JP2005335885A - Sheet feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feed device to position a recording sheet of paper using the center as reference, capable of suppressing the dispersion in the air quantity sent to the recording sheet generated owing to difference in the size of recording sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet feed device 40 has a fan 94 attached to the outer surface of a rear frame 10B, which is furnished with an air hole 10C facing the fan 94, and from the air hole 10C, a duct 90 is extended to an air hole 50A in a side guide 50. The duct 90 is composed of a cushion member 90A affixed to the peripheral edge of the air hole 10C in the inner surface of the rear frame 10B, a connection member 90B installed at the peripheral edge of an air hole 44B formed in the side wall 44A of a sheet feed cassette 44, bellows 90C with one end in the axial direction attached to the connection member 90B, the other end of bellows 90C about the axial direction, and a connection member 90D installed at the peripheral edge of the air hole 50A. This causes the blowout hole of the duct 90 to move in follow-up after sliding of the side guide 50, which suppresses the dispersion in the air quantity sent to the recording sheet generated owing to difference in the size of recording sheets P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds out a sheet stored in a sheet storage unit from the sheet storage unit.

  If coated paper such as coated paper or art paper is set in a paper cassette, the adhesiveness between the coated papers is increased. For this reason, in a paper feeder that feeds coated paper from the paper cassette, air is blown from the side of the coated paper set in the paper cassette by an air flow generating means such as a fan to keep the coated papers in close contact with each other. By feeding the coated paper after unraveling, double feeding and paper jams are prevented (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, the positioning of the sheet in the sheet feeding cassette (sheet storage unit) is performed by side reference positioning in which the sheet is moved in one direction by the side guide and the sheet by the side guide provided on both sides of the sheet. This is performed by any one of center-based positioning that matches the center portion.

In a paper feeding device that performs side reference positioning, if the air flow generating means is fixed to the reference side, the distance between the air flow generating means and the sheet is always constant regardless of the size of the sheet. There is no problem because air can be blown, but in the paper feeding device that performs center reference positioning, if the air flow generating means is fixed to the paper feeding cassette or the image forming apparatus main body, the air flow generating means and the sheet depend on the size of the sheet. Will change, and the air volume blown to the seat will change. If the air flow generating means is mounted on the side guide, this problem can be solved, but the structure becomes complicated and the cost increases.
JP-A-4-23747

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and suppresses variation due to the difference in sheet size of the air volume blown to the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion. The purpose is to simplify the structure and reduce the cost.

  The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, a sheet accommodating unit that accommodates a sheet, a sheet feeding unit that feeds out the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating unit, and an air flow generating unit that generates an air flow. An air outlet provided in a guide plate that slides on and comes into contact with a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, and an air flow path that guides an air flow from the air flow generating means to the air outlet. A paper feeding device having the air flow path capable of following the guide plate.

  In the sheet feeding device according to claim 1, the air flow generated by the air flow generation unit flows through the air flow path connecting the air flow generation unit and the air blowing port, and is stored in the sheet storage unit from the air blowing port. It is blown out toward the seat. Accordingly, the adhesion between the sheets is lowered, and therefore, when the sheet is sent out from the sheet storage portion by the sheet feeding unit, it is possible to prevent the sheets from being double-fed and jammed in the sheet conveyance path.

  In addition, the guide plate is slid and brought into contact with the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, thereby positioning the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion.

  Here, the guide plate is provided with an air outlet, and the air flow path moves the outlet to follow the guide plate by expanding and contracting.

  Thereby, the distance from the air outlet to the sheet can be kept constant regardless of the size of the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the air volume of the air blown onto the sheet that is generated due to the difference in sheet size. In addition, since the air flow generating means can be installed not on the guide plate but on the sheet storage portion or outside the sheet storage portion, the routing of the wiring, the shape of the guide plate, and the like can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper feeding device according to the first aspect, further comprising a control unit that changes an air volume or a pressure of the air flow generating unit according to a sheet size. .

  In the sheet feeding device according to the second aspect, the control unit changes the air volume or pressure of the air flow generation unit according to the size of the sheet. For this reason, it is possible to correct the difference in air flow loss caused by the change in the air flow path length or the change in the air flow path shape according to the sheet size, and the air blown on the sheet due to the difference in the sheet size. The variation in the air volume can be suppressed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper feeding device according to the first or second aspect, wherein at least a part of the air flow path is configured to be extendable or bent.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the air flow path is formed of a member that can be stretched or bent, and when the sheet is small and the guide plate is separated from the air flow generating means, the air flow path is The air flow path contracts (or bends) when it expands and the sheet is large in size and the guide plate approaches the air flow generating means.

