JP4059243B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a paper feed tray for feeding recording paper at a predetermined backward tilt angle with respect to a vertical direction.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus having an inclined sheet feeding tray that holds a recording sheet in an upright posture at a predetermined backward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction, various types such as postcards and envelopes are used in addition to plain paper. In order to enable smooth feeding to the image forming unit inside the apparatus without causing a paper feed failure such as a paper jam even when the recording paper is loaded, various measures have been taken. For example, in Patent Document 1, the recording paper support member that supports the recording paper is rotated while contacting the front end of the recording paper loaded in the paper feed tray, and the frictional force between the recording paper and the recording paper support member is measured. An image forming apparatus that can be adjusted is shown. Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus that separates recording sheets one by one with a separation claw.
JP 2000-86000 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-47971

  In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rotation angle of the recording paper support member is adjusted by the user operating the lever member. However, since the user cannot know the optimum frictional force between the recording paper and the recording paper support member unless based on experience, when printing on special paper different from normal, recording is performed from the thickness and the like. It is necessary to estimate and adjust the optimum rotation angle of the paper support member. However, when the estimation of the rotation angle is not appropriate, the frictional force becomes too large, and the recording paper is poorly fed, or the frictional force becomes too small. It may not be supported at the position. Also, each time a different type of recording paper is loaded in the paper feed tray, the lever member must be operated, which is inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and even when a recording paper of a different width and thickness from a plain paper such as a postcard or an envelope is loaded in a paper feed tray, the user can An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of supporting a front end of a loaded recording sheet at an appropriate angle without forcing extra operations and preventing a paper feed failure.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided at a predetermined position facing the paper feed tray, and a paper feed tray for holding the recording paper in an upright posture at a predetermined backward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction. And a recording paper conveying means including a paper feeding roller for feeding the recording paper held by the paper feeding roller to the inside of the apparatus main body, and an image forming means for forming an image on the recording paper conveyed by the recording paper conveying means And a recording paper support member for supporting the recording paper in contact with the front end of the recording paper held in the paper supply tray. The paper supply tray has a recording paper back plate in contact with the back surface of the recording paper, and the back of the recording paper. A recording paper guide member provided on the face plate so as to be slidable in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper, and in contact with the edge in the width direction of the recording paper and the back surface in the vicinity thereof to guide the recording paper in the width direction. In an image forming apparatus having The back plate has a slit provided in the width direction of the recording paper, and the recording paper guide member has a fitting convex portion that is engaged with the slit of the recording paper back plate, and the recording paper is more than the fitting convex portion. And a back plate engaging portion that is engaged with the back side plate of the recording paper on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the recording paper guide member is moved to the side of the paper feeding roller at the edge of the slit on the paper feeding roller side A first inclined portion in which the fitting convex portion ascends from the rear surface side to the front surface side of the recording paper rear plate is provided, and the edge of the fitting convex portion on the paper feed roller side is substantially the same as the first inclined portion. A second inclined portion facing in parallel is provided, and the recording paper guide member is further fed to a predetermined position over the first inclined portion after the second inclined portion abuts on the first inclined portion. When the second inclined portion has moved over the first inclined portion, the recording paper guide member is movable to the paper roller side. The fitting convex portion contacts the recording paper back plate, and the vicinity of the contact portion is separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension of the fitting convex portion, so that the recording paper guide member is engaged with the back plate. The back of the recording paper guide plate is rotated more than the state where the fitting convex portion is engaged with the slit. The contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member when the recording paper is sent becomes shallow, the friction between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper is reduced, and the recording paper is sent out smoothly. It is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed tray that holds the recording paper in an upright posture at a predetermined rearward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction, and is provided at a predetermined position facing the paper feed tray. Recording paper conveying means including a paper feed roller for sending the held recording paper to the inside of the apparatus main body, image forming means for forming an image on the recording paper conveyed by the recording paper conveying means, and holding in the paper feeding tray A recording paper support member for supporting the recording paper in contact with the front end of the recording paper, and a paper feed tray for contacting the back surface of the recording paper, and for conveying the recording paper on the recording paper back plate An image forming apparatus having a recording paper guide member provided so as to be slidable in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the direction and guiding the recording paper in the width direction by contacting the edge in the width direction of the recording paper and the back surface in the vicinity thereof The recording paper back plate is the width of the recording paper. The recording paper guide member includes a fitting convex portion engaged with the slit of the recording paper rear plate, and a recording paper rear plate upstream of the fitting convex portion in the recording paper conveyance direction. A rear plate engaging portion that is engaged with the slit, and after the fitting convex portion comes into contact with the edge of the slit on the paper feed roller side, further to the predetermined position over the edge on the paper feed roller side When the fitting protrusion is movable, the recording paper guide member comes into contact with the recording paper back plate at the fitting protrusion when the fitting protrusion passes over the edge on the paper feed roller side, and the vicinity of the contact portion is the fitting protrusion. Is separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension of the recording paper, whereby the backward inclination angle of the recording paper guide member becomes larger than the state in which the fitting convex portion is engaged with the slit, and the recording paper is conveyed. Of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member when the recording paper is delivered by means Contact angle end becomes shallow, the reduced friction between the front end of the recording sheet and the recording sheet supporting member, in which as the recording sheet is smoothly delivered.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the recording paper guide member is moved toward the paper feed roller until the second inclined portion of the recording paper guide member passes over the first inclined portion, the recording paper guide member is fitted. Since the vicinity of the convex portion is separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension of the fitting convex portion, the recording paper guide member rotates to the front side of the recording paper back plate with the back plate engaging portion as a fulcrum. In addition, the rearward tilt angle of the recording paper guide member increases. As a result, the recording paper is curved from the contact portion with the paper feed roller to the front end, the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member becomes shallow, and the contact portion between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper The friction at is reduced. In particular, postcards and envelopes that are relatively thick and have high bending rigidity generally have a small width. Accordingly, the user simply slides the recording paper guide member according to the width dimension of the recording paper without worrying about the thickness of the recording paper, and the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member in conjunction with the slide Is optimized in accordance with the thickness of the recording paper, so that the recording paper is smoothly fed out, and poor paper feeding can be prevented.

