Conveying device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a conveying device capable of suppressing splashing noise generated when a rear end of a recording medium passes an edge of a guide member while maintaining the conveying performance of the recording medium, as compared with a case in which the entire edge on a conveying roll side extends along an axial direction of the conveying roll in the guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it.SOLUTION: A conveying device includes: a conveying roll that rotates and conveys a recording medium by clamping the recording medium in a conveying area from one end to the other end in an axial direction; and a guide member that contacts the recording medium, guides a leading end of the recording medium to the conveying roll while curving the recording medium, and has an opposite edge facing the conveying area at an edge on the conveying roll side which is recessed so as to be separated from the conveying roll in relation to side edges located on both sides of the opposite edge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] The paper transport device described in Patent Document 1 is a paper transport device in which a curved transport path is provided downstream in the paper transport direction from a junction where multiple transport paths consisting of transport guides that transport paper join together, and is equipped with a paper guide member that extends from the transport guide located in the center of the junction toward the curved transport path within the junction, and the extended portion of the paper guide member is positioned so as not to come into contact with the other transport guides within the junction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-50096 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A guide member comes into contact with the recording medium, and while curving the recording medium, changes the conveying direction of the recording medium and guides the leading edge of the recording medium to the conveying roll. The edge of this guide member on the conveying roll side extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll over its entire length.

[0005] In such a configuration, when the rear end of the recording medium, which has been curved due to being guided by the guiding member, passes over the edge of the guiding member, the rear end portion of the recording medium may bounce, causing a bouncing noise.

[0006] The objective of the present disclosure is to suppress the bouncing noise that occurs when the rear end of the recording medium passes the edge of the guide member while maintaining the transport performance of the recording medium, compared to a case in which the edge on the transport roll side of a guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it extends in a straight line along the axial direction of the transport roll along the entire length. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The conveying device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that it comprises a conveying roll that rotates and conveys the recording medium by clamping the recording medium in a conveying area from one end to the other end in the axial direction, and a guide member that contacts the recording medium and guides the leading end of the recording medium to the conveying roll while curving the recording medium, and has an opposing edge on the edge of the conveying roll that faces the conveying area and is recessed so that it is spaced apart from the conveying roll compared to the side edges located on both sides of the opposing edge.

[0008] A conveying device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is the conveying device according to the first aspect, characterized in that the opposing edges extend linearly along the axial direction.

[0009] A conveying device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the conveying device described in the second aspect, the opening width of a recess formed by the opposing edge being spaced further away from the conveying roll than the side edge is wider in the axial direction than the opposing edge, and a connecting edge connecting the opposing edge and the side edge at the edge is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the recording medium.

[0010] A conveying device according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the conveying device described in the first aspect, the distance between one side edge and the other side edge is shorter than the width of the smallest size recording medium.

[0011] A conveying device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the conveying device described in the fourth aspect, the guide member has a curved guide surface that guides the recording medium, and a plurality of ribs that protrude from the guide surface, extend in the conveying direction of the recording medium, and are spaced apart in the axial direction, and at least some of the ribs are formed in a range in the axial direction where the side edges of the portion through which the smallest size recording medium passes are located.

[0012] An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that it comprises a conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 that conveys a recording medium, and an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the conveying device of the first aspect of the present disclosure, compared to a case in which the edge of the guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it, on the conveying roll side, extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll throughout, it is possible to maintain the conveying performance of the recording medium while suppressing the bouncing noise that occurs when the rear end of the recording medium passes over the edge of the guide member.

[0014] According to the conveying device of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the bouncing noise generated when the rear end of the recording medium passes through the edge of the guiding member can be suppressed compared to a case in which the maximum separation distance between the opposing edge and the conveying roll is the same and the opposing edge is inclined with respect to the axial direction.

[0015] According to the transport device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, damage to the recording medium can be suppressed, compared to a case in which the connecting edge extends in the transport direction of the recording medium.

[0016] According to the conveying device of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the minimum size recording medium can be conveyed in a stable posture compared to when the distance between one edge and the other edge is longer than the width of the minimum size recording medium.

