Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism is provided with a guide path along which a sheet-like member is guided and which is defined between one and the other guide surfaces. A stationary guide member has a first surface defining the one guide surface, and a movable guide member having a second surface defines the other guide surface, which is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member. Protrusions are formed on one of the first and second surfaces, protruding toward the other of the first and second surfaces by a predetermined distance. A shiftable member is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member between a guide position and a remote position. A spring is provided between the shiftable member and the movable guide member allowing the elastic contact between the protrusions and the other of the first and second surfaces, when the shiftable member is located in the guide position.

Abstract: A continuous form electrophotographic printer is provided with a guiding member upstream of a photoconductive drum. The electrophotographic printer retracts paper after it has once passed a fixing unit and been heated, and the guiding unit is provided with an urging member to smooth distorted or wrinkled paper.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with an original separation mechanism which is disposed on a lower side of the inlet port of a feeding path. The original separation mechanism is pressed to an original pick-up roller, and is provided for separating one original, which contacts the original pick-up roller, from at least one following original. The original separation mechanism includes a unit body, and a friction member attached to the upper surface of a unit body, extending toward a downstream side of the feeding direction of the original so as to intersect the feed path at a predetermined angle, and having an upper surface with a prescribed friction coefficient. The original separation mechanism further includes a pair of supporting members attached to both sides of the unit body with respect to the friction member, and each formed of a spring material having an upper surface which extends so as to intersect the upper surface of the lower original guide member at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed, and a developing device for developing the latent image by a toner. The electrophotographic apparatus further includes a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein and having an opening on one side, a cover member for releasably closing the opening of the housing, and a transfer charger which is attached to one surface of the cover member opposing to the photoconductive drum, and which is provided for transferring the developed image onto a sheet-like member. A pre-roller is attached to an upstream end of a housing which houses the transfer charger. The pre-roller and the photoconductive drum are positioned relative to each other so that a gap of predetermined dimension is defined therebetween.

Abstract: In a sheet warp prevention mechanism adapted to be positioned in an imaging device for forming a visible image, the imaging device includes a pair of rollers adapted to be brought into and out of contact with each other in accordance with a rocking operation of one of the pair of rollers about a predetermined shaft member. The one of the pair of rollers which is arranged to be rotated in a predetermined direction for feeding the continuous sheet has a gear member coaxially provided therewith which is brought into engagement with another gear member coaxially provided with the shaft member about which the roller rotates. A driving source for driving both the one of the pair of rollers and a feeding member for feeding the continuous sheet toward the pair of rollers, and a transmitting mechanism for transmitting the driving force toward the pair of rollers is also included.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a control device for controlling the heating temperature of the fixing unit in accordance with the detected result by use of a condition detection mechanism. The control device controls the fixing unit: (a) to set the heating temperature thereof to a fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that the imaging operation of the imaging device is initiated or has been continuing, (b) to set the heating temperature to a stand-by temperature lower than the fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that a stand-by condition, in which the imaging operation is interrupted, continues for a first predetermined time, and (c) to set the heating temperature to a save-energy temperature, lower that the stand-by temperature, when the condition detection device detects that the stand-by condition has been continuing for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: A housing structure for an optical scanning system unit of an imaging device. Various optical elements which relate to a scanning operation effected by a light beam are disposed thereon with a predetermined positional relationship. The housing structure includes a dynamic deflector disposition area in which the dynamic deflector is disposed, and an optical element disposition area which is formed stepwise with respect to the dynamic deflector disposition area though a vertical wall and in which the optical elements are disposed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic facsimile apparatus is provided with a main body, a recording mechanism substantially arranged in the main body, for printing received image information onto a recording paper fed through a recording paper path by using electrophotography, and an upper structure is disposed on the main body. The electrophotographic facsimile apparatus further includes an image recording head disposed in the upper structure for reading image information of a document to be transmitted, and an operation unit for inputting operation information. The recording paper path is formed between the main body and the upper structure, and inclines obliquely downward along a direction in which the recording paper is fed. The upper structure has an inclined upper surface parallel with the recording paper path. The operation unit is disposed on the inclined upper surface of the upper structure.

Abstract: A charging station structure of a clamshell-type electrophotographic image forming apparatus which has a photoconductive member is provided with a corona charger for uniformly charging the photoconductive member. An opening is defined on an upper surface of the corona charger for letting ozone escape, and a roof member is arranged at a position opposite to the photoconductive member, with respect to the opening, for covering the opening. A predetermined interval is provided between the upper surface of the corona charger and the roof member, so that ambient light incident upon the photoconductive member though the opening is prevented, while nonetheless allowing ozone to escape from the corona charger.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy composite material for brazing has a core member made of an aluminum alloy, Al-Si filler member and a cladding member made of an aluminum alloy. Mg contained in the aluminum alloy of the core member is restricted to within 0.2% or less by weight. The aluminum alloy of the cladding member essentially consists of 0.3% to 2.5% by weight of Mg. During brazing, the core member serves to restrain the diffusion of Si from the filler member clad on one surface of the core member and the diffusion of Mg from the cladding member clad on the opposite surface of the core member.