Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming device capable of improving workability of jam processing.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises a first sheet loading part, a second sheet loading part, an image forming part, and a sheet feeding part. A bottom part of a feeding passage for connecting the second sheet loading part with the sheet feeding part is constituted from a liftable / descendible conveyance guide. The conveyance guide comprises a plate-like tray body part, and a handle part. The tray body part is held by a device body above the first sheet loading part in a state where the first sheet loading part is attached to the device body. The handle part is rotatable in a vertical direction while protruding from an end part on an upstream side in a sheet conveyance direction of the tray body part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional image forming apparatus includes a first sheet stacking section, a second sheet stacking section, an image forming section, and a sheet feeding section. The first sheet stacking section is provided so as to be able to rise and fall, and sheets are stacked on a lift section, and is detachable from the apparatus main body. The second sheet stacking section is electrically connected to the outside of the apparatus main body, and sheets inserted by a user are stacked on the second sheet stacking section. The image forming section records an image created based on image data on a sheet. The sheet feeding section feeds a sheet from the first sheet stacking section or the second sheet stacking section to the image forming section. The bottom of the feeding path connecting the second sheet stacking section and the sheet feeding section is composed of a conveying guide.

[0003] When a sheet jam occurs inside the device body and needs to be cleared, the first sheet stacking section is pulled out from the device body, allowing the user to reach inside through the open part of the device body and remove the jammed sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-234514 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when the conveying guide is lowered, the conveying guide may block part of the opening of the device body, making it impossible for the user to reach the back of the device body with their fingers. This may reduce the workability of clearing jams.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the workability of jam clearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first sheet stacking section, a second sheet stacking section, an image forming section, and a sheet feeding section. The first sheet stacking section is provided with a lift section that can be raised and lowered, and has sheets stacked on it, and is detachable from the apparatus main body. The second sheet stacking section is electrically connected to the outside of the apparatus main body, and has sheets inserted by a user stacked on it. The image forming section records an image created based on image data on the sheets. The sheet feeding section feeds sheets from the first sheet stacking section or the second sheet stacking section to the image forming section. The bottom of the feeding path connecting the second sheet stacking section and the sheet feeding section is formed by a transport guide that can be raised and lowered. The transport guide has a plate-shaped tray main body and a handle. The tray main body is held by the apparatus main body above the first sheet stacking section when the first sheet stacking section is attached to the apparatus main body. The handle protrudes from the upstream end of the tray body in the sheet conveying direction and is rotatable in the up-down direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the workability of jam clearance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100. [Figure 3] 1 is a top view of a conveyance guide 50 of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a side view of a conveyance guide 50 of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is an enlarged side view of the lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100. [Figure 6] 1 is an enlarged side view of the lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view showing an upper end portion of a guide groove portion 71a of the image forming apparatus 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a so-called tandem color printer.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 100 includes image forming units Pa to Pd. The image forming units Pa to Pd are disposed inside the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body 7), and record images created based on image data on sheets S1 and S2. In this embodiment, the image forming units Pa to Pd are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. The image forming units Pa to Pd sequentially form magenta, cyan, yellow, and black images through the processes of charging, exposure, development, and transfer, respectively. The image forming units Pa to Pd are provided corresponding to the images of each color. Only the image forming unit Pa will be described below, but the image forming units Pb to Pd will not be described as they are basically configured in the same way.

[0012] The image forming unit Pa includes a photosensitive drum 1a, an exposure device 5, a charging device 2a, a developing device 3a, and a rubbing roller 23a. The photosensitive drum 1a carries a visible image (toner image). The exposure device 5 is disposed above the image forming unit Pa and emits a light beam toward the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d to draw an electrostatic latent image. The charging device 2a, the developing device 3a, and the rubbing roller 23a are disposed around the photosensitive drum 1a in the drum rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 1).

[0013] The charging device 2a is disposed opposite the photosensitive drum 1a and is capable of charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a.

[0014] The developing device 3a has a developing container 4a, a developing roller 21a, and a supply roller 24a. The developing container 4a is filled with a predetermined amount of toner. The toner filled in the developing containers 4a to 4d is either magenta, cyan, yellow, or black for each of the developing devices 3a to 3d. The developing roller 21a is disposed opposite the photosensitive drum 1a. The supply roller 24a supplies the toner in the developing container 4a to the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller 21a. The developing roller 21a is capable of supplying the toner supplied to its outer circumferential surface to the photosensitive drum 1a.

[0015] The intermediate transfer unit 31 is disposed below the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and includes a frame 30, a drive roller 10, a tension roller 11, an intermediate transfer belt 8, and primary transfer rollers 6a to 6d.