  As a result, the air flow path can be configured linearly regardless of the size of the sheet, so that the pressure loss of air can be suppressed and the space occupied by the air flow path can be reduced.

  A sheet feeding device according to a fourth aspect is the sheet feeding device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the sheet storage portion can be inserted into and removed from an image forming apparatus main body, and the air flow generating means Is installed on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the air flow path is provided in the first duct provided in the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet accommodating portion, and can be connected to and separated from the first duct. And the second duct.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the sheet storage unit can be inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body. For this reason, if the air flow generating means is installed in the sheet accommodating portion, a drawer connector or the like that is attached / detached when the sheet accommodating portion is inserted into / removed from the image forming apparatus main body is required, resulting in complicated wiring and increased costs.

  Therefore, in the sheet feeding device according to the fourth aspect, the air flow generating means is installed on the image forming apparatus main body side, the first duct is provided on the image forming apparatus main body, and the first duct can be connected and disconnected. A second duct is provided in the seat accommodating portion.

  As a result, the air flow generating means is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side to simplify the wiring, and an air flow path from the air flow generating means to the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion can be formed. The sheet feeding device can be configured so as not to hinder the insertion / extraction of the image section to / from the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeding device according to the fourth aspect, the air flow generation unit is disposed on the upstream side in the direction in which the sheet storage unit is extracted from the image forming apparatus main body. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the air flow generating means is disposed upstream of the direction in which the sheet storage portion is extracted from the image forming apparatus main body, and the first duct and the second duct are arranged in the insertion / extraction direction of the sheet storage portion. Therefore, when the sheet accommodating portion is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body and the first duct and the second duct are separated and joined, the joining portion of the first duct and the second duct may be rubbed or twisted. Absent. Further, since the second duct can be pressed against the first duct when the sheet storage portion is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, the sealing performance of the joint portion between the first duct and the second duct can be improved. Furthermore, space efficiency can be maintained by mounting a fan 94, which will be described later, outside the space for arranging other sheet feeding cassettes.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress variation due to the difference in sheet size of the air volume blown to the sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion, and to simplify the structure of the sheet feeding device. Cost can be reduced.

  Before describing the sheet feeding device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention, an outline of the image forming apparatus 10 including the sheet feeding device 40 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12. The image forming unit 12 is provided with a photosensitive drum 14, and a charger 16, a developing device 18, and a cleaner 20 are disposed in the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 14. An image writing device 22 that irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 with laser light is provided between the charger 16 and the developing device 18.

  The image writing device 22 is connected to the image recording control unit 24. The image recording control unit 24 is connected to the receiving unit 26 via the communication line 32, and image information such as data read by the image reading device 28 or data from an external device (such as a personal computer) 30 is received. The image is sent from the receiving unit 26 to the image recording control unit 24. Then, the laser light is modulated based on the image information controlled by the image recording control unit 24, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 14 from the image writing device 22.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 16. Then, laser light is irradiated from the image writing device 22 to expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 to form an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 18 and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14. At this time, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 without being transferred to the recording paper P is collected by the cleaner 20.

  A transfer roller 34 is provided on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 14 from the image writing device 22 so as to face the photosensitive drum 14. A toner image on the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred by a transfer roller 34 to a recording sheet P conveyed from a paper feeding unit 42 described later, and the toner image is transferred to the recording sheet P by a fixing device 36 installed on the downstream side in the conveying direction. It is fixed. Then, the recording paper P is discharged to a discharge tray 39 by a pair of discharge rollers 38 provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the fixing device 36.

  On the other hand, below the image forming apparatus 10, a paper feeding unit 42 in which a plurality of paper feeding devices 40 are provided up and down is disposed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper feeding device 40 includes a rectangular paper feeding cassette 44. Recording paper P, which is a coated paper such as coated paper or art paper, is stacked in the paper feed cassette 44, and an end guide 48 that regulates the rear end surface of the recording paper P in the transport direction on the upstream side in the transport direction. Is provided. In addition, side guides 50 and 51 are provided at both ends of a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper feed cassette 44 (hereinafter referred to as an orthogonal direction).

