JP3998131B2 - Recording medium feeding device and image forming apparatus having the feeding device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording medium feeding device that feeds a recording medium to an image forming unit by a pair of conveying members, and an image forming apparatus having the feeding device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses that feed a recording medium to an image forming unit by a recording medium feeding apparatus and form an image on the recording medium are conventionally known. Such image forming apparatuses are, for example, copying machines, printers, facsimiles, and the like. , A printing machine or a multifunction machine having at least two of these functions. Further, as the recording medium feeding device, one conveying member of a pair of conveying members that convey the recording medium is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the other conveying member is arranged to be openable and closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. An apparatus supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side is also conventionally known. According to the recording medium feeding apparatus of this type, the recording medium conveyance path can be opened by opening the opening / closing body, and therefore the recording medium jammed here can be easily removed. Further, in the recording medium feeding apparatus, a guide member for guiding the recording medium to be sent to the image forming unit is disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side.
[0003]
By the way, in this type of recording medium feeding apparatus, it is inevitable that foreign matters such as paper dust and dust dropped from the recording medium adhere to the surface of the conveying member. When foreign matter adheres to the transport member in this way, the friction coefficient on the surface of the transport member decreases, and this causes the transported recording medium to slip with respect to the transport member, thereby causing troubles in transport of the recording medium such as paper jams. There is a risk of it happening. Therefore, a large number of recording medium feeding devices provided with a cleaning member that removes foreign matters adhering to the surface of the conveying member have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-203672). Since foreign matter accumulates on such a cleaning member over time, it is necessary to clean the cleaning member as necessary, or to replace the cleaning member with a new cleaning member when the cleaning member has deteriorated. is there. Such maintenance work of the cleaning member can be performed by opening the opening / closing body.
[0004]
However, when the cleaning member for cleaning the conveying member supported on the image forming apparatus main body side is provided, as described above, the recording medium feeding device is provided with the guide member disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side. Therefore, the cleaning member must be arranged on the back side of the guide member, that is, the guide member side opposite to the opening side of the image forming apparatus main body that is opened when the opening / closing body is opened. Even if the body is opened, the guide member is in the way, and the cleaning member cannot be put in hand, so that it is difficult to perform maintenance work on the cleaning member.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described novel recognition. The object of the present invention is to easily perform maintenance work on the cleaning member without being obstructed by the guide member provided on the image forming apparatus main body side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium feeding device that can be used, and an image forming apparatus having the recording medium feeding device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying member pair that conveys a recording medium to an image forming unit, and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit, and one of the conveying member pairs. The conveying member is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. In the recording medium feeding apparatus disposed on the image forming apparatus main body and adjacent to the one conveying member, a cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, and the guide member is used as the image forming apparatus. The cleaning member is supported so that the cleaning member can be moved with respect to the main body and the cleaning member can be moved along with the movement of the guide member. Proposed a recording medium feeding device characterized in that a foreign object storage part for storing a left foreign object is provided in the guide member, and the foreign object storage part is composed of a foreign object storage case removably supported by the guide member. (Claim 1).
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying member pair that conveys a recording medium to an image forming unit, and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit. One conveying member is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Is a main body side of the image forming apparatus, and in the recording medium feeding device disposed adjacent to the one conveying member, a cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, and the guide member is moved to the image. The cleaning member is supported by the cleaning member so that the cleaning member can be moved with respect to the forming apparatus body and the cleaning member can be moved along with the movement of the guide member. A recording medium feeding device is provided, wherein a foreign substance storage case for storing the foreign substance removed from the guide member is detachably provided on the guide member, and the cleaning member is supported by the foreign substance storage case. .
Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying member pair that conveys a recording medium to an image forming unit, and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit. One conveying member is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Is a main body side of the image forming apparatus, and in the recording medium feeding device disposed adjacent to the one conveying member, a cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, and the guide member is moved to the image. The cleaning member is supported so that the cleaning member can be moved with respect to the forming apparatus main body, and the cleaning member can be moved along with the movement of the guide member. Friction coefficient proposes a recording medium feeding device, characterized in that it is set higher than the frictional coefficient of the surface of the other conveying member (claim 3).
[0007]
Further, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the cleaning member contacts the one conveying member to clean the conveying member from the cleaning position to the one conveying member. It is advantageous if it is supported so as to be able to move to a position separated from it.
[0008]
Furthermore, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, it is advantageous that the guide member is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body (claim 5). .
[0009]
The recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an upstream conveying member disposed upstream of the pair of conveying members in a recording medium conveying direction, and the upstream conveying It is advantageous that the member is rotatably supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the guide member is rotatably supported on the shaft of the upstream conveying member or a bearing of the shaft. 6).
[0010]
Further, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, it is advantageous that the guide member is detachably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body (claim 7).
[0011]
In the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 7, it is advantageous that the cleaning member is supported by the guide member (claim 8).
[0012]
Furthermore, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the one transport member is composed of a transport roller rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and the guide member is It is advantageous to be configured to be positioned by the shaft of the conveying roller or a bearing of the shaft.
[0013]
Further, in the recording medium feeding device according to claim 3, it is advantageous that the guide member is provided with a foreign matter storage portion for storing the foreign matter removed from the one transport member by the cleaning member (claim 10). .
[0014]
Further, in the recording medium feeding device according to claim 10, it is advantageous that the foreign matter storage portion is composed of a foreign matter storage case detachably supported by the guide member (claim 11).
