Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding portion, a side end regulating portion, a feeding portion, first and second feeding roller pairs, an abutment member, an obliquely feeding roller pair, and first and second contact-and-separation mechanisms. Feeding of a long sheet is stopped after the sheet is fed to an upstream side of the second feeding roller pair by the feeding portion, and then is resumed in a state in which the first feeding roller pair is changed from a separated state to a feedable state and in a state in which the obliquely feeding roller pair is put in a separated state, and then the sheet is fed to the second feeding roller pair. A short sheet fed by the first feeding roller pair is obliquely fed by the obliquely feeding roller pair and then is fed to the second feeding roller pair.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first supporting member supporting a long sheet, a feeding unit for feeding the long sheet supported by the first supporting member with respect to a feeding direction and a second supporting member, rotatable about a rotational shaft, for supporting the long sheet with the first supporting member. In a state in which the sheet is bent so that a first portion of the long sheet is supported by the first supporting member and a second portion which is a more rear side than the first portion is positioned above the first portion, the second supporting member is movable between a first position where the second supporting member supports the second portion of the sheet and a second position where the center of gravity of the second supporting member is positioned downstream of a rotational center with respect to the feeding direction and the second supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first cassette to be drawn out in a draw-out direction with respect to the apparatus body, a second cassette disposed adjacent to the first cassette in a vertical direction, a holder member attached to the apparatus body, and a first light emitting member and a second light emitting member that are supported by the holder member. The first cassette includes a first accommodating container and a first cover. The second cassette includes a second accommodating container and a second cover. The first cover has a first hole in a position opposing the first light emitting member such that the light emitted from the first light emitting member passes therethrough. The second cover has a second hole provided in a position opposing the second light emitting member such that the light emitted from the second light emitting member passes therethrough.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the cassette a set position, a guide rail configured to draw out the cassette from the set position, and a movable stopper unit that regulates a movement of the cassette in a draw-out direction by abutting with the cassette while the cassette is drawn out from the set position along the guide rail. The movable stopper unit includes a regulating portion movable between a regulating position where the regulating portion regulates a movement of the cassette within a moving trajectory of the cassette in moving in the draw-out direction and a retracting position where the regulating portion is located outside of the moving trajectory and does not regulate the movement of the cassette, and an urging portion configured to urge the regulating portion to the regulating position.

Abstract: A sheet accommodating apparatus includes a first cassette provided so as to be drawn out in a draw-out direction, a second cassette disposed adjacent to the first cassette in a vertical direction, one holder member, and a first light emitting member and a second light emitting member that are supported by the holder member. The first cassette includes a first accommodating container and a first cover. The second cassette includes a second accommodating container and a second cover. The first cover has a first hole provided in a position opposing the first light emitting member in the draw-out direction such that the light emitted from the first light emitting member passes therethrough. The second cover has a second hole provided in a position opposing the second light emitting member in the draw-out direction such that the light emitted from the second light emitting member passes therethrough.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cassette, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the cassette a set position, a guide rail configured to draw out the cassette from the set position, and a movable stopper unit that regulates a movement of the cassette in a draw-out direction by abutting with the cassette while the cassette is drawn out from the set position along the guide rail. The movable stopper unit includes a regulating portion movable between a regulating position where the regulating portion regulates a movement of the cassette within a moving trajectory of the cassette in moving in the draw-out direction and a retracting position where the regulating portion is located outside of the moving trajectory and does not regulate the movement of the cassette, and an urging portion configured to urge the regulating portion to the regulating position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first supporting member supporting a long sheet, a feeding unit for feeding the long sheet supported by the first supporting member with respect to a feeding direction and a second supporting member, rotatable about a rotational shaft, for supporting the long sheet with the first supporting member. In a state in which the sheet is bent so that a first portion of the long sheet is supported by the first supporting member and a second portion which is a more rear side than the first portion is positioned above the first portion, the second supporting member is movable between a first position where the second supporting member supports the second portion of the sheet and a second position where the center of gravity of the second supporting member is positioned downstream of a rotational center with respect to the feeding direction and the second supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding portion, a side end regulating portion, a feeding portion, first and second feeding roller pairs, an abutment member, an obliquely feeding roller pair, and first and second contact-and-separation mechanisms. Feeding of a long sheet is stopped after the sheet is fed to an upstream side of the second feeding roller pair by the feeding portion, and then is resumed in a state in which the first feeding roller pair is changed from a separated state to a feedable state and in a state in which the obliquely feeding roller pair is put in a separated state, and then the sheet is fed to the second feeding roller pair. A short sheet fed by the first feeding roller pair is obliquely fed by the obliquely feeding roller pair and then is fed to the second feeding roller pair.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a side regulating plate provided in a sheet feeding cassette and a regulating surface to regulate an end position of a sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette. A first arm connected with a first connector of the side regulating plate and a second arm connected with a second connector of the side regulating plate pivot on an axis extending in the gravity direction, wherein the second connector is different from the first connector in terms of a feeding direction. A first fixing part fixes the first arm to the sheet feeding cassette, and a second fixing part fixes the second arm to the sheet feeding cassette, wherein the first arm intersects with the second arm when viewed in the gravity direction when the side regulating plate is located in at least a part of a movable range of the side regulating plate.

Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus includes: a storage portion configured to store a sheet and to be inserted into and drawn out of an apparatus body along a first direction; a regulation member configured to be movable in the first direction with respect to the storage portion and including a regulating surface configured to regulate an end position in the first direction of the sheet stored in the storage portion; a first arm and a second arm each pivotably connected with the regulation member; and a fixing portion configured to fix the first and second arms to the storage portion. A position of a first connecting portion where the first arm is connected with the regulation member is different from a position of a second connecting portion where the second arm is connected with the regulation member in terms of a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeding apparatus including a tray unit capable of stacking a sheet at an opened position; a feeding member which feeds the sheet stacked on the tray unit; a feed supporting portion which supports the feeding member such that the feeding member is capable of moving to a feeding position for feeding the sheet stacked on the tray unit and to a storage position at which the feeding member is stored in the apparatus main body; and an urging portion which urges the feeding member toward the feeding position, wherein the feed supporting portion includes an abutting portion which abuts against a region other than a sheet stacking region of the tray unit for moving the feed supporting portion and for moving the feeding member to the storage position when the tray unit moves from the opened position to the closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet feeding apparatus including a tray unit capable of stacking a sheet at an opened position; a feeding member which feeds the sheet stacked on the tray unit; a feed supporting portion which supports the feeding member such that the feeding member is capable of moving to a feeding position for feeding the sheet stacked on the tray unit and to a storage position at which the feeding member is stored in the apparatus main body; and an urging portion which urges the feeding member toward the feeding position, wherein the feed supporting portion includes an abutting portion which abuts against a region other than a sheet stacking region of the tray unit for moving the feed supporting portion and for moving the feeding member to the storage position when the tray unit moves from the opened position to the closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a registration roller pair placed upstream of the secondary transfer unit in a sheet transport direction, and a drive unit driving the registration roller pair. In addition, a detection sensor unit is placed on a sheet transport path downstream of the secondary transfer unit and detects a sheet transported after a toner image is secondary transferred by the secondary transfer unit, and a transport unit transports the sheet after the secondary transfer.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding apparatus, and a connection device. The connection device is interposed between the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding apparatus, and connects the sheet feeding apparatus to the image forming apparatus so as to be detachable therefrom. The connection device includes a first exterior portion attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to surround an access portion by a portion thereof being open, and a second exterior portion attached to the sheet feeding apparatus, fitted to an opening portion of the first exterior portion in a state where the sheet feeding apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus via the connection device, and configured to surround the access portion together with the first exterior portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member configured to transfer a toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material, and a contact-and-separation unit configured to move the transfer member to a contact position where the transfer member contacts the image bearing member and a spacing position where the transfer member is separated from the image bearing member. A control portion controls a driving unit when the transfer member is moved from the contact position to the spacing position by using a phase range and a rotational direction of a cam of the contact-and-separation unit, in which a distance between an outer circumference at an abutted portion of a supporting member and a rotation center of the cam continuously increases with rotation of the cam.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a belt position detection unit to detect a position of a transfer belt in a rotating shaft direction of a driving roller, and a roller driving unit to tilt a steering roller to control the position of the transfer belt in the rotating shaft direction of the driving roller. In addition, a storage unit stores a reference position of the steering roller and a reference position of the transfer belt, and a control unit controls a formation position of the latent image, in a rotation axis direction of each photosensitive member, formed on each of a plurality of photosensitive members by the image forming unit based on a position of the transfer belt, in the rotating shaft direction of the driving roller, with respect to a detected reference position of the transfer belt and a tilt amount of the steering roller controlled by the roller driving unit with respect to the reference position of the steering roller.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding apparatus, and a connection device. The connection device is interposed between the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding apparatus, and connects the sheet feeding apparatus to the image forming apparatus so as to be detachable therefrom. The connection device includes a first exterior portion attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to surround an access portion by a portion thereof being open, and a second exterior portion attached to the sheet feeding apparatus, fitted to an opening portion of the first exterior portion in a state where the sheet feeding apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus via the connection device, and configured to surround the access portion together with the first exterior portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detection portion at a first guide provided in an image forming unit and a second detection portion at a second guide provided in a unit drawable to the exterior of the image forming apparatus. Since there are many parts in this apparatus, an error in the relative positions of the first and the second detection portions is large. The image forming apparatus includes a lock member configured to lock the unit to an image forming apparatus main body, and a pressure member configured to, when the unit is locked to the image forming apparatus main body, press the first guide and the second guide to each other. As a result, adjustment of the relative positions of the first and the second detection portions is not required at the time of replacement of the unit or the detection portions.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of improving operation performances. Sheet feeding cassettes and having sheet stacking portions SS1 and SS2 and sheet feeding portions, which are engaged and provided on the upstream side of the sheet stacking portions SS1 and SS2 in a pulling-out direction in an engaging and disengaging manner and feed the sheet stored in the sheet stacking portions SS1 and SS2, are vertically disposed at a plurality of positions in an image forming apparatus main body so that the sheet feeding cassette can be pulled out. Moreover, when the sheet feeding operation using the lower sheet feeding cassette is performed, only the sheet stacking portion SS1 of the sheet feeding cassette is pulled out, and when the sheet feeding operation stops, the sheet stacking portion SS1 and the sheet feeding portion of the sheet feeding cassette are integrally pulled out.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus includes: an endless belt having a stepped region at its edge; a driving member for driving the endless belt; a moving member for moving the endless belt in a widthwise direction; a mark provided at a part of the endless belt with respect to a circumferential direction and located at a position corresponding to the stepped region of the endless belt with respect to a rotational direction; a mark detecting member for detecting the mark during rotation of the endless belt; an edge position detecting member for detecting a widthwise position of at least one of edges of the endless belt during rotation; and a controller for controlling, after the mark detecting member detects the mark, the moving member on the basis of a detection result of the edge other than the stepped region of the endless belt.