Image forming device

Abstract

To solve the problem of being unable to simultaneously achieve easy taking-out of a sheet from a loading part and stable sheet loading.SOLUTION: A loading part comprises: a first region having a first support for supporting a sheet, a first recess recessed downward and provided at the end of one side in a sheet width direction; a second region having a second support and located downstream of the first region; and a third region having a third support for supporting the seat and a second recess recessed downward and provided at the end of the one side in the sheet width direction, and located downstream of the second region. When a sheet of a largest size is supported, the sheet of the largest size and the first and second recesses overlap each other, and the end of the one side of the second support in the sheet width direction is closer to one side than the end of the one side in the sheet width direction of the sheet of the largest size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet.

Background Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus includes a discharge roller as a discharge means for discharging a recording medium as a sheet, and a discharge tray on which the discharged recording medium is stacked. In Patent Document 1, a convex portion extending in the discharge direction is provided at the center in the width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction. The discharge tray has concave portions on both sides in the width direction of the convex portion. The concave portions allow a hand to be inserted under the stacked sheets, and the sheets stacked on the discharge tray can be easily taken out from the discharge tray.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the sheets can be easily taken out from the discharge tray, but the stacking state of the sheets is unstable due to the concave portions. That is, it has not been possible to achieve both easy removal of the sheets and stable stacking of the sheets.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a discharging unit that discharges the sheet formed by the image forming unit, and a stacking unit on which the sheet conveyed and discharged in the discharging direction by the discharging unit is stacked. The stacking unit includes a first support unit that supports the sheet, and a first recess that is provided at one end in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the discharging direction and is recessed downward, and a first region having the first recess; a second support unit that supports the sheet and is wider than the width of the sheet having the maximum size in the sheet width direction, and is disposed downstream of the first region in the discharging direction. and includes a slanted surface portion provided at one end in the sheet width direction a second region including a third support unit that supports the sheet, and a second recess that is provided at one end in the sheet width direction and is recessed downward, and is disposed downstream of the second region in the discharging direction. The slanted surface portion is inclined so as to be downward as it goes toward one side in the sheet width direction, and the second recess includes a bottom portion that is downward as it goes toward one side in the sheet width direction, and the bottom portion of the second recess and the slanted surface portion are arranged to be continuous in the discharge direction. When the sheet having the maximum size is discharged to the stacking unit by the discharging unit and supported by the stacking unit, when viewed from above, the sheet having the maximum size supported by the stacking unit and the first recess overlap, and the sheet having the maximum size and the second recess overlap. One end of the second support unit on the one side in the sheet width direction is on the one side of the one end of the sheet having the maximum size in the sheet width direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both easy removal of the sheet and stable stacking of the sheet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] (Overall Configuration of the Image Forming Apparatus) <Regarding the Image Forming Apparatus> FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention, which is an intermediate transfer tandem type in which four-color image forming units are arranged side by side on an intermediate transfer belt.

[0009] The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading device 920 for reading an image of a document, an image forming unit 910 for forming an image on a sheet based on the image read by the image reading device 920, and an in-body discharge unit 190 for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 910.

[0010] The image forming unit 910 is provided with a cassette 111 at the lower part. The sheet S is stored in a stacked form in the cassette 111 which is a storage device. In the cassette 111, side regulating members are arranged to regulate the position in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the feeding direction by contacting the edge of the sheet. The position of the sheet in the width direction in the cassette 111 is positioned so as to be in a normal position by the side regulating members. Specifically, the sheet is positioned in the cassette 111 so that the edge is located at a normal position determined for each sheet size by a movable side regulating member.

[0011] The sheet stored in the cassette 111 is fed by a sheet feeding means 110 in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming apparatus. The sheet S fed by the sheet feeding means 110 passes through a conveyance path and is conveyed to an oblique correction device 120. After performing oblique correction and timing correction in the oblique correction device 120, it is sent to a secondary transfer unit 130. The secondary transfer unit 130 is a toner image transfer clamping portion to the sheet S formed by a substantially opposed secondary transfer inner roller 131 and secondary transfer outer roller 132, and transfers a toner image to the sheet S by applying a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias.

