Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt; an image forming station for forming an image on a belt or on a recording material carried on a belt in a region opposing the belt; a first detector, provided in one of upstream and downstream sides of the region with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, for detecting a position of the belt with respect to a widthwise direction; a second detector, provided in the other of upstream and downstream sides of the region with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, for detecting a moving direction in the region; a steering roller, disposed in the one side with respect to the rotational direction, for correcting a position of the belt with respect to the widthwise direction by inclining; a first controller for controlling an inclination of the steering roller on the basis of an output of the first detector; an adjusting roller, provided in the other of the sides with respect to the rotational direction, for adjusting the moving direction in the r

Abstract: A both-face automatic original feeding apparatus wherein a plurality of originals having images on their first and second surfaces are successively supplied from an original stacking portion to a predetermined position for reading an original, and each original is reversely rotated through a switch-back path after the first surface of the original passes through the predetermined position, thereby supplying the original to the predetermined position again to direct the second surface of the original to the predetermined position.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a sheet supporting unit for supporting sheets, a sheet absorb device for air-absorbing a lowermost sheet from among the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit, a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the sheet absorb device, a regulator for regulating a downward movement of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting unit by abutting tip ends of such sheets against the regulator, a passage arranged between the conveyer and the regulator and adapted to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyer, and a controller for driving the conveyer in a reverse direction after the sheet conveyed by the conveyer is fed out through the passage.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device can perform registration of a sheet with high precision even if the sheet is fed at high speed. The device includes a pair of active registration rollers, disposed at a side upstream from a reading unit in the sheet feeding direction, for correcting skew of the sheet, skew-amount detection sensors, disposed at a side downstream from the pair of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, respective pairs of feeding rollers, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of active registration rollers in the sheet feeding direction, and sheet detection sensors, disposed at a side upstream from the pairs of feeding rollers in the sheet feeding direction. Each of the pairs of feeding rollers includes a roller having a semispherical cross section at the driving side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet supporting unit for supporting sheets, a sheet absorb device for absorbing a sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit to separate the sheet from the other sheets, a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed by the sheet absorb means, and a sheet feature detecting device for detecting rigidity of the sheet absorbed by the sheet absorb device.

Abstract: A separating apparatus for separating foreign matter from magnetic toner, includes a filter with openings allowing a toner to pass therethrough, a vibration generator for vibrating the filter in a substantially horizontal direction relative to a filter surface of the filter, and magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field for attracting the magnetic toner through the filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device with a rotating member for performing a fixing operation by pinching and carrying a recording medium supporting an unfixed image. It separates a member pressing against the surface of the rotating member to separate the recording medium from the rotating member and its contact pressure is switchable between the first and second pressure, the second pressure being less than the first pressure and the switching taking place during the separation of the recording medium from the rotating member and after a front edge of the recording medium has separated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus with a sheet support for supporting a plurality of sheets, a first sheet absorb unit arranged facing a sheet surface of the sheet stack supported by the sheet support for absorbing the sheet by air suction, a second sheet absorb unit arranged facing a tip end of the sheet stack in a sheet supply direction for absorbing the sheet by air suction and a conveyer for conveying the sheet absorbed to the first and second sheet absorb units. The first sheet absorb unit and the second sheet absorb unit are respectively disposed at positions where the first sheet absorb unit is substantially parallel to the sheet surface and the second sheet absorb unit is inclined relative to the sheet surface. When a sheet stops a feeding unit operates in response to return the sheet to the sheet stack as the sheet is being absorbed by the first sheet absorb unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus which includes a first conveying device for conveying a sheet stack formed in a stepped fashion by offsetting each sheet by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction toward the predetermined direction or toward an opposite direction, a separating device disposed at a downstream side of the first conveying means in the predetermined direction and adapted to separate an outermost sheet from the sheet stack being fed by the first conveying device, a second conveying device for conveying the sheet separated by the separating device, and control device for controlling the first conveying device in such a manner that the first conveying device is activated to convey the sheet stack in the predetermined direction and the first conveying device is stopped after the sheet separated by the separating device starts to be conveyed by the second conveying device.

Abstract: An image fixing rotatable member includes an elastic layer into which filler material is mixed, the elastic layer having a surface provided with pores with a porosity of 3-50%, and a resin layer applied and sintered on the elastic layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum heater for heating an image bearing member and a guide for guiding air to the image bearing member. The guide forms a path of the air flow. In the path, there are provided a filter for removing dust from the air adjacent an optical system, a fan and a heater for heating the air. The air heated by the heater is introduced to the image bearing member after passing by or around a corona wire of a charger of the image forming apparatus so as to remove moisture from the image bearing member.

Abstract: In a developing device adapted to be removably mounted with respect to an image forming apparatus, there are provided protective cover members for covering and protecting a developing sleeve for developing a latent image on an image bearing member and spacer rollers for maintaining the gap between the image bearing member and the developing sleeve at a predetermined distance. Opening-closing of these protective cover members is effected in response to operation of a member such as a handle which is capable of being drawn out with respect to the developing device.