Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a recording unit configured to form an image on a recording medium conveying in a conveying direction; a main body portion configured to support the recording unit in an openable and closable manner; a conveying unit configured to convey, in the conveying direction, the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the conveying unit being disposed below the recording unit; a holder configured to contain the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the holder being disposed upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction; and a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the holder between a first position for feeding the recording medium to the recording unit and a second position placed above the first position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a recording unit configured to form an image on a recording medium conveying in a conveying direction; a main body portion configured to support the recording unit in an openable and closable manner; a conveying unit configured to convey, in the conveying direction, the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the conveying unit being disposed below the recording unit; a holder configured to contain the recording medium on which an image is to be formed by the recording unit, the holder being disposed upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction; and a raising and lowering mechanism configured to raise and lower the holder between a first position for feeding the recording medium to the recording unit and a second position placed above the first position.

Abstract: A contrast base 40 is pushed by the printing head 18K, when the printing head 18K is mounted onto the carriage 16. Thereby, the connection face 32 of the flexible carriage wiring 30 together with the contact base 40 follows the connection face 62 of the of the flexible head wiring by swinging movement around the touching point in the directions of arrows X, X′, Y, Y′, Z, and Z′. Therefore, the connection face 32 slants to follow any slanting of the connection face 62. Consequently, the two connection faces 32, 62 come close together over the entire faces to give precise electric connection of the electric connection points between the two connection faces.

Abstract: A recording medium cutter capable of moving between two positions, a cutting position and a non-cutting position, in a short time, and also capable of cutting a recording medium at accurate positions. A main body (40) rotatably holding a rotary blade (32) and a driven blade (34) is located between side plates (36 and 38) of the cutter (30). A main shaft (39) serving as the center shaft of the rotary blade (32) is rotatably secured to the side plates (36 and 38). The main shaft (39) also serves as the rotating shaft of the main body (40). A driving motor is secured to the mounting plate (42) of the side plate (36). When the main shaft (39) is rotated by the driving motor (44), the rotary blade (32) rotates. Because the driven blade (34) is pressed against the side face of the rotary blade (32), as the rotary blade (32) rotates, the driven blade (34) revolves around the main shaft (39). As a result, the main body (40) also rotates around the main shaft (39).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a print member for forming an image on a recording sheet while reciprocating in a predetermined direction includes a pair of conveyance rollers and a separating member for separating the of conveyance rollers from one another. A control lever for controlling the separating member is provided as is a changeover element for permitting the control lever to rotate when said print member moves in a predetermined direction and is not located at an interference area in which the print member would collide with the conveyance rollers if they were separated, and for prohibiting the control lever from rotating when the print member is located at the interference area.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet cartridge comprising an ink jet head including a plurality of arranged discharge ports for discharging ink, an element substrate provided with a plurality of energy generating elements for generating an energy to discharge the ink, and a base plate for supporting the element substrate; an ink tank holding member for holding an ink tank for containing the ink; and a head holding member for connecting the ink tank holding member to the ink jet head, and by holding the ink jet head by the ink tank holding member and the head holding member, the ink jet head is elastically supported in a head sandwiching direction, so that the positioning of the ink jet head can easily be performed with respect to the ink jet cartridge with a high precision, the high quality recording is possible, and the ink jet apparatus using this cartridge can be realized with a simple construction and at a low cost.

Abstract: When a carriage 16 is positioned in an end portion in the direction indicated by arrow B in a scanning area thereof, an attachment 46 is in contact with a main frame side wall 1a of a plotter 1, and turns in the direction indicated by arrow D against the enabling force in the direction indicated by arrow C of a helical torsion coil spring 50, so that an image position detector 40 is stored in a storage unit 16c of the carriage 16.

Abstract: The relative positions of cutter blade 42, platen 28, pressing member 44, and bending guide 46 are adjusted to obtain the acute angle &THgr; between side face 42a of cutter blade 42 facing to the delivery direction and recording medium 29 in the range from 25° to 65°.

Abstract: A cam 37 is rotated in an arrow F direction. This causes sheet conveyance rollers 10a, 10b and guide elements 33, 34 to rotate on a lower conveyance shaft 27 and an upper conveyance shaft 30, respectively, so that they are separated from a drive roller 12. Thus, a spur plate 21 faces the upward stream end with respect to the recording sheet conveyance direction and opens in synchronism with the sheet conveyance rollers 10a and 10b, etc. Accordingly, it is possible to readily remove a recording sheet subjected to the jam.

Abstract: A cam 37 is rotated in an arrow F direction. This causes sheet conveyance rollers 10a, 10b and guide elements 33, 34 to rotate on a lower conveyance shaft 27 and an upper conveyance shaft 30, respectively, so that they are separated from a drive roller 12. Thus, a spur plate 21 faces the upward stream end with respect to the recording sheet conveyance direction and opens in synchronism with the sheet conveyance rollers 10a and 10b, etc. Accordingly, it is possible to readily remove a recording sheet subjected to the jam.

Abstract: An extension guide unit 30 is provided on a side portion of a recording medium conveying passage. An extension guide 36 is held in a wound state in an extension guide holder 31 of the extension guide unit 30. In order to convey a recording medium, the extension guide 36 is drawn out, by which the recording medium is guided. This enables the recording medium to be smoothly conveyed.

Abstract: A first position control member, which presses a recording sheet between a sheet conveyance roller 28c and an image forming area, is disposed and a second position control member, which presses the recording sheet between the image forming area and a spur 42, is disposed. Thus, of the recording sheet in the course of conveyance, a portion located at the image forming area is pressed and stretched by the first position control member 34 and the second position control member 38, and an interval between this portion and an ink ejection surface is maintained at a predetermined distance. Accordingly, even if ink ejected from the ink ejection outlets is absorbed into the recording sheet, so that a fiber of the recording sheet expands, no unevenness is formed on the recording sheet. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the cocking.