[0017] According to the conveying device of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in conveying performance for a minimum size recording medium having curled corners, compared to a case in which no ribs are formed on the guide surface.

[0018] According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, abnormal noise during image formation can be suppressed compared to a case in which a conveying device is provided in which the edge of the guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it, on the conveying roll side, extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll all along the guide member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a toner image forming unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 3A and 3B are schematic configuration diagrams showing a conveying section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a guide member and the like provided in a conveying section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 6A, 6B, and 6C are process diagrams illustrating a process of conveying a sheet member by a conveying section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 11 is a diagram showing a guide member and the like provided in a conveying section according to a comparative example of the embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 7] 13A, 13B, and 13C are process diagrams illustrating a conveying section according to a comparative embodiment of the present disclosure, which convey a sheet member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] An example of a conveying section and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 7. Note that arrow H shown in each figure indicates the vertical direction and the up-down direction of the apparatus, arrow W indicates the horizontal direction and the width direction of the apparatus, and arrow D indicates the horizontal direction and the depth direction of the apparatus.

[0021] (Overall configuration of image forming apparatus 10) 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming unit 12 that forms a toner image by an electrophotographic method, and a conveying unit 14 that conveys a sheet material P as a recording medium along a conveying path 16. The image forming apparatus 10 also includes a storage member 18 that stores the sheet material P, and a control unit 28 that controls the entire apparatus.

[0022] In this image forming apparatus 10, the sheet material P stored in the storage member 18 is transported along the transport path 16 by the transport unit 14. Furthermore, a toner image formed by the image forming unit 12 is formed on the sheet material P being transported, and the sheet material P with the toner image formed thereon is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 10a.

[0023] [Image forming unit 12] 1, the image forming unit 12 includes a plurality of toner image forming units 30 each forming a toner image of each color, and a transfer unit 32 that transfers the toner image formed in the toner image forming unit 30 onto a sheet member P. Furthermore, the image forming unit 12 includes a fixing device 34 that fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet member P by the transfer unit 32 onto the sheet member P.

[0024] -Toner image forming unit 30- A plurality of toner image forming units 30 are provided to form toner images for each color. In this embodiment, toner image forming units 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K are provided for a total of four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), the letters Y, M, C, and K attached to the reference characters are omitted.

[0025] 2, each toner image forming unit 30 includes a rotating cylindrical image carrier 40 and a charger 42 that charges the image carrier 40. The toner image forming unit 30 further includes an exposure device 44 that irradiates the charged image carrier 40 with exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device 46 that develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image with developer Z that contains toner. As a result, the toner image forming unit 30 for each color forms an image of each color using the toner of the corresponding color.

[0026] 1, the image carriers 40 of each color are in contact with a rotating transfer belt 50 (described in detail later). In the rotation direction of the transfer belt 50 (see the arrow in the figure), the toner image forming units 30 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged in this order from the upstream side.

[0027] -Transfer section 32- As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer section 32 includes a transfer belt 50 and primary transfer rolls 52 that are arranged on the opposite side of the image carriers 40 of each color across the transfer belt 50 and transfer the toner images formed on the image carriers 40 of each color to the transfer belt 50.

[0028] The transfer unit 32 further includes a winding roll 56 around which the transfer belt 50 is wound, a drive roll 58 around which the transfer belt 50 is wound and which transmits a rotational force to the transfer belt 50, and a secondary transfer roll 54 which is disposed on the opposite side of the winding roll 56 across the transfer belt 50 and which transfers the toner image transferred to the transfer belt 50 onto the sheet member P. A transfer nip NT which transfers the toner image onto the sheet member P is formed between the secondary transfer roll 54 and the transfer belt 50.

[0029] -Fixing device 34- 1, the fixing device 34 is disposed downstream of the transfer nip NT in the conveying direction of the sheet member P. The fixing device 34 applies heat and pressure to the toner image transferred to the sheet member P to fix it to the sheet member P.

[0030] [Transport section 14] 1, the conveying section 14 conveys the sheet material P and discharges the sheet material P on which an image is formed to the outside of the apparatus main body 10a. The conveying section 14 will be described in detail later.

