Sheet conveyer and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising

• a sheet conveyer, the sheet conveyer comprising:
• a sheet supporting plate having an insertion portion, the insertion portion being formed vertically through the sheet supporting plate;
• a feed roller disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet supporting plate, the feed roller comprising a rotation shaft extending in parallel with the sheet supporting plate;
• a lifting device configured to move the sheet supporting plate between a separated position, in which the sheet supporting plate is separated from the feed roller, and a contacting position, in which the sheet supporting plate is lifted from the separated position to contact the feed roller;
• a motor configured to drive the lifting device;
• a sheet guide disposed on an upper surface of the sheet supporting plate to extend in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotation shaft of the feed roller, the sheet guide being movable in the axial direction on the upper surface of the sheet supporting plate;
• and
• a contact member disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet guide;
• and
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the feed roller,
• wherein the sheet guide comprises:
• a retractable member, the retractable member being movable between a first position, in which the retractable member is located when the sheet supporting plate is in the separated position, and a second position, in which the retractable member is located by an effect of a reaction force from the contact member produced by contact between the sheet supporting plate and the feed roller when the sheet supporting plate is in the contacting position to contact the feed roller, wherein at least a part of the retractable member is configured to be inserted into and to pass through the insertion portion of the sheet supporting plate when moving to the second position, and wherein the at least a part of the retractable member in the second position is located lower than the sheet supporting plate;
• a pivot shaft configured to support the retractable member pivotably at one end portion of the retractable member;
• and
• an urging member configured to urge the retractable member to pivot in a direction from the second position toward the first position.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet conveyer, the sheet conveyer comprising:
• a sheet supporting plate;
• a feed roller disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet supporting plate, the feed roller comprising a rotation shaft extending in parallel with the sheet supporting plate;
• a lifting device configured to move the sheet supporting plate between a separated position, in which the sheet supporting plate is separated from the feed roller, and a contacting position, in which the sheet supporting plate is lifted from the separated position to contact the feed roller;
• a motor configured to drive the lifting device;
• a sheet guide disposed on an upper surface of the sheet supporting plate to extend in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotation shaft of the feed roller, the sheet guide being movable in the axial direction on the upper surface of the sheet supporting plate;
• and
• a contact member including a tray, the contact member being disposed in an upper position with respect to the sheet guide,
• a body comprising a conveyer path formed to convey a sheet fed by the feed roller therein, wherein the tray of the contact member is configured to be detachably attached to the body;
• and
• an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet fed by the feed roller,
• wherein the sheet guide comprises a retractable member, the retractable member being movable between a first position, in which the retractable member is located when the sheet supporting plate is in the separated position, and a second position, in which the retractable member is located by an effect of a reaction force from the contact member produced by contact between the sheet supporting plate and the feed roller when the sheet supporting plate is in the contacting position to contact the feed roller.