JP2002226121A - Sheet ejecting device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet ejecting device having superior stackability even to thin sheets, and an image forming device. SOLUTION: As a rib 29 is in agreement with a position of a kicking-out roller 26, sheets S stacked on a sheet delivery tray 20 is stacked in a state that it is stiffened while being raised at its central part in the sheet width direction, whereby a tip of the sheet S3 is kept in the stiffened shape by the sheet S2 stacked in the stiffened state, even when the sheet S3 is abutted on the output tray 20, whereby the sheet S3 can be prevented from being bent during delivery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device for discharging and stacking sheets, and an image forming an image on a sheet using an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and a facsimile. Applied to forming equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer, a developing device for developing a latent image drawn on a photosensitive drum by a laser beam or the like, and a transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a sheet are provided. And a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image on the sheet.

A fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image on a sheet includes a heater, a fixing roller that rotates while being maintained at a predetermined temperature by a temperature sensor, and abuts the fixing roller at a predetermined pressure. A method in which a toner serving as a developer is melted by heat and pressure by a pressure roller that is driven and rotated, and a toner image is fixed on a sheet is mainly used.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional laser beam printer as a typical example. Hereinafter, the overall configuration and functions of the laser beam printer will be described.

In the printer main body (image forming apparatus main body), a laser scanner 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a process unit 1 including a primary charger 16 and a developing unit 17, a transfer roller 9, a fixing unit 4, and a transport roller pair 8 And a paper feed cassette 6 and a paper feed roller (pickup roller) 7.

[0006] Sheets of a sheet-like recording material or the like stacked and stored in the paper feed cassette 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as "sheets")
S is fed by the sheet feeding roller 7 rotating in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, and is sent to the nip portion of the pair of conveying rollers 8. Next, the sheet S is sent between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 9 by the conveying roller pair 8.

The photosensitive drum 3 rotates clockwise in the figure, and is uniformly charged by the primary charger 16. Then, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by a laser beam from the laser scanner 2, and then the electrostatic latent image is
And a toner image is formed.

Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially transferred to the sheet S sent between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 9 by the transfer roller 9.

The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred in this manner is sent to a fixing device 4 comprising a fixing roller 22 and a pressure roller 23, where the sheet is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the sheet S. I do.

Thereafter, the sheet S is sent between the lower discharge roller 24 and the upper discharge roller 25 by the conveying roller pair 10, and
Next, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 19 on the upper surface of the main body. Alternatively, the sheet can be discharged to the discharge tray 20 on the side of the printer main body via another discharge roller 14 by the action of the transport switching guide 11.

The paper discharge cover 12 to which the paper discharge tray 20 is attached is rotatable by a paper discharge cover rotation fulcrum 15, so that the inside of the apparatus can be opened for jam clearance of sheets and the like.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the discharge tray 20 of the laser beam printer shown in FIG. The discharge roller 13 fixed to the discharge roller 14 by a discharge roller holder 28 (see FIG. 12) is pressed by a discharge roller pressing spring 27 (see FIG. 12) and pressed against the discharge roller 14. I have. A kick roller 26 is provided at the center of the discharge roller 14.
Is provided.

The role of the kick-out roller 26 is to push the rear end of the sheet S to stack the sheets on the sheet discharge tray 20, and to lift the central portion of the sheet S, thereby making it difficult for the sheet S to be bent in the conveying direction of the sheet S. It is to give a climax (to give the seat a seat). This stiffening prevents the paper from being bent on the discharge tray 20.

[0014]

However, in the prior art as described above, there are some problems, especially when a thin sheet which is difficult to attach is used. These problems will be described below.

The first problem is that when a thin sheet having a basis weight of about 60 g is used as the sheet, when the sheet S1 comes into contact with the discharge tray 20 as shown in FIG. It bends in the transport direction.

For this reason, since the sheet S1 is bent, the contact area between the sheet S1 and the sheet S0 already discharged and stacked before the sheet S1 increases, and the frictional resistance increases.

Due to the frictional resistance, the discharged sheet S0 is pushed out along with the discharging operation of the sheet S1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the stackability of the paper discharge tray 20 may be deteriorated, such as the sheet S0 protruding from the paper discharge tray 20.

