An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a first guiding unit having a first surface forming a first feeding passage, and a second guiding unit forming a second feeding passage. The second guiding unit includes a first member made of metal and having a first guiding surface on which a leading end of a sheet is guided in a first section including an upstream end portion of the second feeding passage with respect to a sheet feeding direction, and includes a second member made of a resin material and having a second guiding surface on which the sheet is guided in a second section downstream of the first section in the second feeding passage with respect to the sheet feeding direction. The first guiding surface is spaced from a first phantom contact surface extending from an end portion of the first surface and contacting the second guiding surface.

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a first guiding unit having a first surface forming a first feeding passage, and a second guiding unit forming a second feeding passage. The second guiding unit includes a first member made of metal and having a first guiding surface on which a leading end of a sheet is guided in a first section including an upstream end portion of the second feeding passage with respect to a sheet feeding direction, and includes a second member made of a resin material and having a second guiding surface on which the sheet is guided in a second section downstream of the first section in the second feeding passage with respect to the sheet feeding direction. The first guiding surface is spaced from a first phantom contact surface extending from an end portion of the first surface and contacting the second guiding surface.

While the first opening and closing member is moved from the first closed position to the first opened position, a force transmitted to the second opening closing member by the first member interfering with the second member pivots the second opening and closing member from the second closed position toward the second opened position. While the first opening and closing member is moved from the first opened position to the first closed position, the second member retracts from the movement locus of the first member by interference of the first member with the second member, and the first opening and closing member is configured to move to the first closed position in a state where the second opening and closing member is positioned at the second closed position.

While the first opening and closing member is moved from the first closed position to the first opened position, a force transmitted to the second opening closing member by the first member interfering with the second member pivots the second opening and closing member from the second closed position toward the second opened position. While the first opening and closing member is moved from the first opened position to the first closed position, the second member retracts from the movement locus of the first member by interference of the first member with the second member, and the first opening and closing member is configured to move to the first closed position in a state where the second opening and closing member is positioned at the second closed position.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an image forming unit, a sheet tray disposed below the image forming unit, and a retransport assembly configured to transport a sheet along a retransport path including first, second, and third retransport path portions in a transport direction. The retransport assembly includes a portion of the sheet tray defining the first retransport path portion, a connecting unit and a retransport unit, which are disposed below the sheet tray. The connecting unit defines the second retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the third retransport path portion in the transport direction. The retransport unit is movable between a stored position and a pulled-out position. The retransport unit at the stored position defines the first retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the second retransport path portion in the transport direction.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body, an image forming unit, a sheet tray disposed below the image forming unit, and a retransport assembly configured to transport a sheet along a retransport path including first, second, and third retransport path portions in a transport direction. The retransport assembly includes a portion of the sheet tray defining the first retransport path portion, a connecting unit and a retransport unit, which are disposed below the sheet tray. The connecting unit defines the second retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the third retransport path portion in the transport direction. The retransport unit is movable between a stored position and a pulled-out position. The retransport unit at the stored position defines the first retransport path portion connected to an upstream end of the second retransport path portion in the transport direction.

An image forming apparatus, having a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall, a sheet tray movable in a first direction, an image forming device to form an image on a sheet, and a chute movable in a second direction, is provided. The sheet tray has a first outer frame, having a first dent denting downward. The chute has a second outer frame. The second outer frame has a second dent denting upward and forming an opening together with the first dent and a handle extending downward from the second dent. At least one of the first outer frame and the second outer frame has a wall shielding a part of the opening at a position upstream from the handle in the second direction.

An image forming apparatus, having a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall, a sheet tray movable in a first direction, an image forming device to form an image on a sheet, and a chute movable in a second direction, is provided. The sheet tray has a first outer frame, having a first dent denting downward. The chute has a second outer frame. The second outer frame has a second dent denting upward and forming an opening together with the first dent and a handle extending downward from the second dent. At least one of the first outer frame and the second outer frame has a wall shielding a part of the opening at a position upstream from the handle in the second direction.

A method of handling a sheet defect error in a duplex print process, wherein media sheets are successively supplied along a feed path and are moved past a print engine where a first image is printed on a first side of each sheet in a first print pass, the sheets are then returned, via a duplex loop that contains a sheet flipping mechanism, to the feed path upstream of the print engine so that a second image can be printed on a second side of each sheet in a second print pass, the finished sheets being then discharged in a predetermined page sequence, and wherein, when a sheet defect is found a first print pass of a sheet, the defective sheet is diverted into an eject path downstream of the print engine, and a print pass for an immediate successor of the defective sheet is skipped. The subsequent semi-finished sheets are recirculated in the duplex loop while the supply of fresh sheets into the feed path is interrupted, and duplex printing is resumed during or after recirculating the subsequent semi-finished sheets.

In an image forming apparatus capable of turning over a sheet to form images on both sides of the sheet, when duplex printing is executed successively on three or more sheets, a controller causes a first sheet conveyed from an image forming unit and a second sheet conveyed from the image forming unit to be guided into a first path by positioning a guide member in a first position, and then conveyed into a third path by a first roller, and causes a third and subsequent sheets conveyed from the image forming unit to be guided into a second path by positioning the guide member in a second position, and then conveyed into the third path by a second roller.