retracting the guide plate with respect to the topmost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to provide a special driving means or a complicated control mechanism when connecting the reverse conveyance path and the recording medium conveyance path. In addition, the reliability of the conveyance control of the recording medium can be improved.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an operation in which the guide plate of the present invention is inserted between the feeding roller and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking portion by the interlocking operation of the switching plate and the conveyance guide member. . It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example which achieves the interlocking | linkage operation | movement of the switching plate and conveyance guide member of this invention using the link mechanism which is a tilting connection member. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example which achieves the interlocking | linkage operation | movement of the switching plate and conveyance guide member of this invention using the gear connection mechanism which is a tilting connection member. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration in which a manual feed conveyance path is communicated with a reverse conveyance path in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is an example showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the image forming apparatus provided with the conventional reverse conveyance path | route. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows another example of the image forming apparatus provided with the conventional reverse conveyance path | route. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows another example of the image forming apparatus provided with the conventional reverse conveyance path | route.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet cassette 2 that is a recording medium stacking unit is disposed below the image forming apparatus 1. For example, a stack of recording media that are recording paper is loaded. Further, the sheet cassette 2 is supported by the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be detachable to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 (corresponding to the front of the apparatus in the illustrated example). In the paper cassette 2, a feeding roller 4 is provided at the front end of the recording medium conveyance direction, and a bottom plate 5 for stacking the recording medium bundle 3 on the paper cassette 2 is disposed at the bottom. The bottom plate 5 is further provided with pressurizing / biasing means 6, for example, a spring, for pressurizing and biasing the stacked recording medium bundle 3 to the feeding roller 4.

  The feeding roller 4 is a component that is provided to feed the recording medium from the paper cassette 2 that is a recording medium stacking unit to the image forming unit 11 on the downstream side in the conveyance or feeding direction, and the feeding roller 4 is a motor (not shown). The recording medium is transported to the image forming apparatus from the recording medium bundle 3 that is brought into pressure contact with the feeding roller 4 under the action of the pressurizing / biasing means 6 in the paper cassette 2 by being rotationally driven by a driving means such as In the illustrated example, the feeding roller 4 and the separation member 7 cooperate to separate the recording medium one by one. The recording medium fed by the rotation drive of the feeding roller 4 continues from the feeding roller 4 to the image forming unit 11, and in the illustrated example, in a substantially U-shaped U-turn conveyance path 8, the first conveyance roller pair 9. Then, it is conveyed to the image forming unit 11 via the second conveying roller pair 10, and a desired image is formed by the image forming unit 11. In the example of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet recording method is adopted, and the image forming unit 11 is a generally known image forming unit. The present invention is not limited to this, and a generally known electrophotographic image forming unit can also be employed.

  The ink jet recording type image forming unit 11 is provided with a carriage 12 having an ink jet recording head. The carriage 12 is operated in the main scanning direction by the operation of the main scanning motor 16 (in FIG. 1, perpendicular to the paper surface). In a reciprocating direction). Further, an ink cartridge (not shown) is provided in the image forming apparatus 1, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the ink jet recording head through an ink tube. When forming an image on a recording medium, the carriage 12 reciprocates in the main scanning direction to eject ink from the ink jet recording head as fine ink droplets, and appropriately moves on the platen 13 in the sub-scanning direction (in FIG. 1, A desired image can be formed on the recording medium by landing the ejected ink on the recording medium conveyed in the left direction of the drawing).

  On the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction on the platen 13, a tip pressurizing roller pair 14 is arranged, and on the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction, a spur roller pair 15 is arranged. The flatness of the recording medium being formed is maintained, and in cooperation with the platen 13, the distance between the ink jet recording head and the recording medium is kept constant, and there is no ink landing deviation. An image can be formed. When image formation is performed only on the front surface, the recording medium after image formation is further conveyed as it is, and is discharged to the discharge portion 19 by the rotational drive of the discharge roller pair 18. When forming, the recording medium after the surface image formation is conveyed to a nip portion formed between the feeding roller 4 and the guide plate 24 through a reversal conveyance path 20 of a reversal conveyance unit described below. Will be.

