Patent ID: 6738596
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image forming device for forming an image on a cut image recording medium comprising:a drive source; a sheet feeder unit storing therein a stack of image recording mediums; an image forming unit at which a visible image is formed on the image recording medium; a sheet conveying path extending between the sheet feeder unit and the image forming unit, each image recording medium being conveyed through the sheet conveying path in a conveying direction from the sheet feeder unit to the image forming unit; at least two sheet conveying units connected to the drive source and including a downstream side sheet conveying unit and an upstream side sheet conveying unit, the downstream side sheet conveying unit being disposed along the conveying path for conveying the image recording medium at a first conveying speed, and the upstream side sheet conveying unit being disposed along the conveying path and upstream of the downstream side sheet conveying unit in the conveying direction for conveying the image recording medium at a second conveying speed higher than the first conveying speed; and at least two clutches including a first clutch and a second clutch, the first clutch being connected between the drive source and the downstream side sheet conveying unit and providing a power connection state for driving the downstream side sheet conveying unit and a power disconnection state for shutting off power transmission to the downstream side sheet conveying unit, and the second clutch being connected between the drive source and the upstream side sheet conveying unit and providing a power connection state for driving the upstream side sheet conveying unit and a power disconnection state for shutting off power transmission to the upstream side sheet conveying unit; and a controller controlling the at least two clutches so as to provide the disconnection state in the upstream side sheet conveying unit when the downstream side sheet conveying unit holds a leading edge portion of the image recording medium.