Abstract: A temperature detecting material comprises a first material containing a first temperature indicating material and a second material containing a second temperature indicating material, wherein the first temperature indicating material and the second temperature indicating material contain a leuco dye, a color developing agent, and a decoloring agent, and have a hysteresis characteristic in their color density-temperature curves, wherein the first temperature indicating material has a color developing temperature in a temperature increase process lower than a decoloring temperature in the temperature increase process, and turns to a non-crystalline state and is kept in a decoloring state when cooled down below the color developing temperature in the temperature increase process with a predetermined cooling speed or more after melting, wherein the second temperature indicating material, a color developing temperature is lower than a decoloring temperature in the temperature increase process, and wherein the co

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, an image forming assembly arranged in the apparatus main body, a sheet tray on which a sheet is to be placed, a conveyance unit detachably insertable into the apparatus main body, provided between the sheet tray and the image forming assembly and adapted to convey the sheet on the sheet tray toward the image forming assembly, an openable and closable cover member provided on a wall of the apparatus main body facing a downstream end of the conveyance unit in a sheet conveying direction, a vertical conveyance path defined at an inner side of the cover member by closing the cover member for further conveying the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit upward, and a locking mechanism for preventing the conveyance unit from being pulled out from the apparatus main body with the cover member closed.

Abstract: An optical unit assembly is provided with an optical system including an optical component for irradiating a target object with light and receiving the reflected light, a casing for accommodating the optical system, a supporting frame for supporting a part of the casing, and a height adjusting member having a supporting surface for supporting another part of the casing and placed between the supporting frame and the casing. The height adjusting mechanism is slidable between the supporting frame and the casing with a supported state of the casing by the supporting frame substantially maintained, and the supporting surface includes at least a first supporting surface set at a specified first height position and a second supporting surface set at a second height position different from the first height position.

Abstract: An exposure device for exposing the charged surface of a photoconductive drum is provided with a light source for emitting light based on image information; a rotary multifaceted mirror for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to scan the surface of the photoconductive drum; a driving mechanism for drivingly rotating the rotary multifaceted mirror; an inner casing for covering at least the driving mechanism and the rotary multifaceted mirror; and an outer casing for covering the inner casing from the outside. An air vent for communicating the inside and outside of the inner casing is formed in a part of the inner casing facing the rotary multifaceted mirror.

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: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a control portion of an image forming unit and an opening cover from which an internal portion of an apparatus main body including the image forming unit can be exposed are provided on an upper face, a front face, or a portion from the upper face to the front face of the apparatus main body. The control portion is attached so as to be capable of sliding to an outer side with respect to the apparatus main body. At least a part of the internal portion of the apparatus main body is exposed in accordance with an opening movement of the opening cover and a sliding movement of the control portion.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device is used in an apparatus main body having a box-shaped apparatus external surface and includes a sheet feeding cassette having an outer side surface and detachably mounted to the apparatus main body; and an elastic member provided on the outer side surface of the sheet feeding cassette. The outer side surface of the sheet feeding cassette constitutes a part of the apparatus external surface in a state where the sheet feeding cassette is mounted to the apparatus main body. At least a part of the elastic member projects outward from the apparatus external surface farther than the outer side surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming unit for applying an image transferring process to a sheet-like recording material, a fixing unit for applying a heat fixing process to the recording material after the image transferring process by the image forming unit, a first conveyance path for conveying the recording material via the image forming unit and the fixing unit, a second conveyance path for returning the recording material after the fixing process by the fixing unit to an upstream side of the image forming unit from a side of the first conveyance path downstream of the fixing unit in the case of applying the image transferring process to both sides of the recording material, and a fan disposed between the first and second conveyance paths for taking air across the first conveyance path and exhausting air across the second conveyance path to form an air stream.