[0012] Regarding the conveyance process of the sheet S up to the secondary transfer unit 130 described above, the image formation process of the image sent to the secondary transfer unit 130 at the same timing will be described. The image forming unit 140 mainly includes a photoreceptor 141, an exposure device 142, a developing device 143, and a primary transfer device 144. The exposure device 142 emits light based on the signal of the sent image information to the photoreceptor 141 whose surface has been uniformly charged in advance by a charging means, and a latent image is formed via a diffraction means or the like as appropriate. For the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 141 in this way, toner development is performed by the developing device 143, and a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 141. Then, a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias are applied by the primary transfer device 144, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 145. In the case of FIG. 1, the image forming unit 140 described above is provided with four sets of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk.

[0013] Next, the intermediate transfer belt 145 will be described. The intermediate transfer belt 145 is conveyed and driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. Therefore, parallel processing is performed by the above-described Y, M, C, and Bk image forming devices for each color. The image formation process for each color is performed at the timing of superimposing on the upstream toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 145. As a result, finally, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 145 and conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 130.

[0014] As described above, with the conveyance process and the image formation process of the sheet S respectively described, a full-color toner image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S in the secondary transfer unit 130. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed to the fixing unit 150. The fixing unit 150 applies a predetermined pressing force by a substantially opposing roller or belt or the like, and generally applies a heating effect by a heat source such as a heater to melt and fix the toner onto the sheet S. Since the heat source unit 151 that provides this heating effect is disposed on the same side as the image formation surface of the sheet S, the pressing unit 152 that applies the pressing force is disposed on the opposite side. The sheet S having the fixed image thus obtained is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 by the discharge roller 161, or is branched by the first switching flapper 153 and conveyed toward the reverse roller 162. Further, the sheet S conveyed to the reverse roller 162 is conveyed to the duplex conveyance path 180 by the reverse operation of the reverse roller 162 after the rear end of the sheet S has passed the second switching flapper 154. The sheet S that temporarily protrudes outside the machine during this reverse operation is supported by the upper discharge tray 172. The sheet S that has passed through the duplex conveyance path 180 is subjected to skew correction and timing correction again by the skew correction device 120, then sent to the secondary transfer unit 130, where the second image is transferred and fixed by the fixing unit 150. Then, it is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and double-sided printing is performed. The discharge tray 170 on which the discharged sheets S are stacked has an upward slope from the upstream to the downstream in the discharge direction of the sheet S. Therefore, the discharged sheet S moves to the upstream side in the discharge direction by its own weight, and the rear end (the upstream end) of the sheet abuts against the rear end wall 401 and is aligned.

[0015] The discharge unit 160 discharges the sheet S into the in-body discharge unit 190 by the discharge roller 161. The sheet discharged by the discharge roller 161 of the discharge unit 160 is stacked on the discharge tray 170. The discharge tray 170 is a part of the cover of the image forming unit 910. Above the discharge tray 170, a rotatably supported pressing member 202 is disposed. The pressing member 202 presses the sheets stacked on the discharge tray 170 from above.

[0016] In addition to the discharge tray 170, the inside-of-body discharge unit 190 is also provided with an upper discharge tray 172. The reversing roller 162 rotates without reversing, and the sheet is discharged onto the upper discharge tray 172 and stacked thereon.

[0017] The user takes out the sheet discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and stacked thereon. In FIG. 1, the user reaches into the inside-of-body discharge unit 190 from the front side (in front of the apparatus) of the apparatus to take out the sheet discharged onto either the discharge tray 170 or the upper discharge tray 172 in the inside-of-body discharge unit 190.

[0018] The operation unit 303 has buttons for the user to give an instruction to start the image forming operation. Also, the user makes inputs for performing various settings of the image forming apparatus via the operation unit 303. The state of the image forming apparatus is displayed on the operation unit 303 to inform the user.

[0019] <Configuration of the Discharge Tray> Based on FIGS. 1 to 4, the shape of the discharge tray 170 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the discharge tray 170. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the discharge tray 170. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the discharge tray 170.

