JP7269018B2 - Sheet conveying device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device having a door, which is used for handling sheet jams in a printer or the like, maintenance, and the like, and an image forming apparatus having the sheet conveying device.

Conventionally, sheet conveying devices for conveying sheets to copiers, printers, etc. are provided with a door (hereinafter referred to as a jam handling door) for opening the sheet conveying unit for handling sheet jams (hereinafter referred to as jams) and maintenance. . For the door that opens from the upper side on the side of the main unit, only the vicinity of the center of rotation is opened in order to improve ease of jam processing and maintenance when a jam occurs at the lower position near the center of rotation of the door. A configuration with a second door that opens has been proposed. When the second door is opened, a part of the guide forming the sheet conveying path swings to open the jammed conveying path so that the jammed sheet can be easily removed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-13299

In the configuration in which the swing guide swings to open the transport path when the door is opened as described above, the swing guide swings when the door is closed to form the transport path. It is necessary to At this time, it is necessary that the rocking guide forming a part of the sheet guide of the conveying path is positioned with the opposing guide member so that the gap between the sheet guides (hereinafter referred to as the guide gap) is maintained with high accuracy.

Therefore, conventionally, the swing guide is biased against the opposing guide member, and the positioning portion of the swing guide abuts against a part of the guide member to position the swing guide with respect to the opposing guide member. is kept constant.

However, for example, in the case of a sheet conveying apparatus having a downstream conveying path where the first conveying path and the second conveying path merge and continue downstream, part of the sheet guides of both the first conveying path and the second conveying path are used. A configuration is conceivable in which a rocking guide is provided and the rocking guide is rocked to open the first conveying path and the second conveying path at the same time. When a plurality of sheet conveying paths are provided in this way, if the rocking guide is positioned with respect to the sheet guide of one conveying path, the guide gap of the positioned conveying path is ensured, but the other conveying path does not. A guide gap in the road is not guaranteed.

In particular, it is desirable to narrow the guide gap in the transport path for transporting thin paper, but when forming this with a swing guide, the guide gap must be managed with high precision for both the first transport path and the second transport path. There is a need.

Further, in a configuration in which a plurality of sheet conveying paths merge to convey a sheet to a downstream conveying path, it is often the case that the sheet is bent and conveyed while changing the conveying direction. In the case of such a curved transport path, it is desirable to increase the radius of curvature of the transport path, that is, to reduce the curvature in order to transport thick paper. However, if the guide gap at the confluence of a plurality of conveyance paths with small curvatures is made as narrow as possible, the swing guide will not operate properly when the jam clearance door is opened and closed unless the guide gap between the swing guide and both conveyance paths is accurately formed. The leading edge of the confluence portion of the paper bites into the conveying path, and as a result, there is a possibility that the jam handling door cannot be opened and closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of opening a confluence portion of a plurality of conveying portions by opening an opening/closing member, and capable of accurately managing a conveying guide gap. An apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided.

A representative configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a first conveying section that forms a first sheet conveying path through which a sheet passes and guides the conveyed sheet, and the first sheet conveying path. forming a different second sheet transport path, forming a second transport section for guiding the transported sheet, and forming a confluence transport path after the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path join, a closed position forming the first sheet conveying path together with the first conveying section and forming the second sheet conveying path together with the second conveying section; an opening / closing member movable to an open position for opening the sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path; a swinging conveying portion that forms a first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path and guides the conveyed sheet, wherein the swinging conveying portion is configured to move the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path ; a merging portion located at a merging position of the paths , and when the rocking conveying portion swings due to opening and closing of the opening/closing member, the merging portion is substantially in the sheet conveying direction of the merged conveying path of the downstream conveying portion; The first conveying portion has a guide portion that guides the rocking conveying portion so as to move in parallel, and the first conveying portion and the second conveying portion guide the sheet so that the sheet is conveyed while being curved. and the radius of curvature of the first conveying portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second conveying portion .

