Sheet receiving device

A sheet receiving device having:

• first guide means for guiding a leading end edge of a sheet downwardly;
• second guide means cooperating with said first guide means to hold the leading end edge of the sheet therebetween;
• conveying means for conveying the leading end edge of the sheet to a space between said first guide means and second guide means, and conveying a trailing end edge of the sheet whose leading end edge is held between said first and second guide means to a predetermined position at which the sheet forms a loop, and thereafter releasing the sheet from conveyance;
• and
• support means for movably supporting at least said first or second guide means so that the distance therebetween can increase with the sheets held therebetween, in conformity with an increase in the sheets between said first and second guide means, without changing the posture of said first and second guide means in the direction of the thickness of the sheets held between said first guide member and said second guide means.

An image forming apparatus having:

• sheet receiving means for receiving sheets;
• first conveying means for conveying the sheets received in said sheet receiving means;
• image forming means for forming an image on the sheets conveyed by said first conveying means;
• second conveying means for conveying the sheets having an image formed thereon by said image forming means downwardly;
• first guide means for guiding the sheets downwardly;
• second guide means for holding the sheets cooperating with said first guide means;
• and
• support means for movably supporting at least said first or second guide means so that the distance therebetween can increase with the sheets held therebetween, in conformity with an increase in the sheets held between said first and second guide means, without changing the posture of said first and second guide means in the direction of the thickness of the sheets held between said first and second guide means.

A sheet receiving device having:

• convey means for conveying sheets;
• guide means for guiding the sheets conveyed by said convey means downwardly;
• a rotary member for holding the sheets cooperating with said guide means, and applying a convey force to the sheets so that the sheets are conveyed downwardly along said guiding means;
• and
• support means for movably supporting at least said guide means or rotary member so that a distance between said guide means and rotary member increases with the sheets held therebetween, in conformity with an increase in the sheets held between said guide means and rotary member.