Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet feeding device for abutting against an upper surface of a sheet stacked and feeding out the sheet, biasing device for biasing the sheet feeding device toward the upper surface of the sheet, and lifting and lowering device for lifting and lowering the sheet feeding device, the lifting and lowering device including a holding member for engaging with the sheet feeding device and shifting the sheet feeding device in an up-and-down direction by a motor, and maintaining device for regulating the holding member so as to maintain the sheet feeding device at a position where the sheet feeding device is spaced apart from the upper surface of the sheet, in opposition to a biasing force of the biasing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus that has sheet feeding device for abutting against an upper surface of a sheet stacked and feeding out the sheet, biasing device for biasing the sheet feeding device toward the upper surface of the sheet, and lifting and lowering device for lifting and lowering the sheet feeding device, the lifting and lowering device including a holding member for engaging with the sheet feeding device and shifting the sheet feeding device in an up-and-down direction by a motor, and maintaining device for regulating the holding member so as to maintain the sheet feeding device at a position where the sheet feeding device is spaced apart from the upper surface of the sheet, in opposition to a biasing force of the biasing device.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the process cartridge is detachably mountable to the main assembly in the direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of an electrophotograpic photosensitive drum; process device actable on the photosensitive member; a connector having a memory; a positioning member disposed coaxially with the photosensitive member and engageable with a positioning groove provided in the main assembly; a regulating portion contactable to a fixed portion of the main assembly to regulate rotation of the the process cartridge about the positioning member when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; wherein the connector is disposed above the positioning member.

Abstract: A process cartridge which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process device actable on the photosensitive member, a memory element, and a cartridge connector for electrically connecting the memory with the main assembly when the process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly. The cartridge connector is electrically connectable with a main assembly connector provided in the main assembly. The cartridge also includes a contact portion for moving a shutter for protecting the main assembly connector from a protecting position to a retracted position in response to mounting of the process cartridge to the main assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supply apparatus comprising a lifter device for maintaining a height of an upper surface of a sheet stack supported by a sheet supporting device substantially constant by lifting or lowering the sheet supporting device, and a supply device for feeding out an uppermost sheet from the sheet stack maintained in a constant height position by the lifter device, and wherein the lifter device comprises a clutch member for transmitting a predetermined amount of rotation from a drive gear, a rock member for rocking a ratchet pawl by the rotation transmitted by the clutch member, a ratchet gear engageable by the ratchet pawl and rotated by a rocking movement of the ratchet pawl, a lifter member connected to the ratchet gear and adapted to lift the sheet supporting member by rotation of the ratchet gear, and an actuation device shifted in accordance with the height of the upper surface of the sheet stack rested on the sheet supporting device and adapted to actuate the clutch member

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus with a supply roller for supplying a sheet, a supply path for directing the sheet to an image forming section, a sheet ejecting path for the sheet on which an image is formed at the image forming section toward an ejecting section, a space integrally formed in a lower part of a body of the image forming apparatus, a branch path branched from the sheet ejecting path and adapted to direct the sheet toward the space, an introduction path for directing the sheet from the space to the supply path, and a sheet re-feeing unit removable with respect to the body of the image forming apparatus and including a sheet re-feeding path having an entrance facing the branch path and an exit facing the introduction path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a first image forming unit incorporating an image formation processing device therein, a sheet supply station for feeding a sheet to the first image forming unit, and a sheet ejecting station for ejecting the sheet on which an image is formed by the first image forming unit out of the image forming apparatus. Wherein a second image forming unit having the same function and size as those of the first image forming unit is mounted within the image forming apparatus and a sheet inlet of the second image forming unit is directly connected to the sheet ejecting station.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a convey path comprising lateral movement apparatus for controlling a widthwise position of a sheet member to be conveyed, wherein the lateral movement apparatus is curved in a convey direction.