  Here, the reverse conveying means which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a switching plate 21 that is disposed on the downstream side of the image forming unit 11 in the recording medium conveyance direction, and is a switching plate that is tiltably disposed with one end thereof as a tilting fulcrum. 21, a transfer guide member 23 that operates in conjunction with the switching plate 21 via the tilting operation connecting means, and a guide plate 24 provided at one end of the transfer guide member 23. When the switching plate 21 is tilted with its one end portion as a tilting fulcrum, the reversing transport path 20 in the embodiment includes the tilted switching plate 21 and a transport guide member 23 that interlocks with the tilting operation of the switching plate 21. Composed. The interlocking operation of the switching plate 21 and the transport guide member 23 is performed by the tilted switching plate 21 pressing the bending portion 22 provided at one end of the transport guide member 23 as the tilting operation connecting means 22. This is achieved by interlocking displacement of the guide member 23, and by the interlocking operation of the transport guide member 23 associated with the tilting operation of the switching plate 21, the curved portion 22 of the transport guide member is disposed on the opposite side. A guide plate 24 arranged at the other end is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle 3 stacked on the recording medium stacking section 2. As described above, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the guide plate 24 is configured so that the feeding roller 4 is fed from the feeding roller 4 when feeding the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2 to the image forming unit 11. Although being retracted, when the recording medium is transported to the recording medium transport path 8 via the reverse transport path 20, the recording medium is loaded on the feeding roller 4 and the recording medium stacking unit 2 by the tilting operation of the switching plate 21. The reversal conveyance path 20 is joined to the U-turn conveyance path 8 of the recording medium conveyance path starting from the paper cassette 2 as a result. Or the structure which can be connected is achieved. That is, the guide plate 24 feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2 when the recording medium conveyed through the reverse conveyance path 20 is guided to the feeding roller 4. At the time of feeding, it is selectively inserted and retracted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2.

  The operation in which the guide plate 24 is selectively inserted and retracted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2 will be further described with reference to FIG. 2 in addition to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an operation in which the guide plate 24 of the present invention is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2 by the interlocking operation of the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23. It is a schematic sectional drawing for demonstrating. As shown in FIG. 2, switching that normally constitutes at least a part of the discharge conveyance path for discharging the recording medium to the discharge unit 19 but also forms a part of the reverse conveyance path 20 by tilting. The plate 21 has a common roller shaft of the discharge roller 18 and one end thereof, and the end of the plate 21 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 via the roller shaft fixed to the image forming apparatus 1. It is supported as a tilting fulcrum so that it can tilt. Further, the switching plate 21 is normally located at the switching plate home position indicated by a dotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the recording medium after image formation can be discharged to the discharge unit 19. When an image is formed on the back surface of the recording medium on which the front surface image is formed, the recording medium after the front surface image is formed is sandwiched between the spur roller pair 15 and the discharge roller pair 18 on the switching plate 21, and the discharge unit 19. 2, when the rear end of the recording medium is still sandwiched between the spur roller pair 15, a drive source (not shown), for example, is actuated to indicate the arrow P in FIG. 2. Thus, it is comprised so that the switching board 21 with the spur roller pair 15 can be tilted to the switching board tilt position which is a solid line position of FIG. In order to detect the state in which the rear end of the recording medium is sandwiched between the spur roller pair 15, an optical sensor (not shown) is used, or it is conveyed by a control unit (not shown) based on a detection signal of the optical sensor. It can be detected by using a known detection means or method such as calculating from the conveyance speed of a roller or spur roller.

  On the other hand, the conveyance guide member 23 that constitutes the reverse conveyance path 20 also receives an urging member such as a spring in the conveyance direction of the reverse conveyance path 20 while the switching plate 21 is in the switching plate home position. It is located in the conveyance guide member home position which is the dotted line position of FIG. While in the transport guide member home position, the guide plate 24 provided at the front end of the transport guide member 23 is retracted away from the feed roller 4 and interferes with the rotational drive of the feed roller 4. It is configured not to. In addition, the tilting operation of the switching plate 21 is transmitted to the transport guide member 23 at one end of the transport guide member 23 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium, and the tilting operation and the displacement operation of the transport guide member 23 are interlocked. As the tilting operation interlocking means, a bending portion 22 is provided.

