Sheet feed device and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet feed device;
• and
• an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feed device, wherein
• the sheet feed device further comprises:
• a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path which are different sheet conveyance paths;
• and
• a conveyance path merging section configured to merge the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path together, wherein
• at least one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path includes an upstream side roller that feeds the sheet to a downstream side in a conveyance direction, and
• the conveyance path merging section comprises
• a conveyance roller pair configured to convey the sheet fed from the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path through a nip;
• a variable mechanism configured to make an arrangement angle of one roller of the conveyance roller pair to the other roller thereof variable;
• a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force from the upstream side roller provided in one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path to the variable mechanism;
• the transmission mechanism comprises a pivot arm configured to pivot around a first pivot shaft through the driving force from the upstream side roller, and a control plate configured to engage with a first locking portion of the pivot arm and move in an axial direction of the first pivot shaft as the pivot arm pivots;
• and
• the variable mechanism comprises a roller holder configured to support the one roller of the conveyance roller pair, and enable the second locking portion to engage with the control plate and pivot around a second pivot shaft as the control plate moves in the axial direction.

A sheet feed method, comprising:

• feeding a sheet to a downstream side in a conveyance direction through an upstream side roller in a first conveyance path or a second conveyance path different from the first conveyance path;
• and
• a conveyance path merging section configured to merging the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path together by:
• conveying the sheet fed from the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path through a nip of a conveyance roller pair;
• making an arrangement angle of one roller of the conveyance roller pair to another roller thereof variable;
• transmitting a driving force from the upstream side roller provided in one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path to the variable mechanism;
• pivoting a pivot arm around a first pivot shaft through the driving force from the upstream side roller, and engaging a control plate with a first locking portion of the pivot arm and moving in an axial direction of the first pivot shaft as the pivot arm pivots;
• and
• supporting the one roller of the conveyance roller pair with a roller holder, and enabling a second locking portion to engage with the control plate and pivot around a second pivot shaft as the control plate moves in the axial direction.