[0016] The frame 30 extends in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 100. The drive roller 10 and the tension roller 11 are rotatably supported on both ends of the frame 30 in the longitudinal direction.

[0017] The intermediate transfer belt 8 is an endless belt (preferably a seamless belt having no joints). The intermediate transfer belt 8 is wound around a tension roller 11 and a drive roller 10 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction.

[0018] The drive roller 10 is connected to a belt drive motor (not shown). When the drive roller 10 is rotated by the rotational drive force of the belt drive motor, the rotational drive force is transmitted to the intermediate transfer belt 8 by frictional force. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 8 rotates in the same direction as the rotational direction of the drive roller 10.

[0019] The primary transfer rollers 6a to 6d are rotatably and movably supported by a frame 30 at positions facing the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d with the intermediate transfer belt 8 sandwiched therebetween.

[0020] The secondary transfer roller 9 is disposed opposite the drive roller 10 with the intermediate transfer belt 8 sandwiched therebetween. The secondary transfer roller 9 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 8 to form a secondary transfer nip N. The secondary transfer roller 9 performs a second transfer of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 onto the sheets S1 and S2 passing through the secondary transfer nip N.

[0021] The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a sheet conveying path 20, a pair of registration rollers 12, a sheet cassette 16 (first sheet stacking section), a sheet feeding section 25, an MPF ​​(Multi Paper Feeder) tray 26 (second sheet stacking section), and a conveying guide 50.

[0022] The sheet transport path 20 is configured to include a main transport path 28 and a double-sided transport path 18. The main transport path 28 extends in the vertical direction. A registration roller pair 12, a secondary transfer roller 9, and a fixing device 13 are arranged in a position midway along the main transport path 28. The main transport path 28 transports the sheet S1 or the sheet S2 from an MPF ​​tray 26 and a sheet cassette 16 (described later) so that the sheet S1 or the sheet S2 passes through the registration roller pair 12, the secondary transfer nip N, and the fixing device 13 in this order.

[0023] The pair of registration rollers 12 aligns the conveying direction of the sheets S1 and S2 so that the leading edges (downstream edges in the sheet conveying direction) of the sheets S1 and S2 are perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, thereby correcting skew.

[0024] A sheet discharge port 15 leading to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided at the downstream end of the main transport path 28 in the sheet transport direction. A discharge roller pair 22 is provided at the sheet discharge port 15.

[0025] A branching section 14 is provided between the discharge roller pair 22 and the fixing device 13 in the sheet conveying direction. The duplex conveying path 18 branches off from the main conveying path 28 at a position overlapping with the branching section 14 of the main conveying path 28 in the sheet conveying direction, and rejoins the main conveying path 28 at a position upstream of the registration roller pair 12. The branching section 14 can distribute the sheets S1 and S2 that have passed through the fixing device 13 to the sheet discharge outlet 15 or the duplex conveying path 18.

[0026] The sheet cassette 16 and the MPF tray 26 are provided upstream of the main transport path 28 in the sheet transport direction. The sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and sheets S1 are stacked on a lift section 35, and is detachable from the device main body 7. The MPF tray (second sheet stacking section) 26 is electrically connected to the outside of the device main body 7, and is stacked with sheets S2 inserted by the user.

[0027] Sheet feeding section 25 is disposed between main transport path 28 and sheet cassette 16 and MPF tray 26, and feeds sheet S1 from sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 or sheet S2 from MPF tray (second sheet stacking section) 26 to image forming sections Pa to Pd. Details of sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16, MPF tray (second sheet stacking section) 26, and feeding of sheets S1 and S2 will be described later.

[0028] Next, we will explain the image formation procedure in the image forming apparatus 100. When a user inputs a command to start image formation, first, the photosensitive drum 1a is rotated while the charging devices 2a to 2d uniformly charge the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. Next, the exposure device 5 irradiates the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d with light, and electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image signals are formed on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d.

[0029] The toner in the developer in the developing devices 3a to 3d is supplied onto the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d by the developing rollers 21a to 21d and electrostatically adheres to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, thereby forming toner images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d corresponding to the electrostatic latent images.

[0030] In this state, the drive roller 10 is rotated to start the counterclockwise rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 8. Then, the toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are sequentially transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 8.

[0031] Thereafter, at a predetermined timing, sheets S1 and S2 are fed from sheet cassette 16 or MPF tray 26 to main transport path 28, pass through registration roller pair 12, and are transported to secondary transfer nip N. Then, the toner images on intermediate transfer belt 8 are secondarily transferred onto sheets S1 and S2. Then, sheets S1 and S2 are transported to fixing device 13, where they are heated and pressed by fixing roller pair 13a of fixing device 13, and the toner images are fixed to the surfaces of sheets S1 and S2.