  Further, when the recording paper is an envelope, depending on the type, the number of sheets to be overlapped is different at both the left and right ends in the width direction, and accordingly the thickness and bending rigidity at both ends are different. When an image is formed on such a special envelope, the recording is performed by placing the envelope on the paper feed tray so that the edge of the thicker and higher bending rigidity is guided by the recording paper guide member. It is possible to reduce the catch between the front end of the paper and the recording paper support member, and it is possible to prevent a paper feed failure.

  Further, as described above, since friction at the contact portion between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper is reduced, the load on the paper feed motor for driving the paper feed roller to rotate is reduced. As a result, it is possible to use a motor having a lower output than the conventional one as a paper feeding motor, and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Further, a first inclined portion is provided at an edge of the slit formed on the recording paper back plate on the paper feed roller side, and an end of the fitting convex portion formed on the recording paper guide member on the paper feed roller side. Since the second inclined portion facing the first inclined portion substantially parallel to the first inclined portion is provided at the edge, the fitting convex portion can easily ride on the recording paper back plate, and the recording paper guide member moves. As a result, the operability can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the recording paper guide member is moved to the paper feed roller side until the fitting convex portion of the recording paper guide member passes over the edge of the slit, the fitting convex portion of the recording paper guide member Is separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension of the fitting convex portion, so that the recording paper guide member rotates to the front side of the recording paper back plate and the recording paper guide member tilts backward. Becomes larger. As a result, the recording paper is curved from the contact portion with the paper feed roller to the front end, the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member becomes shallow, and the contact portion between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper The friction at is reduced. In particular, postcards and envelopes that are relatively thick and have high bending rigidity generally have a small width. Accordingly, the user simply slides the recording paper guide member according to the width dimension of the recording paper without worrying about the thickness of the recording paper, and the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member in conjunction with the slide Is optimized in accordance with the thickness of the recording paper, so that the recording paper is smoothly fed out, and poor paper feeding can be prevented.

