Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a feed roller; a separation unit; a position detection part includes: a detection member that can move to a retracted position, and a detector which detects that a image formation target material is disposed at the feed position or the feed setup position in a case of having detected that the detection member is at the retracted position; and a restricting member that is disposed at a restricting position that restricts the detection member from moving from the initial position to the retracted position by abutting the detection member, in a detached state in which the separation unit is detached from the mounting part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) is equipped with a left-side cover (2), manual supply tray (10b), a carry guide (31) and a lift plate (33), and these are rotatably supported by a third shaft (35). The apparatus is reduced in size and a protrusion length L of the lift plate (33) is enlarged. The change in inclination angle of the lift plate (33) is reduced and a paper-sheet supply characteristic, even when the amount of paper sheets placed on the manual supply tray (10b) changes, is stabilized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, comprising: a feed roller; a separation unit; a position detection part includes: a detection member that can move to a retracted position, and a detector which detects that a image formation target material is disposed at the feed position or the feed setup position in a case of having detected that the detection member is at the retracted position; and a restricting member that is disposed at a restricting position that restricts the detection member from moving from the initial position to the retracted position by abutting the detection member, in a detached state in which the separation unit is detached from the mounting part.

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 has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with a left-side cover 2, a manual supply tray 10b, a carry guide 31 and a lift plate 33, and these are rotatably supported by a third shaft 35. According to this, because it is possible to achieve size reduction of the apparatus and enlarge an protrusion length L of the lift plate 33, it is possible to reduce the change in inclination angle of the lift plate 33 and stabilize a paper-sheet supply characteristic even when the amount of paper sheets placed on the manual supply tray 10b changes.

Abstract: A structure for clamping the harnesses, enabling the harnesses attached to the substrate or the harnesses around the substrate to be clamped by using parts that have been usually used. An assembly having the structure for clamping the harnesses comprises a circuit board on which parts are mounted on one side thereof; a shielding plate arranged on the other surface side thereof; and an insulating sheet arranged between the other surface of the circuit board and the shielding plate; wherein the harnesses are extending around the circuit board. The insulating sheet forms a clamp protruding outward beyond the circuit board, and the harnesses are engaged with a protruding piece.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member and a main body with an internal conveyance path for conveying a transfer material. An opening/closing member is attached to the main body and is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position where the conveyance path is exposed. A cover is set to cover a part of the image bearing member facing the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is open and is retracted from the conveyance path when the opening/closing member is closed. A moving mechanism slides the cover. Front and rear frames are held movably by the moving mechanism and are attached respectively to front and rear edges of the cover in a sliding direction. A tension applying mechanism acts on the frames to apply tension to the cover in the sliding direction during a sliding movement of the cover.

Abstract: A manual paper supply device is equipped with a paper shear prevention member 35 for preventing shear of the paper 9 loaded into the manual feed paper supply tray. A brush 36 is arranged on the paper shear prevention member 35 to make contact with the paper 9; and the brush 36 is arranged to form an acute angle against the paper 9 in the paper 9 feed direction G. Skewing and floating of the paper 9 are prevented accordingly when the paper 9 is set. Further, the generation of multi-feed and marking of the paper 9 is avoided.

Abstract: A structure for clamping the harnesses, enabling the harnesses attached to the substrate or the harnesses around the substrate to be clamped by using parts that have been usually used. An assembly having the structure for clamping the harnesses comprises a circuit board on which parts are mounted on one side thereof; a shielding plate arranged on the other surface side thereof; and an insulating sheet arranged between the other surface of the circuit board and the shielding plate; wherein the harnesses are extending around the circuit board. The insulating sheet forms a clamp protruding outward beyond the circuit board, and the harnesses are engaged with a protruding piece.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device for in an image forming apparatus includes a first guide. A second guide faces the first guide to define a sheet conveyance passage therebetween. A driving shaft is mounted on the first guide and carries driving rollers. A supporting shaft extends substantially orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. Driven rollers are at opposite ends of the supporting shaft and correspond to the driving rollers. A holder holds the supporting shaft so that the supporting shaft can move towards the driving shaft. Urging members are at opposite sides of an axially center of the supporting shaft for pushing the driven rollers against the driving rollers. The holder is attached to the second guide to swing at a pivotal axis extending in the sheet conveying direction, the pivotal axis is on a plane orthogonally passing the supporting shaft at a center thereof.