[0032] When single-sided printing is performed on sheets S1 and S2, branching section 14 distributes sheets S1 and S2 that have passed through fixing device 13 to sheet discharge outlet 15. Sheets S1 and S2 that have reached sheet discharge outlet 15 are discharged onto sheet discharge tray 17 by discharge roller pair 22.

[0033] When double-sided printing is performed on sheets S1 and S2, branching unit 14 distributes sheets S1 and S2 that have passed through fixing device 13 to double-sided conveying path 18. Double-sided conveying path 18 conveys sheets S1 and S2 again to registration roller pair 12 while turning them over. Sheets S1 and S2 then pass through secondary transfer nip N and fixing device 13 again, and after the toner image is fixed on the back side, they are distributed by branching unit 14 to sheet discharge outlet 15.

[0034] Next, the feeding of sheets S1 and S2 will be described in detail. Figure 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the lower periphery of image forming apparatus 100. In Figure 2, sheet cassette 16 is indicated by a dashed line, and feeding path 39 is indicated by a dotted line. A horizontally recessed cassette housing section 29 is formed in the lower part of device body 7. Cassette housing section 29 is an opening on the side of device body 7 (not shown), and is a recess that extends horizontally from the edge of this opening 79 toward the inside of device body 7. A vertically rising opposing wall section 32 is provided at the innermost part of cassette housing section 29 in the horizontal direction.

[0035] The cassette accommodating section 29 accommodates a sheet cassette 16. The sheet cassette 16 is inserted into the cassette accommodating section 29 through an opening 79 on the side of the device body 7. The sheet cassette 16 is detachable from the device body 7. Specifically, it can be pulled out from a state in which it is inserted all the way into the cassette accommodating section 29 in the horizontal direction (an attached state) to the outside of the device body 7. Hereinafter, the direction in which the sheet cassette 16 is inserted into the cassette accommodating section 29 and attached to the device body 7 (the rightward direction along the horizontal direction shown in FIG. 2) will be simply referred to as the "attachment direction."

[0036] The sheet cassette 16 has a bottom surface portion 33, a peripheral wall portion 34, and a lift portion 35. The bottom surface portion 33 is a rectangular flat plate extending horizontally and forms the bottom of the sheet cassette 16. Sheets S1 (sheets as recording media including printing paper, envelopes, transparencies, etc.) are stacked on the bottom surface portion 33.

[0037] The peripheral wall portion 34 rises vertically from the bottom surface portion 33 and surrounds the bottom surface portion 33. When the sheet cassette 16 is attached to the device body 7, the peripheral wall portion 34 faces the opposing wall portion 32 in the attachment direction.

[0038] The lift unit 35 has a support portion (not shown) and a stacking plate 37 (see FIG. 1). The support portion 36 is rotatably supported by the peripheral wall portion 34. The stacking plate 37 is a plate-shaped body on whose upper surface the sheet S1 can be stacked. The stacking plate 37 is formed integrally with the support portion. When the support portion rotates, the stacking plate 37 rises and falls relative to the bottom surface portion 33. In this embodiment, the stacking plate 37 is located downstream (to the right in FIG. 1) of the center of the bottom surface portion 33 in the sheet conveying direction. When the stacking plate 37 rises and falls relative to the bottom surface portion 33, the downstream end of the sheet S1 rises and falls.

[0039] The entrance 38 is formed on the side of the apparatus main body 7, above the opening 79. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a feeding path 39 is formed inside the apparatus main body 7, at a position between the cassette housing 29 and the intermediate transfer unit 31 in the vertical direction.

[0040] The feeding path 39 connects the MPF tray (second sheet stacking section) 26 and the sheet feeding section 25. The bottom of the feeding path 39 is formed by a transport guide 50 that can be raised and lowered. The transport guide 50 also forms the top surface of the cassette storage section 29. The downstream end of the transport guide 50 in the sheet transport direction connects to the upstream end of the main transport path 28, with the sheet feeding section 25 sandwiched therebetween. The transport guide 50 will be described in detail later.

[0041] The MPF tray 26 is attached to a side of the device main body 7, at a position between the carry-in entrance 38 and the opening 79 of the cassette accommodating section 29 in the vertical direction. The MPF tray 26 is a tray that tilts at a predetermined angle and on which sheets S2 (sheets serving as recording media including printing paper, envelopes, transparencies, etc.) can be stacked.