  Further, when the recording paper is an envelope, depending on the type, the number of sheets to be overlapped is different at both the left and right ends in the width direction, and accordingly the thickness and bending rigidity at both ends are different. When an image is formed on such a special envelope, the recording is performed by placing the envelope on the paper feed tray so that the edge of the thicker and higher bending rigidity is guided by the recording paper guide member. It is possible to reduce the catch between the front end of the paper and the recording paper support member, and it is possible to prevent a paper feed failure.

  Further, as described above, since friction at the contact portion between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper is reduced, the load on the paper feed motor for driving the paper feed roller to rotate is reduced. As a result, it is possible to use a motor having a lower output than the conventional one as a paper feeding motor, and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  An inkjet printer having a paper feed mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer. An ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 1 includes a recording paper transport mechanism 4 that receives the output of the feed motor 2 and transports the recording paper P placed on the paper feed tray 3 into the main body of the printer 1, and a feed motor. 2, a motor control circuit 5 that performs PWM control of rotation, an ink cartridge (image forming means) 7 that has a head 6 that ejects ink onto the fed recording paper P, and a carriage 8 that removably accommodates the ink cartridge 7. Composed of etc. The carriage 8 is supported by a shaft 9 so as to be slidable in a scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P, and is driven to slide by a head driving motor 10. The output of the head drive motor 10 is transmitted to the carriage 8 via the belt 11. Each of the above components is housed in the cabinet 12 of the printer 1.

  The paper feed tray 3 is provided at the rear part of the printer 1 and holds the recording paper P in a standing posture with a predetermined rearward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction. The recording paper transport mechanism 4 sends the recording paper P placed on the paper feed tray 3 to the head 6 side, and is fed by the paper feed roller 21 and the recording on which an image is formed by the head 6. A paper discharge roller 22 for discharging the paper P and a feed motor 2 that drives the paper supply roller 21 and the paper discharge roller 22 via a belt 23 and a gear 24 are configured. The paper feed roller 21 is cantilevered by a support arm 39 (see FIG. 2), and is provided to face the paper feed tray 3 in the lower front portion of the paper feed tray 3. The support arm 39 rotates according to the amount of the recording paper P loaded, and the contact state between the recording paper P and the paper feed roller 21 is maintained. A recording paper support member 25 that supports the recording paper P in contact with the front end of the recording paper P held on the paper feeding tray 3 is provided at the lower end of the paper feeding tray 3.

  The motor control circuit 5 controls the feed motor 2 by PWM control. By increasing the drive voltage of the feed motor 2, the PWM duty increases and the rotation speed of the feed motor 2 increases. Conversely, by lowering the drive voltage of the feed motor 2, the PWM duty is reduced and the rotation speed of the feed motor 2 is lowered.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the paper feed tray 3 and its periphery. The paper feed tray 3 slides in the width direction (arrow A direction) of the recording paper P substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P on the recording paper rear plate 31 and the recording paper rear plate 31 that contacts the rear surface of the recording paper P. The recording paper guide member 32 is provided in a possible manner. The recording paper guide member 32 abuts the edge in the width direction of the recording paper P and the back surface in the vicinity thereof to guide the recording paper P in the width direction. In the drawing, the slidable range of the recording paper guide member 32 is indicated by positions POS1 to POS2 on the inner surface of the edge contact portion 35 (see FIG. 3) (the surface that contacts the edge of the recording paper P). When an image is formed on a special recording paper P having a narrow width such as an envelope, the recording paper guide member 32 is used while being slid to a position near the POS 2.

