Discharge device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A discharge device comprises a discharge roller unit including a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, and deforming a sheet on which an image is formed, the sheet being deformed such that the sheet is recessed toward one of the rollers when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.

1 . A discharge device comprising:
 a discharge roller unit including a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, the discharge roller being so constructed and arranged that a sheet on which an image is formed is deformed such that the sheet is recessed toward one of the rollers when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.   
     
     
         2 . The discharge device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller reciprocates in an axial direction.   
     
     
         3 . The discharge device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller is urged in a direction from a first end to a second end of the first discharge roller and an end portion of the first discharge roller, located at the second end, is slid in the axial direction.   
     
     
         4 . The discharge device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the end portion of the first discharge roller is in contact with a surface having a height in the axial direction that continuously varies.   
     
     
         5 . The discharge device according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller reciprocates in the axial direction at a period that is different from a period of a rotation at which the discharge roller unit feeds the sheet.   
     
     
         6 . The discharge device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller includes a shaft and a plurality of roller members attached to the shaft in a non-rotatable manner, the roller members being capable of nipping the sheet.   
     
     
         7 . The discharge device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second discharge roller includes a shaft and a plurality of roller members attached to the shaft in a non-rotatable manner, the roller members being capable of nipping the sheet, a hardness of the roller members in the first discharge roller differs from the hardness of the roller members in the second discharge roller.   
     
     
         8 . The discharge device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the hardness of the roller members in the first discharge roller is greater than the hardness of the roller members in the second discharge roller.   
     
     
         9 . The discharge device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the roller members are eccentrically attached to the shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The discharge device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller is so constructed and arranged that a distance between axes of the first discharge roller and axes of the second discharge roller is varied.   
     
     
         11 . The discharge device according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first discharge roller is supported by bearings at the ends of the first discharge roller, the bearings being in contact with eccentric rotating members.   
     
     
         12 . The discharge device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the discharge roller being so constructed and arranged that a sheet on which an image is formed is deformed such that the sheet is recessed toward the second discharge roller when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.   
     
     
         13 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a sheet feeding section which stores and feeds a sheet;   a conveying section which feeds the sheet;   an image forming section which forms an image on the sheet based on the image information; and   a discharge device for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed comprising a discharge roller unit including a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller being so constructed and arranged that the sheet on which the image is formed is deformed such that the sheet is recessed toward the second discharge roller when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.   
     
     
         14 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a conveying section which feeds a sheet of paper;   an image forming section which forms an image on the sheet of paper; and   a discharge device for discharging the sheet of paper comprising a discharge roller unit including a first discharge roller and a second discharge roller, the discharge roller being so constructed and arranged that the sheet of paper is deformed such that a portion of the sheet is recessed toward one of the rollers when the sheet is fed between the first discharge roller and the second discharge roller.