An image reading apparatus includes a reading device that reads an image on a document that is conveyed through a first conveying path, a switching guide that is supported so as to be able to rotate about a rotation axis, guides the document to a second conveying path by being disposed at a first position, and guides the document to a third conveying path by being disposed at a second position; and a roller that conveys the document to one of the second conveying path and the third conveying path after the reading device reads the document, wherein the second conveying path is arranged above a plane that is formed along the first conveying path, and the rotation axis is arranged below the plane and on an upstream side of a vertical plane that comes in contact with an edge of a downstream side of the roller.

A first operation restriction portion forms a first step between the first operation restriction portion and a first operation portion. A second operation restriction portion forms a second step between the second operation restriction portion and a second operation portion. A first locking portion releases locking of a locked portion when a first push of pushing the first operation portion or a second push of pushing the second operation portion is performed. When the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the first push, a second locking portion stops the sheet stopper in a first upright state. When the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the second push, the second locking portion allows the sheet stopper to rotate beyond the first upright state. A third locking portion stops the sheet stopper in a second upright state.

A recording apparatus includes a housing configured to house a recording portion recording an image on a sheet and to have a side including an opening through which the sheet passes, a tray configured to rotate about a rotation shaft, relative to the housing, between a closed position at a first angle for closing the opening and an open position at a second angle for loading the sheet, and an urging mechanism configured to urge the tray toward the closed position when an angle about the rotation shaft of the tray is between the first angle and a third angle and to urge the tray toward the open position when an angle about the rotation shaft of the tray is between the third angle and the second angle. The third angle is an angle between the first angle and the second angle.

A sheet discharging device has a discharge roller pair and a sheet discharge tray arranged selectively either in a first position where the sheet discharge tray is stowed along a side surface of an apparatus main body or in a second position where the sheet discharge tray, swung downward from the first position, protrudes beyond the side surface. The sheet discharge tray has a hook member holding, with one of rotation shafts of the discharge roller pair acting as an engagement shaft, the sheet discharge tray in the first position by engaging with the engagement shaft. As a result of the discharge roller pair being rotated with the sheet discharge tray located in the first position, an engagement releasing member fixed to the engagement shaft releases the engagement of the hook member with the engagement shaft, and the sheet discharge tray moves to the second position.

A sheet conveying device includes: a housing; a sheet supply tray; and a dust proof cover including a first cover and a second cover. The sheet supply tray is supported to the housing and pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position. The first cover is supported to the housing and pivotally movable between a first position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a second position away from the sheet supply tray. The second cover is connected to the first cover and pivotally movable about a second pivot axis between a third position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a fourth position away from the sheet supply tray. The second cover has a center of gravity positioned closer to the housing than the second pivot axis is to the housing in a state where the sheet supply tray is in the closed position.

The present invention includes a lift portion lifting and inverting a sheet group including a plurality of stacked sheets and a conveyor portion that moves, along a conveying direction, each sheet transferred from the lift portion, wherein: the lift portion includes frames, a fork portion, an inversion mechanism turning the fork portion to lift and invert the sheet group, and a fork movement mechanism moving the fork portion; the lift portion is equipped with a width direction movement mechanism moving the sheet group in a width direction; and after the sheet group is mounted on the fork portion and before the sheet group is transferred to the conveyor portion, the width direction movement mechanism is controlled on the basis of detection information from a position sensor to center the sheet group within a reference width direction range.

A sheet tray includes a first tray, a second tray, and a third tray. The second tray is configured to move between a stored position and an extended position, relative to the first tray. The third tray is pivotable about the pivot shaft between a first stowed position and a first extended position, relative to the second tray. One of the first tray and the third tray includes a columnar portion. The columnar portion protrudes toward the other of the first tray and the third tray in an area where, when the second tray is at the stored position and the third tray is at the first stowed position, the first tray overlaps the third tray in an orthogonal direction. The other includes a cutout shaped along a path where the columnar portion moves when the third tray moves from the first stowed position to the first extended position.

A sheet conveying device includes: a housing; a sheet supply tray; and a dust proof cover including a first cover and a second cover. The sheet supply tray is supported to the housing and pivotally movable between a closed position and an open position. The first cover is supported to the housing and pivotally movable between a first position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a second position away from the sheet supply tray. The second cover is connected to the first cover and pivotally movable about a second pivot axis between a third position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a fourth position away from the sheet supply tray. The second cover has a center of gravity positioned closer to the housing than the second pivot axis is to the housing in a state where the sheet supply tray is in the closed position.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an apparatus body, an opening/closing unit pivotably supported by the apparatus body, the opening/closing unit having an outside surface that forms a side surface of the apparatus body in a first direction, and a sheet supporting portion pivotably supported by the apparatus body, and a feeding member configured to feed the sheet. The opening/closing unit includes a grip portion configured to be gripped to move the opening/closing unit. When viewed in a second direction opposite to the first direction in a state where the opening/closing unit and the sheet supporting portion are closed, a portion of the opening/closing unit is not covered by the sheet supporting portion, and the grip portion of the opening/closing unit is covered by the sheet supporting portion.

A sheet discharging device has a discharge roller pair and a sheet discharge tray arranged selectively either in a first position where the sheet discharge tray is stowed along a side surface of an apparatus main body or in a second position where the sheet discharge tray, swung downward from the first position, protrudes beyond the side surface. The sheet discharge tray has a hook member holding, with one of rotation shafts of the discharge roller pair acting as an engagement shaft, the sheet discharge tray in the first position by engaging with the engagement shaft. As a result of the discharge roller pair being rotated with the sheet discharge tray located in the first position, an engagement releasing member fixed to the engagement shaft releases the engagement of the hook member with the engagement shaft, and the sheet discharge tray moves to the second position.