# US 2014/0151956 A1 · Paper discharge device of image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0151956 A1
- Document ID: US20140151956A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/156,999
- Filed: 2014-01-16
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-26
- Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Inventors: SHINICHI ITO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151956A1

## CPC

- B65H 31/00: Pile receivers (carriers used for associating, collating or gathering articles B65H39/00)
- B65H 29/22: and introducing into a pile
- B65H 29/58: Article switches or diverters
- B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates
- B65H 2405/324: between operative position and non operative position
- B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, a paper discharge device includes a discharged-sheet receiving part that can be opened and closed on a side surface of an apparatus body, is closed on the side surface and receives a recording medium dropped from above along the side surface after image formation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming part to form an image on a recording medium; and
a discharged-sheet receiving part that can be opened and closed on the side surface of the apparatus body, the discharged-sheet receiving part receiving the recording medium along the side surface of the apparatus body, the recording medium is discharged from the image forming part, the discharged-sheet receiving part is used also as a manual paper feed part supplying a recording medium to the image forming part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharged-sheet receiving part receiving the recording medium, if the discharged-sheet receiving part is closed and the discharged-sheet receiving part supplying a recording medium, if the discharged-sheet receiving part is opened.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising,
a switch-back roller to reverse the recording medium having the image, the switch-back roller positioned on an upper side of the image forming part; and
a discharge path to guide the recording medium from the switch-back roller toward the discharged-sheet receiving part.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a main paper discharge part receiving the recording medium which is discharged from the image forming part and is discharged in horizontal direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a gate that is moved to change a conveyance direction of the recording medium discharged from the image forming part toward the discharged-sheet receiving part or toward the main paper discharge part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a side take-out port to allow a user to take out the recording medium from the side surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharged-sheet receiving part includes a transparent part.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharged-sheet receiving part is housed in the apparatus body and has a same surface as the side surface if the discharged-sheet receiving part is closed on the side surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharged-sheet receiving part is parallel to a conveyance path of the recording medium through the image forming part in the apparatus body if the discharged-sheet receiving part is closed on the side surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gate is further movable to define a conveyance direction of the recording medium from the switch-back roller toward the discharge path.