JPS5936039A - Feed attachment and image forming device with said feed attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure drive transmission by removably fitting a sheet feed attachment separate from a copying machine main body to the main body and transmitting the drive force from the main body side through a swingably supported drive transmission means. CONSTITUTION:When many sheets of decalcomania paper are to be continuously copied, a feed attachment 20 is connected to the lower section of a copying machine main body 1 so as to allow the continuous feed by a cassette 21. A coupler gear 47, an idler gear 48 and a solenoid 49 are fixed on a swing plate 46 provided on the attachment 20 and is swingable around a paper feed roller shaft 35. The swing plate 46 is pressed by a swing spring 50 in the direction of an arrow D. By fitting the attachment 20 to the copying machine main body 1, the gear 51 on the main body 1 side is engaged with the coupler gear 47 on the attachment 20 side, thus the power is transmitted from the main body 1 side. In addition, gears 47, 48, 52, 53 are held in one body by the swing plate 46, thereby the drive force can be reliably transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a feeding attachment that includes a sheet stacking section and a sheet feeding means for feeding sheets from the sheet stacking section, and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a recording machine. and an image forming apparatus equipped with the feeding attachment.) More specifically, for forming an image on a sheet,
The present invention relates to a feeding attachment for feeding sheets to an image forming apparatus main body by a sheet feeding means, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the attachment.

Hereinafter, an example will be described in which a copying machine is used as an image forming apparatus and a cassette is detachably provided as a feeding attachment.

Conventionally, in copying machines, there have been two types of devices for feeding transfer paper: manual feeding devices and continuous feeding devices, depending on the grave to be copied. A manual feeding device is one in which an operator manually feeds the transfer paper one sheet at a time. On the contrary,
Continuous feeding device pressure is determined by installing a transfer paper loading table in the main body of the copying machine.
When in use, the desired number of sheets of transfer paper is placed on it, and the transfer paper loading table feeder automatically separates and feeds each sheet one by one, and the transfer paper of a predetermined size is stored in advance in a cassette of 115'f. Then, when in use, a cassette containing transfer paper of the required size is attached to the copying machine body, and a cassette feeding device feeds each sheet one by one.Furthermore, a large amount of transfer paper can be loaded and stored directly inside the L copying machine body. There are deck feeding devices that feed sheets one by one. Furthermore, there is also a roll feeding device that stores a long transfer paper in a roll, and feeds the transfer paper to the required size for each copy, cuts the paper, and then feeds the paper.

Conventional copying machines include one of these transfer material feeding devices.
They were provided singly, in multiple pieces, or in combinations of multiple types. In other words, there are copying machines that can only feed manually as a transfer paper feeding method, those that can feed manually and one size cassette, those that can feed two sizes of cassette, or those that can feed manual and two sizes. There were various types depending on the user's copy volume, such as those that could feed cassettes of different sizes, and those that could feed cassettes of two sizes and decks of one size.

However, in conventional copying machines, these transfer paper feeding devices could only be used with devices that were originally installed in the copying machine body.For this reason, in low-grade machines, for example, only manual feeding was possible. If the copying volume increases and manual feeding is no longer sufficient, the user using the copying machine should replace it with a copying machine equipped with a continuous feeding device, even if the copying machine is usable. I had to.

In other words, a different copying machine is required even if the amount of copies changes. On the other hand, high-end copying machines have the problem that the size of the copying machine itself becomes larger and heavier as it is equipped with various feeding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional apparatus, and provides a feeding attachment that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and which has a separate sheet feeding means from the main body. The feeding function can be system-upped to accommodate various copy extensions, and as a result, the image forming apparatus can be made space-saving and lightweight.

That is, the present invention that achieves the above object includes a sheet stacking section, a sheet feeding section for feeding out sheets from the sheet stacking section, a drive transmission section for transmitting a drive from the main body side to the sheet feeding section, and the drive transmission section. The image forming apparatus has a support means that integrally supports the image forming apparatus and is swingable, thereby providing a feeding attachment that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an image forming section for forming an image on a sheet fed out by a sheet feeding means,
A sheet stacking section, a sheet feeding means for feeding sheets from the sheet stacking section, a drive transmission means for transmitting a drive from the main body to the sheet feeding means, and a swingable structure that integrally supports the drive transmission means. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a feeding attachment that has a support means and is detachably attached to an apparatus main body.

