JP4073817B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic process, and more particularly to a paper discharge structure for discharging a sheet after image formation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, a large document such as a large document such as Japanese Industrial Standard A row 0 (hereinafter referred to as “A0”: 841 (mm) × 1189 (mm)) is used. Some originals are scanned to form an image on recording paper (A0 size recording paper).
[0003]
In such an image forming apparatus, it is difficult to handle a large recording sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as a sheet) such as A0 size, so a so-called roll sheet in which a continuous belt-like sheet is wound is used. The roll sheet is cut into a predetermined length set by a cutter mechanism provided in the image forming apparatus (hereinafter, the roll sheet cut by the cutter mechanism is simply referred to as a sheet), An image is formed on the sheet, and the sheet is discharged to a discharge unit disposed on one side of the image forming apparatus main body through a discharge port opened on one side (for example, the front side) of the image forming apparatus main body. Is done.
[0004]
Further, in the image forming apparatus as described above, since the sheets to be handled are extremely large, when the paper discharge unit (discharge tray or the like) is arranged in the horizontal direction, the space occupied by the paper discharge unit becomes extremely large. . For this reason, in particular, in an image forming apparatus that handles large-sized sheets such as A0 size, the paper discharge unit extends in the vertical direction (that is, extends in parallel with one side surface of the image forming apparatus main body). The space occupied by the paper discharge unit is reduced.
[0005]
Here, the paper discharge structure of the image forming apparatus described above will be described with reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6A, the image forming apparatus main body (apparatus housing: not shown in FIG. 6) 11. A paper discharge unit 18 is formed on the front side 11 a of the front panel (cover) 17. The paper discharge unit 18 has an upper end opened and extends in the vertical direction. A manual feed port (bypass port) 20 for manually feeding sheets is opened above the paper discharge unit 18. A sheet discharge port 15 is formed above the manual feed port 20, and a discharge roller 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the sheet discharge port.
[0006]
A guide portion 16 is formed at the lower end of the sheet discharge port 15. The guide portion 16 guides the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 and prevents the sheet S from being inserted into the manual feed port 20. Yes.
[0007]
The paper discharge unit 18 described above is generally about half the height of the A0 size (vertical) in consideration of the height of the image forming apparatus main body 11 (that is, to reduce the height of the image forming apparatus main body 11). In order to facilitate the insertion of the sheet S, the upper end of the sheet S protrudes more forward than the lower end. That is, the opening is widened.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 6A, the leading edge of the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 hangs down along the guide portion 16. The sheet S gradually falls, and the leading end of the sheet S comes into contact with the bottom surface of the paper discharge unit 18 (see FIG. 6B). In this state, the sheet S is not completely discharged from the sheet discharge port 15. When the sheet S is further discharged by the paper discharge roller 35, the leading end of the sheet S is already in contact with the bottom surface of the paper discharge unit 18, so that the sheet S expands forward as shown in FIG. It will be.
[0009]
When the sheet S is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port 15, the rear end side of the sheet S is bent outside the sheet discharge unit 18, and is stored in the sheet discharge unit 12 as if it was folded in two. (See FIG. 6D).
[0010]
The sheet S to be discharged next is also discharged to the paper discharge unit 18 in the same manner as described above, but this sheet S overlaps the previous sheet S.
[0011]
On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus using the roll sheet as described above, the sheet is smoothly stored in the pocket without being attracted to the inner surface of the paper discharge unit (pocket). When discharging from the sheet, there is one in which the guide portion is made of a conductive member so as to remove the adsorption charge of the sheet (see Patent Document 1).
[0012]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-190234 (paragraph (0012) and paragraph (0013), FIG. 1 and FIG. 4)
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as described above, a large size sheet such as A0 size is guided by the guide unit and stocked in the sheet discharge unit. At this time, the drop angle of the sheet tip (to the sheet discharge unit) The stock of the sheet to the sheet discharge portion depends on the angle of entry) and the position at which the sheet rear end side is separated from the guide portion (push-out position).