[0015]
The recording medium feeding device according to claim 3, wherein a foreign substance storage case for storing the foreign substance removed from the one conveying member by the cleaning member is detachably provided on the guide member, and the cleaning member is It is advantageous if it is supported by a foreign substance storage case (claim 12).
[0017]
Furthermore, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, it is advantageous that the surface of the one transport member is made of an elastic body (claim 13).
[0018]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and an image for forming an image on the recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding device. An image forming apparatus comprising a forming unit is proposed.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, and the above-described conventional problems will be clarified more specifically with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus configured as a printer. The image forming apparatus shown here has an image forming apparatus main body 1 and an opening / closing body 3 supported so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 via a pin 2. The image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with first to fourth photoconductors 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK formed in a drum shape. A yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image are formed on each photoconductor. Further, an intermediate transfer member 5 made of an endless belt is arranged opposite to the first to fourth photoconductors 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK, and this intermediate transfer member 5 is wound around a plurality of support rollers 6, 7, 8. It is hung.
[0021]
Since the configuration for forming the toner image on the first to fourth photoconductors 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK is substantially the same, the toner image is formed on the first photoconductor 4Y, and the toner image is formed. Only the structure for transferring to the intermediate transfer member 5 will be described. The photoconductor 4Y is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and at this time, the surface of the photoconductor is irradiated with light from the static eliminator 9, and the surface potential of the photoconductor 4Y is initialized. The initialized photoreceptor surface is charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging device 10. The charged surface is irradiated with light-modulated laser light L emitted from the exposure device 11, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the writing information is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 4Y is visualized as a yellow toner image when it passes through the developing device 12.
[0022]
On the other hand, the intermediate transfer member 5 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow B, and a transfer device 13 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer member 5. The transfer device 13 includes a toner image formed on the photoreceptor 4Y. A transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied. As a result, the toner image on the photoreceptor 4 </ b> Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 5. The transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 4Y after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 5 is removed by the cleaning device 14, and the surface of the photoreceptor 4Y is cleaned.
[0023]
In exactly the same manner, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image are formed on the second to fourth photoconductors 4M, 4C, and 4BK, respectively, and these toner images are formed by the action of each transfer device. Then, the toner images are electrostatically transferred to the intermediate transfer member 5 on which the yellow toner image is transferred.
[0024]
As described above, a plurality of color toner images are formed on the intermediate transfer member 5 in an overlapping manner, and this toner image is rotated on the recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding device 15 as will be described later. The image is transferred by a transfer device 17 including a transfer roller. As the recording medium, for example, a sheet-like recording paper, a resin sheet or a resin film is used. The surface of the intermediate transfer member after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 16. In the image forming apparatus of this example, the portion where the toner image on the intermediate transfer member 5 is transferred to the recording medium by the transfer device 17 constitutes an image forming unit 18 that forms an image on the recording medium. The recording medium feeding device 15 shown as an example in FIG. 1 is configured as follows.
[0025]
A recording medium delivery unit 19 is disposed in the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 1. The recording medium delivery unit 19 in this example includes a cassette 20 and a sheet-like recording medium P stacked and accommodated in the cassette 20. And a separation pad 22 in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the feed roller 21. The feeding roller 21 rotates while being pressed against the uppermost recording medium P, and feeds the recording medium P in the direction of arrow C. At this time, when a plurality of recording media are sent out simultaneously, the uppermost recording medium and other recording media are separated by the action of the separation pad 22 in pressure contact with the feeding roller 21, and only the uppermost recording medium is present. It is sent out in the direction of arrow C.
[0026]
A relay roller pair 23 and a registration roller pair 24 are provided along the transport path along which the recording medium fed in this way is transported. The relay roller pair 23 is a pair of transport rollers that rotate while contacting each other. It consists of 23A and 23B. The registration roller pair 24 is disposed downstream of the relay roller pair 23 in the recording medium conveyance direction, and the registration roller pair 24 also includes two conveyance rollers 24A and 24B that are in contact with each other. As the conveying rollers 23A and 23B of the relay roller pair 23 rotate in the direction of the arrow, the recording medium fed from the recording medium feeding portion 19 is conveyed to the stopped registration roller pair 24, and both of them are conveyed. The leading edge of the recording medium comes into contact with the nip portions of the rollers 24A and 24B. As a result, a slack is formed in the recording medium, and the skew of the recording medium is corrected. Next, the conveying rollers 24A and 24B of the registration roller pair 24 rotate in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined timing, whereby the recording medium is fed between the intermediate transfer member 5 and the transfer device 17. As described above, the recording medium feeding device 15 serves to feed the recording medium from the recording medium feeding unit 19 to the image forming unit 18.
[0027]
When the recording medium passes between the intermediate transfer member 5 and the transfer device 17, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer member 5 is applied to the transfer device 17. An image composed of the superimposed toner image on the transfer body 5 is transferred onto a recording medium. Next, the recording medium passes between the fixing roller 25A and the pressure roller 25B of the fixing device 25. At this time, the image on the recording medium is fixed to the recording medium by the action of heat and pressure. The recording medium that has passed through the fixing device 25 is discharged to the discharge unit 27 by the discharge roller pair 26.
[0028]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus of this example, the recording medium P fed from the recording medium feeding unit 19 is conveyed from below to above, and then the recording medium is discharged to the discharge unit 27. Since it is configured, the conveyance path of the recording medium from the recording medium delivery unit 19 to the discharge roller pair 26 can be shortened. As a result, the time required to transport the recording medium from the recording medium delivery unit 19 to the discharge unit 27 can be shortened, and the image forming speed can be increased.