  Here, when the switching plate 21 is tilted in the direction of the arrow P to the solid line position in FIG. 2 in order to form the reverse conveyance path 20 as described above, the other end opposite to the tilting fulcrum of the switching plate 21. The portion presses the curved portion 22 provided at one end of the conveyance guide member 23 against the urging force that causes the conveyance guide member 23 to be retracted to the conveyance guide member home position by an urging member such as a spring. The conveyance guide member 23 is interlocked and displaced in the direction of arrow Q to the solid line position in FIG. As a result, the switching plate 21 and the transport guide member 23 constitute the reverse transport path 20 of the reverse transport means. At that time, the guide plate 24 provided at the other end of the transport guide member 23 pushes the recording medium bundle 3 in the direction of the arrow R, and feeds the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle 3 in the paper feeding cassette 2. It is configured to be inserted between the feeding roller 4. In order to achieve the insertion operation of the guide plate 24, the guide plate 24 is composed of a thin metal such as stainless steel or a thin member such as a PET film, and a recording medium bundle in the paper feed cassette 2 is used. 3 can be pushed between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium against the pressure applied by the pressing / biasing means 6 that pressurizes and biases the feeding roller 4. Configured to be. When the guide plate 24 is made of a thin metal plate or PET film, the surface of the member is smooth, so that the recording medium that has passed through the reverse conveyance path 20 is conveyed to the U-turn conveyance path 8. It is preferable because it is possible to reduce the load and reduce so-called conveyance jam such as paper jam of the recording medium.

  When the guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium in this way, this inserted guide plate 24 is pressed against the feeding roller 4 via the recording medium bundle 3. Since the pressure is applied by the urging member 6, the recording medium conveyed through the reverse conveying path 20 does not act on the recording medium loaded in the paper feed cassette 2, that is, Even if the feeding roller 4 is rotationally driven, it is not extracted to the U-turn conveyance path 8 but is sandwiched by the nip portion between the guide plate 24 and the feeding roller 4 and sent again to the U-turn conveyance path 8. It becomes possible. In addition, after the recording medium after the surface image formation is sent to the U-turn conveyance path 8 which is a recording medium conveyance path, the switching plate 21 is returned to the original switching plate home position by releasing the drive source such as a solenoid. In response to the returning operation, the conveyance guide member 23 is also returned to the conveyance guide member home position by the action of a biasing member such as a spring and is retracted from the feeding roller 4.

  With this configuration, a very simple and inexpensive configuration using only a power source or a drive source for tilting the switching plate 21 without taking measures such as configuring the feeding roller 4 to be movable up and down. Thus, the recording medium after the surface image is formed can be conveyed through the reverse conveying path 20 to the lower side of the feeding roller 4 as viewed in the vertical direction of the apparatus, that is, between the feeding roller 4 and the recording medium bundle 3. As a result, the recording medium after the surface image formation can be conveyed again to the image forming unit 11 through the same recording medium conveyance path 8 designed and prepared in advance for image formation on the surface. In addition to the ability of the recording medium corresponding to the seed to be the same as that of the original image forming apparatus, the U-turn conveyance path 8 and the reverse conveyance path 20 do not overlap each other in the vertical direction of the apparatus. In the direction It takes as much as possible makes it possible to miniaturize the device size.

  Note that the back side of the guide plate 24, that is, the side that contacts the recording medium bundle 3 loaded on the paper cassette 2 when the guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the recording medium bundle 3. It is preferable to provide a friction increasing member 25 having a high friction coefficient such as rubber. With this configuration, it is assumed that the next recording medium is taken out from the recording medium bundle 3 to the separating member 7 by the rotational driving of the feeding roller 4 at the time of image formation performed previously. However, it becomes possible to more effectively prevent the feeding of the recording medium taken out by the frictional force by the friction increasing member 25, and only the recording medium after the surface image formation that has been transported through the reverse transport path 20 is obtained. Can be reliably conveyed.

