Abstract: A sheet separating device includes a sheet separator that includes plural separating portions which have a planar shape and which are stacked one on top of another. The sheet separator has openings provided between the plural separating portions at both ends of the plural separating portions in a sheet passing direction. The sheet separator allows gaps between the plural separating portions facing one another to receive one of plural sheets apiece so as to cause the plural sheets to be kept separated from one another. The sheet separating device is held on a placement portion of a sheet processing apparatus that includes a sheet processing unit and the placement portion. The sheet processing unit sequentially feeds thereinto the plural sheets through a feeding opening and performs processing on the plural sheets. The plural sheets to be fed through the feeding opening are placed on the placement portion.

Abstract: A harness connection structure electrically connects a main body and a movable member with a harness to each other. The movable member is provided such that the movable member can be pulled out with respect to the main body. The harness connection structure includes a harness having one end fixed to a front side of one surface of the main body in a pull-out direction of the movable member, the one surface of the main body facing one surface of the movable member with a gap, and the other end fixed to a back side of the movable member in a pull-out direction of the movable member, a first suppressing portion provided on the one surface of the main body and suppressing a movement of the harness to a pull-out side of the movable member, and a second suppressing portion suppressing a movement of the harness toward the movable member between the one surface of the movable member and the one surface of the main body.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes a sheet separator that includes plural separating portions which have a planar shape and which are stacked one on top of another. The sheet separator has openings provided between the plural separating portions at both ends of the plural separating portions in a sheet passing direction. The sheet separator allows gaps between the plural separating portions facing one another to receive one of plural sheets apiece so as to cause the plural sheets to be kept separated from one another. The sheet separating device is held on a placement portion of a sheet processing apparatus that includes a sheet processing unit and the placement portion. The sheet processing unit sequentially feeds thereinto the plural sheets through a feeding opening and performs processing on the plural sheets. The plural sheets to be fed through the feeding opening are placed on the placement portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a containing member that is detachably disposed in an interior space of the housing and that contains a color material, an opening and closing member that opens and closes an opening of the housing by rotating about an axis, which is formed in a lower portion of the housing, when the containing member is replaced, and a cover member that includes surface portions, a first end attached to the housing, and a second end attached to the opening and closing member and that forms a color-material-receiving surface by covering a region between the housing and the opening and closing member from above when the opening and closing member opens the opening, the cover member being formed to be folded such that one of the surface portions and the other surface portions face one another when the opening and closing member closes the opening.

Abstract: An air sending mechanism includes an air sending unit including a rotating shaft and a plurality of blade members provided on the rotating shaft, the air sending unit being configured to send air by producing a swirl flow swirling about the rotating shaft with rotation of the plurality of blade members; a wall member provided on a downstream side in an air sending direction with respect to the air sending unit in such a manner as to face the air sending unit; and a rectifying member provided between the air sending unit and the wall member and having at least one bend or curve provided as a result of the member being angled or curved such that the swirl flow produced by the air sending unit is guided in an intersecting direction that intersects the air sending direction.

Abstract: An air sending mechanism includes an air sending unit including a rotating shaft and a plurality of blade members provided on the rotating shaft, the air sending unit being configured to send air by producing a swirl flow swirling about the rotating shaft with rotation of the plurality of blade members; a wall member provided on a downstream side in an air sending direction with respect to the air sending unit in such a manner as to face the air sending unit; and a rectifying member provided between the air sending unit and the wall member and having at least one bend or curve provided as a result of the member being angled or curved such that the swirl flow produced by the air sending unit is guided in an intersecting direction that intersects the air sending direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charging member; a blast port that is provided in almost parallel with a longitudinal direction of the charging member; an air inlet that is provided on one of end sides in the longitudinal direction of the charging member; and a guiding passage that guides, to the blast port, the outside air taken in through the air inlet. A first guiding member is provided in the closest position to an air inlet side of the guiding passage. A second guiding member is provided in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage. A third guiding member is provided on the blast port side from the second guiding member in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a charging member; a blast port that is provided in almost parallel with a longitudinal direction of the charging member; an air inlet that is provided on one of end sides in the longitudinal direction of the charging member; and a guiding passage that guides, to the blast port, the outside air taken in through the air inlet. A first guiding member is provided in the closest position to an air inlet side of the guiding passage. A second guiding member is provided in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage. A third guiding member is provided on the blast port side from the second guiding member in almost parallel with the longitudinal direction of the charging member in the guiding passage.

Abstract: A recording material cooling apparatus includes: a cooling belt that is in contact with a toner-image surface of a recording material on which a toner image is heated by a fixing device to be in a fusing state, to cool the recording material while conveying the recording material; and an air blowing unit that blows air toward the toner-image surface of the recording material which is between the fixing device and the cooling belt, the toner-image surface being in the fusing state, or an air sucking unit that sucks air from the toner-image surface.

Abstract: A recording material cooling apparatus includes: a cooling belt that is in contact with a toner-image surface of a recording material on which a toner image is heated by a fixing device to be in a fusing state, to cool the recording material while conveying the recording material; and an air blowing unit that blows air toward the toner-image surface of the recording material which is between the fixing device and the cooling belt, the toner-image surface being in the fusing state, or an air sucking unit that sucks air from the toner-image surface.

Abstract: A sheet carrying unit, includes: a first belt stretched by a plurality of rollers, the first belt carrying a sheet while putting the sheet on a surface of the first belt; a first driving roller that drives the first belt; a second belt stretched by a plurality of rollers, the second belt carrying the sheet while holding the sheet together with the first belt; and a second driving roller that drives the second belt; wherein a frictional force generated between the second driving roller and the second belt is set smaller than a frictional force generated between the first belt and the first driving roller, a frictional force generated between the first belt and the sheet, and a frictional force generated between the second belt and the sheet, respectively.