  3 shows the recording paper back plate 31 and the recording paper guide member 32, and FIG. 4 shows the recording paper guide member 32 viewed from the rear side. The recording paper back plate 31 has a slit 34 provided in the width direction of the recording paper P. The recording paper guide member 32 includes an edge contact portion 35 that contacts the edge of the recording paper P, and a recording paper back contact portion 36 that is substantially orthogonal to the edge contact portion 35 and contacts the back surface of the recording paper P. And a fitting convex portion 37 fitted into the slit 34 of the recording paper back plate 31, and a back plate mechanism engaged with the recording paper back plate 31 upstream of the fitting convex portion 37 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P. And a joint portion 38. The fitting convex portion 37 and the back plate engaging portion 38 are provided on the rear side of the recording paper back contact portion 36. The back plate engaging portion 38 extends so that the end edge of the recording paper back surface contact portion 36 is folded back to the rear surface side, and is formed to face the recording paper back surface contact portion 36 substantially in parallel. . The recording paper guide member 32 is engaged with the recording paper back plate 31 so as to be rotatable to the front side of the recording paper back plate 31 with the back plate engaging portion 38 as a fulcrum.

  At the edge of the slit 34 on the paper feed roller 21 side, when the recording paper guide member 32 is moved to the paper feed roller 21 side, a fitting convex portion 37 extends from the rear side to the front side of the recording paper rear plate 31. A first inclined portion 41 that climbs up is provided. Further, a second inclined portion 42 that faces the first inclined portion 41 substantially parallel to the end edge of the fitting convex portion 37 on the paper feed roller 21 side is provided. When the recording paper guide member 32 is slid to the position indicated by POS2 in FIG. 2, the second inclined portion 42 abuts on the first inclined portion 41 and then gets over the first inclined portion 41, and the recording paper guide. The member 32 comes into contact with the recording paper rear plate 31 at the top surface 43 of the fitting convex portion 37.

  FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the paper feed tray 3 and its periphery when the recording paper guide member is set at a position near the POS 1 in FIG. In this state, the fitting convex portion 37 of the recording paper guide member 32 is fitted into the slit 34, and the back surface of the recording paper guide member 32 is in contact with the front surface of the recording paper back plate 31. At this time, the rearward tilt angle of the front end of the recording paper P, that is, the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper P with respect to the upper surface of the recording paper support member 25 is represented by θ1.

  FIG. 6 shows a change in the positional relationship of the recording paper guide member 32 with respect to the recording paper back plate 31 when the recording paper guide member 32 is moved to the paper feed roller 21 side. The recording paper guide member 32 moves toward the paper feed roller 21 from the state in which the top surface 43 of the fitting convex portion 37 of the recording paper guide member 32 is fitted in the slit 34 (the state indicated by the one-dot chain line in the figure). Then, first, the second inclined portion 42 comes into contact with the first inclined portion 41. When the recording paper guide member 32 is further moved toward the paper feed roller 21, the second inclined portion 42 gets over the first inclined portion 41, and the recording paper guide member 32 is moved at the fitting convex portion 37. It comes into contact with the recording paper back plate 31. At this time, the vicinity of the fitting convex portion 37 of the recording paper guide member 32 is separated forward from the recording paper rear plate 31 by a distance corresponding to the height dimension H of the fitting convex portion 37.

  FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the paper feed tray 3 and its periphery when the recording paper guide member 32 is moved to the position indicated by POS2 in FIG. When the recording paper guide member 32 is moved to POS2, the vicinity of the fitting convex portion 37 of the recording paper guide member 32 is a distance corresponding to the height dimension H of the fitting convex portion 37 as shown in FIG. As a result, the recording paper guide member 32 is rotated to the front side of the recording paper back plate 31 with the back plate engaging portion 38 as a fulcrum. At this time, the contact angle θ2 of the front end of the recording paper P is larger than the contact angle θ1 in a state where the fitting convex portion 37 is engaged with the slit 34 described above. As a result, the rearward tilt angle of the recording paper guide member 32 increases, the recording paper P curves from the contact portion with the paper feed roller 21 to the front end, and the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper P with respect to the recording paper support member 25. As a result, the friction between the recording paper support member 25 and the front edge of the recording paper P is reduced.

