Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image onto a recording medium, a supply path for supplying a recording medium to the image forming unit, a first discharge path for discharging the recording medium, a return path, connected with the first discharge path, for returning the recording medium to the image forming unit, a second discharge path, substantially parallel with the supply path, for discharging the recording medium, and a guide member movable from a first position to create the first discharge path and the return path to a second position to create the second discharge path.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for rotating a drive roller includes an input transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive force from a motor, an output transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force to the drive roller, an intermediate transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting the drive force from the input transmission mechanism to the output transmission mechanism in either a first direction or a second direction, and a switching mechanism for moving the intermediate transmission mechanism to a first position to drive the output transmission mechanism in the first direction or a second position to drive the output transmission mechanism in the second direction.

Abstract: A developing device having a toner container in which a toner agitator and a cleaning member is provided. The toner agitator agitates the toner in the toner container and transport the toner into a developing chamber. The toner container has a pair of light transmission windows through which light passes. If no toner exist between the light transmission windows, the light passes through the two windows to provide a signal indicative of exchange of the developing device with a new device. If toner exists therebetween, light cannot pass through two windows. The cleaning member wipes off the toner from the surface of the windows.

Abstract: A developing device in an image forming apparatus is provided with: a developing roller opposed to a photosensitive body, on which an electro-static latent image is formed, for developing the electro-static latent image by using toner; a supplying roller for supplying the toner to the developing roller; a wall member prescribing a developing chamber, in which the developing roller and the supplying roller are disposed, and a toner supply port, through which the toner is supplied into the developing chamber; a pair of upper and lower augers disposed in the developing chamber at a vicinity of the toner supply port for carrying and circulating the toner supplied through the toner supply port, and adhering the toner onto the supplying roller; and an auger partition plate disposed between the upper and lower augers for restricting movement of the toner between the upper and lower augers.

Abstract: A sheet-supply unit including a drive source for supplying rotational drive power; a supply roller supplying one sheet at a time to a sheet transport pathway when rotated; a partial gear provided so as to rotate integrally with the supply roller and be capable of receiving transmission of rotational drive power from the drive source; a lever pivotable between a transmission mode wherein rotational drive power from the drive source is transmitted to the partial gear and a non-transmission mode wherein rotational drive power from the drive source is prevented from being transmitted to the partial gear; a pair of resist rollers disposed in the sheet transport pathway for stopping and aligning a sheet supplied by the supply roller and for transporting the aligned sheet, and capable of receiving rotation drive power from the drive source; an actuator capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode; and a switching mechanism for, based on the mode of the actuator, pivoting the lever into the transmissio

Abstract: A print head is supported on an upper frame of a printing device and a platen and a feeding device are supported on a lower frame. Further, a circuit substrate, a print head moving motor, and a feeding device driving motor are also supported on the upper frame. The upper and the lower frame are connected by a connection member around a rotating axis which is substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction of the print medium. The rotating axis is near a side of the platen in order to easily open and shut the upper frame. When a lock arm is released, the upper frame is pushed up by only a small angle through operation of a pre-open lever and is held in a pre-open position. When upper frame is further opened in an opening direction, the upper frame is held in a fully open position by the operation of an open lock lever. When in the fully open state, the exchange of print paper and/or the removal of the jammed paper can be done easily and safely.