  Heretofore, an example of the reverse conveying means of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the embodiment described below, another embodiment of the tilting motion connecting means 22 that interlocks the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example in which the interlocking operation of the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23 according to the present invention is achieved using the link mechanism 22 that is a tilting operation connecting member. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example in which the interlocking operation between the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23 according to the present invention is achieved by using a gear coupling mechanism 22 that is a tilting motion coupling member.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the tilting operation connecting means is configured as a link mechanism 22, and this link mechanism 22 is a link rotation center 22 c that is rotatably arranged on the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 as a rotation fulcrum. A switching plate link 22a extending from the link rotation center 22c and connecting one end thereof to the other end opposite to the tilting fulcrum of the switching plate 21, and also extending from the link rotation center 22c and one end thereof It comprises a conveyance guide member link 22b that connects the other end of the conveyance guide member 23 to the other end opposite to the side where the guide plate 24 is provided. The switching plate link 22a and the conveyance guide member link 22b are viewed in the width direction of the recording medium (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3) so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the recording medium after the surface image formation. Is disposed outside the region through which the An intermediate conveyance guide 26 that is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided between the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23 in the reverse conveyance path 20.

  When the link mechanism 22 as shown in FIG. 3 is employed as the tilting operation connecting means, when the switching plate 21 tilts as described in the previous embodiment, the switching plate link 22a moves downward in the direction of the arrow P. It is displaced to. Then, the link mechanism 22 rotates about the link rotation center 22c in the direction of arrow S. With this rotation operation, the conveyance guide member 23 connected to the conveyance guide member link 22b becomes a biasing member such as a spring. The guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle 3, and the switching plate 21 and the conveying guide member 23 are operated in conjunction with each other in the direction of the arrow Q against the urging force. In addition, the reverse conveyance path 20 is formed by the intermediate conveyance guide 26. As described above, in the present invention, even if at least the switching plate 21 and the transport guide member 23 constitute the reverse transport path 20 and further another transport path constituent member is appropriately added as in the present embodiment, the object of the present invention Can be achieved. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the switching plate link 22a and the conveyance guide member 22b are both connected to the ends of the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 22b, and are linear or cross-sectional rectangular members. Although configured, the present invention is not limited to this. Considering the movable range, shape, installation location, and the like of the link 22 when designing the image forming apparatus, the switching plate link 22a and the conveyance guide member link 22b are arranged at, for example, intermediate positions of the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 22b It is possible to connect to any other position, and it is possible to appropriately adopt the links 22a and 22b having the optimum length, size, shape, and the like.

  Next, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the tilting operation coupling means is configured as a gear coupling mechanism 22, and in the illustrated example, the gear coupling mechanism 22 is rotatably disposed on the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. The gears 22c, 22d, 22e, and 22f are coupled to each other so as to be able to transmit the respective gear rotational forces to other gears. Of these gears 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f, the gear 22c is configured as a switching plate gear 22c in which the switching plate 21 and its connecting portion are rotatably connected, while the gear 22f is connected to the transport guide member 23 and its connection. The portion is configured as a conveyance guide member gear 22f connected rotatably. Further, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the gear coupling mechanism 22 shown in FIG. 4 is arranged in the width direction of the recording medium (in FIG. 4, with respect to the paper surface so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the recording medium after the surface image formation). When viewed in the vertical direction, the recording medium is disposed outside the area through which the recording medium passes. An intermediate conveyance guide 26 that is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided between the switching plate 21 and the conveyance guide member 23 in the reverse conveyance path 20.