[0031] (Main part configuration) Next, a description will be given of the transport unit 14. The transport unit 14 is an example of a transport device. 1, the transport section 14 includes a delivery roll 20 that delivers the sheet member P stored in the storage member 18 to the transport path 16, and a prevention roll 22 that prevents double feeding of the sheet member P delivered by the delivery roll 20. The transport section 14 further includes a transport roll 23 that delivers the sheet member P to the transfer nip NT, and a discharge roll 26 that discharges the sheet member P on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 34 to the outside of the apparatus main body 10a.

[0032] The conveying section 14 also includes a conveying roll 24 that sends out the sheet material P to the conveying roll 23, and a guide member 60 that comes into contact with the sheet material P and guides the leading end of the sheet material P to the conveying roll 24 while curving the sheet material P sent out from the prevention roll 22.

[0033] -Prevention Roll 22- 3(A) and 3(B), the prevention roll 22 is disposed downstream of the delivery roll 20 in the conveying direction of the sheet member P (hereinafter, "sheet conveying direction"). The prevention roll 22 conveys the sheet member P in the device width direction.

[0034] -Transport roll 24- 3(A) and 3(B), the transport roll 24 is disposed downstream of the prevention roll 22 in the sheet transport direction. The transport roll 24 includes a pair of rolls 36 and 38.

[0035] The roll 36 includes a roll portion 36a that is cylindrical and made of an elastic material, and a columnar shaft member 36b that is inserted into the roll portion 36a and made of a metal material. As shown in Fig. 4, two roll portions 36a are provided at an interval in the device depth direction.

[0036] As shown in Figures 3(A) and (B), the roll 38 is disposed on one side of the roll 36 in the device width direction (left side in the figure), and is configured to include a cylindrical roll portion 38a formed of an elastic material, and a cylindrical shaft member 38b formed of a metal material inserted into the roll portion 38a. As shown in Figure 4, two roll portions 38a are provided at an interval in the device depth direction. When viewed from the device width direction, the roll 38 overlaps the roll 36. As a result, the transport roll 24 is configured so that the roll 38 is rotationally driven to transport the sheet member P in the vertical direction of the device.

[0037] Also, as shown in Figure 4, in the device depth direction, which is the axial direction of the transport roll 24, the area from the outer end (one end) of one roll portion 36a, 38a to the outer end (other end) of the other roll portion 36a, 38a is defined as a transport region R1 that sandwiches the sheet material P and transmits a transport force to the sheet material P.

[0038] -Guide member 60- 3(A) and (B), the guide member 60 is disposed between the prevention roll 22 and the conveying roll 24 in the sheet conveying direction, and the guide member 60 is formed with a guide surface 62 that guides the sheet member P, and a plurality of ribs 64 (see FIG. 4) formed on the guide surface 62. Note that the ribs 64 are omitted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.

[0039] The guide surface 62 is curved, and ribs 64 extending in the sheet conveying direction are formed at intervals in the device depth direction on the guide surface 62 as shown in Fig. 4. The height of the ribs 64 is, for example, 1 mm.

[0040] Further, the guide member 60 has an edge 66 formed on the transport roll 24 side, the edge 66 being spaced apart from the transport roll 24 in the sheet transport direction. Further, an opposing edge 66a of the edge 66 facing the transport region R1 in the sheet transport direction is recessed so as to be spaced apart from the transport roll 24 as compared with side edges 66b disposed on both sides of the opposing edge 66a. As a result, the guide member 60 has a recess 66c.

[0041] Specifically, the opposing edge 66a and the side edge 66b extend linearly in the device depth direction. Also, the edge 66 is formed with a connecting edge 66d that connects the opposing edge 66a and the side edge 66b. Furthermore, the connecting edge 66d is inclined with respect to the sheet conveying direction so that the opening width (R2 in the figure) of the recess 66c is wider in the device depth direction than the opposing edge 66a.

[0042] Furthermore, the distance L1 between one side edge 66b and the other side edge 66b is set shorter than the width of the minimum size sheet material P ("sheet material Pm" shown in FIG. 4) that can be conveyed by the conveying unit 14. Furthermore, at least a portion of the ribs 64 are formed in a range (H1 in the drawing) in which the side edge 66b of the portion through which the minimum size sheet material P passes in the device depth direction is located. Here, the minimum size sheet material P is described in the instruction manual for the conveying unit 14 or the image forming apparatus 10.

