Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a cassette body storing a sheet, and a cursor and a rack that position the sheet. The rack is disposed on a bottom of the cassette body and has rack-teeth. The cursor includes a cursor body having a contact face, a locking member having locking-teeth, and a handling member. The cursor body moves between a restricting position where the locking-teeth mesh with the rack-teeth to restrict cursor movement and an unrestricting position where the locking-teeth are separated above from the rack-teeth to allow cursor movement. The handling member is supported on the cursor body and is used to move the locking member. The locking member takes tilt-posture when moving between the restricting position and the unrestricting position. In the tilt-posture, the bottom face of the locking body inclines with respect to an imaginary plane including the rack teeth tips with the locking-teeth inclined.

Abstract: In order to dynamically vary a pacing threshold and perform pacing control such that there is no bias in the stress applied to a user, a statistical information processing means: acquires statistical information of a mid-communication disconnect in which a user terminal disconnects in the midst of communications, in respect to communications according to an application protocol; calculates a degree of user dissatisfaction for each application protocol on the basis of the statistical information; and manages, for each application protocol, a pacing threshold corresponding to the degree of user dissatisfaction. A call processing means determines a pacing threshold for each application protocol such that communication traffic to a user terminal does not exceed a prescribed band upper limit and the degree of user dissatisfaction of each application protocol is the same, and executes pacing processing such that the communication traffic of each application protocol is below the determined pacing threshold.

Abstract: In order to dynamically vary a pacing threshold and perform pacing control such that there is no bias in the stress applied to a user, a statistical information processing means: acquires statistical information of a mid-communication disconnect in which a user terminal disconnects in the midst of communications, in respect to communications according to an application protocol; calculates a degree of user dissatisfaction for each application protocol on the basis of the statistical information; and manages, for each application protocol, a pacing threshold corresponding to the degree of user dissatisfaction. A call processing means determines a pacing threshold for each application protocol such that communication traffic to a user terminal does not exceed a prescribed band upper limit and the degree of user dissatisfaction of each application protocol is the same, and executes pacing processing such that the communication traffic of each application protocol is below the determined pacing threshold.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a cassette body storing a sheet, and a cursor and a rack that position the sheet. The rack is disposed on a bottom of the cassette body and has rack-teeth. The cursor includes a cursor body having a contact face, a locking member having locking-teeth, and a handling member. The cursor body moves between a restricting position where the locking-teeth mesh with the rack-teeth to restrict cursor movement and an unrestricting position where the locking-teeth are separated above from the rack-teeth to allow cursor movement. The handling member is supported on the cursor body and is used to move the locking member. The locking member takes tilt-posture when moving between the restricting position and the unrestricting position. In the tilt-posture, the bottom face of the locking body inclines with respect to an imaginary plane including the rack teeth tips with the locking-teeth inclined.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover unit, a boss, a hook member, a biasing member and a pressing member. The cover unit is turnably provided on an apparatus main body to form and open a conveying path. The boss is provided on the apparatus main body. The hook member is turnably provided on the cover unit and engaged with the boss when the cover unit is turned to a position where the conveying path is formed. The biasing member is provided on the cover unit and biases the hook member in a direction in which the hook member is engaged with the boss. The pressing member is provided on the cover unit in an elastically deformable manner and abuts on the hook member from an upstream side of a turning direction of the hook member to a position where the hook member is engaged with the boss.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cover unit, a boss, a hook member, a biasing member and a pressing member. The cover unit is turnably provided on an apparatus main body to form and open a conveying path. The boss is provided on the apparatus main body. The hook member is turnably provided on the cover unit and engaged with the boss when the cover unit is turned to a position where the conveying path is formed. The biasing member is provided on the cover unit and biases the hook member in a direction in which the hook member is engaged with the boss. The pressing member is provided on the cover unit in an elastically deformable manner and abuts on the hook member from an upstream side of a turning direction of the hook member to a position where the hook member is engaged with the boss.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feed roller, a feed holder, a supporting frame and a driving shaft. The feed roller is configured to rotate around a rotating shaft. The feed holder is configured to support the feed roller. The supporting frame has a storage recessed part in which the feed holder is attachable and detachable along a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The driving shaft is supported to the supporting frame on one side of the storage recessed part in the axial direction. The storage recessed part has a guide part and a positioning part. The guide part is configured to guide the feed holder. The rotating shaft is coupled to the driving shaft by sliding the feed holder positioned at the aligning position by the positioning part in the axial direction.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device has a discharge port, a discharge tray, a discharge roller including first and second rollers, a flick-out pulley, a sheet pressing member, and a pressing rib. The flick-out pulley is formed coaxially with the rotary shaft of the first roller at an interval from an end of the first roller, and has a circumferential edge and a plurality of projections protruding from it. The sheet pressing member is supported on a pivot axis provided on the downstream side of the discharge roller with respect to the sheet discharge direction to be swingable in the sheet discharge direction. A pressing rib is arranged at a position overlapping the flick-out pulley in the direction along the pivot axis as seen from the sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a feed roller, a feed holder, a supporting frame and a driving shaft. The feed roller is configured to rotate around a rotating shaft. The feed holder is configured to support the feed roller. The supporting frame has a storage recessed part in which the feed holder is attachable and detachable along a direction crossing an axial direction of the rotating shaft. The driving shaft is supported to the supporting frame on one side of the storage recessed part in the axial direction. The storage recessed part has a guide part and a positioning part. The guide part is configured to guide the feed holder. The rotating shaft is coupled to the driving shaft by sliding the feed holder positioned at the aligning position by the positioning part in the axial direction.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes a sheet discharge roller pair, a sheet discharge tray, a first actuator, a second actuator and a detector. The first actuator includes a first shaft portion and a first contact piece. The second actuator includes a second shaft portion, a second contact piece and a third contact piece. The detector detects the discharge of the sheet by the rotation of the second actuator about the second shaft portion. The leading end of a first sheet comes into contact with the first, second and third contact pieces to rotate the first and second actuators and the detector detects the discharge of the first sheet. The leading end of a second sheet comes into contact with only the third contact piece to rotate the second actuator without rotating the first actuator and the detector detects the discharge of the second sheet smaller than the first sheet.

