Patent ID: 6177977
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus having a one-face mode for forming an image on one surface of a sheet and a both-face mode in which surfaces of said sheet on the one surface of which the image is formed are reversed and said sheet is again conveyed to an image forming portion through a both-face conveying portion and an image is formed on a back surface of said sheet, said image forming apparatus comprising:a first sheet discharge portion for storing said sheet discharged after the image is formed on the one surface of said sheet or after the images are formed on the both surfaces of said sheet;a second sheet discharge portion arranged so as to be openable and closable in said image forming apparatus for forming a sheet discharge path communicated with said first sheet discharge portion when said second sheet discharge portion is closed and for storing said sheet when said second sheet discharge portion is opened;second sheet discharge portion open and close detecting means for detecting opening and closing of said second sheet discharge portion;conveying means arranged between said image forming portion and said second sheet discharge portion for conveying said sheet on which the image is formed;forward and reverse rotatable conveying means which is arranged in said sheet discharge path so as to be rotatable forwardly and reversely and nips said sheet, on the one surface of which the image is formed, conveyed by said conveying means and is forwardly rotated for a predetermined time period and is then reversely rotated to convey said sheet to said both-face conveying portion;means for detecting a position of said sheet in said sheet discharge path; andcontrol means for controlling an operation of at least one of said forward and reverse rotatable conveying means and said conveying means so as to convey said sheet to one of said first sheet discharge portion, said second sheet discharge portion and said both-face conveying portion in accordance with the position of said sheet in said sheet discharge path when said sheet on the one surface of which the image is formed is located in said sheet discharge path in said both-face mode and when the opening of said second sheet discharge portion is detected by said second sheet discharge portion open and close detecting means.