[0014]
The approach angle and push-out position described above vary depending on the type, quality, and size of the sheet. Even if guided by the guide unit, if the sheet type, quality, and size are different, the sheet can be smoothly inserted into the paper discharge unit. May not be possible.
[0015]
Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, although it is intended to remove the adsorption charge of the sheet with the conductive guide portion and smoothly store the sheet in the pocket, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is described. However, the image forming apparatus has a problem that it is difficult to satisfactorily eject the sheet to the sheet ejection unit when the approach angle and the extrusion position are different depending on the type and quality of the sheet and the sheet size.
[0016]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can always discharge a sheet to a sheet discharge unit satisfactorily regardless of the type / quality, size, and sheet discharge state of the sheet.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a sheet discharge port for discharging a sheet on which a toner image is formed is formed on one side surface of the apparatus housing, and disposed on the lower side of the sheet discharge port on the one side surface. And a sheet discharge unit for storing the sheet discharged from the image forming unit, the sheet discharge unit extending in parallel along the one side surface, and an opening for inserting the sheet is formed at an upper end of the image forming unit. A device,
A guide member disposed between the sheet discharge port and the opening for guiding the discharge of the sheet, the guide member having a variable amount of protrusion from the one side surface;
Control means for controlling the protruding amount of the guide member according to whether or not the sheet is curled upward with respect to the sheet discharge port. An image forming apparatus characterized by this can be obtained.
[0018]
Of the present invention The control means controls the protruding amount of the guide member according to whether or not the sheet is curled upward with respect to the sheet discharge port. At this time, if the sheet is curled upward, the control means controls the protruding amount of the guide member to the first protruding amount, and if the sheet is not curled upward, the guide The amount of protrusion of the member For example The second protrusion amount is controlled to be larger than the first protrusion amount.
[0019]
As described above, if the protrusion amount of the guide member is controlled based on whether or not the sheet is curled upward with the sheet discharge port as a reference, the sheet is always excellent regardless of the state of the discharged sheet. Can be stored in the paper discharge unit.
[0020]
In this manner, the guide member that guides the sheet discharge is disposed between the sheet discharge port and the opening of the sheet discharge unit, and the guide member protrudes from one side surface (for example, the front surface) of the apparatus housing. If the amount is variable and the protruding amount of the guide member is controlled in accordance with the sheet size, the sheet can be stored in the paper discharge unit satisfactorily regardless of the sheet size.
[0021]
[0022]
Furthermore, in the present invention, the control means may control the protruding amount of the guide member according to the type and quality of the sheet. In this way, the sheet can always be satisfactorily stored in the paper discharge unit regardless of whether the sheet is weak or strong.
[0023]
In addition, in the present invention, a belt-shaped sheet is continuously wound and a plurality of roll sheets having different sheet types / qualitys are provided, and a sheet size signal is selected by selecting the sheet size and the sheet type / quality. And a sheet cutting means for regulating the sheet by feeding the roll sheet continuously from the roll sheet corresponding to the sheet type signal and cutting the roll sheet according to the sheet size signal. And the control means determines the size of the sheet and the type / quality of the sheet based on the sheet size signal and the sheet type signal.
[0024]
In the present invention, a first detection unit that detects the remaining amount of the roll sheet and outputs a remaining amount detection signal, and a second detection unit that measures the moisture of the sheet and outputs a humidity detection signal; And the control means determines whether the sheet is curled upward based on the sheet type signal, the remaining amount detection signal, and the humidity detection signal. The control means determines that the sheet is curled upward if the black and white ratio determined based on the read data obtained by reading the original when performing the image formation is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. You may make it do.
[0025]
In this way, the remaining amount of the roll sheet is detected, and the wetness of the sheet is detected, and whether the sheet is curled upward according to the type / quality of the sheet, the remaining amount of the roll sheet, and the wetness of the sheet. If it is determined whether or not, the state of the discharged sheet can be grasped easily and accurately, and the sheet can always be satisfactorily stored in the discharge section.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to the description unless otherwise specified. It is just an example.
