JP2005008359A - Paper sheet reversing mechanism and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper sheet reversing mechanism for reversing a carried paper sheet without generating time loss nor requiring complicated control and capable of reducing a space for reversing the paper sheet, and to provide an image forming device using the same. <P>SOLUTION: This paper sheet reversing mechanism 10 for reversing and delivering a paper sheet, which is carried from outside has a feeding means 13 for carrying the carried paper sheet from a carry-in opening 11 to a carry-out opening 12. A carrying surface of a carrying passage (c) for the paper sheet P to be carried by the feeding means 13 is twisted at 180° around an axis in the carrying direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet reversing mechanism for reversing a loaded sheet and an image forming apparatus using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as printers having a double-sided printing function have become widespread. A technique using a switchback method, which is a typical double-sided printing function of a conventional image forming apparatus, will be described below.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a paper transport path in a conventional image forming apparatus having a double-sided printing function. Note that arrows in the figure indicate paths through which the fed paper is conveyed.
[0003]
In FIG. 8, the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 100 is selectively taken out by a paper feed mechanism such as a paper feed roller, and is transported to the image forming unit 300 via a paper feed transport path 200 by a plurality of transport rollers. Is done.
In the image forming unit 300, a toner image is formed on one side of the sheet P conveyed by the conveying belt 320 or the like by the photosensitive drum 310 that rotates at a constant speed in a certain direction, and is formed on the sheet by the fixing unit 330. The toner image is fixed.
The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed on one side of the sheet in the image forming unit 300 is branched to the paper discharge conveyance path 700 or the reverse conveyance path 400 by a branch claw (not shown). When duplex printing is selected, the sheet is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path 400 and is temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 500.
[0004]
In the intermediate tray 500, when it is detected by a sensor or the like that the conveyed paper P has been stored, the switchback roller 510 above the intermediate tray 500 that has been waiting until then is lowered to contact the stored paper P. By doing so, the accommodated paper P is sent out in the direction opposite to that at the time of entry.
The paper P sent out from the intermediate tray 500 is transported into the paper feed transport path 200 via the reverse paper feed transport path (reverse paper feed transport means) 600. At this time, the surface of the paper that has been re-fed into the paper feeding / conveying path 200 is switched back when the intermediate tray 500 is sent out. ing. Therefore, the paper that has been re-fed into the paper feeding / conveying path 200 can form an image on the surface opposite to the surface on which the image has already been formed, thereby realizing double-sided printing.
The paper after double-sided printing is transported to the paper discharge transport path 700 by a branch claw (not shown) and discharged out of the apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-16663 (page 3-5, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image forming apparatus as described above, since the sheet P is reversed by temporarily storing the sheet in the intermediate tray 500 and switching back, the reversal control is complicated.
In addition, since the intermediate tray 500 that once accommodates the paper P needs at least a space of the size of the paper to be accommodated, for example, when performing double-sided printing on the long paper P, the length is equal to or longer than the paper P. Intermediate tray 500 had to be prepared.
Further, in the case of the switchback method, since the conveyance direction is switched by the intermediate tray 500, the paper P is temporarily stopped, and there is a problem that a time loss of printing time occurs.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to invert a loaded paper without causing time loss and without complicated control, and to invert the paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet reversing mechanism capable of reducing a reversing space and an image forming apparatus using the same.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a paper reversing mechanism according to claim 1 of the present invention is a paper reversing mechanism for reversing and discharging a paper carried in from the outside, wherein the carried paper is discharged from a carry-in port to a carry-out port. And a conveyance surface of a conveyance path of a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is twisted by 180 ° about the axis in the conveyance direction.
[0009]
If the paper reversing mechanism is configured in this way, the paper surface can be reversed from the time of carry-in when the paper carried from the carry-in port is conveyed by the feeding means and is discharged from the carry-out port.
As described above, since the sheet is reversed, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the sheet being conveyed, and a series of operations for conveying the sheet from the sheet reversal to the image forming unit again can be performed without reducing the sheet speed. There is no time loss.
Further, since the sheet passing through this mechanism is necessarily reversed when it is carried out, no special control for the reversing operation is necessary, and the sheet can be easily reversed.
