Abstract: A paper feeder includes a lift plate, a pickup roller, a feed roller, a retard roller, a rotation-count detection sensor, and a control unit. The rotation-count detection sensor outputs a rotation-count detection signal. The rotation-count detection signal indicates a rotation count of the retard roller. The control unit detects the rotation count of the retard roller based on the rotation-count detection signal. The lift plate separates from the pickup roller before the control unit detects the rotation count of the retard roller. The feed roller is driven when the control unit detects the rotation count of the retard roller. The retard roller is in abutting contact with the feed roller when the control unit detects the rotation count of the retard roller. The control unit determines whether replacement of the retard roller is necessary or not, based on the detected rotation count of the retard roller.

Abstract: A self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body. The self-closing device includes a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position. The plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.

Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a case, a lift plate, and a lift attachment. The lift attachment is fixed, in a detachable manner, to a central portion of the lift plate in a width direction. The lift attachment supports a lower surface of the sheets stacked on the lift plate at a position higher than the upper surface of the lift plate. The lift attachment includes a base portion and a pair of arm portions. The pair of arm portions are respectively formed to extend from an end portion of the base portion that is on a downstream side in the sheet feed direction, to opposite directions in the width direction.

Abstract: An aluminum electric wire includes an annealing conductor that is made up of elemental wires made of an aluminum alloy containing 0.90-1.20 mass % Fe, 0.10-0.25 mass % Mg, 0.01-0.05 mass % Ti, 0.0005-0.0025 mass % B, and the balance being Al and has a tensile strength of 110 MPa or more, a breaking elongation of 15% or more, and an electric conductivity of 58% IACS or more, and an insulating material covering the conductor. The wire is produced by casting an aluminum alloy prepared by rapidly solidifying a molten aluminum alloy having the above composition, producing the wires by subjecting the alloy to plasticity processing, producing the conductor by bunching the wires, subjecting the wires or the conductor to annealing at 250° C. or higher, and then covering the conductor with the insulator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet storage cassette, a sheet feed unit, a first detection sensor having a first detector for detecting the presence/absence of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking plate, a second detection sensor having a second detector for detecting the position of the top face of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate, a cassette detection sensor, a driving device, and a controller. The sheet feed unit includes a first actuator for switching detection states of the first detection sensor and a second actuator for switching detection states of the second detection sensor. The controller determines the mounting state of the sheet feed unit based on the detection state of the first and second detection sensors.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cartridge, a pair of fixed rails, a pair of movable rails and a pressing part. The sheet feeding cartridge has a pair of side plates extending in taking-out/taking-in directions and is taken out/in an installed part in an apparatus main body. The fixed rails are extended in the taking-out/taking-in directions in the installed part. The movable rails are provided to move in the taking-out/taking-in directions along the fixed rails. If the pressing part is provided in one side plate, the pressing part applies biasing force to one movable rail facing to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail. If the pressing part is provided in one movable rail, the pressing part applies biasing force to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail.

Abstract: A sheet storage cassette includes a cassette body, a cassette cover, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a lock member swingably provided on a back-surface side of the cassette cover and engageable with a locking pin provided in the cassette insertion portion, and a biasing member biasing the lock member in a direction toward engagement with the locking pin. Along with an operation of inserting the cassette body into the cassette insertion portion, the lock member engages with the locking pin. In a state where the cassette body is inserted in the cassette insertion portion, by inserting a thin-plate shaped release member into a gap between the cassette cover and an exterior member arranged under and adjacent to the cassette cover, the lock member is caused to swing to release the engagement with the locking pin.

Abstract: A sheet storage device includes a case, a lift plate, and a lift attachment. The lift attachment is fixed, in a detachable manner, to a central portion of the lift plate in a width direction. The lift attachment supports a lower surface of the sheets stacked on the lift plate at a position higher than the upper surface of the lift plate. The lift attachment includes a base portion and a pair of arm portions. The pair of arm portions are respectively formed to extend from an end portion of the base portion that is on a downstream side in the sheet feed direction, to opposite directions in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cartridge storing a sheet conveyed orthogonally to a width direction includes a main body, a pair of side cursors and a restricting member. The main body has a bottom part including a sheet placement face and allows sheets of different sizes to be placed. The side cursors mutually slide in approaching and separating directions and restrict a position in the width direction. The restricting member comes into contact with a side edge in the width direction at a position separated from one of the side cursors to an upstream side in a conveyance direction and restricts the position in the width direction. The restricting member is attachably/detachably provided in the main body at each of plural positions along the width direction and restricts the side edge of each of the sheets of different sizes in the width direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet storage cassette, a sheet feed unit, a first detection sensor having a first detector for detecting the presence/absence of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking plate, a second detection sensor having a second detector for detecting the position of the top face of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate, a cassette detection sensor, a driving device, and a controller. The sheet feed unit includes a first actuator for switching detection states of the first detection sensor and a second actuator for switching detection states of the second detection sensor. The controller determines the mounting state of the sheet feed unit based on the detection state of the first and second detection sensors.

