# US 2016/0257527 A1 · Image forming apparatus having re-conveying path > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0257527 A1 - Document ID: US20160257527A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/159,136 - Filed: 2016-05-19 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-28 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsushi MIWA; Shougo SATO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257527A1 ## CPC - B65H 85/00: Recirculating articles, i.e. feeding each article to, and delivering it from, the same machine work-station more than once - B65H 29/14: and introducing into a pile - B65H 29/60: diverting the stream into alternative paths (B65H29/62 takes precedence) - B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates - B65H 31/24: multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling - G03G 15/234: {by inverting and refeeding the image receiving material with an image on one face to the recording member to transfer a second image on its second face, e.g. by using a duplex tray; Details of duplex trays or inverters} - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - B65H 2301/42142: by introducing articles from beneath - B65H 2402/46: Table apparatus - B65H 2404/166: reverse roller - B65H 2405/324: between operative position and non operative position - B65H 2407/21: Manual feeding - B65H 2701/1916: Envelopes and articles of mail - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - G03G 2215/00675: Mechanical copy medium guiding means, e.g. mechanical switch - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract In an image forming apparatus, a discharge roller discharges a sheet conveyed by a first conveying path. The discharge roller switches between: a mode of conveying a sheet in a sheet discharging direction to discharge a sheet; and a mode of reversing a direction of conveying a sheet from the sheet discharging direction and feeding a sheet to a re-conveying path. A pivot plate at an open position constitutes a second conveying path. The pivot plate at a closed position closes the second conveying path. The pivot plate is provided with a penetrating portion penetrating the pivot plate over an entire thickness of the pivot plate. The penetrating portion constitutes part of the re-conveying path when the pivot plate is disposed at the closed position. Part of the pivot plate is exposed outside the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; an apparatus body having a housing configured to enclose the image forming portion therein, the housing having a sheet discharge tray at its vertically upper portion, the sheet discharge tray being configured to receive thereon a sheet having an image formed thereon; a discharge roller provided in a first conveying path and configured to discharge, onto the sheet discharge tray, a sheet that has been conveyed by the first conveying path, the first conveying path having a curved part that is configured to guide a sheet, which has been conveyed from the image forming portion, to the discharge roller, while changing an orientation of the sheet; a pivot plate pivotally movable relative to the apparatus body between an open position and a closed position, the pivot plate at the open position constituting a second conveying path, the second conveying path being a straight path configured to guide a sheet, which has been conveyed from the image forming portion, linearly toward an outside of the housing, the pivot plate at the closed position closing the second conveying path, the pivot plate having a plate shape; and an image reading device assembled to the apparatus body at a vertical level higher than the sheet discharge tray such that the image reading device is pivotally movable relative to the apparatus body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot plate is configured such that when the pivot plate is at the open position, a sheet that has been conveyed from the image forming portion along the second conveying path is finally placed on the pivot plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching guide portion configured to switch between: a mode of guiding a sheet conveyed from the image forming portion along the first conveying path; and a mode of guiding the sheet along the second conveying path; and an interlocking portion configured to mechanically interlock the switching guide portion with the pivotal movement of the pivot plate, thereby moving the switching guide portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a top cover covering the discharge roller from above, wherein the pivot plate is configured such that a free end of the pivot plate is positioned at a vertical level higher than the top cover when the pivot plate is at the closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed with an opening, through which part of the pivot plate protrudes outside the housing, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a pivot cover assembled to the housing such that the pivot cover is pivotally movable relative to the housing, the pivot cover being mechanically interlocked with the pivotal movement of the pivot plate, the pivot cover being configured to close the opening when the pivot plate is at the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming portion is of an electrophotographic type, and includes: a photosensitive drum configured to bear developing material thereon; and a fixing device configured to fix developing material transferred on a sheet. ### Claim 7 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; an apparatus body having a housing configured to enclose the image forming portion therein, the housing having a sheet discharge tray at its vertically upper portion, the sheet discharge tray being configured to receive thereon a sheet having an image formed thereon; a discharge roller provided in a first conveying path and configured to discharge, onto the sheet discharge tray, a sheet that has been conveyed by the first conveying path, the first conveying path having a curved part that is configured to guide a sheet, which has been conveyed from the image forming portion, to the discharge roller, while changing an orientation of the sheet, the discharge roller being configured to switch between: a mode of conveying a sheet in a sheet discharging direction to discharge a sheet toward the sheet discharge tray; and a mode of reversing a direction of conveying a sheet from the sheet discharging direction and feeding a sheet to a re-conveying path that is arranged to convey the sheet back to an inlet port of the image forming portion; and an image reading device assembled to the apparatus body at a vertical level higher than the sheet discharge tray such that the image reading device is pivotally movable relative to the apparatus body, wherein the re-conveying path and the image reading device are arranged relative to each other such that when the re-conveying path and the image reading device are projected on a virtual horizontal plane, at least part of the re-conveying path is disposed at a position that is out of a scanning range of a reading element provided in the image reading device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming portion is of an electrophotographic type, and includes: a photosensitive drum configured to bear developing material thereon; and a fixing device configured to fix developing material transferred on a sheet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image reading device has a first wall that is disposed at one side in a horizontal direction relative to the scanning range of the reading element, the image reading device and the re-conveying path being arranged relative to each other such that part of the re-conveying path is disposed opposite to the scanning range of the reading element with respect to the first wall of the image reading device in the horizontal direction.