According to the present invention, in the sheet conveying device capable of opening the confluence of the first conveying section and the second conveying section by opening the opening/closing member, the confluence of the rocking conveying sections is opened according to the opening/closing of the opening/closing member. By moving in the sheet conveying direction of the downstream conveying section, the conveying guide gaps of the first conveying section and the second conveying section can be accurately managed.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus with a jam clearance door opened; A diagram showing the detailed configuration of the jam processing door The figure which shows the structure of the swing guide of a jam disposal door. The figure which shows the structure of the swing guide of a jam disposal door. Diagram showing the operation of the swing guide when opening and closing the jam disposal door Diagram showing the operation of the swing guide when opening and closing the jam disposal door Diagram showing the operation of the swing guide when opening and closing the jam disposal door Diagram showing the operation of the swing guide when opening and closing the jam disposal door A diagram showing another example of the oscillating configuration of the oscillating guide.

Next, the sheet conveying device according to the present invention will be described by exemplifying an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet conveying device.

[First Embodiment]
<Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a full-color laser beam printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The overall configuration of the printer will be described together with sheet conveying and image forming operations. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 201 has an image forming section 201B for forming an image on a sheet in an image forming apparatus main body 201A, and an image reading device 202 is arranged above the image forming apparatus main body 201A. A discharge space S for sheet discharge is formed between the image reading device 202 and the image forming apparatus main body 201A.

An upper sheet feeding unit 230 and a lower sheet feeding unit 231, which are sheet storage means for storing sheets P, are arranged in the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 201A. An external sheet feeding section 300 is detachably attached to the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 201A.

The upper sheet feeding section 230, the lower sheet feeding section 231, and the external sheet feeding section 300 each include a pickup roller 240 as a sheet feeding means and a feed for separating the sheet P fed from the pickup roller 240. A separation section including a roller 241 and a retard roller 242 separates and feeds sheets stored in a sheet cassette or an external deck one by one and conveys them to an upper image forming section 201B.

The image forming unit 201B is of a 4-drum full-color system, and includes a laser scanner 210 and four units for forming yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images. of process cartridges 211 are provided. In the image forming section 201B, a toner image formed by electrophotography is primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 216 to form a color image, and the color image is secondarily transferred onto a sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer section. do.

The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing section 220 and heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the sheet.

<Sheet guide mechanism>
Next, a sheet guide mechanism for guiding the sheet fed from the sheet feeding portion will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet fed from a lower sheet feeding section 231 is conveyed by a conveying roller pair 12 (12A, 12B) while being guided by a vertical path 130 which is a first conveying section. It is conveyed to the confluence conveying path 150, which is a downstream conveying section in the downstream direction. On the other hand, the sheet fed from the external sheet feeding section 300 is conveyed while being guided by the conveying roller pair 13 to the horizontal path 140 which is the second conveying section, and is conveyed to the confluence conveying path 150 downstream thereof. Then, the sheet conveyed to the confluence conveying path 150 where the sheet conveying paths of the vertical path 130 and the lateral path 140 join is guided by the confluence conveying path 150 and conveyed upward by the pair of conveying rollers 11 . Note that the vertical path 130 and the horizontal path 140 of the present embodiment bend and convey the sheet and guide it to the confluence conveying path 150 . Therefore, the guide member is formed so that the sheet conveying path is curved.

Also, the sheet fed from the upper sheet feeding portion 230 is conveyed downstream by the conveying roller pair 11 .

When the conveyed sheet P is jammed while the sheet P is being conveyed from the lower sheet feeding section 231, the image forming apparatus is located near the lower sheet feeding section 231 in order to clear the jam of the sheet P. A jam disposal door 100, which is an opening/closing member, is provided on the side surface of the main body 201A. The jam processing door 100 is provided with a handle 101, and when a sheet jams in the lower sheet feeding portion 231, the user holds the handle 101 and rotates the door 100 to open it.