[0010]
The sheet reversing mechanism according to claim 2 of the present invention is the sheet reversing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means includes a feeding member that conveys the sheet while sandwiching the sheet, and is provided on the upper surface side and / or the lower surface side of the sheet. The feeding member is configured to be driven by the driving means.
If the sheet reversing mechanism has such a configuration, the sheet carried in from the outside is sandwiched between the upper and lower surfaces by the feeding member, so that stable conveyance can be achieved. Further, the driving means can selectively drive the feeding section.
[0011]
The paper reversing mechanism according to claim 3 of the present invention is the paper reversing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein either one or both of the feeding members on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the paper have a plurality of rollers. is there.
If the sheet reversing mechanism is configured as described above, the stage of reversing the conveyed sheet up to 180 ° can be arbitrarily set.
In addition, maintainability when a paper jam or the like occurs in the conveyance path can be improved.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper reversing mechanism according to the second aspect, either one or both of the feeding members on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the paper have a belt.
If the paper reversing mechanism has such a configuration, the paper can be transported by the surface of the belt, so that the fixing force is good and the paper can be prevented from being displaced during transport.
Further, since the entire conveyance path is interlocked by the belt, the sheet can be conveyed by interlocking one portion of the belt with the driving unit.
[0013]
The paper reversing mechanism according to claim 5 of the present invention is the paper reversing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the feeding means transports a guide member that prevents the paper from being displaced from the transport path. The configuration is provided on both sides of the road.
If the sheet reversing mechanism is configured as described above, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being displaced during conveyance. Further, when the feeding member is a roller and there is an interval between the rollers, the paper at this interval can be guided.
[0014]
An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on one side of a conveyed sheet, and a sheet reversing mechanism that reverses the sheet on which an image is formed on one side by the image forming unit. A reversing paper feeding / conveying means for conveying the paper reversed by the paper reversing mechanism to the image forming means, and the paper reversing mechanism uses the paper reversing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5. is there.
[0015]
If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, no time loss occurs in the reversal of the paper during double-sided printing, and high-speed double-sided printing can be realized.
Further, in this paper reversing mechanism, when there is a paper length, the paper front end is conveyed from the paper reversing mechanism to the discharge destination even if the front end of the paper is reversed and the end of the paper is not yet reversed. On the other hand, since the reversing operation of the end portion of the paper can be performed, it is not always necessary to provide a space for the paper size, and the apparatus can be reduced in size.
[0016]
An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the printed surface of the paper printed by the image forming means is discharged without being reversed, or the printed surface is The paper discharge setting means that can select whether paper is discharged after being reversed, and if the paper discharge setting means is set to discharge paper without reversing the printing surface, the paper printed by the image forming means If the setting is made so that the paper is sent to the paper discharge section and then reversed and then discharged, the branch sending means for sending to the paper reversing mechanism, and the paper sent by the branch sending means and reversed by the paper reversing mechanism are discharged. And a reversing paper discharge means for transporting to the section.
[0017]
If the image forming apparatus has such a configuration, the operator can freely set the direction of the sheet surface discharged from the apparatus after printing by operating the discharge setting unit.
Further, since the paper that is reversed and carried out is reversed by the paper reversing mechanism, it is possible to provide a paper that is reversed at high speed.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
First, an image forming apparatus using a sheet reversing mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using a sheet reversing mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray 100, a paper feed conveyance path 200, an image forming unit (image forming unit) 300, a reverse conveyance path 400, a paper reversing mechanism 10, and a reverse paper feed conveyance path 600. , A paper discharge conveyance path 700 is provided.
The paper feed tray 100 is composed of a plurality of paper feed trays each containing different sizes or types of paper P, and each paper feed tray is provided with a paper feed mechanism such as a paper feed roller (not shown). Therefore, the paper P can be selectively taken out from the paper feed tray 100 by the paper feed roller.
The paper feed transport path 200 transports the paper P taken out from the paper feed tray 100 to the image forming unit 300 by a plurality of transport rollers.
[0020]
The image forming unit 300 forms a photosensitive drum 310 that forms a toner image on one side of the paper P conveyed from the paper feed tray 100, and the paper P on which the toner image is formed on one side by the photosensitive drum 310. The image forming apparatus includes a conveyance belt 320 that is conveyed in the paper 300 and a fixing unit 330 that fixes a toner image formed on the paper P conveyed by the conveyance belt 320 to the paper P. Therefore, in the image forming unit 300, an image by an electrophotographic process is formed on one side of the conveyed paper P.
