Abstract: A packing material includes: a packing case; a support member arranged inside the packing case and having a first side plate facing one side face of a packed article in a first direction; a cushioning member disposed between the packing case and the first side plate and absorbing shock applied from the first direction to the packed article; and a shock distribution plate disposed between the first side plate and the cushioning member, larger than the contact area with the cushioning member and elongate in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The shock distribution plate has such rigidity as not to deform against shock from the cushioning member.

Abstract: A packaging fastener includes a base member and a key member. The base member includes a first cylindrical part inserted through overlapped through holes of packaging materials. The key member includes a second cylindrical part inserted into the first cylindrical part of the base member. By inserting the first cylindrical part of the base member through the through holes and then inserting the second cylindrical part into the first cylindrical part, the packaging materials are coupled together. The key member has an engaging part. The base member has an engaged part. The engagement part has an elastically deformable supporting part and a lock claw. In a state where the lock claw is engaged with the engaged part, by elastically deforming the supporting part, the lock claw is displaced to a direction separate away from the engaged part to release an engagement of the lock claw with the engaged part.

Abstract: A packaging box is fabricated by bending a corrugated cardboard plate and includes a quadrangular tube-shaped body that is rectangular in cross section and a cover for closing an opening of the body. The first cover plate is connected to a first end edge of one of the pair of first circumferential surface plates on a side near the opening and closes the opening. The second cover plate is connected to a second end edge of the other of the pair of first circumferential surface plates on the side near the opening and is adhered to an outer surface of the first cover plate. The second cover plate is split into an adhesive piece that is adhered to the first cover plate and a peeling piece that has one side connected to the second end edge and is peeled off from the adhesive piece along a breaking line.

Abstract: A packaging fastener includes a base member and a key member. The base member includes a first cylindrical part inserted through overlapped through holes of packaging materials. The key member includes a second cylindrical part inserted into the first cylindrical part of the base member. By inserting the first cylindrical part of the base member through the through holes and then inserting the second cylindrical part into the first cylindrical part, the packaging materials are coupled together. The key member has an engaging part. The base member has an engaged part. The engagement part has an elastically deformable supporting part and a lock claw. In a state where the lock claw is engaged with the engaged part, by elastically deforming the supporting part, the lock claw is displaced to a direction separate away from the engaged part to release an engagement of the lock claw with the engaged part.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a conveying device, a detecting member, an image forming unit, a first discharge tray, a fan, and an airflow unit. The conveying device conveys a sheet. The detecting member detects a sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit is discharged to the first discharge tray. The fan sucks the air around the first discharge tray. The airflow unit forms an airflow path through which the air sucked by the fan flows. The detecting member detects the presence or absence of the sheet by switching the posture thereof between a first posture and a second posture. When the posture of the detecting member is switched, the airflow path is changed.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a conveying device, a detecting member, an image forming unit, a first discharge tray, a fan, and an airflow unit. The conveying device conveys a sheet. The detecting member detects a sheet. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet. The sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit is discharged to the first discharge tray. The fan sucks the air around the first discharge tray. The airflow unit forms an airflow path through which the air sucked by the fan flows. The detecting member detects the presence or absence of the sheet by switching the posture thereof between a first posture and a second posture. When the posture of the detecting member is switched, the airflow path is changed.

Abstract: A toner case is attached to a case attachment portion of an image forming apparatus. The toner case includes a case main body and a deflection portion. Toner is stored in the case main body. The deflection portion receives light that has been emitted from the case attachment portion toward the case main body, and deflects the light outward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, an exit tray, a first conveyance section, a duct, and an air generator. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The fixing device fixes the image to the sheet. The exit tray receives placement of the sheet with the image fixed thereto. The first conveyance section conveys the sheet with the image formed thereon along a conveyance path. The duct has an inlet and a first outlet. The air generator is disposed within the duct and generates air directed from the inlet to the first outlet. The inlet is located in a position for sucking in air from a space above the exit tray. The first outlet opens toward the conveyance path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, an exit tray, a first conveyance section, a duct, and an air generator. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet. The fixing device fixes the image to the sheet. The exit tray receives placement of the sheet with the image fixed thereto. The first conveyance section conveys the sheet with the image formed thereon along a conveyance path. The duct has an inlet and a first outlet. The air generator is disposed within the duct and generates air directed from the inlet to the first outlet. The inlet is located in a position for sucking in air from a space above the exit tray. The first outlet opens toward the conveyance path.

Abstract: A lever member is displaceably provided to a toner container. A container locking mechanism locks the toner container at a mounting position in a container mounting portion when the lever member is operated from a first operation position to a second operation position in a state where the toner container is located at the mounting position. A locking member is displaceable between a lever locking position and a lever releasing position. A locking control portion controls a drive portion to displace the locking member to the lever locking position when a remaining amount of the toner detected by the remaining amount detection portion is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and controls the drive portion to displace the locking member to the lever releasing position when the remaining amount of the toner detected by the remaining amount detection portion is less than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A lever member is displaceably provided to a toner container. A container locking mechanism locks the toner container at a mounting position in a container mounting portion when the lever member is operated from a first operation position to a second operation position in a state where the toner container is located at the mounting position. A locking member is displaceable between a lever locking position and a lever releasing position. A locking control portion controls a drive portion to displace the locking member to the lever locking position when a remaining amount of the toner detected by the remaining amount detection portion is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and controls the drive portion to displace the locking member to the lever releasing position when the remaining amount of the toner detected by the remaining amount detection portion is less than the predetermined amount.