Next, an example of a copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described.

Fig. 1(a) 1, external view of the copying machine main body 1, Fig. 1(b)
is a perspective view seen from below, and Figure 2 is the main body 1 of this welding machine.
A cross-sectional view of the is shown. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a document mounting table made of a transparent member such as glass, which reciprocates in the direction of arrow a. 3 is a short-focus, small-diameter imaging array. The original image reflected by the light source 4 of the original placed on the original placing table 2 is slit-exposed onto the photosensitive drum 5 by the array 3.

That is, the drum 5, which has been uniformly charged in advance by the charger 6, is subjected to image exposure by the element array 6, and an electrostatic image corresponding to the original image is formed. Next, this electrostatic image is visualized by the developing device 7. - The transfer paper 9 manually fed from above the sumo wrestler table 8 is transferred to a feeding roller 11 which rotates in response to a detection signal from a detection means 10 that detects that the transfer paper 9 has been manually fed, and onto the photosensitive drum 5. The image is sent onto the drum 5 by a registration shutter 12 that opens and closes at the appropriate timing so that the image is placed at a proper position on the transfer paper 9. Next, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the transfer paper 9 by the transfer discharger 16. Thereafter, when the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 9, the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer paper 9 are connected. After the transfer, the transfer paper 9 is placed on the drum 5 with the drum 5 and one side edge of the transfer paper 9 separated from each other.
To peel off the transfer paper 9 that has been guided away from the peripheral surface of the drum 5 by the separation belt 14 and bell 114 that are placed in contact with or close to one end of the drum 5 to guide it away from the surface. The transfer paper 9 separated from the drum 5 by the drivingly rotating separation roller 14a and the drivenly rotating pressing roller 14b is led to the fixing device 16 by the guard 15, where the toner image on the transfer paper 9 is fixed. Thereafter, the paper is discharged onto a tray 18 by a paper discharge roller 17.

Note that the toner remaining after transfer on the photosensitive drum 5 is removed by the cleaning means 19 in the next step. Also, 60
A pressure bonding plate is used to pressure the original O onto the mounting table 2.

Now, the copying machine of this embodiment has a built-in manual feeding device that allows the operator to insert and feed just one sheet of transfer paper by hand.
When a large number of sheets of transfer paper are to be continuously copied due to an increase in the amount of copies to be used, continuous feeding by the cassette 21 becomes possible by connecting the feeding attachment 20 to the lower part of the copying machine main body 1. Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the 20t (Akuchmen) attached to the main body 1 (al shows its sectional view 'I'
C shown in Figure 6(b). In addition, FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view showing the structure of the attachment 20, and FIG. 4(1) is a plan view of the structure. state

In the main body 1, after 90 minutes of transferring the toner image from the photosensitive drum 5, a separation belt 14, a separation roller 14a, a pressure roller 14b, and a separation belt 14, which are not arranged at one end of the photosensitive drum 5, are connected to the transfer paper from the photosensitive drum 5. Therefore, regardless of its size, the transferred transfer paper must be conveyed aligned with a predetermined conveyance path that serves as a reference position on one side where the separation belt 14 is arranged (note that in this embodiment, In this case, the separation belt 14 is arranged on the back side, and for convenience, the position of the separation belt 14 when the attachment 20 is attached to the main body 1 is set to the fourth position.
Figure price) K (shown by a dashed line) 0 Therefore, the attachment 20 that accommodates the cassette 21 must be connected to the main body 1 with high accuracy.

At least the side on which the separation belt 14 is provided must be accurately positioned and mounted. That is, the transfer paper sent out from inside the sumo wrestler kit 21 must be positioned and connected so that one end thereof is reliably hooked onto the separation bell 14.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the positioning of the main body 1 and the attachment 20 is performed as follows.