In this embodiment, as described above, the image forming apparatus 201 is equipped with the external sheet feeding unit 300 to enable feeding of a large amount of sheets. Since the outboard sheet feeding section 300 is mounted so as to abut on the jam handling door 100 (see FIG. 1), when the jam handling door 100 is opened, the outboard sheet is fed as shown in FIG. The feeding unit 300 is separated from the image forming apparatus main body 201A.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram when the jam processing door 100 is opened up to the angle α. The open space for clearing the jam is J when the angle is α, and H is the handle height for the user to grasp the handle 101 of the jam clearing door 100 .

The external sheet feeding unit 300 separated from the image forming apparatus 201 is attached to the image forming apparatus 201 by moving in the direction of arrow D toward the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 201A. In the external sheet feeding portion 300, a contact portion 302 having a shape that is foolproof with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 201A is formed in a region of height H. As shown in FIG. Therefore, when the jam clearing door 100 is open at the angle α, the abutting portion 302 of the outboard sheet feeding portion 300 contacts and presses the abutting portion 114 formed on the jam clearing door 100, and the jam clearing door 100 is pressed. When the outboard sheet feeding unit 300 is moved in the direction of arrow D, the outboard sheet feeding unit 300 is mounted while closing the jam disposal door 100 .

Further, the jam processing door 100 is attached with a swinging guide 120 which is a swinging conveying portion. The rocking guide 120 forms part of a guide member that forms the conveying paths of the vertical path 130 and the horizontal path 140. When the jam handling door 100 is opened, the rocking guide 120 moves from the image forming apparatus main body 201A. away, the vertical path 130 and the horizontal path 140 are opened. As a result, when a jam occurs in the vertical path 130 or the horizontal path 140, the jammed sheet can be easily removed.

Here, the jam processing door 100 and the rocking guide 120 attached thereto will be specifically described. 3 to 5 are diagrams showing the detailed configuration of the jam disposal door 100. FIG. 3(a) is an overall perspective view of the jam disposal door 100, and FIG. 3(b) is a front view. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing swing guides attached to the jam handling door.

The jam disposal door 100 has a jam disposal door cover 102 on the outside, a jam disposal guide 111 on the inside, and a rocking guide 120 on the top. A rotation center shaft 102C is provided in the jam processing door cover 102, and is rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and a stopper portion 110C provided on the regulating member 110 and a stopper provided on the image forming apparatus main body. 232 abuts against each other to regulate the opening angle. Above the jam handling door cover 102, there are a horizontal path lower guide 115 that forms part of the horizontal path 140 and a jam handling guide 111 that forms part of the vertical path 130. The respective guides are downstream in the sheet conveying direction. is provided with a swing guide 120 rotatably supported around a central axis 120A.

The rocking guide 120 serves as a sheet guide portion that guides the sheet conveyed along the vertical path 130 and the horizontal path 140 when the jam processing door 100 is closed. That is, the swing guide 120 is formed with a swing top guide 120B forming part of the horizontal path 140 and a swing bottom guide 120C forming part of the vertical path 130. A swinging guide confluence portion 120D is formed as a confluence point where the moving lower surface guide 120C merges. This rocking guide merging portion 120D is located at the merging position of the vertical path 130 and the horizontal path 140, and is located at the rocking tip of the rocking guide 120 that can rock. At both ends of the swing guide 120 in the longitudinal direction, swing guide positioning 120E is provided for positioning the swing guide 120 in the image forming apparatus main body when the jam disposal door 100 is closed.

The image forming apparatus main body 201A is provided with a vertical path upper guide 131 on the downstream side of the swing guide 120 in the sheet conveying direction. is provided substantially parallel to the . 131 A of this position control slope becomes a guide part which guides the moving direction of the rocking|swiveling guide junction part 120D of the rocking|swiveling guide 120, when the jam disposal door 100 is opened and closed.

A swing guide spring 121 serving as an urging portion is engaged between the swing guide 120 and the door fixing portion, and biases the swing guide 120 clockwise in FIG. 4(b). As a result, when the jam disposal door 100 is closed, the rocking guide positioning 120E is biased against the position regulating slope 131A. Therefore, the swing guide positioning 120E can move on the position regulation slope 131A without separating from the position regulation slope 131A.

