JPH09132346A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove a sheet remaining in a paper discharge device without moving a sorter. SOLUTION: A connecting path for conveying a sheet to be discharged is laid between a paper discharge device 15 and a sheet post-processing device 21 at a position where the connecting path does not make contact with the paper discharge device, distant from the paper discharge device. When a manipulating member 55 is turned to a releasing position, a lower guide 32 of the connecting path is opened, and the paper discharge device 15 is linked to the lower guide 32 through the intermediary of a coupling link 72 so as to be opened. The rotation of the paper discharge device is limited by a link device so as to prevent the lower guide and the paper discharge device from interfering with each other. Sheets remaining in the paper discharge device or the coupling path can be removed without moving a sorter.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a sheet discharging device for discharging sheets to the outside of the main body of the image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention includes a sheet post-processing device for sorting discharged sheets and remaining sheets. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper discharge device that facilitates sheet removal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 shows an example of a general image forming apparatus provided with a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed.

In FIG. 1, an original image (not shown) placed on the platen glass 3 above the image forming apparatus main body 2 is formed by scanning the reading unit 5 of the optical system 6 in the left-right direction in FIG. Read. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7 by developing the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum (image forming portion) 7 based on the read original image.

Sheet storage device 1 in the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus
A sheet fed from any one of the sheet feeding decks 0 and 11 or the sheet feeding deck 9 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2 is conveyed to the photosensitive drum 7 by the registration roller 12 at a predetermined timing and a toner image is transferred. . The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed by the conveyor belt 13a of the conveyor 13 and fixed by the fixing rollers 14a and 14b in the fixing device 14, and the paper discharge device 15 disposed further downstream.
Is discharged outside the machine.

The paper discharge device 15 switches between discharging the image-formed sheet or guiding it to the intermediate tray 19 according to the copy mode, and the front and back sides of the sheet guided by the flapper 16. And a flapper 17 for selectively reversing. Intermediate tray 19
The sheet guided to (1) is conveyed to the photosensitive drum 7 again by the registration roller 12, the toner image is transferred, and the sheet is discharged after the fixing by the fixing device 14.

A sheet post-processing device (sorter) 21 for sorting the discharged image-formed sheets can be optionally attached to the above-described image forming apparatus (FIG. 14). In this image forming apparatus, the sorter 21 is movable back and forth with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2 by a slide rail 23 and casters 22 provided on the sorter 21, as shown in FIGS. When a defective sheet such as a jam remains between the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the sorter 21 or in the paper discharging apparatus 15, the sorter 21 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 2 as shown in FIG. The residual sheet is removed by rotating 15 toward the sorter 21 and opening the sheet conveying path. In addition, 20 in FIG.
Indicates a door that opens the inside of the device.

[0007]

However, in the image forming apparatus equipped with the sorter described above, when the residual sheet is in the paper discharge device 15, the sorter 21 is changed by the user as shown in FIG. 15 each time. Since it is necessary to remove the residual sheet from the image forming apparatus main body 2, it takes a lot of time to remove the residual sheet, and the work efficiency of the user is lowered.
In addition, it is difficult for a user who does not have enough knowledge to handle the image forming apparatus to recognize the opening of the sorter 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 2 for processing the residual sheet, and it is difficult to recognize even the presence of the residual sheet. There were cases.

Further, since the sheet immediately after fixing is discharged from the sheet discharge device 15, the sheet is apt to curl, and the quality of the image-formed sheet is deteriorated. There was a problem that paper jams and stacking defects, etc. occurred.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet post-processing device, when a sheet remains due to a jam or the like in the sheet discharging device 15, the sheet post-processing device is not detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It is a first object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily removing a residual sheet.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of removing the curl of a sheet immediately after fixing discharged from the paper discharging apparatus.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image forming apparatus main body having an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet, and an operation for discharging an image-formed sheet. Position and a release position capable of retreating from the operating position to remove the residual sheet, and a sheet discharging device provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and a rotation operated to open and close the sheet discharging device. A movable operation member, and a sheet post-processing device separated from the paper discharge device in the operating position so as not to contact the paper discharge device in the release position,
A connecting path including upper and lower guides connecting the sheet discharging device and the sheet post-processing device so that a sheet discharged from the sheet discharging device can be conveyed to the sheet post-processing device. Characterize.