[0027]
First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The illustrated image forming apparatus is used, for example, when image formation is performed by reading a large-size document such as A0 size. The image forming apparatus has an apparatus casing 11, and caster wheels 12 are provided at the bottom of the apparatus casing 11, and can be freely moved by the caster wheels 12.
[0028]
A document transport section 14 for transporting a document along a document transport path 13 is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus housing 11, and a sheet on which a toner image is transferred is placed on the front surface 11 a of the device housing 11. A discharge port 15 to be discharged is opened. The sheet discharged from the discharge port 15 is guided by the guide member 16 and falls with its front end facing downward, and is formed by the front cover 17 and the front surface 11 a provided along the front surface 11 a of the apparatus housing 11. The stored pockets (sheet discharge portions) 18 are sequentially accommodated through the introduction opening 18a.
[0029]
Note that an operation unit (not shown) provided with switches, keys, and the like is provided at an upper end portion of the apparatus housing 11 in order to perform various settings relating to image formation.
[0030]
The apparatus housing 11 accommodates upper, middle, and lower three roll sheets 19a, 19b, and 19c wound in a roll shape. For example, the roll sheets 19a, 19b, and 19c are respectively plain paper. , Film, and tracing paper. Further, a cut sheet of A0 size to A4 size or the like cut in advance to a predetermined length is manually fed into a central portion of the device casing 11 (manual feed portion (manual feed) formed on the front surface 11a of the device casing 11). A bypass paper feed path 21 for supplying through the mouth 20 is provided.
[0031]
A roll sheet is fed from the roll sheet 19a to the cutter mechanism 24 by the paper feed roller 22 and the transport roller 23, and is cut into a predetermined length to be a sheet (this cut length is The sheet is sent according to the length of the document or input from the above-described setting unit), and the sheet is sent to the image forming unit 27 via the transport rollers 25 and 26.
[0032]
Similarly, paper is fed from the roll sheets 19 b and 19 c by the paper feed rollers 28 and 29, respectively, and the roll sheet is conveyed to the cutter mechanism 24 by the conveyance roller 23.
[0033]
On the other hand, the sheets inserted into the bypass sheet feeding path 21 from the manual sheet feeding unit 20 are separated one by one by the separation roller 30 and sent to the image forming unit 27 via the registration roller 31 and the conveyance roller 26. .
[0034]
By the way, in the above-described operation unit, a paper selection button for selecting the type and quality of the paper (for example, the above-mentioned plain paper, film, tracing paper) is defined, and this paper selection button allows the user to form an image. The type / quality of the sheet (sheet) to be subjected to the selection is selected, and the roll sheet selected by the sheet selection button is conveyed to the cutter mechanism 24.
[0035]
Further, a paper size selection button is defined in the operation unit, and the paper size selection button allows the user to select the size of the paper (sheet) on which image formation is performed. The size selected by the paper size button Then, the cutter mechanism 24 cuts the roll sheet into a sheet.
[0036]
Further, the image forming unit 27 is provided with a humidity sensor (not shown in FIG. 1), and here, the humidity of the sheet, that is, the water content is measured. On the other hand, first to third remaining amount detection sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) are arranged on the roll sheets 19a to 19c, respectively, and the remaining sheets of the roll sheets 19a to 19c are detected by the first to third remaining amount detection sensors. The amount is detected.
[0037]
When image formation is performed, a document is placed on the document transport unit 14. The document transport unit 14 includes first to third document transport rollers 14a to 14c, and the first to third document transport rollers 14a to 14c cause a document to be indicated in a direction indicated by a broken line arrow in the drawing. Moved to.
[0038]
Then, while moving the document, the document reading unit (document scanning unit) 32 emits light to the document, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the image forming unit 27 via the lens 33 (that is, the document reading unit). Then, the image on the original is read and given to the image forming unit 27 as read data).