First, on the back of the bottom box 22 on the main body 1 side, there are four legs 23 for placing the main body 1 on a stand when using only the main body 1.
aabec*d is provided at its corner. In particular, when at least two of the legs 2'') a-1, in the embodiment, both 1 and 2o are attached, the separation belt 1
The positions of the rear leg 2Sb and the front leg 23a where 4 is located are made with high precision from a predetermined reference position of the bottom box 22.

In addition, on the attachment 20 side, the legs 23a of the main body 1 are attached at four corners of the casing 20a molded from resin.
-d are provided with recesses 45a-b and cod into which they fit.

Therefore, in order to attach both, attach main body 1 to attachment 2.
When the legs 23 a - d are placed on the recess 45
a-a, and the wall surface around the recess comes into contact with the surface C around the base of the leg on the main body 1 side. More specifically, the recess 45a that fits into the rear leg 23a provided on the side where the separation belt 14 is arranged has an inner diameter X.
is formed to have a size that substantially matches the outer diameter Y of the leg portion 23a.

In other words, both have matching shapes and can be fitted into each other. Therefore, when the leg portions 23a and the recessed portions 45a are fitted together, there is no play between them. In addition, the width size Za of the four parts 45ba that fits into the right front leg part 23b facing this leg part 23a is almost the same as the outer diameter Zb of the leg part 23b, and the width size in the vertical direction is larger than the so-called width size Za. It is long. Furthermore, the inner diameters of the other two recesses 450-d are larger than the outer diameters of the leg portions 23C-d into which they are fitted, so that the two can be fitted with sufficient margin.

Therefore, when attaching the attachment 20 to the main body 1,
First, the rear leg 23a is fitted into the recess 45a. As described above, the legs 23a are precisely positioned in the bottom box 22 with respect to a predetermined reference position, so the legs 23a
3a and the fourth part 45a, the main body 1 and the attachment 20 are precisely positioned on the side where the separation belt 14 is disposed.

Next, the leg portion 23b is fitted into the elongated hole recess 45b.

At this time, since the four parts 45b are elongated, even if the installation position of the leg part 23b or the recessed part 45b is shifted, the leg part 23b can be smoothly inserted into the recessed part 45b. Moreover, since the width size Za of the recess 45b and the outer diameter Zb of the leg portion 23b are almost the same, once the attachment 20 and the main body 1 are attached, there is no possibility that they will come apart and cause play.

Furthermore, the leg portion 230-a of the recess 45C-dK is inserted and secured.At this time, the inner diameter of the recess 45cma is the same as the leg portion 23 (!
-(Since the dimensions are larger than the outer diameter of 1, leg 2'5C
-d can be inserted into the recess 45cm with plenty of room, so
Even if there is an error in these installation positions, main units 1 and 7
Tatsuchimen) 20 can be installed smoothly.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the legs 23B*b*ce d are each inserted into and supported by the recess 45aeb*ce (1).
In particular, the side on which the separation belt 14 is installed is attached to the main body (one attachment member) 20 with high precision.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the main body 1 and the attachment 20 are smoothly and accurately positioned and attached. In addition, it is possible to position the side where the separation belt is provided with particularly high precision.
The accuracy of the distance to the loading positioning section 1 (described later) is determined on the housing of the attachment 2o.

By the above method, the main body 1 and the attachment 2° can be connected with high accuracy, and the transfer paper stored in the cassette 21 loaded in the attachment 20 to the main body 1 is sent out from the cassette 21 on the correct conveyance path. so that one end of the belt is securely hooked onto the separation belt 14 during separation.
Separation is performed without mistakes.

However, without being limited to the above example, for example, by providing a convex part or a concave part using a place other than the leg part on the main body side, and providing an opposite concave part or convex part on the attachment side, and making them fit together. This can be done by positioning.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, incorrect attachment of the main body 1 and the attachment 20 can be prevented. This will be explained below.