Further, the lower guide of the connecting path is openable and closable around one end thereof and is supported by the operating member, and is driven by the rotation of the operating member to form the connecting path. And a release position that opens the operating position.

Further, the lower guide of the connecting path and the paper discharging device are connected through a connecting link, and the paper discharging device and the operating member rotate the paper discharging device through a link device. It is regulated and connected, and the opening and closing of the connection path and the sheet discharge device by the rotation of the operation member are performed without interfering with each other.

Further, the connection link is characterized by connecting the connection path and the paper discharge device with the appropriate play.

Further, the connecting path is characterized in that one of the upper and lower guides has a convex portion and the other has a concave portion along the convex portion to form a bending path. .

The connecting path has a plurality of conveying roller pairs for conveying a sheet, and at least one conveying roller pair of the conveying roller pairs is an elastic body and is in pressure contact with this. The other transport roller is a rigid body, and a curved nip is formed by the transport roller pair.

The connecting path has a convex portion on one of the upper and lower guides and a concave portion along the convex portion on the other side to form a bending path, and the sheet is A plurality of conveying roller pairs for conveying, one conveying roller of at least one conveying roller pair of the conveying roller pairs is an elastic body, and the other conveying roller pressed against the elastic body is a rigid body; It is characterized in that a curved nip is formed by the pair.

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, when a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge device of the image forming apparatus main body is conveyed to the sheet post-processing device through the connecting path, the sheet remains or jams in the sheet discharge device. In this case, the user operates the operation member to rotate the paper discharge device from the operating position to the release position on the sheet post-processing device side, and the residual sheet is removed. When the sheet ejection device is moved to the release position, the sheet post-processing device is separated from the sheet ejection device so that it does not come into contact with the sheet ejection device. It is possible to easily perform the work of removing the residual sheet by rotating only the paper discharge device without performing the operation.

Further, when the operating member is rotated from the operating position to the releasing position, the lower guide of the connecting path supported by the operating member is rotated in the direction of opening the connecting path following the rotation of the operating member. The residual sheet remaining in the connecting path can be processed.

During the opening of the lower guide, the paper discharging device interlocked with the lower guide is rotated from the operating position to the releasing position through the connecting link, and the rotation of the paper discharging device is linked with the operating member. Rotation is restricted by the device, and the connecting path and the connecting path move from the operating position to the releasing position, respectively. With this, by one rotation operation of the operation member, it is possible to open and close between the operation position and the release position without interfering with the paper discharge device and the connection path.

Further, the curl of the sheet passing through the connecting path is removed by the bending path provided in the upper and lower guides forming the connecting path, and the stackability in the sheet post-processing apparatus is improved.

Further, the curl of the sheet passing through the connecting path is removed by the concave nip formed on the pair of conveying rollers in the connecting path, and the stackability in the sheet post-processing apparatus is improved.

Further, due to the bending path and the concave nip provided in the connecting path, the curl of the sheet passing through the connecting path is more surely removed, and the stackability in the sheet post-processing apparatus is improved. .

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<Embodiment 1> Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. 13 except for the sheet discharging device section, and therefore its illustration is omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet discharging device 15 for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body 2, and a connecting path 30 for transferring the discharged sheet to a sorter 21 as a sheet post-processing device. Is shown.

The paper discharge device 15 has a discharge path 35 for discharging the image-formed sheet to the outside of the apparatus main body, and is rotatable about a support shaft 36 pivotally supporting the lower part. The paper discharge device 15 is rotatable between an operating position (solid line position) for discharging a sheet and a release position (chain line position) separated from the operating position.

The sorter 21 is arranged in advance at a position separated so as not to come into contact with the paper discharge device 15 when the paper discharge device 15 is rotated to the release position 15A.

Between the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the sorter 21,
A connecting path 30 for guiding the sheet discharged from the paper discharge device 15 to the sorter 21 is provided.
The lower guide 32 has an upper guide 31 and a lower guide 32 that form a paper path 33. The lower guide 32 guides a sheet and a pair of support side plates that fixedly support the guide portion 47. It consists of 49.

