Resupplying apparatus and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a resupplying passage connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of an image forming means with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means;
• switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying passage for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet material;
• resupplying means for returning the sheet material to the upstream side of the image forming means through the resupplying passage;
• a first tray member for holding thereon the sheet material conveyed out of the image forming means so that one side of the sheet material is up;
• a second tray member capable of being open or closed for holding thereon the sheet material conveyed out of the image forming means when said second tray member is opened so that the other side of the sheet material is up;
• a passage switching member for switching, in associated with an opening or a closing operation of the second tray member, the passage of the sheet material among the conveyance directions to the first tray member, the second tray member, and the resupplying passage;
• and
• selecting means for selecting, while the second tray member is closed, the conveyance direction of the sheet material between a conveyance direction to the first tray member and a conveyance direction to the resupplying passage by switching operation of the passage switching member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet material;
• a first tray member for holding thereon the sheet material conveyed out of the image forming means os that one side of the sheet material is up;
• a second tray member capable of being open or closed for holding thereon the sheet material conveyed out of the image forming means when said second tray member is opened so that the other side of the sheet material is up;
• a resupplying apparatus located on a downstream side of the image forming means for returning to an upstream side of the image forming means the sheet material conveyed from the image forming means in a state that the conveyance direction of the sheet material is reversed;
• and
• switching means located on the downstream side of the image forming means moving to a first position for introducing the sheet material to the first tray member and a second position for introducing the sheet material to either the second tray member or the resupplying apparatus,
• whereby the image forming apparatus is controlled under one of a first mode in which while the second tray is open the switching means is moved to the second position for introducing the sheet material to the second tray member, a second mode in which while the second tray is closed the switching means is moved to the first position for introducing the sheet material to the first tray member, and a third mode in which while the second tray is closed the switching means is moved to the second position for introducing the sheet material to the resupplying apparatus.

A sheet material resupplying apparatus comprising:

• a resupplying passage connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of an image forming means in an image forming apparatus body with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means;
• switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying passage for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet material from a conveyer in the image forming apparatus body;
• resupplying means for returning the sheet material to the upstream side of the image forming means through the resupplying passage;
• and
• position regulating means for regulating the position in a crosswise direction of the sheet material conveyed by the switchback conveying means, said position regulating means including a guide member having a plurality of contacts for regulating positions of respective sheet materials of different sizes thereof by contacting the edges of the sheet materials and including obliquely conveying means for conveying the sheet materials while the edges of the sheet materials are contacted with the contacts of the guide member.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• conveying means for conveying a sheet material;
• image forming means formed in an image forming apparatus body for recording an image on the sheet material;
• a resupplying apparatus returning the sheet material that have passed through the image forming means, said resupplying apparatus comprising:
• a resupplying passage connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of the image forming means with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means;
• switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying passage for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet material from a conveyer in the image forming apparatus body;
• and resupplying means for returning the sheet material to the upstream side of the image forming means through the resupplying passage;
• and
• position regulating means for regulating the position in a crosswise direction of the sheet material, said position regulating means comprising:
• a guide member having a plurality of contacts for regulating positions of respective sheet materials of different sizes thereof by contacting the edges of the sheet materials;
• and obliquely conveying means for conveying the sheet materials while the edges of the sheet materials are contacted with the contacts of the guide member.

A sheet material resupplying apparatus detachably attached to an image forming apparatus body, comprising:

• resupplying means connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of an image forming means in the image forming apparatus body with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means;
• switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying means for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet material resupplied, wherein said switchback conveying means has a curved guide member and switchback resupplying passage in which the sheet conveyed by said curved guide member is stored;
• and
• a downstream resupplying passage placed in a downstream side of said switchback conveying means for conveying the sheet reversed by said switchback conveying means,
• wherein said switchback resupplying passage of said switchback conveying means and said downstream resupplying passage are partially positioned in said image forming apparatus body.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a resupplying passage connecting a sheet material passage on a downstream side of an image forming means with another sheet material passage on an upstream side of the image forming means;
• switchback conveying means placed in the resupplying passage for levelling the conveyance direction of the sheet material;
• and
• tray means capable of being open or closed for holding thereon the sheet material conveyed out of the image forming means,
• wherein the sheet material on a first side thereof is held on said tray means when said tray means is opened, and the sheet material formed an image on a first side thereon is conveyed to said switchback conveying means when said tray means is closed.