  When the gear coupling mechanism 22 as shown in FIG. 4 is employed as the tilting motion coupling means, when the switching plate 21 tilts in the direction of the arrow P as described in the previous embodiment, first, the switching plate 21 The connected switching plate gear 22c rotates, and the rotation is transmitted to the conveyance guide member gear 22f connected to the conveyance guide member 23 via the gear 22d and the gear 22e. As a result, in conjunction with the tilting operation of the switching plate 21, the transport guide member 23 operates in the direction of the arrow Q against the biasing force of the biasing member such as a spring, and is provided at the distal end portion of the transport guide member 23. The guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle 3, and the reverse conveying path 20 is configured by the intermediate conveying guide 26 in addition to the switching plate 21 and the conveying guide member 23. To do. In the illustrated example, the gear coupling mechanism 22 is configured by using a total of four gears. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, the switching plate gear 22c and the conveyance guide member gear 22f are illustrated. It is possible to construct a larger structure than the above and connect them directly, or to provide additional gears.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by configuring the tilting motion connecting means 22 as a link mechanism or a gear connecting means, the size and shape of the links 22a and 22b, or the size and gear ratio of the gear can be changed at the time of designing. As a result, it is possible to adjust and change as appropriate at the time of manufacturing the actual machine. As a result, not only can the power from the switching drive source of the switching plate 21 be transmitted efficiently, but also the reverse conveying path 20 and the tilting operation. Even if there is a layout restriction on the installation location of the connecting means 22, it is possible to cope with it as appropriate, and the degree of freedom in design is increased and the present invention can be used effectively.

  Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an embodiment in which a manual feeding unit 30 is further provided as a second recording medium feeding unit in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration in which a conveyance path 27 is connected to a reverse conveyance path 20. FIG.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, in this embodiment, as the second recording medium feeding unit, the manual feeding unit 30 including the manual feeding tray 31 includes the recording medium stacking unit 2 and the image forming unit. 11 is provided. The manual feeding portion 30 is separated from the manual feeding tray 31 in addition to the manual feeding roller 32 and the manual feeding roller 32 to separate the recording medium one by one. 33 etc. are provided.

  As described above, the U-turn conveyance path 8 that is a recording medium conveyance path from the paper cassette 2 to the image forming unit 11 has a curvature radius R of at least 30 so that the recording medium does not bend or bend. About 50 mm is required. Therefore, a space corresponding to this radius of curvature always exists between the paper tray 2 and the image forming unit 11. Therefore, the manual feeding unit 30 is arranged in this space, so that An easy-to-use image forming apparatus can be provided using the space. Further, in order to enable front access of the image forming apparatus, the manual feeding conveyance path 27 of the manual feeding section 30 is a reverse conveyance path disposed on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the U-turn conveyance path 8. 20 to be connected.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 5, in order to send the recording medium from the manual feeding unit 30 to the image forming unit 11 via the U-turn conveyance path 8, the conveyance is once reversed. Since the path 20 must be passed, the guide plate 24 must be inserted between the feeding roller 4 of the paper tray 2 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle. Therefore, a signal indicating that the manual feed tray 31 is opened or a signal indicating that the recording medium is placed on the manual feed tray 31 is detected, and the switching plate 21 is tilted based on this detection signal, for example, as shown in FIG. The conveyance guide member 23 can be interlocked via the tilting operation connecting means 22 as shown in FIG. Further, a dedicated drive member (for example, a solenoid) that operates only the conveyance guide member 23 according to a signal that the manual feed tray 31 is opened or a signal that the recording medium is placed on the manual feed tray 31 may be provided. Good.

  With this configuration, the feeding port for the recording medium that is temporarily used can be provided separately from the sheet cassette 2 that is normally used without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 1 in the height direction or the depth direction. Since the image forming apparatus 1 can be provided, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that is more convenient to use while the image forming apparatus 1 is downsized. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the manual feeding unit 30 is illustrated as the second recording medium feeding unit. However, the manual feeding unit 30 is not limited to the illustrated example. Instead, a recording medium stacking unit different from the recording medium stacking unit 2 can be installed in the image forming apparatus.

  So far, examples of embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, in particular, examples of reversal conveyance means. In the present invention, the recording medium conveyed through the reversal conveyance path 20 is a feeding roller. 4 and when the feeding roller 4 feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2, the uppermost recording medium of the feeding roller 4 and the recording medium stacking unit 2 Only by operating the guide plate 24 that is selectively inserted and retracted between the feeding roller 4 and the feeding roller 4 from the upstream side of the feeding roller 4 in the feeding direction. If the reverse conveying means is configured so that it can be conveyed to the nip formed by the guide plate 24, the object can be achieved. That is, the reverse conveying means of the present invention includes a reverse conveying path 20 for guiding the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit 11 from the upstream side of the feeding roller 4 in the feeding direction to the feeding roller 4, and the reverse conveying path. When the recording medium transported 20 is guided to the feeding roller 4 and when the feeding roller 4 feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit 2, It is only necessary to include at least a guide plate 24 that is selectively inserted into and retracted from the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2.

