Abstract: A paper feeding device is capable of judging that a paper jam occurs on the basis of output from a first paper detecting switch and a second paper detecting switch. These paper detecting switches are respectively provided ahead of and behind a registration roller which feeds paper sheets to an image forming section. If the first paper detecting switch is turned on when a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration roller started to feed a paper sheet to the image forming section, it is judged that a duplicate paper feeding state has occurred where a plurality of paper sheets are simultaneously fed. If the second paper detecting switch is turned off in the case where it is judged that a duplicate paper feeding state has occurred, it is judged that a paper jam has not occurred. The registration roller is stopped so it will later be ready to feed the subsequent paper sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mount portion which permits a cassette containing a plurality of stacks of sheets arranged side by side in rows to be mounted to the image forming apparatus; a feeder for feeding sheets side by side in a state where the cassette is mounted to the mount portion; an imaging assembly for forming an image on each of the sheets being fed side by side; a sheet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet contained in the cassette for each row; and a control unit for, when the absence of a sheet is detected in any of the rows, stopping at least an image forming operation along a corresponding transport path. Accordingly, even if all the sheets run out in any one of the rows, the corresponding transport path and the like can be prevented from getting smeared due to the image forming operation carried out despite the fact that no sheets are being fed.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a feeder for feeding a sheet, a cassette for containing a plurality of stacks of small sized sheets side by side therein, the cassette including a plurality of biasing members for biasing the respective stacks of small sized sheets upwards so as to bring uppermost sheets of the respective stacks into contact with the feeder, a plurality of sheet detectors arranged in positions corresponding to the respective stacks of sheets for detecting the height of the respective stacks of sheets contained in the cassette, and a controller responsive to the plurality of sheet detectors for determining the absence of sheet in the cassette when at least one of the plurality of sheet detectors detects that the height of the stack has become lower than a predetermined height, and stopping a sheet feeding operation. This sheet feeder prevents the transfer device of an image forming apparatus from being smeared due to the fact that the small sized sheet is fed from only one stack.

Abstract: A cassette is attachable to an image forming apparatus including a feed roller. The cassette is provided with a push-up member for pushing up leading edges of sheets placed in the cassette so as to bring the uppermost one of the contained sheets into contact with the feed roller, and a restricting member for restricting displacement of the contained sheets from a specified position. By attaching thus constructed cassette to the image forming apparatus, sheets can be fed properly by the feed roller.

Abstract: A parallel transport apparatus for transporting sheets side by side along a plurality of transport paths is provided with a feed roller which is brought into contact with uppermost sheets of a plurality of stacks of sheet contained side by side in a cassette and is adapted for feeding the uppermost sheets side by side; a separation roller pair arranged at a specified position of each of the plurality of transport paths and adapted for separating the sheets fed side by side so that one each of sheets are transported along the respective transport paths simultaneously; a sheet detector arranged downstream from the separation roller pair with respect to a sheet transport direction and adapted for detecting the presence or absence of sheets being transported side by side; and a multifeed discriminator for discriminating whether the multiple feeding has been occurred along any of the transport paths in accordance with an output from the sheet detector.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding sheet materials is equipped with a container body in which two sheet material-holding devices are arranged in parallel in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices includes a pair of width restriction members which are so disposed that their positions can be freely adjusted in the direction of width. Each of the sheet material-holding devices further includes a rear end restriction member that is so disposed that its position can be freely adjusted in the feeding direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for making discriminations between cartridges for housing toners to be equipped on image forming apparatus such as electrostatic copiers, laser beam printers, facsimiles, etc. in which while a cartridge indicating means is provided on a part of a toner housing cartridge, an indication detecting means for detecting the aforementioned cartridge indicating means is provided on the image forming apparatus proper side, so that the suitability of the type or position of the cartridge inserted is detected by detecting the cartridge indicating means by the aforementioned detecting means, when the cartridge has been inserted into the cartridge inserting part of the image forming apparatus proper.