First, in the above embodiment, the outer diameter y-zb of the leg portions 23a-b provided at the two positions on the right side is different from the outer diameter 11 of the leg portions 23e-a provided at the two positions on the left side. This prevents the main body 1 and the attachment 20 from being connected in the opposite direction by mistake. Furthermore, when trying to connect the two in the opposite direction, the front wall 24 of the attachment 20 is installed higher than the other surrounding walls, that is, it protrudes, so if you try to connect them in the wrong direction, the main body 1 will be damaged. This front wall 24
It hits me and gets in the way so I can't get to it.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, consideration has been given to the weight at the time of installation.

That is, when the main body 1 is placed on the attachment 20, the main body 1
The casing 20a of the attachment 20 may be deformed due to zero weight. Therefore, in order to prevent this, in this embodiment, as schematically shown in FIG.
The legs 60a@b and C-d provided on the casing 20a are as follows:
Main body 10 Weight-receiving location, that is, main body 1 leg 2 lower a *
Four recesses 45a*b for receiving and supporting bsc*a
- It is arranged so that it is almost directly under c and d. That is, the leg portions 23aeb*c*d and the recesses 45 a-b 11011
(The legs 6Qa-bsc-d of the attachment 20 are placed in alignment with each other in the vertical direction. Therefore, when both are attached, the weight of the main body 1 is held by the legs 6Qa*bsc*d of the attachment 20.) Even if it is held, the housing 20 of the attachment 20
A will not be deformed 0 Above, we have explained the mechanical connection between the copying machine main body 1 and the attachment 20. Copy button 25 for setting the desired number of copies, number addition button 26 and number subtraction button 27 for setting the desired number of copies, and two functions for touring the set desired number of copies and for stopping continuous copying. The clear/stop button 28, which also serves as
b)), and each signal is passed between the copying machine main body 1 and the attachment 20 when installed.

In the figure, reference numeral 29 denotes a connector provided on the attachment 20 side, and is provided facing upward on the back side where the recess 45a is provided and slightly below the upper surface of the recess 45a. Reference numeral 60 denotes a connector provided in the bottom box 22 on the side of the copying machine main body 1 so as to protrude downward. Note that the distance that the connector 60 projects downward from the bottom box 22 is smaller than the distance that the legs 25 a * ba C and d protrude, thereby protecting the connector 60 from impacts and the like. The connectors 29 and 60 are precisely provided at equal distances from the positioning leg 23a and the fitting recess 45a, respectively. Therefore, when the main body 1 is attached to the attachment 20, the connectors 29 and 60 are also reliably connected. Become.

As described above, in this embodiment, the main body 1 and the attachment 20
The 0th order, which can be connected both mechanically and electrically, is the
Regarding the example attachment 20, FIG. 6 (al-(
b), Fi84 figure (&] - (bl + figure 6 (a
)-(b) and FIG. 7.0 FIG. 4 (aJ is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the attachment 20, FIG. (
a) and (b) are cross-sectional rear views showing a driving part of an embodiment of the attachment 20. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the positioning part of the cassette. In FIG. 7, 21 is a cassette for loading transfer paper, and it can be inserted and removed from the opening 31 formed by the trap when the attachment 20 and main body 1 are attached. It becomes. The transfer paper P is placed on a swingable middle plate 62 provided in the cassette 21.
and separation claws 360 provided at both corners of the feeding tip, and are pushed upward by the cassette spring 34. Then, since the half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 36 fixed to the paper feed roller shaft 35 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the pressure of the cassette spring 64 causes the uppermost transfer paper stacked with the transfer paper P and the paper feed roller 36 to rotate. The uppermost transfer paper is fed out one by one from the cassette 21 in cooperation with the separation claw 63 due to the frictional force. Further, 37 is a conveyance roller shaft, and 68 is a conveyance roller fixed to two conveyor roller axes.
It is further sent out from the side to the main body 1 side. Also 69
1 is a conveyance guide, which is integrated with a guide plate section 40 that guides the transfer paper toward the main body 1 side. Further, reference numeral 41 denotes a rotatable presser roller, which is swingably attached to the conveyance guide 69, and a presser roller spring 42 provided on the burn guide 69.
It is pressed against the conveyance roller 68 by. Note that this conveyance guide 39 is rotatable around the guide shaft 44 (
It is pressed in the direction of arrow B in the figure by the guide spring 45. Therefore, guide 69
The elastic force of the spring 43 positions and fixes the roller 41 at the position where it contacts the roller 38.

