Image forming apparatus

Abstract

Further miniaturization of image forming apparatus is achieved. [Solution] The discharge means discharges the sheet from the discharge port. The holding means holds the discharged sheet. The cover means is provided above the discharge port and protrudes to cover a part of the holding means. The guide means has a bending point and guides the sheet discharged from the discharge port to the holding means. The cover means has a joint, a top surface that protrudes from above the discharge port toward the joint, and a wall surface that protrudes from the joint toward the holding means. The photosensitive element is positioned below the straight line passing between the lower end of the wall surface and the lower edge of the discharge port. The distance from the bending point of the guide means to the tip of the guide means is longer than the distance from the bending point to the lower end of the wall surface of the cover means.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a photoreceptor with light and develops the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image. Therefore, when stray light irradiates the photoreceptor, the quality of the toner image deteriorates. For miniaturization of the image forming apparatus, the photoreceptor drum may be arranged close to the sheet discharge port. As a result, it is more susceptible to the influence of stray light than before. According to Patent Document 1, a shielding portion for reducing light entering the image forming apparatus from the discharge port has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to achieve further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus, the photoreceptor drum has to be installed even closer to the discharge port. In this case, a larger shielding portion will be required, and the sheet may get caught on the shielding portion. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to achieve further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention is, for example, a rotatably driven photoreceptor, charging means for charging the surface of the photoreceptor, light irradiation means for irradiating the photoreceptor with light to form an electrostatic latent image, developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner to generate a toner image, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet, Discharge means for discharging the aforementioned sheet from the discharge port, A holding means for holding the sheet discharged from the discharge port, A cover means is provided above the aforementioned discharge port and protrudes so as to cover a part of the aforementioned holding means, It has a bending point and a guiding means for guiding the sheet discharged from the discharge port to the holding means, The aforementioned covering means is The joint and, A top surface protruding from above the outlet toward the joint, It has a wall surface that protrudes from the joint so as to approach the holding means, The photoreceptor is positioned below a straight line passing through the lower end of the wall surface and the lower edge of the outlet. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus characterized in that the distance from the bending point of the guiding means to the tip of the guiding means is longer than the distance from the bending point to the lower end of the wall surface of the covering means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus can be achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] External perspective view of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] A schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the outlet, pressing material, and canopy member. [Figure 4] A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the outlet, pressing material, and canopy member. [Figure 5] A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the outlet and canopy member. [Figure 6] External perspective view of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 7]A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the outlet and canopy member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. While the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, identical or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0009] <Example 1> 1. Structure of the image forming apparatus Figure 1 shows an image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording medium (sheet) by performing an electrophotographic process. The top cover 16 is a top member that forms the top surface of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1. An output tray 13 is provided in the center of the top surface of the image forming apparatus 1. The output port 14 is an opening that communicates with the inside of the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet pressing member 50 is positioned at the output port 14 and guides the sheet, which has a toner image formed on it and is being discharged from the output port 14, onto the output tray 13. In Figure 1, the sheet pressing member 50 has a first pressing member 50L and a second pressing member 50R. The first pressing member 50L is positioned at one end in the width direction of the output port 14, which is perpendicular to the sheet output direction A1. The second pressing member 50R is positioned at the other end in the width direction. The structures of the first pressing member 50L and the second pressing member 50R are the same or similar. Therefore, in the following description, the first pressing member 50L and the second pressing member 50R will be described as sheet pressing members 50. The sheet pressing members 50 protrude toward the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction A1. The two sheet pressing members 50 press near one end and near the other end in the width direction of the sheet discharged from the discharge port 14. This improves the alignment and stacking of the sheets in the discharge tray 13.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. The feeding cassette 90 is a storage for holding a plurality of sheets P. The feeding roller 80 feeds one sheet P out of the plurality of sheets P stacked in the feeding cassette 90 to the image forming unit 30.

[0011] The image forming unit 30 includes a photoreceptor 31, a charging member 32, a developing member 33, and a transfer member 34. The photoreceptor 31 is a drum-shaped image carrier (e.g., a photoreceptor drum) that is rotationally driven by a motor or the like. The charging member 32 is a charging roller or a discharge wire that uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photoreceptor 31. The laser scanner 70 is an exposure device or an exposure light source (light irradiation means) that irradiates the surface of the photoreceptor 31 with light according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The laser scanner 70 may be realized by a light-emitting diode (e.g., an organic EL light-emitting element). EL is an abbreviation for electroluminescence. The developing member 33 is a developing roller or a developing sleeve that generates a toner image by attaching toner to the photoreceptor 31. The transfer member 34 is a transfer roller or a transfer blade that transfers the toner image from the photoreceptor 31 to the sheet P. As the photoreceptor 31 rotates, the sheet P is further conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction of the sheet P. Here, the conveyance direction is the direction from the feeding cassette 90 toward the discharge port 14.