A second problem is that, when a thin sheet having a basis weight of about 60 g is used in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the sheet is bent and bent when it comes into contact with the discharge tray 20. Due to the contact resistance between the discharged sheet and the sheet that has already been stacked, the leading edge of the sheet being discharged does not slip, and the discharge is continued. 20 may be deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet discharging apparatus and an image forming apparatus which have good stackability even with a thin sheet. .

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, in a sheet discharging apparatus according to the present invention, a pair of rotating means for conveying a sheet, and the sheet conveyed by the pair of rotating means are stacked. And a sheet stacking unit, wherein the pair of rotating units are provided with a waist unit for seating the sheet, and the seating unit of the sheet stacking unit is seated by the seating unit. The sheet is provided so as to be stackable in the same shape as the shape.

It is preferable that the stiffening means stiffens the sheet by deforming the sheet into a non-planar shape.

In a sheet discharging apparatus provided with a pair of rotating means disposed at the upper and lower positions of a sheet for nipping and transporting the sheet, and a sheet loading means for loading the sheet transported by the pair of rotating means, A rotating means disposed at a lower position of the sheet among the rotating means, and a protrusion for raising a predetermined position in a sheet width direction of the sheet to be conveyed is provided, and the sheet stacking means has a sheet stacking surface coinciding with the protrusion. The height at the position in the sheet width direction is set high.

It is preferable that a plurality of the protrusions are provided in parallel in the sheet width direction.

The rotating means of the pair of rotating means disposed at the lower position of the sheet is rotationally driven, and the rotating means of the pair of rotating means disposed at the upper position of the sheet comprises:
It is preferable that the sheet is rotated while being pressed against rotating means disposed below the sheet.

In a sheet discharging apparatus having a pair of rotating means for conveying a sheet and a sheet stacking means for stacking the sheet conveyed by the pair of rotating means, a sheet contact portion of the pair of rotating means is The sheets are alternately projected in the sheet width direction, and the sheet to be conveyed is waved in the sheet width direction, and the sheet stacking means is provided on the sheet stacking surface corresponding to the raised sheet width direction predetermined position of the waved sheet. The height of the position in the sheet width direction is set high.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described sheet discharging device and image forming means for forming an image on a sheet. It is characterized by being discharged to.

Therefore, even when the conveyed sheet comes into contact with the sheet stacking means, the leading end of the sheet is maintained in a shape to be stiffened by the stiffening shape of the sheet stacking surface, and the stiffening of the conveyed sheet can be maintained. It is possible to prevent the sheet from being bent.

[0028]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is mainly composed of a developing device for developing a latent image drawn on a photosensitive drum by a laser beam or the like, and a transfer means for transferring the developed toner image to a sheet. And a fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image on the sheet.

A fixing device for fixing the transferred toner image on the sheet is a mainstream heater, a fixing roller which rotates while being maintained at a predetermined temperature by a temperature sensor, and a predetermined fixing device for the fixing roller. A method is used in which a toner, which is a developer, is melted by heat and pressure by a pressure roller which is brought into contact with and driven by pressure to fix a toner image on a sheet.

FIG. 1 shows a laser beam printer as a typical example of an image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, the overall configuration and functions of the laser beam printer will be described.

In the printer main body (image forming apparatus main body), a laser scanner 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a process unit 1 including a primary charger 16 and a developing unit 17, a transfer roller 9, a fixing unit 4, and a pair of conveying rollers 8 And a paper feed cassette 6 and a paper feed roller (pickup roller) 7.

Sheets such as sheet-like recording materials stacked and stored in the sheet cassette 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as "sheets")
S is fed by the sheet feeding roller 7 rotating in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Next, the sheet S is sent between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 9 by the conveying roller pair 8.

The photosensitive drum 3 rotates clockwise in the figure, and is uniformly charged by the primary charger 16. Then, an electrostatic latent image is sequentially formed on the outer peripheral surface by a laser beam from the laser scanner 2, and then the electrostatic latent image is
And a toner image is formed.

Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 is sequentially transferred to the sheet S sent between the photosensitive drum 3 and the transfer roller 9 by the transfer roller 9.

The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred in this manner is sent to a fixing device 4 composed of a fixing roller 22 and a pressure roller 23, where it is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the sheet S. I do.

Here, the image forming means includes a process unit 1, a laser scanner 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a transfer roller 9, and a fixing device 4 for performing a process up to fixing the toner image on the sheet S. I have.