Abstract: An optical unit assembly is provided with an optical system including an optical component for irradiating a target object with light and receiving the reflected light, a casing for accommodating the optical system, a supporting frame for supporting a part of the casing, and a height adjusting member having a supporting surface for supporting another part of the casing and placed between the supporting frame and the casing. The height adjusting mechanism is slidable between the supporting frame and the casing with a supported state of the casing by the supporting frame substantially maintained, and the supporting surface includes at least a first supporting surface set at a specified first height position and a second supporting surface set at a second height position different from the first height position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, an image forming assembly arranged in the apparatus main body, a sheet tray on which a sheet is to be placed, a conveyance unit detachably insertable into the apparatus main body, provided between the sheet tray and the image forming assembly and adapted to convey the sheet on the sheet tray toward the image forming assembly, an openable and closable cover member provided on a wall of the apparatus main body facing a downstream end of the conveyance unit in a sheet conveying direction, a vertical conveyance path defined at an inner side of the cover member by closing the cover member for further conveying the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit upward, and a locking mechanism for preventing the conveyance unit from being pulled out from the apparatus main body with the cover member closed.

Abstract: An exposure device for exposing the charged surface of a photoconductive drum is provided with a light source for emitting light based on image information; a rotary multifaceted mirror for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to scan the surface of the photoconductive drum; a driving mechanism for drivingly rotating the rotary multifaceted mirror; an inner casing for covering at least the driving mechanism and the rotary multifaceted mirror; and an outer casing for covering the inner casing from the outside. An air vent for communicating the inside and outside of the inner casing is formed in a part of the inner casing facing the rotary multifaceted mirror.

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: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a control portion of an image forming unit and an opening cover from which an internal portion of an apparatus main body including the image forming unit can be exposed are provided on an upper face, a front face, or a portion from the upper face to the front face of the apparatus main body. The control portion is attached so as to be capable of sliding to an outer side with respect to the apparatus main body. At least a part of the internal portion of the apparatus main body is exposed in accordance with an opening movement of the opening cover and a sliding movement of the control portion.

Abstract: In a developing device according to the present invention, a developing roller 8 has a fixed shaft 12 and a sleeve 13. The length of a draw-up magnetic pole N3 provided in the fixed shaft 12 is made shorter than the length of a main magnetic pole N1. Accordingly, the amount of a developer adhering to both ends of an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 13 is reduced, so that the density of the developer at both the ends of the sleeve 13 is maintained in suitable conditions in a state where the developer is over the main magnetic pole N1.

Abstract: In a developing device according to the present invention, a developing roller 8 has a fixed shaft 12 and a sleeve 13. The length of a draw-up magnetic pole N3 provided in the fixed shaft 12 is made shorter than the length of a main magnetic pole N1. Accordingly, the amount of a developer adhering to both ends of an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 13 is reduced, so that the density of the developer at both the ends of the sleeve 13 is maintained in suitable conditions in a state where the developer is over the main magnetic pole N1.

Abstract: A light source drive controlling device for use in an image forming apparatus is provided for controlling a light source for illuminating a surface of a document wherein the light amount of the light source is adjusted in accordance with a level of drive voltage supplied thereto by a light source driving device for supplying a drive voltage of a specified level to the light source. A scanning mechanism for moving the light source to and from a home position and a return position whereat scanning is completed moves the light source through an image reading start position whereat scanning an image of the document begins. A drive voltage supply timing controller varies a drive voltage supply start timing for applying the drive voltage to the light source in accordance with the level of drive voltage such that the light amount of the light source reaches a predetermined level when the light source reaches the image reading start position.

Abstract: A semi-openable document presser for an image forming apparatus includes a main member and an auxiliary member in which the main member is pivotably mounted on the image forming apparatus. A biasing pivotal coupler is disposed between the main and auxiliary members, the coupler providing a biasing force which biasingly disposes the main and auxiliary members in a non-actuated position in which the main and auxiliary members are in a generally planar relationship. The document presser is operable to the actuated by an operator to overcome the biasing force to dispose the main and auxiliary members in an actuated position which disposes the main and auxiliary members in a non-planar relationship.