The upper guide 31 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2, and a plurality of driven rollers 41, 4 are attached to the upper guide 31.
2 and 43 are rotatably arranged respectively. Upper ends of a pair of support plates 45 are mounted on the support shaft 43a of the driven roller 43, and the lower guide 3 is attached to the lower ends thereof.
The downstream end of 2 is rotatably mounted by a support shaft 46. The lower guide 32 includes the driven rollers 41, 42, 4
A plurality of drive rollers 51, 52, 5 respectively corresponding to 3
3 are rotatably mounted. Lower guide 32
Is rotatable between an operating position shown by a solid line forming the paper path 33 and a release position in which the paper path 33 is opened by rotating the support shaft 46 in the direction of an arrow 50.

A pair of left and right supporting side plates 49 of the lower guide 32
Are supported by a pair of pressure rollers 56 pivotally supported by a support shaft 109 (see FIG. 4) on the free ends of the pair of operating members 55. The operation member 55 has a bracket 57 whose base is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 2.
Is rotatably attached to the operating position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and the release position rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 60.
It is designed to be rotated by the user.

In FIG. 4, the operation member 55 on one side (the front side in FIG. 1) has a first arm 100a having a channel-shaped cross section (U-shaped) whose base is attached to the bracket 57, and the first arm 100a. And a second arm 101a having a channel-shaped cross section, which is attached to the arm 100a in a telescopic manner.

The pin 105 fixed to the free end of the first arm 100a is restricted by an elongated hole (not shown) formed in the second arm 101a so as to be movable.
The pin 106 fixed to the lower end of the second arm 101a
Is restricted by an elongated hole (not shown) formed in the first arm 100a and is rotatable. Both pins 105,
Due to the elasticity of the tension springs 107 locked to the first arm 106, the second arm 101a moves to the first arm 100a.
It is urged to extend from.

The operation member 55 on the other back side is also the same as the first operation member 55.
Arm 100b and a second arm 101b attached to the arm 100b so as to extend and contract. The second arm 101b is urged in the extending direction by the elastic force of the tension spring 107. Due to the elasticity of the tension spring 107, the drive rollers 51, 5 of the lower guide 32 (FIG. 1).
2, 53 are driven rollers 41, which correspond to the upper guide 31,
They are in pressure contact with 42 and 43, respectively. The first arms 100a and 100b are integrated with each other by a connecting plate 103.

The first arm 10 of the operating member 55 on the front side
A handle 110 for allowing the user to rotate the operation member 55 is fixed to 0a. Operation member 55 on the back side
An upper end of the first link 62 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 61 on a mounting plate 70 integrated with the left side in FIG. The second link 65 whose upper end is pivotally supported by the guide shaft 63 at the lower end of the first link 62 is pivotally supported at its base by a support shaft 67 on a bracket 66 fixed to the apparatus body 2.

The paper discharge device 15 includes a guide plate 69,
A guide groove 71, which is constituted by a part of the guide surface, is integrally formed, and the guide groove 71 pivotally supports the first and second links 62 and 65 in the guide groove 71.
3 is engaged and its operation is restricted. A recess having an arc surface A is formed at the lower end of the guide groove 71.

By the operation member 55, the first link 62, the second link 65, the guide groove 71, etc., the paper discharge device 1
A link device for restricting the turning operation of the optical disc 5 is configured.

In FIG. 1, at the upper end of the paper discharge device 15,
One end of the connecting link 72 is pivotally supported by a shaft 73,
The long hole formed at the other end of the connecting link 72 is used for the lower guide 3
The second drive roller 51 is engaged with the support shaft 51a. That is, the paper discharge device 15 and the lower guide 32 of the connection path 30 are connected with a predetermined play, and the lower guide 32
However, after appropriately rotating in the arrow 50 direction as described later, the paper discharge device 15 is drawn in the arrow 37 direction.

Next, the drive rollers 51, 5 of the lower guide 32
2, 53 drive mechanisms will be described.