[0012] The fixing device 40 is a fixing member having a pressure roller 42 and a heating film 41 as two rotating bodies. By applying heat to the toner image and the sheet P by the heating film 41 and pressing the toner image onto the sheet P by the pressure roller 42, the toner image is fixed on the sheet P. The fixing device 40 conveys the sheet P along the sheet guide 43 to the discharge roller pair 24. The sheet guide 43 may be coated with a light-shielding paint to reduce stray light. A fan for cooling the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 or discharging water vapor generated inside may be provided near the fixing device 40.

[0013] The discharge roller pair 24 conveys the sheet P and discharges it from the discharge port 14 to the discharge tray 13. The sheet pressing member 50 is an example of a guiding means for guiding the sheet P to the discharge tray 13.

[0014] The discharge port 14 is a rectangular opening extending parallel to the width direction of the sheet P, and has an upper edge end 14b and a lower edge end 14a. The upper edge end 14b and the lower edge end 14a correspond to the two long sides of the rectangular opening.

[0015] The cover member 17 extends generally along the discharge direction A1 from the upper edge end 14b. The cover member 17 covers a part of the discharge tray 13. The vicinity of the tip of the cover member 17 is bent downward. The straight line F is an extension of the line segment connecting the tip 17a of the cover member 17 and the lower edge end 14a. The position of the tip 17a is designed so that the straight line F passes above the photoreceptor 31. That is, the photoreceptor 31 is disposed below the straight line F passing through the lower end (tip 17a) of the wall surface of the cover member 17 and the lower edge end 14a of the discharge port 14. Thereby, the entry of stray light (external light) trying to reach the photoreceptor 31 through the discharge port 14 is suppressed.

[0016] 2. Relationship among the discharge port, the sheet pressing member, and the cover member FIG. 3(A) shows details of the cover member 17 and the sheet pressing member 50. The upper edge end 14b of the discharge port 14 exists at the end of the upper surface cover 16. The upper surface cover 16 and the cover member 17 may be integrated.

[0017] The sheet pressing material 50 is formed from a single flexible sheet material. The sheet pressing material 50 is bent at a bending point 50e. The sheet pressing material 50 has a fixing part 50a and a pressing part 50b. A bending point 50e exists between the fixing part 50a and the pressing part 50b. The fixing part 50a is fixed to the back surface of the upper cover 16 which forms the upper part of the discharge port 14. In other words, the fixing part 50a is fixed to the upper surface member of the image forming apparatus 1. The pressing part 50b starts from the bending point 50e. The pressing part 50b is positioned so as to be inclined diagonally downward from the horizontal direction. The tip 50d of the pressing part 50b is located below the bending point 50e in the vertical direction. The pressing part 50b is connected to the fixing part 50a at the bending point 50e and is an example of a movable part that rotates around the bending point 50e as a pivot axis. Alternatively, the pressing portion 50b is an example of a movable part that moves away from the discharge port 14 when pushed by the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14, and returns to its standby position when the sheet P separates from the tip 50d of the sheet pressing material 50. In other words, the sheet pressing material 50 is elastically deformable.

[0018] The canopy member 17 is an example of a cover means provided above the discharge port 14 and protruding to cover a part of the discharge tray 13. The canopy member 17 may further function as a light reduction means or light shielding means to reduce ambient light entering from the discharge port 14 and heading toward the photoreceptor 31. The canopy member 17 has an upper surface member 17b and a wall member 17d. The upper surface member 17b is an example of a ceiling surface (roof portion) protruding from above the discharge port 14 toward the bent portion 17c. The wall member 17d is an example of a wall surface protruding from the bent portion 17c toward the discharge tray 13. The upper surface member 17b, the wall member 17d and the bent portion 17c are joined together. The bent portion 17c may also be called a joint. The wall member 17d functions as an ambient light reduction member or light shielding member. Ambient light is background light emitted from a light source located outside the image forming apparatus 1.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3(B), a space 17e is created below the upper member 17b and to the side of the wall member 17d. Assuming there is no sheet pressing material 50, the leading edge of the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 will collide with the wall member 17d. As a result, the sheet P will bend or get stuck near the discharge port 14. As shown in Figure 3(A), the sheet pressing material 50 guides the sheet P, which would otherwise cross the space 17e and head towards the wall member 17d, to the discharge tray 13. By appropriately restricting the discharge direction of the sheet P, the sheet P will not get caught on the wall member 17d.