Abstract: An attachably/detachably sheet feeding unit includes a main body part, a pair of side cursors, a pair of cursor racks, a pinion and a holding member. On the main body part having a bottom plate, a sheet is placed. The side cursors are supported by the bottom plate to slide in a width direction of the sheet to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The cursor racks respectively extend from the side cursors in opposing directions in the width direction. The pinion is engaged with the cursor racks. The holding member has a shaft support part rotatably supporting the pinion, is attachable/detachable to/from the bottom plate, and then, is supported to the bottom plate to move in the width direction while the pinion is engaged with the cursor racks, and is fixed to the bottom plate in an optional position in the width direction.

Abstract: An attachably/detachably sheet feeding unit includes a main body part, a pair of side cursors, a pair of cursor racks, a pinion and a holding member. On the main body part having a bottom plate, a sheet is placed. The side cursors are supported by the bottom plate to slide in a width direction of the sheet to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The cursor racks respectively extend from the side cursors in opposing directions in the width direction. The pinion is engaged with the cursor racks. The holding member has a shaft support part rotatably supporting the pinion, is attachable/detachable to/from the bottom plate, and then, is supported to the bottom plate to move in the width direction while the pinion is engaged with the cursor racks, and is fixed to the bottom plate in an optional position in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cartridge storing a sheet conveyed orthogonally to a width direction includes a main body, a pair of side cursors and a restricting member. The main body has a bottom part including a sheet placement face and allows sheets of different sizes to be placed. The side cursors mutually slide in approaching and separating directions and restrict a position in the width direction. The restricting member comes into contact with a side edge in the width direction at a position separated from one of the side cursors to an upstream side in a conveyance direction and restricts the position in the width direction. The restricting member is attachably/detachably provided in the main body at each of plural positions along the width direction and restricts the side edge of each of the sheets of different sizes in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding cartridge, a pair of fixed rails, a pair of movable rails and a pressing part. The sheet feeding cartridge has a pair of side plates extending in taking-out/taking-in directions and is taken out/in an installed part in an apparatus main body. The fixed rails are extended in the taking-out/taking-in directions in the installed part. The movable rails are provided to move in the taking-out/taking-in directions along the fixed rails. If the pressing part is provided in one side plate, the pressing part applies biasing force to one movable rail facing to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail. If the pressing part is provided in one movable rail, the pressing part applies biasing force to one side plate so that another side plate comes into pressure contact with another movable rail.

Abstract: In an object positioning and fixing device that positions and fixes a work pallet on a base member: a reference seating surface is formed on the base member; a contacting surface is formed on the work pallet; fitting cylindrical portions of a plurality of reference members are fixed in a plurality of fitting holes in the base member; a plurality of annular engagement members are installed in the work pallet; each of the reference members has an engagement projection; a base end contacting surface of the base end of the engagement projection is brought into contact with the reference seating surface so as to set the height position of the engagement projection; and the annular engagement member engaged over the outside of the engagement projection is elastically deformed in the radially outward direction so that it tightly contacts against the tapered engagement surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body. The self-closing device includes a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position. The plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.

Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A sheet feed device includes a feed unit and a sheet loading cassette. The feed unit includes a separation conveyance portion that is composed of a feed member and a separation member, a separation holder that supports the separation member and is swingable, and a pressing member that presses the separation holder. The sheet loading cassette includes a grip portion, a pressure release member that, in conjunction with an operation of drawing out the sheet loading cassette, comes into contact with the pressing member, an operation lever that is provided at the grip portion. In a state where the sheet loading cassette is inserted in the apparatus main body, the operation lever is gripped together with the grip portion, and thus the pressure release member slides to come into contact with the pressing member, so that the pressing member is released from the separation holder.