Abstract: A toner case is attached to a case attachment portion of an image forming apparatus. The toner case includes a case main body and a deflection portion. Toner is stored in the case main body. The deflection portion receives light that has been emitted from the case attachment portion toward the case main body, and deflects the light outward.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt and a developer unit. The image forming apparatus includes a cooling unit, a cleaning roller, and an auxiliary brush. The cooling unit cools a predetermined component by sending air by a fan inside the image forming apparatus. The cleaning roller removes remaining toner on the intermediate transfer belt at an upstream side of a region facing the developer unit in a rotationally moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt and at an upstream side of a region with which the image carrier is in contact in the intermediate transfer belt. The auxiliary brush located on an outer surface of the developer unit so as to close the clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the developer unit and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt to clean the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt and a developer unit. The image forming apparatus includes a cooling unit, a cleaning roller, and an auxiliary brush. The cooling unit cools a predetermined component by sending air by a fan inside the image forming apparatus. The cleaning roller removes remaining toner on the intermediate transfer belt at an upstream side of a region facing the developer unit in a rotationally moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt and at an upstream side of a region with which the image carrier is in contact in the intermediate transfer belt. The auxiliary brush located on an outer surface of the developer unit so as to close the clearance between the intermediate transfer belt and the developer unit and is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt to clean the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, an ejection device and a conveyance guide. The fixing device is configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet. The ejection device is configured to eject the sheet having fixed toner image by the fixing device. The conveyance guide is configured to guide the sheet along a conveyance path from the fixing device to the ejection device. The conveyance guide is provided with a plurality of main ribs formed along a sheet conveyance direction so as to be located inwardly by a predetermined length from both side edges of sheets of a plurality of sizes in a sheet width direction intersecting with the sheet conveyance direction. The conveyance guide is provided with a sub-rib formed to be lower than the main ribs arranged at a space where the interval between the main ribs is wider than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A cover opening/closing mechanism includes an opening/closing cover, a moving member, a first biasing member, a gear, and a damper. The opening/closing cover is pivotable about a rotary shaft. The moving member, as the opening/closing cover is opened and closed, reciprocates, while in contact with the opening/closing cover, in a first positive direction and a first negative direction. The first biasing member biases in the first positive direction the moving member that moves in the first negative direction as the opening/closing cover is rotated in the closing direction. The gear is coupled with the opening/closing cover. The damper generates a load according to the rotation speed of the gear.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, an ejection device and a conveyance guide. The fixing device is configured to fix a toner image onto a sheet. The ejection device is configured to eject the sheet having fixed toner image by the fixing device. The conveyance guide is configured to guide the sheet along a conveyance path from the fixing device to the ejection device. The conveyance guide is provided with a plurality of main ribs formed along a sheet conveyance direction so as to be located inwardly by a predetermined length from both side edges of sheets of a plurality of sizes in a sheet width direction intersecting with the sheet conveyance direction. The conveyance guide is provided with a sub-rib formed to be lower than the main ribs arranged at a space where the interval between the main ribs is wider than a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a fixing unit fixing a toner image to a paper sheet after image formation; a conveying path conveying the paper sheet toward and from the fixing unit; a cooling fan disposed at a position facing the conveying path that is downstream relative to the fixing unit in a paper conveying direction; a casing where the cooling fan is accommodated; a first discharge port discharging cooling air from the cooling fan toward a part of the conveying path that is upstream in the paper conveying direction relative to an end portion of the conveying path in the conveying path, which is downstream relative to the fixing unit; and a duct guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan in a direction toward the end portion of the conveying path, which is different from a direction that the cooling air flows in the first discharge port.

Abstract: A cover opening/closing mechanism includes an opening/closing cover, a moving member, a first biasing member, a gear, and a damper. The opening/closing cover is pivotable about a rotary shaft. The moving member, as the opening/closing cover is opened and closed, reciprocates, while in contact with the opening/closing cover, in a first positive direction and a first negative direction. The first biasing member biases in the first positive direction the moving member that moves in the first negative direction as the opening/closing cover is rotated in the closing direction. The gear is coupled with the opening/closing cover. The damper generates a load according to the rotation speed of the gear.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a fixing unit fixing a toner image to a paper sheet after image formation; a conveying path conveying the paper sheet toward and from the fixing unit; a cooling fan disposed at a position facing the conveying path that is downstream relative to the fixing unit in a paper conveying direction; a casing where the cooling fan is accommodated; a first discharge port discharging cooling air from the cooling fan toward a part of the conveying path that is upstream in the paper conveying direction relative to an end portion of the conveying path in the conveying path, which is downstream relative to the fixing unit; and a duct guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan in a direction toward the end portion of the conveying path, which is different from a direction that the cooling air flows in the first discharge port.