Paper guide member and image forming apparatus

1. A paper guide member configured to guide paper having a plurality of paper widths after a toner image is transferred to the paper, wherein paper passing regions, through which the paper passes, have widths corresponding to the plurality of paper widths, the paper guide member comprising:

a plurality of thread-shaped protrusions extending in a passing direction of the paper to guide the paper to pass with a distance secured from a static eliminator that eliminates static electricity in proximity to the paper in a width direction of the paper, the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions adjoining each other across a slit in the width direction of the paper,

wherein the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions comprise:

first thread-shaped protrusions each having a height at which the paper is supported and guided and disposed in each of the paper passing regions; and

second thread-shaped protrusions each having a height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions and for each of the paper passing regions the second thread-shaped protrusions are disposed in a region outside of the paper passing region,

wherein each of the second thread-shaped protrusions has the height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions in an entire region from an upstream end to a downstream end in the passing direction of the paper.

2. The paper guide member according to claim 1 , wherein for each of the paper passing regions the second thread-shaped protrusions are provided in a region outside of the paper passing region and corresponding to at least a predetermined dimension from an end of the paper passing region.

3. The paper guide member according to claim 1 , wherein each of the regions where the second thread-shaped protrusions are disposed outside of a paper passing region has a width larger than an interval between the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions.

4. The paper guide member according to claim 1 , wherein the first thread-shaped protrusions are present in a region having a width equal to or smaller than a width of a minimum paper passing region where paper having a minimum width passes, and in one or more outer regions located outside of the minimum paper passing region.

5. The paper guide member according to claim 4 , wherein the outer regions comprise one or more regions located within a maximum passing region where paper having a maximum width passes.

6. The paper guide member according to claim 4 , wherein the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions is equal in the width direction of the paper.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming device that forms a toner image;

a transfer device that transfers, onto paper, the toner image formed by the image forming device;

a static eliminator that eliminates static electricity on the paper after the toner image is transferred by the transfer device in proximity to the paper in a width direction of the paper; and

a paper guide device that guides the paper so that the paper passes with a distance secured from the static eliminator,

wherein the paper guide device comprises the paper guide member according to claim 1 .

8. A paper guide member configured to guide paper having a plurality of paper widths after a toner image is transferred to the paper, wherein paper passing regions, through which the paper passes, have widths corresponding to the plurality of paper widths, the paper guide member comprising:

a plurality of thread-shaped protrusions extending in a passing direction of the paper to guide the paper to pass with a distance secured from a static eliminator that eliminates static electricity in proximity to the paper in a width direction of the paper, the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions adjoining each other across a slit in the width direction of the paper,

wherein the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions comprise:

first thread-shaped protrusions each having a height at which the paper is supported and guided and disposed in each of the paper passing regions;

second thread-shaped protrusions each having a height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions and for each of the paper passing regions the second thread-shaped protrusions are disposed in a region outside of the paper passing region;

a first coupling part that couples upstream ends of the first thread-shaped protrusions in the passing direction of the paper; and

a second coupling part that couples upstream ends of the second thread-shaped protrusions in the passing direction of the paper,

wherein the second coupling part has a height smaller than a height of the first coupling part.

9. A paper guide member configured to guide paper having a plurality of paper widths after a toner image is transferred to the paper, wherein paper passing regions, through which the paper passes, have widths corresponding to the plurality of paper widths, the paper guide member comprising a plurality of thread-shaped protrusions extending in a passing direction of the paper to guide the paper to pass with a distance secured from static elimination means for eliminating static electricity in proximity to the paper in a width direction of the paper, the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions adjoining each other across a slit in the width direction of the paper,

wherein the plurality of thread-shaped protrusions comprise:

first thread-shaped protrusions each having a height at which the paper is supported and guided and disposed in each of the paper passing regions; and

second thread-shaped protrusions each having a height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions and for each of the paper passing regions the second thread-shaped protrusions are disposed in a region outside of the paper passing region, wherein each of the second thread-shaped protrusions has the height smaller than the height of each of the first thread-shaped protrusions in an entire region from an upstream end to a downstream end in the passing direction of the paper.