[0020] In FIG. 2, the discharge tray 170 has the sheets conveyed and discharged in the discharge direction 302 by the discharge roller 161 stacked thereon. The discharge tray 170 is formed with irregularities so that the stacked sheets can be easily taken out. In the present embodiment, as the irregularities, the discharge tray 170 has a first recess 170a provided on the upstream side in the discharge direction 302 and a second recess 170c provided on the downstream side in the discharge direction 302.

[0021] The discharge tray 170 includes a first region 201, a second region 202, and a third region 203 in order from the upstream side in the discharge direction 302. The first region 201 includes a first support portion 204 that supports the sheet and a first recess 170a. The first recess 170a is disposed at the end on the front side 301 of the apparatus in the first region 201. The first recess 170a extends in the discharge direction 302 up to the upstream end in the discharge direction 302 of the discharge tray 170, that is, to the position facing the rear end wall 401. The discharge tray 170 includes a second region 202 downstream of the first region 201 in the discharge direction 302. The second region 202 has a second support portion 205 that supports the sheet and an inclined surface portion 170b. The discharge tray 170 includes a third region 203 downstream of the second region 202 in the discharge direction 302. The third region 203 has a third support portion 206 that supports the sheet and a second recess 170c. The second recess 170c is disposed at the end on the front side 301 of the apparatus in the third region 203.

[0022] Here, the front side 301 of the apparatus is one side in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction 302, and is the side where the user who operates the operation unit 303 stands. That is, the operation unit 303 is arranged so that the user can operate from the front side 301 of the apparatus, which is one side in the sheet width direction.

[0023] A plurality of ribs 402 that extend continuously along the discharge direction 302 so as to span the first support portion 204, the second support portion 205, and the third support portion 206 are provided side by side in the sheet width direction on the first support portion 204, the second support portion 205, and the third support portion 206 for supporting the sheet.

[0024] The first recess 170a is recessed below the first support portion 204 so that a user can insert a hand or finger from the front 301 of the apparatus under the sheet supported by the discharge tray 170. That is, due to the first recess 170a, the sheet is supported by the paper discharge tray 170 with the end portion of the sheet on the front 301 side of the apparatus protruding from the first support portion 204. The width D2 in the discharge direction 302 of the portion of the first recess 170a on the front 301 side of the apparatus is formed such that it is larger than the width D1 of the portion of the first recess 170a on the back side of the apparatus. A taper portion 211 is disposed at a position on the back side of the apparatus of the first recess 170a and close to the first support portion 204. The taper portion 211 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be upward as it goes deeper into the apparatus, that is, so as to approach the first support portion 204 in the height direction as it goes deeper into the apparatus. When a hand is inserted through the taper portion 211, the hand can be guided to a position where it is easy to grasp the sheet.

[0025] The arrangement of the first recess 170a will be described in detail below. The first recess 170a is arranged so as to overlap with the largest sheet S1 (hereinafter referred to as the largest sheet) when the largest sheet S1 in the sheet width direction is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and supported by the discharge tray 170. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first recess 170a and the first support portion 204 when cut by a plane parallel to the front-back direction of the apparatus and extending vertically. The depth of the first recess 170a is set to be lower than the end of the largest sheet S1 on the front 301 side of the apparatus supported by the rib 402 of the first support portion 204. In the present embodiment, the shape of the first recess 170a is set such that the height difference H1 in the height direction between the end of the largest sheet S1 on the front 301 side of the apparatus supported by the first support portion 204 and the bottom surface of the first recess 170a is 30 mm. It is preferable to configure the first recess 170a such that the height difference H1 in the height direction between the end of the largest sheet S1 on the front 301 side of the apparatus supported by the first support portion 204 and the bottom surface of the first recess 170a is 10 mm or more so that the largest sheet S1 can be easily grasped.

