Abstract: Provided are: a sheet feed device that is capable of suppressing the occurrence of a sheet feeding fault by changing the pressing contact force of a retard roller against a feed roller; and an image formation device equipped with the same. This sheet feed unit (50) is provided with: a pickup roller (29); a feed roller (31); a retard roller (32); a holding member (40) that holds the retard roller (32); a first biasing member (42) that biases the holding member (40); and a pressing contact force changing mechanism (60) that changes the pressing contact force of the retard roller (32) against the feed roller (31).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first sheet feeding cassette, a conveyance unit and a lock member. The first sheet feeding cassette is inserted into the apparatus main body along a predetermined insertion direction and is drawn out of the apparatus main body along a drawing direction opposite to the insertion direction. In a state where the lock member is in a lock position, the first sheet feeding cassette does not interfere with the lock member to allow the first sheet feeding cassette to be inserted into the apparatus main body. In a state where the lock member is in a lock release position, the first sheet feeding cassette interferes with the lock member to inhibit the first sheet feeding cassette from being inserted into the apparatus main body.

Abstract: Provided are: a sheet feed device that is capable of suppressing the occurrence of a sheet feeding fault by changing the pressing contact force of a retard roller against a feed roller; and an image formation device equipped with the same. This sheet feed unit (50) is provided with: a pickup roller (29); a feed roller (31); a retard roller (32); a holding member (40) that holds the retard roller (32); a first biasing member (42) that biases the holding member (40); and a pressing contact force changing mechanism (60) that changes the pressing contact force of the retard roller (32) against the feed roller (31).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a first sheet feeding cassette, a conveyance unit and a lock member. The first sheet feeding cassette is inserted into the apparatus main body along a predetermined insertion direction and is drawn out of the apparatus main body along a drawing direction opposite to the insertion direction. In a state where the lock member is in a lock position, the first sheet feeding cassette does not interfere with the lock member to allow the first sheet feeding cassette to be inserted into the apparatus main body. In a state where the lock member is in a lock release position, the first sheet feeding cassette interferes with the lock member to inhibit the first sheet feeding cassette from being inserted into the apparatus main body.

Abstract: A separating claw unit includes: a separating claw provided beside and against a surface of an image carrier on which a toner image to be transferred to a recording paper sheet in a nip area between the image carrier and a transfer section is to be formed, the separating claw being configured to separate the recording paper sheet having passed through the nip area off the surface of the image carrier in a direction away from the surface of the image carrier; and a cushion guide provided next to the separating claw to extend beyond the separating claw in the direction away from the surface of the image carrier, held elastically and displaceably away from the surface of the image carrier, and configured to come into contact with the recording paper sheet to guide the recording paper sheet downstream in a direction of conveyance of the recording paper sheet.

Abstract: An electrical connecting member electrically connects between two conductive members. The electrical connecting member includes a coil spring part formed by winding a wire around a coil axis. The electrical connecting member comes into contact with one of the conductive members with elastic force in a circumferential direction around the coil axis and comes in contact with the other of the conductive members with elastic force in an axial direction of the coil axis so that the conductive members are electrically connected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driven unit, a coupling mechanism, a driving lever and a locking mechanism. The driven unit is configured to be supported slidably between a storage position and a pull-out position. The driving unit is driven by a driving force from a driving source. The coupling mechanism is configured to be switchable between a transmission state and a transmission release state. The driving lever is slidable between a transmission position and a transmission release position. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent the sliding of the driving lever from the transmission release position toward the transmission position. The sliding of the driving lever from the transmission release position into the transmission state can be permitted by the sliding of the driven unit from the pull-out position into the storage position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a pair of cassette guides. The housing is provided with a cassette storage space and a unit storage space. The unit storage space is disposed above the cassette storage space and configured to slidably support an image forming unit. The housing has a pair of side plates arranged to be opposite to each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the image forming unit. The pair of cassette guides is provided in the cassette storage space and arranged inside the pair of side plate. A guide rail part is formed by a gap between the side plate and the guide cassette arranged inside the side plate, and a top face of the cassette guide. A unit-side rail provided to the image forming unit is slidably engaged with the guide rail part.

Abstract: An electrical connecting member electrically connects between two conductive members comprising. The electrical connecting member includes a coil spring part formed by winding a wire around a coil axis. The electrical connecting member comes into contact with one of the conductive members with elastic force in a circumferential direction around the coil axis and comes in contact with the other of the conductive members with elastic force in an axial direction of the coil axis so that the conductive members are electrically connected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a driven unit, a coupling mechanism, a driving lever and a locking mechanism. The driven unit is configured to be supported slidably between a storage position and a pull-out position. The driving unit is driven by a driving force from a driving source. The coupling mechanism is configured to be switchable between a transmission state and a transmission release state. The driving lever is slidable between a transmission position and a transmission release position. The locking mechanism is configured to prevent the sliding of the driving lever from the transmission release position toward the transmission position. The sliding of the driving lever from the transmission release position into the transmission state can be permitted by the sliding of the driven unit from the pull-out position into the storage position.

