Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a first sheet feeding cassette and a second sheet feeding cassette for containing sheets are arranged in a vertical direction, a first drawer and a second drawer for holding the first sheet feeding cassette and the second sheet feeding cassette, respectively, such that they can be drawn out, a second sheet feeding roller for feeding the sheets from the second sheet feeding cassette located below the first sheet feeding cassette is arranged lateral to the first drawer of the first sheet feeding cassette located above the second sheet feeding cassette so as to be positioned above the bottom surface of the first sheet feeding cassette, and a second sheet feeding unit is supported by being abutted against the first drawer of the first sheet feeding cassette.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus in which a first sheet feeding cassette and a second sheet feeding cassette for containing sheets are arranged in a vertical direction, a first drawer and a second drawer for holding the first sheet feeding cassette and the second sheet feeding cassette, respectively, such that they can be drawn out, a second sheet feeding roller for feeding the sheets from the second sheet feeding cassette located below the first sheet feeding cassette is arranged lateral to the first drawer of the first sheet feeding cassette located above the second sheet feeding cassette so as to be positioned above the bottom surface of the first sheet feeding cassette, and a second sheet feeding unit is supported by being abutted against the first drawer of the first sheet feeding cassette.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including: a separating roller which abuts against a feed roller and is rotated in association with the feed roller; and a torque-limiter for allowing the separating roller to rotate in association with the feed roller when a rotation torque larger than a predetermined torque is acted on the separating roller and for preventing the separating roller from rotating in association with the feed roller when the rotation torque equal to or smaller than the predetermined torque is acted on the separating roller, in which sheets fed from a sheet feed cassette are separated one by one by the feed roller and the separating roller, the separating roller urged against the feed roller is supported by a guide member in a slidable manner, and the separating roller is guided with a predetermined angle in a direction different from a direction in which the feed roller is opposed to the separating roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first feeding unit for feeding a recording sheet, a detachable second feeding unit provided in the lower part of an image forming apparatus main body, an image forming portion for forming an image on the recording sheet, a first feeding path for feeding the recording sheet from the first feeding unit to the image forming portion, a second feeding path for feeding the recording sheet from the second feeding unit to the image forming portion, and a guide member for guiding the recording sheet fed at a merge portion of the second feeding path merged with the first feeding path, wherein the guide member is pivoted on the upstream side in the recording sheet feed direction, rotatably by the recording sheet fed from the second feeding path.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily processing a jammed recording sheet without causing damage thereto, and alleviating a paper hopping sound at the time of having the rear end of the recording sheet passing through a merge portion of feeding paths.

Abstract: A sheet supplying device having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a sheet supply provided in a laterally deviated position with respect to the sheet supplying direction for supplying sheets supported by the sheet support and a stacking reference guide for impinging on a lateral end of the sheets supported by the sheet support to thereby define the position of the sheets. The guide defining the position of the sheets is supported by the sheet support in such a manner that the sheets are supported in a state inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet supplying direction.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a limitation member for preventing the center distance between a heating member and a shaft of a pressing roller from being reduced does not limit the center distance in an initial state of the device, and prevents a further decrease in the distance when the distance is reduced. It is thereby possible to suppress an increase in the width of a nip portion provided between the heating member and the pressing roller, and to prevent a failure in fixing.