Abstract: A transfer unit includes first and second rollers, a roller switching mechanism, and upstream-side and downstream-side guides. The second roller is arranged downstream of the first roller in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The roller switching mechanism selectively arranges the first or second roller at a reference position to form a transfer nip. The upstream-side and downstream-side guides are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the transfer nip in the conveyance direction of the recording member. When the first roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the second roller moves to a first retracted position behind the downstream-side guide, and when the second roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the first roller moves to a second retracted position behind the upstream-side guide.

Abstract: A medium guiding device includes an upstream side rollers pair, a downstream side rollers pair, a first rib, a second rib and an interlocking part. In a first conveying state where the medium is conveyed while being held by the upstream side rollers pair and separated from the downstream side rollers pair, the interlocking part retreats the first rib from a curved path and protrudes the second rib into the curved path. In a second conveying state where the medium is conveyed while being held by the downstream side rollers pair, the interlocking part protrudes the first rib into the curved path and retreats the second rib from the curved path.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes first and second rollers, a roller switching mechanism, and upstream-side and downstream-side guides. The second roller is arranged downstream of the first roller in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The roller switching mechanism selectively arranges the first or second roller at a reference position to form a transfer nip. The upstream-side and downstream-side guides are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the transfer nip in the conveyance direction of the recording member. When the first roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the second roller moves to a first retracted position behind the downstream-side guide, and when the second roller moves to the reference position by the roller switching mechanism, the first roller moves to a second retracted position behind the upstream-side guide.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge portion; a sheet stacking portion having a sheet stacking surface for stacking a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge portion; and a stopper in the sheet stacking portion against which, for alignment, the leading end of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge portion is thrust. The stopper has a support portion, a restricting portion, and an urging mechanism. The restricting portion is supported pivotally on a pivot shaft on the support portion, and is arranged either in a retracted position to lie flat substantially horizontally along the sheet stacking surface or in a restricting position to stand upright substantially vertically to the sheet stacking surface. The urging mechanism urges the restricting portion, when in retracted position, in a direction from restricting position to retracted position and, when in restricting position, in a direction from retracted position to restricting position.

Abstract: A sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge portion; a sheet stacking portion having a sheet stacking surface for stacking a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge portion; and a stopper in the sheet stacking portion against which, for alignment, the leading end of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge portion is thrust. The stopper has a support portion, a restricting portion, and an urging mechanism. The restricting portion is supported pivotally on a pivot shaft on the support portion, and is arranged either in a retracted position to lie flat substantially horizontally along the sheet stacking surface or in a restricting position to stand upright substantially vertically to the sheet stacking surface. The urging mechanism urges the restricting portion, when in retracted position, in a direction from restricting position to retracted position and, when in restricting position, in a direction from retracted position to restricting position.

Abstract: A paper sheet folding device (sheet folding device) 160 includes a paper sheet folding unit 60 and a tray unit 110 that is provided on one side surface 161a of a device main body 161 and includes a lower discharge tray 121 on which a paper sheet S discharged through a lower discharge port 85 is loaded. The tray unit 110 is pivotable in an up-down direction about a pivotal shaft 111. A discharge drive mechanism 132 is disposed at a center portion of the tray unit 110 in a paper sheet width direction.

Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a hook, an engaged portion, and a biasing member, and locks a movable unit supported on a unit main body to the unit main body. The hook has a supporting portion pivotably supported on the unit main body and an engaging portion protruding from the supporting portion. The engaged portion is formed on the movable unit and is engageable with the engaging portion. A biasing member biases the hook in such a direction as to let the engaging and engaged portions engage. The hook has a first face facing the engaged portion at the tip end of the engaging portion and a second face extending from the first face toward the supporting portion and inclined relative to the first face in such a direction as to recede from the pivot. With the engaging and engaged portion in engagement, the engaged portion touches only the second face.

Abstract: A paper sheet folding device (sheet folding device) 160 includes a paper sheet folding unit 60 and a tray unit 110 that is provided on one side surface 161a of a device main body 161 and includes a lower discharge tray 121 on which a paper sheet S discharged through a lower discharge port 85 is loaded. The tray unit 110 is pivotable in an up-down direction about a pivotal shaft 111. A discharge drive mechanism 132 is disposed at a center portion of the tray unit 110 in a paper sheet width direction.

Abstract: A first opposing portion of the coupling includes first ratchet hook and a second opposing portion of the second rotary body includes a second ratchet hook. One of the third opposing portion of the coupling and the fourth opposing portion of the first rotary body has a cam on an end face thereof and the other one has a cam face on an end face thereof. When the first rotary body rotates in a forward direction, a camming action turns on the transmission of torque. When the first rotary body rotates in a backward direction, the transmission of torque is turned off. A protrusion provided on a portion other than the cam or the cam face of the end face of one of the third opposing portion of the coupling and the fourth opposing portion of the first rotary body comes into contact with a portion other than the cam or the cam face of the end face of the other one of the third opposing portion and the fourth opposing portion while the transmission of torque is turned off.

Abstract: A document pressing unit is openable with respect to an apparatus body including a placement portion on which a document is placed, and is configured to press the document from above. The document pressing unit includes a body frame, a pair of hinge units, a pair of metal fixing members, and fastening screws. The body frame is able to press the document. The hinge units respectively include hinge legs mounted on the apparatus body, and are mounted with a certain distance in a left-right direction on a rear end of the body frame to openably support the body frame with respect to the apparatus body. The fixing members fix the hinge units to the body frame, respectively. The fastening screws fasten the fixing member and the hinge unit through the body frame so that the fixing member and the hinge unit sandwich the body frame in an up-down direction.