[0029]
In the double-sided print mode in which images are formed on both sides of the recording medium, the switching claw 28 provided downstream of the fixing device 25 in the recording medium conveyance direction is switched to a position indicated by a one-dot chain line by an electromagnetic solenoid not shown. . As a result, the recording medium exiting the fixing device 25 is guided to the reversing roller pair 29 composed of the two transport rollers 29A and 29B, and then the rotation direction of the transport rollers 29A and 29B is reversed. As a result, the recording medium is switched back, guided to the duplex unit 30 provided in the opening / closing body 3, and conveyed in the directions of arrows E and F. Subsequently, the recording medium is conveyed again to the registration roller pair 24 and fed to the image forming unit 18 at a predetermined timing, where the image on the intermediate transfer member 5 is transferred to the back surface of the recording medium. The recording medium that has passed through the image forming unit 18 passes through the fixing device 25, and at this time, the image formed on the back surface is fixed and then discharged to the discharge unit 27.
[0030]
The opening / closing body 3 is provided with a door 31 and a manual feed table 32. The door 31 and the manual feed table 32 are rotated in the direction of arrow D to open them, and a recording medium placed on the table 32 Are fed in the direction of arrow F, the recording medium is guided to the registration roller pair 24, and an image can be formed on the recording medium in exactly the same manner as described above.
[0031]
Here, the right-hand portion in FIG. 1 is the above-described opening / closing body 3 with a recording medium conveyance path extending almost vertically upward from the recording medium feeding section 19 to the discharge roller pair 26, and the relay roller pair. 23, the registration roller pair 24, and the reverse roller pair 29, one of the conveyance rollers 23A, 24A, and 29A are rotatably supported on the image forming apparatus main body 1 side, and the other conveyance rollers 23B, 24B, and 29B and the transfer roller The transfer device 17 is rotatably supported on the opening / closing body 3 side. In addition, as described above, the duplex unit 30, the door 31, the manual feed table 32, and the related elements are supported on the opening / closing body 3 side. 1 are provided on the image forming apparatus main body 1 side, for example, the photoconductors 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK, the intermediate transfer member 5, and the recording medium delivery unit 19. In the illustrated example, one of the transport rollers 23A, 24A, and 29A is configured as a driving roller, and the other transport rollers 23B, 24B, and 29B are configured as driven rollers.
[0032]
When a paper jam occurs in the above-described conveyance path, one of the relay roller pair 23, the registration roller pair 24, and the reverse roller pair 27 is rotated by rotating the opening / closing body 3 to the open position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Since the conveyance rollers 23A, 24A, and 29A and the other conveyance rollers 23B, 24B, and 29B can be largely separated to open the conveyance path, the jammed recording medium can be easily removed. In the illustrated example, the entire conveying path from the recording medium delivery unit 19 to the discharge roller pair 26 can be opened by opening the opening / closing body 3, but only a part of the conveying path is opened. It can also be configured to be able to.
[0033]
In the recording medium feeding apparatus of this example, the other transport rollers 23B, 24B, and 29B are all supported on the opening / closing body 3, but at least one of these transport rollers is disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side. It can also be supported rotatably. Even with this configuration, by opening the opening / closing body 3, the recording medium conveyance path can be opened, and the jammed recording medium can be easily removed.
[0034]
As described above, the recording medium feeding device 15 is provided with the relay roller pair 23 and the registration roller pair 24. These roller pairs are an example of a pair of conveying members that convey the recording medium to the image forming unit. The conveying rollers 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B of these roller pairs 23, 24 constitute an example of the conveying members of each conveying member pair. The transport rollers 23A and 24A are specific examples of one transport member of the transport member pair, and the transport rollers 23B and 24B are specific examples of the other transport member of the transport member pair. The conveying member can also be constituted by a conveying belt or the like. Further, the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 1 has two conveying member pairs, that is, a relay roller pair 23 and a registration roller pair 24, but the number thereof can be set as appropriate, and the recording medium feeding device It can comprise so that it may have at least 1 conveyance member pair.
[0035]
As described above, when foreign matter such as paper dust or dust that has fallen off the recording medium adheres to the peripheral surfaces of the transport rollers 23A, 23B, 24A, and 24B, the friction coefficient of the peripheral surfaces decreases. As a result, the recording medium slips, and it becomes easy for a recording medium conveyance trouble such as a paper jam to occur. Further, in the image forming apparatus having the photoconductors 4Y to 4BK like the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the foreign matter adhering to the peripheral surface of one of the conveying rollers 23A and 24B adheres to the recording medium again, There is a possibility that the foreign matter is carried together with the recording medium and adheres to the intermediate transfer member 5 and moves to the surface of the photosensitive member. If a large amount of foreign matter adheres to the photoconductor in this way, the releasability of the surface of the photoconductor deteriorates. Therefore, when the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned by the cleaning device, the cleaning property is deteriorated, and thus the surface of the photoconductor is deteriorated. There is a possibility that the image quality of the formed toner image is deteriorated. In addition, when foreign matter adhering to the recording medium adheres to the surface of the fixing roller of the fixing device, the releasability of the surface is lowered, and an offset phenomenon in which toner moves to the surface of the fixing roller is likely to occur.
