Abstract: A sheet container to contain a sheet includes a support unit including a plurality of engaged portions and supports the contained sheet, a moveable regulation unit that contacts a sheet end to regulate the sheet in position. The regulation unit includes an operating member held by a holding member and a fixing member movable with the operating member covered by a cover. The fixing member is movable between an engaging position at which the fixing member engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions and a non-engaged position at which the fixing member does not engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The operating member is engageable with the cover. The regulation unit is kept fixed to the support unit by the fixing member engaging with one of the plurality of engaged portions, with the cover engaging with the operating member.

Abstract: A sheet container to contain a sheet includes a support unit including a plurality of engaged portions and supports the contained sheet, a moveable regulation unit that contacts a sheet end to regulate the sheet in position. The regulation unit includes an operating member held by a holding member and a fixing member movable with the operating member covered by a cover. The fixing member is movable between an engaging position at which the fixing member engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions and a non-engaged position at which the fixing member does not engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The operating member is engageable with the cover. The regulation unit is kept fixed to the support unit by the fixing member engaging with one of the plurality of engaged portions, with the cover engaging with the operating member.

Abstract: A sheet container to contain a sheet includes a support unit including a plurality of engaged portions and supports the contained sheet, a moveable regulation unit that contacts a sheet end to regulate the sheet in position. The regulation unit includes an operating member held by a holding member and a fixing member movable with the operating member covered by a cover. The fixing member is movable between an engaging position at which the fixing member engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions and a non-engaged position at which the fixing member does not engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The operating member is engageable with the cover. The regulation unit is kept fixed to the support unit by the fixing member engaging with one of the plurality of engaged portions, with the cover engaging with the operating member.

Abstract: A sheet container to contain a sheet includes a support unit including a plurality of engaged portions and supports the contained sheet, a moveable regulation unit that contacts a sheet end to regulate the sheet in position. The regulation unit includes an operating member held by a holding member and a fixing member movable with the operating member covered by a cover. The fixing member is movable between an engaging position at which the fixing member engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions and a non-engaged position at which the fixing member does not engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions. The operating member is engageable with the cover. The regulation unit is kept fixed to the support unit by the fixing member engaging with one of the plurality of engaged portions, with the cover engaging with the operating member.

Abstract: A container is detachably mountable on an apparatus body in a mounting-detaching direction that is along the same direction as a mounting-detaching direction of a transfer unit and that is in the reverse direction of the mounting-detaching direction of the transfer unit. When the transfer unit and the container are mounted on the apparatus body, a belt, a cleaning device, and the container are arranged in that order in a transport direction of the belt. A discharge portion is provided, the discharge portion extending in the mounting-detaching direction of the container, for discharging the toner removed by the cleaning device to the container.

Abstract: First and second developing members are moved to a developing position from a retracted position respectively in the order of a first developing member and a second developing member, and image forming is started by adhering toner to a first photosensitive member and a second photosensitive member in this order, and a period in which the first developing member moves from the retracted position to the developing position is shorter than a period in which the second developing member moves from the retracted position to the developing position.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a rotatable endless belt for receiving a toner image thereon or for conveying a transfer material, wherein the endless belt has a smooth-shaped inner peripheral surface, a first reinforcing member, provided on an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at one end portion with respect to a belt widthwise direction, for reinforcing the endless belt, and a second reinforcing member, provided on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt at the other end portion. In addition, a driving roller rotationally drives the endless belt while supporting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt.

Abstract: First and second developing members are moved to a developing position from a retracted position respectively in the order of a first developing member and a second developing member, and image forming is started by adhering toner to a first photosensitive member and a second photosensitive member in this order, and a period in which the first developing member moves from the retracted position to the developing position is shorter than a period in which the second developing member moves from the retracted position to the developing position.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: A controller sets a pressure-contact time from memory in accordance with rigidity of a sheet and starts a feeding operation of a sheet by causing a feeding roller to be pressure contacted with sheets on a sheet stacking plate. The controller controls the feeding roller to be separated from the sheets on the sheet stacking plate after passage of the pressure-contact time. In this way, it is possible to set the optimum pressure-contact time at the time of feeding sheets in accordance with the kind of sheet being fed and realize a stable feeding operation. Since the controller controls a driving unit based on a detection signal of a sheet-surface detecting flag that detects the height of the uppermost surface of a sheet bundle, it is possible to realize the stabilization and acceleration of a contacting operation.

Abstract: A belt unit includes an endless belt, a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member which are provided on the endless belt, and supporting members. In a belt widthwise direction, a length from an inner edge surface of the first reinforcing member to an inner edge surface of the second reinforcing member is smaller than a width of a region in which the supporting members contact the endless belt, and a length from an outer edge surface of the first reinforcing member to an outer edge surface of the second reinforcing member is larger than the width of the region.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.

Abstract: A controller sets a pressure-contact time from memory in accordance with rigidity of a sheet and starts a feeding operation of a sheet by causing a feeding roller to be pressure contacted with sheets on a sheet stacking plate. The controller controls the feeding roller to be separated from the sheets on the sheet stacking plate after passage of the pressure-contact time. In this way, it is possible to set the optimum pressure-contact time at the time of feeding sheets in accordance with the kind of sheet being fed and realize a stable feeding operation. Since the controller controls a driving unit based on a detection signal of a sheet-surface detecting flag that detects the height of the uppermost surface of a sheet bundle, it is possible to realize the stabilization and acceleration of a contacting operation.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet placing tray on which a sheet is placed, a feeding member for feeding the sheet placed on the sheet placing tray, a first sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a first detection position, and a second sheet detection unit for detecting presence of the sheet on the sheet placing tray at a second detection position disposed on an upstream side of the first detection position in a sheet feeding direction. A control unit controls the feeding member so as not to perform the sheet feeding operation when the first detection unit detects the sheet and the second detection unit does not detect the sheet.

Abstract: Sheets fed out from a sheet feeding portion, which is brought into pressure contact with the sheets by the upward movement of a sheet stacking portion to feed out the sheets, are separated and conveyed one by one while being upwardly curved. During the sheet feeding operation, the sheet stacking portion is sequentially moved up, and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the sheet stacking portion is moved down. Further, a remaining amount indicating member moved with the upward movement of the sheet stacking portion to indicate the remaining amount of sheets is held at a position before the sheet stacking portion is moved down, by a holding mechanism, when the sheet feeding operation is completed and the sheet stacking portion is moved down.

Abstract: The detachment of a feed roller rotatably supported by a holding portion provided in the main body of an apparatus, and held detachably in the axial direction thereof is restricted by a locking device. The locking device is made movable to a lock position and a lock releasing position for permitting the detachment of the feed roller. Further, when the locking device is in the lock releasing position when a sheet stacking portion is mounted, the locking device is moved to the lock position by a position changeover device in operative association with the mounting operation of the sheet stacking portion.