[0039]
The image forming unit 27 includes a photosensitive drum 27a that is an image carrier, and along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 27a (indicated by a solid arrow in the figure), a charger 27b, a developing device 27c, and a transfer device 27d. And a cleaning unit 27e are arranged. The exposure position of the lens 33 is located between the charger 27b and the developing device 27c.
[0040]
The surface of the photosensitive drum 27a is uniformly charged by the charger 27b, and the photosensitive drum 27a is exposed according to the image pattern (read data) of the document at the exposure position, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 27a. Is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 27c to be a toner image.
[0041]
Between the photosensitive drum 27a and the transfer device 27d (for example, the nip portion), the sheet is conveyed by the conveyance roller 26, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 27a is transferred to the sheet as a transfer image by the transfer device 27d. . Thereafter, the sheet is sent to the fixing unit 34 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet, and the sheet is guided to the sheet discharge port 15 by the discharge roller 35. After the toner image transfer, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 27a is cleaned by the cleaning unit 27e.
[0042]
As described above, the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 is stored in the pocket 18 while being guided by the guide member 16. The illustrated guide member 16 is disposed on the front surface 11a so as to be able to advance and retreat from the apparatus housing 11 (that is, the front surface side 11a), and the protruding amount of the guide member 16 from the front surface side 11a is controlled as described later. .
[0043]
Referring to FIG. 2, the humidity sensor 51 and the first to third remaining amount detection sensors 52 a to 52 c are connected to the control unit 53, and the control unit 53 includes a humidity indicating the humidity (humidity) of the sheet. A detection signal is provided, and first to third sheet remaining amount signals indicating the remaining amounts of the roll sheets 19a to 19c are respectively provided.
[0044]
Further, the control unit 53 is provided with a paper selection signal indicating the type and quality of the sheet selected by the operation unit and a paper size signal indicating the sheet size (after cutting). Further, the above-described read data (after conversion from an optical signal to an electrical signal) is given to the control unit 53.
[0045]
A drive circuit 54 is connected to the control unit 53, and the guide member 16 is driven by the drive circuit 54. That is, the control unit 53 drives the drive circuit 54 according to the humidity detection signal, the first to third sheet remaining amount signals, the paper selection signal, the paper size selection signal (paper size signal), and the read data. By controlling, the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is controlled.
[0046]
By the way, since the roll sheets 19a to 19c are wound in a roll shape, the sheet is curled in one direction even after being cut. For example, when viewed from the sheet discharge port 15, the plain paper is curled downward, and the tracing paper is curled upward. That is, the curl direction at the sheet discharge port 15 is determined depending on the type and quality of the sheet.
[0047]
Further, since the roll sheets 19a to 19c are wound in a roll shape, the radius becomes smaller toward the center, and the curled state becomes stronger. According to the experiment, when the remaining amount of the roll sheet is less than 1/3, the sheet is curled downward when viewed at the sheet discharge port 15, and when the remaining amount is 1/3 or more, the sheet is curled. No or curled upwards.
[0048]
Furthermore, when the curl state changes due to moisture and the humidity is less than 75%, when viewed from the sheet discharge port 15, the sheet is curled or not curled, and the humidity is 75% or more. The sheet was curled up.
[0049]
In addition, when the black-and-white ratio obtained from the above-described image reading data is less than 7: 3, the sheet is curled or curled downward when viewed from the sheet discharge port 15, and the black-and-white ratio is 7: When it was 3 or more, the sheet was not curled or curled upward. Here, the control unit 53 controls the protruding amount of the guide member 16 according to the above-described sheet curl state.
[0050]
2 and 3, the control unit 53 first knows the sheet size according to the paper size selection signal. When the sheet size is less than a predetermined length (length in the conveyance direction) (for example, less than 300 mm: step S1), the drive circuit 54 is controlled to set the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 in advance. It is set as the 1st protrusion amount (step S2).