[0026] As described above, the end of the sheet supported by the first support portion 204 on the front side 301 of the apparatus protrudes from the first support portion 204 toward the front side 301 of the apparatus. Therefore, when taking out the sheet loaded on the discharge tray 170, the end of the sheet can be grasped by touching the bottom surface and the upper surface of the sheet with fingers, and the sheet can be easily taken out.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, when the sheet S2 having the minimum size in the sheet width direction (hereinafter referred to as the minimum sheet) is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and supported by the discharge tray 170, the first recess 170a is arranged so as to overlap the minimum sheet S2 when viewed from above. Therefore, even the minimum sheet S2 can be grasped by hand and easily taken out from the discharge tray 170.

[0028] In this embodiment, the shape of the first recess 170a is set such that the difference in the height direction between the end of the minimum sheet S2 supported by the first support portion 204 on the front side 301 of the apparatus and the bottom surface of the first recess 170a is 20 mm. It is preferable to configure the first recess 170a such that the difference in the height direction between the end of the minimum sheet S2 supported by the first support portion 204 on the front side 301 of the apparatus and the bottom surface of the first recess 170a is 10 mm or more so that the minimum sheet S2 can be easily grasped.

[0029] Here, as described above, the sheet is positioned at a regular position in the cassette 111 in the sheet width direction by the side regulating member of the cassette 111. The case where the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and supported by the discharge tray 170 as described above means the case where the sheet is supported (loaded) on the discharge tray 170 without shifting in the sheet width direction from the position positioned by the side regulating plate. Further, the sheet having the maximum size in the sheet width direction (maximum sheet) is the sheet having the largest size in the sheet width direction that the image forming apparatus can form an image and discharge to the stacking portion. Further, the sheet having the minimum size in the sheet width direction (minimum sheet) is the sheet having the smallest size in the sheet width direction that the image forming apparatus can form an image and discharge to the stacking portion.

[0030] Next, the second recess 170c will be described. The second recess 170c is arranged so as to overlap with the largest sheet S1 (hereinafter referred to as the largest sheet) in the sheet width direction when the largest sheet S1 is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and stacked. Due to the second recess 170c, the sheet is supported on the paper discharge tray 170 with the end of the sheet on the front side 301 of the apparatus protruding from the third support portion 206.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second recess 170c and the third support portion 206 when cut along a plane extending parallel and vertically in the front and back direction of the apparatus. The depth of the second recess 170c is set to be lower than the end of the largest sheet S1 supported by the rib 402 of the third support portion 206 on the front side 301 of the apparatus. In the present embodiment, the shape of the second recess 170c is set such that the height difference H2 between the end of the sheet supported by the third support portion 206 on the front side 302 of the apparatus and the second recess 170c is 20 mm. It is preferable to configure the second recess 170c such that the height difference H2 between the end of the largest sheet S1 supported by the third support portion 206 on the front side 301 of the apparatus and the bottom surface of the second recess 170c is 10 mm or more so that the sheet can be easily grasped.

[0032] As described above, since there is a gap in the height direction between the end of the largest sheet S1 on the front side 301 of the apparatus and the bottom surface of the second recess 170c, even when the largest sheet S1 is stacked on the discharge tray 170, the bottom surface and the upper surface of the sheet can be brought into contact with the fingers and the sheet can be grasped with the fingers. The bottom surface of the second recess 170c includes a curved surface portion that becomes higher as it goes deeper into the apparatus, that is, approaches the third support portion 206 in the height direction as it goes deeper into the apparatus. Specifically, the bottom of the second recess 170c is an arcuate surface. With the shape of the second recess 170c as described above, the second recess 170c can guide the finger to a position where the sheet can be easily grasped when the finger is inserted.

[0033] Also, as shown in FIG. 4 in the direction parallel to the conveyance direction (discharge direction), the second recess 170c is disposed downstream of half of the overall size of the discharge tray 170 so that d1 ≦ d2.