Abstract: A manual paper feeder includes is for installation at a side surface of a main body of an image forming apparatus. When the first auxiliary tray is located at an extension position in a state where the second auxiliary tray is housed downwards, an abutment between an upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and an inferior surface of the second auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a first angle. When the second auxiliary tray is extracted from the first auxiliary tray at the extension position, an abutment between the upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and the inferior surface of the first auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a second angle. The second angle is smaller than the first angle.

Abstract: A sheet width aligning device includes an elevator tray, a pair of guides, and a pinion. The pinion is rotatably supported by inserting a shaft portion into a shaft hole formed in the pinion. The shaft portion projects from the elevator tray. The sheet width aligning device is configured to move the pair of guides so as to increase or decrease the distance between the guides in operative association with the pair of racks meshed with the pinion. The sheet width aligning device includes a pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism is provided on the back face side of the elevator tray and includes an abutment member that abuts against the pinion. The pressing mechanism separates the abutment member away from the pinion at the lower position, while abutting the abutment member against the pinion to press the pinion at the upper position.

Abstract: In a sheet feed apparatus, sheet feed roller is provided in casing so as to face downstream side of sheet stacking portion in sheet conveying direction, and conveys sheets in sheet conveying direction. Separation pad is provided facing sheet feed roller, forms, with sheet feed roller, nip portion through which sheets pass, and conveys sheets one by one in sheet conveying direction. Holder fixes and supports separation pad. Mount portion mounts holder. An urging member urges separation pad toward sheet feed roller via the holder. Holder is changeable in its posture between a first posture in which separation pad is spaced apart from sheet feed roller so as to release nip portion having been formed therebetween, and a second posture in which nip portion is formed between separation pad and sheet feed roller. Holder includes a contact part that contacts the mount portion in the second posture.

