Switchback device and image forming apparatus including it

Abstract

To suppress generation of scratches and dirt on a printed face and to intend to reduce in size, a switchback device () provided in a conveyance path () for a printed medium (), for reversing the direction of movement of the medium () sent from an upstream part () of the conveyance path () and then delivering the medium () to a downstream part () of the conveyance path (), comprises a pair of operation rollers () including a drive roller () for conveying the medium () and a slave roller () cooperating with the drive roller () to pinch the medium (); and a changeover mechanism () for changing a direction of the pair of operation rollers () including the drive roller () and the slave roller (). The medium () sent from the upstream part () of the conveyance path () which is pinched by the pair of operation rollers () is, in this state, changed in direction as a result of a change of the direction of the pair of operation rollers () by the changeover mechanism (), and then is delivered to the downstream part () of the conveyance path () by reversing rotation of the drive roller (). Thus, generation of scratches and dirt on the printed face () of the medium () can be suppressed and the space for taking the medium () in upon switchback can be reduced in size.