  Accordingly, although not shown, the recording medium after passing through the image forming unit 11 is viewed from the lower side of the feeding roller 4 when viewed in the vertical direction of the feeding roller 4, that is, from the upstream side of the feeding roller 4 in the feeding direction. The reversing conveyance path 20 for guiding to the image forming apparatus 4 is installed in a fixed position in the image forming apparatus in advance, and when the recording medium passes through the reversing conveyance path 20, the feeding roller 4 and the recording medium stacking unit 2 are disposed. The reversing and conveying means can be configured to operate only the guide plate 24 inserted between the uppermost recording medium. Here, in order to switch the conveyance path of the recording medium from the normal recording medium conveyance path 8 to the reverse conveyance path 20, for example, a normally known switching claw is installed as a switching unit. It is possible to configure such that only the guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2 using the signal switched to the side as a trigger. In this case, since it is not necessary to operate the reverse conveyance path 20 as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 described above, a simpler configuration is adopted as the configuration of the image forming apparatus itself. In addition, since it is possible to perform control more easily, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is less expensive and more reliable for conveyance control. The guide plate 24 may be operated in conjunction with the driving force of a driving source (for example, a solenoid) provided for operating the switching claw. Further, in such an embodiment, even when the second recording medium stacking unit 30 as shown in FIG. 5 is provided, the guide plate is used when the recording medium is transported from the recording medium stacking unit 30. Only 24 need be operated.

  Finally, the structure of the downsized image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 which is an external view of the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 5 in addition to FIG. First, as can be seen from FIG. 5, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 miniaturized according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium stacking portion 2 is disposed below the image forming apparatus 1. An image forming unit 11 is arranged above one side (right side in the illustrated example) of the recording medium stacking unit 2. In addition, a recording medium conveyance path 8 and a reverse conveyance unit are provided between the recording medium stacking unit 2 and the image forming unit 11, and the image forming unit 11 is provided above the recording medium stacking unit 2. On the side opposite to the side where the paper is to be discharged, a discharge portion 19 is provided in a substantially horizontal direction adjacent to the reverse conveying means. A main scanning motor 16 that is a driving unit for driving the image forming unit 11 is disposed adjacent to the image forming unit 11 and above the discharge unit 19. Further, it can be seen that these are provided in the image forming apparatus 1. Further, as apparent from FIG. 6 which is an external view, the image forming apparatus 1 can be pulled out to the front surface in the direction of arrow F in FIG. In addition, it can be seen that a discharge unit 19 from which a recording medium on which an image is formed is discharged from the sheet tray 2 via the image forming unit 11 is also accessible from the front of the apparatus. Such an arrangement is preferable because an image forming apparatus that can be miniaturized as much as possible can be provided.

  Further, in the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the manual feeding unit 30 is provided as the second recording medium feeding unit, and the state where the manual feeding tray 31 is opened to the front of the apparatus is shown in FIG. It is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the discharge unit 19 of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be flipped upward when the recording medium is set on the manual feed tray 31. It is easy to set a manual recording medium, and good operability can be realized. Further, since no open / close doors are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus can be used even in a narrow space without a relatively excessive space on the side surface of the image forming apparatus, such as on a shelf or a desk. Even if there are walls on the left and right sides, it is possible to install a user-friendly image forming apparatus.

