Patent ID: 8565665
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first pair of rotary members disposed in a conveyance path through which a recording medium is transported, the first pair of rotary members pressing against each other and forming a first nip therebetween; a cover sheet supply unit to transport a cover sheet from a supply position to the first nip, between an imaging surface of a recording medium and one of the rotary members, the cover sheet temporarily superimposed on the imaging surface of the recording medium; a separation unit to separate the cover sheet from the recording medium after the recording medium passes through the first nip, disposed downstream from the first nip in a supply direction in which the cover sheet is supplied from the supply position, the separation unit including a second pair of rotary members pressing against each other and forming a second nip therebetween and a first separator for separating the cover sheet from the recording medium having an end portion pressed against an axial end portion of one of the second pair of rotary members; and a drive unit to rotate the first pair of rotary members and the second pair of rotary members in both a normal direction for transporting the cover sheet in the supply direction and a reverse direction reverse to the normal direction, the first pair of rotary members, the second pair of rotary members, and the drive unit together forming a cover sheet return mechanism for returning the cover sheet separated from the recording medium to the supply position.