FIG. 2 is a view of the lower guide 32 seen from the back side, and the left side in FIG. 2 is the upstream side (apparatus main body side).
It has become. Corresponding pulleys 75, 76, 77 are integrally provided on the drive rollers 51, 52, 53, respectively, and are linked by a belt 79. Reference numeral 80 denotes a guide roller, and 81 denotes an input gear integrally formed with the drive roller 51 and the pulley 75. Reference numeral 82 denotes a drive gear that rotates in the arrow direction by a drive source (not shown), and the rotation is transmitted to the output gear 85 via the intermediate gear 83. The input gear 81, when the lower guide 32 is in the operating position,
The output gear 85 meshes with 8 and rotates in the direction of the arrow to rotate the drive rollers 51, 52, 53 in the direction of the arrow. The drive gear 82, the intermediate gear 83, and the output gear 85 constitute a drive device 86.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the driving device 86.

In the figure, reference numeral 90 indicates a positioning plate 90 fixed to the apparatus main body 2. An intermediate gear 83 meshing with the drive gear 82 is rotatably mounted on a positioning plate 90 by a support shaft 92, and a gear support plate 91 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 92. An output gear 85 and a backlash roller 96 integral with the output gear 85 are rotatably mounted on the gear support plate 91 by a support shaft 93.

Between the gear support plate 91 and the positioning plate 90,
A tension spring 95 is provided to regulate the movement of the gear support plate 91 and the output gear 85 for positioning. Further, the support shaft 51 to which the drive roller 51 is fixed
In addition to the input gear 81, a backlash roller 97 that is in contact with the backlash roller 96 is integrally provided in a.

As a result, when the lower guide 32 is rotated from the release position to the operating position, the input gear 8 of the lower guide 32 is rotated.
When 1 meshes with the output gear 85 of the drive device 86, the gear support plate 91 can be smoothly meshed by slightly swinging, and the backlash of both gears 81 and 85 can be prevented by the backlash rollers 96 and 97. Guaranteed by.

Next, in the apparatus configured as described above, the processing operation when the sheet remains in the sheet discharge device 15 or the connection path 30 due to a problem in sheet conveyance, and is described with reference to FIGS. Follow along. It should be noted that some of the component parts are shown in a diagram for easy understanding of the operation.

Normally, when a sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 2 to the sorter 21, the sheet discharging device 15
1 and 5, the connecting path 30 is in a state in which the lower guide 32 of the connecting path 30 is supported by the operating member 55 to form the paper path 33 (FIG. 1), and the operating member 5
Reference numeral 5 is in an operating position for supporting the lower guide 32, and the guide shaft 63 for restricting the operation of the paper discharge device 15 is in a state of abutting against the recess 71a of the guide groove 71.

When a sheet remains in the sheet discharging device 15 or the sorter 21, a sensor (not shown) provided in the sheet discharging device 15 or the sorter 21 detects the remaining sheet, and an image forming operation, a sheet conveying operation, etc. Has been stopped
An operation panel (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 2 displays that there is a residual sheet. The user who recognizes the presence of the residual sheet operates the handle 110 to rotate the operating member 55 in the direction of arrow 60 in order to remove the residual sheet.

Connect path 3 to remove residual sheet
When the 0 and the paper discharge device 15 are rotated to the release position, if these rotations are started at the same time, they interfere with each other. After that, the paper discharge device 15 is expanded after a while.

When the operating member 55 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6, the operating member 55 causes the upper guide 31 to rotate.
The lower guide 32, which has been pressed to the side, rotates in the direction of the arrow 50 following the operation member 55. In the initial stage of rotation of the lower guide 32, a guide plate 69 centered on the support shaft 67 is provided.
Since the guide shaft 63 presses the circular arc surface A, the rotation of the paper discharge device 15 to the release position is restricted.

When the lower guide 32 is rotated as described above, the support shaft 51a of the lower guide 32 located at the inner end F of the elongated hole 74 (FIG. 7B) of the connecting link 72 is lengthened. Hole 74
It slides inside and contacts the outer end B, and the paper discharge device 15 is opened counterclockwise through the connecting link 72. The length of the long hole 74 is such that when the support shaft 51a comes into contact with the outer end B of the long hole 74, the guide shaft 63 extends from the top of the guide plate 69 shown in FIG. 6 to the outside of the guide groove 71 shown in FIG. It is set to contact the wall surface at the same time.

