Abstract: A cleaner in a transfer section of a copying machine for cleaning a soil toner transferred from a photoconductive member and adhering to the surface of a transfer drum, which includes a cleaning device which electrically attracts and cleans the soil toner on the surface of the transfer drum and an electrode disposed at the interior surface of the transfer drum for weakening the electrostatic force between the soil toner and the surface of the transfer drum. The electrode disposed in the interior of the dielectric drum is movable.

Abstract: The transporting speed of a developer transporting roller is switched over depending on the condition whether a developing unit is operated for developing process or the developing unit is not in action for developing operation, and a comparable standard value for making a decision whether toner replenishment is required or not is changed based on the toner density value detected by a magnetic sensor when the developing unit is operated or is not in action for developing operation. When the developing unit has finished a predetermined number of operations, and image forming operation is suspended, a developer stirring and transporting roller is driven for a duration of time corresponding to the number of developing operations conducted, and toner density detection and toner replenishment is carried out corresponding to the toner density detected.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus comprising a gate for opening and closing a transport path to stop the movement of the front end of the sheet and guide plate for pressing down a loop of the sheet. The front end of the transported sheet comes to contact with the gate to form a loop on the upstream side of the gate. Then, when the transport path is opened by the gate, the guide plate depresses the loop towards the direction of the transport to cause the front end of the sheet to move forward aided by the stiffness of the sheet itself.

Abstract: A transfer medium supporting member which supports a transfer medium to which a toner image formed on a photoconductive member of an image forming apparatus is repeatedly transferred for required number of times, and a potential sensor for measuring the potential of a dielectric screen onto which the transfer medium is electrostatically adsorbed by electrification are provided in combination with each other. The potential of the dielectric screen electrified only by output of an adsorption charger is measured by the potential sensor to judge the electrification capacity of the dielectric screen, and a visual or sound warning is given when the electrification capacity is in a predetermined state. And separately from or in combination with giving the warning, the operation of the apparatus is stopped.

Abstract: An automatic paper feed device includes a first paper feed roller rotating in pressing contact with the upper surface of a sheet stack for feeding upper sheets from the sheet stack by its rotation in a counterclockwise direction, a second paper feed roller located downstream of the first paper feed roller with respect to the paper feeding direction and rotating in a counterclockwise direction for feeding only an uppermost sheet of the sheets fed by the first paper feed roller, a separating roller rotating in a direction opposed to the paper feeding direction while being held in pressing contact with the second paper feed roller for returning the sheets other than the uppermost sheet toward the sheet stack, a first frame rotatably supporting said first paper feed roller and a second frame rotatably supporting said separating roller, a paper feed unit pivotably supported so as to be pivotable in upward and downward directions so that the first paper feed roller descends to a level corresponding to the height of

Abstract: A sheet aligning arrangement adapted to accommodate a plurality of sheets fed into it for aligning, and to feed out the aligned sheets one sheet by one sheet. The arrangement includes a feed roller, a first aligning member movable between a first position defining a sheet aligning reference position and a second position parallel to the first position and defining a sheet transport reference position, a second aligning member located in a position confronting the first aligning member, and pivotable in a direction intersecting at right angles with a sheet transport direction, and a displacing device for displacing the first aligning member to the first position during the alignment to effect aligning together with the second aligning member, and also for displacing the first aligning member to the second position during the re-feeding of the sheets by the feed roller, while pivoting the second aligning member to align the sheets.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeding apparatus which automatically feeds sheets one by one to an image forming portion, comprises a sheet storing plate, a paper-feeder roller for feeding sheets stored on the sheet storing plate, a transport roller positioned at the downstream relative to the paper-feeder roller in the paper feeding direction and rotatable in the paper feeding direction, a separation roller touching and pressing the transport roller and rotatable in the reverse direction to the paper feeding direction, a supporting plate for rotatably supporting the separation roller and being pivotably provided to move in the direction where the separation roller touches with and separates from the transport roller and being urged by an elastic member so as to cause the separation roller to be pressed toward the transport roller, and a guide plate for guiding a sheet into the nipping portion between the transport roller and the separation roller.

Abstract: The paper feeding device of the present invention comprises a paper holder for holding a stack of large number of paper sheets; a first roller for sheetwise feeding out paper sheets from the stack in or on the holder; a regular rotation roller for further feeding each of paper sheets and rotatably mounted at a position downstream from the first roller when looking in the paper feeding direction; and a paging roller mounted in opposition to the regular rotation roller. The paging roller is driven always in such a rotational direction for drawback of sheet or sheets in the reverse direction relative to the regular and forward paper feed direction when one or more common class paper sheet or sheets or a plurality of special class paper sheet of a different quality then common class paper sheet is/are fed between the regular rotation roller and the paging roller.

Abstract: A copying apparatus capable of effecting duplex copying and composite copying and including an intermediate tray member for storing a plurality of copy paper sheets each having one copied face and refeeding the stored copy paper sheets one sheet by one sheet and a mounting member for detachably mounting the intermediate tray member on an apparatus housing of the copying apparatus in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the copy paper sheets. The intermediate tray member includes a storage portion for storing the copy paper sheets, first and second transport portions for transporting the copy paper sheets to the storage portion at the time of duplex copying and composite copying, respectively and a paper feeding device for feeding the copy paper sheets stored in the storage portion.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a first feed roller for feeding the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in contact therewith, a second feed roller positioned toward the sheet feeding direction from the first feed roller and rotatable in the feeding direction, a separating roller rotatable in the same direction as the second feed roller in contact therewith, and means for driving one of the second feed roller and the separating roller at opposite ends of its shaft and for pressing these rollers into contact with each other. The sheets are fed individually by being forwarded by the first feed roller and thereafter separated off singly at the nip of the second feed roller and the separating roller.

Abstract: An automatic sheet feeding apparatus for use in a copying machine and the like having a sheet separating members. The separating members include a sheet feeding rotatable member, a separating rotatable member and a follower rotatable member, with the feeding rotatable member in contact with both the separating member and the follower rotatable member. The feeding rotatable member has a peripheral surface which is harder than that of the separating rotatable member. The follower rotatable member has its peripheral surface of a material having a coefficient of friction smaller than that of the other members. The width of the contact area between the separating rotatable member and feeding rotatable member is larger than that between the follower rotatable member and the feeding rotatable member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device comprises a cassette for holding a stack of sheets, feeding means for longitudinally advancing the uppermost sheet of the stack from the cassette in pressing contact with the sheet at approximately the longitudinal medial axis of the sheet with respect to the feeding direction, separating pawl members for separating the uppermost sheet from the other sheets by engaging the uppermost sheet at its leading opposite corners to thereby temporarily restrain the uppermost sheet from advancing, and pressure members for pressing the uppermost sheet at its opposite side portions to a predetermined extent. The pressure members are retractable from the pressing position in accordance with the resilient force of the sheet when the advancing sheet is buckled by engagement with the separating pawl members.