Abstract: A manual paper supply device is equipped with a paper shear prevention member 35 for preventing shear of the paper 9 loaded into the manual feed paper supply tray. A brush 36 is arranged on the paper shear prevention member 35 to make contact with the paper 9; and the brush 36 is arranged to form an acute angle against the paper 9 in the paper 9 feed direction G. Skewing and floating of the paper 9 are prevented accordingly when the paper 9 is set. Further, the generation of multi-feed and marking of the paper 9 is avoided.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a paper-stacking mechanism having a paper-stacking plate on which the papers are to be stacked, and a width-limiting member for limiting the position of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking plate in the direction of width of the papers; a suction/feed mechanism disposed above the paper-stacking mechanism to feed by suction the uppermost paper stacked on the paper-stacking plate; and an air-blowing mechanism disposed on the front side of the paper-stacking means in the direction in which the papers are conveyed and including an air duct extending in a direction at right angles with the direction in which the paper is conveyed, said air duct having plural nozzles for jetting out the air against an upper portion at the front end of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking means, and a fan connected to an end of said air duct.

Abstract: A paper feeder is able to properly separate and convey the uppermost sheet of paper from sheets stacked beneath it in a paper bin while effectively preventing multiple paper sheet feeds and other paper feed problems. The paper feeder includes a paper separator for lifting upper sheets, and separating the uppermost sheet from the sheet immediately beneath it by blowing air against an upper-forward end of a stack of paper loaded in a paper bin, and a vacuum paper carrier for holding the uppermost sheet by suction and carrying it. The paper separator has lifting nozzles for lifting side ends of the upper sheets, by blowing air toward side portions, excluding a central portion, of the stack of paper loaded in the paper bin.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a paper-stacking mechanism having a paper-stacking plate on which the papers are to be stacked, and a width-limiting member for limiting the position of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking plate in the direction of width of the papers; a suction/feed mechanism disposed above the paper-stacking mechanism to feed by suction the uppermost paper stacked on the paper-stacking plate; and an air-blowing mechanism disposed on the front side of the paper-stacking means in the direction in which the papers are conveyed and including an air duct extending in a direction at right angles with the direction in which the paper is conveyed, said air duct having plural nozzles for jetting out the air against an upper portion at the front end of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking means, and a fan connected to an end of said air duct.

Abstract: An image forming machine having a reversing transport path in which a transport direction of a sheet introduced from an image forming transport path is reversed, a returning path in which the sheet reversely transported from the reversing transport path is returned below the image forming transport path with the directions of the face and back of the sheet being unchanged, and an inverting transport path in which the sheet from the returning path is turned upside down and readmitted into an upstream portion of the image forming transport path. A finisher including a sheet receiving stand placed below the returning path is provided, and at least one send-in unit for selectively sending in different length sheets onto the sheet receiving stand is disposed in the returning path.

Abstract: A paper feeder comprises a paper-stacking mechanism having a paper-stacking plate on which the papers are to be stacked, and a width-limiting member for limiting the position of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking plate in the direction of width of the papers; a suction/feed mechanism disposed above the paper-stacking mechanism to feed by suction the uppermost paper stacked on the paper-stacking plate; and an air-blowing mechanism disposed on the front side of the paper-stacking means in the direction in which the papers are conveyed and including an air duct extending in a direction at right angles with the direction in which the paper is conveyed, said air duct having plural nozzles for jetting out the air against an upper portion at the front end of the papers stacked on said paper-stacking means, and a fan connected to an end of said air duct.

Abstract: A paper feeder is able to properly separate and convey the uppermost sheet of paper from sheets stacked beneath it in a paper bin while effectively preventing multiple paper sheet feeds and other paper feed problems. The paper feeder includes a paper separator for lifting upper sheets, and separating the uppermost sheet from the sheet immediately beneath it by blowing air against an upper-forward end of a stack of paper loaded in a paper bin, and a vacuum paper carrier for holding the uppermost sheet by suction and carrying it. The paper separator has lifting nozzles for lifting side ends of the upper sheets, by blowing air toward side portions, excluding a central portion, of the stack of paper loaded in the paper bin.

Abstract: An image-forming machine comprising a rotary drum and a cleaning means which removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum. The cleaning means includes a support member that extends in the direction of center axis of the rotary drum, a blade-holding member that is mounted on the upper surface of the support member and extends in the direction of center axis of the rotary drum, and a cleaning blade that is held by the blade-holding means and extends in the direction of center axis of the rotary drum. The blade-holding member is allowed to swing on the swing axis that extends in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the center axis of the rotary drum. An acute angle .alpha. is defined between the cleaning blade and a tangential line of the drum at a portion where the front end of the cleaning blade that is pushed comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary drum, on the downstream side as viewed in a direction in which the rotary drum rotates.

Abstract: A paper-feeding device which includes a paper-feeding cassette removably located into an image processing apparatus, a locking mechanism for inhibiting extraction of the paper-feeding cassette by engaging with the cassette or a cassette mount, and a locking control device for activating operation of the locking mechanism while a paper-feeding operation is underway. Since the locking control device remains activated while the paper-feeding operation is underway, the operator cannot extract the paper-feeding cassette from the image processing apparatus during a paper-feeding operation.