Abstract: The conveyance guide unit is provided with a guide member, a supporting frame, and an external cover. The guide member guides a sheet, which is discharged from a sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus or from a sheet discharge port of a relay conveyance device installed in the image forming apparatus, to the sheet carrying-in port of a post-processing device. The supporting frame supports the guide member. The external cover is fixed to the supporting frame; the external cover covers an upper part of the guide member and side parts of the guide member in a traverse direction of a sheet conveyance path, which is perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. The external cover has an upper surface serving as an extension part of a discharge tray part of the post-processing device, the extension part being extended downstream, in a sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor unit is connected to downstream side of an upstream side unit in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveyor unit includes a convey guide for receiving a sheet discharged from outlet of the upstream side unit. The convey guide is constituted of a pair of guide members disposed to face each other with a predetermined space therebetween. The guide members have the same shape and include base parts having guide surfaces that form a sheet conveying path when combined to face each other, and inclined parts bent to directions apart from the guide surfaces from one end of the base parts in the sheet conveying direction so as to form a receiving port. The convey guide is attached selectively to one of positions different in at least one of a height direction and the sheet conveying direction with respect to an apparatus main body.

Abstract: A relay conveyance device includes a discharge unit which discharges a sheet toward a carry-in port, a decurling unit attached to the discharge unit, and a discharge adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting a height direction inclination of the discharge unit. The discharge adjustment mechanism is set to be capable of adjusting an inclination of the discharge unit such that the decurling unit maintains a predetermined reference position even when the discharge unit is supported by any of a plurality of unit supporting portions set according to a height position of the carry-in port.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a correcting unit. The correcting unit corrects displacement of a sheet conveyed from an upstream side conveying path, and conveys the sheet to a downstream side conveying path. The correcting unit includes a first conveying part conveying the sheet, a first moving part moving a first frame supporting the first conveying part and a detecting part detecting a side end edge of the sheet at a reference position without displacement. The first conveying part stops conveyance of the sheet when a leading end of the sheet reaches the detecting part. While the driving of the first conveying part is stopped, the first moving part moves the first frame to move the sheet, and stops movement of the first frame, when detection result of the detecting part is changed, to position the side end edge to the reference position to correct displacement of the sheet.

Abstract: The external cover is a cover to cover a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism is disposed in a space between an image forming apparatus and an optional device that is disposed on a side of the image forming apparats and couples the optical device with the image forming apparatus. The exterior cover has an upper portion and a side portion. The upper portion extends in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus, which is perpendicular to a direction in which the optional device and the image forming apparatus face each other; the upper portion covers an upper end portion of the coupling mechanism in the space. The side portion covers a front end portion or a back end portion of the coupling mechanism. The external cover is composed of a combination of multiple, identically shaped cover members.

Abstract: The external cover is a cover to cover a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism is disposed in a space between an image forming apparatus and an optional device that is disposed on a side of the image forming apparats and couples the optical device with the image forming apparatus. The exterior cover has an upper portion and a side portion. The upper portion extends in a front-back direction of the image forming apparatus, which is perpendicular to a direction in which the optional device and the image forming apparatus face each other; the upper portion covers an upper end portion of the coupling mechanism in the space. The side portion covers a front end portion or a back end portion of the coupling mechanism. The external cover is composed of a combination of multiple, identically shaped cover members.