When the swing guide positioning 120E moves while contacting the position regulating slope 131A, the swing guide joining portion 120D slides substantially parallel to the sheet conveying direction of the joining conveying path 150, which is the downstream conveying portion. The inclination of the position regulation slope 131A is configured.

The jam processing door cover 102 is provided with a handle 101 rotatable about a rotating shaft, a latch 112 connected to the front and rear of the rotating shaft, and a latch spring 113 for urging the latch 112. The jam processing door cover 102 is fixed in the closed state by engaging with the latch shaft 233 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The tip of the latch 112 is formed in a tapered shape so that it is engaged with the latch shaft 233 as it is when the jam disposal door 100 is closed.

When the jam clearing door 100 is closed, a pressure spring (not shown) of the conveying roller 12A of the lower conveying portion provided in the jam clearing guide 111 and the swinging guide spring 121 apply force in the opening direction of the jam clearing door 100 . Therefore, the latch 112 and the latch shaft 233 are fixed with a gap of Δd0 between them.

Next, the operation of the swing guide 120 when closing the open jam disposal door 100 will be described. 6 to 9 show a state in which the outboard sheet feeding unit 300 is separated from the image forming apparatus main body 201A and the jam processing door 100 is opened, and then the outboard sheet feeding unit 300 is moved toward the image forming apparatus main body 201A. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the jam disposal door 100 when it is moved and attached.

FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the jam disposal door 100 is closed. As shown in FIG. 6A, the sheet P conveyed along the vertical path 130 in the direction of arrow A by the pair of conveying rollers 12 passes through the conveying path curved with a radius of curvature R1, and travels along the merging conveying path 150 in the direction of arrow C. transported to On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed along the horizontal path 140 in the arrow B direction by the conveying roller pair 13 passes through the conveying path curved with the radius of curvature R2, and is conveyed in the joining conveying path 150 in the C direction.

In the conveying path configured as described above, the guide gap on the vertical path side at the swing guide junction portion 120D is t1, the guide gap on the horizontal path side is t2, and the guide gap on the vertical path 130 is t3. In this embodiment, the radius of curvature R2 of the horizontal path 140 is set slightly larger than the radius of curvature R1 of the vertical path 130 . For example, assuming that the vertical path 130 conveys a sheet with a basis weight of about 300 g/m ² and the horizontal path 140 conveys a sheet with a basis weight of about 400 g/m ² , the curvature radius R1 is about 30 mm to 50 mm, and the curvature radius R2 is 60 mm to 100 mm. degree is desirable. Further, the guide gaps t1 to t3 described above are generally desirably about 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm. As described above, since the curvature radius R2 of the horizontal path 140 is larger than the curvature radius R1 of the vertical path 130, the horizontal path 140 is more suitable for conveying thick paper than the vertical path 130. As it opens around 102C, the stopper portion 110C provided on the regulating member 110 collides with the stopper 232 provided on the image forming apparatus main body 201A, and the jam processing door 100 reaches the angle α (FIG. 6B). )). At this time, since the swinging guide 120 is biased by the swinging guide spring 121, after the swinging guide positioning 120E is disengaged from the position regulating slope 131A, the swinging guide 120E does not move around the central shaft 120A until it abuts on a stopper (not shown). 6(b) counterclockwise rotation.

From the above state, when the outboard sheet feeding section 300 is moved in the mounting direction to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the jam processing door 100 is open, so that the abutment portion 302 of the outboard sheet feeding section 300 and the jam processing door are separated from each other. The cover edge 102D contacts and the jam disposal door 100 rotates in the closing direction. Next, the abutment portion 302 contacts the abutment portion 114 (FIG. 7A), and the swing guide positioning 120E contacts the position regulating slope 131A of the vertical path upper guide (FIG. 7B).

When the jam disposal door 100 further rotates in the closing direction, the rocking guide positioning 120E slides on the position regulating slope 131A of the vertical path upper guide, and the rocking guide 120 rotates around the rocking guide rotation center axis 120A in FIG. a) clockwise rotation; At the same time that the external sheet feeding section 300 is fixed at a predetermined position by abutment (not shown), the jam handling door 100 is fixed to the main body of the image forming apparatus in a closed state by the latch 112 and the latch shaft 233 .

