Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium disposed at a lower portion thereof, a device frame that supports the image forming device at the lower portion, having a first attaching portion to which to attach a first storage frame and a second attaching portion to which to attach a second frame. Either a first storage unit or a second storage unit is attached to the image forming unit. The first storage unit includes a first storage tray having a first storage capacity, a first guide member and the first storage frame. The second storage unit includes a second storage tray having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity, the second guide member and the second storage frame.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium disposed at a lower portion thereof, a device frame that supports the image forming device at the lower portion, having a first attaching portion to which to attach a first storage frame and a second attaching portion to which to attach a second frame. Either a first storage unit or a second storage unit is attached to the image forming unit. The first storage unit includes a first storage tray having a first storage capacity, a first guide member and the first storage frame. The second storage unit includes a second storage tray having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity, the second guide member and the second storage frame.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image-forming section, a separating/feeding section that separates and feeds sheets of paper from a stack into the image-forming section one sheet at a time, a pressing plate disposed on the opposite side of the stacked paper from the separating/feeding section, and a drive section that drives the pressing plate. The drive section drives the pressing plate toward the separating/feeding section when the separating/feeding section is in contact with the paper and driving of the separating/feeding section has stopped.

Abstract: A lever is provided in a photosensitive member frame of a photosensitive member cartridge that accommodates a developing cartridge in a cartridge accommodating portion. The lever is engaged with an engaging shaft of the developing cartridge, and is movable between a contact position and a separation position. When the lever is in the contact position, a developing roller and a photosensitive drum make contact with each other, and when the lever is in the separation position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium disposed at a lower portion thereof, a device frame that supports the image forming device at the lower portion, having a first attaching portion to which to attach a first storage frame and a second attaching portion to which to attach a second frame. Either a first storage unit or a second storage unit is attached to the image forming unit. The first storage unit includes a first storage tray having a first storage capacity, a first guide member and the first storage frame. The second storage unit includes a second storage tray having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity, the second guide member and the second storage frame.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing a steady drive to the photosensitive drum when all loads are driven from a common motor. To address the issue, the invention includes three drive trains. A first drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the photosensitive drum; a second drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the heating mechanism; and a third drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the toner cassette and drives the toner feed elements contained therein. A first drive element for each of the first and second drive trains is independently rotatably mounted on a common axis. Positioned on substantially an opposite side of the drive shaft is a first drive element of the third drive mechanism. As a result, the forces applied to the drive shaft as reaction forces to driving the various loads are substantially counterbalanced.

Abstract: An image forming device for forming an image on a cut image recording medium that includes a sheet feeder unit storing a stack of image recording mediums, and a separation unit that intermittently separates one sheet of the stack from a remaining stack at a separating position and feeds the one sheet in a sheet feeding direction. The image forming device also includes an image forming unit at which a visible image is formed on the image recording medium fed from the sheet feeder unit, a conveying path extending between the sheet feeder unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet leading edge position regulating unit having a part selectively protrudable into the sheet conveying path to provide a protruding position. Finally, the leading edge position of the image recording medium is regulated upon protrusion of the part into the sheet conveying path.

Abstract: A lever is provided in a photosensitive member frame of a photosensitive member cartridge that accommodates a developing cartridge in a cartridge accommodating portion. The lever is engaged with an engaging shaft of the developing cartridge, and is movable between a contact position and a separation position. When the lever is in the contact position, a developing roller and a photosensitive drum make contact with each other, and when the lever is in the separation position, the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an image-forming section, a separating/feeding section that separates and feeds sheets of paper from a stack into the image-forming section one sheet at a time, a pressing plate disposed on the opposite side of the stacked paper from the separating/feeding section, and a drive section that drives the pressing plate. The drive section drives the pressing plate toward the separating/feeding section when the separating/feeding section is in contact with the paper and driving of the separating/feeding section has stopped.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium disposed at a lower portion thereof, a device frame that supports the image forming device at the lower portion, having a first attaching portion to which to attach a first storage frame and a second attaching portion to which to attach a second frame. Either a first storage unit or a second storage unit is attached to the image forming unit. The first storage unit includes a first storage tray having a first storage capacity, a first guide member and the first storage frame. The second storage unit includes a second storage tray having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity, the second guide member and the second storage frame.

Abstract: An image forming device having a sheet conveying path extending from a feeder unit to an image forming unit. In the feeder unit, a sheet supply roller is rotated at a peripheral speed Vs. A convey roller positioned immediately downstream of the sheet supply roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V3 lower than Vs. Additional convey roller positioned immediately downstream of the first convey roller it rotated at a peripheral sped V2 lower than V3. A register roller positioned downstream of the second convey roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V1 lower than V2. A transfer roller of the image forming unit is rotated at a peripheral speed V0 lower than V1. Bach convey roller, the register roller, the sheet supply roller is connected to each clutch. Sheet sensors are provided each positioned between neighboring rollers for detecting a leading edge of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming device having a sheet conveying path extending from a feeder unit to an image forming unit. A convey roller positioned downstream of the sheet supply roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V3. Additional convey roller positioned downstream of the first convey roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V2 lower than V3. A register roller positioned downstream of the second convey roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V1 lower than V2. A transfer roller of the image forming unit is rotated at a peripheral speed V0 lower than V1. Each convey roller, the register roller, the sheet supply roller is connected to each clutch. Sheet sensors are provided between neighboring rollers for detecting a leading edge of the sheet. Upon detection of the leading edge, the roller positioned immediately upstream of the one of the sensors is shifted to its non-driving state.