Abstract: An image-forming machine having a conveying passage for conveying a sheet material through a transfer zone, a first and a second feed device for feeding the sheet material to the conveying passage, a first feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the first feed device to the conveying passage, a second feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the second feed device to the conveying passage, and a first and a second opening-closing member for opening and closing the first and second feed passages. Various improvements are made on the first and second opening-closing members.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprising a conveying passage for conveying a sheet material through a transfer zone, a first and a second feed system for feeding the sheet material to the conveying passage, a first feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the first feed system to the conveying passage, a second feed passage for conducting the sheet material delivered from the second feed system to the conveying passage, and a first and a second opening-closing member for opening and closing the first and second feed passages. Various improvements are made on the first and second opening-closing members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for making discriminations between cartridges for housing toners to be equipped on image forming apparatus such as electrostatic copiers, laser beam printers, facsimiles, etc. in which while a cartridge indicating means is provided on a part of a toner housing cartridge, an indication detecting means for detecting the aforementioned cartridge indicating means is provided on the image forming apparatus proper side, so that the suitability of the type or position of the cartridge inserted is detected by detecting the cartridge indicating means by the aforementioned detecting means, when the cartridge has been inserted into the cartridge inserting part of the image forming apparatus proper.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a plurality of copy paper detector sensors in a delivery passage for copy paper. After a first copy paper detector sensor has been turned ON, if a copy paper detector sensor just downstream of the first copy paper detector sensor is not turned ON within a predetermined period of time, there are checked the ON/OFF status of the first copy paper detector sensor and copy paper detector sensors upstream thereof. If one or more of the copy paper detector sensors are ON, the length of the copy paper is compared with a distance between each of the last-mentioned copy paper detector sensors and a copy paper detector sensor just downstream thereof. Based on the comparison result, the position where the copy paper has jammed, is judged.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device which includes a paper-feeding cassette removably located into an image processing apparatus, a locking mechanism for inhibiting extraction of the paper-feeding cassette by engaging with the cassette or a cassette mount, and a locking control device for activating operation of the locking mechanism while a paper-feeding operation is underway. Since the locking control device remains activated while the paper-feeding operation is underway, the operator cannot extract the paper-feeding cassette from the image processing apparatus during a paper-feeding operation.

Abstract: A magnification selecting device which is capable of continuously varying magnifications by operating either UP or DOWN key and also slowing down the speed of varying mangifications only when these magnifications are in a position close to the predetermined magnification.

Abstract: A copying machine which develops an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an original image into a toner image, transfers the toner image on the copying paper and fuses the toner image later on the copying paper by means of a heating and fusing device, detects types of copying papers to be transferred by the toner image and when the copying paper is large in size, a fixed standstill time is arranged between the scanning and exposing operation of an original and a restoring operation to a home position is made and a fusing operation is prevented without fail when a temperature of the heating and fusing device drops below a fusing temperature.

Abstract: A method for controlling a copying machine having a copying cycle and fusing device. The fusing device is formed of a rotatable heating roller and a press roller in mutually forcible contact with the heating roller, which fuses a toner image on a copying paper at a fusing temperature upon passage through the rollers. The heating roller is heated to a first temperature above the fusing temperature. The copying cycle is delayed during a first interval of time after the heating roller reaches the first temperature. The copying cycle is set to a wait-reset state after the first time interval. The heating roller is cooled to a second temperature below the fusing temperature and the copying cycle is set to a wait state. The heating roller is heated from the second temperature to the fusing temperature during a second interval of time. The copying cycle is restored to the wait-reset state during the second time interval before the heating roller reaches the fusing temperature.

Abstract: A copying machine with a variable magnification device comprising two paper cassettes mounted in a drawable manner in vertically spaced relation and a select key for the paper cassettes, wherein the desired cassette can be selected as a source of the copying paper by operating the select key. The upper paper cassette is provided with the copying paper for variable magnification copying, and the upper cassette is automatically selected as the paper source when a detector indicates that the variable magnification copying mode has been selected.