By moving the outboard sheet feeding section 300 with the above configuration, the outboard sheet feeding section 300 can be attached while closing the jam disposal door 100 .

FIG. 8B shows a state in which the outboard sheet feeding section 300 pushes the jam processing door 100 by Δd1 from the normal abutting position, and the guide gap t3 of the vertical path 130 is shortened to t3A. When the jam clearing door 100 is pushed in, the gap Δd0 between the latch 112 and the latch shaft 233 is reduced, and the jam clearing door 100 as a whole is deformed. The rocking guide merging portion 120D slides upward and moves in the conveying direction C of the merging conveying path. At this time, in the swing guide 120, the swing guide joining portion 120D moves substantially parallel to the sheet conveying direction of the joining conveying path 150, so that the guide gap t1 on the vertical path 130 side narrows to t1A, and the horizontal path 140 side narrows to t1A. The guide gap t2 of is also narrowed to t2A. That is, when the swing guide positioning 120E of the swing guide 120 moves in the direction of arrow C, the guide gap on the vertical pass side and the guide gap on the horizontal pass side narrow equally, and only the guide gap on one side narrows. never

When the rocking guide positioning 120E moves in the direction of arrow C, the radius of curvature R1 of the vertical path 130 and the radius of curvature R2 of the horizontal path 140 slightly decrease to R1A and R2A, but the change is small.

FIG. 9 shows the jam processing door 100. As described above, the pressure spring (not shown) of the rollers constituting the conveying roller pair of the lower conveying section and the swinging guide spring 121 apply force in the direction of opening the jam processing door. The guide gap t3 of the vertical path 130 is widened to t3B due to backlash and deformation of the entire 100. FIG. At this time, the rocking guide positioning 120E slides on the position regulating slope 131A of the vertical path upper guide, and the rocking guide joining portion 120D moves in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction C of the joining conveying path. At this time, contrary to when the door is closed, the guide gap t1 on the side of the vertical path 130 widens to t1B, and the guide gap t2 on the side of the horizontal path 140 widens to t2B. In this case as well, the guide gap on the vertical path side and the guide gap on the horizontal path side are equally widened, and only the guide gap on one side is not widened. Also, in this case, the radius of curvature R1 of the vertical path 130 and the radius of curvature R2 of the horizontal path 140 slightly widen to R1B and R2B, but the change is small.

In this embodiment, the radius of curvature R2 of the horizontal path 140 is made larger than the radius of curvature R1 of the vertical path 130. As shown in FIG. This is because the horizontal path 140 conveys thick paper more than the vertical path 130 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the center axis 120A, which is the center of swing of the swing guide 120, is positioned closer to the horizontal path 140 than the imaginary extension line L1 at the center between the guide gaps forming the merging conveying path 150. are doing. As a result, when the swing guide 120 swings, the change in the guide gap between the swing upper guide 120B on the side of the horizontal path 140 and the horizontal path upper guide 141 is reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the horizontal path 140 conveys a thicker sheet than the vertical path 130, the rocking guide positioning 120E is pressed against the position regulating slope 131A of the vertical path upper guide by the rocking guide spring 121. and That is, the urging direction of the swing guide positioning 120E is from the side of the horizontal path 140 having a large radius of curvature of the sheet path to the side of the vertical path 130 having a small radius of curvature. I tried to press it against. Therefore, when a thick sheet is conveyed to the horizontal path 140, the guide gap of the horizontal path is not narrowed.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the jam disposal door 100 moves due to deformation caused by being pushed or backlash of the unit, it is possible to maintain a good balance even if the respective conveying guide gaps become narrower. can. Therefore, even if the radii of curvature R1 and R2 of the entire conveying path are made as large as possible, it is possible to accurately manage the guide gap. Even thick paper can be conveyed.