[0036]
In order to prevent the above-described problems, it is preferable to provide a cleaning member that abuts against the surface of the conveying member of the conveying member pair and removes foreign matter adhering to the surface. Therefore, in the recording medium feeding device of this example, a cleaning member 33 that abuts on the peripheral surface of one conveying roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24 is provided. Since the cleaning member 33 can clean the peripheral surface of one of the transport rollers 24A, the recording medium can be prevented from slipping, and the amount of foreign matter reattached to the recording medium from the transport roller 24A can be made extremely small. be able to. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large amount of foreign matter from transferring to the surfaces of the photoconductors 4Y to 4BK and the fixing roller 25A via the intermediate transfer body 5, and it is possible to prevent defective photoconductor cleaning and toner offset to the fixing roller. Can be blocked. The conveyance roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24 also passes through the recording medium sent from the recording medium sending unit 19, the recording medium sent from the manual feed table 32, and the recording medium passed through the duplex unit 30. Therefore, foreign matters such as paper dust and dust are particularly likely to adhere to the conveying roller 24A. By cleaning the conveying roller 24A with the cleaning member 33, foreign matters such as paper dust can be efficiently removed. Can do. A cleaning member for cleaning the peripheral surface of one transport roller 23A of the relay roller pair 23 may be provided, and this also effectively suppresses foreign matters such as paper dust from adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor and the fixing roller. be able to. In this way, one transport member of the pair of transport members is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the other transport member is disposed on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. In the supported recording medium feeding device, a cleaning member for cleaning one of the conveying members is provided. In the illustrated example, the cleaning member 33 is provided on the conveyance roller 24A, which is one conveyance member of the conveyance member pair including the registration roller pair 24. However, the cleaning member 33 is also provided on the other conveyance roller, It can also comprise so that a conveyance roller may be cleaned.
[0037]
As the cleaning member 33 shown in FIG. 1, for example, a blade, felt or brush made of foamed polyurethane can be used. The cleaning member 33 has a length that can contact the entire area in the axial direction of the transport roller where the recording medium of the maximum width size contacts the transport roller 24A. Thereby, paper dust, dust, toner, or the like attached to the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A can be efficiently removed.
[0038]
Further, the recording medium feeding device 15 is provided with a number of guide members for guiding the recording medium to be sent to the image forming unit 18, and the guide member indicated by reference numeral 34 in FIG. And adjacent to one of the conveyance rollers 24A of the registration roller pair 24 and disposed upstream of the conveyance roller 24A in the recording medium conveyance direction. The guide member 34 is disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side and adjacent to one conveyance member of the conveyance member pair. Here, the guide member 34 is disposed adjacent to the transport roller 24A. The guide member 34 is disposed near the transport roller 24A or is in contact with the transport roller 24A as will be described later. It means that it is arranged with. The cleaning member 33 is disposed on the back surface side of the guide member 34, that is, on the guide member side opposite to the opening side of the image forming apparatus main body that is opened when the opening / closing body 3 is opened. The guide member 34 is used to guide the recording medium to the registration roller pair 24 in cooperation with a counterpart guide member provided on the opening / closing body 3 side. The guide member 34 is made of, for example, resin or metal.
[0039]
The above is the configuration common to each specific configuration example of the recording medium feeding device or the image forming device which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8 are views showing a part of the recording medium feeding device 15 when the opening / closing body 3 is opened.
[0040]
By the way, foreign matters such as paper dust accumulate on the cleaning member 33 with time, so that the cleaning member 33 is cleaned as necessary, or when the cleaning member 33 is deteriorated, this is regarded as a new one. It needs to be replaced. At this time, if the guide member 34 disposed adjacent to one conveyance roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24 is fixedly fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 1 side, the opening / closing body 3 is shown in FIG. Even if the guide member 34 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 34 becomes in the way and cannot approach the cleaning member 33, and it is difficult to perform maintenance work for cleaning or replacing the cleaning member 33. .
[0041]
Therefore, in the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 34 includes a guide main body 34A for guiding the recording medium, a bracket 34B formed integrally with the lower portion of the guide main body 34A, and the guide main body 34A. A mounting groove 34D formed in the bracket 34B is rotatably fitted to a pin 36 projecting from a frame 37 constituting the image forming apparatus main body 1. Thus, the guide member 34 is supported around the pin 36 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow H. A magnet catch 38 is fixed to the guide body 34A, and the magnet catch 38 is attracted by a magnetic force to a magnet receiver 39 made of a magnetic material fixed to a frame 37, whereby the guide member 34 guides the recording medium. It can be held in the use position indicated by the solid line in FIG. The magnet catch 38 and the magnet receiver 39 constitute an example of a holding unit that holds the guide member 34 in its use position. The guide member 34 is provided with a handle 40 at a position that does not interfere with the conveyance of the recording medium.
[0042]
The above-described cleaning member 33 is fixedly supported on the arm portion 34 </ b> C by an adhesive or a double-sided tape, and the cleaning member 33 is in pressure contact with one conveying roller 24 </ b> A of the registration roller pair 24. The arm portion 34C can be made of an elastic material such as a leaf spring fixedly connected to the guide main body 34A, and the cleaning member 33 can be brought into pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the conveying roller 24A by the elasticity.
[0043]
When performing the maintenance work for cleaning the cleaning member 33 or exchanging it, the opening / closing body 3 is first rotated to the position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Next, when a user puts a hand through the opening of the image forming apparatus main body 1 opened by opening the opening / closing body 3, grasps the handle 40, and pulls the handle 40 toward the opening of the image forming apparatus main body 1, the magnet catch 38 is moved. The guide member 34 is released from the magnet receiver 39 and rotates around the pin 36 in the direction of arrow H. In this way, the guide member 34 moves toward the opening side of the image forming apparatus main body 1 and reaches the open position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. At this time, the guide member 34 comes into contact with a stopper 41 provided on the frame 37 of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the guide member 34 is held in the open position.