[0042] A pair of feed rollers 40 is provided at the carry-in entrance 38. The pair of feed rollers 40 abuts against the downstream end of the sheet S2 in the sheet conveyance direction. The pair of feed rollers 40 rotates to carry the sheet S1 into the feed path 39. A plurality of pairs of feed rollers 54a, 54b are arranged along the feed path 39 at predetermined intervals in the sheet conveyance direction. The pairs of feed rollers 54a, 54b are a pair of roller bodies that face each other above and below with the feed path 39 between them. The sheet S2 carried into the feed path 39 is carried toward the feed roller 42 by each pair of feed rollers 54a, 54b.

[0043] The sheet feeding section 25 is configured to include a feeding roller 42. The feeding roller 42 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 7, and rotates by the rotational driving force of a driving device (not shown).

[0044] The feed roller 42 is rotated with the sheet cassette 16 attached to the device body 7. Then, the uppermost sheet S1 of the sheets S1 arranged in a stack in the sheet cassette 16 is fed to the main transport path 28 by the rotation of the feed roller 42.

[0045] On the other hand, when sheet S2 is conveyed to sheet feeding section 25 through feeding path 39, as sheet S2 passes over the downstream end of conveyance guide 50 in the sheet conveying direction, the downstream end of sheet S2 is lifted by lift section 35 and brought into pressure contact with feed roller 42. As feed roller 42 rotates in this state, sheet S1 is fed to main conveying path 28.

[0046] Next, the conveying guide 50 will be described. Fig. 3 is a top view of the conveying guide 50, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the conveying guide 50. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged side views of the lower periphery of the image forming apparatus 100, with Fig. 5 showing the conveying guide 50 in a raised state and Fig. 6 showing the conveying guide 50 in a lowered state. Note that in Figs. 5 and 6, the sheet cassette 16 is omitted, and the tray main body 51 and handle 52 of the conveying guide 50 are indicated by dashed lines. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view showing the upper end of the guide groove 71a.

[0047] The conveying guide 50 can be raised and lowered, and the tray main body 51 is held by the device main body 7 above the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 when the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 is attached to the device main body 7 (see Figure 2).

[0048] The transport guide 50 has a plate-shaped tray main body 51, a handle 52, bosses 53a and 53b, and transport roller pairs 54a and 54b. The tray main body 51 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above. The tray main body 51 has four through-holes 56 that penetrate in the vertical direction. The transport roller pairs 54a and 54b are respectively disposed above the through-holes 56. The transport roller pairs 54a and 54b are rotatably supported by the tray main body 51.

[0049] The handle portion 52 protrudes from the upstream end of the tray main body portion 51 in the sheet conveying direction and is rotatable in the vertical direction. More specifically, the handle portion 52 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 52a, and is biased by a spring (first elastic member) (not shown) so as to be held in a state inclined downward as it moves toward the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction.

[0050] The bosses 53a and 53b protrude from the side surface of the tray main body 51 in the sheet width direction (transverse direction). The sheet width direction (transverse direction) is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 1 and 2. The boss 53a is disposed upstream of the boss 53b in the sheet conveying direction. When the conveying guide 50 moves up and down in the vertical direction, the bosses 53a and 53b move within the guide grooves 71a and 71b, respectively. The guide grooves 71a and 71b are formed on the side surface of the cassette accommodating unit 29 that faces the sheet width direction (transverse direction) and extend in the vertical direction. That is, the guide grooves 71a and 71b are formed on the inner surface of the device main body 7 in the sheet width direction (transverse direction) and extend in the vertical direction.

[0051] More specifically, guide groove 71a is disposed upstream of guide groove 71b in the sheet conveying direction, and guide groove 71a and guide groove 71b incline toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction as they extend upward. A locking portion 72 is disposed at the upper end of guide groove 71a. Locking portion 72 narrows the width of the upper end of guide groove 71a, which is biased by spring (second elastic member) 73. In this embodiment, spring 73 and locking portion 72 are disposed inside a recess 74 extending from the upper end of guide groove 71a toward the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction, and one end of spring 73 is fixed to the end of recess 74. The other end of spring 73 is fixed to locking portion 72.

[0052] When the boss 53a is moved upward along the guide groove 71a, it comes into contact with the locking portion 72. When the boss 53a is pressed further upward along the guide groove 71a, the boss 53a comes into contact with the upper end of the guide groove 71a against the biasing force of the spring 73. At this time, the boss 53a is locked by the locking portion 72. On the other hand, when the boss 53a arranged at the upper end of the guide groove 71a is pressed downward, the locking portion 72 moves downstream in the sheet conveying direction against the biasing force of the spring 73, and the lock between the boss 53a and the locking portion 72 is released. This allows the conveyance guide 50 to be easily lowered.