[0021]
The reverse conveyance path 400 conveys the paper P on which an image is formed on one side by the image forming unit 300 to the paper reversing mechanism 10 by a plurality of conveyance rollers.
As shown in FIG. 2 to be described later, the sheet reversing mechanism 10 includes a feeding unit 13 that conveys the loaded paper P from the carry-in port 11 to the carry-out port 12, and the paper P transported from the image forming unit 300. Invert. That is, the transport surface of the transport path c that transports the paper P has a configuration twisted by 180 ° about the axis a in the transport direction, whereby the paper P can be reversed.
The feeding means 13 is composed of a combination of a plurality of rollers (feeding members) 14 sandwiching the upper and lower surfaces of the paper P carried from the carry-in port 11, and is provided on the roller 14 a provided on the upper surface side of the paper P or on the lower surface side. One or both of the rollers 14b are driven by driving means such as a driving motor.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the sheet reversing mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the casing 15 and the like shown in FIG. 3 are omitted in order to explain the internal configuration. In FIG. 2, the feeding means 13 in the paper reversing mechanism 10 is composed of a plurality of rollers 14 on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the conveyed paper P.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of rollers form a pair of feed members 14 at the top and bottom, and the paper P is bridged between the feed members 14 and conveyed to the carry-out port 12 while being reversed. That is, each feed member 14 is provided at a stepwise angle from the carry-in port 11 to the carry-out port 12 until the carrying surface is twisted 180 ° around the axis a in the carrying direction.
[0023]
Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the roller 14 in the sheet reversing mechanism 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
3A is a cross-sectional view of the roller taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the roller taken along line XX ′ in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the paper P is sandwiched between a roller 14a on the upper surface side and a roller 14b on the lower surface side. Each of the rollers 14 a and 14 b is rotatably mounted via a ball bearing 16 inside a transparent casing 15 that surrounds the entire feeding means 13.
As described above, when the paper reversing mechanism 10 is configured by the rollers 14, the stage of reversing the paper P to be conveyed up to 180 ° can be arbitrarily set.
In addition, even when a paper jam or the like occurs in the transport path c, since the casing 15 is transparent and the feeding member is a roller, it is possible to visually check the paper jam, thus improving maintenance. Can do.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a sheet reversing mechanism in which guide members are provided on both sides of the roller.
In FIG. 4, the feeding unit 13 includes guide members 17 that prevent the paper P from being displaced from the conveyance path c on both sides of the conveyance path c.
The guide member 17 is fixed to the housing 15 and supports both sides of the sheet P conveyed by the roller 14a on the upper surface side and the roller 14b on the lower surface side of the sheet P. It is prevented from coming off from the conveyance path c.
In addition, the structure which provides such a guide member in the both ends of the feed member 14 can be employ | adopted also in other embodiment described below, and it cannot be overemphasized that the same effect can be acquired.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described.
When duplex printing is performed using the duplex printing function, image formation is performed in an irregular order using an image memory provided in the image forming apparatus. In the following description, P1 indicates the first page, P2 indicates the second page, and P3 indicates the third page (hereinafter the same).
[0026]
First, a plurality of sheets (here, three sheets) are continuously fed from the sheet feeding tray 100, and an odd-numbered page (P1, P3, P5,...) Image is formed on one side of each sheet. At this time, when the image forming apparatus detects that the sheet P having an image formed on one side thereof has passed through the fixing unit 330 of the image forming unit 300 by a sensor such as a limit switch, the conveyed sheet P is reversed. The position of the branching claw is switched so that it is transported to the transport path 400.
In this way, the sheet reversing mechanism 10 feeds the reversing conveyance path 400, reverses the sheets P sequentially conveyed, and conveys them to the reversing paper feeding conveyance path 600.
[0027]
Then, in order to form an image on the back side, the first page of paper P1 is conveyed again to the image forming unit 300 as it is, and after the second page P2 is formed on the back side, the paper (P1 / P2) Is sent to the paper discharge section as it is and discharged.
That is, when the image forming apparatus detects that the paper P on which an image of even-numbered pages has passed the fixing unit 330 by the sensor, the image forming apparatus branches so that the conveyed paper P is conveyed to the paper discharge conveyance path 700. Switch the position of the nail.
