# US 2021/0344808 A1 · Image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344808 A1 - Document ID: US20210344808A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/234,970 - Filed: 2021-04-20 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yohei Suzuki; Junichi Ochi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344808A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/00612: {Path switches (H04N1/00575, H04N1/00623, H04N1/00633 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00602: {Feed rollers} - H04N 1/00806: {According to type of the original, e.g. colour paper or transparency, or reading a plurality of different types of original} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit provided on a first conveyance path, a reading unit provided on a second conveyance path and configured to read image information from a sheet conveyed in the second conveyance path, the second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path, the sheet being conveyed through the second conveyance path in a case of forming an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to a first surface of the sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, an opposing member configured to oppose the reading unit with a space therebetween, and a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet through the space between the reading unit and the opposing member and rotatably supported by the opposing member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit provided on a first conveyance path and configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path; a reading unit provided on a second conveyance path and configured to read image information from the sheet conveyed in the second conveyance path, the second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path, the sheet being conveyed to the second conveyance path in a case of forming an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to a first surface of the sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit; an opposing member configured to oppose the reading unit with a space therebetween; and a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet through the space between the reading unit and the opposing member and rotatably supported by the opposing member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposing member is attachable to and detachable from a casing of the image forming apparatus while supporting the conveyance roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance roller is provided upstream of the reading unit and the opposing member in a sheet conveyance direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the conveyance roller is an upstream conveyance roller, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a downstream conveyance roller provided downstream of the reading unit and the opposing member in the sheet conveyance direction, and wherein the downstream conveyance roller is rotatably supported by the opposing member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force to the conveyance roller, wherein the opposing member is attachable to and detachable from a casing of the image forming apparatus while supporting the conveyance roller and the drive transmission mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the opposing member comprises a cover portion configured to at least partially cover the drive transmission mechanism in a case where the opposing member is viewed from the reading unit side in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller and a sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: another conveyance roller provided upstream or downstream of the conveyance roller in the second conveyance path and configured to be rotated by a driving force from a drive source; and a distributing portion configured to transmit part of the driving force from the drive source to the drive transmission mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive transmission mechanism comprises a one-way clutch configured to block coupling between the distributing portion and the conveyance roller so as to reduce a conveyance speed difference between the conveyance roller and the other conveyance roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposing member comprises a guide portion opposing the reading unit and configured to guide the sheet, wherein the guide portion has a recess portion where an upstream end of the guide portion in a sheet conveyance direction is recessed toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, wherein the conveyance roller comprises: a roller shaft extending in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller; and a roller body provided on an outer circumference of the roller shaft and configured to come into contact with the sheet, and wherein the roller body is positioned within the recess portion in the rotation axis direction, and overlaps with the guide portion as viewed in the rotation axis direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposing member comprises: a guide portion opposing the reading unit and configured to guide the sheet; and a metal plate provided on an opposite side to the reading unit with respect to the guide portion and configured to support the guide portion, wherein the conveyance roller comprises: a roller shaft extending in a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller; and a roller body provided on an outer circumference of the roller shaft and configured to come into contact with the sheet, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a grounding member configured to be in contact with both the metal plate and the roller shaft to electrically ground the metal plate and the roller shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an apparatus body configured to support the reading unit; and an opening/closing member configured to support the opposing member and be openable and closable with respect to apparatus body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reading unit is movably supported by the apparatus body so as to move closer to and away from the opposing member, wherein movement of the opposing member with respect to the opening/closing member is restricted, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an elastic member configured to urge the reading unit toward the opposing member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein movement of the reading unit with respect to the apparatus body is restricted, wherein the opposing member is movably supported by the reading unit so as to move closer to and away from the opposing member, and wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an elastic member configured to urge the reading unit toward the opposing member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the reading unit and the opposing member comprises an abutting portion configured to project toward another of the reading unit and the opposing member so as to abut the other of the reading unit and the opposing member to secure the space in a state in which the opening/closing member is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the abutting portion is provided on each outer side of a passage region in a rotation axis direction, the passage region being a region which the sheet passes through in the space, and wherein the opposing member is positioned with respect to the opening/closing member on the outer sides of the passage region in the rotation axis direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the conveyance roller is a first roller, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a second roller supported by the apparatus body, and wherein the first roller and the second roller are in contact with each other in a state in which the opening/closing member is closed, and constitute a conveyance roller pair configured to nip and convey the sheet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the opening/closing member comprises a supporting portion supporting the opposing member from an opposite side to the reading unit in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction and a rotation axis direction of the conveyance roller, and wherein the supporting portion abuts the opposing member at a position in the sheet conveyance direction overlapping with a position of a rotation axis of the conveyance roller in the sheet conveyance direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposing member comprises a white sheet attached on a surface thereof opposing the reading unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposing member comprises a surface opposing the reading unit and formed from a white resin material. ### Claim 20 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit provided on a first conveyance path and configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed in the first conveyance path; a reading unit provided on a second conveyance path and configured to read image information from the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path, the second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path; an opposing member configured to oppose the reading unit with a space therebetween; and a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet through the space between the reading unit and the opposing member and rotate about a roller shaft supported by a casing of the image forming apparatus, wherein the opposing member is positioned with respect to the roller shaft.