Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer for forming an image of a document on a recording paper. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray for holding the recording paper; a conveyance unit for conveying the recording paper from the paper feed tray; a image forming section for forming a toner image of the document onto the recording paper; a fixing unit for fixing the toner image on the recording paper; a detector for detecting a paper jam between the units, and for generating a detection signal; a locking member with a solenoid for locking one of the units in another; a controller for controlling the locking member according to the detection signal so that both of the units are resisted from being removed separately when the paper jam occurs between the units.

Abstract: A charging apparatus wherein a back plate forming a back portion of a shielding member surrounding a discharging wire has an elongate opening for guiding a cleaning member for cleaning and defining a cleaning region of the wire and a cam groove communicating the elongate opening for separating the cleaning member from the wire. The distance between the discharging wire and a side plate of the shielding member is larger than the distance between the discharging wire and the back plate.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus composed of a unit which is driven independently of an image forming part of the electrophotographic copying apparatus. The sheet conveyance apparatus is disposed between a sheet feed apparatus and the image-forming part having a photoreceptor on the electrographic copying apparatus. A loop is consistently maintained on the sheet as it is transported within the sheet conveyance apparatus which also includes registration rollers incorporated therein. After the loop is formed, the sheet is stopped at the registration rollers to correct skew. Then, the registration rollers convey the sheet to the image-forming part.

Abstract: A paper feeding device wherein a backing plate for carrying thereon papers is moved up and down by a lifting device, a rotating device rotates a rear regulating member mounted on the backing plate with respect to the backing plate while the crest of the rear regulating member makes contact with a cover of a paper container when the backing plate is lifted by the lifting device.

Abstract: In an automatic sheet reversing apparatus having a convey/reversing section with a plurality of conveyor belts, a stacking/moving section with a stopper for stopping a leading end of a reversed sheet, and a feed section, the stopper is located below the conveyor belts. The upper portion of the stopper is located above the lower surface of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism whereby individual sheets are fed from a cassette that carries a pile of paper sheets. The mechanism comprises a paper feed member which is mounted over the front portion of a feed bed whereon a cassette is removably installed and which is movable orbitally to feed sheets forward, and a retarding member engaged under upward bias against the feed member to prevent forward feed of sheets below one that is directly engaged with the feed member. The retarding member is so arranged as to be in its operative position when a cassette is fully installed on the feed bed but to move rearwardly and away from the feed member as the cassette is rearwardly removed from the feed bed, to thus release unfed but jammed sheets for removal with the cassette.

Abstract: A toner recovery device having a non-magnetic rotary member, magnets embedded around the circumferential surface of said non-magnetic rotary member, and an endless belt wound on said rotary member so as to recover a toner collected by a cleaning device into a developing unit. A plurality of protuberances are equidistantly and projectingly formed around the circumferential surface of said rotary member to prevent said endless belt from floating as a whole. The protuberances drive said endless belt.

Abstract: A roller fixing device wherein a claw member facing a pressure roller is arranged so that the distance between the contact point of a roller and a pressure roller and the top end portion of said claw member be within 6.5 mm on the pressure roller periphery and an angle between a tangential line of the pressure roller at a point where said top end portion of said claw member contacts under pressure with said pressure roller and the upper edge of said claw member be at least 45 degrees. Said roller is a heat roller including a heater therein. An electrophotographic copying machine which comprises: a charge receptor, a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on said charge receptor, a developing means for developing said electrostatic latent image, a transferring means for transferring said developed image to a transfer material, and said roller fixing device.

Abstract: A toner transporting device for an electrophotographic copying apparatus includes a transporter for carrying toner to and into a chamber through a first opening therein, a second opening in the chamber through which toner in the chamber is moved out of the same in a different direction, and an elastic plate mounted at one of its ends for rotation within the chamber such that its opposite tip end is maintained in contact with the interior wall of the chamber except at the second chamber opening so as to move toner from the first to and through the second chamber opening.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removable insertion in an electrophotographic copying machine includes an exhaust cylinder having an opening at an end portion thereof and a conveyor in the cylinder operable for carrying particulate developer through the cylinder to the opening thereof. A shutter having a second opening is movable with respect to the cylinder between a first position in which the shutter closes the cylinder opening and a second position in which the openings of the shutter and cylinder are aligned, a bias spring being effective to normally maintain the shutter in its first position. When the apparatus is inserted in a copying machine, the cylinder end portion is inserted into a hopper for receiving particulate developer, causing the shutter to move to its second position in which the openings are aligned to permit movement of developer into the hopper from the exhaust cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a thin plate disposed in contact with the surface of a photosensitive drum of a copying machine for guiding toner scraped from the drum surface into a recovery area of the machine; more particularly, it provides for automatic disengagement of the thin plate from its normal contact with the drum surface whenever the drum is not fully engaged within the machine, as during removal and subsequent return for jam clearing or maintenance operations, so as to prevent inadvertent damage to the drum or to the thin plate in the course thereof.