The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1998
Toshihiro Horiuchi, Nara, JP;
Toyoaki Nanba, Higashiosaka, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An object of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which discharged sheets can be easily distinguished, and which has a reduced number of parts and can be economically produced. The apparatus has: a discharge tray unit which receives a sheet on which an image is formed; a fifth conveying path which guides a sheet from an image forming section to the discharge tray unit so as to place the sheet on the discharge tray unit with downward directing the image forming face; a first conveying path which guides the sheet from the image forming section to the discharge tray unit so as to place the sheet on the discharge tray unit with reversing the sheet to a direction opposite to the direction of the image forming face; and switching means for switching over the fifth conveying path and the first conveying path. The apparatus further has moving means for moving the discharge tray unit between a position where a sheet discharged from a discharge port of the fifth conveying path is received, and a second position where a sheet discharged from a discharge port of the first conveying path is received.