[0034] Next, the second region 202 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The second support portion 205 of the second region 202 is wider than the width of the maximum sheet S1 in the sheet width direction so as to support the bottom surface of the sheet throughout the entire area of the maximum sheet S1 in the sheet width direction. When the maximum sheet S1 is discharged onto the discharge tray 170 and stacked in the sheet width direction, the foremost end portion 232 of the second support portion 205 on the front side of the apparatus is disposed on the front side of the apparatus with respect to the end portion on the front side of the apparatus of the maximum sheet S1. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the foremost end portion 232 of the second support portion 205 on the front side of the apparatus is on the front side 301 of the apparatus with respect to the foremost end portion 231 of the first support portion 204 on the front side of the apparatus. The foremost end portion 232 of the second support portion 205 on the front side of the apparatus is on the front side 301 of the apparatus with respect to the foremost end portion 233 of the third support portion 206 on the front side of the apparatus. Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the inclined surface 170b on the front side of the apparatus in the second region 202 is continuous with the second recess 170c in the discharge direction 302. The inclined surface 170b and the second recess 170c form a smoothly continuous curved surface.

[0035] As described above, the user can grasp the sheet from the front side 301 of the apparatus through the first recess 170a that is lower than the bottom surface of the loaded sheet and take out the sheet from the discharge tray 170. Regarding the second recess 170c as well, the depth of the second recess 170c is lower than the bottom surface of the loaded sheet. Thereby, also in the second recess 170c, the loaded sheet can grip the bottom surface and the top surface of the sheet. Therefore, even a large-sized sheet that is long in the discharge direction 302 can be easily taken out. That is, when taking out a small number of large-sized sheets, the user can put a hand into either the first recess 170a or the second recess 170c to take out the sheet. Whether the user stands on the upstream side or the downstream side of the discharge direction 302, the user can take out the sheet loaded on the discharge tray 170, which is highly convenient.

[0036] Here, in the case of a large-sized sheet that is long in the conveyance direction, especially when the number of loaded sheets is large, if one tries to grasp and take out only a part of the end of the sheet near the first recess 170a, there is a concern that the sheet may become unstable and fall out of the hand. Also, there is a concern that the quality of the product may deteriorate, such as the sheet being damaged because the sheet cannot be stably grasped. In the present embodiment, since the user can put fingers into both the first recess 170a and the second recess 170c to grasp the sheet, it is possible to stably take out the loaded sheets even when a large number of large-sized sheets are loaded.

[0037] Since the second support portion 205 of the second region 202 is wide in the sheet width direction, the sheet can be stably supported. For example, it is possible to suppress the sheet from dropping due to loading failure caused by the floating of the sheet due to charging during loading. Charging during loading occurs due to the friction between the sheet and the conveyance path when the discharge roller conveys the sheet. One type of loading failure is that the charged sheets repel each other and the sheet floats. If there are the first concave portion 170a and the second concave portion 170c and the region for supporting the sheet in the second region 202 is narrow in the width direction, it is difficult to stably support the bottom surface of the floating sheet by the concave portions. Therefore, the sheet drops to the front side of the main body from the concave portion, and the risk of loading failure increases.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the second support portion 205 of the second region 202 that supports the bottom surface of the sheet over a wide range in the sheet width direction is disposed between the first concave portion 170a and the second concave portion 170c in the discharge direction 302. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the sheet from dropping to the front side of the main body even if it is floating.

[0039] With these configurations, it is possible to easily take out sheets of various sheet sizes from the minimum size to the maximum size, and to realize a discharge tray on which sheets of a large size can be taken out with both hands. Further, the loading state of the sheets loaded on the discharge tray 170 is stabilized. That is, in the present embodiment, high sheet take-out performance and stable loading can be achieved simultaneously.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a modified example. The modified example in FIG. 5 is different in that it further includes a third recess 170e in addition to the above-described embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment. The third recess 170e is on the center side in the sheet width direction with respect to the second recess 170c, and is disposed at the downstream end of the discharge tray 170 in the discharge direction 302. By having the third recess 170e downstream in the discharge direction 302 compared to the first recess 170a and the second recess 170c, the third recess 170e makes it possible to more easily accommodate more sheet sizes. The third recess 170e is not a single one, and a plurality of them may be arranged side by side in the discharge direction 302. This makes it possible to handle long sheets, non-rectangular sheets, and the like.

[0041] The following effects are achieved in this embodiment.

[0042] The first recess 170a of the discharge tray 170 extends from the upstream end of the discharge tray 170 in the discharge direction 302. The first recess 170a overlaps even with the smallest sheet S2 in the width direction. Therefore, since a finger can be inserted into the first recess 170a regardless of the size of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet, the sheet can be taken out, and thus it has the effect of improving the sheet take-out property.

