Patent ID: 7318585

Claim:
An image forming apparatus which reverses a sheet, comprising: (a) an entry and conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed; (b) a reversal and conveyance path provided downstream in a sheet conveyance direction with respect to the entry and conveyance path; (c) a branched conveyance path branched from a connection point between the entry and conveyance path and the reversal and conveyance path; (d) a sheet conveyor provided in the entry and conveyance path for conveying the sheet; (e) a gate member capable of being opened and closed, which is provided at a connection point between the entry and conveyance path and the reversal and conveyance path; (f) a sheet reversing and conveying member provided in the reversal and conveyance path, capable of rotating forwardly and reversely for conveying the sheet; (g) a sheet sensor provided upstream of the gate member in the sheet conveyance direction for detecting the sheet; and (h) a controller for controlling the gate member and the sheet reversing and conveying member based on a detection result of the sheet sensor, wherein when the sheet conveyor feeds the sheet from the entry and conveyance path into the reversal and conveyance path, the controller controls the gate member to be opened on the basis of a detection result of the sensor until a leading edge of the sheet passes the gate member, switches the gate member to be closed before a trailing edge of the sheet reaches the gate member, subsequently switches the sheet reversing and conveying member to rotate reversely after the trailing edge of the sheet passes the gate member, thereby feeding the sheet into the branched conveyance path.