Abstract: An image forming device feeding one cut sheet consecutively from a feeding unit to a image forming unit where a printed image is formed on the cut sheet. During feeding, a uniform interval between a trailing edge of a preceding sheet and a leading edge of a subsequent sheet is maintained. By setting a nip area between a sheet supply roller and a separating pad as a reference position for separating one sheet from a stack of sheet in the feeding unit. Sheet leading edge sensors including a light projecting element and a light receiving element are positioned downstream from the reference position exactly a distance L0. When the leading edge of a subsequent sheet is detected by the leading edge sensors and found to be less than a prescribed interval from the trailing edge of the preceding sheet, the feed timing for the subsequent sheet is delayed a prescribed amount.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a heat roller that heats toner of a toner image formed on a printing medium to fix the toner image, a heat roller gear that transmits a rotational driving force to the heat roller, a fixing device frame that supports the heat roller and the heat roller gear and is attached to the main body so as to rotate on a fixing point, a gear supporting member that supports a drive gear that transmits the driving force in engagement with the heat roller gear and is attached to the main body, a frame contact part that is provided in the fixing device frame, and a gear contact part that makes contact with the frame contact part. The fixing device frame is rotated on the fixing point by the rotational driving force the drive gear applies to the heat roller and the frame contact part makes contact with the gear contact part.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing a steady drive to the photosensitive drum when all loads are driven from a common motor. To address the issue, the invention includes three drive trains. A first drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the photosensitive drum; a second drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the heating mechanism; and a third drive train that extends from the drive shaft of the motor to the toner cassette and drives the toner feed elements contained therein. A first drive element for each of the first and second drive trains is independently rotatably mounted on a common axis. Positioned on substantially an opposite side of the drive shaft is a first drive element of the third drive mechanism. As a result, the forces applied to the drive shaft as reaction forces to driving the various loads are substantially counterbalanced.

Abstract: An image forming device having a sheet conveying path extending from a feeder unit to an image forming unit. In the feeder unit, a sheet supply roller is rotated at a peripheral speed Vs. A convey roller positioned immediately downstream of the sheet supply roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V3 lower than Vs. Additional convey roller positioned immediately downstream of the first convey roller is rotated at a peripheral sped V2 lower than V3. A register roller positioned downstream of the second convey roller is rotated at a peripheral speed V1 lower than V2. A transfer roller of the image forming unit is rotated at a peripheral speed V0 lower than V1. Each convey roller, the register roller, the sheet supply roller is connected to each clutch. Sheet sensors are provided each positioned between neighboring rollers for detecting a leading edge of the sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body, a heat roller that heats toner of a toner image formed on a printing medium to fix the toner image, a heat roller gear that transmits a rotational driving force to the heat roller, a fixing device frame that supports the heat roller and the heat roller gear and is attached to the main body so as to rotate on a fixing point, a gear supporting member that supports a drive gear that transmits the driving force in engagement with the heat roller gear and is attached to the main body, a frame contact part that is provided in the fixing device frame, and a gear contact part that makes contact with the frame contact part. The fixing device frame is rotated on the fixing point by the rotational driving force the drive gear applies to the heat roller and the frame contact part makes contact with the gear contact part.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a photosensitive drum, a developing drum, and an agitator. When a charge of toner has dropped below a predetermined charging amount before a subsequent image forming operation starts, a pre-driving operation is performed so that the developing drum and the agitator are rotated before a sheet feed operation starts. Therefore, sufficient charge can be applied to the toner before a developing operation starts, thereby providing a high-quality image. Also, because the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are separated from each other during the pre-driving operation, the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are prevented from being worn down.

Abstract: A recording medium discharging apparatus which can be mounted on top of the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of recording medium storers and a locking mechanism for locking the discharging apparatus to the image forming apparatus when the discharging apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The locking mechanism includes a release lever for unlocking the discharging apparatus by being manipulated to shift in the same direction as the discharging apparatus moves away from the image forming apparatus to be dismounted from it. The locking mechanism prevents the discharging apparatus from falling off the image forming apparatus even if external force is applied to the discharging apparatus mounted on the image forming apparatus. The release lever for unlocking the discharging apparatus makes it easy to dismount the discharging apparatus from the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A paper sheet discharge apparatus comprises a transport roller that transports paper sheets discharged from an image-forming apparatus, a plurality of switching flappers that guide the paper sheets to desired bins, and a plurality of delivery rollers that discharge the paper sheets via the switching flappers to the bins. The paper sheets are reliably stored in the desired bins without decreasing their transport speed by the aid of the transport roller, the switching flappers, and the delivery rollers. The power from a motor is transmitted only to the delivery rollers which are used to discharge the paper sheets while being interlocked with the specified switching flapper.