An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a reversing portion configured to reverse the sheet received through a first feeding passage by feeding the sheet in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a sheet feeding portion provided in a second feeding passage branching from the first feeding passage on a side upstream of the reversing portion with respect to the first direction, a first guiding surface forming the second feeding passage for guiding a first surface of the sheet fed by the feeding portion, and a second guiding surface for guiding a second surface, opposite from the first surface, of the sheet fed from the reversing portion in the second direction. The second guiding surface is movable with movement of the first guiding surface for opening the second feeding passage.

A conveyor includes: a receiver that detachably receives a roll-like sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in a conveyance orientation along a conveyance surface; and a tensioner that applies tension to the sheet at a position upstream of the conveyance unit in the conveyance orientation. The tensioner includes: a frame having a groove pair extending in a first direction along the conveyance orientation; a guide having a curved surface that contacts the sheet and an engagement member pair that engages with the groove pair; a pivoting member that pivots around an axis extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the conveyance surface; a transmission member that transmits pivoting of the pivoting member to the guide; and an urging member that applies urging force including a component in the first direction to the guide.

A separation device (1) intended to separate a profiled element (2) from a conveying surface (3) which conveys the profiled element (2) in a longitudinal direction (L0) comprises a detachment roller (10) which is mounted so as to be able to rotate on a support (11) about a detachment axis (X10), and which is intended to be interposed, in an engagement configuration (C1), between the profiled element (2) and the conveying surface (3) to cause the profiled element (2) to become detached from the conveying surface (3).

A slider moving in a sliding direction between first and second positions shifts a second path-defining member, relative to a first path-defining member, between first and second states. A pair of movable members each disposed on a corresponding side of a slider in a width direction is movable individually in the sliding direction to shift between third and fourth states. The movable members, when both in the third state, position the slider to the first position and, when both in the fourth state, position the slider to the second position. Each movable member supports a corresponding widthwise end of the slider immovably in the sliding direction and movably in the width direction. A support frame supporting the second path-defining member supports a widthwise central portion of the slider movably in the sliding direction and rotatably on a plane parallel to the sliding direction and the width direction.

A medium conveyance route switching device includes: a support unit located at a branching point where conveyance directions of a medium converge in three directions; a gate assembly including a plurality of gates to guide at the branching point the medium to different conveyance paths; and a rotation mechanism configured to selectively rotate the plurality of gates. The support unit includes: a first support piece having a first through-hole portion; a second support piece having a second through-hole portion; a third support piece having a third through-hole portion; a first bending connection portion rotatably connecting one end of the first support piece and the second support piece; a second bending connection portion rotatably connecting the other end of the first support piece and the third support piece; and a fixing shaft inserted into the first through-hole portion, the second through-hole portion, and the third through-hole portion.

In one example, a sheet media alignment system includes: a guide (12) defining a curved media path (14) that extends from an upstream part of the guide to a downstream part of the guide; a movable blocker (16, 56) to block the curved media path (14) at the downstream part of the guide, the blocker movable into and out of a blocking position in which the blocker is spaced from the downstream part of the guide a first distance; and a driver (24, 58) upstream from the curved media path to drive a media sheet into the guide along the curved media path and into the blocker. The driver is spaced from the upstream part of the guide a second distance greater than the first distance such that a media sheet driven into the blocker will buckle between the driver and the guide before it will buckle between the guide and the blocker.

A sheet transportation device includes a first transport roller that transports a sheet member toward a first direction, a second transport roller that is arranged on a downstream side of the first transport roller in a transport direction of the sheet member and transports the sheet member in a second direction different from the first direction, and a guide portion that guides the sheet member by coming into contact with a leading end of the sheet member in a region on a second transport roller side with respect to a first line extending from a part of the first transport roller, in which the sheet member is pinched, in the first direction and on an opposite side to a first transport roller side with respect to a second line extending from a part of the second transport roller, in which the sheet member is pinched, in the second direction.

A conveyor includes: a receiver that detachably receives a roll-like sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet in a conveyance orientation along a conveyance surface; and a tensioner that applies tension to the sheet at a position upstream of the conveyance unit in the conveyance orientation. The tensioner includes: a frame having a groove pair extending in a first direction along the conveyance orientation; a guide having a curved surface that contacts the sheet and an engagement member pair that engages with the groove pair; a pivoting member that pivots around an axis extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the conveyance surface; a transmission member that transmits pivoting of the pivoting member to the guide; and an urging member that applies urging force including a component in the first direction to the guide.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a reversing portion configured to reverse the sheet received through a first feeding passage by feeding the sheet in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a sheet feeding portion provided in a second feeding passage branching from the first feeding passage on a side upstream of the reversing portion with respect to the first direction, a first guiding surface forming the second feeding passage for guiding a first surface of the sheet fed by the feeding portion, and a second guiding surface for guiding a second surface, opposite from the first surface, of the sheet fed from the reversing portion in the second direction. The second guiding surface is movable with movement of the first guiding surface for opening the second feeding passage.

A sheet conveyance device includes a conveyance roller pair to convey a sheet, a skew correction roller pair to correct a skew of the sheet in a state in which the skew correction roller pair is being stopped, first and second conveyance guides, and a protrusion. The first conveyance guide includes a bend contact portion to come into contact with a portion forming a bend on the first surface of the sheet. The second conveyance guides the sheet. The protrusion is disposed between the skew correction roller pair and the bend contact portion to come into contact with the first surface of the sheet. The protrusion protrudes toward the second conveyance guide from the first conveyance guide in a manner as to intersect with a straight line connecting two nip portions and the bend contact portion in a cross section perpendicular to a width direction.