[0020] As shown in Figure 4(A), distance L1 is the distance from the downstream tip 50d of the pressing portion 50b of the sheet pressing material 50 to the bending point 50e. Distance L2 is the distance from the bending point 50e to the tip 17a of the canopy member 17. In Example 1, distance L1 is greater than distance L2.

[0021] As shown in Figure 4(B), the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 is pressed by the sheet pressing material 50, but the sheet pressing material 50 is also pressed by the sheet P. As a result, the sheet pressing material 50 deforms. The sheet pressing material 50 gradually approaches the tip 17a of the canopy member 17. The deformation of the sheet pressing material 50 ends when it collides with the tip 17a of the canopy member 17, or before it collides. The amount of deformation of the sheet pressing material 50 may depend on the basis weight of the sheet P.

[0022] The thickness and hardness of the sheet pressing material 50 are such that the sheet pressing material 50 bends when the sheet P comes into contact with it. The sheet pressing material 50 bends when the sheet P comes into contact with it until it comes into contact with the tip 17a of the wall member 17d. Here, the basis weight of the sheet P is, for example, 60 g / m2 or more and 220 g / m2 or less. Here, m2 is an abbreviation for square meter. The basis weight of the sheet P is, for example, described in the instruction manual or specifications of the image forming apparatus 1, and is the basis weight of the sheet P on which the image forming apparatus 1 can form an image. The thickness of the sheet P may be, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less. Note that these values ​​are merely examples.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4(C), the deformation of the sheet pressing material 50 prevents the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 from colliding with the canopy member 17, ensuring proper discharge. Furthermore, the return of the sheet pressing material 50 compresses the sheet P vertically, guiding it appropriately onto the discharge tray 13.

[0024] According to Example 1, the photoreceptor 31 is positioned below the straight line F. Furthermore, the distance L1 from the bending point 50e to the tip 50d of the sheet pressing material 50 is longer than the distance L2 from the bending point 50e to the tip 17a of the wall member 17d. This reduces or blocks the light that would otherwise be directed from the discharge port 14 towards the photoreceptor 31. In addition, the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 is less likely to get caught on the wall member 17d. As a result, further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus 1 is achieved.

[0025] The sheet pressing material 50 rotates around the bending point 50e as its pivot point, or moves when pushed by the sheet P. As a result, the sheet pressing material 50 may press the sheet P downward with an appropriate pressing force, guiding the sheet P to the discharge tray 13.

[0026] If a space 17e is created below the upper surface member 17b and to the side of the wall member 17d, there is a risk that the sheet P will collide with the wall member 17d. However, by employing a sheet pressing material 50 with the characteristics described above, the sheet P becomes less likely to collide with the wall member 17d.

[0027] According to Example 1, since the sheet pressing material 50 is flexible, the sheet pressing material 50 is elastically deformable. However, if the sheet pressing material 50 is touched by a user, it may become plastically deformed or soiled. According to Example 1, the canopy member 17 will make it difficult for the user to touch the sheet pressing material 50. As a result, the integrity of the sheet pressing material 50 will be maintained.

[0028] The thickness and hardness of the sheet pressing material 50 should be such that the sheet pressing material 50 bends when the sheet P comes into contact with it. This will allow the sheet pressing material 50 to properly guide the sheet P to the discharge tray 13. Here, the basis weight of the sheet P should be, for example, 60 g / m2 or more and 220 g / m2 or less. The thickness of the sheet P should be, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less.

[0029] The sheet pressing material 50 may include at least one pressing member (e.g., a first pressing member 50L, a second pressing member 50R) that presses the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14. The first pressing member 50L and the second pressing member 50R may be positioned at both ends of the discharge port 14. This allows the sheet pressing material 50 to stably guide the sheet P to the discharge tray 13. In addition, there may be margin areas at both ends of the sheet P where no image is formed. Therefore, these margin areas come into contact with the sheet pressing material 50. This makes the sheet pressing material 50 less likely to be soiled with toner. Furthermore, any dirt adhering to the sheet pressing material 50 is less likely to be transferred to the image on the sheet P.

[0030] <Example 2> Figure 5 shows the canopy member 17 of Embodiment 2. The canopy member 17 has a bottom plate 17x. The bottom plate 17x suppresses the collision of the sheet P with the wall member 17d. The bottom plate 17x has a shape, size, and material that can suppress the entry of the sheet P into the space 17e described above. In Figure 5, the bottom plate 17x extends from the upper edge 14b of the discharge port 14 to the tip 17a of the canopy member 17 and covers the space 17e. However, this is just one example. Since it is sufficient for the bottom plate 17x to suppress the collision of the sheet P with the wall member 17d, it would suffice for it to cover the vicinity of the tip 17a of the canopy member 17. In other words, one end of the bottom plate 17x may be connected to the tip 17a of the canopy member 17, and the other end of the bottom plate 17x may be connected to the top member 17b.