Abstract: A separating claw unit includes: a separating claw provided beside and against a surface of an image carrier on which a toner image to be transferred to a recording paper sheet in a nip area between the image carrier and a transfer section is to be formed, the separating claw being configured to separate the recording paper sheet having passed through the nip area off the surface of the image carrier in a direction away from the surface of the image carrier; and a cushion guide provided next to the separating claw to extend beyond the separating claw in the direction away from the surface of the image carrier, held elastically and displaceably away from the surface of the image carrier, and configured to come into contact with the recording paper sheet to guide the recording paper sheet downstream in a direction of conveyance of the recording paper sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing and a pair of cassette guides. The housing is provided with a cassette storage space and a unit storage space. The unit storage space is disposed above the cassette storage space and configured to slidably support an image forming unit. The housing has a pair of side plates arranged to be opposite to each other in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the image forming unit. The pair of cassette guides is provided in the cassette storage space and arranged inside the pair of side plate. A guide rail part is formed by a gap between the side plate and the guide cassette arranged inside the side plate, and a top face of the cassette guide. A unit-side rail provided to the image forming unit is slidably engaged with the guide rail part.

Abstract: A sheet feeding cassette includes a cassette main body and a cassette cover. The cassette main body is attachably/detachably provided in a casing, and configured to store sheets in a loaded state. The cassette cover configured to close at least a part of a top face aperture formed in the cassette main body. Either one of the cassette main body and the cassette cover includes a cursor displaced along an attachment direction of the cassette main body and arranging the sheets housed in the cassette main body. Another one of the cassette main body and the cassette cover includes at least one restraining part which engages with the cursor in a case where the top face aperture is closed by the cassette cover.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding device, a feeding roller is driven and rotated to feed a sheet in a conveying direction of a sheet conveying path and a drive transmission mechanism transmits rotation drive force generated in a driving portion to the feeding roller. In this mechanism, a drive input gear having an inner space is arranged on a rotation axis supporting the feeding roller rotatably so as to rotate by the rotation drive force. A drive transmission gear arranged between the feeding roller and drive input gear on the rotation axis rotates and becomes slide-movable along the rotation axis between a first position transmitting the rotation drive force to the feeding roller and a second position cutting off the transmission of the rotation drive force to the feeding roller by the rotation drive force from the drive input gear to transmit the rotation drive force to the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet cassette, a mounting portion and a conveying unit. The sheet cassette is mounted into the apparatus main body. The conveying unit is arranged above the sheet cassette in the apparatus main body. The conveying unit includes a conveyance path, an upper guide unit, a lower guide unit and a locking mechanism. The upper guide unit defines an upper surface part of the conveyance path. The lower guide unit defines a lower surface part of the conveyance path and enters the mounting portion to open the conveyance path. The locking mechanism locks the lower guide unit to the upper guide unit. The lower guide unit includes a projecting piece. The sheet cassette includes a push-up portion. The push-up portion pushes up the projecting piece when the sheet cassette is mounted into the mounting portion.

Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a sheet cassette, a mounting portion and a conveying unit. The sheet cassette is mounted into the apparatus main body. The conveying unit is arranged above the sheet cassette in the apparatus main body. The conveying unit includes a conveyance path, an upper guide unit, a lower guide unit and a locking mechanism. The upper guide unit defines an upper surface part of the conveyance path. The lower guide unit defines a lower surface part of the conveyance path and enters the mounting portion to open the conveyance path. The locking mechanism locks the lower guide unit to the upper guide unit. The lower guide unit includes a projecting piece. The sheet cassette includes a push-up portion. The push-up portion pushes up the projecting piece when the sheet cassette is mounted into the mounting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing including a first wall portion extending in a vertical direction, a second wall portion extending in the vertical direction on a side opposite from the first wall portion, and an internal space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. In a first state in which a sheet cassette is not attached to the housing, a cover member seals an opening portion formed in the second wall portion and through which the sheet cassette passes through, and forms part of the second wall portion. In a second state in which the sheet cassette is attached to the housing, the cover member is pivoted by being abutted by part of the sheet cassette and covers a top of a portion of the sheet cassette that is exposed to the outside of the housing.

Abstract: In a sheet feeding device, a feeding roller is driven and rotated to feed a sheet in a conveying direction of a sheet conveying path and a drive transmission mechanism transmits rotation drive force generated in a driving portion to the feeding roller. In this mechanism, a drive input gear having an inner space is arranged on a rotation axis supporting the feeding roller rotatably so as to rotate by the rotation drive force. A drive transmission gear arranged between the feeding roller and drive input gear on the rotation axis rotates and becomes slide-movable along the rotation axis between a first position transmitting the rotation drive force to the feeding roller and a second position cutting off the transmission of the rotation drive force to the feeding roller by the rotation drive force from the drive input gear to transmit the rotation drive force to the feeding roller.

Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: a housing; a sheet feeding mechanism and a manual feed tray and that is mounted pivotably to the housing. The manual feed tray can assume a first posture that is closed relative to the housing, and a second posture that is open relative to the housing. A link couples the housing with the manual feed tray and pivots with a pivoting movement of the manual feed tray to hold the second posture of the manual feed tray. A posture changing mechanism permits the manual feed tray to pivot farther in an opening direction from the second posture when a load acts on a sheet mounting surface and causes the manual feed tray to assume a third posture while being held by the link. A posture holding mechanism holds the third posture of the manual feed tray.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing including a first wall portion extending in a vertical direction, a second wall portion extending in the vertical direction on a side opposite from the first wall portion, and an internal space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. In a first state in which a sheet cassette is not attached to the housing, a cover member seals an opening portion formed in the second wall portion and through which the sheet cassette passes through, and forms part of the second wall portion. In a second state in which the sheet cassette is attached to the housing, the cover member is pivoted by being abutted by part of the sheet cassette and covers a top of a portion of the sheet cassette that is exposed to the outside of the housing.