[0051]
On the other hand, if the sheet size is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, the control unit 53 causes the sheet remaining amount signal indicating the remaining amount of the roll sheet selected by the aforementioned sheet selection signal, humidity detection signal, and sheet size selection signal. And any one of the black and white ratios determined by the read data is judged whether or not a value indicating no curl or top curl is determined (step S3), and a value indicating no curl or top curl is indicated. The control unit 53 executes step S2 described above.
[0052]
Note that it is determined whether or not the sheet has a so-called waist by the paper selection signal. For example, plain paper is a sheet with waist and tracing paper is a sheet without waist.
[0053]
In step S3, any of the sheet selection signal, the humidity detection signal, the sheet remaining amount signal indicating the remaining amount of the roll sheet selected by the sheet size selection signal, and the black / white ratio obtained from the read data is curlless or top curl. If the value is not indicated, the control unit 53 controls the drive circuit 54 to set the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 to a second protrusion amount set in advance (step S4). The second protrusion amount is larger than the first protrusion amount. That is, second protrusion amount> first protrusion amount.
[0054]
In this way, the control unit 53 adjusts the protruding amount of the guide member 16 according to the sheet size, but it is determined whether the sheet is curled upward (including no curling) as viewed from the sheet discharge port 15. Even if it respond | corresponds, the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is adjusted. Further, the control unit 53 adjusts the protruding amount of the guide member 16 depending on whether or not the seat has a waist.
[0055]
In any case, in the control unit 53, the sheet size is shorter than a predetermined length (first determination item), the sheet is curled up (second determination item), and the sheet is stiff ( When the three determination items (third determination item) are examined and one of the first to third determination items is satisfied, the control unit 53 sets the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 to the first protrusion amount. If it does not correspond to any of the first to third determination items, the control unit 53 sets the protruding amount of the guide member 16 as the second protruding amount.
[0056]
According to the experiment, even if the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is controlled in accordance with the first and second determination items among the first to third determination items, the sheet is satisfactorily stored in the pocket 18. It was found that can be stored in.
[0057]
Here, as an example, the storage of the sheet in the pocket 18 when the sheet is curled up or down will be described.
[0058]
First, the case where the sheet is curled upward will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When the control unit 53 determines that the sheet is curled upward, as described above, the amount of protrusion of the guide member 16 is set to the first curl amount. The protrusion amount is 1 (see FIG. 4A).
[0059]
Thereafter, image formation is performed, and the sheet S curled upward is discharged from the sheet discharge port 15. At this time, since the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is the first protrusion amount, that is, the protrusion amount is short, when the sheet S is guided to the guide member 16 as shown in FIG. S is not so far away from the front surface 11a of the apparatus housing 11.
[0060]
As a result, even if the leading edge of the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 is curled upward, it comes into contact with the inner surface of the front cover 17 and the leading edge of the sheet S is guided into the pocket 18. (See FIG. 4 (c)).
[0061]
Then, when the sheet S is discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 and the leading edge of the sheet S reaches the bottom surface of the pocket 18, the sheet S cannot be dropped any more, and as shown in FIG. When the sheet S is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port 5, the rear end side of the sheet S is surely bent to the outside of the pocket 18 to be in the state shown in FIG.
[0062]
Even when the sheet size is short, since the protruding amount of the guide member 16 is short, the sheet S is stored in the pocket 18 as described above.
[0063]
Next, the case where the sheet is curled downward will be described with reference to FIG. 5. When the control unit 53 determines that the sheet is curled downward, as described above, the amount of protrusion of the guide member 16 is set. The second protrusion amount is set (see FIG. 5A).
[0064]
Thereafter, image formation is performed, and the sheet S curled down is discharged from the sheet discharge port 15. At this time, since the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is the second protrusion amount, that is, the protrusion amount is long, when the sheet S is guided to the guide member 16 as shown in FIG. S is separated from the front surface 11a of the apparatus casing 11, and the leading edge of the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 is surely guided into the pocket 18 even if it is curled downward (FIG. 5 ( c)).