[0031] According to Embodiment 2, the canopy member 17 reduces or blocks the light that would otherwise be directed from the discharge port 14 towards the photoreceptor 31. Furthermore, a lower plate 17x is provided, which is connected to the tip 17a of the wall member 17d and guides the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 to the discharge tray 13. This makes it less likely for the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 to get caught on the wall member 17d. As a result, further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus 1 is achieved. In addition, the canopy member 17 will make it difficult for the user to touch the sheet pressing material 50.

[0032] The bottom plate 17x may be connected to the upper edge 14b of the discharge port 14 or to the top member 17b. Alternatively, the bottom plate 17x may be connected to or fixed to the back surface of the top cover 16.

[0033] <Example 3> Figure 6 shows another example of the sheet pressing material 50. According to Figure 1, the first pressing member 50L and the second pressing member 50R are positioned at one end and the other end of the discharge port 14 in the width direction of the sheet P, respectively. This is advantageous in terms of reducing the material of the sheet pressing material 50. The sheet pressing material 50 of Embodiment 3 shown in Figure 6 is formed from a single sheet material extending from one end to the other end in the width direction of the discharge port 14. Furthermore, the sheet pressing material 50 may be formed from a light-shielding sheet material. For example, the sheet pressing material 50 may be painted black or molded from black resin. This may reduce the intrusion of external light into the sheet pressing material 50.

[0034] According to Example 3, a single sheet pressing material 50 extends from one end to the other in the width direction of the discharge port 14. This allows the sheet P to be stably guided to the discharge tray 13. Example 1 discloses multiple sheet pressing materials 50, while Example 3 discloses only a single sheet pressing material 50; otherwise, Examples 1 and 3 are common.

[0035] <Example 4> In Examples 1 to 3, a sheet pressing material 50 was required to guide the sheet P onto the discharge tray 13. In Example 4, a guiding member that can replace the sheet pressing material 50 is proposed.

[0036] Figure 7 shows the guide member 61 of Embodiment 4. The guide member 61 is an atmospheric guide pipe (air passage) that extends from the air discharge surface of the fan 60 to the underside of the canopy member 17. The guide member 61 guides a portion of the airflow formed by the fan 60 to the underside of the canopy member 17. The air blown out from the outlet 62 of the guide member 61 presses the sheet P toward the discharge tray 13. This improves the alignment and stackability of the sheets in the discharge tray 13.

[0037] Furthermore, the relationship between the tip 17a of the canopy member 17 and the lower edge 14a of the outlet 14 satisfies the conditions described in Embodiment 1. In other words, the wall member 17d protrudes downward such that the straight line F passing through the tip 17a and the lower edge 14a passes above the photoreceptor 31. That is, the wall member 17d in Embodiment 4 also functions as a light-shielding wall as described in Embodiment 1.

[0038] The first pressing member 50L and the second pressing member 50R shown in Figure 1 may be replaced by two outlets 62 (a first outlet and a second outlet). That is, the first outlet may be located at one end of the width direction of the outlet 14 perpendicular to the discharge direction A1. The second outlet may be located at the other end of the width direction.

[0039] According to Embodiment 4, an air outlet 62 is used to blow air onto the surface of the sheet P so that the sheet P discharged from the discharge port 14 is guided to the discharge tray 13. This makes it possible to omit the sheet pressing material 50. Since the sheet pressing material 50 is not present, the user will not come into contact with the sheet pressing material 50. In addition, the air outlet 62 can guide the sheet P, which would otherwise be heading towards the wall member 17d through the space 17e, to the discharge tray 13. By guiding the sheet P appropriately, the sheet P will not get caught on the wall member 17d.

[0040] A single outlet 62 may be installed in the center of the width direction of the outlet 14. As shown in Figure 6, a single outlet 62 that covers almost the entire width direction of the outlet 14 may be used.

