Tension applying device, sheet conveyance device, and image forming apparatus

A tension applying device configured to be attached to a sheet conveyance device that includes a feeding roller configured to feed a continuous-form sheet and a winding roller configured to wind the continuous-form sheet fed from the feeding roller, the tension applying device being configured to apply tension to the continuous-form sheet between the feeding roller and the winding roller, the tension applying device comprising:

• a guide rail inclined downward toward the continuous-form sheet, the guide rail having a lower end and an upper end;
• a slider configured to slide along the guide rail;
• a tension bar supported by the slider and brought into pressure contact with the continuous-form sheet by weight of the slider;
• and
• an angle adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an inclination angle of the guide rail with respect to a horizontal direction, the angle adjustment mechanism including a bracket rotatably attached to a frame of the sheet conveyance device via a rotation shaft that is coaxial with the tension bar that contacts the continuous-form sheet when the slider is slid on the guide rail to position the slider at the lower end of the guide rail.