If the transfer paper sent out from the cassette 21 fails to be conveyed on the guide 69, the conveyance guide 69 is opened by rotating it in the direction of arrow C in the figure using the handle 39a. At this time, since the presser roller 41 is displaced together with the conveyance guide 69, it is easier to remove the transfer paper. This state is shown in FIG. Note that the spring 46 has one end 43a facing the attachment 20 body side, and the other end 43a facing the attachment 20 body side.
1) is attached to the guide 39 side.

Next, regarding the drive system of the attachment, see Figure 6 (al.
This will be explained using FIG. 6(b).

First, the attachment 20 is provided with a paper feed roller shaft 35.
On the rocking plate 46 that can swing around the force Y lag 47
．． An idler gear 48 and a solenoid 49 are fixedly installed. This swing plate 46 is always pressed in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a swing plate spring 50 on the back side where the recess 45a is provided. 0 which is integrated with the flange 51a for
In addition, the coupler gear 47 is also integrally provided with a positioning flange 47a, and the gear 51 on the main body 1 side and the coupler gear 47
0 backlash is guaranteed by 47a and 51a
Further, 52 is a conveyance roller gear fixed to the conveyance roller shaft 37, and meshes with the idler gear 48. Further, a paper feed roller gear 56 attached to the paper feed roller shaft 65 also meshes with the idler gear 48, and transmits drive to the paper feed roller shaft 35 via the one-turn clutch 54. This one-turn clutch 54 is expanded and the solenoid 49 is turned ON and OFF to operate the clutch pawl 55 in the direction of arrow E in the figure, thereby functioning. Therefore, coupler gear 47, idler gear 48, paper feed roller gear 53, solenoid 49, one rotation clutch 5
4 are all integrated on the swing plate 46 and the paper feed roller shaft 3
It swings around 5. The bottom box 22 on the main body 1 side is provided with an opening 22a on the back side where the legs 23a are provided, through which the gear 51 is connected to the coupler gear 47 on the attachment 20 side.

Therefore, when the copy button 25 is pressed, the gear 51 starts to rotate due to the drive from the motor (not shown) on the main body 1, which starts rotating in response to the copy start signal issued by the copy button 25. is transmitted to the coupler gear 47 and idler gear 48, and further from the idler gear 48 to the conveyance roller gear 52 and paper feed roller gear 5.
3. Therefore, the conveyance roller 38 constantly rotates while a motor (not shown) is driven. Also, paper feed roller 3
Reference numeral 6 is a solenoid 49 that functions by the operation of a solenoid 49 that repeatedly turns on and off in response to a copy signal in the case of single-sheet copying, and in response to a synchronization signal issued in synchronization with the movement of the document table in the case of continuous copying. By the rotating clutch 54,
Drive is transmitted from a constantly rotating paper feed roller gear 56, which rotates once each time it is fed, and feeds out the transferred paper sheet by sheet from the cassette 21.

In this way, in this embodiment, when the main body 1 and the attachment 20 are attached, the gear 51 on the main body 1 side and the coupler gear 47 on the attachment 20 side automatically mesh and are driven from the main body 1 side. is transmitted. Moreover, since the gears 47, 48, 52, and 53 on the attachment 20 side are held together by the rocking plate, they swing together, preventing problems such as uneven meshing between the gears. , drive can be transmitted reliably.

Next, the operation of the attachment section will be explained.

First, by pressing the copy button 25, a copying operation is started. That is, when a copy start signal is issued, the main motor (not shown) of the main body starts rotating, and all the gears rotate accordingly. At the same time, Tsure/id 49 is ON.
L, one rotation The paper feed roller 36 rotates once by the clutch 54. As a result, the uppermost transfer paper in the cassette 21 is sent out from the cassette 21 by the circumferential length of the paper feed roller 36.

