Patent ID: 8577276
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a medium feed unit to supply a print medium; a transfer unit including a driving roller and a transfer roller disposed opposite to the driving roller with a transfer belt interposed between the rollers so as to form a transfer nip between the transfer belt and the transfer roller, the transfer unit to transfer a toner image formed on the transfer belt to the print medium; and a first guide unit having a guide surface to receive the print medium from the medium feed unit and guide the print medium toward a second guide unit such that the print medium moves directly into the transfer nip in a take-in direction of the print medium defined by a travel path of the print medium moving from the guide surface toward the transfer nip, wherein the take-in direction of the print medium toward the transfer nip is different from a take-in direction of the transfer belt toward the transfer nip, wherein the first guide unit includes a first section to guide a travel direction of a leading edge of the print medium supplied from the medium feed unit toward the second guide unit, and a second section extending from the first section, the second section of the first guide unit adapted to enable a trailing edge of the print medium to gradually change direction, after the trailing edge is free from the first section of the first guide unit, as the print medium passes through the transfer nip, wherein the second guide unit guides the leading edge of the print medium directly toward the transfer nip after the travel direction of the leading edge of the print medium is guided by the first section of the first guide unit, wherein the take-in direction of the print medium toward the transfer nip satisfies θ1<θ2, where θ1 is an angle between the take-in direction of the transfer belt toward the transfer nip and the take-in direction of the print medium, and θ2 is an angle between a tangential line contacting the transfer roller at a start position of the transfer nip and the take-in direction of the print medium.