In FIG. 7, the paper discharge device 15 is rotated by the turning force in the direction of arrow E due to the weight of the lower guide 32 and the turning force in the direction of arrow C due to the human power of the user.
Further, when the lower guide 32 and the connecting link 72 are linear, the support shaft 51 a does not abut the inner end F of the elongated hole 74.

When the operating member 55 is further rotated from the position shown in FIG. 7, the guide shaft 63 of the link device abuts on the inclined surface of the guide plate 69 which is the inner wall of the guide groove 71 to support the paper discharge device 15. The paper discharge device 15 is rotated without interfering with the lower guide 32 (FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 9, with the lower guide 32 and the paper discharge device 15 rotated between the final release positions, the user removes the sheet remaining in the lower guide 32 or the paper discharge device 15. Be done.

The distance between the lower guide 32 and the paper discharge device 15 can be freely set by selecting the inclination angle and shape of the guide plate 69, and the lower guide 32 and the paper discharge device 15 interfere with each other. Can be reliably avoided.

When the lower guide 32 is started to rotate to the release position by operating the operating member 55, the driven rollers 41, 42 and 43 of the upper guide 31 and the drive rollers 51, 52 and 53 of the lower guide 32 are separated. The pressure contact is released, and the connection between the input gear 81 of the lower guide 32 and the drive device 86 is released.

With the above structure, the processing of the residual sheet in the lower guide 32 and the paper discharge device 15 can be performed from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, and the sorter 21 can be detached from the main body 2 of the apparatus. It can be done without needing to do so.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 10 shows a paper discharge device 15
When the sheet discharged from the sheet has a curl (for example, an upper curl), the lower guide 32 that can remove the curl is shown.

In the figure, a convex portion 113 is provided at an appropriate position of the guide portion of the lower guide 32, and a concave portion 111 having a shape corresponding to the convex portion 112 is provided on the upper guide 31. With the convex portion 112 and the concave portion 111,
A bending path 113 is formed on the paper path 33 of the connection path 30. The curled sheet discharged from the paper discharge device 15 is curled by the bending path 113 when passing through the connection path 30, and in a proper state, the sorter 21 on the downstream side.
Transported to As a result, sorting in the sorter 21 can be properly performed without jamming.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 11 shows another embodiment for decurling a sheet.

In one of the pair of conveying rollers of the upper and lower guides 31, 32, for example, the pair of conveying rollers 52, 42, the driving roller 52 of the lower guide 32 is made of a rigid body, and the driven roller 42 of the upper guide 31 is an elastic body. It is composed of. As a result, a downward curved concave nip 115 is formed on the pair of transport rollers 52, 42. The curled sheet discharged from the paper discharge device 15 is a pair of conveyance rollers 52, 4
The curl is removed when passing through the second curved nip 115,
It is conveyed to the sorter 21 on the downstream side in an appropriate state. As a result, sorting in the sorter 21 can be properly performed without jamming.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment for decurling a sheet.

In this embodiment, the connecting path 30 is provided with the convex portion 112 and the concave portion 111 shown in the second embodiment, and the pair of conveying rollers 52 and 42 having the curved nip 115 shown in the third embodiment. Each is provided.

By providing such a curl removing means in the connecting path 30, even if the sheet discharged from the paper discharge device 15 has a relatively large curl, the curl is surely removed to the data 21. It is possible to prevent jams during proper sheet conveyance and sorting.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
During normal sheet ejection and sorting, the sheet can be conveyed to the sheet post-processing device via the connection path, and
When the operation member is operated to rotate the paper discharge device from the operating position to the release position in order to remove the sheet remaining in the paper discharge device, prevent the sheet post-processing device from contacting the paper discharge device. Since the sheet is separated from the sheet discharging device in advance, the remaining sheet can be easily removed by rotating only the sheet discharging device without moving the sheet post-processing device when removing the residual sheet. . The user's operation for rotating the paper discharge device to the release position can be performed from the front side of the image forming apparatus.

Further, when the operating member is moved to the release position, the lower guide of the connecting path is adapted to rotate from the operating position to the releasing position, so that the seat remaining in the connecting path is moved. Can be removed without moving the sheet post-processing device.