  Normally, different types of recording paper P are widely used for each destination of the printer 1. However, postcards and envelopes that are relatively thick and have high bending rigidity generally have a small width. Accordingly, by optimizing the width dimension of the slit 34 and the arrangement position and height dimension of the fitting convex portion 37 in accordance with the recording paper P that is widely used for each destination, the user can adjust the recording paper P. By simply sliding the recording paper guide member 32 in accordance with the width dimension, the recording paper guide member 32 rotates in conjunction with it, and the abutting angle of the front end of the recording paper P with respect to the recording paper support member 25 is the same as that of the recording paper P. It will be optimized according to the thickness.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the recording paper guide member 32 is on the side of the paper feed roller 21 until the second inclined portion 42 of the recording paper guide member 32 gets over the first inclined portion 41. Is moved away from the recording paper back plate 31 by a distance corresponding to the height dimension H of the fitting convex portion 37, so that the recording paper guide member 32 is moved away from the recording paper rear plate 31. Is rotated to the front side of the recording paper back plate 31 with the back plate engaging portion 38 as a fulcrum, and the backward tilt angle of the recording paper guide member 32 is increased. As a result, the rearward tilt angle of the front end of the recording paper P is increased, that is, the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper P with respect to the recording paper support member 25 becomes shallow, and the contact between the recording paper support member 25 and the front end of the recording paper P is reduced. Friction at the contact is reduced. In particular, postcards and envelopes that are relatively thick and have high bending rigidity generally have a small width. Therefore, the user simply slides the recording paper guide member 32 in accordance with the width dimension of the recording paper P without worrying about the thickness of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P with respect to the recording paper support member 25 is interlocked therewith. The contact angle of the front end is optimized according to the thickness of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P can be smoothly fed out, thereby preventing a paper feed failure.

  Further, when the recording paper P is an envelope, depending on the type, the number of overlapping sheets is different at the left and right ends in the width direction, and accordingly, the thickness and bending rigidity at both ends are different. When forming an image on such a special envelope, the envelope is placed on the paper feed tray 3 so that the edge of the thicker and higher bending rigidity is guided by the recording paper guide member 32. Further, it is possible to reduce the catch between the front end of the recording paper P and the recording paper support member 25, and it is possible to prevent poor paper feeding.

  Further, as described above, since the friction at the contact portion between the recording paper support member 25 and the front end of the recording paper P is reduced, the load on the feed motor 2 for driving the paper feed roller 21 to rotate is reduced. As a result, a motor having a lower output than the conventional motor can be used as the feed motor 2, and the cost of the printer 1 can be reduced. Further, since the first inclined portion 41 is provided in the slit 34 of the recording paper back plate 31 and the second inclined portion 42 is provided at the end edge of the fitting convex portion 37, the fitting convex portion 37. However, the recording paper guide member 32 can be moved smoothly and the operability can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in FIG. 2, the position of the recording paper guide member 32 is adjusted according to the width of the recording paper P by sliding the recording paper guide member 32 disposed on the left side. An equivalent recording paper guide member 32 may be provided on the right side of the paper supply roller 21 so that these can be slid in conjunction with each other. Further, the shape of the edge of the slit 34 and the fitting convex portion 37 on the side of the paper feed roller 21 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as long as the fitting convex portion 37 can easily get over the edge of the slit 34. For example, it may be formed in a spherical shape.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printer configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a paper feed tray and its surroundings of the printer. The perspective view which shows the recording paper back board and recording paper guide member of the paper feed tray. The perspective view which looked at the recording paper guide member from the back side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a paper feed tray when a recording paper guide member is set at a position near POS1 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a change in the positional relationship of the recording paper guide member with respect to the recording paper back plate when the recording paper guide member is moved to the paper feed roller side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of a paper feed tray when a recording paper guide member is moved to a position indicated by POS2 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 3 Paper feed tray 4 Recording paper conveyance mechanism 7 Ink cartridge (image formation means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Paper feed roller 25 Recording paper support member 31 Recording paper back plate 32 Recording paper guide member 34 Slit 37 Fitting convex part 38 Back board engaging part 41 1st inclination part 42 2nd inclination part

