Abstract: A transport apparatus includes a transport device, an abutment member, and a displacement device. The transport device transports a sheet in a first direction, corresponding to a sheet transport direction. The abutment member is located on one side of the transport device, in a second direction intersecting the first direction, to be abutted against a side of the sheet on the one side in the second direction. The displacement device displaces the sheet toward the one side in the second direction, in contact with the sheet.

Abstract: The technology according to the present disclosure is a contact pressure adjustment method capable of suppressing adhesion of ink to a roller surface of a roller that conveys a sheet on which an image has been recorded, in an image recording apparatus. The contact pressure adjustment method includes: causing an image recording portion of an image recording apparatus to record a predetermined test image on a sheet; causing a vibration detection portion to detect vibration generated in the test image recorded sheet on which the test image is recorded while the test image recorded sheet is being conveyed along a conveying path; and in a case where a fluctuation width of the vibration detected by the vibration detection portion is outside a predetermined reference range, adjusting contact pressure of a driven roller against the image recording surface of the test image recorded sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a pickup roller, a feed roller, a retard roller, a conveyance rollers pair. The pickup roller contacts a sheet at a first contact point in a pickup position and rotates to convey the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction. The feed roller is disposed on a downstream side of the pickup roller in the conveyance direction. The retard roller contacts the feed roller at a second contact point and conveys the sheet while separating the sheet. The conveyance rollers pair contacts each other at a third contact point and conveys the sheet passing through the second contact point to a conveyance path. The first contact point, the second contact point and the third contact point are disposed on a linear line in the conveyance direction, when viewed from axial directions of the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a pickup roller, a feed roller, a retard roller, a conveyance rollers pair. The pickup roller contacts a sheet at a first contact point in a pickup position and rotates to convey the sheet in a predetermined conveyance direction. The feed roller is disposed on a downstream side of the pickup roller in the conveyance direction. The retard roller contacts the feed roller at a second contact point and conveys the sheet while separating the sheet. The conveyance rollers pair contacts each other at a third contact point and conveys the sheet passing through the second contact point to a conveyance path. The first contact point, the second contact point and the third contact point are disposed on a linear line in the conveyance direction, when viewed from axial directions of the rollers.

Abstract: A sheet feed unit has a unit housing, a roller holder, a pickup roller, a feed roller, a separating member, a pressing mechanism, and a pressing force adjusting mechanism. The pressing mechanism has a pressing member pressing the swinging end of the roller holder, a link member making contact with the pressing member, and a first biasing member biasing the link member toward the pressing member. The pressing force adjusting mechanism has an arm member supported reciprocatably in the sheet width direction and supporting the link member movably in the sheet width direction, and an operation dial making the arm member reciprocate. The pressing force adjusting mechanism changes the biasing force of the first biasing member on the pressing member according to the movement amount of the arm member to adjust the pressing force of the pickup roller against the top face of sheets placed on a sheet placement plate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes an image forming device (5), a conveyor device (L), and a manual paper feed section (8). The conveyor device (L) conveys paper (P). A part of the conveyor device (L) is constituted by a conveyance guide unit (83) and an exterior unit (82). The exterior unit (82) is located opposite to the conveyance guide unit (83) and constitutes a part of an exterior surface of the image forming apparatus (1). The manual paper feed section (8) includes a paper feed roller (821) and a retard roller (831). The paper feed roller (821) is located in the exterior unit (82) and feeds paper (P) placed on a manual feed tray (81) to the conveyor device (L). The retard roller (831) is located in the conveyance guide unit (83) and separates sheets of the paper (P) fed by the paper feed roller (821).

Abstract: An optional device of the present disclosure is attachable and detachable with respect to an image forming apparatus via a connection member fitted to a side face of a main body of the optional device. The connection member includes a shaft, a connector, and a lock member. The shaft is supported by the main body to be slidable in an axial direction. The connector is fixed to the shaft and coupled to the image forming apparatus. The lock member is capable or restricting movement of the shaft in the axial direction. A position of the connector is adjusted by releasing the restriction placed on the shaft by the lock member and then sliding the shaft in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes an image forming device (5), a conveyor device (L), and a manual paper feed section (8). The conveyor device (L) conveys paper (P). A part of the conveyor device (L) is constituted by a conveyance guide unit (83) and an exterior unit (82). The exterior unit (82) is located opposite to the conveyance guide unit (83) and constitutes a part of an exterior surface of the image forming apparatus (1). The manual paper feed section (8) includes a paper feed roller (821) and a retard roller (831). The paper feed roller (821) is located in the exterior unit (82) and feeds paper (P) placed on a manual feed tray (81) to the conveyor device (L). The retard roller (831) is located in the conveyance guide unit (83) and separates sheets of the paper (P) fed by the paper feed roller (821).