  The end guide 48 is slidable in the transport direction, and the side guides 50 and 51 are slidable in the orthogonal direction. The end guide 48 is slid according to the size of the recording paper P to position the end surface of the recording paper P. . Here, the side guides 50 and 51 are arranged at an equal distance from the central portion in the orthogonal direction. When the side guide 50 or the side guide 51 is slid, the side guide 51 or the side guide 50 is interlocked and opposite. Slide the same amount in the direction. That is, the recording paper P is positioned by the center guide by the side guides 50 and 51.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a bottom plate 47 that moves up and down by driving a motor (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the paper feed cassette 44. The motor is turned on and off by a micro switch. When the uppermost height of the recording paper P becomes lower than a predetermined height and the microswitch is turned on, the motor is driven to raise the bottom plate 47. When the uppermost height of the recording paper P reaches a predetermined height and the microswitch is turned off, the driving of the motor is stopped and the ascent of the bottom plate 47 is stopped.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a paper feed unit 52 including a frame 54 and a roll unit 66 is attached to the end of each paper feed cassette 44 in the transport direction. The frame 54 is provided outside the two box portions 56 and a long box portion 56 disposed at predetermined intervals on both sides in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper feed cassette 44. The side plate 60 is formed in a substantially gate shape. A space is provided between the two box portions 56, and a nudger roll 68 and a feed roll 70 of a roll unit 66 described later are disposed.

  The wall portion 62 of the box portion 56 is provided with a bearing, and a support shaft 68A of the nudger roll 68 is rotatably supported. The nudger roll 68 comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the recording paper P loaded on the paper feed cassette 44 and feeds the recording paper P to a feed roll 70 described later.

  A support shaft 70 </ b> A of the feed roll 70 is rotatably supported by the bearing provided on the wall portion 62 of the box portion 56. Although not described, the box portion 56 houses a drive mechanism that drives the nudger roll 68, the feed roll 70, and the retard roll 72. The feed roll 70 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by the drive mechanism. The support shaft 68A of the nudger roll 68 and the support shaft 70A of the feed roll 70 are provided with interlocking gears (not shown). Each interlocking gear meshes with an intermediate gear, and the feed roll 70 is moved by the operation of the motor. When rotating in the A direction, the nudger roll 68 is configured to rotate in the same direction in synchronism with this.

  A front plate 58 is provided vertically below the box portion 56, and both ends of the front plate 58 are attached to the side plate 60. A rectangular notch 64 is formed in the approximate center of the front plate 58 from the upper side to the lower side. A retard roll 72 of the roll unit 66 is disposed in the notch 64.

  An arm member 73 is attached to an edge portion 64 </ b> A in the width direction of the notch 64, and projects to a lower area of the feed roll 70. A support shaft 72A of the retard roll 72 is rotatably supported by the arm member 73. The retard roll 72 is in contact with the upper feed roll 70 and is driven to separate the recording paper P fed from the nudger roll 68 and convey it to the image forming unit.

  The side plate 60 is provided with a flange 61, and is attached to a body frame (not shown) by inserting a screw into a hole 63 formed in the flange 61. Thereby, the paper feeding unit 52 can be attached to and detached from the main body frame.

  An end portion of the front plate 58 facing the box portion 56 has an R shape on the recording paper P conveyance direction side, and the recording paper P can pass between the box portion 56 and the end portion of the front plate 58. A large gap is provided. As a result, the recording paper P sent out by the feed roll 70 and the retard roll 72 is sent to the gap between the box portion 56 and the front plate 58 along the R shape of the front plate 58 and conveyed to the image forming unit.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the bottom plate 47 is raised by driving the motor and comes into contact with the nudger roll 68, the bottom plate 47 stops at a predetermined height. Next, the nudger roll 68 is pushed down by a solenoid (not shown) to come into contact with the uppermost recording paper P and rotate to feed out the recording paper P. When the sheet feeding advances and the height of the uppermost recording sheet P becomes lower than a predetermined height, the microswitch is turned on, and the bottom plate 47 is raised by driving the motor. In this way, the sheet feeding operation is continued.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the image forming apparatus 10, the back side (hereinafter referred to as the rear side) of the direction in which the paper feed cassette 44 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 10 (the direction of arrow A in the figure). A fan 94 is provided. The fan 94 is attached to the outer surface of a rear frame 10B that is erected on the rear side of the base frame 10A of the image forming apparatus 10. The rear frame 10B is formed with one circular air hole 10C facing the center of the fan 94, and the air flow generated by the fan 94 is supplied through the air hole 10C. It flows into the paper cassette 44.