Claims (2)

A paper feed tray that holds the recording paper in an upright posture at a predetermined backward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction, and a recording paper that is provided at a predetermined position facing the paper feed tray and is held by the paper feed roller A recording paper transport unit including a paper feed roller that is fed into the main body; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper transported by the recording paper transport unit; and a front end of the recording paper held in the paper feed tray A recording paper support member that contacts the recording paper and supports the recording paper,
The paper feed tray is
A recording paper back plate that contacts the back of the recording paper;
Recording is provided on the recording paper back plate so as to be slidable in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction, and guides the recording paper in the width direction by contacting the edge of the recording paper in the width direction and the back surface in the vicinity thereof. In an image forming apparatus having a paper guide member,
The recording paper back plate has a slit provided in the width direction of the recording paper,
The recording paper guide member is
There is a fitting convex portion engaged with the slit of the recording paper back plate, and a back plate engaging portion engaged with the recording paper back plate on the upstream side of the fitting convex portion in the recording paper transport direction. And
At the edge of the slit on the paper feed roller side, when the recording paper guide member is moved to the paper feed roller side, the fitting convex part ascends from the rear side to the front side of the recording paper back plate. A first inclined portion is provided;
A second inclined portion facing the first inclined portion substantially parallel to the first inclined portion is provided at an edge of the fitting convex portion on the paper feed roller side,
The recording paper guide member is
After the second inclined portion abuts on the first inclined portion, the second inclined portion can be further moved to the paper feed roller side to a predetermined position over the first inclined portion,
When the second inclined portion gets over the first inclined portion, the recording paper guide member comes into contact with the recording paper rear plate at the fitting convex portion, and the vicinity of the contacting portion is near the fitting convex portion. Separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension,
As a result, the recording paper guide member rotates to the front side of the recording paper back plate with the back plate engaging portion as a fulcrum, and the recording paper is more than in the state where the fitting convex portion is engaged with the slit. The rearward tilt angle of the guide member increases, and the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the recording paper support member when the recording paper is sent out by the recording paper transport means becomes shallow, and the front end of the recording paper support member and the recording paper And an image forming apparatus characterized in that the recording paper is smoothly fed out. A paper feed tray that holds the recording paper in an upright posture at a predetermined backward tilt angle with respect to the vertical direction, and a recording paper that is provided at a predetermined position facing the paper feed tray and is held by the paper feed roller A recording paper transport unit including a paper feed roller that is fed into the main body; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper transported by the recording paper transport unit; and a front end of the recording paper held in the paper feed tray A recording paper support member that contacts the recording paper and supports the recording paper,
The paper feed tray is
A recording paper back plate that contacts the back of the recording paper;
Recording is provided on the recording paper back plate so as to be slidable in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction, and guides the recording paper in the width direction by contacting the edge of the recording paper in the width direction and the back surface in the vicinity thereof. In an image forming apparatus having a paper guide member,
The recording paper back plate has a slit provided in the width direction of the recording paper,
The recording paper guide member is
There is a fitting convex portion engaged with the slit of the recording paper back plate, and a back plate engaging portion engaged with the recording paper back plate on the upstream side of the fitting convex portion in the recording paper transport direction. And
After the fitting convex part abuts on the edge of the slit on the paper feed roller side, it can further move to the paper feed roller side to a predetermined position over the edge,
The recording paper guide member contacts the recording paper back plate at the fitting convex portion when the fitting convex portion passes over the edge on the paper feed roller side, and the vicinity of the contact portion is the fitting convex portion. Is separated from the recording paper back plate by a distance corresponding to the height dimension of
Thereby, the backward inclination angle of the recording paper guide member becomes larger than the state in which the fitting convex portion is engaged with the slit, and the recording paper support when the recording paper is sent out by the recording paper conveying means An image forming apparatus, wherein the contact angle of the front end of the recording paper with respect to the member becomes shallow, friction between the recording paper support member and the front end of the recording paper is reduced, and the recording paper is smoothly fed out.

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