Thereafter, the sheet S is sent between the lower discharge roller 24 and the upper discharge roller 25 by the conveying roller pair 10, and
Next, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 19 on the upper surface of the main body. Alternatively, the sheet can be discharged to a discharge tray 20 as a sheet stacking unit on the side of the printer main body via another discharge roller 14 by the operation of the transport switching guide 11.

Here, the paper discharge cover 12 to which the paper discharge tray 20 is attached is rotatable by the paper discharge cover rotation fulcrum 15, so that the inside of the apparatus can be opened for jam clearance of sheets and the like.

Next, the configuration of the paper discharge tray 20 will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the discharge tray 20 of the laser beam printer shown in FIG.

A conveyance path from the fixing device 4 is connected to the paper discharge tray 20 by the conveyance switching guide 11, and a paper discharge roller 14 and a paper discharge roller 13 are provided on a side wall of the apparatus. .

The discharge roller 14 includes a discharge roller holder 28.
The discharge roller 13 fixed by (see FIG. 3) is pressed and pressed by a discharge roller pressing spring 27 (see FIG. 3).

In the center of the discharge roller 14 in the longitudinal direction (the sheet width direction), a kick-out roller 26 as a waisting means is provided.
Is provided. The outer diameter of the kicking roller 26 is provided to be larger than the outer diameter of the paper discharge roller 14, and the center of the sheet S to be discharged in the width direction is raised. is there.

The function of the kick-out roller 26 is to push the rear end of the sheet S to stack the sheets on the sheet discharge tray 20, and to lift the center of the sheet S in the width direction to deform the sheet S into a non-planar shape. In other words, the swelling (stiffness of the sheet) is provided to make it difficult for the sheet S to be bent in the conveying direction of S. This stiffening prevents the sheet S from being bent on the discharge tray 20.

On the other hand, a rib 29 higher than the other ribs of the discharge tray 20 is provided at the center of the discharge tray 20 along the discharge (conveyance) direction of the sheet S. This rib 29
Is a position where the sheet S is most prominent in the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) of the discharge roller 14 as shown in FIG.
That is, it matches the position of the kick roller 26.

For this reason, the sheets S stacked on the sheet discharge tray 20 are stacked in a state similar to the shape in which the central portion in the width direction is raised and crimped.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, even when the sheet S3 comes into contact with the paper discharge tray 20, the sheet S3 is stiffened by the stacked sheets S2 with the leading end thereof stiffened. The sheet S3 is maintained in the shape of the sheet S3, and the stiffening of the sheet S3 can be maintained.
3 can be prevented from being bent.

As described above, even when the sheet S3 is a thin sheet having a basis weight of about 60 g, in the discharged state, the interaction between the kick-out rollers 26 and the ribs 29 causes the sheet S3 to have a small thickness. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 20 without losing stiffness, and the stackability is good even with a thin sheet.

Therefore, the sheet S is bent as in the related art, so that the contact area between the sheet S and the sheet S already stacked before the sheet S is increased, and the frictional resistance is increased. Is prevented from being pushed out, and the sheet S is bent when the sheet S comes into contact with the discharge tray 20 in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. Due to the contact resistance with the stacked sheets S, the leading edge of the discharged sheet does not slip,
Further, since the discharge is continued, the paper is not curled on the discharge tray 20.

In the present embodiment, the waist is raised at the center of the sheet S in the width direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the waist may be provided at a predetermined position in the width direction of the sheet S. Alternatively, the squatting may be performed by recessing a predetermined position.
In this case, the sheet stacking surface of the sheet discharge tray 20 is provided with a rib at a predetermined position or a concave portion (in the case of a concave waving), similarly to the waving shape of the sheet.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment. In the above-described first embodiment, one ejection roller 26 is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the paper ejection roller 14. However, in the present embodiment, the ejection roller 30 as a protrusion is provided by the ejection roller 30. Two are provided near the center in the longitudinal direction of 14.

Since other structures and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as a feature of the configuration of the installation portion of the paper discharge tray 20, as shown in FIG. 5, a kick roller 30 is provided near the center of the paper discharge roller 14 in the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction). Are provided in parallel. The outer diameter of the ejection roller 30 is provided to be larger than the outer diameter of the paper discharge roller 14.

