Image forming apparatus

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming portion provided in an image forming apparatus main body;

an image forming transport passage for transporting paper having an image transferred thereon at the image forming portion to a fixing portion;

an ejection transport passage for transporting paper having an image fixed thereon to an ejection portion;

a reverse transport passage having a reverse roller for switching back paper having an image formed on one side thereof;

a return transport passage for transporting paper turned upside down through the reverse transport passage to the image forming portion;

a branch transport passage branching off the ejection transport passage and having at least one transport roller for transporting paper to the reverse transport passage;

a double-side transport unit including: the reverse transport passage; the return transport passage; and a reverse introduction passage extending, from a downstream side, with respect to the reverse roller, of the branch transport passage, to the reverse transport passage, the double-side transport unit being capable of being taken out of or put in the apparatus main body only in an axial direction of the transport roller; and

a side panel for holding the transport roller at an end of the transport roller in the axial direction of the transport roller, wherein

the side panel is fitted to the apparatus main body and has a cut portion which is formed substantially in a same shape as the transport passage of the branch transport passage to be wide enough for paper to pass therethrough in the axial direction of the transport roller, and

the cut portion allows a rear end portion of paper remaining at the downstream side of the transport roller to pass therethrough when the double-side transport unit is pulled in the axial direction of the transport roller out of the apparatus main body to clear paper jam in the double-side transport unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the double-side transport unit comprises an open/close subunit that includes:

the reverse introduction passage; and

a junction portion at which a transport passage for transporting paper switched back by the reverse roller and the reverse introduction passage meet each other, and wherein

the open/close subunit is rotatable around the reverse roller.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the reverse roller is made to rotate so as to transport paper from the reverse introduction passage to the reverse transport passage,

the open/close subunit has a detection member for detecting passing of paper transported to the reverse introduction passage, and

the reverse roller is made to reversely rotate based on detection of passing of paper by the detection member.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the reverse roller includes a reverse drive roller and a reverse driven roller facing the reverse drive roller below the reverse drive roller, and wherein

the open/close subunit is rotatable around the reverse drive roller.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the double-side transport unit includes:

a junction portion at which a transport passage for transporting paper switched back by the reverse roller and the reverse introduction passage meet each other; and

a detection member for detecting passing of paper transported to the reverse introduction passage, and wherein

the reverse roller is made to reversely rotate based on detection of passing of paper by the detection member.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the reverse transport passage is provided with a direction change roller for changing a paper transport direction by 180 degrees at a downstream side of the reverse roller in the paper transport direction.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming portion;

a double-side transport unit including:

a reverse transport passage provided with a reverse roller for switching back paper having an image formed on one side thereof;

a return transport passage for transporting paper turned upside down through the reverse transport passage to the image forming portion; and

a reverse introduction passage, extending from a downstream side of a branch transport passage having at least one transport roller, for transporting paper toward the reverse transport passage to the reverse transport passage, the double-side transport unit being capable of being taken out of or put in the apparatus main body only in an axial direction of the transport roller; and

a side panel for holding the transport roller at an end of the transport roller in the axial direction of the transport roller, wherein

the side panel is fitted to the apparatus main body and has a cut portion which is formed substantially in a same shape as the transport passage of the branch transport passage to be wide enough for paper remaining in the branch transport passage to pass therethrough in the axial direction of the transport roller, and

the cut portion allows a rear end portion of paper remaining at the downstream side of the transport roller to pass therethrough when the double-side transport unit is pulled in the axial direction of the transport roller out of the apparatus main body to clear paper jam in the double-side transport unit.