Abstract: A sheet width aligning device includes an elevator tray, a pair of guides, and a pinion. The pinion is rotatably supported by inserting a shaft portion into a shaft hole formed in the pinion. The shaft portion projects from the elevator tray. The sheet width aligning device is configured to move the pair of guides so as to increase or decrease the distance between the guides in operative association with the pair of racks meshed with the pinion. The sheet width aligning device includes a pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism is provided on the back face side of the elevator tray and includes an abutment member that abuts against the pinion. The pressing mechanism separates the abutment member away from the pinion at the lower position, while abutting the abutment member against the pinion to press the pinion at the upper position.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device includes a sheet discharge roller pair, a sheet discharge tray, a first actuator, a second actuator and a detector. The first actuator includes a first shaft portion and a first contact piece. The second actuator includes a second shaft portion, a second contact piece and a third contact piece. The detector detects the discharge of the sheet by the rotation of the second actuator about the second shaft portion. The leading end of a first sheet comes into contact with the first, second and third contact pieces to rotate the first and second actuators and the detector detects the discharge of the first sheet. The leading end of a second sheet comes into contact with only the third contact piece to rotate the second actuator without rotating the first actuator and the detector detects the discharge of the second sheet smaller than the first sheet.

Abstract: A sheet discharging device has a discharge port, a discharge tray, a discharge roller including first and second rollers, a flick-out pulley, a sheet pressing member, and a pressing rib. The flick-out pulley is formed coaxially with the rotary shaft of the first roller at an interval from an end of the first roller, and has a circumferential edge and a plurality of projections protruding from it. The sheet pressing member is supported on a pivot axis provided on the downstream side of the discharge roller with respect to the sheet discharge direction to be swingable in the sheet discharge direction. A pressing rib is arranged at a position overlapping the flick-out pulley in the direction along the pivot axis as seen from the sheet discharge direction.

Abstract: A manual paper feeder includes is for installation at a side surface of a main body of an image forming apparatus. When the first auxiliary tray is located at an extension position in a state where the second auxiliary tray is housed downwards, an abutment between an upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and an inferior surface of the second auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a first angle. When the second auxiliary tray is extracted from the first auxiliary tray at the extension position, an abutment between the upstream side end edge of the side surface cover and the inferior surface of the first auxiliary tray supports the first auxiliary tray at a second angle. The second angle is smaller than the first angle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a fixing portion; a discharging portion; a sheet transport passage including a curved portion and connecting between the fixing portion and the discharging portion; a reverse transport passage formed by branching off the curved portion; a transport roller pair rotatable in normal and reverse directions; a fixed guide portion provided on an inner corner side of the curved portion; and a swingable guide portion supported to be swingable. The swingable guide portion is arranged selectively either in a first position where it protrudes farther into the sheet transport passage than a guide rib formed on a transport surface of the fixed guide portion or a second position where its protruding height from the transport surface is equal to a height of the guide rib or where the swingable guide portion is retracted farther toward the transport surface than the guide rib.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cover that is openable and closable. The cover is provided with a lock member, a first biasing portion, a lever member, and a second biasing portion. The lock member is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The first biasing portion biases the lock member toward the unlocking position. The lever member is provided to be in contact with the lock member, the lever member being movable between a retaining position for retaining the lock member at the locking position and a retention releasing position for releasing retention of the lock member in a direction intersecting with a moving direction of the lock member. The second biasing portion biases the lever member toward the retaining position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a casing, a sheet stacking portion, a sheet conveyance path, a feed roller, a separation pad, a holder, a mounting portion and a guiding member. The sheets are placed on the sheet stacking portion and fed in a predetermined direction in the sheet conveyance path. A nip portion, through which the sheet passes, is formed between the feed roller and the separation pad. The holder fixedly supports the separation pad and is mountable into and removable from the mounting portion of the casing. The guiding member guides the holder. The posture of the holder is changeable between a first posture in which a predetermined clearance is formable between the guiding member and the holder when the holder is mounted into the mounting portion and a second posture in which the holder is pressed against the guiding member when the sheet passes through the nip portion.