Since the distance from the separation claw 3 to the conveyance roller 57 is shorter than the circumferential length of the paper feed roller 66, the cassette 21
The leading edge of the transfer paper sent out from inside is held by the conveyance roller 67 and the presser roller 41. Thereafter, the transfer paper is conveyed along the conveyance roller 37, guided by the guide plate section 40, and the transfer paper on the main body 1 side slips between the conveyance wharf 68 and the presser roller 41 until the shutter 12 is opened. After the shutter 12 opens in synchronization with the toner image on the drum 5, copies are made in the same manner as in the manual feeding operation described above.

Next, loading the cassette 21 into the attachment 20 will be described.

In FIG. 6(b), the cassette 21 is positioned in the left-right direction by a convex portion 21a fixed to the bottom of the cassette 21 and a recess 2 provided in the frame 20a of the attachment 200.
This is done by engaging with 0a. Therefore, when the cassette 21 is inserted from the left to the right in the figure, the convex portions 2i& of the cassette 21 fall into the four parts of the attachment 20 and are positioned. Next, positioning in the front and rear directions will be explained using FIG. 7. Attachment) 20
0 frame body 20a is integrally formed with a rail 20b which is provided at a precise distance from a recess 45a for positioning the main body 1 and the attachment 20, and a rail 20b is integrally formed with the cassette 21 on the rail portion. There, the cassette 21 and the attachment 20 are positioned in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the cassette 21 is correctly positioned and loaded at the predetermined loading position of the attachment 200. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the main body 1 and the attachment 20 are precisely positioned, and the cassette 21 is precisely positioned with respect to the attachment 2U, so that the cassette 21 is loaded in the correct position with respect to the main body 1. become. Therefore, the Jz transfer paper sent out from the cassette 21 passes through a predetermined transport path and passes through a position where one end thereof is securely hooked on the separation belt 14, so that the main body 1 and the attachment 20 can be attached and detached. Despite this, it is possible to prevent separation errors from occurring.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example was given in which a cassette is removably loaded into the attachment, but the attachment is not limited to this, and can be used, for example, with a deck, a manual feed stand, or an attachment with a long sheet attached. There may be one, or a deck and a cassette or a combination of a plurality of cassettes may be provided.

That is, in the present invention, it goes without saying that the sheet stacking section may be used in combination with a manual feed tray. Further, the sheet is not limited to transfer paper, and may be any thin plate that can be fed, such as copy paper, photosensitive paper, or plastic sheet. Further, the sheet feeding means is not limited to the feeding roller, but may be an air suction type, a rotating endless belt type, or the like. Furthermore, the separating member is not limited to a separating belt, but may be a type in which air is blown out from a separating claw or a nozzle.

As described above, the present invention provides a nine-stroke iron forming device that is detachably equipped with a sheet loading section and a feeding attachment and a skeleton feeding attachment that have a sheet feeding means for feeding out sheets from the sheet loading section. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 (al) is an external perspective view of the copying machine main body to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view seen from below, FIG. Figure 6 (a) shows the external appearance of the attachment attached to the copying machine main body.
Figure 3 (1)) is a sectional view, Figure 4 (-) is a perspective view showing the structure of the attachment, Figure 4 (b) is a plan view, and Figure 5 shows the state of the legs when attached. A schematic perspective view,
Figures 6(a) and 6(1)) are side views showing the drive section of the attachment, Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the positioning method of the cassette and attachment, and Figure 8 is a sectional view of the feeding section. be. At rotation pressure, 1... Copying machine main body 14... Separation belt 20... m-feed attachment 21... Fist cassette applicant Canon Corporation Chis Kasumi

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A sheet stacking section, a sheet feeding means for feeding out sheets from the sheet stacking section, a drive transmission means for transmitting a drive from the main body to the sheet feeding means, and a structure that integrally supports and swings the drive transmission means. A feeding attachment having a movable support means and capable of being attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body. (2) In an image forming apparatus including an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet fed out by a sheet feeding section, a sheet stacking section, a sheet feeding section that feeds out a sheet from the sheet stacking section, and the sheet feeding section. An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive transmitting means for transmitting a drive from the main body to the main body; and a swingable support means that integrally supports the drive transmitting means, and a feeding attachment that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.