[0043] (action) Next, the operation of the conveying unit 14 will be described in comparison with the conveying unit 114 according to a comparative embodiment. First, the configuration of the conveying unit 114 according to the comparative embodiment will be described. Note that with regard to the conveying unit 114, the differences from the conveying unit 14 according to this embodiment will be mainly described.

[0044] 6, the guide member 160 provided in the conveying section 114 has an edge 166 formed on the conveying roll 24 side, the edge 166 facing the conveying roll 24 in the sheet conveying direction. The edge 166 extends linearly in the device depth direction. The edge 166 overlaps with the side edge 66b of the guide member 60 according to this embodiment. In other words, the side edge 66b of the guide member 60 overlaps with the edge 166 of the guide member 160.

[0045] First, a description will be given of the operation of the conveying section 114. The guide member 160 guides the leading edge of the sheet member P, which has been sent out from the prevention roll 22 (see FIG. 1), to the conveying roll 24 while curving the sheet member P.

[0046] 7A, 7B, and 7C, a portion of the sheet member P that is sandwiched and transported by the transport rolls 24 and is upstream of the transport rolls 24 in the sheet transport direction is pressed against the guide surface 62 of the guide member 160. When the rear end of the sheet member P reaches an edge 166 of the guide member 160, the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the edge 166 of the guide member 160.

[0047] Here, the guide member 160 changes the conveying direction of the sheet member P by curving the sheet member P. Therefore, when the rear end of the sheet member P, which is sandwiched between the conveying rolls 24 in the device depth direction, separates from the edge 166 of the guide member 160, the curved rear end portion of the sheet member P extends in the vertical direction and bounces, as shown in Figs. 7(B) and 7(C). In this way, the bouncing of the rear end portion of the sheet member P generates a bouncing sound. Here, the bouncing sound is the sound made when the curved portion of the sheet member P bounces when the curved sheet member P becomes straight when viewed from the width direction, and the bouncing sound is particularly loud when cardboard is used as the sheet member P.

[0048] Next, the operation of the conveying unit 14 according to this embodiment will be described. The guide member 60 guides the leading edge of the sheet material P sent out from the prevention roll 22 (see FIG. 1) to the conveying roll 24 while curving the sheet material P.

[0049] 5(A), (B), and (C), a portion of the sheet member P that is sandwiched and transported by the transport rolls 24 and is upstream of the transport rolls 24 in the sheet transport direction is pressed against the guide surface 62 of the guide member 60. Then, when the rear end of the sheet member P reaches the facing edge 66a of the guide member 160, the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60.

[0050] When the rear end of the sheet member P sandwiched between the transport rolls 24 in the device depth direction separates from the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60 (see FIGS. 5B and 5C), the curved rear end portion of the sheet member P extends in the vertical direction and bounces. The bouncing of the rear end portion of the sheet member P generates a bouncing sound. However, the distance between the clamping portion of the transport rolls 24 that clamps the sheet member P and the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60 (L2 in FIG. 5C) is longer than the distance between the clamping portion of the transport rolls 24 and the edge 166 of the guide member 160 (distance L3 in FIG. 7C).

[0051] For this reason, the pressing force with which the rear end portion of the sheet member P presses against the guide surface 62 of the guiding member 60 when the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the guiding member 60 is weaker than the pressing force with which the rear end portion of the sheet member P presses against the guide surface 62 of the guiding member 160 when the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the guiding member 160. As a result, the bouncing sound generated when the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the guiding member 60 is smaller than the bouncing sound generated when the rear end of the sheet member P separates from the guiding member 160.

[0052] Furthermore, the separation distance L1 between one side edge 66b and the other side edge 66b is set shorter than the width of the minimum size sheet member Pm that can be transported by the transport section 14 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the transport performance of the guide member 60 that guides the sheet member P sent out from the prevention roll 22 to the transport roll 24 is set to be equivalent to the transport performance of the guide member 160 according to the comparative embodiment. In other words, the transport performance of the guide member 60 is maintained.

