Patent classifications
B65H29/12
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus includes a reverse roller pair configured to reverse a conveyance direction of a recording medium between a first direction and a second direction, a first conveyance roller pair configured to convey the recording medium in the first direction, and a second conveyance roller pair configured to convey the recording medium in the second direction. A first distance is between the first conveyance roller pair and a reversal position in which a trailing edge of the recording medium is located when the conveyance direction is reversed. A second distance is between the reversal position and the second conveyance roller pair. An absolute value of a difference between the first distance and the second distance is an integer multiple of a circumferential length of a drive roller of the reverse roller pair or within a predetermined range from the integer multiple.
CONVEYOR HAVING OPPOSED UPPER AND LOWER DECKS AND LATERALLY SHIFTABLE LOWER DECK
A conveyor configured to transport sheets along a transport path from an input end to a discharge end includes a main frame, an upper conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of belts and a lower conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of wheels. The transport path is defined by the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts in the first contact region and the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels in the second contact region, and the conveyor is configured such that the sheets make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts and make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels when the sheets move along the transport path. The wheels are shiftable in the third direction relative to the belts and relative to the main frame.
CONVEYOR HAVING OPPOSED UPPER AND LOWER DECKS AND LATERALLY SHIFTABLE LOWER DECK
A conveyor configured to transport sheets along a transport path from an input end to a discharge end includes a main frame, an upper conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of belts and a lower conveyor deck supported by the main frame and having a plurality of wheels. The transport path is defined by the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts in the first contact region and the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels in the second contact region, and the conveyor is configured such that the sheets make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of belts and make direct contact with the contact surfaces of the plurality of wheels when the sheets move along the transport path. The wheels are shiftable in the third direction relative to the belts and relative to the main frame.
CONVEYOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE NIP
A conveyor includes a frame, a carriage supported by the frame for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, a lower conveyor deck supported by the frame and an upper deck. The lower deck has a plurality of contact elements, which may be wheels, for supporting sheets of material moving through the conveyor. The upper deck includes a rear portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced first belts each supported by a plurality of first pulleys and a front portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced second belts each supported a plurality of second pulleys. The plurality of second pulleys includes a first second pulley and a second second pulley that are supported by the carriage for movement with the carriage relative to the frame.
CONVEYOR HAVING ADJUSTABLE NIP
A conveyor includes a frame, a carriage supported by the frame for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, a lower conveyor deck supported by the frame and an upper deck. The lower deck has a plurality of contact elements, which may be wheels, for supporting sheets of material moving through the conveyor. The upper deck includes a rear portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced first belts each supported by a plurality of first pulleys and a front portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced second belts each supported a plurality of second pulleys. The plurality of second pulleys includes a first second pulley and a second second pulley that are supported by the carriage for movement with the carriage relative to the frame.
DIVERTER CONVEYOR
A diverter conveyor includes a main conveyor having an upper deck and a lower deck, the upper deck including a plurality of belts, and the lower deck including a plurality of contact elements such as wheels. A plurality of paddles is mounted downstream of an entrance end of the conveyor and an actuator is configured to shift the plurality of paddles from a first position outside a sheet transport path to a second position extending into the sheet transport path such that the plurality of paddles in the second position diverts sheets from the main transport path into a diverted path and onto a rejection support.
TRANSFER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH
A transfer unit includes first and second rollers, a roller switching mechanism, and upstream-side and downstream-side guides. The second roller is arranged downstream of the first roller in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The roller switching mechanism selectively arranges the first or second roller at a reference position to form a transfer nip. The upstream-side and downstream-side guides are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the transfer nip in the conveyance direction of the recording member. When the first roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the second roller moves to a first retracted position behind the downstream-side guide, and when the second roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the first roller moves to a second retracted position behind the upstream-side guide.
TRANSFER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH
A transfer unit includes first and second rollers, a roller switching mechanism, and upstream-side and downstream-side guides. The second roller is arranged downstream of the first roller in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The roller switching mechanism selectively arranges the first or second roller at a reference position to form a transfer nip. The upstream-side and downstream-side guides are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the transfer nip in the conveyance direction of the recording member. When the first roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the second roller moves to a first retracted position behind the downstream-side guide, and when the second roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the first roller moves to a second retracted position behind the upstream-side guide.
Image Forming Apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a light exposure device, a developing device, a fixing unit disposed opposite to the light exposure device relative to the developing device, a sheet supply tray disposed below the developing device, an ejection tray disposed above the developing device and having a sheet receiving surface inclined downward, relative to a horizontal direction, toward the charger, and a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet supply tray to the ejection tray. A lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface is disposed below an upper end of the charger in the vertical direction. The charger is disposed opposite to the developing device relative to the lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface.
Image Forming Apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a light exposure device, a developing device, a fixing unit disposed opposite to the light exposure device relative to the developing device, a sheet supply tray disposed below the developing device, an ejection tray disposed above the developing device and having a sheet receiving surface inclined downward, relative to a horizontal direction, toward the charger, and a sheet conveying path through which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet supply tray to the ejection tray. A lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface is disposed below an upper end of the charger in the vertical direction. The charger is disposed opposite to the developing device relative to the lowest end portion of the sheet receiving surface.