The third and fifth page sheets (P3 and P5) are waiting in the reverse sheet feed path 600. For this purpose, the conveyance roller of the reverse sheet feeding conveyance path 600 is switched between driving and stopping by a clutch or the like.
[0028]
After forming the second page image, the seventh page image is formed on the fourth sheet (P4) fed from the sheet feed tray 100, and the sheet (P7) is conveyed to the sheet reversing mechanism 10. Then, after the image formation for the seventh page, the third page paper (P3) waiting in the reverse paper feed conveyance path 600 is conveyed to the image forming unit 300, and the fourth page is placed on the back surface of the paper (P3). The image of (P4) is formed. Then, the paper (P3 / P4) on which the image of the fourth page has been formed is discharged as it is, and the paper (P9) on which the image of the ninth page is formed is fed from the paper supply unit 10 to form an image. I do. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated until the required number of pages is reached, whereby double-sided printing over a plurality of pages is realized.
[0029]
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the paper P carried from the carry-in port 11 is conveyed by the feeding means 13 and when the paper P is discharged from the carry-out port 12, the paper surface is reversed from that at the carry-in time. Can be made.
For this reason, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the sheet P being conveyed in order to invert the sheet P, and a series of operations for conveying the sheet P to the image forming unit 300 again after the sheet inversion can be performed without reducing the sheet speed. Therefore, no time loss occurs.
Further, since the sheet P passing through the sheet reversing mechanism 10 is necessarily reversed when it is carried out, no special control for the reversing operation is required, and the sheet can be easily reversed.
[0030]
As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that changes can be made.
For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the feeding member 14 of the paper reversing mechanism 10 is a roller on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the paper P is described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0031]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration in which the belt 18 (18a, 18b) is used for the feeding member 14 of the paper reversing mechanism 10, and FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which the rib 19 and the roller 14b are used for the feeding member 14 of the paper reversing mechanism 10. Yes.
FIGS. 5A and 6A are cross-sectional views taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 2 in the respective configurations. FIGS. 5B and 6B are YY ′. It is sectional drawing in ZZ '.
[0032]
In FIG. 5, a belt 18a is provided so as to continuously cover the plurality of rollers 14a on the upper surface side of the paper P, and the belt 18b is provided on the plurality of rollers 14b symmetrically thereto. Since the other same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, the description thereof is omitted. If the sheet reversing mechanism 10 is configured as described above, the sheet P can be transported by the surface of the belt 18, so that the fixing force is good and displacement of the sheet being transported can be prevented. Further, since the entire transport path is interlocked by the belt 18, the paper P can be transported by interlocking one portion of the belt 18 with the driving means.
[0033]
In FIG. 6, a planar rib 19 is provided at a location on the upper surface side of the paper P so as to face the upper surface portion of the roller 14 b from the housing 15 that covers the entire feeding unit 13. Since the other same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, the description thereof is omitted. If the sheet reversing mechanism 10 is configured as described above, one surface of the conveyed paper P is guided by the ribs, so that the stability is good and the deviation of the paper P accompanying the conveyance can be suppressed.
In addition to the above-described embodiment, the paper P can be transported if either the upper surface side or the lower surface side of the paper P can be driven. Therefore, a combination of a roller and a belt, and a combination of a rib and a belt It may be.
[0034]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, an image forming apparatus using the sheet reversing mechanism according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment can specify the orientation (front or back) of the paper surface to be discharged during single-sided printing by using the above-described paper reversing mechanism.
[0035]
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment has a branch setting unit 20 that sets a paper surface direction to be discharged, and a branch that switches a destination of the paper P discharged from the image forming unit 300. The paper feeding unit 30 and a reverse paper discharge conveyance path 40 for conveying the paper P carried out of the paper reversing mechanism 10 to a paper discharge unit (not shown) are provided.
The paper discharge setting means 20 is a paper discharge unit without reversing the printing surface of the paper P on which one side or both sides are printed by the image forming unit 300 according to input from a panel having a display and input function or the initial setting. To select whether to discharge the paper or to reverse the printing surface.
[0036]
The branch sending unit 30 reads the presence / absence of paper reversal selected and set by the paper discharge setting unit 20.