Abstract: A first opposing portion of the coupling includes first latchet hook and a second opposing portion of the second rotary body includes a second latchet hook. One of the third opposing portion of the coupling and the fourth opposing portion of the first rotary body includes a cam and the other one includes a cam face. When the first rotary body rotates in a forward direction, a camming action turns on the transmission of torque. When the first rotary body rotates in a backward direction, the transmission of torque is turned off.

Abstract: A document sheet transportation device includes a feeding portion which feeds a document sheet from a document sheet placement portion toward a document sheet transportation path. The feeding portion includes a holder, a feeding member, a supporting body supported by the holder, a rotatable stopper member having a contact end portion allowed to contact a front end of a document sheet, and a biasing member which applies a biasing force to the stopper member. The stopper member is allowed to change a position among a first position in which the contact end portion contacts the front end of the document sheet, a second position which allows feeding of the document sheet by the feeding member, and a third position which is rotated in the first rotating direction from the second position. The biasing member applies the biasing force to the stopper member in a reverse second rotating direction.

Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a hook, an engaged portion, and a biasing member, and locks a movable unit supported on a unit main body to the unit main body. The hook has a supporting portion pivotably supported on the unit main body and an engaging portion protruding from the supporting portion. The engaged portion is formed on the movable unit and is engageable with the engaging portion. A biasing member biases the hook in such a direction as to let the engaging and engaged portions engage. The hook has a first face facing the engaged portion at the tip end of the engaging portion and a second face extending from the first face toward the supporting portion and inclined relative to the first face in such a direction as to recede from the pivot. With the engaging and engaged portion in engagement, the engaged portion touches only the second face.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a delivery roller, a supply roller, a separating member, a driving source, a first drive transmission mechanism, a second drive transmission mechanism, and a controller. The first drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the delivery roller in a first drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the supply roller in a second drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission period of the second drive transmission mechanism is longer than the first drive transmission period of the first drive transmission mechanism. When the control starts driving the driving source, the supply roller starts to rotate in the first direction after the delivery roller starts to rotate in the first direction.

Abstract: A document pressing unit is openable with respect to an apparatus body including a placement portion on which a document is placed, and is configured to press the document from above. The document pressing unit includes a body frame, a pair of hinge units, a pair of metal fixing members, and fastening screws. The body frame is able to press the document. The hinge units respectively include hinge legs mounted on the apparatus body, and are mounted with a certain distance in a left-right direction on a rear end of the body frame to openably support the body frame with respect to the apparatus body. The fixing members fix the hinge units to the body frame, respectively. The fastening screws fasten the fixing member and the hinge unit through the body frame so that the fixing member and the hinge unit sandwich the body frame in an up-down direction.

Abstract: A document sheet transportation device includes a feeding portion which feeds a document sheet from a document sheet placement portion toward a document sheet transportation path. The feeding portion includes a holder, a feeding member, a supporting body supported by the holder, a rotatable stopper member having a contact end portion allowed to contact a front end of a document sheet, and a biasing member which applies a biasing force to the stopper member. The stopper member is allowed to change a position among a first position in which the contact end portion contacts the front end of the document sheet, a second position which allows feeding of the document sheet by the feeding member, and a third position which is rotated in the first rotating direction from the second position. The biasing member applies the biasing force to the stopper member in a reverse second rotating direction.

Abstract: A base portion includes a cam surface formed around a support pin. A turning portion includes: a slide member provided movably in directions toward and away from the support pin; and a coil spring urging the slide member. The slide member is designed to slide on the cam surface while turning, together with an openable body, about the support pin. The cam surface includes a first sliding surface, a second sliding surface, and a third sliding surface. The first sliding surface presses the slide member back in a direction of closing of the openable body. The second sliding surface presses the slide member back in a direction of opening of the openable body. The third sliding surface presses the slide member back in the direction of closing of the openable body.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a delivery roller, a supply roller, a separating member, a driving source, a first drive transmission mechanism, a second drive transmission mechanism, and a controller. The first drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the delivery roller in a first drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission mechanism transmits the rotary drive power in the first direction to the supply roller in a second drive transmission time from the start of driving of the driving source. The second drive transmission period of the second drive transmission mechanism is longer than the first drive transmission period of the first drive transmission mechanism. When the control starts driving the driving source, the supply roller starts to rotate in the first direction after the delivery roller starts to rotate in the first direction.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet platen, a pickup roller, a feeding roller, a regulating portion, a driving mechanism, a feeding control unit, a sheet sensor, and a determination processing unit. The feeding control unit executes a feeding operation by rotationally driving the pickup roller and the feeding roller in a state where the regulating portion is located at a retreating position. The sheet sensor is located at a downstream side in the feeding direction of the feeding roller. The determination processing unit determines whether the sheet feeding has succeeded or not based on a signal from the sheet sensor. After a start of the feeding operation, when the determination processing unit determines that the sheet feeding has failed, the feeding control unit once moves the regulating portion located at the retreating position to the abutting position and then executes the feeding operation again.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes a sheet platen, a pickup roller, a feeding roller, a regulating portion, a driving mechanism, a feeding control unit, a sheet sensor, and a determination processing unit. The feeding control unit executes a feeding operation by rotationally driving the pickup roller and the feeding roller in a state where the regulating portion is located at a retreating position. The sheet sensor is located at a downstream side in the feeding direction of the feeding roller. The determination processing unit determines whether the sheet feeding has succeeded or not based on a signal from the sheet sensor. After a start of the feeding operation, when the determination processing unit determines that the sheet feeding has failed, the feeding control unit once moves the regulating portion located at the retreating position to the abutting position and then executes the feeding operation again.