<Other embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the central axis 120A of the swing guide 120 is arranged near the horizontal path has been described, but as shown in FIG. may be arranged on or close to the imaginary extension line L1 substantially in the center between the guide gaps forming the . In this way, when the swing guide 120 swings, the amount of change in the guide gap between the swing bottom guide 120C of the vertical path 130 and the vertical pass upper guide 131 and the swing top guide 120B of the horizontal path 140 are different. The change amount of the guide gap with the lateral path upper guide 141 can be made substantially the same.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rocking guide positioning 120E is biased and pressed against the position regulating slope 131A, but as shown in FIG. A regulating portion 131B that can slide in the sheet conveying direction of the conveying path 150 may be provided. By restricting the movement of the rocking guide positioning 120E in the direction crossing the moving direction of the rocking guide joining portion 120D in this way, the cardboard can be transported from either the vertical path 130 or the horizontal path 140. However, the rocking guide 120 can be prevented from being pushed by the cardboard and moving.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...Conveyor roller pair 12...Conveyor roller pair 13...Conveyor roller pair 100...Jam disposal door 102C...Rotation center shaft 110...Regulation member 110C...Stopper part 111...Jam disposal guide 112...Latch 113...Latch spring 114...Abutting part 115 Horizontal path lower guide 120 Swing guide 120A Center shaft 120B Swing upper surface guide 120C Swing lower surface guide 120D Swing guide junction 120E Swing guide positioning 121 Swing guide spring 130 Vertical path 131 Vertical path upper guide 131A Position regulation slope 140 Horizontal path 150 Merging conveying path 201 Image forming apparatus 230 Upper sheet feeding unit 231 Lower sheet feeding unit 233 Latch shaft 300 External sheet feeding unit

Claims (9)

a first conveying unit that forms a first sheet conveying path through which the sheet passes and guides the conveyed sheet;
a second conveying unit that forms a second sheet conveying path different from the first sheet conveying path and guides the conveyed sheet;
a downstream conveying section that forms a confluence conveying path after the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path merge and guides the conveyed sheet;
A closed position forming the first sheet conveying path together with the first conveying section and forming the second sheet conveying path together with the second conveying section, and opening the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path. an open position, an opening and closing member movable to;
A rocking conveying device provided on the opening/closing member so as to be capable of swinging, forming the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path when the opening/closing member is positioned at the closed position, and guiding the conveyed sheet. and
The swing conveying portion has a confluence portion positioned at a confluence position of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path,
The first conveying section moves substantially parallel to the sheet conveying direction of the merging conveying path of the downstream conveying section when the swing conveying section swings by opening and closing the opening/closing member. Having a guide portion that guides the rocking conveying portion,
The first conveying unit and the second conveying unit guide the sheet so that it is conveyed in a curved manner, and the radius of curvature of the first conveying unit is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second conveying unit.
A sheet conveying device characterized by: an urging member that urges the swing conveying portion toward the guide portion;
The rocking conveying portion has a contact portion that contacts the guide portion,
2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is movable in a contacting state by biasing the contact portion against the guide portion by the biasing member. In a state in which the open/close member is positioned at the closed position, the swing center of the swing conveying portion is positioned closer to the second conveying portion than the imaginary extension line of the center between the guide gaps of the merging conveying path by the downstream conveying portion. 2. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is positioned on the side of the . 3. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a direction in which the contact portion is urged by the urging member is a direction from the second conveying portion toward the first conveying portion. 3. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the guide portion has a restricting portion that restricts movement of the contact portion in a direction crossing a moving direction of the merging portion. 6. The guide section according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide section guides the merging section to move substantially in the center between the guide gaps of the merging conveying path by the downstream conveying section. Sheet conveying device. The opening/closing member has an abutting portion against which a feeding device detachable from the sheet conveying device abuts, and the opening/closing member is closed when the feeding device presses the abutting portion. The sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The opening/closing member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a latch and a latch shaft for locking the open/close member in a closed state, and having a gap between the latch and the latch shaft when the opening and closing member is locked. The sheet conveying device according to the item. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a conveyed sheet,
A sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8;
an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images