Further, when the lower guide is rotated to the release position by operating the operation member, a connecting link for rotating the paper discharge device in conjunction with this is provided, and the processing device for restricting the rotation of the paper discharge device. Is provided between the operation member and the paper discharge device, the lower guide of the connection path and the paper discharge device can be rotated between the operating position and the release position without interfering with each other.

Further, since the bending path for removing the curl of the sheet is formed in the connecting path, the curl of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging device is corrected, and the normal sheet is conveyed to the sheet post-processing device, The stackability of the sheets can be improved in the post-processing device.

Further, since at least one of the pair of conveying rollers in the connecting path is formed of the rigid body and the elastic body to form the curved nip, the curl of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharging device is corrected and a normal sheet is obtained. The sheet can be conveyed to the sheet post-processing device, and the stackability of the sheet can be improved in the sheet post-processing device.

Further, since the bending path and the curved nip of the conveying roller pair are provided in the connecting path, the large curled sheet discharged from the sheet discharging device is corrected and the stackability of the sheet in the sheet post-processing device is improved. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a paper discharge device unit and a connection path unit according to a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a lower guide and a drive unit of the connecting path.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drive unit of the same.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the operation member portion and the link device portion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the operations of the paper discharge device and the connection path.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the paper discharge device and the connection path.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the paper discharge device and the connecting path.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the paper discharge device and the connecting path.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the paper discharge device and the connecting path.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a paper discharge device unit and a connection path unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a paper discharge device unit and a connection path unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a paper discharge device unit and a connection path unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 14 is a front view of an image forming apparatus including a conventional paper discharge device and a sheet post-processing device.

15 is an operation diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Forming Apparatus 2 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 7 Photosensitive Drum (Image Forming Section) 15 Paper Discharging Device 30 Connection Path 31 Upper Guide 32 Lower Guide 33 Paper Path 41, 42, 43 Driven Rollers 51, 52, 53 Drive Roller 55 Operation Member 62 1st link 63 Guide shaft 65 2nd link 69 Guide plate 55, 62, 63, 71 Link device 71 Guide groove 72 Connection link 74 Elongated hole 86 Drive device 110 Handle

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus main body having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, an operation position for discharging an image-formed sheet, and a release position for retreating from the operation position and removing a residual sheet. A sheet discharge device rotatably provided in the image forming apparatus main body, a rotatable operation member operated to open and close the sheet discharge device, and a sheet discharge device in the release position so as not to come into contact with the sheet discharge device. A sheet post-processing device that is separated from the paper ejection device in the operating position, and the paper ejection device and the sheet post-processing device so that the sheet ejected from the paper ejection device can be conveyed to the sheet post-processing device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a connecting path including upper and lower guides connecting the processing apparatus. 2. An operating position in which the lower guide of the connecting path is openable and closable around one end thereof and is supported by the operating member, and is driven by the rotation of the operating member to form the connecting path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus can be opened and closed between a release position that opens the operating position and a release position. 3. The lower guide of the connection path and the paper discharge device are connected via a connection link, and the paper discharge device and the operating member rotate the paper discharge device via a link device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is regulated and connected, and the opening and closing of the connection path and the paper discharge device by the rotation of the operation member are performed without interfering with each other. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection link connects the connection path and the paper discharge device with the appropriate play. 5. The connecting path has a convex portion on one of the upper and lower guides, and a concave portion along the convex portion on the other side to form a bending path. Claim 1
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The connecting path has a plurality of conveying roller pairs for conveying a sheet, and one conveying roller of at least one conveying roller pair of the conveying roller pairs is an elastic body and is in pressure contact with the elastic body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other conveying roller is a rigid body, and the pair of conveying rollers forms a curved nip. 7. The connecting path has a convex portion on one of the upper and lower guides and a concave portion along the convex portion on the other to form a bending path, A plurality of conveying roller pairs for conveying, one conveying roller of at least one conveying roller pair of the conveying roller pairs is an elastic body, and the other conveying roller pressed against the elastic body is a rigid body; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curved nip is formed by a pair. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic body is a foam, and the rigid body is a porous resin.