  Further, the rear side frame 50 is formed with circular air holes 50A having the same diameter as the air holes 10C facing the air holes 10C, and the duct 90 is linearly formed from the air holes 10C to the air holes 50A. Is extended.

  The duct 90 includes a cushion member 90A, a connection member 90B, a bellows 90C, and a connection member 90D. The cushion member 90A is circular and flexible, and is attached to the inner surface of the rear frame 10B along the peripheral edge of the air hole 10C. The cushion member 90A is formed in contact with the rear side wall 44A of the paper feed cassette 44 when the paper feed cassette 44 is inserted to the innermost portion of the image forming apparatus 10, and faces the cushion member 90A on the side wall 44A. The space between the air hole 44B and the air hole 10C is sealed.

  A cylindrical connection member 90B is attached to the inner surface of the side wall 44A along the peripheral edge of the air hole 44B. One end of the cylindrical bellows 90C in the axial direction is attached to the connection member 90B. It has been. A cylindrical connection member 90D is attached to the other axial end of the bellows 90C, and this connection member 90D is attached to the peripheral edge of the air hole 50A of the guide plate 50.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the bellows 90C contracts when the side guide 50 is slid outward, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the bellows 90C extends when the side guide 50 is slid inward. To do. As a result, the connection member 90 </ b> D serving as an air outlet is moved following the slide of the side guide 50, so that the distance between the outlet of the duct 90 and the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 44 is always constant. .

  Therefore, although there is a slight difference in air pressure loss due to the change in the shape of the bellows 90C and the change in the air flow path length, there is a variation in the amount of air blown onto the recording paper P due to the difference in the size of the recording paper P. Can be suppressed. Further, by adopting the bellows 90C and making the duct 90 extendable, it is not necessary to bend the duct 90 in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the side guide 50, and the space occupied by the duct 90 can be reduced and the duct 90 can be reduced. The pressure loss of air can be reduced.

  Further, by installing the fan 94 in the image forming apparatus main body 10, it is possible to simplify the routing of wiring for supplying power to the fan 94 and the shape of the side guide 50.

  Further, the fan 94 is disposed at the upstream end in the direction of drawing out the paper feed cassette 44 from the image forming apparatus 10 (the direction of arrow B in the figure), and the duct 90 is directed in the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette 44. Therefore, when the sheet feeding cassette 44 is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus 10 and the cushion member 90A as the first duct and the connecting member 90B, bellows 90C, and connecting member 90D as the second duct are separated and joined, The cushion member 90A and the side wall 44A do not rub against each other and the cushion member 90A does not twist. Further, since the peripheral edge of the air hole 44B can be pressed against the cushion member 90A when the paper feed cassette 44 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 10, the sealing performance between the cushion member 90A and the peripheral edge of the air hole 44B is improved. It can be improved. Furthermore, the space efficiency can be maintained by mounting the fan 94 outside the arrangement space of other sheet feeding cassettes.

  Note that, as described above, there is some air pressure loss due to the change in the shape of the bellows 90C and the change in the air flow path length. In the present embodiment, however, the air control unit 92 causes the fan according to the size of the recording paper P. The airflow of 94 can be changed.

  The air control unit 92 determines the size of the recording paper P based on a detection signal from a detection unit (not shown) that detects the position of the side guide 50 or the side guide 51. As shown in FIG. 4A, if the size of the recording paper P is large, the side guide 50 spreads outward, the distance from the fan 94 to the outlet of the duct 90 is shortened, and the air pressure is reduced. Since the loss is reduced, the air volume of the fan 94 is reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, if the size of the recording paper P is small, the side guide 50 is moved inward, and the distance from the fan 94 to the outlet of the duct 90 is increased, and the air flow is increased. Since the pressure loss increases, the air volume of the fan 94 is increased.

  Thus, regardless of the size of the recording paper P, air of a substantially constant air volume can be blown onto the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 44, and the adhesion between the recording papers P and the dryness of the recording paper P can be reduced. Can be kept constant.

