Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11388302-B2
Application number	US-202117234970-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit provided on a first conveyance path, and a reading unit provided on a second conveyance path and configured to read image information from a sheet conveyed in the second conveyance path, with the second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path. The sheet is conveyed through the second conveyance path in a case of forming an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to a first surface of the sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit. In addition, an opposing member opposes the reading unit with a space therebetween, and a conveyance roller conveys the sheet through the space between the reading unit and the opposing member and is rotatably supported by the opposing member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit provided on a first conveyance path and configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path;
a reading unit provided on a second conveyance path and configured to read image information from a sheet conveyed in the second conveyance path, the second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path, the sheet being conveyed to the second conveyance path in a case of forming an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to a first surface of the sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit;
an opposing member configured to oppose the reading unit with a space therebetween; and
a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet through the space between the reading unit and the opposing member and rotatably supported by the opposing member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opposing member is attachable to and detachable from a casing of the image forming apparatus while supporting the conveyance roller.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyance roller is provided upstream of the reading unit in a sheet conveyance direction.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the conveyance roller is an upstream conveyance roller,
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a downstream conveyance roller provided downstream of the reading unit in the sheet conveyance direction, and
wherein the downstream conveyance roller is rotatably supported by the opposing member.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a drive transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force to the conveyance roller,
wherein the opposing member is attachable to and detachable from a casing of the image forming apparatus while supporting the conveyance roller and the drive transmission mechanism.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the opposing member comprises a cover portion configured to at least partially cover the drive transmission mechanism in a case where the opposing member is viewed from the reading unit side in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller and a sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance roller.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a second conveyance roller provided upstream or downstream of the conveyance roller in the second conveyance path and configured to be rotated by a driving force from a drive source; and
a distributing portion configured to transmit part of the driving force from the drive source to the drive transmission mechanism.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the drive transmission mechanism comprises a one-way clutch configured to block coupling between the distributing portion and the conveyance roller so as to reduce a conveyance speed difference between the conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opposing member comprises a guide portion opposing the reading unit and configured to guide the sheet,
wherein the guide portion has a recess portion where an upstream end of the guide portion in a sheet conveyance direction is recessed toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction,
wherein the conveyance roller comprises:
a roller shaft extending in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller; and
a roller body provided on an outer circumference of the roller shaft and configured to come into contact with the sheet, and
wherein the roller body is positioned within the recess portion in the rotation axis direction, and overlaps with the guide portion as viewed in the rotation axis direction.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the opposing member comprises:
a guide portion opposing the reading unit and configured to guide the sheet; and
a metal plate provided on an opposite side to the reading unit with respect to the guide portion and configured to support the guide portion,

wherein the conveyance roller comprises:
a roller shaft extending in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller; and
a roller body provided on an outer circumference of the roller shaft and configured to come into contact with the sheet, and

wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a grounding member configured to be in contact with both the metal plate and the roller shaft to electrically ground the metal plate and the roller shaft.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an apparatus body configured to support the reading unit; and
an opening/closing member configured to support the opposing member and be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus body.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the reading unit is movably supported by the apparatus body so as to move closer to and away from the opposing member,
wherein movement of the opposing member with respect to the opening/closing member is restricted, and
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an elastic member configured to urge the reading unit toward the opposing member.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein movement of the reading unit with respect to the apparatus body is restricted,
wherein the opposing member is movably supported by the reading unit so as to move closer to and away from the opposing member, and
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an elastic member configured to urge the reading unit toward the opposing member.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the reading unit and the opposing member comprises an abutting portion configured to abut the other of the reading unit and the opposing member to secure the space in a state in which the opening/closing member is closed.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the abutting portion is provided on each outer side of a passage region in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller, the passage region being a region which the sheet passes through in the space, and
wherein the opposing member includes a positioning portion configured to position the opposing member with respect to the opening/closing member, the positioning portion being provided on each outer side of the passage region in the rotation axis direction.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the conveyance roller is a first roller,
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a second roller supported by the apparatus body, and
wherein the first roller and the second roller are in contact with each other in a state in which the opening/closing member is closed, and constitute a conveyance roller pair configured to nip and convey the sheet.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 ,
wherein the opening/closing member comprises a supporting portion supporting the opposing member from an opposite side to the reading unit in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction and a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller, and
wherein the supporting portion abuts the opposing member at a position in the sheet conveyance direction overlapping with a position of a rotation axis of the conveyance roller in the sheet conveyance direction.

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Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Suzuki Yohei
• Ochi Junichi

Classifications

• H04N1/00602 Primary

  Feed rollers · CPC title

• H04N1/00612 Primary

  Path switches (H04N1/00575, H04N1/00623, H04N1/00633 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00806

  According to type of the original, e.g. colour paper or transparency, or reading a plurality of different types of original · CPC title