[0053] (summary) As described above, in the conveying section 14, the facing edge 66a facing the conveying region R1 at the edge 66 on the conveying roll 24 side is recessed so as to be spaced apart from the conveying roll 24 compared to the side edges 66b arranged on both sides of the facing edge 66a. In addition, the side edge 66b of the guide member 60 overlaps with the edge 166 of the guide member 160. Therefore, compared to the conveying section 114 according to the comparative embodiment, the conveying section 14 maintains the conveying performance of the sheet material P and suppresses the splashing sound generated when the rear end of the sheet material P passes the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60.

[0054] In addition, in the conveying section 14, the facing edge 66a extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll 24. In other words, the facing edge 66a extends linearly in the device depth direction. Therefore, compared to a case where the maximum separation distance between the conveying roll 24 and the facing edge is the same as that of the present disclosure and the facing edge is inclined with respect to the device depth direction, the bouncing sound generated when the rear end of the sheet member P passes through the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60 is suppressed. In other words, compared to a case where the recess is triangular, the bouncing sound generated when the rear end of the sheet member P passes through the facing edge 66a of the guide member 60 is suppressed.

[0055] In the conveying section 14, the connecting edge 66d connecting the opposing edge 66a and the side edge 66b is inclined with respect to the sheet conveying direction so that the opening width (R2 in FIG. 4) of the recess 66c is wider in the device depth direction than the opposing edge 66a. Therefore, compared to the case where the connecting edge extends in the sheet conveying direction, damage to the sheet material P conveyed while contacting the corner formed by the side edge 66b and the connecting edge 66d is suppressed.

[0056] Furthermore, in the conveying section 14, the separation distance L1 between one side edge 66b and the other side edge 66b is set to be shorter than the width of the minimum size sheet member Pm that can be conveyed by the conveying section 14. As a result, the minimum size sheet member P is conveyed in a stable posture compared to when the separation distance between one edge and the other edge is longer than the width of the minimum size sheet member Pm that can be conveyed by the conveying section 14.

[0057] In the conveying section 14, at least some of the ribs 64 are formed in a range (H1 in FIG. 4) in which a side edge 66b of a portion through which a minimum-sized sheet material P passes in the device depth direction is disposed. This suppresses a decrease in conveying performance for a minimum-sized sheet material P with curled corners, compared to a case in which no ribs are formed on the guide surface.

[0058] Moreover, in the image forming apparatus 10, abnormal noise during image formation is suppressed compared to the case where the conveying unit 114 according to the comparative embodiment is provided.

[0059] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the above embodiment, the guide member 60 is disposed downstream of the prevention roll 22 in the sheet conveying direction, but the guide member 60 may be disposed anywhere as long as the conveying direction of the sheet member P is changed.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the transport roll 24 is a drive roll to which a driving force is transmitted, but it may be a driven roll.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the opposing edge 66a extends linearly along the axial direction in the device depth direction, but the opposing edge may be inclined with respect to the device depth direction. In this case, however, the effect of the opposing edge being linear is not achieved.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the connecting edge 66d is inclined with respect to the sheet conveying direction so that the opening width of the recess 66c is wider in the device depth direction than the opposing edge 66a, but the connecting edge does not have to be inclined with respect to the sheet conveying direction so that the opening width of the recess 66c is wider in the device depth direction than the opposing edge 66a. However, in this case, the effect of inclining the connecting edge 66d with respect to the sheet conveying direction so that the opening width of the recess 66c is wider in the device depth direction than the opposing edge 66a is not achieved.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the separation distance L1 between one side edge 66b and the other side edge 66b is set to be shorter than the width of the minimum size sheet member Pm, but the separation distance L1 may be set to be longer than the width of the sheet member Pm. In this case, however, the effect of making the separation distance L1 shorter than the width of the sheet member Pm is not achieved.

[0064] (((1))) A transport roll that rotates and transports the recording medium by sandwiching the recording medium in a transport region from one end to the other end in the axial direction; a guide member that comes into contact with the recording medium, and guides a leading end of the recording medium to the transport roll while curving the recording medium, and that has an opposing edge facing the transport region at an edge on the transport roll side that is recessed so as to be spaced apart from the transport roll as compared with side edges disposed on both sides of the opposing edge; Equipped with conveying device.

