Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion including a photosensitive member and a developing portion, a sheet accommodating portion, a sheet feeding portion, and a first frame. The first frame includes an upper space supporting the image forming portion, and a lower space under the upper space. A second frame is mountable to a lower portion of said first frame. The accommodating portion and the feeding portion are replaceable with a supply container containing toner to be supplied to a developing portion of the image forming portion, in which the second frame supports the accommodating portion and the feeding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material, a first metal plate and a second metal plate that face each other to sandwich the image forming unit, and a third metal plate that is located between the first metal plate and the second metal plate and is joined to the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The first metal plate and the third metal plate are welded together at a plurality of welding positions, an adhesive is applied to between the first metal plate and the third metal plate in a range sandwiched between two welding positions of the plurality of welding positions in a region where the first metal plate and the third metal plate are in contact with each other, and the first metal plate and the third metal plate are thereby joined together.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion including a photosensitive member and a developing portion, a sheet accommodating portion, a sheet feeding portion, and a first frame. The first frame includes an upper space supporting the image forming portion, and a lower space under the upper space. A second frame is mountable to a lower portion of said first frame. The accommodating portion and the feeding portion are replaceable with a supply container containing toner to be supplied to a developing portion of the image forming portion, in which the second frame supports the accommodating portion and the feeding portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion including a photosensitive member and a developing portion configured to develop, with toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member, the image forming portion being configured to form an image on the sheet, a first frame including an upper space supporting the image forming portion and a lower space under the upper space, an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the sheet, a feeding portion configured to feed the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a supply container configured to contain the toner to be supplied to the developing portion of the image forming portion. The accommodating portion and the feeding portion are provided in the lower space and, alternatively, the supply container is provided in the lower space together with a second frame which is mountable to a lower portion of the first frame.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit, a detection unit provided downstream of the feeding unit, a measurement unit that measures a measured time from the start of conveyance of a recording material to the detection of the recording material, and a determination unit that performs renewal determination for determining whether the feeding unit has been replaced with a new feeding unit. Thus, replacement of the feeding unit with a new feeding unit can automatically be detected.

Abstract: A sheet supporting apparatus includes a first casing, a sheet supporting portion configured to be drawn out in a first direction, a first lock member pivotably supported around a first pivot shaft by the first casing between a first lock position and a first non-lock position, a second lock member pivotably supported around a second pivot shaft by the first casing between a second lock position and a second non-lock position, and a third lock member pivotably supported around a third pivot shaft by the first casing between a third lock position and a third non-lock position. The third lock member is disposed at a position different from the first lock member and the second lock member in the first direction and a second direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction and a gravity direction.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion including a photosensitive member and a developing portion, a sheet accommodating portion, a sheet feeding portion, and a first frame. The first frame includes an upper space supporting the image forming portion, and a lower space under the upper space. A second frame is mountable to a lower portion of said first frame. The accommodating portion and the feeding portion are replaceable with a supply container containing toner to be supplied to a developing portion of the image forming portion, in which the second frame supports the accommodating portion and the feeding portion.

Abstract: A stacking device includes a stacking unit, a regulation member, an interlocking member, a pivoting member provided on the interlocking member, a sensor having an output, and a determination unit. The stacking unit stacks a sheet on the stacking unit. The regulation member moves in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and regulates a position of the sheet by abutting on an edge of the sheet stacked in the stacking unit. The interlocking member interlocks with the regulation member. The pivoting member rotates. The sensor output changes based on positions of the interlocking member and the pivoting member. The determination unit determines a size of the sheet based on the output of the sensor.

Abstract: A driving device includes a motor; a stay supporting the motor; a gear configured to receive a driving force from the motor; and a supporting shaft rotatably supporting the gear, the supporting shaft being supported by the stay. The supporting shaft stands at a side of the stay opposite from a side thereof where the stay supports the motor. The stay supports the motor in a first region and supports the supporting shaft in a second region offset from the first region in a direction of being away from the motor.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit, a detection unit provided downstream of the feeding unit, a measurement unit that measures a measured time from the start of conveyance of a recording material to the detection of the recording material, and a determination unit that performs renewal determination for determining whether the feeding unit has been replaced with a new unit. Thus, replacement of the feeding unit with a new unit can automatically be detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit that forms an unfixed toner image on a recording medium; a fixing unit that heats the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image and fixes the unfixed toner image onto the recording medium at a nip portion; a heating member and a pressurizing member that touches the heating member and forms the nip portion therebetween; a first blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the heating member; and a second blower that blows air to a non-sheet-passing area of a small-size recording medium in the pressurizing member. Upon the temperature of the non-sheet-passing area of the heating member exceeding a threshold temperature, the first blower blows without the second blower blowing, then the two blowers start blowing together.

Abstract: A supply unit holds a supply unit including a pickup roller for supplying a sheet, enables the supply unit including the pickup roller to be installed into an image forming apparatus, and includes a roller-protecting member. The roller-protecting member has a roller-protecting surface that covers the pickup roller of the supply unit and includes engaging pawls that can engage and integrally hold the supply unit including the pickup roller with the roller-protecting surface covering the pickup roller.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size positions a trailing end regulator, a fixing member for non-standard size does not engage with a rack gear.

Abstract: To enable placement of a regulating member which regulates a position of an end of a paper sheet at a desired position, and stable sheet feeding. A fixing member for standard size (33) is guided to engage with a fixing hole for standard size (42) and, in a state where the fixing member for standard size (33) positions a trailing end regulator (24), a fixing member for non-standard size (34) does not engage with a rack gear (43).

Abstract: A transmission member configured to transmit driving of a driving member to a driven member includes a first engaging portion for engaging with the driving member and a spring portion having a shape wound around an axis. The spring portion is to be compressed in a direction of the axis. The spring portion includes a first wound portion wound around the axis and a second wound portion wound around the axis. The second wound portion is connected to the first wound portion and includes a small-radius portion. The small-radius portion is disposed such that, when the spring portion is projected in the direction of the axis, an outer portion of the small-radius portion is projected to inside of a mid-portion between an outer portion of the first wound portion and an inner portion of the first wound portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A transmission member configured to transmit driving of a driving member to a driven member includes a first engaging portion for engaging with the driving member and a spring portion having a shape wound around an axis. The spring portion is to be compressed in a direction of the axis. The spring portion includes a first wound portion wound around the axis and a second wound portion wound around the axis. The second wound portion is connected to the first wound portion and includes a small-radius portion. The small-radius portion is disposed such that, when the spring portion is projected in the direction of the axis, an outer portion of the small-radius portion is projected to inside of a mid-portion between an outer portion of the first wound portion and an inner portion of the first wound portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis.