Patent ID: 9393812
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a feed tray configured to receive placement of a recording sheet; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the recording sheet fed from the feed tray; a first guide and a second guide which are configured to form a first conveying path through which the recording sheet fed from the feed tray is to be conveyed to the image forming unit in a conveying direction and to form a second conveying path which joins the first conveying path at a joining position, the first guide including a first guiding portion configured to guide the recording sheet conveyed through an upstream side of the first conveying path with respect to the joining position and also including a second guiding portion configured to guide the recording sheet conveyed through the second conveying path, the second guide including a third guiding portion that faces the second guiding portion of the first guide and that forms the second conveying path together with the second guiding portion of the first guide, the second guide further including a fourth guiding portion configured to guide the recording sheet conveyed through a downstream side of the first conveying path with respect to the joining position; a third guide that faces the first guiding portion of the first guide and the fourth guiding portion of the second guide and that forms the first conveying path together with the first guiding portion of the first guide and the fourth guiding portion of the second guide; an actuator that protrudes relative to the fourth guide portion toward the third guide, the actuator being pivotable less than 360 degrees and to be pivoted by the recording sheet conveyed through the first conveying path; and ribs which are disposed adjacent to the actuator in an axial direction of the actuator around which the actuator is pivotable, each of the ribs extending from the third guiding portion to the fourth guiding portion, a first rib of the ribs being disposed on a first side of the actuator in the axial direction and a second rib of the ribs being disposed on a second side of the actuator in the axial direction, wherein the first guide has a first recess which faces at least one of the ribs, the first recess being recessed in an upstream direction opposite to the conveying direction such that a non-recessed first portion of the first guide extends farther in the conveying direction than a second portion of the first guide forming the first recess.