[0065]
Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, the leading edge of the sheet S falls while coming into contact with the front side 11 a of the apparatus housing 11. When the sheet S is discharged from the sheet discharge port 15 and the leading edge of the sheet S reaches the bottom surface of the pocket 18, the sheet S cannot be dropped any more, so as shown in FIG. When the sheet S is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port 5, the rear end side of the sheet S is reliably bent outside the pocket 18, and the state shown in FIG.
[0066]
Even when the sheet size is long, since the protruding amount of the guide member 16 is long, the sheet S is stored in the pocket 18 as described above.
[0067]
In this way, if the protrusion amount of the guide member 16 is controlled depending on the sheet size, whether the curl is upper, or whether the sheet is stiff, the sheet is always discharged well into the pocket. Can be paper.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, Since the protrusion amount of the guide member is controlled based on whether or not the sheet is curled upward with respect to the sheet discharge port, regardless of the state of the discharged sheet, There is an effect that the sheet can be stored in the paper discharge unit in a satisfactory manner at all times.
[0069]
[0070]
In the present invention, since the amount of protrusion of the guide member is controlled according to the type and quality of the sheet, the sheet can be always satisfactorily stored in the paper discharge unit regardless of whether the sheet is weak or strong. There is.
[0071]
In the present invention, the remaining amount of the roll sheet is detected and the wetness of the sheet is detected, and whether the sheet is curled upward according to the type / quality of the sheet, the remaining amount of the roll sheet, and the wetness of the sheet. Therefore, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp the state of the discharged sheet, and as a result, there is an effect that the sheet can always be satisfactorily stored in the discharge unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system that performs paper discharge control in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control system shown in FIG. 2;
4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a sheet discharge operation when the sheet is curled upward in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4A shows a state before the sheet is discharged. (B) is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state immediately after the sheet discharge is started, (c) is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which the leading edge of the sheet is in contact with the inner surface of the sheet discharge unit, and (d) is a conceptual diagram illustrating FIG. 4E is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state immediately after a sheet is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port, and FIG.
5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a sheet discharge operation when the sheet is curled upward in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5A shows a state before the sheet is discharged. (B) is a conceptual diagram showing a state immediately after the discharge of a sheet is started, (c) is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the leading end of the sheet is located above the discharge unit, and (d) is a sheet (E) is a conceptual diagram showing a state immediately after the sheet is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port, and (f) is a discharge state. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is completely stored in a paper portion.
6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining a sheet discharge operation in a conventional image forming apparatus, in which FIG. 6A is a conceptual diagram showing a state immediately after the discharge of a sheet is started, and FIG. (C) is a conceptual diagram showing a state immediately before the sheet is completely discharged from the sheet discharge port, and (d) is a state in which the sheet is stored in the discharge unit. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state which completed.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Device housing
11a Front side
15 Sheet outlet
16 Guide member
17 Front panel
18 Paper exit (pocket)
35 Paper discharge roller
53 Control unit
54 Drive circuit

Claims (3)

A sheet discharge port for discharging a sheet on which a toner image is formed is formed on one side surface of the apparatus housing, and is disposed on the lower side of the sheet discharge port on the one side surface and discharged from the sheet discharge port. An image forming apparatus in which an opening for inserting the sheet is formed at an upper end of the sheet discharging unit that extends in parallel along the one side surface,
A guide member disposed between the sheet discharge port and the opening for guiding the discharge of the sheet, the guide member having a variable amount of protrusion from the one side surface;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit configured to control a protruding amount of the guide member according to whether or not the sheet is curled upward with respect to the sheet discharge port . When the sheet is curled upward, the control means controls the protruding amount of the guide member to the first protruding amount,
2. The image according to claim 1 , wherein when the sheet is not curled upward, the protrusion amount of the guide member is controlled to a second protrusion amount that is larger than the first protrusion amount. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit controls a protruding amount of the guide member according to a type and quality of the sheet.

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