[0053] When the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 is attached to the device body 7, the tray main body 51 is supported by the upper end of the peripheral wall 34 of the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16. This allows the conveying guide 50 to be stably held by the device body 7 when the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking section) 16 is attached to the device body 7.

[0054] When a sheet jam occurs inside the device main body 7 and the jam needs to be cleared, the user first pulls out the sheet cassette 16 and reaches their fingers into the device main body 7 through the opening 79 to grasp the handle 52. Next, they pull the handle 52 downward to lower the conveyance guide 50. At this time, the handle 52 is inclined downward as it moves toward the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, making it easy for the user to grasp the handle 52. This improves the workability of jam clearance.

[0055] On the other hand, when the tray main body 51 is lowered to the bottom of the device main body 7 with the sheet cassette (first sheet stacking portion) 16 pulled out from the device main body 7, the handle portion 52 rotates against the biasing force of the spring (first elastic member) and extends flush with the tray main body 51. This prevents the opening 79 of the device main body 7 from being blocked by the conveyance guide 50. Therefore, fingers can be easily stretched through the opening 79 to the rear side of the device main body 7. This further improves the workability of jam clearance.

[0056] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a color printer as shown in Fig. 1 was used as an example of image forming apparatus 100, but the image forming apparatus is not limited to a color printer, and may be other image forming apparatuses such as monochrome and color copiers, digital multifunction peripherals, facsimiles, etc. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus equipped with a charging roller. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1a to 1d Photosensitive drum 2a~2d Charging device 3a~3d developing device 4a~4d Developer container 5 Exposure equipment 6a~6d Primary transfer roller 7. Device body 8 Intermediate transfer belt 9 Secondary transfer roller 10 Drive Roller 11 Tension roller 12 Registration roller pair 13 Fixing device 13a Fuser roller pair 14 Branch 15 Sheet outlet 16 sheet cassette 17 Sheet output tray 18-sided conveyor 20 Sheet transport path 21a~21d Developing roller 22 Discharge roller pair 23a Rubbing roller 24a Supply roller 25 Sheet feeding section 26 MPF tray 28 Main transport route 29 Cassette storage section 30 frames 31 Intermediate transfer unit 32 Opposing wall 33 Bottom part 34 Peripheral wall section 35 Lift section 36 Support part 37 Loading plate 38 Loading entrance 39 Feeding route 40 Loading roller pair 42 Feeding roller 50 Transport guide 51 Tray body 52 Handle 52a Rotating shaft 53a, 53b boss 54a, 54b conveying roller pair 56 Through hole 71a, 71b Guide groove portion 72 Locking part 73 Spring (second elastic member) 74 recess 79 Opening 100 Image forming device N Secondary transfer nip Pa~Pd Image forming section S1, S2 seats

Claims

1. a first sheet stacking section detachable from the device body, the first sheet stacking section being provided so as to be able to rise and fall and having a lift section on which the sheets are stacked; a second sheet stacking section that is electrically connected to the outside of the apparatus body and on which the sheets inserted by a user are stacked; an image forming unit that records an image created based on image data on the sheet; a sheet feeding section that feeds the sheet from the first sheet stacking section or the second sheet stacking section to the image forming section; Equipped with a bottom portion of a feeding path connecting the second sheet stacking portion and the sheet feeding portion is formed by a liftable conveying guide; The conveying guide is a plate-shaped tray main body portion that is held by the device main body above the first sheet stacking portion when the first sheet stacking portion is attached to the device main body; a handle portion that protrudes from an upstream end of the tray main body in the sheet conveying direction and is rotatable in the up-down direction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is biased by a first elastic member and held in a state inclined downward as it moves toward the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction.

3. 3. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein when the first sheet stacking portion is pulled out from the device main body and the transport guide is lowered to the bottom of the device main body, the handle portion rotates against the spring force of the first elastic member and extends flush with the tray main body portion.

4. the conveying guide has a boss protruding from a side surface of the tray main body in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction, the device body has a guide groove portion formed on an inner surface in the crossing direction and extending in a vertical direction, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the boss moves within the guide groove when the conveying guide moves up and down in the vertical direction.

5. the device body has a locking portion that is biased by a second elastic member to narrow the width of an upper end of the guide groove portion, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the boss is locked to the locking portion when the boss is disposed at the upper end of the guide groove portion.

6. The tray body is 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet stacking unit is supported on an upper end of the first sheet stacking unit when the first sheet stacking unit is attached to the apparatus main body.

Images