Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding mechanism configured to re-feed the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-feeding mechanism includes a fixed guide configured to guide the sheet fed in a sheet feed direction and having a guide surface partially defining re-feeding path through which the sheet passes, a base guide disposed downstream of the fixed guide, and a movable guide having a guide surface and configured to guide the sheet guided by the fixed guide and to move toward and away from the base guide. The fixed guide includes an engaging portion and the movable guide includes an engaging portion. The guide surface of the movable guide is positioned relative to the guide surface of the fixed guide when the engaging portion of the movable guide engages the engaging portion of the fixed guide.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyer, a main body, a movable unit movable with respect to a guide position at which the sheet is guided, a position detector outputting a position detection signal, and a controller configured to determine whether the movable unit is in the guide position based on the position detection signal, perform a feeding execution process in which controlling the conveyer to feed the sheet by a feeding amount and stop the sheet if the sheet is in a feeding area and if determining that the movable unit is not in the guide position, and perform a feeding inexecution process in which controlling the conveyer not to feed the sheet by the feeding amount and stop the sheet if the sheet is in the feeding area and if determining that the movable unit is in the guide position.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a belt unit and a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers is arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which is provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyer, a main body, a movable unit movable with respect to a guide position at which the sheet is guided, a position detector outputting a position detection signal, and a controller configured to determine whether the movable unit is in the guide position based on the position detection signal, perform a feeding execution process in which controlling the conveyer to feed the sheet by a feeding amount and stop the sheet if the sheet is in a feeding area and if determining that the movable unit is not in the guide position, and perform a feeding inexecution process in which controlling the conveyer not to feed the sheet by the feeding amount and stop the sheet if the sheet is in the feeding area and if determining that the movable unit is in the guide position.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed from the sheet container, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a first conveyance roller set and a second conveyance roller set that convey the sheet therebetween. The first conveyance roller set includes a first driving roller that receives a driving force and a first pinch roller that contacts the surface. The second conveyance roller set includes a second driving roller that receives the driving force and a second pinch roller that contacts the surface. The first driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller. The second pinch roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a main body; an image formation unit; and a re-carrying path along which a sheet-like medium on which the image has been formed is carried again to the image formation unit. In this configuration, the re-carrying path comprises: a first path formed to extend downward; a bending part formed to bend from a lower end of the first path toward an upstream side of the image formation unit; and a second path formed to extend from the bending part toward the upstream side of the image formation unit. A pair of re-carrying rollers which carry the sheet-like medium are provided on the second path. A recessed part formed to be recessed downward with respect to a common tangential line of the pair of re-carrying rollers is provided on the second path between the bending part and the pair of re-carrying rollers.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container unit that stores a plurality of sheets, an image forming unit that forms an image on a particular surface of a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet container unit, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-conveying unit includes a conveyor roller set that conveys the sheet. The conveyor roller set includes a pinch roller and a driving roller that receives a driving force and that contacts the particular surface of the sheet. The driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the pinch roller.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a body having a pair of frames, and an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding path which is used when the sheet, on one surface of which an image has been formed by the image formation unit, is fed again to the image formation unit. The re-feeding path includes a first path vertically extending from a downstream side, in a sheet feed direction, of the image formation unit, a second path extending horizontally, and a curved portion connecting the first path and the second path. The pair of frames are connected with a metal plate which is formed and arranged to extend along the curved portion.

Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a main body; an image formation unit; and a re-carrying path along which a sheet-like medium on which the image has been formed is carried again to the image formation unit. In this configuration, the re-carrying path comprises: a first path formed to extend downward; a bending part formed to bend from a lower end of the first path toward an upstream side of the image formation unit; and a second path formed to extend from the bending part toward the upstream side of the image formation unit. A pair of re-carrying rollers which carry the sheet-like medium are provided on the second path. A recessed part formed to be recessed downward with respect to a common tangential line of the pair of re-carrying rollers is provided on the second path between the bending part and the pair of re-carrying rollers.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first main body frame and a second main body frame, a sheet placing portion, a feed roller, a link arm and a bridge frame. The feed roller moves with the link arm. The bridge frame is configured to join the first main body frame with the second main body frame and to swingably support the link arm. The link arm is movable between a temporary mounting position, in which the entirety of the link arm is positioned between the first main body frame and the second main body frame, and a final mounting position, in which the link arm is supported by the bridge frame and cooperates with the feed roller. At least one of the link arm and the bridge frame is positioned with holding mechanism configured to hold the link arm in the temporary mounting position.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed from the sheet container, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a first conveyance roller set and a second conveyance roller set that convey the sheet therebetween. The first conveyance roller set includes a first driving roller that receives a driving force and a first pinch roller that contacts the surface. The second conveyance roller set includes a second driving roller that receives the driving force and a second pinch roller that contacts the surface. The first driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller. The second pinch roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the first pinch roller.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet container unit that stores a plurality of sheets, an image forming unit that forms an image on a particular surface of a sheet that is conveyed from the sheet container unit, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-conveying unit includes a conveyor roller set that conveys the sheet. The conveyor roller set includes a pinch roller and a driving roller that receives a driving force and that contacts the particular surface of the sheet. The driving roller has a greater coefficient of friction than the pinch roller.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a sheet conveyor, an image former that forms an image on a surface of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and a re-conveyor that re-conveys the sheet to the image former which forms another image on an opposite surface of the sheet. The re-conveyor includes a guide member including upper and lower conveyance members, a regulation member that regulates a position of the sheet, a conveyer roller set that conveys the sheet therebetween, an urger that urges a pinch roller toward a driving roller, and a roller holder disposed above the upper conveyance member. The upper conveyance member has ends which are secured independently to the lower conveyance member. The roller holder secures the pinch roller overlaps the upper conveyance member in a vertical direction, and secures the pinch roller, such that the pinch roller contacts the sheet through the upper conveyance member.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus has a belt unit, a drawer casing configured to accommodate the plurality of process units. The drawer casing is movable in a horizontal direction so that it is insertable in and/or drawable from a main body of the image formation apparatus. An openable cover for an opening formed on an end face of the drawer casing is provided. The drawer casing is arranged above an imaginary plane including the bridging surface of an endless belt, while a sheet tray is arranged below the imaginary plane. A pair of rollers arranged on the sheet tray side with respect to the movable path and configured to feed the sheet fed from the sheet tray to the belt unit. A first guide and a second guide, which provided opposite to the first guide with a predetermined clearance therebetween, are provided to form a sheet feed path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a first main body frame and a second main body frame, a sheet placing portion, a feed roller, a link arm and a bridge frame. The feed roller moves with the link arm. The bridge frame is configured to join the first main body frame with the second main body frame and to swingably support the link arm. The link arm is movable between a temporary mounting position, in which the entirety of the link arm is positioned between the first main body frame and the second main body frame, and a final mounting position, in which the link arm is supported by the bridge frame and cooperates with the feed roller. At least one of the link arm and the bridge frame is positioned with holding mechanism configured to hold the link arm in the temporary mounting position.

Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. The sheet feeder can include a supply tray that holds a stack of sheets, a separation element disposed at an end of the supply tray, and configured to contact and apply a resistive force to a sheet in the stack, and a separation roller disposed facing the separation element, and configured to rotate, contact and apply a feeding force to an uppermost sheet in the stack. The sheet feeder may also include a pressing plate pivotally attached to the supply tray at an end remote from the separation element, and configured to move toward the separation element as a number of sheets in the stack decreases, and a pressure applying element that increases a contact surface pressure between the separation element and the uppermost sheet in response to the pressing plate moving toward the separation element.

Abstract: A sheet feeder feeds a sheet to an image forming unit. The sheet feeder can include a supply tray that holds a stack of sheets, a separation element disposed at an end of the supply tray, and configured to contact and apply a resistive force to a sheet in the stack, and a separation roller disposed facing the separation element, and configured to rotate contact and apply a feeding force to an uppermost sheet in the stack. The sheet feeder may also include a pressing plate pivotally attached to the supply tray at an end remote from the separation element, and configured to move toward the separation element as a number of sheets in the stack decreases, and a pressure applying element that increases pressure of a contact surface between the separation element and the uppermost sheet in response to the pressing plate moving toward the separation element.