  In the present embodiment, the size of the recording sheet P is determined by detecting the position of the side guide 50 or the side guide 51 and the air volume of the fan 94 is changed. The size of the recording paper P may be set every time, and the air volume of the fan 94 may be changed according to the set size of the recording paper P.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the paper feeding device 100 is provided with a duct 110 having a structure different from that of the duct 40 of the paper feeding device 40 of the first embodiment. The duct 110 includes a flexible circular cushion member 110A attached to the peripheral edge of the air hole 10C. The cushion member 110A contacts the peripheral edge of the air hole 44B and seals between the cushion member 110A and the air hole 44B.

  In addition, the duct 110 is inserted into the cylindrical first cylindrical body 110B attached to the peripheral edge of the air hole 44B on the inner surface of the side wall 44A, and the second cylindrical body 110B is slidable. The cylindrical body 110C and the third cylindrical body 110D having one axial end portion inserted into the second cylindrical body 110B and slidable, and the other axial end fixed to the peripheral edge of the air hole 50A. Is provided.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the side guide 50 is slid outward, the third cylindrical body 110D is moved into the second cylindrical body 110C, and the second cylindrical body 110C is moved into the first cylindrical body 110B. When the side guide 50 is slid inward as shown in FIG. 7B, the third cylinder 110D is moved from the second cylinder 110C and the second cylinder 110C is moved from the first cylinder 110C to the first cylinder 110C. The duct 110 is extended by being pulled out from the cylindrical body 110B. As a result, the air outlet of the duct 110 moves following the slide of the side guide 50, so that the distance between the air outlet of the duct 110 and the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 44 is always constant. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress variations in the air volume of the air blown onto the recording paper P, which is caused by the difference in the size of the recording paper P.

  In addition, by restricting the movement of the side guide 50 toward the side guide 51 at a predetermined position, the third cylindrical body 110D and the second cylindrical body 110C do not come out of the second cylindrical body 110C and the first cylindrical body 110B, respectively. Are provided in the paper feed cassette 44, or stoppers are provided between the first cylindrical body 110B and the second cylindrical body 110C and between the second cylindrical body 110C and the third cylindrical body 110D. It is desirable to provide it.

  In the first and second embodiments, the paper feeding device that positions the recording paper P with the center reference has been described as an example. However, the paper feeding device that positions the recording paper P with the side reference may be designed. In addition, it is conceivable that an air flow generating means such as a fan cannot be installed on the side reference side, and if the present invention is applied in such a case, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, the present invention has been described by taking as an example a paper feeding device in which a duct is attached to a side guide, but it is also possible to apply the present invention by attaching a duct to an end guide.

  Furthermore, the present invention has been described by taking an example of a duct that can be expanded and contracted. However, a part of the duct is made of a flexible member, and instead of contracting the duct, the duct is made to bend so that the outlet of the duct is connected to the guide plate. You may make it follow a slide.

1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view illustrating a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A), (B) is sectional drawing which shows the paper feeder which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a paper feeding unit of a paper feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the paper feeder which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the paper feeder which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 40 Paper feed apparatus 44 Paper feed cassette (sheet accommodating part)
50 Side guide (guide plate)
90 Duct (air flow path)
90A Cushion member (first duct)
90B Connection member (second duct)
90C bellows (second duct)
90D connecting member (air outlet)
92 Air control unit (control means)
94 Fan (Air flow generating means)
100 paper feeder 110 duct (air flow path)
110A Cushion member (first duct)
110B first cylindrical body (second duct)
110C second cylindrical body (second duct)
110D 3rd cylinder (air outlet)
P Recording paper (sheet)

Claims (5)

A sheet accommodating portion for accommodating the sheet;
A sheet feeding means for feeding out the sheet stored in the sheet storage unit from the sheet storage unit;
An air flow generating means for generating an air flow;
An air outlet provided in a guide plate that slides against and comes into contact with a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion;
An air flow path for guiding an air flow from the air flow generating means to the air outlet;
A paper feeding device having
A paper feeding device characterized in that the air flow path can follow the guide plate.   The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that changes an air volume or a pressure of the air flow generation unit according to a size of a sheet stored in the sheet storage unit.   The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the air flow path is configured to be extendable or bent. The sheet container can be inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body,
The air flow generating means is installed on the image forming apparatus main body side,
The air flow path is configured by a first duct provided in the image forming apparatus main body and a second duct provided in the sheet accommodating portion and connected to and separated from the first duct. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the paper feeding device is characterized in that:   The sheet feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the air flow generation unit is arranged on an upstream side in a direction in which the sheet storage portion is extracted from the image forming apparatus main body.

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