[0044]
Along with the movement of the guide member 34, the cleaning member 33 is also separated from the transport roller 24 from the cleaning position that is in contact with the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A, and the operator moves from the opening of the image forming apparatus main body 1. It occupies a position where you can put your hands and perform maintenance work. Therefore, the maintenance work for the cleaning member 33 can be easily performed without being obstructed by the guide member 34. The cleaning member 33 can be returned to the cleaning position by the reverse operation.
[0045]
In the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 2, since the guide member 34 rotates around the pin 36 below the cleaning member 33, the cleaning member 33 at the cleaning position comes into contact with the lower region of the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the cleaning member 33. When the cleaning member 33 is arranged so that the cleaning member 33 contacts the upper part of the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A, when the guide member 34 is rotated in the arrow H direction, a large force is applied to the guide member 34 from the transport roller 24A. And the arm portion 34C of the guide member 34 may hit the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A and damage the peripheral surface. In the example shown in FIG. 2, when the guide member 34 is rotated in the direction of arrow H, the arm portion 34C of the guide member 34 is slightly elastically deformed by the external force received from the transport roller 24A, and the cleaning member 33 is transported by the transport roller 24A. However, since the cleaning member 33 is made of a soft material such as polyurethane foam, brush, or felt, the conveying roller 24A is not damaged. Further, when the cleaning member 33 is brought into contact with the lower portion of the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24A, foreign matters such as paper dust removed from the peripheral surface of the transport roller by the cleaning member 33 can be easily dropped downward, and the transport roller 24A is cleaned. Efficiency can be increased.
[0046]
In the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the holding means including the magnet catch 38 and the magnet receiver 39 is used. For example, the recording medium feeding apparatus is attached to the guide member 34 and the frame 37 of the image forming apparatus main body 1, respectively. When an engaging member (not shown) is provided and the guide member 34 is in a use position where the recording medium can be guided, the above-mentioned engaging members are frictionally engaged with each other by elasticity, and the guide member 34 is rotated. Also, a holding means configured such that both engaging members are separated from each other can be used.
[0047]
In the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the guide member 34 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1. A predetermined operation can be easily performed without removing it from the forming apparatus main body 1.
[0048]
In the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 3, instead of rotatably supporting the guide member 34 on the image forming apparatus main body side, the mounting formed on the bracket 34B integral with the guide main body 34A of the guide member 34 is provided. The groove 34 </ b> D is detachably fitted to a pin 36 protruding from the frame 37 of the image forming apparatus main body 1. The other configuration of the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 3 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding device shown in FIG.
[0049]
When performing maintenance work on the cleaning member 33 supported by the guide member 34, the opening / closing body 3 shown in FIG. 1 is opened, the handle 40 of the guide member 34 shown in FIG. As indicated by I, the image forming apparatus body 1 is pulled toward the opening side. Then, the bracket 34B is elastically deformed so that the mounting groove 34D is detached from the pin 36, the magnet catch 38 is detached from the magnet receiver 39, and the guide member 34 can be detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1. Thereby, the maintenance work of the cleaning member 33 can be easily performed without being obstructed by the guide member 34. By the reverse operation, the guide member 34 can be mounted at the use position shown in FIG. As described above, the guide member 34 can also be detachably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1.
[0050]
In any of the above-described examples, the cleaning member 33 is supported by the guide member 34. At this time, the guide member 34 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body as shown in FIG. If supported, when the cleaning member 33 is to be replaced, the cleaning member 33 and the guide member 34 may be replaced together. In this way, it is not necessary to peel off the cleaning member 33 from the guide member 34 and then join a new cleaning member 33 to the guide member 34. Therefore, even a general user can easily replace the cleaning member 33. Can be done.
[0051]
The recording medium feeding device 15 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a conveyance roller 23A that is an example of a conveyance member disposed on the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction with respect to the conveyance member pair including the registration roller pair 24. Here, if the conveying member formed of the conveying roller 23A is referred to as an upstream conveying roller 23A or an upstream conveying member, the upstream conveying member is rotatably supported on the image forming apparatus main body side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 34 may be rotatably supported on the shaft 42 of the upstream conveying member or the bearing 43 of the shaft 42.
[0052]
More specifically, the mounting groove 34D formed in the bracket 34B of the guide member 34 rotatably supports the shaft 42 of the upstream side conveyance roller 23A located on the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction with respect to the registration roller pair. For this purpose, the guide member 34 is rotatably supported around the bearing 34. In the case of this example, the guide member 34 is rotatably supported on the image forming apparatus main body 1 side via the upstream side conveyance roller 23A and the bearing 43 thereof. It is also possible to support the guide member 34 so as to be directly rotatable on the shaft 42 of the transport roller 23A.
[0053]
The other configuration of the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 4 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but in the example shown in FIG. Is positioned by the bearing 54 of the transport roller 24A, which will be described later.
[0054]
Also in the case of the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 4, when performing maintenance work on the cleaning member 33, the opening / closing body 3 is opened, the handle 40 is gripped, and the guide member 34 is moved to the shaft 42 or the transport roller 23A. The guide member 34 is rotated around the bearing 43 in the direction of the arrow H, and is held by the stopper 41 at the open position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Thereby, the maintenance work with respect to the cleaning member 33 can be easily performed.
[0055]
As described above, when the guide member 34 is rotatably supported by the shaft 42 of the upstream conveying member or the bearing 43 of the shaft 42, a special member (for example, the pin shown in FIG. 2) for supporting the guide member 34 is supported. 36) can be omitted, and the configuration of the recording medium feeding device 15 can be simplified.