[0065] (((2))) The opposing edges extend linearly along the axial direction. A conveying device as described in (((1))).

[0066] (((3))) an opening width of a recess formed by separating the opposing edge from the transport roll as compared with the side edge is wider in the axial direction than the opposing edge, so that a connecting edge connecting the opposing edge and the side edge at the edge is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the recording medium; The conveying device according to (((2))).

[0067] (((4))) A distance between one side edge and the other side edge is shorter than a width of a minimum size recording medium. A conveying device according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))).

[0068] (((5))) the guide member has a curved guide surface that guides the recording medium, and a plurality of ribs that protrude from the guide surface, extend in a recording medium transport direction, and are provided at intervals in the axial direction; At least a part of the ribs is formed in a range in which a side edge of a portion through which a recording medium of a minimum size passes in the axial direction is disposed. The conveying device according to (((4))).

[0069] (((6))) A conveying device according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))) that conveys a recording medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0070] According to the conveying device relating to (((1))) of the present disclosure, compared to a case in which the edge of the guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it, on the conveying roll side, extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll over the entire length, it is possible to suppress the bouncing noise that occurs when the rear end of the recording medium passes over the edge of the guide member while maintaining the conveying performance of the recording medium.

[0071] According to the conveying device of (((2))) of the present disclosure, the splashing noise that occurs when the rear end of the recording medium passes the edge of the guiding member can be suppressed, compared to a case in which the maximum separation distance between the opposing edge and the conveying roll is the same and the opposing edge is inclined relative to the axial direction.

[0072] According to the conveying device according to (((3))) of the present disclosure, damage to the recording medium can be suppressed compared to a case in which the connecting edge extends in the conveying direction of the recording medium.

[0073] According to the conveying device of (((4))) of the present disclosure, the smallest size recording medium can be conveyed in a stable posture compared to a case in which the distance between one edge and the other edge is longer than the width of the smallest size recording medium.

[0074] According to the conveying device of (((5))) of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in conveying performance for a minimum size recording medium having curled corners, compared to a case in which ribs are not formed on the guide surface.

[0075] According to the image forming apparatus relating to (((6))) of the present disclosure, abnormal noise during image formation can be suppressed, compared to a case in which a conveying device is provided in which the edge of the guide member that guides the recording medium while curving it, on the conveying roll side, extends linearly along the axial direction of the conveying roll over the entire length. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10 Image forming device 12 Image forming section 14 Conveying section (an example of a conveying device) 24 Transport roll 60 Guide member 62 Guide Surface 64 Ribs 66 En 66a Opposite edge 66b Side edge 66c Recess 66d Connecting edge

Claims

1. A transport roll that rotates and transports the recording medium by sandwiching the recording medium in a transport region from one end to the other end in the axial direction; a guide member that comes into contact with the recording medium, and guides a leading end of the recording medium to the transport roll while curving the recording medium, and that has an opposing edge facing the transport region at an edge on the transport roll side that is recessed so as to be spaced apart from the transport roll as compared with side edges disposed on both sides of the opposing edge; Equipped with conveying device.

2. The opposing edges extend linearly along the axial direction. The conveying device according to claim 1 .

3. an opening width of a recess formed by separating the opposing edge from the transport roll as compared with the side edge is wider in the axial direction than the opposing edge, so that a connecting edge connecting the opposing edge and the side edge at the edge is inclined with respect to the transport direction of the recording medium; The conveying device according to claim 2 .

4. A distance between one side edge and the other side edge is shorter than a width of a minimum size recording medium. The conveying device according to claim 1 .

5. the guide member has a curved guide surface that guides the recording medium, and a plurality of ribs that protrude from the guide surface, extend in a recording medium transport direction, and are provided at intervals in the axial direction; At least a part of the ribs is formed in a range in which a side edge of a portion through which a recording medium of a minimum size passes in the axial direction is disposed.

5. The conveying device according to claim 4.

6. A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which conveys a recording medium; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images