Patent ID: 6895211
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a plurality of image forming means each including a photoconductive drum having a photoconductive layer, an exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive layer of the photoconductive drum, and a developing means for causing toner to stick to the latent image on the photoconductive drum so as to form a toner image, an endless intermediate transfer belt rotated around and stretched between a drive roller and a driven roller, a second transfer means located above a row of the photoconductive drums, for transferring a toner image from the intermediate transfer belt onto a recording medium, toner images formed on the plurality of photoconductive drums being transferred onto the recording medium through the intermediary of the intermediate transfer belt so as to form a color image thereon, a recording medium supply path composed of a vertical conveying path for conveying a recording medium fed from a sheet cassette in which recording mediums are accommodated, upward outside of the developing means, a curved conveying path, a horizontal conveying path for conveying the recording medium, in a substantially horizontal direction, to the second transfer means, a fusing means located on the horizontal conveying path, downstream of the transfer means, for fusing the transferred toner image on the recording medium, a discharge tray for stacking therein recording mediums for which printing is completed, and which are discharged, a bypass conveying path for conveying a recording medium to be subjected to double face printing, for which printing has been made on one side surface thereof, a first branch means for guiding the recording medium to be subjected to double face printing from the conveying path for the discharge tray, onto the bypass conveying path, a reversing conveying path for reversing the recording medium conveyed on the bypass conveying path during double face printing, a second branching means for guiding the recording medium reversed in the reversing conveying path from the bypass conveying path onto the horizontal conveying path during double face printing, and a return conveying path for conveying the recording medium which has passed through the second branch means onto the horizontal conveying path.