Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, cables may be used to connect reading units (e.g., scanning devices) to a controller or control circuit board configured to execute certain instructions and perform various functions. The cables may be routed between the reading units and the controller so as to reduce and/or eliminate noise. For example, the cables may be routed through contact prevention devices that may include ferrite cores. The cables may also be routed in a manner so as to maintain a predefined distance therebetween and to minimize interference. For example, the cables may extend downward from a corresponding reading portion, change course to a horizontal direction parallel to the rotation axis of an openable unit of the image reading apparatus and such that the cable extends toward the controller, and subsequently extend downward such that the flexible flat cable is insertable into a corresponding connector of the controller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main chassis, an image reader unit, a cover unit, a first movable assembly, which rotatably supports the cover unit to be rotatable with respect to the image reader unit, and a second movable assembly, which rotatably supports the image reader unit to be rotatable with respect to the main chassis. The first movable assembly includes a support member, which supports the cover unit to be vertically movable with respect to the image reader unit, and a frame, which is arranged on the image reader unit and accommodates the support member. The first movable assembly is arranged to have a lower end thereof to be in a lower position with respect to a lower end of the image reader unit. The second movable assembly is arranged in a lower position with respect to the first movable assembly.

Abstract: An image forming device, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes a main body casing, a catch tray provided on the main body casing to be loaded with the sheet discharged in a first direction with the image formed thereon, and a cover configured to cover a downstream-side face of the main body casing in the first direction in an openable and closable manner. The catch tray is disposed such that a downstream-side end thereof in the first direction faces an upstream-side end of the cover in the first direction. The downstream-side end of the catch tray and the upstream-side end of the cover are configured to mutually overlap when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a scanner swingable between a closed position to close an upper side of a catch tray of a printer and an opened position to open the upper side of the catch tray, a positioning mechanism having a protruding section formed at one of the printer and the scanner and a recessed section formed at the other such that the protruding section is fitted thereinto in the closed position, and a lock mechanism configured with an engagement hole formed at one of the protruding section and the recessed section and an engagement portion formed at the other so as to hold the closed position by engagement therebetween. When the scanner is swung to the closed position, a contact portion of the protruding section contacts a contact portion of the recessed section before the engagement portion contacts the engagement hole or a region around the engagement hole.

Abstract: A processor is provided, the processor including: an obtaining unit that obtains abnormality information related to an abnormality from an image forming device in which the abnormality occurs; an abnormality information storing unit that stores the abnormality information obtained by the obtaining unit as history information; a failure position information storing unit that stores failure position information for each phenomenon related to the abnormality; an extracting unit that extracts the failure position information corresponding to the latest abnormality information and abnormality information similar to the latest abnormality information among the abnormality information stored in the abnormality information storing unit from the failure position information storing unit; and an output unit that outputs an extracted result extracted by the extracting unit as specific deciding information of a cause related to the occurring abnormality.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, which may be used in an image forming apparatus includes a document table including a flat surface for receiving a document, and a document cover that can be moved between a first position covering the flat surface and a second position exposing the flat surface. The image reading apparatus may further include an automatic document feeder disposed on the document cover that can automatically feed a document toward the flat surface. The automatic document feeder includes a gear train, and a gear cover covering a portion of the gear train, wherein the gear cover includes a protrusion that protrudes downward below the flat surface of the document table.

Abstract: A discharge tray is provided on a predetermined surface of an image forming unit for receiving a recording medium discharged from the image forming unit. The image reading unit is disposed in confrontation with the discharge tray for reading an image from an original document. The coupling portion is disposed at a first position on the image forming unit. The coupling portion couples the image reading unit with the image forming unit, allowing the image reading unit to pivotally move about a first pivoting axis. The image reading unit is pivotally movable between a closed position for covering the discharge tray and an open position for exposing the discharge tray. The pivoting-restricting portion is disposed at a second position different from the first position. The pivoting-restricting portion restricts pivotal movement of the image reading unit past the open position in an opening direction.

Abstract: An image forming device, which is configured to form an image on a sheet, includes a main body casing, a catch tray provided on the main body casing to be loaded with the sheet discharged in a first direction with the image formed thereon, and a cover configured to cover a downstream-side face of the main body casing in the first direction in an openable and closable manner. The catch tray is disposed such that a downstream-side end thereof in the first direction faces an upstream-side end of the cover in the first direction. The downstream-side end of the catch tray and the upstream-side end of the cover are configured to mutually overlap when viewed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a vertical direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main casing; a photosensitive member; a process cartridge that can be installed or removed with respect to the main casing along a removal path; a pick-up roller located above a sheet accommodating portion; and a feed path along which a sheet can be conveyed from the sheet accommodating portion to a discharge port. At least a part of the feed path is substantially parallel to the removal path and located between the sheet accommodating portion and the process cartridge when the process cartridge is installed in the main casing; and an image forming position where an image is transferred from the photosensitive member to the sheet is located along the feed path at a position lower than an upper surface of the pick-up roller in a verticle direction.

Abstract: In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include a sheet conveyance path having a generally U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion may be formed by inner and outer guides, and the guides may be arranged such that they may be sequentially removed from the apparatus in a common direction, and through a common opening in the apparatus. For example, to remove a fixing portion from within the apparatus, the outer guide may first be removed, followed by the removal of the inner guide, and then followed by the removal of the fixing portion. The guides may overlap one another when viewed from the common direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is configured to read an image of a document. The image reading apparatus includes a main body, a document receiving surface configured to receive a document to be read, an operation panel disposed on the main body and a document cover configured to move between a first position covering the document receiving surface and a second position exposing the document receiving surface. The operation panel has a first inclined surface inclined relative to the document receiving surface and operation keys arranged on the first inclined surface. The document cover has a second inclined surface inclined relative to the document receiving surface. When the document cover is in the first position, the second inclined surface may generally align with the first inclined surface, may be immediately adjacent to the first inclined surface, and may be inclined less than the first inclined surface relative to the document receiving surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; an image reading unit that reads the image entered on an original and is disposed upwardly of the image forming unit; a joint member that connects the image forming unit and the image reading unit, the joint member including a first recess depressed toward a space formed between the image forming unit and the image reading unit; and a cover member including: a lower side fixed to the image forming unit; an upper side extending toward the image reading unit for covering the first recess; and a second recess depressed toward the first recess so as to follow the shape of the first recess.

Abstract: Toe-fortifiable footwear includes a sole portion and a step formation member of a constant thickness attached to an inside of the footwear. The step formation member has a forward end part that forms a step part for having an insole surface of the footwear divided into a first insole surface part for toes and a second insole surface part constituting a top surface of the step formation member for a plantar surface exclusive of the first insole surface. The first and second insole surface parts differ in height by the constant thickness. The step formation member may be used as a separate toe-forcible insole member.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.