  The ink jet recording type image forming apparatus has been described so far, but the present invention can be applied even to an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus. Further, passing the recording medium through the reverse conveying path 20 of the reverse conveying means is not limited to forming an image on the back side, for example, to arrange the page order, that is, the surface on which the image is formed. Can be used to reversely discharge the recording medium on which the surface image has been formed to the discharge portion. In addition, although the embodiments of the image forming apparatus provided mainly with the U-turn conveyance path have been described, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus provided with the U-turn conveyance path. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that even an image forming apparatus that employs another recording medium conveyance path configuration can be downsized by applying or employing the technical idea of the present invention. I will. That is, the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus that employs a U-turn conveyance path as illustrated as a recording medium conveyance path. In the present invention, the guide plate 24 is inserted between the feeding roller 4 and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit 2, and the reverse conveying path is between the guide plate 24 and the feeding roller 4. The bottom plate 5 is not limited to the form in which the bottom plate 5 is raised with respect to the feeding roller 4 as shown in the figure, for example, as long as the nip can be formed for the recording medium that has been conveyed. Even an image forming apparatus configured to descend toward the bundle 3 can cope with it, and even a configuration in which the bottom plate does not rise as shown in the second recording medium feeding unit 30 in FIG. Is possible.

  The present invention can be suitably used for an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet recording printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Recording medium bundle 4 Feed roller 8 (U-turn) Recording medium conveyance path 11 Image forming part 19 Ejection part 20 Reverse conveyance path 21 Switching plate 22 Tilt motion connection means 23 Conveyance guide member 24 Guide plate 25 Increase in friction Element

Japanese Patent No. 4221604

Claims (5)

A recording medium loading section for loading the recording medium;
A feeding roller for feeding the recording medium from the recording medium stacking unit;
An image forming unit for forming an image on the recording medium fed by the feeding roller;
A discharge unit for discharging the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit;
A recording medium conveyance path for conveying a recording medium from the recording medium stacking unit to the image forming unit;
A reversing conveying means for reversing the front and back of the recording medium by conveying the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit to the recording medium conveying path again via the feeding roller;
In an image forming apparatus comprising:
The reverse conveying means
A reverse conveying path for guiding the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit from the upstream side in the feeding direction of the feeding roller to the feeding roller;
When the recording medium conveyed through the reverse conveyance path is guided to the feeding roller and when the feeding roller feeds the recording medium loaded on the recording medium stacking unit, the feeding A guide plate selectively inserted and retracted between a roller and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit,
The guide plate is inserted between the feeding roller and the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium stacking unit in conjunction with the switching of the conveying direction to the reverse conveying path in the recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit. ,
The reverse conveyance path is a switching plate disposed on the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction of the image forming unit, the switching plate disposed so as to be tiltable with one end thereof as a tilting fulcrum, and a tilting operation connecting unit. And at least a conveyance guide member interlocked with the tilting operation of the switching plate,
A guide plate disposed at the tip of the transport guide member is attached to the feeding roller and the recording medium stacking portion by the interlocking operation of the switching plate and the transport guide member via the tilt operation connecting means. Inserted between the top-level recording media loaded and
On the back side of the guide plate, the image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto friction-increasing member is not disposed. The tilting operation connecting means is configured as a link mechanism, and the link mechanism includes a link rotation center as a rotation fulcrum, a switching plate link extending from the link rotation center and connected to the switching plate, and the link rotation. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the conveying guide member link is connected to the extension Mashimashi and the conveying guide member from the center, in that it is configured with features. The tilting operation coupling means is configured as a gear coupling mechanism, and the gear coupling mechanism is a switching plate gear connected to the switching plate, the switching plate gear being rotatable by the tilting operation of the switching plate, and the conveyance a conveyance guide member gear connected to the guide member, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to be provided with at least a conveying guide member gear which is transmitting the rotational force of the switching plate gear Image forming apparatus. The recording medium stacking unit is disposed below the image forming apparatus,
The image forming unit is disposed above one side of the recording medium stacking unit,
The recording medium transport path and the reverse transport means are provided between the recording medium stacking section and the image forming section, and the upper side of the recording medium stacking section and the side on which the image forming section is provided On the opposite side, the discharge unit is arranged adjacent to the reversing conveyance means,
Further, a driving means for driving the image forming unit, adjacent to the image forming unit, and, in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that arranged above the discharge portion The image forming apparatus described. A second recording medium feeding unit is provided between the recording medium stacking unit and the image forming unit;
Claim 1-4, characterized in that the second recording medium transportation path for conveying the recording medium toward the image forming unit from said second recording medium feeding section is connected to said reversing transport path The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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