Abstract: A sheet feeder stackable in multiple levels and attachable to an image forming apparatus. The sheet feeder includes a drive source, a drive transmission unit, a first drive coupling unit, a second drive coupling unit, a sheet feed roller, and a grip roller. During operation of multiple sheet feeders stacked in the multiple levels, the drive transmission unit and the first drive coupling unit, both provided to a given sheet feeder of the multiple sheet feeders, are coupled to each other, and the first drive coupling unit of the given sheet feeder is coupled to the grip roller of an adjacent sheet feeder disposed immediately below the given sheet feeder to drive the grip roller of each of the multiple sheet feeders substantially in synchrony.

Abstract: An operation receiving apparatus includes an input data display unit, an output data display unit, an operation reception unit, and a setting unit. The input data display unit displays input data. The output data display unit displays output data generated from the input data on the basis of a processing condition. The operation reception unit receives an operation for the input data that is displayed by the input data display unit and an operation for the output data that is displayed by the output data display unit. The setting unit sets the processing condition to be different depending on whether the operation reception unit receives an operation as an operation for the input data that is displayed by the input data display unit or as an operation for the output data that is displayed by the output data display unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeder incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet container to accommodate a sheet, a sheet feeding unit, a sheet conveyance member, a sheet conveying unit disposed downstream from the sheet feeding member in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller to stop the sheet feeding unit before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit and to resume the driving, and to drive the sheet conveying unit to start while rotating the sheet feeding unit. The controller adjusts a temporary stop period for the driving of the sheet feeding unit before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit, according to a period in which the sheet passes first and second points determined optionally between a standby position determined prior to feeding of the sheet and a temporary stop position located before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a high-speed mode and a low-speed mode and includes a speed switch unit configured to select the high-speed mode or the low-speed mode by switching a rotation direction of a drive source. The speed switch unit includes a drive gear attached to a rotating shaft of the drive source; a first drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a first direction to an image carrier; and a second drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a second direction to the image carrier, the second drive gear series having a larger reduction ratio than the first drive gear series. The speed switch unit causes the drive gear to be selectively connected to the first drive gear series or the second drive gear series depending on the rotating direction of the drive source.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover.

Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a exposure device as a light source, a developer container storing developer and attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the photoconductor, a developing unit and a photoconductor unit having a photoconductor for bearing a latent image thereon each detachably attached to the main body substantially in the same direction as the developer container. An exposure device displacing mechanism displaces the exposure device between a first position enabling the exposure device to function as the light source and a second position disabling the exposure device to function as the light source. The photoconductor unit is detached when the developer container is either displaced from an initially attached position or is removed from the main body and the exposure device displacing device has displaced the exposure device to the second position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder incorporatable in an image forming apparatus includes a sheet container to accommodate a sheet, a sheet feeding unit, a sheet conveyance member, a sheet conveying unit disposed downstream from the sheet feeding member in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller to stop the sheet feeding unit before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit and to resume the driving, and to drive the sheet conveying unit to start while rotating the sheet feeding unit. The controller adjusts a temporary stop period for the driving of the sheet feeding unit before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit, according to a period in which the sheet passes first and second points determined optionally between a standby position determined prior to feeding of the sheet and a temporary stop position located before the sheet abuts against the sheet conveying unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, first and second rotary shafts, a drive source to rotate at a predetermined low velocity and a predetermined high velocity, a first rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the first rotary shaft, a second rotary transmitter connected between the drive force and the second rotary shaft, and a drive block member connected between the drive source and the second rotary shaft to block transmission of the drive force to the second rotary shaft when the drive source rotates at the predetermined high velocity. When the drive source rotates at the predetermined low velocity, the drive source drives the second rotary shaft using a difference in torque between an upper limit in high velocity rotation and an upper limit in low velocity rotation greater than the upper limit in high velocity rotation.

Abstract: A drive transmission system includes a shaft member storing grease in a shaft outer circumferential small diameter section. A drive transmission gear is provided including a gear inner circumferential sliding section and a gear inner circumferential large diameter section. A gear moving device is provided to move the drive transmission gear reciprocally along the shaft member in a shaft direction. A restriction device is provided to restrict a movement range of the drive transmission gear along the shaft member in the shaft direction to enable the gear inner circumferential large diameter section to face the shaft outer circumferential small diameter section substantially continuously.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that conveys a transfer material, and a photosensitive body that catches the transfer material between the photosensitive body and the transfer belt and that transfers a toner image to the transfer material. The transfer belt is driven in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover, and the photosensitive body is separated from the transfer belt in conjunction with the opening action of the front cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a high-speed mode and a low-speed mode and includes a speed switch unit configured to select the high-speed mode or the low-speed mode by switching a rotation direction of a drive source. The speed switch unit includes a drive gear attached to a rotating shaft of the drive source; a first drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a first direction to an image carrier; and a second drive gear series transmitting a rotating power of the drive source upon rotation in a second direction to the image carrier, the second drive gear series having a larger reduction ratio than the first drive gear series. The speed switch unit causes the drive gear to be selectively connected to the first drive gear series or the second drive gear series depending on the rotating direction of the drive source.

Abstract: A reciprocating-motion converting mechanism includes a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam. A first load torque is generated by a load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating motion member. A load applying unit applies a load to the cam to generate a second load torque having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque.

Abstract: In an interlock device for turning a switch on and off in accordance with closing and opening of a plurality of covers covering a body of an electronic apparatus, one striker protrudes from each of the covers. An engagement member is provided inside the body of the electronic apparatus to move in a predetermined direction to contact and separate from the switch to turn the switch on and off. All the strikers contact the engagement member to turn on the switch when all the covers are closed. At least one of the strikers separates from the engagement member to turn off the switch when the corresponding cover is opened.

Abstract: Plural auxiliary rotating members abut at different positions in a circumferential direction of a roller-shaped rotating member that is configured to rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. Diameters of a portion of the roller-shaped rotating member where a first auxiliary rotating member abuts and a portion of the roller-shaped rotating member where a second auxiliary rotating member abuts are different from each other. Conveying speeds of sheets conveyed by the first auxiliary rotating member and the second auxiliary rotating member with the roller-shaped rotating member in different directions at the same time are different from each other.

Abstract: A reciprocating-motion converting mechanism includes a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam. A first load torque is generated by a load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating motion member. A load applying unit applies a load to the cam to generate a second load torque having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque.

Abstract: A reciprocating-motion converting mechanism includes a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam. A first load torque is generated by a load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating motion member. A load applying unit applies a load to the cam to generate a second load torque having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque.

Abstract: When starting driving of an agitating unit or a developing roller in an image forming apparatus, rotation speed of one or both of the agitating unit and the developing roller is raised in a stepwise manner until the agitating unit and the developing roller attain a steady rotation speed. When stopping the driving of the agitating unit or the developing roller, the rotation speed is lowered in a stepwise manner until completion of stop of the driving.

Abstract: There are disclosed a conductive antioxidant paint suitably used as an antioxidant material for a graphite electrode used in arc furnaces such as electric steel-making furnaces, and a graphite electrode coated with the conductive antioxidant paint.

Abstract: There are disclosed a conductive antioxidant paint suitably used as an antioxidant material for a graphite electrode used in arc furnaces such as electric steel-making furnaces, and a graphite electrode coated with the conductive antioxidant paint.