On the other hand, a rib 29 higher than the other ribs of the discharge tray 20 is provided at the center of the discharge tray 20. The position of the rib 29 is, as shown in FIG.
That is, it coincides with the middle position of the two parallel kick-out rollers 30.

For this reason, the sheets S stacked on the sheet discharge tray 20 are stacked in a state in which the central portion in the width direction is raised and stiffened.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the sheets S to be discharged are stacked with the leading ends of the sheets S stiffened even when they come into contact with the discharge tray 20. The sheet S is maintained in a shape to be stiffened by the sheet S, and the stiffness of the sheet S can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet S from being bent during the discharge.

As described above, the sheet S has a basis weight of 6
Even if the sheet is as thin as about 0 g, the sheet S does not lose its stiffness due to the interaction between the kick-out roller 30 and the rib 29 in the discharged state, and the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 20. Therefore, the loadability is good even with a thin sheet.

Therefore, the sheet S is bent as in the related art, so that the contact area between the sheet S and the sheet S already discharged and stacked before the sheet S increases, and the frictional resistance increases. Can be prevented, the sheet S that has been discharged before is not pushed out, and in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the sheet S bends when it comes into contact with the discharge tray 20, and the sheet S that has already been discharged is Due to the contact resistance with the stacked sheets S, the leading edge of the discharged sheet does not slip,
Further, since the discharge is continued, the paper is not curled on the discharge tray 20.

Further, by providing two kick-out rollers 30, the balance in the sheet width direction at the time of pushing out the sheet S is improved, and the stackability on the sheet discharge tray 20 can be improved.

In this embodiment, the kicking roller 3
Although two 0s are provided in parallel, three or more 0s may be provided, and the present invention is not limited to the above configuration.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 7 to 9 show a third embodiment. In the present embodiment, unlike the above-described first and second embodiments, the entire sheet is wavy instead of forming a single bulge on the sheet. In this configuration, the ribs 31 are arranged at all raised positions of the sheet.

Since other structures and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the configuration of the paper discharge tray 19 as a sheet stacking means will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the discharge tray 19 of the laser beam printer shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper discharge roller 25 and the lower discharge roller 24 as a pair of rotating means are driven to rotate up and down.
5. The transport rubber portion, which is the sheet contact portion below the paper discharge roller 24, is arranged so as to protrude alternately.

Therefore, the sheet S passing through the upper discharge roller 25 and the lower discharge roller 24 is corrugated in the sheet width direction.

On the discharge tray 19, a plurality of ribs 31 are provided extending in the discharge direction of the sheet S. The position of the rib 31 is, as shown in FIG.
5. In the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) of the lower discharge roller 24,
This corresponds to the raised position of the corrugated sheet S, that is, the transport rubber portion below the sheet discharging roller 24.

For this reason, the sheets S to be stacked on the sheet discharge tray 19 are stacked in a wavy and perched state.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, even when the sheet S to be discharged comes into contact with the discharge tray 19, the leading end of the sheet S is crimped. The sheet S stacked in the state is maintained in a shape of stiffening, and the stiffening of the sheet S can be maintained, so that it is possible to prevent the sheet S from being bent during the discharge.

As described above, the sheet S has a basis weight of 6
Even if the sheet is as thin as about 0 g, the sheet S does not lose its stiffness due to the interaction between the upper discharge roller 25 and the lower discharge roller 24 and the rib 31 in the discharged state. The sheet is discharged onto the paper tray 19 and the stackability is good even for a thin sheet.

Therefore, the sheet S is bent as in the related art, so that the contact area between the sheet S and the sheet S already discharged and stacked before the sheet S increases, and the frictional resistance increases. This prevents the previously discharged sheet S from being pushed out, and in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the sheet S is bent when the sheet S comes into contact with the discharge tray 19, and the folded sheet S is already discharged. Due to the contact resistance with the stacked sheets S, the leading edge of the discharged sheet does not slip,
Further, since the discharge is continued, the paper is not curled on the discharge tray 19.

In the present embodiment, the discharge tray 19
Is provided with ribs 31, but the wavy sheet S
The same effect can be obtained by forming a concave portion on the sheet stacking surface in accordance with the concave position of the sheet, that is, the concave portion on the sheet stacking surface so as to coincide with the conveying rubber portion of the upper discharge roller 25.