[0041] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, claims are attached to disclose the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 31: Photoreceptor drum, 32: Charging member, 33: Developing member, 34: Transfer member, 70: Laser scanner, 40: Fixing device, 24: Discharge roller pair, 13: Discharge tray, 17: Canopy member, 50: Pressing member

Claims

1. A rotating photoreceptor, A charging means for charging the surface of the photoreceptor, A light irradiation means for irradiating the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing means that develops the electrostatic latent image using toner to generate a toner image, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet, Discharge means for discharging the aforementioned sheet from the discharge port, A holding means for holding the sheet discharged from the discharge port, A cover means is provided above the aforementioned discharge port and protrudes so as to cover a part of the aforementioned holding means, It has a bending point and a guiding means for guiding the sheet discharged from the discharge port to the holding means, The aforementioned covering means is The joint and, A top surface protruding from above the outlet toward the joint, It has a wall surface that protrudes from the joint so as to approach the holding means, The photoreceptor is positioned below a straight line passing through the lower end of the wall surface and the lower edge of the outlet. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the distance from the bending point of the guiding means to the tip of the guiding means is longer than the distance from the bending point to the lower end of the wall surface of the covering means.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering means is a reducing means for reducing ambient light that enters from the discharge port and attempts to reach the photoreceptor.

3. The aforementioned induction means is A fixing part that is fixed to the upper member of the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a movable part connected to the fixed part at the bending point, which rotates about the bending point as a pivot axis, or which moves away from the discharge port by the sheet discharged from the discharge port, and which returns to a standby position when the sheet moves away from the tip of the guiding means.

4. A space exists below the ceiling surface and to the side of the wall surface, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means guides the sheet, which is moving toward the wall surface through the space, to the holding means.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness and hardness of the guiding means are such that the sheet comes into contact with the guiding means and the guiding means bends.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means bends until the guiding means contacts the lower end of the wall surface as the sheet comes into contact with the guiding means.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the basis weight of the sheet is 60 g / m² or more and 220 g / m² or less.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the sheet is 0.05 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less.

9. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guiding means includes at least one pressing member for pressing the sheet discharged from the discharge port.

10. The at least one pressing member includes a first pressing member and a second pressing member, The first pressing member is positioned at one end of the width direction of the discharge port, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction of the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the second pressing member is located at the other end in the width direction.

11. The at least one pressing member includes a single pressing member, The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the single pressing member extends from one end to the other end in the width direction of the discharge port, which is perpendicular to the discharge direction of the sheet.

12. A rotating photoreceptor, A charging means for charging the surface of the photoreceptor, A light irradiation means for irradiating the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing means that develops the electrostatic latent image using toner to generate a toner image, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet, Discharge means for discharging the aforementioned sheet from the discharge port, A holding means for holding the sheet discharged from the discharge port, It has a cover means provided above the discharge port and protruding so as to cover a part of the holding means, The aforementioned covering means is The joint and, A top surface protruding from above the outlet toward the joint, A wall surface protruding from the joint so as to approach the holding means, A lower surface connected to the lower end of the wall surface, which guides the sheet discharged from the discharge port to the holding means, An image forming apparatus characterized by having [a certain feature].

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower surface of the cover means is connected to the upper edge of the discharge port or the ceiling surface.

14. A rotating photoreceptor, A charging means for charging the surface of the photoreceptor, A light irradiation means for irradiating the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing means that develops the electrostatic latent image using toner to generate a toner image, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet, Discharge means for discharging the aforementioned sheet from the discharge port, A holding means for holding the sheet discharged from the discharge port, It has a cover means provided above the discharge port and protruding so as to cover a part of the holding means, The aforementioned covering means is The joint and, A top surface protruding from above the outlet toward the joint, A wall surface protruding from the joint so as to approach the holding means, A blowing means for blowing air onto the surface of the sheet so as to guide the sheet discharged from the discharge port to the holding means, An image forming apparatus characterized by having [a certain feature].

15. A fan for cooling the image forming apparatus, A ventilation passage that guides the airflow generated by the fan to the blowing means, The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising the above.

16. The spraying means has a first outlet and a second outlet, The first outlet is located at one end of the width direction of the outlet, perpendicular to the discharge direction of the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the second outlet is located at the other end in the width direction.

17. A rotating photoreceptor, A charging member for charging the surface of the photoreceptor, A light source that irradiates the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image using toner to generate a toner image, A transfer member for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to a sheet, A fixing member for fixing the toner image onto the sheet, A pair of discharge rollers for discharging the aforementioned sheet from the discharge port, A tray for holding the sheet discharged from the discharge port, An overhang member is provided above the aforementioned discharge port and protrudes to cover a portion of the tray, It has a bending point and a pressing material that presses the sheet discharged from the discharge port to guide the sheet to the tray, The aforementioned canopy member is The joint and, A roof portion protruding from above the discharge port toward the joint portion, It has a wall portion that protrudes from the connecting portion so as to approach the tray, The photoreceptor is positioned below a straight line passing through the lower end of the wall and the lower edge of the discharge port. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the distance from the bending point of the pressing material to the tip of the pressing material is longer than the distance from the bending point to the lower end of the wall portion.

Images