[0056]
By the way, in the recording medium feeding device of each example described above, one transport member of the transport member pair cleaned by the cleaning member 33 is composed of a transport roller 24A rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the engaging groove 34I is formed in the engaging portion 34J formed integrally with the guide main body 34A of the guide member 34, and the use position where the guide member 34 can guide the recording medium is set. When occupied, the engaging groove 34I is detachably engaged with a bearing 54 for rotatably supporting the shaft 53 of the conveying roller 24A, so that the guide member 34 is positioned at the use position. You can also. It is also possible to position the guide member 34 by engaging the engaging groove 34I with the shaft 53 so as to be directly rotatable and detachable. The guide member 34 is positioned by the shaft 53 of the conveying roller 24A or the bearing 54 of the shaft.
[0057]
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the mounting groove 34 </ b> D formed on the bracket 34 </ b> B of the guide member 34 is rotatably fitted to a pin 36 protruding from the frame of the image forming apparatus main body. As in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the guide member 34 may be detachably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.
[0058]
When the opening / closing body 3 shown in FIG. 1 is opened and the handle 40 of the guide member 34 shown in FIG. 5 is gripped and pulled toward the opening side of the image forming apparatus main body, the engagement of the guide member 34 is increased. Since the joint portion 34J is elastically deformed and the engagement groove 34I is disengaged from the bearing 54 (or the shaft 53), the guide member 34 is rotated in the arrow H direction to bring it to the open position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. it can. Thereby, the maintenance work of the cleaning member 33 can be easily performed. By rotating the guide member 34 in the direction opposite to the arrow H, the engaging portion 34J can be elastically deformed, and the engaging groove 34I can be engaged with the bearing 54 (or the shaft 53).
[0059]
By manufacturing the bearing 54 with high accuracy, the eccentricity between the shaft 53 of the transport roller 24A and the bearing 54 can be suppressed to 0.01 mm or less, for example, and the concentricity of both can be increased. If it comprises so that 34 may be positioned, the relative positional accuracy of the guide member 34 and the conveyance roller 24A can be improved. If the guide member 34 is positioned by directly engaging the engagement groove 34I with the shaft 53 of the transport roller 24A, the relative positional accuracy between the guide member 34 and the transport roller 24 can be further enhanced. Thus, when the relative positional accuracy between the guide member 34 and the transport roller 24A is increased, the relative positional accuracy between the cleaning member 33 fixed to the guide member 34 and the transport roller 24A is increased. Foreign matters such as paper dust attached to the transport roller 24A in a stable state can be removed. In addition, the guide function of the recording medium by the guide member 34 can be enhanced. Further, by configuring the conveying roller 24A to position the guide member 34 by the shaft 53 or the bearing 54, the magnet catch 38 and the magnet receiver 39 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be eliminated. The other configuration of the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 5 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIGS.
[0060]
In the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 4, as in the recording medium feeding device shown in FIG. 5, the guide member 34 occupying the use position is supported by the shaft 53 (or its bearing 54) of the conveying roller 24A. It is configured to be positioned. When this configuration and a configuration in which the guide member 34 is rotatably supported on the shaft 42 of the upstream side conveyance roller 23A or its bearing 43 are adopted, the guide member 34 and one conveyance roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24, The accuracy of the relative position of one conveying roller 23A of the relay roller 23 can be improved, and the guide function of the recording medium by the guide member 34 can be further improved. Further, when the sensor 55 is fixedly supported on the guide member 34 and at least one of the front end and the rear end of the recording medium is detected by the sensor 55, the positional accuracy of the sensor 55 is also improved. The detection accuracy by can be improved.
[0061]
In any of the above-described recording medium feeding apparatuses, the guide member 34 is supported so as to be movable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the cleaning member 33 is supported so as to be able to move as the guide member 34 moves. Has been. By opening the opening / closing body 3, the guide member 34 can be moved to the opening side of the image forming apparatus main body opened, and the cleaning member 33 can be moved in the same direction. Thereby, the maintenance work of the cleaning member 33 can be performed without being obstructed by the guide member 34. Moreover, in any of the examples, the cleaning member 33 comes into contact with one of the conveying rollers of the registration roller pair 24 and cleans the conveying member from the cleaning position to the one conveying member. Since it is supported so that it can move to the separated position, the maintenance work of the cleaning member 33 can be performed more easily.
[0062]
By the way, especially in recent years, resource saving has progressed, and there are many papers that use grass pulp other than wood pulp as raw materials, recycled paper, and paper that is mixed with fillers such as calcium carbonate to increase whiteness. . When such paper is used as a recording medium, a large amount of paper dust is generated, and the amount of paper dust removed from the conveying roller 24A by the cleaning member 33 also increases.
[0063]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the foreign material container 44 is provided in the guide member 34 for storing the foreign material removed from the one conveying roller 24 </ b> A of the registration roller pair by the cleaning member 33, foreign material such as paper dust is imaged. It is possible to prevent inconveniences scattered in the forming apparatus main body. 6 is configured as a foreign substance storage case 45 that is separate from the guide member 34. The case 45 has an upward opening below the cleaning member 33, and has a screw 46 or an adhesive. It is fixed to the guide member 34 by fixing means such as an agent. Alternatively, the foreign substance storage case 45 may be formed integrally with the guide member 34. The other configuration of the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 6 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding device shown in FIGS.
[0064]
According to the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 6, as described above, the guide member 34 is rotated or the guide member 34 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1 after opening the opening / closing body. Thereafter, foreign matters such as paper dust accumulated in the foreign matter storage case 45 can be removed by sucking with a vacuum cleaner and discarded. When the guide member 34 is configured to be detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1, the guide member 34 can be turned upside down to drop the foreign matter from the foreign matter storage case 45 and be discarded.