The branch sending unit 30 sends the paper P printed by the image forming unit 300 to the paper discharge unit when the read selection setting is a setting for discharging the paper P without inverting it. If the paper is set to be discharged after being reversed, the paper P is switched to the direction to be sent to the paper reversing mechanism 10.
Note that the branch sending unit 30 shown in FIG. 7 shows a setting time for sending the paper P to the discharge unit, and the image forming unit 300 is moved by moving the leading end of the branch sending unit 30 upward from this state. The paper P sent out from the paper can be sent to the paper reversing mechanism 10.
[0037]
The reversal paper discharge conveyance path 40 is a print paper P that has been reversed by the paper reversing mechanism 10 via the branch sending means 30 when the paper discharge setting means 20 selects to set the paper to be reversed and discharged. Is conveyed to the paper discharge unit while maintaining the orientation of the inverted paper surface.
[0038]
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the operator can freely set the orientation of the sheet surface discharged from the apparatus after printing by operating the discharge setting unit 20. it can.
Further, since the paper P that is reversed and carried out is reversed by the paper reversing mechanism 10, the reversed paper P can be provided at high speed.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a paper that can be reversed without causing time loss and without requiring complicated control, and a reversing space for reversing the paper can be reduced. A reversing mechanism and an image forming apparatus using the reversing mechanism can be provided.
[0040]
Further, the operator can freely set the direction of the paper surface discharged from the apparatus after printing by operating the paper discharge setting means, and the paper that is reversed and carried out is reversed by the paper reversing mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet that is reversed at high speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a sheet reversing mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a roller in a sheet reversing mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a roller in a sheet reversing mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a belt in a sheet reversing mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of ribs and rollers in a sheet reversing mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper reversing mechanism 11 Carry-in port 12 Carry-out port 13 Feed means 14 Roller (feed member)
15 Housing 16 Ball bearing 17 Guide member 18 Belt (feeding member)
19 Rib (feeding member)
20 Paper discharge setting means 30 Branch sending means 40 Reverse paper discharge conveyance path (reverse paper discharge means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Paper feed tray 200 Paper feed conveyance path 300 Image formation part (image formation means)
310 Photosensitive drum 320 Conveying belt 330 Fixing unit 400 Reverse conveying path 500 Intermediate tray 510 Switchback roller 600 Inverted sheet conveying path (reversed sheet conveying means)
700 Paper delivery path

Claims (7)

A paper reversing mechanism for reversing and ejecting paper carried in from the outside,
A feeding means for transporting the loaded paper from a carry-in port to a carry-out port;
A sheet reversing mechanism, wherein a conveyance surface of a conveyance path of the sheet conveyed by the feeding unit is twisted 180 degrees about an axis in a conveyance direction. The sheet reversing mechanism according to claim 1,
The feeding means comprises a feeding member that conveys the paper while sandwiching the paper,
The paper reversing mechanism, wherein the feeding member on the upper surface side and / or the lower surface side of the paper is driven by a driving unit. The paper reversing mechanism according to claim 2,
The sheet reversing mechanism, wherein the feeding member on one or both of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the sheet has a plurality of rollers. The paper reversing mechanism according to claim 2,
The paper reversing mechanism, wherein the feeding member on one or both of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the paper has a belt. In the paper reversing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The paper reversing mechanism, wherein the feeding means has guide members on both sides of the transport path for preventing the paper from being displaced from the transport path. Image forming means for forming an image on one side of the conveyed paper;
A paper reversing mechanism for reversing the paper on which an image is formed on one side by the image forming means;
A reversing paper feed conveying means for conveying the paper reversed by the paper reversing mechanism to the image forming means,
An image forming apparatus using the sheet reversing mechanism according to claim 1 as the sheet reversing mechanism. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.
A discharge setting unit capable of selecting whether to discharge the paper printed by the image forming unit without reversing the print surface or to discharge the paper after reversing the print surface;
If the paper discharge setting means is set to discharge the paper without reversing the printing surface, the paper printed by the image forming means is sent to the paper discharge section, and the paper is discharged after being reversed. A branch sending means for sending to the paper reversing mechanism if it is made;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a reversing sheet discharging unit that conveys the sheet fed by the branch feeding unit and reversed by the sheet reversing mechanism to the sheet discharging unit.

Images