An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a pair of conveyance rotary members arranged downstream of the image forming portion in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to convey the sheet, on which the image is formed, by a conveyance nip; and a guide portion configured to guide the sheet to the conveyance. The guide portion includes a first guide member formed into a sheet shape and having a first stiffness and an abutment surface configured to abut the sheet and a second guide member formed into a sheet shape and having a second stiffness higher than the first stiffness and arranged on a side opposite to the abutment surface of the first guide member, wherein a downstream edge of the first guide member is closer to the conveyance nip than a downstream edge of the second guide member.

A sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet inlet port, an inlet guide, and a guide switching mechanism. The inlet guide has an upper guide and a lower guide below the upper guide. The guide switching mechanism switches a position of the inlet guide between a conveyance position at which the upper guide and the lower guide face each other with a first distance and a separation position at which the upper guide and the lower guide are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. To connect the sheet conveyance unit to the sheet discharge unit, the inlet guide is disposed to the separation position before the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide, and is disposed to the conveyance position after the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide.

A sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet inlet port, an inlet guide, and a guide switching mechanism. The inlet guide has an upper guide and a lower guide below the upper guide. The guide switching mechanism switches a position of the inlet guide between a conveyance position at which the upper guide and the lower guide face each other with a first distance and a separation position at which the upper guide and the lower guide are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. To connect the sheet conveyance unit to the sheet discharge unit, the inlet guide is disposed to the separation position before the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide, and is disposed to the conveyance position after the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide.

An image forming device including an optical sensor, an ultrasound sensor, and a conveyance guide. The optical sensor and the ultrasound sensor are disposed alongside a conveyance path of a sheet and are used to determine sheet type. The conveyance guide guides the sheet along the conveyance path. The conveyance guide is structured such that, on the conveyance path between the optical sensor and the ultrasound sensor, the sheet is in contact with the conveyance guide while a portion of the sheet is in a light irradiation range of the optical sensor and a different portion of the sheet is in an ultrasound irradiation range of the ultrasound sensor.

A transport device includes a transport roller, a nip section, and first and second transport path surfaces. The transport roller transports a transport target material sent from an accommodating unit. The nip section nips the transport target material with the transport roller, and prevents multi-feed of the transport target material. The first transport path surface is disposed upstream of the nip section in a transport direction to face a transport roller side of the nip section. The first transport path surface includes a top portion protruding toward the transport roller side beyond a nip line between the transport roller and the nip section. The second transport path surface is disposed downstream of the nip section in the transport direction to face the transport roller side of the nip section. The second transport path surface includes a top portion protruding toward the transport roller side beyond the nip line.

The present invention relates to an inversion transfer module (60) for a converting machine having a printing module (16) comprising a first printing unit (17) arranged to print on a top side (S1) of the sheet (1), and a second printing unit (17) arranged to print a bottom side (S2) of the sheet. The inversion transfer module is arranged between the first printing unit and the second printing unit and comprises a first inversion vacuum transfer (62) arranged to contact the first side of the sheet and a second inversion vacuum transfer (64) configured to contact the second side of the sheet, whereby the inversion transfer module is configured to change the side of adherence and transportation of the sheet.

The present invention relates to an inversion transfer module (60) for a converting machine having a printing module (16) comprising a first printing unit (17) arranged to print on a top side (S1) of the sheet (1), and a second printing unit (17) arranged to print a bottom side (S2) of the sheet. The inversion transfer module is arranged between the first printing unit and the second printing unit and comprises a first inversion vacuum transfer (62) arranged to contact the first side of the sheet and a second inversion vacuum transfer (64) configured to contact the second side of the sheet, whereby the inversion transfer module is configured to change the side of adherence and transportation of the sheet.

A sheet guiding device includes a cover unit, a swing guide, a link member, and a contact member. The cover unit is configured to be openably disposed on a housing of an image forming apparatus. The swing guide is configured to move between a guide position at which the swing guide is open to guide a sheet and a retracted position at which the swing guide is closed. The swing guide is configured to move from the retracted position to the guide position along with closing movement of the cover unit. The link member has one end configured to be held by the housing and an opposite end engaged with the swing guide. The contact member is disposed on the cover unit. The contact member is configured to contact the link member to rotate the link member in the closing movement of the cover unit.

A sheet feeding device includes a detachable separation unit, a conveyance unit, a guide member, an urging member, and an opening and closing member. The feeding unit feeds a stored sheet. The separation unit separates sheets fed by the feeding unit one by one. The conveyance unit conveys the sheet. Urged by the urging member, the guide member guides the sheet toward the conveyance unit and rotates about a first rotating shaft. The opening and closing member opens and closes. In a state in which the opening and closing member is closed, the guide member is positioned in a first position in which the guide member forms a conveyance path. In a process in which the opening and closing member is opened, a free end of the guide member moves upwardly about the first rotating shaft, by using an urging force, from the first to a second position.

An image forming apparatus, including a main chassis having a discharge tray and a switchback tray in an upper position with respect to the discharge tray; an image forming unit; a discharge roller to discharge a recording sheet conveyed through the image forming unit onto the discharge tray; a duplex conveyer to invert the sheet and convey the inverted sheet to return to the image forming unit; and a switchback roller being rotatable in a normal direction to convey the sheet toward the switchback tray and a reverse direction to convey the sheet to the duplex conveyer; is provided. The main chassis includes a pair of walls, each of which extends in a vertical direction and in a conveying direction of the sheet and is arranged in adjacent to the switchback tray such that the switchback tray is interposed between the pair of walls.