Abstract: An optional device of the present disclosure is attachable and detachable with respect to an image forming apparatus via a connection member fitted to a side face of a main body of the optional device. The connection member includes a shaft, a connector, and a lock member. The shaft is supported by the main body to be slidable in an axial direction. The connector is fixed to the shaft and coupled to the image forming apparatus. The lock member is capable or restricting movement of the shaft in the axial direction. A position of the connector is adjusted by releasing the restriction placed on the shaft by the lock member and then sliding the shaft in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is provided with an apparatus main body, a caster, and a cover member. The caster movably supports the apparatus main body. The cover member is mounted to a side surface of the apparatus main body. The caster includes a wheel and a main body portion that swivelably supports a rotation shaft of the wheel. A nut portion is provided integrally with an upper part of the main body portion. A swiveling restriction portion that restricts swiveling of the nut portion is formed integrally with the cover member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure is provided with an apparatus main body, a caster, and a cover member. The caster movably supports the apparatus main body. The cover member is mounted to a side surface of the apparatus main body. The caster includes a wheel and a main body portion that swivelably supports a rotation shaft of the wheel. A nut portion is provided integrally with an upper part of the main body portion. A swiveling restriction portion that restricts swiveling of the nut portion is formed integrally with the cover member.

Abstract: A gear engagement mechanism of a life device includes a lifting member interlocking with a lifting tray to linearly move in a vertical direction, and a gear train having a pinion engaged with the rack to transmit a rotary motion to the rack and transmitting the rotation torque of a lift motor M to the pinion. When the lifting member has over-run an upper limit stop position and a lower limit stop position, engagement of the pinion and the rack is released.

Abstract: A gear engagement mechanism of a life device includes a lifting member interlocking with a lifting tray to linearly move in a vertical direction, and a gear train having a pinion engaged with the rack to transmit a rotary motion to the rack and transmitting the rotation torque of a lift motor M to the pinion. When the lifting member has over-run an upper limit stop position and a lower limit stop position, engagement of the pinion and the rack is released.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device that conveys a sheet includes a sheet conveying path, a conveying mechanism, and a guiding plate. The sheet conveying path is set to include a nonlinear portion. The conveying mechanism is arranged in the sheet conveying path to convey a sheet. The guiding plate is arranged in the nonlinear portion of the sheet conveying path and has a guiding plane along which the sheet is guided. The guiding plate includes a thinned portion in an area of the guiding plane against which a leading end of the sheet being conveyed along the sheet conveying path collides so that the thinned portion suppresses high frequency components of an impulsive sound produced by the collision.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a recording medium feeding device includes a pickup roller, a feed roller, a retard roller, a holding member, a pressing mechanism, a pressing force changing mechanism, and a driving force transmitting mechanism. The holding member is configured to rotatably support the feed roller and the pickup roller. The pressing mechanism is configured to press the pickup roller against a recording medium. The pressing force changing mechanism is configured to change the pressing force of the pickup roller. The driving force transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit a rotation-driving force to the feed roller. The pressing force changing mechanism obtains a driving force from the driving force transmitting mechanism, and increases the pressing force according to rotation time of the pickup roller.

Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a recording medium feeding device includes a pickup roller, a feed roller, a retard roller, a holding member, a pressing mechanism, a pressing force changing mechanism, and a driving force transmitting mechanism. The holding member is configured to rotatably support the feed roller and the pickup roller. The pressing mechanism is configured to press the pickup roller against a recording medium. The pressing force changing mechanism is configured to change the pressing force of the pickup roller. The driving force transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit a rotation-driving force to the feed roller. The pressing force changing mechanism obtains a driving force from the driving force transmitting mechanism, and increases the pressing force according to rotation time of the pickup roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding cassette stored in a cassette storage part, a heater and flow regulating plates. A first gap is formed between the bottom plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a bottom portion of the cassette storage part, and having an air intake port. A second gap is formed between the side plate of the sheet feeding cassette and a side portion of the cassette storage part and has a vent port communicating with the first gap and the sheet storing part. The flow regulating plates are disposed in the first gap so as to form a duct together with the sheet feeding cassette and the cassette storage part. Air flow is generated such that air is supplied from the air intake port into the first gap, is heated, rises through the second gap from the vent port, and flows to the sheet storing part.

Abstract: A sheet process device includes a supporting member and a process device main body. The supporting member is attached to the lateral face at a side of an in-body sheet ejection space of an image forming apparatus. The process device main body is supported by the supporting member. The process device main body includes a relay conveyance unit and a post process unit. The relay conveyance unit is arranged slidable in a direction to the in-body sheet ejection space. The post process unit is arranged slidable in upward and downward directions with respect to the supporting member. The process device main body provides a sheet conveying path extending from a sheet ejection port of the image forming apparatus to the post process unit through the relay conveyance unit, when the post process unit is moved upwardly after the relay conveyance unit is moved into the in-body sheet ejection space.