Further, the image forming apparatus used in the above embodiment is of the electrophotographic type, but is not limited thereto, and the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus of an electrostatic type, an ink jet type or the like.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when a conveyed sheet comes into contact with the sheet stacking means, the leading end of the sheet is maintained in a shape similar to that of the sheet stacking surface. In addition, since the stiffening of the conveyed sheet can be maintained, the sheet can be prevented from being bent.

For this reason, when a thin sheet is used, which is a conventional problem, the sheet bends when it comes into contact with the sheet stacking means, and if the sheet comes into contact with a previously discharged sheet, the contact area increases. With the increase in frictional resistance, the previously ejected sheet may be pushed out, or when a thin sheet is used in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the sheet may bend and bend when it comes into contact with the sheet stacking means. It is possible to solve the problem that the sheet being discharged does not slip and curl up on the sheet stacking means due to the contact resistance between the sheet and the previously discharged sheet, and the stacking property of the sheet stacking means is improved.

Therefore, even when a thin sheet is used,
It is possible to provide a user with a sheet discharging apparatus and an image forming apparatus which have no problem in stacking ability on a sheet stacking unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a laser beam printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a paper discharge tray according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a paper discharge tray according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the discharge tray according to the first embodiment as viewed from a discharge direction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a paper discharge tray according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view of a paper discharge tray according to a second embodiment as viewed from a paper discharge direction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a paper discharge tray according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a discharge tray according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view of a discharge tray according to a third embodiment as viewed from a discharge direction.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a conventional laser beam printer.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a paper ejection tray of the related art.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a paper ejection tray according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 process unit 2 laser scanner 3 photosensitive drum 4 fixing device 6 paper feed cassette 7 paper feed roller 8 transport roller pair 9 transfer roller 10 transport roller pair 11 transport switching guide 12 paper discharge cover 13 paper discharge roller 14 paper discharge roller 15 paper discharge Cover rotation fulcrum 16 Primary charging device 17 Developing device 19 Discharge tray 20 Discharge tray 22 Fixing roller 23 Pressure roller 24 Lower discharge roller 25 Upper discharge roller 26 Kick-out roller 27 Discharge roller pressing spring 28 Discharge Roller holder 29 Rib 30 Kick-out roller 31 Rib

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H072 CA01 FB01 JA02 3F049 AA02 CA05 DA11 DA12 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F053 HA06 HB01 LA02 LA05 LA07 LB03 3F054 AA01 AC02 AC03 AC05 BA04 BB02 BC04 BF03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet discharging apparatus comprising: a pair of rotating means for conveying a sheet; and a sheet stacking means for stacking the sheet conveyed by the pair of rotating means. A sheet discharging device, comprising: a stiffening means for stiffening; and a sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking means provided so as to be capable of stacking sheets in a shape similar to the shape of the stiffening means. 2. A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stiffening means stiffens the sheet by deforming the sheet into a non-planar shape. 3. A sheet discharging apparatus, comprising: a pair of rotating means disposed at the upper and lower positions of a sheet for nipping and conveying the sheet; and a sheet stacking means for stacking the sheet conveyed by the pair of rotating means. The rotating means arranged at a lower position of the sheet among the pair of rotating means is provided with a protrusion for raising a predetermined position in the sheet width direction of the sheet to be conveyed, and the sheet stacking means is provided for the sheet coinciding with the protrusion. A sheet discharging device, wherein a height of a loading surface in a sheet width direction is set to be high. 4. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the protrusions are provided in parallel in a sheet width direction. 5. A rotating means of the pair of rotating means disposed at a lower position of the sheet is rotationally driven, and a rotating means of the pair of rotating means disposed at a position above the sheet is provided on the sheet. The sheet discharging device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet discharging device rotates while being pressed against rotating means disposed at a lower position. 6. A sheet discharging device comprising: a pair of rotating means for conveying a sheet; and a sheet stacking means for stacking a sheet conveyed by the pair of rotating means, wherein a sheet contact portion of the pair of rotating means is provided. Are alternately projected in the sheet width direction, and the sheet to be conveyed is waved in the sheet width direction, and the sheet stacking means is a sheet stacking section corresponding to a raised sheet width direction predetermined position of the waved sheet. A sheet discharging apparatus characterized in that a height of a surface in a sheet width direction is set high. 7. The sheet discharging device according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, wherein the sheet formed by the image forming unit is the sheet. An image forming apparatus that is discharged to a discharge device.