[0065]
In the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 7, the foreign material storage unit 44 is configured by a foreign material storage case 45 that is detachably supported by the guide member 34. More specifically, a mounting hole 47 and an elastically deformable hook portion 48 are provided in each outer portion of the guide member 34 with respect to the sheet passing region, and each hook portion 48 is formed by the guide member 34 itself. Claws 50 that are inserted into the holes 49 formed in an elastically deformed manner and project from the hook portions 48 are engaged with the edges of the foreign matter storage case 45. Further, the protrusions 51 projecting from the foreign substance storage case 45 are respectively inserted into the mounting holes 47 of the guide member 34, and the tips of the protrusions 51 are engaged with the edges of the mounting holes 47. Thereby, the foreign substance storage case 45 is held by the guide member 34.
[0066]
After the opening / closing body is opened, the guide member 34 is rotated as described above or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 1, and then the hook portion 48 is elastically deformed as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The foreign object storage case 45 can be detached from the guide member 34 by removing 50 from the edge of the foreign object storage case 45 and extracting the protrusion 51 of the foreign object storage case 45 from the mounting hole 47. Thereby, the foreign material collected in the foreign material storage case 45 can be easily discarded. The other configuration of the recording medium feeding device shown in FIG. 7 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding device shown in FIGS.
[0067]
Also in the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 8, the foreign material accommodation case 45 for accommodating the foreign matter removed from the one conveyance member made of the conveyance roller 24 </ b> A by the cleaning member 33 is detachably provided on the guide member 34. However, in this case, the foreign substance storage case 45 is placed on the bottom wall of the arm portion 34E protruding from the guide main body 34A of the guide member 34, and the side wall 34F of the arm portion 34E; The left and right and front and rear sides of the foreign substance storage case 45 are positioned by the plurality of ribs 34G protruding from the guide main body 34A. In addition, the locking protrusion 34H projecting from the side wall 34F facing the rib 34G engages with the locking groove 52 formed in the foreign material storage case 45, whereby the foreign material storage case 45 is in contact with the guide member 34. Is retained.
[0068]
After the opening / closing body is opened, the guide member 34 is rotated with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 or detached, and then the side wall 34F is elastically deformed as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 34H can be removed from the locking groove 52, and then the foreign substance storage case 45 can be extracted upward and removed from the guide member 34. In this way, the foreign matter accumulated in the foreign matter storage case 45 can be easily discarded. Thereafter, when the foreign substance storage case 45 is lowered from above the arm portion 34E, the side wall 34F is elastically deformed by the case 45, and then the locking projection 34H of the side wall 34F is engaged with the locking groove 52, The side wall 34F is elastically restored, and the foreign substance storage case 45 is positioned and held by the guide member 34. As described above, in the case of the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 8, the foreign substance storage case 45 is attached to and detached from the guide member 34 without using a tool or the like, similarly to the recording medium feeding device shown in FIG. Therefore, even a general user can dispose of foreign matters.
[0069]
Here, in the recording medium feeding device 15 shown in FIG. 8, unlike the recording medium feeding device of each example described above, the cleaning member 33 is attached to the foreign substance storage case 45 by an adhesive, a double-sided adhesive tape, or the like. It is fixedly supported by. Even if the cleaning member 33 is supported in this way, after the opening / closing body 3 is opened, the guide member 34 is rotated or detached from the image forming apparatus main body, thereby facilitating maintenance work on the cleaning member 33. It can be carried out. Moreover, when the cleaning member 33 is deteriorated, both the cleaning member 33 and the foreign matter storage case 45 can be replaced with new ones while the cleaning member 33 is attached to the foreign matter storage case 45. Maintenance work of the cleaning member 33 can be easily performed. The other configuration of the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 8 can be the same as that of the recording medium feeding apparatus shown in FIGS.
[0070]
By the way, although one conveying member whose surface is cleaned by the cleaning member 33 and the other conveying member can be used, a conveying member having an appropriate configuration can be used. It is advantageous to use a conveying member pair that is set higher than the coefficient of friction of the surface of the member. For example, a roller in which an elastic body having a high coefficient of friction such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer is laminated around a core metal is used as one conveying roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24, and a metal roller is used as the other conveying roller 24B. . Thus, when the friction coefficient of the surface of one conveyance member which cleaning member 33 contacts is made high, especially when the surface of this one conveyance member is constituted with an elastic body, compared with the case where this conveyance member is constituted with metal, The effect of removing foreign matters such as paper dust by the cleaning member 33 can be enhanced, and the problem that paper dust is carried to the photoconductors 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK and the process elements disposed around the photoreceptors 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK is more effective. Can be suppressed.
[0071]
One conveying roller 23A of the registration roller pair 24 is a rubber roller, the other conveying roller 24B is a metal roller, and a cleaning member 33 made of a foamed polyurethane blade is brought into contact with the surface of one conveying roller 24A. An experiment was conducted to measure the amount of recovered paper dust. As the recording medium, acid paper, which is considered to have a large amount of fillers such as paper dust and clay, is used, the size is A4, and the number of sheets to be passed is 4000 sheets. The pressure contact force between the conveying rollers 24A and 24B was 40N. As a result, the amount of paper dust collected from one conveying roller 24A was as large as 0.25 g.