Abstract: The conveyance guide unit is provided with a guide member, a supporting frame, and an external cover. The guide member guides a sheet, which is discharged from a sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus or from a sheet discharge port of a relay conveyance device installed in the image forming apparatus, to the sheet carrying-in port of a post-processing device. The supporting frame supports the guide member. The external cover is fixed to the supporting frame; the external cover covers an upper part of the guide member and side parts of the guide member in a traverse direction of a sheet conveyance path, which is perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction. The external cover has an upper surface serving as an extension part of a discharge tray part of the post-processing device, the extension part being extended downstream, in a sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying path, conveying members, a switching unit, a receiving unit, and a control unit. The sheet conveying path includes a first conveying path and a second conveying path having a conveying load for a sheet larger than the first conveying path. The switching unit selectively switches the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path. The control unit determines whether the sheets are first sheets or second sheets thicker than the first sheets, based on sheet thickness information received by the receiving unit. If the sheets are the first sheets, the switching unit switches the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path alternately. If the sheets are the second sheets, the switching unit switches to fix the sheet conveying path to the first conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet conveyor unit is connected to downstream side of an upstream side unit in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet conveyor unit includes a convey guide for receiving a sheet discharged from outlet of the upstream side unit. The convey guide is constituted of a pair of guide members disposed to face each other with a predetermined space therebetween. The guide members have the same shape and include base parts having guide surfaces that form a sheet conveying path when combined to face each other, and inclined parts bent to directions apart from the guide surfaces from one end of the base parts in the sheet conveying direction so as to form a receiving port. The convey guide is attached selectively to one of positions different in at least one of a height direction and the sheet conveying direction with respect to an apparatus main body.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device 10 includes a first conveyance path 12a having a linear portion 121 along which a sheet is to be linearly conveyed, a second conveyance path 12b branched from the linear portion 121 and a branch member 30 which is to be set selectively to a first position for guiding the sheet to a downstream side of the first conveyance path 12a or a second position for guiding the sheet to the second conveyance path 12b. The branch member 30 is made up of a resinous guide body 31 having a first guide surface 31a for guiding the sheet to a downstream side of the first conveyance path 12a, and a metallic guide plate 35. A second guide surface 35a for guiding the sheet to the second conveyance path 12b is formed of the resinous guide body 31 and the metallic guide plate 35.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet inlet port, an inlet guide, and a guide switching mechanism. The inlet guide has an upper guide and a lower guide below the upper guide. The guide switching mechanism switches a position of the inlet guide between a conveyance position at which the upper guide and the lower guide face each other with a first distance and a separation position at which the upper guide and the lower guide are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. To connect the sheet conveyance unit to the sheet discharge unit, the inlet guide is disposed to the separation position before the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide, and is disposed to the conveyance position after the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide.

Abstract: A relay conveyance device includes a discharge unit which discharges a sheet toward a carry-in port, a decurling unit attached to the discharge unit, and a discharge adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting a height direction inclination of the discharge unit. The discharge adjustment mechanism is set to be capable of adjusting an inclination of the discharge unit such that the decurling unit maintains a predetermined reference position even when the discharge unit is supported by any of a plurality of unit supporting portions set according to a height position of the carry-in port.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a sheet conveying path, conveying members, a switching unit, a receiving unit, and a control unit. The sheet conveying path includes a first conveying path and a second conveying path having a conveying load for a sheet larger than the first conveying path. The switching unit selectively switches the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path. The control unit determines whether the sheets are first sheets or second sheets thicker than the first sheets, based on sheet thickness information received by the receiving unit. If the sheets are the first sheets, the switching unit switches the sheet conveying path between the first conveying path and the second conveying path alternately. If the sheets are the second sheets, the switching unit switches to fix the sheet conveying path to the first conveying path.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a correcting unit. The correcting unit corrects displacement of a sheet conveyed from an upstream side conveying path, and conveys the sheet to a downstream side conveying path. The correcting unit includes a first conveying part conveying the sheet, a first moving part moving a first frame supporting the first conveying part and a detecting part detecting a side end edge of the sheet at a reference position without displacement. The first conveying part stops conveyance of the sheet when a leading end of the sheet reaches the detecting part. While the driving of the first conveying part is stopped, the first moving part moves the first frame to move the sheet, and stops movement of the first frame, when detection result of the detecting part is changed, to position the side end edge to the reference position to correct displacement of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance device 10 includes a first conveyance path 12a having a linear portion 121 along which a sheet is to be linearly conveyed, a second conveyance path 12b branched from the linear portion 121 and a branch member 30 which is to be set selectively to a first position for guiding the sheet to a downstream side of the first conveyance path 12a or a second position for guiding the sheet to the second conveyance path 12b. The branch member 30 is made up of a resinous guide body 31 having a first guide surface 31a for guiding the sheet to a downstream side of the first conveyance path 12a, and a metallic guide plate 35. A second guide surface 35a for guiding the sheet to the second conveyance path 12b is formed of the resinous guide body 31 and the metallic guide plate 35.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance unit includes a sheet inlet port, an inlet guide, and a guide switching mechanism. The inlet guide has an upper guide and a lower guide below the upper guide. The guide switching mechanism switches a position of the inlet guide between a conveyance position at which the upper guide and the lower guide face each other with a first distance and a separation position at which the upper guide and the lower guide are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance. To connect the sheet conveyance unit to the sheet discharge unit, the inlet guide is disposed to the separation position before the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide, and is disposed to the conveyance position after the discharge guide is inserted between the upper guide and the lower guide.