[0043] The width D2 of the first recess 170a in the discharge direction 302 on the front side 301 of the apparatus is formed to be larger than the width D1 on the back side of the apparatus. Therefore, it is easy to access the first recess 170a.

[0044] Downstream of the first recess 170a, there is a second region 202 capable of supporting the entire width direction of the sheet S1 with the maximum size. This can prevent the problem of the stacked sheets collapsing to the front side of the apparatus. Further, downstream of the second region 202 in the discharge direction 302, there is a second recess 170c, and in the sheet width direction, a part of the maximum sheet S1 stacked on the discharge tray 170 overlaps with a part or all of the second recess 170c. Therefore, even for a large sheet such as the maximum sheet S1, the sheet stacked at two locations, the first recess 170a and the second recess 170c, can be grasped, and thus it is possible to take out the sheet by grasping it with both hands, so the sheet removability is high.

[0045] Above the discharge tray 170, an upper discharge tray 172 and an image reading device 920 are arranged as upper members. It is difficult to look at the sheets on the discharge tray 170 from above due to the upper members, but the front side of the apparatus of the discharge tray 170 is open. Here, by inserting a hand into the first recess 170a or the second recess 170c at the front side of the apparatus of the open discharge tray 170, the sheets can be taken out. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even when upper members such as the image reading device 920 are arranged, the sheets can be taken out easily.

[0046] Here, in the above-described embodiment, a form in which the first support portion 204, the second support portion 205, and the third support portion 206 are provided with ribs 402 is exemplified, but a support portion that supports the sheet without ribs may also be used.

[0047] A form in which the bottom of the second recess 170c has an arc shape has been exemplified and described, but a form including a flat surface that becomes lower as it goes forward of the apparatus as the bottom may also be used.

[0048] A form in which the discharge tray 170 is arranged below the image reading device (i.e., the in-body discharge portion 190 which is the in-body space) has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that does not include an image reading device and an upper discharge tray.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] S sheet 100 Image forming apparatus 161 Discharge roller 170 Discharge tray 170a First recess 170c Second recess

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a discharge section that discharges a sheet formed by the image forming section; a stacking section on which the sheets conveyed in the discharge direction and discharged by the discharge section are stacked, The loading section is a first region including a first support portion that supports the sheet and a first recess that is recessed downward and is provided at one end in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the discharge direction; a second region including a second support portion that supports a sheet and is wider than the width of a maximum size sheet in the sheet width direction, the second region being disposed downstream in the discharge direction from the first region and including an inclined surface portion at an end portion on the one side in the sheet width direction; a third region including a third support portion that supports the sheet and a second recess that is provided at an end portion on the one side in the sheet width direction and recessed downward, the third region being disposed downstream of the second region in the discharge direction, The inclined surface portion is inclined downward toward the one side in the sheet width direction, the second recess includes a bottom portion that becomes lower toward the one side in the seat width direction, a bottom portion of the second recess and the inclined surface portion are disposed so as to be continuous with each other in the discharge direction, An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the maximum size sheet is discharged to the stacking section by the discharge section and supported on the stacking section, when viewed from above, the maximum size sheet supported on the stacking section overlaps with the first recess and the maximum size sheet overlaps with the second recess, and the one end of the second support section in the sheet width direction is on the one side of the one end of the maximum size sheet in the sheet width direction.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the discharge section discharges a smallest sheet, which is the smallest in the sheet width direction, to the stacking section and supports the smallest sheet on the stacking section, the smallest sheet overlaps with the first recess when viewed from above.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the second recess includes a portion shaped like an arc.

4. An image forming device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the third area is provided at an end of the loading section in the discharge direction.

5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion is inclined upward as it goes downstream in the discharge direction.

6. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image reading device for reading an image of a document, the image reading device being disposed above the loading section.

7. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loading section has a rib that extends continuously across the first support section, the second support section, and the third support section.

8. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit that can be operated by a user from the one side in the sheet width direction.

Images