[0072]
When the other transport roller 24B is supported on the image forming apparatus main body 1 side, the transport roller 24B is rotatably supported by the guide member 34, and the transport roller 24B is supported via the guide member. It can be supported by the main body 1. In this case, when the guide member 34 is rotated or detached with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1, the other transport member 24 </ b> B is also rotated with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 1 together with the guide member 34, or Will be withdrawn. Alternatively, the conveying roller 24B can be directly supported by the image forming apparatus main body 1 without using the guide member 34. In this case, the conveying roller 24B is conveyed so that the rotation or separation of the guide member 34 is not hindered. Naturally, the relative position between the roller 24B and the guide member 34 should be set.
[0073]
The example in which the cleaning member 33 is brought into contact with one conveyance roller 24A of the registration roller pair 24 and the peripheral surface of the conveyance roller 24A is cleaned has been described. However, one conveyance roller 23A of the relay roller pair 23 is cleaned. Each of the above-described configurations can also be employed when configured to be cleaned by a member.
[0074]
In addition, as an example of an image forming apparatus that includes a recording medium feeding device and an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding device, a plurality of photosensitive members and an intermediate transfer member However, the present invention does not have an intermediate transfer body, and the image forming apparatus of the type that directly transfers a toner image formed on one or a plurality of photoconductors to a recording medium. An image forming apparatus that directly forms an image on the recording medium instead of transferring the apparatus to the recording medium, such as an image forming apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, a printing machine, or a copying machine or a facsimile The present invention can be widely applied to image forming apparatuses other than printers and recording medium feeding apparatuses.
[0075]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to easily perform a maintenance operation on the cleaning member without being obstructed by the guide member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an example of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a recording medium feeding device in which a guide member is rotatably supported.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a recording medium feeding device in which a guide member is detachably supported with respect to an image forming apparatus main body.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a recording medium feeding device in which a guide member is rotatably supported on a conveyance roller bearing of a relay roller.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a recording medium feeding device that positions a guide member by a bearing of one conveyance roller of a registration roller pair.
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a recording medium feeding device provided with a foreign substance storage case for receiving paper dust.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a recording medium feeding device having a foreign substance storage case that is detachable from a guide member.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a recording medium feeding device in which a cleaning member is supported by a foreign matter storage case.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 3 Opening and closing body 15 Recording medium feeding apparatus 18 Image forming part 23A Conveying roller 24A Conveying roller 33 Cleaning member 34 Guide member 42 Shaft 43 Bearing 44 Foreign substance accommodating part 45 Foreign substance accommodating case 53 Shaft 54 Bearing P Recording medium

Claims (14)

A conveyance member pair that conveys the recording medium to the image forming unit and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit, and one conveyance member of the conveyance member pair is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side. The other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the guide member is on the image forming apparatus main body side, In the recording medium feeding device arranged adjacent to the conveying member,
A cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, the guide member is movably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the cleaning member can be moved as the guide member moves. In addition, the guide member is provided with a foreign material container that supports the cleaning member and stores the foreign material removed from the one conveying member by the cleaning member, and the foreign material container is detachably supported by the guide member. A recording medium feeding device comprising a foreign matter storage case. A conveyance member pair that conveys the recording medium to the image forming unit and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit, and one conveyance member of the conveyance member pair is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side. The other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the guide member is on the image forming apparatus main body side, In the recording medium feeding device arranged adjacent to the conveying member,
A cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, the guide member is movably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the cleaning member can be moved as the guide member moves. A foreign substance storage case for supporting the cleaning member and storing the foreign substance removed from the one conveying member by the cleaning member is detachably provided on the guide member, and the cleaning member is supported by the foreign substance storage case. A recording medium feeding device. A conveyance member pair that conveys the recording medium to the image forming unit and a guide member that guides the recording medium sent to the image forming unit, and one conveyance member of the conveyance member pair is supported on the image forming apparatus main body side. The other conveying member is supported on the opening / closing body side or the image forming apparatus main body side arranged to be openable / closable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the guide member is on the image forming apparatus main body side, In the recording medium feeding device arranged adjacent to the conveying member,
A cleaning member for cleaning the one conveying member is provided, the guide member is movably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the cleaning member can be moved as the guide member moves. In addition, the recording medium feeding apparatus is characterized in that the cleaning member is supported, and the friction coefficient of the surface of the one conveying member is set higher than the friction coefficient of the surface of the other conveying member.   The said cleaning member is supported so that it can move to the position spaced apart with respect to one conveyance member from the cleaning position which contacts said one conveyance member and cleans this conveyance member. The recording medium feeding device according to 1.   The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is rotatably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.   It has an upstream conveying member arranged upstream of the pair of conveying members in the recording medium conveying direction, the upstream conveying member is rotatably supported on the image forming apparatus main body side, and the guide member is The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium feeding device is rotatably supported by a shaft of the upstream conveying member or a bearing of the shaft.   The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is detachably supported with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.   The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is supported by the guide member.   The one of the conveying members includes a conveying roller rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and the guide member is positioned by a shaft of the conveying roller or a bearing of the shaft. A recording medium feeding device according to claim 1.   The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is provided with a foreign matter storage portion that stores the foreign matter removed from the one transport member by the cleaning member.   The recording medium feeding device according to claim 10, wherein the foreign matter storage portion is formed of a foreign matter storage case that is detachably supported by the guide member.   The recording medium feeding according to claim 3, wherein a foreign substance storage case for storing the foreign substance removed from the one conveying member by the cleaning member is detachably provided on the guide member, and the cleaning member is supported by the foreign substance storage case. apparatus.   The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the one conveying member is made of an elastic body.   An image forming apparatus comprising: the recording medium feeding device according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding device.

Images